Crochet Afghan Blanket

I have completed my crochet Wonky Afghan or blanket. I used acrylic yarn and four loops to each stitch so it is a thick warm blanket and took quite a while to do. I used a lot of yarn and as many colours as I could find. It measures 72"x 72" approximately give or take as the sides are wonky though I think it adds to the design. I should have counted the stitches but kept going. This will cover comfortably a double bed with good amount of overhang at the sides. I am wondering whether to add an edging though with the loops it won't hook easily and it may not need it as it looks just as good as it is. I am overall very pleased with it and it is very colourful! This is the pattern I used. Chain however many you need for the size of blanket you want. Beginning row: Make four loops into 3rd chain from hook then draw through all four loops making a nice plump stitch (for the first row only in every second chain stitch to end) First row: Make four loops and draw all four loops do this for every stitch. Second row: One single crochet miss one stitch to end For a little change of pattern as a decorative edge a few rows from each end of blanket. One, four loop stitch, chain one, miss one four loop stitch to end. You can see the side here is a little bit wonky and there are still ends I have to weave in before I can style a photo shoot and list it in my shop for sale. This is the reverse you could show either side.

Completed Projects

This is a bag I made on the Sheep to Hat course I used Alpaca fleece in colours from cream, golden blond to a tan and a brown and Jacob fleece in dark brown and white and Merino white wool. The fleece had first been hand washed by me then carded with a hand carder and a drum carder. I used the Alpaca fleece which I wet felted to make the main part of the bag and added Jacob fleece and Merino wool that I needle felted to the top as decoration. The shoulder strap is knitted in stocking stitch with the white Merino wool then needle felted more wool to the back to strengthen and added Jacob and alpaca strips to blend with the bag. For the bottom of the bag I used Merino wool which I needle felted adding circles of alpaca and Jacob wool. The knitted front flap and the knitted loop attached I first spun with a spinning wheel using the Jacob carded fleece. I have started knitting with this colourful Merino and will make a bag. Here are the projects they all look good and are all different. I love this stole which has been felted with Merino and little balls added under a layer to get this textured look the other side was felted onto silk. Jan made the felt balls necklace too. The cot blanket is finished and is soft and thick white Merino wool with strands of other colours too. Alison couldn't bring her weaving frame too large she brought her lovely colourful wool and large photo frame continuing to make a cushion creating a bobbly effect with her thick and thin ply wool. Just the four of us on the last day and us four didn't miss a lesson. We all said how much we learnt and had achieved in the time and the three there said they would carry on with lessons again in September so may I though I have other projects including my sewing I want to do too. Janet had brought in her photos on her camera of her sheep she has a small holding with brown and white sheep and sheep with thick black fleece and curly horns and she showed the fleeces shorn in a pile. So she will have fleece to do her spinning and weaving. Jan had been on a hand dyeing class and brought in little pieces of blue and white squares she had dyed with a blue powder there were various patterns including tie dye and a smocking she had learnt that made a very interesting pattern. Alison has her loom and will make cushions and she would like to then sell them online opening a shop on Etsy probably. Jana had another class for Sheep to Hat in Penzance and posted two groups photos of us all on her Facebook page and she will post these latest ones too.

Projects

I started with felting today two others did too and one brought in lots of her colourful felted shapes with added embellishments she made although hasn't found a use for them as yet. One other lady brought her new boxed weaving loom to open up and said as it is made of birch she has to oil it first before she can use it and the tutor gave her a smaller loom. The lady carding with me last week practiced using the spinning wheel and will take it home with her. And the lady making the baby blanket brought in the loom which she'd threaded with Merino wool and was using the shuttle to do weaving. I felted the alpaca and some of the carded Jacob fleece and will do more felting at home for extra thickness. So I am making a bag and will add the piece I knitted at the top as a front flap maybe. I have the coloured roving to make things with as well! One or two say they are not sure what to make are just enjoying the learning process and will make something simple at the finish. This is a group photo, one lady is away, sat outside the college in the lovely hot sunshine with some holding what they have made so far. The tutor is Jana the one with long brown hair second from the end. One more week to go and I will have the finished bag to show next week! The room we are in is used for teaching French there are lots of French books, maps around the room and the grounds surrounding the college has stunning scenery woodland and fields.

Etsy Shop UK

Etsy Shop UK Unique & Handmade Gifts, Art, Craft & Vintage items from UK Etsy Shops! I am making a red shoulder bag from a furnishing material and with stripes in the pattern so making it a unique and funky little bag. It has a rust coloured shoulder strap made of a wool type fabric and the lining a tartan green is a contrast which all blend nicely together. To close there is a front tab matching the bag fabric with a metallic fastener. This will soon be listed in my Etsy Shop. Two recent items are make up bags and a coin purse in a field of poppies pattern and there are more purses available to buy from my shop.

Beginning Projects

I brought my fleece that needed carding both the Jacob and Alpaca. Two ladies had managed to spin quite a lot and brought in a few skeins. We carried on with with our projects I and another lady carded using the drum and finishing with the hand carder and I managed to get all my fleece carded, very pleased with that! There was a weaving frame a lady was threading with her newly spun wool she is going to make a small rug for a baby and other projects are a cushion with soft Merino wool, and a scarf. I will make a bag most likely. The spinning wheel was being used it is important to get the tension just right so the foot treadle works properly and one lady there was doing felting too. Next week we will get further on with our projects and two more weeks altogether to finish. Here are my three knitting bags that I am using at the moment one is for the crochet throw I am making and one is for the wool and the other is for knitting I am doing with a bag of knitting needles. These bags are big and handy to keep everything all together and cheap to buy.