OneChurchillsGreen

Coral crochet pebbles....

.. for those of you who aren't readers of 'Inside Crochet' (I can highly recommend it, there are always several patterns I want to do each month!), I promised you a share in the projects that I've been publishing alongside my monthly column. This month is all about eating 'al fresco' with my little family. We enjoy nothing better than supper in the garden and these pebbles are perfect weights for the tablecloth and napkins - they make pretty paperweights on my desk too!

Here is the pattern for the bottom left design (the picot one):

Using fine linen or cotton thread (Namolio linen, Anchor mercer cotton no. 8) and a 1.25mm hook, make 6ch.

Rnd 1: sl st into 1st ch to form a ring, 13dc in ring, sl st in 1dc to close.

Rnd 2: *6ch, sl st in 4th ch from hook, 2ch, miss 1 st, sl st into next st, repeat from * 7 times.

Rnd 3: sl st into next 3 ch, *7ch, sl st into 4th ch from hook, 2ch, sl st into st before picot from prev rnd, rep from * around, finishing with sl st into 1st of original 7ch.

Rnd 4: sl st into next 2 ch, *9ch, sl st into 4th ch from hook, 2ch, sl st into st before picot from prev rnd, rep from * around, finishing with sl st into 1st of original 9ch.

The size of your pebble will dictate how many rounds you need. Continue as per the pattern, stretching your crochet over your pebble to see how much further you need to go and whether or not you need to increase your number of chain between picot each time.

Once your 'disc' of crochet covers the top of your pebble, work a round as follows:

Sl st up to next picot, work approx. 6ch followed by a sl st into next picot around, finish with sl st into original 1ch.

Position pebble on top of crochet disc and work sl st up 3ch to middle of first 'arch', then work a reduced number of chain between each 'arch', working a sl st into each ch sp. I worked just 3ch between each which was sufficient to secure the pebble.

This image shows the back of one of the other pebbles, but the principle is the same. You are dramatically reducing your stitch count to draw the cover over the pebble and keep it in place. You should be able to stretch the cover off the pebble to wash when necessary. Any questions, just message me below ;) xxx

Friendship bracelet 'how to'....

I promised this tutorial some time ago now, so apologies for keeping you waiting! As ever, life is hectic on all fronts, but more so recently due to my teacher training application. It's official, I've jumped all the hurdles and wriggled through all the hoops in my path and starting next Spring, I'll be working towards becoming a secondary school history teacher! I am very excited and can't wait to open this new chapter in my life. But in the meantime, here's 'how to'...

Work 3 chain, and then 1dc into 1st chain (as indicated by the arrow).

Picture of dc in action...

When completed, work your next dc through the underside of your 1st two chains, as indicated by the arrows. You will need to flip your crochet away from you, so these loops are at the top of your work.

Then continue to flip your cord away from you with each stitch (as indicated by the white arrow), working alternate stitches on both sides of your cord. Each time work 1dc into the previous 2 loops (as indicated by the black arrows).

Once your cord is long enough to wrap around your wrist, cut the yarn and pull through the last stitch, leaving a long enough end to act as a lengthening piece for your bracelet. Cross the two ends over.

With a new length of yarn, work approximately 5dc over the two ends of your cord (work in the direction of the arrow - unless you're left handed, in which work the opposite way!).

Cut the yarn and fasten off. You should now be able to pull the ends of your cord in both directions through the fastening 5dc.

Knot the ends of your cord to stop them passing through the 5dc fastening, or attach a bead. If you want to make a bracelet in more than one colour, the same technique applies, just remember to work each dc through 2 loops of each colour (2 colour bracelet - 4 loops, 3 colour bracelet - 6 loops). If you'd like to include beads or crystals as I did in the previous post, thread the required amount onto your yarn before starting the cord. Move the bead into position after you have hooked the yarn through the 2 loops, before completing the double crochet. Any questions, just message me! Hoping to post a quick film of the process, just in case it isn't altogether clear ;) xxx

 

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