Crocheted Pumpkins and Leaves

Today, I am sharing some crocheted pumpkins and leaves I made recently.

After making this set of pumpkins for a friend, I decided to make myself some

along with the crocheted leaves.

I used these fabulous YouTube tutorials...
Pumpkins - Bella Coco
Pumpkins stalks - Tuula Maaria
Leaves - Blossom Crochet

I really recommend visiting their YouTube channels, as you will find there there
 are lots of tutorials to follow with easy instructions.

For the pumpkins I used Hobbycraft Knitcraft Everyday DK in Orange and Rust
and for the leaves I used scraps of leftover yarn in my stash.

When I taught myself to crochet four years ago, I made a few pumpkins
using some green wool that I had been practicing with.
 I wasn't experienced enough to make the stems, so I used
some twigs instead! They're still securely in place and come out every year,
along with the 'Memory' pumpkins I made with my husband's socks.

Crocheted Pumpkins

 'Memory' Pumpkins

Thank you for visiting my blog today.
Janice x

Sweet Winter Blanket crocheted in Navy Blue and Cream

Sharing with you today another crocheted blanket I made
recently for my friend for her birthday.

I made it using the pattern for the Sweet Winter blanket in Navy and Cream.

The pattern was designed by Sue Rawlinson also known
as ‘Sweetpea Family’ on Facebook and Instagram

You can find the original blanket I made HERE, another I made in
neutral colours for my niece HERE and one for my sister HERE

I purchased Sue's pattern from Love Crafts HERE 

I purchased the yarn online from the  Wool Warehouse 

using Yarnsmiths Create DK 4 x Navy and 2 x Cream

I added my own border made up of 1 row DC, 1 row HTR and 3 rows DC.

Thank you for visiting my blog today.
Janice x

A Crocheted Blanket/Throw for my Great Niece

 Sharing with you today another crocheted blanket I recently made
for one of my great nieces.

I chose the Even Moss stitch for this blanket, which I found HERE on Daisy Farm Crafts
blog and followed their tutorial on their YouTube channel HERE

I would certainly recommend taking a look at both of the above, as there are lots of tutorials
and lovely patterns to follow. Although the instructions are in US terms, it is easy 
to convert to UK stitches.

I started by chaining 140 stitches using a 4.5mm crochet hook.

I crocheted the two row repeat pattern, changing the colour every ten rows
until I reached the desired length.

I finished by crocheting a border of one row of double crochet, one row of 
half trebles, one row of double crochet, and one row of 

half trebles.

I purchased the yarn online from Wool Warehouse

using 8 x 100g balls of Yarnsmiths Create DK
 2 in ‘Cream’, 2 in 'Light Pink', 2 in 'Pinkberry' and 2 in 'Purple Orchid'

Thank you for visiting my blog today. 

Janice x

Patchwork Baby Keepsake Memory Quilt

 Today, I am sharing a memory blanket made from baby grows.

My friend's daughter asked me if I could make a memory quilt from her
son's baby grows which she had saved.
After researching lots of tutorials on YouTube, I agreed to give it a go,
and this is how I went about the process.

I found using Bonnie's of Happy Space Creates YouTube tutorial really helpful,
as she goes through each step really clearly, which makes it easy to follow.

You can watch her tutorial HERE

I started by putting the baby grows into colour groups, plain and patterns and
any that had a motif or sentiment on the front which I could use.

Once I had decided which ones to use, I cut out a large piece from each one, 
and spent lots of time arranging them into some sort of order!

Next I used a lightweight Vlieseline/Vilene Iron on interfacing on each piece, which
stops the jersey fabric from stretching, and makes it so much easier
to cut into squares.

 
I used a 5.5" x 5.5" square quilting ruler to cut the squares.
I purchased this online from The Quilted Bear
They also have an eBay shop and can be found at the Knit & Stitch shows
held in London.

Next, I rearranged the squares into the final layout...

...and stitched them all together!

 I then placed the stitched squares onto a large piece of polyester wadding
(purchased from John Lewis), and pinned it in place securely using safety pins.

I then sewed along each seam channel using the 'stitch in the ditch' technique
to secure the squares. I used the quilting presser foot for this which came with
my Janome sewing machine.

Lastly, using a large rectangle of grey polycotton fabric, which I cut from a
fitted single bed sheet bought in the Asda sale, I attached it to the quilt front,

and top stitched it all the way round.

This is it when finished .

I really enjoyed making this quilt.
 It's definitely not 100% perfect, but I learnt so much and if I made
another, I know where I would make some changes.

I  think it's a great way of keeping special memories of your children
from when they were babies, and I'm pleased to say that my friend's daughter
was very pleased with it.

Thank you for visiting my blog today.
Janice x

Birthday Card for my Great Nephew

Today, I am sharing the birthday card I made in March for one 

of my great nephews.

I used the Crafter’s Companion football embossing folder to partially

emboss the card base. I then embossed two narrow lines to edge
the embossing using my Scor-Buddy.

Lastly, I used 3D foam pads to attach the die-cut circles to the card.

I finished by adding the number, his name and the tiny circles.

The products I have used:

Crafter’s Companion embossing folder - Football Crazy

Spellbinders Nestabilities - Circle and Scalloped Circle

Number and alphabet dies - Brand unknown

EK Success punch - Three tiny circles

Scor-Buddy

Thank you for visiting my blog today.

Janice x

A Crocheted Throw/Blanket for my Great Nephew

 Today I am sharing a crocheted throw I recently made for my 5 year old
great nephew.

I used the lovely textured Textured Trebles stitch which I found HERE on

the 'Blossom Crochet' YouTube channel.

Rebekah’s tutorials are really easy to follow and she has lots of different

crochet stitches to share.

I started by chaining 140 stitches using a 6mm crochet hook.

I then crocheted the two row repeat pattern until I reached the desired length.

I finished by crocheting a border of one row of double crochet, two rows of 
half trebles, and one row of double crochet.

I purchased the yarn from Fabric Giant

using 7 x 100g balls of Woolcraft New Fashion DK
 3 in ‘Navy’, 2 in 'White' and 2 in 'Multi Blue'

Thank you for visiting my blog today. Next time I'll be showing you
the one I have made for his sister!

Janice x

Mother’s Day cards

Sharing two Mother’s Day cards today, which I made in March, for my 

friends to give to their Mums.

The products I have used are:
Couture Creations A4 Embossing folder - Swiss Dots
Hunkydory - The Second Little Book of Decoupage
Alphabet die - Unbranded

The products I have use are:
Spellbinders Labels Ten
Couture Creations A4 Embossing folder - Tied Together
Hydrangea stamp - Unbranded
Promarkers
Stitched pennant die - Unbranded

Sentiment - PC generated

Thank you for visiting my blog today.
Janice x