JoyofQuilting

 Crochet Hugs The idea for Crochet Hugs came about as an add on to the Crochet Blankets I like to make for New Babies. After finishing a Crochet Blanket a couple of years ago I decided to make a little something extra out of the leftover yarn from that Project. More about the Baby Blanket A few years ago. I made a Teddy out of my Grandson's outgrown Jacket. A Girl Teddy was next. To go with a Blanket I had made from outgrown baby clothes. I can't remember why I made the first Crochet Teddy. But he also belongs to my Grandson. Oh! I just remembered. The first Crochet Hug I made was a Little Friend for Tonka. Tonka is the Bear above made from William's Tonka Coat. Do you remember Tonka Toys? My Favourite Patchwork and Crochet Shape is a Square. So it seemed a simple step for me to make a Square or Square ish teddy. But to me they are not quite Teddies. So I started calling them Crochet Things.  That didn't sound very appealing. They are made for Hugging. So slowly I start...

 Baby Crochet Blanket  I like to make my Baby Gifts in Beautiful Bright Colours. It makes me feel so Happy.  Your Choices The fun for me starts way before I pick up my Hook. There are decisions to be made. The Pattern First Choice: Which Pattern? My Go To Pattern Inspiration Places Facebook  I follow quite a few Crochet pages on Facebook which means I regularly see different Crochet Projects in my Facebook Feed. Pinterest  Pinterest is great if you have an idea to explore. A Search for Crochet Baby Blankets will bring up lots of ideas. Also it can help with colour choices. Put in a search for Blue Crochet Baby Blankets and you'll see lots of different blue options to inspire you. Instagram  I'm a bit umm.... about Instagram. There is some beautiful work on there. But for some reason I don't find a works very well for me. I've never quite understood how it works/the point of it. I'd love to know your thoughts on Instagram though. Basic Granny Square  Fo...

Grandmother's Crochet Hug My older Granddaughter recently moved into a new flat. And I wanted to Crochet her something for her new pad. I found this pattern on the Drops Free Pattern Website.  Grandmother's Hug Here is my Version and this picture shows the colours really well. I really enjoyed making this for My Granddaughter.  And the picture below shows you it evolving from a Circle to A Granny Square. Just Six Granny Squares  It was made up of six large Granny Squares and nine rounds of border.  It was a joy to make. I used Scheepjes Chunky Monkey Aran from  The Wool Warehouse It's so Soft & Cwtchy And works up satisfyingly quickly. If you like the colourway I've used. However  I had to improvise on the last two rounds of the border as I didn't have enough Yarn. I'm looking to make this Project again for my 2nd Granddaughter and I'll be ordering another ball of the White 1001 and another Ball of the Baby Pink 1240 So I can finish hers off as per the ...

For The Love of Hand Stitching There is something therapeutic about Hand Stitching. Don't get me wrong. I Love Machine Stitching with a Passion. But every now and then I feel the need to partake of some Hand Stitching. BUT I can't Hand Stitch for long. Weaknesses  Eyes and Joints  My eyes don't now, and never have actually done well with close work. Cross Stitch literally makes me Cross eyed! I just can't keep the Stitches still and get quickly confused. Similar although not quite so bad with Embroidery. My eyes tire quite quickly. And then there's me joints. My fingers aren't as nimble as they once were. And repetitive work can become quite painful. Blackbird Syndrome  Blackbird Syndrome: Also, I'm easily distracted by shiny new projects. And consequently have lots of different projects on the go. My Solution  But I do Enjoy a bit of Hand Stitching. So what's a Girl to do? Play to Your Strengths  So what Strengths do I have? I have quite a good guesstim...

 Block Printing - Hand Stitching  I don't do a lot of Hand Stitching but whenever I do I find it So Relaxing. Late last year I did some Fabric Stamping on some plain canvas Bags and Zip Pouches I bought from  Amazon Block Printing  The Fabric Stamping itself was very easy and fun to do. I have quite a good selection of Wooden Stamps Most from  Colouricious And I used some of the Stamped Bags as Gift Bags at Christmas. The little zipper pouches have come in useful over the last few weeks as storage for my Little Janome Gem Sewing machine bits & bobs. I had got that machine out to take to my local school to help get Year 6 Pupils Stitching, and the little tin I kept the spear bobbins, feet etc was looking rather shoddy with rust marks in. So time for an upgrade me thinks. Hand Stitching  And another for my Hand Stitching bits & bobs. And then I thought um, a touch of outline Hand Stitching would look good on them. So I got out my trusty Pearle Cotton ...

 Emotional Support Chicken  I recently Crochet this Emotional Support Chicken from  The Knitting Tree  for my Neighbour who keeps Chickens. The Pattern is also available on  Etsy And  Ravelry You can also buy Knitted versions. I used a Chunky yarn and it made a life sized Chicken. She's quite Splendid. Just the right size to cuddle. Applique  Some close up pictures. Top Left the Chicken I Appliquéd onto A Canvas Bag. Bottom Right the Chicken I Appliquéd onto A Gift Card. I had so much fun making all these. The Chicken took less than a week to Crochet. The Appliqué on the Canvas Bag took an hour or two and is machine stitched onto the bag. And the Appliqué Chicken Gift Card was made using HeatnBond so a quick no Sew project. Then there's My Grandmother's Hug Throw AND Granny square Baby Blanket   See more of my Crochet Projects More of My Ideas for Canvas  Bags Links to My Small & Easy Crochet Projects Yours in Stitches, Joy