Wednedsday Grannies - Sunburst Granny Square Tutorial

So, since today is a Granny Wednesday but also the last day of the year, I thought I'd look back onto what was my most important granny square project this year: my Sunburst Granny Square Blanket!

It truly was a labour of love, and the finished project is a constant source of snuggly and colourful happiness to me.

I have been working on a tutorial for this blanket, but in the meantime, I thought a photo tutorial for the actual Sunburst Granny Square would be a nice thing to end the year on.

So for this project, you will need:

- Yarn in 4 colours, nicknamed A, B, C and D, preferably of the same variety and weight (I used Stylecraft Special DK)

- A 4 mm crochet hook (or any size to suit yarn weight used)

- A tapestry needle

Abbreviations:

- ch: chain

- dc: double crochet (UK) (US single crochet)

- htr: half treble

- tr: treble

- tr2tog: 2 trebles together

- tr3tog: 3 trebles together

Special stitches and techniques used in this pattern (UK terms):

- magic ring: here's an excellent tutorial

- two trebles together (tr2tog) (US dc2tog): *yarn over hook, insert hook into space, pull 1 loop, yarn over, pull yarn through 1 loop, yarn over, pull yarn through 2 loops*; repeat *to* once; yarn over, pull yarn through 3 remaining loops

- three trebles together (tr3tog) (US dc3tog): *yarn over hook, insert hook into space, pull 1 loop, yarn over, pull yarn through 1 loop, yarn over, pull yarn through 2 loops*; repeat *to* twice; yarn over, pull yarn through 4 remaining loops

- standing two trebles together: same as tr2tog, but starting with slipknot on hook before * when joining new colour (tutorial coming soon). Can be replaced by ch3, one treble.

- standing three trebles together: same as tr3tog, but starting with slipknot on hook before * when joining new colour (tutorial coming soon). Can be replaced by ch3, two trebles together.

Note: this pattern is worked in rounds and is written in UK terms.

Ready? Let's get started!

Round 1:

1. Using yarn A, make a magic circle, secure with a slip stitch. Chain 3 (counts as 1 treble).

2. Work 11 trebles inside the circle (total: 12 stitches)

3. Pull loose end of magic circle to close it.

4. Cut off yarn and pull tail through the last loop. Using a tapestry needle, pull yarn end through ch.2 of round beginning, front to back

5. Now pull yarn end pack through the middle of the last stitch of the round, thus closing the round

Round 1 is complete!

Round 2:

1. Change to yarn B. Make a standing tr2tog (or ch3, one treble) in any of the spaces between the stitches of round 1, except the one just closed with the tapestry needle.

3. Chain 2

4. tr2tog in next space

5. Chain 2

6. Repeat steps 4-5 another 10 times.

7. Join yarn to beginning of round with a tapestry needle (or with a slip stitch) and cut off yarn.

7. Round 2 complete!

Round 3:

1. Change to yarn C. Make a standing tr3tog (or ch3, 2 tr) in any of the ch2 spaces from round 2, except the one just closed with the tapestry needle

2. Chain 2

3. tr3tog in next 2-chain space

4. Chain 3

5. Repeat step 3 another 10 times. Join yarn to beginning of round using the same technique as in step 7, round 2 and cut off yarn. Round 3 complete!

Round 4:

This is the round where your circle becomes a square.

1. Change to yarn D. Make a standing treble in any of the ch3-spaces from round 3 (or simply ch3 instead, counting as one tr)

2. 2 tr in same space, ch2 

3. 3 tr, ch1: this is your first corner

4. 3 half trebles in next ch-3 space, ch1

5. Repeat step 4

6. 3 tr in next ch-3 space, ch2

7. 3 tr, ch1: this is your second corner

8. Repeat steps 4-7 twice

9. Close round with slip stitch into ch-2 of beginning of round. Round 4 complete!

Round 5:

1. Chain 1 (does not count as a stitch), *double crochet in same stitch

2. 1 dc in next 2 tr

3. 1 dc in ch-3 space, ch2 

4. 1 dc in same space

5. 1 dc in next 3 tr, 1 dc in ch-1 space

6. 1 dc in next 3 htr, 1 dc in ch-1 space

7. Repeat step 6

8. Repeat steps 1-7 twice, from *

9. Close round using technique from steps 4/5, round 1. Cut off yarn and weave in ends. All done!

I hope this tutorial was helpful. Let me know if there are any mistakes or things unclear.

Thanks for reading, and all the best for 2015! :) Don't forget to go to Jijihook's website for more granny square love!

xxx

2014

Yes, it might be difficult to believe it, but this is the end of another year. 

This is what 2014 looked like in Little Crochet's world!

Thank you for your support and your readership, it's been great! 

Have a very Happy New Year!

Christmas Gifts - A Ruffled Scarf

Hello, hello!

Continuing the Christmas gifts series, here is a ruffled scarf I made for a friend, following this super easy pattern, by Rachel from Crochet Spot. I have just realised that the pattern is actually in US terms, and so the "trebles" I made ended up being US dcs, which is probably why I had to add a row in the end. But hey, I still really like it! :D

Now, because the pattern requires you to double the amount of stitches with every row, bear in mind that this project is quite yarn-hungry, so make sure you have enough to start with. I think I used roughly three 100g balls of DK acrylic for the main colour, and maybe 20-25g for the contrasting colour.

Isn't the ruffling effect beautiful? And that contrasting row at the end, I simply love it.

Look at that! So snuggly!

This scarf was actually part of a series of three I completed last year, with two of them being given away as gifts last Christmas, the first in the same acrylic yarn, but with the colours reversed:

...and the second one, in the super luxurious Rowan Cocoon, now a firm favourite of mine (but not of my wallet's). I used for a hat this year, as well as for wristwarmers.

They're quite addictive to make, so be warned! ;-)

Thanks for reading and see you soon for more Christmas gifts reveals!

xxx

Christmas Gifts - Cabled Crochet Hat

Hello everyone! Did you have a good Christmas? Mine was a bit of a first in various aspects but all in all very enjoyable.

So, after crocheting and crafting like crazy to finish the gifts in time, I thought I'd give you a little taste of what I made. Last week, I showed you a little granny square bag that was part of the lot, so this week, it's on to a cabled hat I made following this free Ravelry pattern by Nancy Smith.

It was fairly easy to make, and worked up relatively quickly in Rowan Cocoon and a 6mm crochet hook. The cabled pattern gives this hat a firm and thick texture that is perfect for very cold days.

I chose to work the cables in a straight pattern fashion, but the pattern allows you to work them in spiral if you prefer. (A big thank you to Mr Little Crochet for agreeing to model the hat... No mean feat, I tell ya!)

Finally, the "wrong" side of the hat can be worn outside for a different textured look, as long as you weave in your ends neatly - which I confess I didn't do...

So, the perfect Christmas gift, and easily customisable according to taste and/or gender. One to make again, for sure!

Thanks for reading :)