All squared up! My first blankie tadaah! ....a labour of love

 Hello friends,


Trust all is well in your lil patch under the sun? Today is a very happy day for me , I have f inished my first crochet blanket .... which I talked about earlier here? I have done so many small projects for family and friends but never thought I could do a blanket. I am always awestruck by fellow crocheters churning out blanket after blanket with untiring zeal....let me hope this is the first of many for me!

When I first saw this blanket , I was smitten!! I just wanted to make it 432 small squares not withstanding!! It feel like a great accomplishment especially as its my first!! I did not use the specified yarn as I would not have the heart to use it,  and whats a blanket for if the kids cant play with it and wrap themselves up in it? So I ended up using Stylecraft dk in various shades and am very happy with th result especially as it can be washed in the machine with no repercussions whatsoever. Whats not to love?

My lil boy has been so helpful with all the counting , combinations and egging me on, thanks sweetheart!! I am so glad I made this blankie for another bi........g reason. I have gained a lovely, lovely friend in Vanessa of cocorose textiles blog fame., make a blankie and a friend for life,good bargain,huh? Thank you , V!!

I am going away to India after nearly two years...I will have access to the net for most of my trip so will be able to blog about my adventures back home. I hope to be able to finish some small projects while away for family.. I am the only crocheter in the family,you see...so will have to live upto expectations!! :):) Any suggestions welcome!

Since I started blogging, I feel like I have widened my horizons and made so many friends who I feel I have known for ever,quite an amazing feeling..I am sure you lovely people would agree with!! A toast to all friendships made and those that are still to be   made!

I have a teeny request...please please do leave a word or two on this post about my first blankie,it would really mean the world to me and spur me onto make more  and follow in the footsteps of all you seasoned and fabulous crocheters!!

Toodle pip for now, will be back soon.

Warm hugs

Ramya

Finally..... The petal square tutorial!!!

Hello friends,


Hope all of you are well and happy? Many of you must have finished a lovely half term.. these are such precious moments spent with our cubs..to cherish for always,  arent they?

I apologise for the delay in posting this promised tutorial, just dont know where the time went last week?


Here goes....


Yarn : any dk yarn is  fine in 3 coordinating colours
Hook: 4mm


With the first colour , in my case, orange, chain 5.

Join with a slip stitch in first chain to form a ring.

Make a beginning cluster in the ring as shown.


First chain3 which counts as a double crochet(US terms) , yarn over, insert hook in indicated space or stitch, yarn over and draw up a loop, yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook; yarn over,insert hook in ring, yarn over and draw up a loop, yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook(3 loops on hook); yarn over and draw through all 3 loops on hook. Again this is quite wordy, hence all the pictures, so its clearer.

Then chain 2 , make a Cluster as follows.  Yarn over,insert hook in  ring, yarn over and draw up a loop, yarn over and draw through  2 loops on hook; yarn over, insert hook in ring,yarn over and draw up a loop,yarn over and draw up a loop,yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook twice; yarn over and draw through all 4 loops on hook.  Again please feel free to skip this and follow the pics, it might seem a bit tricky to start with, but it will soon become second nature. It took me a while to get the square I had visualised in my mind...a very petal-ly flower and clusters are the way to go, I am sure!! 


Make as many clusters as petals ,that would be 7  in this case, then chain 2. join with slip stitch in top of of Cl-8 clusters. Fasten off.

2 loops on hook

you have 2 loops on hook, now yarn over and draw up ,a loop
yarn over and and draw through 2 loops  on hook, you now have
3 loops on hook!

yarn over and draw through all 3 loops on hook, one beginning cluster
made, yippee!

 now chain 2 and make a cluster in ring seven times ie eight petals in total!
the following pics show how the cluster is made. first yarn over and insert hook in  ring,
yarn over and and draw up a loop.

yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook

(yarn over insert hook in  the ring, yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook.)
twice. yarn over and draw through all 4 loops, one cluster made!!

8 petals done!!

Join second colour, brown , with a slip stitch in any chain2 space(beginning cluster as explained,chain3 ,cluster)
in same chain 2 space.

Chain 2, cluster, chain2 ,cluster in next chain 2 space.

chain2 (cluster , chain 3, cluster) in next chain 2 space. Corner
made, hurrah!  always thrills me!

Repeat the above step twice, then chain2 (cluster ,chain2 ,cluster ) in next chain 2 space, chain2,
join with slip stitch in top of  beginning cluster, this makes 16 clusters, 4 corners . Fasten off!!And give yourself a hug!!

With your third colour, join  in any corner chain3 space,  chain3 ( counts as first dc) then make 2 more dc in same place.

 

* 3 dc in next chain2 space, 2 dc in next chain space, 3 dc in next chain space,(3dc,chain 2 ,3 dc)
in next corner chain 3 space(corner made);repeat from * 2 more times; 3 dc in next chain 2 space
3 dc in next chain 2 space,3 dc in  same corner as beginning chain 3. Chain1 ; join with hdc
in top of beginning chain3 (counts as  corner  chain 2 space).
Chain2, turn; hdc in each dc around, working (2 hdc,chain2, 2hdc) in each corner chain2 space; join with slip stitch in top of beginning chain 2.

..

I have used US terminology throughout chiefly because thats what I have encountered in many books .  I have included a schematic to cover any shortcomings in the wordy tutorial!! Hope it is helpful!!

I cant believe how long it has actually taken me to do this post, I have done it in  instalments, struggled at times with Blogger......anyway here it is...I hope some of you will attempt this square of mine  and make different things with it and will let me know if you do please, nothing would give me more pleasure!!


Last week , my lil boy( let me post this before he objects,he is 11 you see and might take umbrage,  but you know how it is, our children will always be little for us , however much they might grow!!) was away on a residential trip and how I missed him..... and understood how our parents feel when we fly the coop!! The cycle repeats,doesnt it? My  lil girl   missed her big bro so much that she hugged his shirt like a blankie every night!! Its nice to see them so close(well, most of the time!!)


Right, I will return to more worldly chores, and hope to be back with you all soon with a " big"reveal.......


Ciao.


Hugs,
Ramya