Christmas Lighthouses.....

Sometimes I find myself pondering things in the middle of the night when I find a pocket of wakefullness. The other night saw me thinking about a Christmas tree in a lighthouse - and so I started making these lighthouse baubles - or babules as I keep going to write. And another exciting thing..... I dipped my crochet Christmas babule (see) from this pattern in glitter and glue. It worked!

As for the toadstools, I have another whole post waiting to be written but I need a little bit more than five minutes to do it in. For the meantime, read about them here.

Mini Crochet Advent Caravans!

 I just wanted to remind you of this project I made for Christmas last year. This is one of my favourite patterns ever and I am so looking forward to filling them up with goodies for our tree again. You can find the pattern here.

Lots of love,
Kate. xxx

How to Crochet a Mini Christmas Wreath

With Christmas creeping up (at least in the world of handmade as there is only so much 'making' time until December), I thought it would be fun to add a festive project to the Lakeside Cabin from "Let's Go Camping! Crochet Your Own Adventure". A wreath for the door. Of course, once I made that, the caravan (also in the book) looked bereft. Now, I can't stop making mini decorations....

p.s. please ignore the paint on my fingers in the photos.

Materials:

gold or silver 4ply yarn

embroidery thread (or 4ply yarn) in red and green (or white)

needle

Abbreviations (US terminology)

ch = chain

st/s = stitch/stiches

ss = slip stitch

sc = single crochet

sk = skip

N.B. All rounds are worked in continuous spirals

 Round 1. Using 2.5mm crochet hook and gold yarn, ch10. Ss back into the first ch to form a loop.

Round 2. Working over the 10ch loop rather than into it, crochet 12sc evenly distributed around the loop. Ss back into the first sc. (12)

Round 3. *1sc, 2sc into the next st. Repeat from * until end of round. (18)

Round 4. *2sc, 2sc into the next st. Repeat from * until end of round. (24)

Round 4. *3sc, sk one st. Repeat from * until end of round. (18)

This will cause the wreath to start curving back around like a donut.

Round 5. *2sc, sk one st. Repeat from * until end of round. (12)

 Fasten off leaving a long tail to sew the first and last round together through the central hole.

For the French Knots 

Secure the thread to the wreath then wrap the needle anywhere between 1 - 4 times. 

 Place the tip of the needle back through the wreath and draw through the wraps.

 After a few french knots have been embroidered, thread the needle with green yarn and scatter some straight stitches to create leaves. Continue on with french knots until you think "Wahoo".

At this stage, my wreath is so new I have it stuck to the caravan with a needle. However, because it's going onto the door temporarily, I will fastsen it on with small pieces of double sided sticky tape - then it will be easy to remove after Christmas.

The  Lakeside Cabin wreath was made with a gold base and white embroidery thread for the french knots. 

If you are feeling particularly festive, you could attach a brooch back and wear it on your shirt!

Let me know in the comment section below if you have any questions.

Lots of love,

Kate. xxx

A Sneak Peek at Let's Go Camping! Crochet Your Own Adventure

 Now that the release date is rapidly drawing near (24th September - Jonno's birthday), I thought I should show you a little bit of what I have been up to over the past few months. 

Many of you have seen the crochet caravan which will of course feature in the book, but did you know that there are all sorts of other patterns for things like narrow boats, ice cream trucks, lake cabins, tents, teepees, etc, etc (my fingers will drop off if I write down everything and you have to have a few surprises left when you open the book).

 One of the projects I adored making was this narrow boat. Here it is undergoing construction on the kitchen table. It was such a joy to make.

 At first it was a little cold so I made a wood burner for it. What a difference, the bed only needed one blanket after that otherwise it would just be too hot to sleep. I do spend a lot of time on my own it may be worth pointing out here.

 Cruising along the kitchen table on a paper river.

The wood burner is of course crochet and doesn't make a difference to room temperature.

If you are wanting to pre-order a copy, check out your favourite online bookstore or try here
Lots and lots of love,
Kate. xxooxx

A Quick Round Up of Greedy For Colour Christmas Projects and Patterns!

I know it seems crazy to start thinking about Christmas. After all, October only popped up in the calendar a couple of days ago. But, as all crafters know, October is the month to really, really, really get making if you would like it to be  Christmas ready. I've put it off my making before only to regret it later. So come on, let's get going.

This year I am working on a Christmas project (to be revealed soon) and I'm delighted to say that Black Sheep Wools have very kindly offered to contribute the yarn needed for my project at a special rate! Wahoo!!!! So keep an eye out for the pattern which will be coming soon.

For the meantime, here are some projects from the past few years.....

 Crochet Christmas Baubles.

 Crochet Balls -   Instructions for making the wreath aren't included but I tracked down some photos of  the construction process which I'll share next week.

 Christmas Crochet Advent Bunting.

 Mini Hot Air Balloons - this is one of my favourite decorations to hang on the tree.

 Confetti Style Pompoms.

 A Christmas Star - this would make a lovely garland.

 Angel Wings - I always think these would make a wonderful decoration hanging from a mini, handmade wire coat hanger. 

Crochet Apples - perfect for a Christmas tree, look at the colours!!!

 Here are a couple of easy washi tape ideas.

And if you don't feel like decorating a tree this year, you could always hang your lighter decorations from the roof using washi tape to secure them. 

I hope something from the round-up has tickled your fancy and has you thinking Christmas thoughts!

Lots and 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!