Crochet Flower Blanket or Playmat Pattern Review

 Spoke Flower Blanket by The Crochet Fix.

This pattern was something I’d wanted to do for a long time so was really happy when I got time to get started.

It did start off a bit of a nightmare, nothing to do with the pattern which is extremely well written by the way, no it was me not reading it properly!

I got through the first full pattern repeat and all looked fine, it was nice and flat and looked really nice in the colours I’d chosen.

So I continued on but it started to pucker at one side of the spoke of each petal and twist around, like this ......

So I checked the pattern, felt sure I was right but undid it back to the dark purple where it had been fine.

Off I went again but the same thing happened, I thought maybe it would improve when blocked so carried on, but sadly it got worse and the puckering looked awful, no way was this going to come out with blocking.......

Sadly it was time to undo again! 😥

I nearly gave up, it was so much work to undo but decided to really sit and read the pattern again, I must be missing something and indeed I was, where the pattern called for UK treble/US dc down the side of each petal and UK half treble/US hdc hdc at the spoke, I was doing all half treble from the increase at the petal point! 

Studying the numbered round chart I had a eureka moment realising how I’d misunderstood. What a relief, it meant I could get back on track and actually finish it.

My advice is read, read, read, study, study,study. Look at the charts which give all the stitch counts for each round and you won’t go wrong. 

Here’s my finished blanket or it can be a baby playmat. It measures 36” across from point to point, worked in double knit on a 4mm hook.

I’ve also used the same pattern to make some placemats and coasters, doing just the first few rounds. For the small coasters I did just one colour each round, for the larger mat I did two rounds per colour.

An absolutely brilliant pattern and offered for free which is so kind bearing in mind the amount of work that must have gone into it. Thank you The Crochet Fix. 

Find the pattern on Ravelry: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/spoke-flower-blanket




Happy crocheting!

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Facebook: www.facebook.com/PookieDoodleCrafts 
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Etsy: www.etsy.com/uk/shop/pookiedoodlecrafts 

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Yarn the Sheep free pattern from Yarnspirations. Pattern review

Pookie_Doodle


The pattern is free which is brilliant. It makes a lovely cuddly baby cocoon which fastens up the front and has a textured stitch which looks like the wool of a sheep.

Two ears on the hood and a pair of feet finish off the lovely little Lamb baby nest.

I did have a few problems with the pattern. I'm sure I have read it correctly but it just would not come right.

First there was a mistake for the buttonhole edging on the front it says to use MC (main colour, which is white) but it should be the grey contrast (A) 

Then when making up the pattern says "sew buttons to back and raglan button edgings" but there are no instructions to add a button edging to the back, the only instructions are for the 30 stitches down the front raglan on the sleeve and the button hole bands on the front.

This is how it looked once complete, nowhere to sew the buttons except on the actual back piece:

So I added my own button band to the back in grey by crocheting the 30 stitches down the front raglan as per the pattern but I didn't turn,  I continued down the back edge (around 35 stitches) then turned and worked the 5 rows.

This was a bit of a nightmare because I had already sewn it all together so had to undo the sleeves and in doing so accidentally cut one of the stitches so had to make the whole sleeve again:(

Never mind, it all came good in the end and I am really pleased with it. This is the back band looked, much nicer to sew the buttons on there:

Perfect gift for any new baby and a fun item too, baby is bound to turn a few heads. 

The bobbly fleece looks is super:

The pattern can be found free on Ravelry: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/yawn-the-sheep

Happy crocheting!

Find me on:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/PookieDoodleCrafts
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Pookie_Doodle
Ravelry: www.ravelry.com/people/pookiedoodle

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Selling my handmade crafts, knitted and crochet on Etsy

Wow! Has it really been 6 months since my last post? Where on earth does the time go? I must get more of the things I've made listed.

Well I've been so busy just lately, I looked in my craft cupboard and found there were so many things that I had made that were just sitting there I decided to try to sell them and raise money for a support group I am involved with.

I had a look at Etsy with a view to selling and decided to set up a shop.
You can find it here:

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/PookieDoodleCrafts

I'm selling mainly shawls and scarves at the moment but there are also a few other things like baby clothes and teddies.

If you fancy having a go at selling on Etsy yourself and would like 40 free listings to get you started - YES 40 FREE then use this link:

https://etsy.me/2IJzmZP and it will give you the 40 free listings once you set up.

If you do buy anything - thank you so much for helping our support group.

Find me on:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/PookieDoodleCrafts
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Pookie_Doodle
Ravelry: www.ravelry.com/people/pookiedoodle

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Diagonal Box Stitch C2C Blanket

I made this blanket using the Diagonal Box stitch, sometimes known as the Corner 2 Corner stitch (C2C)

It is really easy to do and you can make square or rectangle blankets and also, if you stop with one long edge and don't decrease (thus making a triangle) you can use it as a shawl/scarf.

If you would like to have a go I have made a tutorial for the stitch - not the whole blanket as all you need to know is how to start and finish then you can make your own blanket as big or as small as you wish.

I started mine in Cygnet Kiddies Couture, Blueberry stripe. It looks lovely. However it seemed to be getting quite expensive so to help keep down the cost I used a plain white in the middle, it gives it a nice two sided effect I think.

It grew really quickly and is snuggly and warm.

I added a border after this picture was taken, you can see how it looks with the border on the video.

Happy crocheting!

Find me on:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/PookieDoodleCrafts
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Pookie_Doodle
Ravelry: www.ravelry.com/people/pookiedoodle

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Teddies for Tragedies - Knit a bear for a child

Do you like knitting? Do you like teddy bears? Do you like helping others, especially children?

Well if the answers are yes, then this is ideal for you.

Coco's Foundation have produced a free pattern and instructions so you can knit teddy bears for children who have suffered tragedy in their life.

The teddies are send to children to make them smile. We all know the comfort a cuddly toy can bring to a child, it can make them feel they have something to 'care' for and something to love of their very own.


That pattern is easy to follow and the bear is knitted in one piece:

Find out more here at the Coco's Foundation website: 

http://www.cocosfoundation.co.uk/news/teddies-for-tragedies.html


Happy knitting!

Find me on:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/PookieDoodleCrafts
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Pookie_Doodle
Ravelry: www.ravelry.com/people/pookiedoodle

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Crochet Baby Comforter/Rabbit Toy and Hat

I made two of these little baby comforters (one to wash and one to use) for a friends granddaughter.

The patterns were really easy to do and they were made in a couple of evenings.

I used Boyes double knitting yarn, a 100g ball of each in white and pink was more than enough to make the two comforters and the hat and there was still yarn to spare to make something else.

For the comforter I used this free pattern by Lucy Tegg: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cute-bunny-comforter---lovey  

The granny square basic comforter was really easy, the rabbit head might be a little more difficult for an in-experienced crocheter but the instructions are very clear and easy to follow so I would say have a go, you can always adapt as your work to get a good finished product. :)

I embroidered closed eyes to make it a sleepy rabbit as it was easier, I'm not great with features! I'm happy with it and think it looks quite cute.

For the hat I used this free pattern by Anna Virginia: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/baby-flapper-girl-hat


I added my own home made crochet flower, rather than ribbon. The hat was really easy and made in an hour or so.

Happy Crocheting!

Find me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PookieDoodleCrafts and Ravelry: www.ravelry.com/people/pookiedoodle

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