Block a Week Friday

Block 98

Scattered Leaves

A nice, easy block made in stocking stitch and then the leaves are made separately and sewn onto the plain block.  I love the finished result but not so much the stitching on of leaves.  The good thing about this block of course is you learn how to knit those cute little leaves which you could use to embellish all manner of things.

Rating -  intermediate 

Curl - 2

Ends - 8, of which 6 are from the leaves. you can use these to sew the leaf in place.

Finished size 6" x 6"

The reason why I made this block is because someone else had made it too

and combined it with these

To make this beautiful blanket.

Made by Triccia from Loving Hands

I think it is amazing! it just shows how beautiful these blocks can be when they are combined.  Triccia has used the leaf border from the book too. 

Triccia found all the blocks which she has used for this blanket easy however she has said this about block 61

"First part of pattern with leaf was easy to follow, but second part with decrease and eyelet was trying.

The pattern keeps referring to previous rows in groups, jumping back and forwards. I resorted to writing down row numbers and marking off when I had knitted row."

Thank you to Triccia for allowing me to feature your blanket. :)

Linking with

Have a great weekend !

The Gentle Ripple How To

Thank you for all the lovely comments you left for the Gentle Ripple Shawl and for all the requests I got for the pattern.

 This is a simple ripple pattern it's called an eyelet ripple and is no way my own, I have seen lots of beautiful projects using the same stitch, but I couldn't find a precise pattern or tutorial that I could link back to so I have written it down here with a tutorial for those who are new to crochet or ripples.

For those of you who are old hands at rippling this first part is for you.
This is written in UK crochet terms.
***
We are using

 trebles = tr  ( US DC )

chains = ch

I used Double Knitting Wool and a 4.5 mm hook
It takes 280 grams of yarn.

I hate counting chains and usually just chain until I have the length I need and double it with a few more for a ripple, then I just keep working the first row until it's the length I need if there are too many chains it's easy to get rid of the excess, better too many than too few.

This shawl measures 44 inches or 112 cms if you want a precise chain count the pattern is a multiple of 9  and add 3 for the foundation row.  So for a shawl this size it would be a chain of 210 
***
Row 1 :  1 tr in 4th ch from hook, *1 tr in each of next 2ch, tr2tog over next 3ch, (leaving centre ch unworked) 1tr in each of next 2ch, (1tr, 1ch, 1tr) in next ch, repeat from*, end with 2 tr in last ch.  (change colour if you wish) 3ch turn.

Row 2 : 1tr in first tr, *1 tr in each of next 2 tr, tr 2 tog over next 3 sts, ( leaving previous rows tr2tog  unworked), 1tr in each of next 2tr, (1tr, 1ch, 1tr) in 1ch space, repeat from *  ending with 2tr in top of 3ch. 3 ch turn

Just repeat these two rows changing colours when you like until it is the length you require mine measured 48 cms, add tassels if you wish.

I remember my first ever ripple, I just didn't get it, it took me ages to understand the how to but once I did I fell in love with the ripple and it's become one of my favourite stitches, so for those of you who are new to rippling or working chevrons or zig zags whatever you like to call them, I hope this tutorial will help.

Read from *** to *** above or if you like make a sample piece first of 30 chains.

Foundation Row

Second Row

Phew I hope all that makes sense, just continue in this way until it's the length you want.

Just a quick note about loose ends, you can carry the yarn up the side of your work if you like and then do a row of dc/sc up the sides to hide them, or you can do as I did and cut them as you go leaving them quite long, I then tied them off in pairs, inserted tassels at the same point and just pulled the ends through with the tassel.

Have fun whatever you decide to do, if you do decide to make one of these I would love to see yours. :)

Any questions?..just fire away.

The Monday Smile

Happy Monday everyone I hope that you all had a great weekend and got your batteries well and truly charged.   
So what's making you all smile this week? as for me well it's always the little things

1. I had my Dental Check up on Saturday and I needed no treatment yay!! you don't know how happy that made me feel, no more Dentist for 6 months!.
2. I have a Holiday today, it's seems so strange not going into work on a Monday morning I feel a little bit disconnected if you know what I mean but I'm going to make the most of it and do nothing haha well what I mean to say is, just do as I please.
3. Going out for a meal tonight to celebrate a friends birthday.
4. I am still on track with my blanket, I'm feeling so pleased with myself because I'm in love with it again and I'm loving these little motifs more and more as they fly off my hook.

 It's hard to tell because of the lighting, but I have a white smile this week.

White is the colour of perfection. The colour meaning of white is purity, innocence, wholeness and completion.

So ok.... I'm pure and innocent 

and I'm working towards wholeness and completion...of the blanket that is so...it works for me. ;)

Hope you have something to smile about if not I hope this helps. :)

Out of the mouth of babes

JACK (age 3) was watching his Mom breast-feeding his new baby sister.
After a while he asked: 'Mom why have you got two? Is one for hot and one for
cold milk?'

MELANIE (age 5) asked her Granny how old she was. Granny replied she
was so old she didn't remember any more. Melanie said, 'If you don't remember
you must look in the back of your panties. Mine say five to six.'
 

BRITTANY (age 4) had an ear ache and wanted a pain killer. She tried in
vain to take the lid off the bottle. Seeing her frustration, her Mom
explained it was a child-proof cap and she'd have to open it for her. Eyes wide with
wonder, the little girl asked: 'How does it know it's me?'

JAMES (age 4) was listening to a Bible story. His dad read: 'The man
named Lot was warned to take his wife and flee out of the city but his wife
looked back and was turned to salt.' 

Concerned, James asked: 'What happened to 

the flea?'

Have a great week!