Crochet Mood Blanket 2014

30 Monday Dec 2013

Tags

#crochetmoodblanket2014, crochet along

Tomorrow is the last day of 2013. Can you believe it? We still have leftovers from Christmas dinner and it’s almost 2014! One good thing about the new year being here on Wednesday is that it’s the first day of the Mood Blanket 2014 crochet along. I’m making one square a day. Others are making one a week. Some people are making striped blankets so they do a row a day. Anything goes, as long as the colour is inspired by your mood. (Have a look at the Facebook group for Crochet Mood Blanket 2014 for all the info. You will have to ask to join the group, but get accepted really quickly. It’s lovely to see what others are doing – “others” being more than 2,200 people so far!)

I’m going to use leftover Hayfield Bonus from the Granny Square blanket I made for Nicole. Here are my colour choices to represent my moods.

The pattern I’ll be using for my squares is Lacy Cross from Jan Eaton’s 200 Crochet Blocks.

Here’s hoping for a predominantly green, turquoise and white blanket for 2014!

Crochet For Kidneys Part II – the hexagons is a go

04 Wednesday Dec 2013

Posted by Natasja in Crochet For Kidneys, Part 2

≈ 16 Comments

Tags

charity, crochet along, crochet4kidneys, hexagon

♫♪Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Zip-a-Dee-Dee-Ay, Oh what a lovely bunch of people you are!♪♪

I received a great response on my post from Sunday launching Crochet For Kidneys Part II! Most of you who attended the event on 9 November have said that you will take part in Part II and I even have a promise of one whole hexagon blanket from Tammy!

You also voted for your favourite colour for the last round of the hexagons. Our (very clear) winner with 55.88% of the votes is: WHITE. I’m really glad most of you went for white. I was secretly hoping for this result. White will form a lovely frame around our brightly coloured hexagons and it’s a universal colour. You guys have good taste!!!

So here is all you need to know to take part in Crochet for Kidneys Part II – the hexagons.

If you’re stuck for crochet hexagon patterns, here are a few helpful links:

Ten free hexagon patterns

Lionbrand’s hexagon market bag

Attic 24’s Hexagon (I used Lucy’s pattern to make a scarf – the close-up of which you see in the photo above)

Step by step photo tutorial for making a hexagon

The deadline is 7 February 2014 because John and I plan to go to the Royal London Hospital on the 28th of February to hand over the blankets. We have two months to crochet the hexagons, will get together on the 7th of February somewhere in the Surrey area (details to follow once I’ve decided on a venue) for a 2 hour joining session, and then we have three weeks to finish as many blankets as we can.

Please join our Ravelry group here, Tweet and Instagram using #crochet4kidneys and most importantly get hexagoning people!! Wouldn’t it be great if we can make more than seven blankets this time? Tell your crocheting buddies and spread the word please. You can even use Pinterest to pin the picture in this post.

I seriously can’t wait for the first hexagons to fall through my front door! If you need my address, please use the Contact Me form.

I will start making hexagons as soon as I’ve finished joining the last two of the purple-and-white square blankets from Part I. I’m going to buckle down and get those to blankets done asap so that it can be delivered to the dialysis unit of the Royal London Hospital before Christmas. I’ll keep you posted.

Happy Hexagoning everyone! Brace yourselves – you’re going to see that phrase a lot running up to 7 February!

Crochet for Kidneys Part II

01 Sunday Dec 2013

Posted by Natasja in Crochet For Kidneys, My ramblings, Part 2

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

charity, crochet along, hexagon

That’s right peoples, this blogpost heralds the start of Crochet For Kidneys Part II.

Our purple and white blankets were such a huge success – in terms of the numbers of crocheters who took part and the number of squares I received from you all, but most of all it was a huge success because it lifted the spirits of seven dialysis patients at the Royal London Hospital. Our blankets meant such a lot to them, doing it all again is a no-brainer. We have to keep going. Agreed?

This time however we’re doing it a bit differently. There won’t be a fund raising aspect – this time it’s all about making blankets. I think we should still get together one day to join up the crochet pieces to form the blankets, but there won’t be a crochet quiz or raffles or talks by John and Pieter – just a bunch of charitable hookers making blankets. The date and the venue of our get together is yet to be decided. For now, I just want to ge the (yarn)ball rolling to get us all crocheting.

So what are we making?

Not squares, we’re making hexagons!!! As with the squares, they should measure 15 cm across and be in acrylic or cotton double knit yarn.

What hexagon pattern should you use? Well, I found a list of the top 10 free crochet hexagon patterns over on the Moogly blog. All we need is right there in one place! Just click here to go straight to the list of hexagon patterns. You may just have to add a few rows of (UK) treble / (US) double crochet to some of the patterns in order to reach 15 cm across. On this page there’s a step by step photo tutorial to make a basic hexagon which would be perfect for our blankets. Then there’s this Lionbrand hexagon pattern which is 15 cm across, so it’s perfect. Of course you can use any hexagon pattern – the pattern you choose is totally up to you – as long as your hexagon is 15 cm across.

As for the colour, we’re not sticking to purple and white like we did for the squares – you can make your hexagons any colour, or combination of colours, except for the very last round of your hexagon. If everyone uses the same colour for their last round, we will use that colour to join the hexagons and the overall effect will be uniform and very, very, pretty.

I can’t decide what that last round of colour should be, so I’m putting it to a vote. YOU decide.

Voting will close midnight Tuesday 5 December.

I will recap everything in a follow-up blogpost and also create a new Ravelry group.

If you’re on Twitter or Instagram you can keep on using #crochetforkidneys to share your hexagons with us.

I can’t wait to get started! I can already “see” our brightly coloured hexagon blankets cheering up the dialysis patients!

Five blankets for dialysis patients

27 Wednesday Nov 2013

Posted by Natasja in Crochet For Kidneys, Part 1

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

crochet along, crochet blanket, Kidney Research UK event

Today is the day people! John is delivering five of the seven blankets to the dialysis unit of the Royal London Hospital. Do you know what today also is? It’s the one year anniversary of the kidney transplant operation that took place at the Royal London Hospital! John will be at the hospital for his post-transplant one year check-up. What better day to hand over blankets of hope to those suffering from kidney failure?!

It was a bit of a rush to get a decent amount of blankets finished, but we did it. Jane, Tammy and Liz each took a bunch of squares home on the 9th of November and crocheted them together. Thank you so much ladies, you really saved the day!

Please excuse the badly lit photos below. I didn’t get time over the weekend to photograph the photos properly. I rolled and tied up the blankets with purple ribbons last night after dinner and John set off to the hospital at 9 am, so this is probably the only proper photos we will get off the blankets.

Squares joined by Liz

Squares joined by Tammy

Squares joined by Jane Czaja

Squares joined by Natasja

I made these A5 laminate cards for each blanket:

Blanket tag

I felt we needed to give the recipient of the blankets the history behind their blanket. Without the context of who made it, where they live, when it was made and why we made for them, it could just as well be a shop bought Primark blanket. The tag also includes the care instructions.

It feels strange that this project is coming to an end. I still have two blankets to join up which I will post to the Royal London Hospital, but today is the special day that we’ve all been aiming for – handing over of the blankets to those who need it most. I can’t wait to hear from John how it went. We don’t know how the blankets will be handed out or who decides who gets a blanket and who doesn’t. Hopefully John will be able to take some photos. I will keep you posted, or you can go over to twoguysonekidney.blogspot.co.uk a bit later today to read John’s post about today.

To each and every one of you who made a square, posted it to me, showed up at the village hall on the 9th November and most of all for just being such a great buns of people

THANK YOU SO SO SO SO SO SO MUCH

I’d also like to take the opportunity to tell you that……

we’ll be making more blankets!!! This has been such a brilliant team effort I want to do it again! I have a few things lined up for the next two weeks that will keep me busy, but before Christmas I promise to let you in on my plans. I can tell you that we will be voting, we won’t be doing squares and it will be a good stash busting project.

Oooh, the suspense!

Watch this space hookers!

Crochet squares and a get together

02 Monday Sep 2013

Posted by Natasja in Crochet For Kidneys, My ramblings, Part 1

≈ 27 Comments

Tags

bake sale, charity, crochet, crochet along, crochet event, kidney research UK

Do you have any plans for Saturday 9 November 2013? Fancy getting together with a few other crocheters to crochet squares for a charity and/or make up finished squares into blankets? You can also join in a crochet quiz and try your luck with raffle prizes. How do you feel about baking and trying out other’s home bakes? Does this sound like your idea of a Saturday morning? If so, you’re reading the right blog. I’m arranging all of this, and it’s in aid of Kidney Research UK.

When: 9 November 2013 from 10:30 to 13:30

Where: The Vera Fletcher Hall 4, Embercourt Road, Thames Ditton, Surrey KT70LQ. More information on the location here. The hall is 50 yards from Thames Ditton station, which is on the South West Trains line between London Waterloo and Hampton Court. Parking is also available in the area around the hall.

Why Kidney Research UK: My husband, John, met someone who suffered from full kidney failure a year ago. Pieter had been on dialysis for 4 years and on the Organ Donor’s List. John was so moved by his suffering and story, that he decided he would donate one of his kidneys to him. Over the months of compatibility tests they became the best of friends, during which time we learnt that they were a very good match. The transplant operation was on 27 November 2012 and went extremely well. John’s donation also made history by being the first directed altruistic organ donation in the UK. It’s now 9 months later and they are both in very good health. Pieter wants to pay it forward and recently became a Board Member of the Kidney Research UK “Making EVERY Kidney Count” appeal, . Pieter has committed to raise £150,000 over three years. I want to help him in the only way I know how: crochet.

How will we help Kidney Research UK?:

1. By crocheting squares to be made into blankets for dialysis patients. Around 20,000 people receive dialysis every year. It’s an extremely unpleasant thing to go through. I’m hoping that lovingly made crochet blankets will help make the dialysis session just a little bit better.

You can start crocheting squares now. Any design of square, as long as it’s close to 15cm squared and you stick to shades of purple and white (as these are the official colours of Kidney Research UK). Please do not use wool as it may shrink or felt when the recipients wash their blankets on a too warm wash. Acrylics and cottons are best. I have purple and white 100% cotton yarn for sale in my Etsy shop that will be excellent for these squares. 25p From each ball sold also goes to Kidney Research UK. You can find the cotton yarn here.

You can make a traditional granny square, or my Granny Square in Bloom square, until it reaches 15cm squared. Step by step photo tutorials for these two patterns can be found here. The pattern has been translated into UK / Australian crochet terms on Spincushions blog here.

If you need more inspiration, Jan Eaton’s book 200 Crochet Blocks (there is a link to the book under the Books I Recommend section on the right) are filled with patterns for squares designed to be 15 cm squared.

Just remember that all squares have to be shades of purple and/or white and no wool.

On the 9th of November we will start crocheting the squares together into blankets, and crochet more squares. If you can’t attend the get together, please post your squares to me. Squares from all over the world are welcome – the more the merrier.

2. Sales of raffle tickets. On the day we will sell raffle tickets for fun prizes. This blog post gives an idea of what will be raffled and also a sneak peek at the crochet quizz prizes.

3. Sales of coffee & tea. The cake to go with the coffee & tea is up to you….

4. Sales and donation of baked goods. Think of your entry fee to the crochet along, as something baked. Anything along the lines of a cake, cupcakes, muffins or tarts. Everyone’s baked goods will be sold with the tea & coffee and all proceeds go to Kidney Research UK. You can price your slices / goods whatever you think it’s worth. If baking isn’t your thing store bought goodies are absolutely fine.

3. Raising awareness of the work that Kidney Research UK does: Kidney Research UK will show a short video and Pieter and John will talk about their experiences in receiving and donating a kidney.

Things for you to do:

Please register on this page if you intend to come to our event on 9 November, or if you need my address to post the squares. We need to know how many people to prepare for, so please only answer Yes to the first question if you know for sure that you will be there.
Start making purple and/or white squares.
Line up the village baker/mother-in-law/neighbour to bake your entry fee, check out the cake aisle of your local Tesco, or browse through your recipe books.
Tell your crochet buddies and ask them to send squares or to come along on the 9 November.

CAL blocks 10 to 16

10 Wednesday Oct 2012

Posted by Natasja in CAL, My crochet

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

200 crochet blocks, crochet along

Here are my blocks ten to 15 of Rachell’s 200 Blocks Crochet Along. You will see I only have five blocks instead of six. That’s because I didn’t make block no. 11: Baby Blocks. For the life of me I just couldn’t figure out how to carry the yarn and I got confused with which SC counted as the first stitch of the new colour. I really tried, but then I thought &%$*% it. I can always repeat one of the other block designs and seen in the big scheme of things, who cares whether I can make Baby Blocks or not (I certainly don’t).

So here are blocks 10, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16.

My least favourite block is Fine Lines. Hubby said it reminds him of a banana peel. I kinda see where he gets that.

Circle in a Square is definitely my favourite. I used it when I made cushions for my brother, and also for my first yarnbomb. For the yarnbomb I only did rounds 1 to 5 and it still looked great. It also works up really quick.

And a group photo. It’s very colourful isn’t it…?!

Crochet Along blocks one to nine

24 Monday Sep 2012

Posted by Natasja in CAL, My crochet, My ramblings

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

200 crochet blocks, crochet along, Polamatic

Ooo, this post has been a long time coming! Since 1 September in fact. Bad Natasja! But in my defence, I was entertaining my dear Dad on his visit to my neck of the woods, and enjoying it so much that I didn’t even have any time to blog. I’m sure you’ll understand. (It’s a good sign when real life takes precedence over blog life don’t you think?)

Anyway, here’s what I want to show you. Blocks 1 to 9 of the 200 Crochet Blocks with Rachell Crochet Along. We’re making two to three blocks per week, starting on 1 September, so seeing as we’re in week four I should have at least eight blocks. I’ve got nine to show you and two more at home that I haven’t photographed yet. I’m back on track baby!

So here are my nine blocks. They are all done in Stylecraft Special DK with a 4 mm crochet hook.

These blocks have already been wet blocked, but not very successfully… That’s the thing with acrylic yarn – it doesn’t block as easily as natural fibres. At least the blocks are all 15cm x 15cm, just a bit wobbly around the edges. Hopefully they will straighten up nicely when sewed together. I hope…. if not, I’ll just wet block them again en masse.

My favourites are Popcorn Flower and the Corner Granny. I don’t like Twin Stripes and Triangle Stripes very much, but I’m glad I made them. This CAL is forcing me to make things that I wouldn’t normally be drawn to, which is a good thing.

If you’re taking part in the CAL, how far along are you? Do you have a favourite square?

The Making Spot crochet along

27 Monday Aug 2012

Posted by Natasja in CAL, My crochet, Ta-daah!

≈ 16 Comments

Tags

crochet, crochet along, crochet jewellery, Instagram, The Making Spot

Are you taking part in The Making Spot crochet along? I’m so taking part, I’m done! Over the Bank Holiday weekend I finished the bracelet and I really, really, really like it. Thank you to The Making Spot for introducing me to tiny crochet hooks and crochet thread!

The nitty gritty of my bracelet:

The bracelet design I chose from the four given in the pattern, is Bracelet with Crocheted Balls. You can find the pattern on the Coats Crafts UK website here.
I used Aida 10 crochet thread in silver grey and a 1.5 mm crochet hook
In the end I didn’t use the monofilament thread and diamante clasp you can see in this post, but went for my first choice of 3 mm silver ribbon to thread the balls and glass beads.

Not only is The Making Spot hosting the crochet along, you can also take part in The Big Flower Swap:

If you’re not content with sharing a photo of your finished crochet online, why not send it into us here at Crochet Along HQ? We’ll send you someone else’s flower so you will receive some pretty petals in the post! Before the swap ends and we post back your blooms, we’ll photograph everyone’s flowers in a DIY Crochet Flower garden.

To join in the Big Flower Swap: crochet one or several flowers from the free pattern, and post them (along with a stamped, self-addressed envelope) to: Crochet Along, The Making Spot, Future Publishing, Bath BA1 2BW, England.

I made the big flower from the necklace pattern and posted it this morning. It would be great if one of my blog readers receive my flower, and even greater if I receive one of your flowers!

So here is my bracelet for the crochet along, and flower for The Big Flower Swap. It’s been an education working with crochet thread and a small hook, and I love it! (I loved it so much I already have a plan to crochet rosebud earrings to match my bracelet. )

The crochet along runs until the 28th of September, so you still have loads of time to crochet a bracelet and/or necklace and flower(s) for the swap.

One CAL done, another one to start: The theme for Rachell’s crochet along (working our way through Jan Eaton’s 200 Crochet Blocks book) has been decided on: Cottage Garden. I’m so happy! My stash is filled with cottage garden shades! Starting 1 September we are making block no. 1 and no. 2 from the book. All the information about this CAL is on Rachell’s blog.

So many things to get my hooks into! Love it!

A crochet bracelet in the making

24 Friday Aug 2012

Posted by Natasja in CAL, My crochet

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

crochet along, The Making Spot

I’m taking part in The Making Spot’s crochet along. Have you heard about it? It sounds like so much fun. Read all about it on their blog, here.

I’m making the crochet ball bracelet. As you can see, I have everything I need, plus a bit more (more beads than I will need and a ribbon + monofilament option for stringing the balls & beads). For creative juices to flow I need to give myself options. Too much of a good thing is, on my blog at least, a very good thing.

Did you see how tiny that 1.5 mm hook is?!!! A bit daunting but hey-ho, it’s good to hook outside your comfort zone now and then. I can’t hook everything with my favourite 4 mm hook. Or can I….. if I like the bracelet I may just make another one in DK and my 4 mm hook.

Geez I haven’t even put hook to thread yet on this one and already I’m planning the next! Steady now *said in a Churchill dog voice*