When Sewing Hurts.....

 I made my first squab for the caravan yesterday, four more left to do and a back that is already saying "no more". Because of the length, I have to do the measuring and cutting on the floor and my muscles are screaming today. There must be a way that I can get Archie and Hugo to do the work for me surely.

This is the fabric I will be using for curtains down the bed end of the caravan. I've decided to treat the two different ends as two separate rooms. This helps with the smaller runs of fabric that I have. No money in the budget for buying endless rolls of matching fabrics. But who would want that when there is a cupboard bulging with beautiful material purchased randomly over the years.

I start doing pilates tomorrow so helpfully that will reinforce me enough to do the last three squabs. Fingers crossed!

Love Kate. xxooxx

Caravans and Paper Mache

 Look what arrived at our house the other day. We have been planning to buy a caravan for years and finally, the perfect one turned up on the internet.

 Structurally its great but very tired on the cosmetic front...... Wahoo! Now it's time for my sewing machine to come out of hiding and start clocking up a few kms.

 I love how it even comes with an old fashioned key. 

So keep watching this space!

 I've also been busy with paper mache. With no room for any more pets, it's time to start making them instead.

I know this isn't the most chatty of posts but I promise more words are on their way soon.

Lots of love,

Kate. xxooxx   

How to Crochet a Mini Vintage Caravan!!!

 Here it is - How to Crochet a Mini Vintage Caravan!!!

Materials.
1 x ball cotton dk cream
1 x ball cotton dk duck egg blue (or a nice vintagey caravan colour)
1 x pale blue cotton 4ply
1 x black cotton 4ply
1 x silver metallic 4ply yarn (I use Twilley’s Washable Goldfingering)
1 x 3.5mm crochet hook
1 x 2.5mm crochet hook
1 x black bead 
Stuffing

Abbreviations.
ch = chain
st/s = stitch/stitches
ss = slip stitch
sc = single crochet (double crochet in U.K. terms)
yarn a = dk pink cotton
yarn b = dk cream cotton
yarn c = 4ply pale blue cotton
yarn d = 4ply silver metallic yarn

yarn e = black

For the Front and Back.

Make 2.

This section is worked from side to side.

Row 1. Using yarn a and a 3.5 mm crochet hook, ch19. Turn, 1sc into the 2nd ch from the hook. Work 1sc into each of the next 17ch. Ch1, turn. (18) 

Row 2. 1sc into every st until the end of the row. Ch1, turn. (18)

Row 3. 1sc into the first st then 2sc into the next st. Work 1sc into each of the next 14sts then 2sc into the following st. 1sc into the last st. Ch1, turn. (20)

Row 4. 1sc into every st until the end of the row. Ch1, turn. (20)

Row 5. 1sc into the first st then 2sc into the next st. Work 1sc into each of the next 16sts then 2sc into the following st. 1sc into the last st. Ch1, turn. (22)

Row 6. 1sc into every st until the end of the row. Ch1, turn. (22)

Row 7. 1sc into the first st then 2sc into the next st. Work 1sc into each of the next 18sts then 2sc into the following st. 1sc into the last st. Ch1, turn. (24)

Row 8. 1sc into the first st then 2sc into the next st. Work 1sc into each of the next 20sts then 2sc into the following st. 1sc into the last st. Ch1, turn. (26)

Row 9. 1sc into the first st then 2sc into the next st. Work 1sc into each of the next 22sts then 2sc into the following st. 1sc into the last st. Ch1, turn. (28)

Change to yarn b.

Rows 10 - 14. 1sc into every st until the end of the row. Ch1, turn. (28)

Row 15. 1sc into the first st then skip the next st. 1sc into each of the following 24sts then skip the next st. 1sc into the final st. Ch1, turn. (26)

Row 16. 1sc into the first st, skip the next st, 1sc into the next st then skip the following st. 1sc into each of the next 18sts then skip the following st. 1sc into the next st, skip the following st then 1sc into the final st. (22)

Row 17. 1sc into the first st then skip the next st. 1sc into each of the following 18sts then skip the next st. 1sc into the final st. Ch1, turn. (20)

Row 18. 1sc into the first st then skip the next st. 1sc into each of the following 16sts then skip the next st. 1sc into the final st. Ch1, turn. (18)

Row 19. 1sc into the first st then skip the next st. 1sc into each of the following 14sts then skip the next st. 1sc into the final st. Ch1, turn. (16)

Row 20. 1sc into the first st then skip the next st. 1sc into each of the following 12sts then skip the next st. 1sc into the final st. Ch1, turn. (14)

Row 21. 1sc into the first st then skip the next st. 1sc into each of the following 10sts then skip the next st. 1sc into the final st. Ch1, turn. (12)

Bind off.

Lightly press.

For the Door.

Make 1.

The door is worked from side to side.

Row 1.  Using yarn a and a 3.5 mm hook, ch 8. 1sc into the 2nd ch from the hook. Work 1sc into each of the next 6sts. Ch1, turn. (7)

Rows 2 - 5. 1sc into every st until the end of the row. Ch1, turn. (7)

Change to yarn b.

Rows 5 - 12. Work 1sc into each of the next 6sts. Ch1, turn. (7)

Bind off.

Change to yarn d and a 2.5mm hook.

Round 1. Leaving a 30 cm tail, ch7 then work 1sc into the left hand side of the door where the colour change between yarn a and b occurred. The chained section will be stitched across this colour change at the end. As with the windows, work 1sc into every st down the side until reaching the corner. Into the corner st, work 1sc, ch1 then 1sc back into the same st. Continue to work this way up each side and every corner until reaching the first sc worked. Ss back into the first sc. 

Bind off leaving a long tail then stitch the 7ch tail across the colour change on the door. Stitch on bead for a door handle and bind off the tail.

Use the 30cm tail to stitch the door onto the caravan’s front.

For the Windows.

Make 3.

The windows are worked from side to side until otherwise specified.

Row 1. Using yarn c and a 2.5 mm hook, ch 8. 1sc into 2nd ch from the hook. Work 1sc into each of the next 6sts. Ch1, turn. (7)

Rows 2 - 5. 1sc into every st until the end of the row. Ch1, turn. (7)

This section is now worked in the round. 

Round 1. 1sc into every st until reaching the corner, 1sc into the corner st, ch1 then sc back into the same st. Repeat on every side, 1sc into every st until reaching the corners and then work the 1sc, ch1, 1sc into the corner st.

Round 2. Change to yarn d and repeat Round 1.

Sew one window onto  both the front and back sides of the caravan

For the Wheels. 

Make 3.

The wheels are worked in continuous rounds.

Round 1. Using yarn d and a 2.5mm hook, ch 2. Work 6 sc into the 2nd ch from the hook. Ss back into the first sc. (6)

Round 2. 2sc into every st until the end of the round. (12)

Round 3. Change to yarn e. *1sc into the first st then 2sc into the next st. *Repeat until the end of the round. (18)

Round 4. *1sc into each of the next 2sts then 2sc into the next st. *Repeat until the end of the round. (24)

Round 5. 1sc into every st until the end of the round.

Round 6. *1sc into each of the next 3sts then skip the following st. *Repeat until the end of the round. (18)

Round 7. *1sc into each of the next 2sts then skip the following st. *Repeat until the end of the round. (12)

Round 8. 1sc into every 2nd st until the end of the round. (6).

Bind off leaving a long tail for sewing the wheel onto the caravan.

For the Middle Band.

The caravan’s middle (the long strip that will form the roof, floor and sides) is worked from side to side.

Using yarn a and a 3.5mm hook, ch 9. 1sc into the 2nd ch from the hook. Work 1sc into each of the next 7sts. Ch1, turn. (8)

Next row. 1sc into every st until the end of the row. Ch1, turn. Continue on like this until 36 rows of yarn a have been made. 

Change to yarn b and continue on as before until 46 rows have been worked.

p.s. please ignore the pink yarn replacing yarn a in the following 2 photos - I had to retrospectively photograph this step and am currently working on a pink one.

Caravan Construction.

(This step makes sewing on the middle band much neater).

Once the windows and doors have been attached, take the font side of the caravan beginning with yarn a and a 3.5mm hook,  work 1sc into every st around the edge. Swap to yarn b when you reach the colour change between yarn a and b. Repeat with the back side. It is difficult to say an exact number of stitches to work around the front and back as the amount of single crochet’s worked each time can vary with your tension. On my caravan, I worked 33 sts around the blue section and 35 sts around the cream section.  Whatever you end up with will be fine. 

Stitch the back side and the middle band together with wrong sides facing. 

 The middle band will have to be slightly gathered for its curves to match up with the front and backs' oval shape.

Sew on the back window.

Sew the font side and the middle band together. Leave a gap and stuff firmly. Stitch up the gap.

For the Pin Striping (that's what Jonno calls it anyway - I say 'the nice-silver-definition-lines'.) 

Using yarn d, chain a length of silver long enough to wrap around the caravan from the right and side of the door all the way along the colour change line between yarn a and b, to the left hand side of the door. 

p.s. please ignore the wheels already attached to the caravan in the photographs below - it is much easier to add them at the end.... I found this out the hard way.

 Pin on.

 And stitch!

Repeat this around the seams where the middle band was stitched to the front and back sides of the caravan.

Once the pin striping has been stitched on (I had to include the photo above because it was so funny with the pins - like a caravan in love), attach the wheels to both sides.

 Don't forget the spare wheel. Very important..... it only takes one flat tyre to ruin a holiday!

I will do another tutorial over the next week on how to embroider a little name for your caravan. I find the little spot next to the back window is perfect for that.

Et voila! You are now ready to go camping.

Leave any questions in the comment section below and I will reply underneath.

I hope it all makes sense. Keep an eye out because I am going to make a Christmas decoration version soon.

Lots of love,

Kate. xxooxx.
p.s. If you would like some more small and magical little projects, click here to see my book!

My Vintage, Crochet Caravan!

This is what I have been working on for quite some time now. My own little caravan. I've been a bit reluctant to post about it because of copyright issues but then I thought.... do I really want to be all squirrely - I would so prefer to share with you guys what I am doing. So, this is what you do when you would love to have caravan, but just can't quite justify it - crochet hooks come out and a new pattern is developed. Keep in mind that this really is a work in progress and any patterns will be a very long way from being released in any format.

Meet Rosie.

Remember the kitchen sink - this is who it was made for.

 Both windows have net curtains made from my grandmother's lace.

 Spare tyre for emergencies.

I would love to crawl into this bed for a nap.

Cup of tea anyone?

 The tap is made from an earring.

I used my one of my favourite Liberty fabrics for the decking - it's so retro and caravany.

And shouldn't all caravans have a name like Rosie or Flo?

Unfortunately I'm not keeping this one - she is going to be sold as a fundraiser for the boys' school and is up for auction tonight at the ball. I'll let you know how she goes tomorrow. In the meantime though, I just want to start making the next one!

Lots and lots of love,
Kate.
p.s. If you would like to see another small and magical crochet world, click here to see my book!