I often get asked about what crochet hooks that I like to use. These are the hooks that I love to use – Clover Armour Hook set (note that this is an affiliate link – where I may get a small commission if you purchase from it). You will see from my website and my social media that I actually use these hooks for all of my crochet projects and often include them in my photos.
The hooks can be bought separately, but I bought this set with a range of different size hooks. (Set contains sizes: 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5 and 6mm.). The set is bright and colourful. The hooks have soft and easy grip handles. The metal hooks are smooth and glide through yarns with ease.
The hook that I most use is the 4mm – my favourite!
I have now completed my stashbuster squares project and I am really pleased with it. In total, I made 70 squares and arranged them in a 7 by 10 formation. I sewed my squares together using a variation of the mattress stitch and I made a blanket/throw. The blanket could be left as it is, but I decided to add a simple white border.
The full details are available here. I have also included a video tutorial.
I have had a lot of requests on social media for the pattern for these squares. To be honest, I have not yet completed the full blanket design yet and was planning to publish the full pattern once I had done this and written it up in full, with a full supporting video tutorial, like I usually do. However, it appears that there are loads of people who cannot wait for this and are ‘demanding’ the pattern for the square NOW!
So, in a break from the usual, the written pattern for the square is detailed below.
This is a stash buster project to use up leftover yarn from other projects. You can use any yarn you want to use. I used leftovers of Stylecraft Special DK – each square used approximately 7-8g of DK yarn (each square measured approximately 11.5cm x 12cm). I used a size 4mm hook. You can purchase Stylecraft Special DK yarn here.
The stitches used in these squares are double crochet (dc) and half treble crochet (htr) (UK terms). The main body of the square is based on a modified lemon peel stitch (the lemon peel stitch alternates between double crochet and treble crochet, but this pattern uses a half treble instead of the treble crochet).
I left a long tails of approximately 30cm, so that I can sew the squares together using these long tails.
Abbreviations/Crochet terminology:
UK terms are used throughout.
st
stitch
dc
double crochet
htr
half treble crochet
ch
chain
*to*
instructions between asterisks will be repeated as specified
Stitch Guide/Conversion Guide
UK term
UK abbreviation
US term
US Abbreviation
Description
Double Crochet
dc
Single Crochet
sc
Insert hook into stitch, yarn over hook, pull through stitch (2 loops on hook), yarn over hook, pull through remaining two loops to leave 1 loop on the hook
Half Treble Crochet
htr
Half Double Crochet
hdc
Yarn over hook. Insert hook into stitch, yarn over hook, pull through stitch (3 loops on hook), yarn over hook, pull through remaining three loops to leave 1 loop on the hook
Chain
ch
Chain
ch
Yarn over hook, pull through loop
Written Pattern (UK terms)
Foundation chain – Chain 18
Row 1 – dc in 2nd ch from hook and in each stitch along to the end, turn. [17 stitches]
Row 2 – ch1 (does not count as a stitch), htr in the first stitch, *dc in the next, htr in the next* repeat from *to* to the end, ensuring that the last stitch worked is a htr. Turn.
Row 3 – ch1 (does not count as a stitch), dc in first stitch, *htr in the next stitch, dc in the next stitch*, repeat from *to* to the end ensuring that the last stitch is a dc. NOTE: the dc’s are worked into a htr stitch from the row below and the htr’s are worked into a dc.
Rows 4 -15 – repeat row 2 and row 3
Row 16 – repeat row 2
Row 17 – ch1 (does not count as a stitch), dc in each stitch along to the end. Cut yarn leaving a long tail of approximately 30cm (if you are going to sew your squares together).
Over the past couple of weeks I have been working on the Cosy Rectangle Blanket. It is a wonderfully soft and squishy blanket, thanks to the stitch combination. The pattern is easy to follow but it is worth noting that I adjusted the number of stitches in each round so that the blanket lay flat and the corners were beautifully square. Essentially each round is one of two rounds (either a round 4 or a round 5 repeat). The stripes are made up of two rounds of each colour. The written pattern is available here.
I am currently working on a video tutorial for this Cosy Rectangle Blanket and I am hoping to release this soon
I have finally finished writing up this project, and I am please to say I have managed to also make an accompanying YouTube video to help anyone who fancies having a go at making this. Pattern can be found here.
When I come to end of one project, there is always a sense of excitement that I can start a new one. Yes, I am one of those really annoying people who are very strict about having ONE project on the go at any time. I have to stick to my rules otherwise I would never finish anything! But sometimes when the time comes to start a new project my head is buzzing with all sorts of ideas, and it can take a while to really crack on and make a sample and see if works.
The inspiration for this project came from modern quilt designs, particularly the disappearing 4-square designs. I decided to make 4 differently configured squares, which I will later come to join to form a larger square. My basic design was as follows:
My 4 square designs
I then joined the squares in groups of 4 and then edged the group in a darker colour.
I am pleased to finally publish the pattern for my Crossed Stitch Granny Square Blanket. The full free written pattern can be found here.
In addition to the free written pattern, there is also a video tutorial to help you with making the Crossed Stitch Granny Square. A video for joining and the border is on its way soon.
I wanted to share my latest project with you – the working name is ‘Colourful Crosses’, and is a Granny Square Variation. Over the last few weeks I have been working on a bright and colourful project. I needed something relatively portable to be able to take the project on my summer holiday. The colours are a mix of reds, pinks, oranges and yellows and are wonderfully uplifting.
Granny Squares are so addictive, and this variation was so aesthetically pleasing. The squares are worked in 3 colours in 3 different stages.
The first stage produces some beautiful little sweetie-like squares.
The second stage:
The third stage adds a little twist – some crossed stitches:
The best thing about these squares is that they turn out wonderfully ‘square’ and they are completely reversible.
I have decided to join the squares by sewing them, and am so pleased with how it works up so neat and still completely reversible. Not quite finished doing yet, and then on to a border.
Happy Granny Square Day 2022. This is a simple variation of the traditional Granny Square. The pattern is simple and consists of treble crochet (UK terms) stitches, and is suitable for beginners. Full free pattern here.
