O Christmas tree... a simple decoration.

Since Sophie was born, 7 and a bit years ago, we have made a Christmas decoration each year to send round to family and friends.  One year was a handprint, another salt dough stars and hearts that were painted and varnished and last year gel appeal shapes (well, blobs if I'm honest). 

 

I'm not sure what our rellies make of these random decs they receive but I'm hoping they realise we've put some time and effort into them rather than just thinking we're tight for not buying a proper gift.  After all who needs more socks right? (Actually, Mr Hopo does, his seem to have signed some kind of sock suicide pact and every time he puts a pair on another hole appears.)

Anyway, this year we've made Hama bead trees and stars but not in the traditional way.  Whilst both bigger girls can do a hama bead board it takes quite a while and so I decided to have a go at just pouring them into a cookie cutter shape to see if they would stick together. 

I got 2 metal cookie cutters and put them on grease proof paper.  For Livvy (3) I just let her pick whatever colours she wanted and she opted for a 'just chuck it in approach' whereas Sophie (7) took her time choosing the colours and laying them out inside the cutter.

We made sure that all the beads were touching, they can be standing or laying, before cooking at 180° for about 15 mins.  The beads don't melt completely flat and just widen out their holes a bit which once cooked means you can easily thread some cotton through to hang them.

Livvy's star had more beads in including some on top of others which means it's much more 3D than Sophie's but I think it's equally pretty. 

You need a bit of brute force to get these out once cooked but I found it easier to ease them out from the side that was next to the tray pushing bit by bit around the cutter.  Just watch you fingers on the cutter edge.

I used some cotton thread to make little loops to hang these with, probably about 20cm long so that I could tie a knot and then cut off the excess.

So, if you want to make some simple and cheap (I got a bag of Hama beads from my local toy shop for just £1.80) Christmas decs with the kids this is for you! I've just got to persuade the kids to part with them now as according to Sophie they are all so special she doesn't want to send them away...

If you make any I'd love to see so don't forget to tag me on instagram @hookonepurlone

101 uses for yarn ends (and other excuses I use)

I collect my yarn ends, even the scrappy ones, and keep them in a large glass jar.  It's the ultimate yarn barf, especially if the kids have been in it and Mr Hopo says I'm hoarding but I beg to differ and here's why:

1 - It's pretty.  Nuff said.
2 - I might need them. Erm, for colour matching.
3 - For stuffing toys with.  They deserve to be pretty inside and out.
4 -  Kids crafts, gluing, sticking, colour matching, general fiddling with and spreading around the house.  Yes, you'll spend the next week finding small threads everywhere BUT you did get to have a cup of tea and do a few rows of crochet so totally worth it.  Kind of.
5 - Art.  Kind of a continuation of kids activities except I think I probably enjoy this more.  Last time we did some yarn art they abandoned me to my task quite quickly but at least it started as something for them.  I did a yarn rainbow last and am thinking a portrait next.  I'd love to create something like the wonderful work of Marna Lunt.  It would probably be more akin to spaghetti thrown at a wall but I'll try anything once.
6 -   For making wall hangings.  We collected sticks and tied yarn and ribbons to them for colourful wall hangings that have pride of place in our kitchen.  (My whole house is covered in the kids art and it always make me smile)
7 - If you collect enough you could start insulating your house with them.  Although Mr Hopo says I've got enough yarn to do that anyway. 
8 - To use in embroidery.  I've never done that, but I definitely will. Definitely.
9 - You can use them as a prop in photo's.  I have lots of stuff that I have just as props for photo's, like baskets and sheets of paper.  (Mr Hopo doesn't feel those items are necessary either though)
10 - The growing pile of ends shows how much you've achieved and a reminder of all the beautiful things you've made. 
11 - Erm, ok so I don't think I'm going to get to 101.  Maybe more like 10.1. 

And my last reason is the most important one.  Because I WANT to.  And it's MY yarn. So there Mr Hopo. 

The Easy Peasy Cowl and Crazy Sexy Wool review

I recently managed to get my hands on some super squishy and yummy Crazy Sexy Wool by WATG * A/W collection. Let me tell you, this yarn is as good as it looks! It's fluffy, soft and sumptuous.  I literally squealed when I got it out of the bag and spent ages squeezing and admiring it.  (My yarn addiction may be getting slightly out of hand!) 

The colours I've got are (from bottom to top) Cameo Rose, Pink Lemonade and Mustard Sally.  Initially I thought the mustard was my fave because, well, mustard right? But the more I looked at the deeper pink the more I loved it so I decided to use that one first.  Sometimes we have to make tough decisions. 

After some deliberation I decided on a cowl as 3 skeins will only go so far and although I think these would make a perfect baby blanket I don't know any pregnant people right now (and I'm definitely not volunteering).

 This is a yarn that doesn't need any fancy stitches because it's beautiful as it is so I went for a plain half treble crochet stitch and thus the Easy Peasy Cowl was created!

The Easy Peasy Cowl

Pattern is in UK terms

You will need:
one ball of Crazy Sexy Wool (or 200g of super chunky yarn)
20mm hook
Large tapestry needle for sewing together

Terms:

Ch - chain
Htr -half treble crochet **

Method:

Row 1 - Ch 28, htr in 3rd ch from hook and in each subsequent st (26)

Row 2 - Ch 2 (does not count as first st) then htr into each stitch (26)

Repeat row 2 another 6 times (there will be enough yarn to do another row if you wish but I felt that it was deep enough at this point).

Fasten off then sew together the shirt ends.

Voila! One snuggly, cozy and Crazy Sexy Cool cowl.

If you're umming and aahing about buying this one (it's definitely a pricier yarn) I say treat yourself! Your worth it.  And with this pattern you get a usable accessory and don't break the bank.  (Not to mention the cool box with your name on it, basically worth it just for that!)

I've got a small amount of yarn leftover and plan to make a little lavender bag with it.  Granny chic at it's best!

I hope you like the pattern and I'd love to see it if you make one!  Just tag me on instagram @hookonepurlone

Much love and hugs,

Heather xx

Just to let you know, I haven't been paid for this post, just my views on some yarn and sharing a pattern!

*Wool And The Gang

** a half treble crochet is as follows:  yarn round hook, insert hook into next stitch, yarn round hook and pull yarn through the stitch (3 loops on the hook) then through all 3 loops on the hook.

New pattern!! A Hook Case

Hello friends!! 

I have had a very serviceable but really quite ugly hook case for a while now.  But given that you can crochet pretty much anything I thought why not make a hook case?!

So I set about creating this:

I present to you :

The Crochet Quiver!

I'd like to give a massive shout out to Kimberley of @kbated for coming up with such a great name!😘😘  I'm pretty sure that all of us hookers can hunt out yarn within a mile radius so we need a handy quiver to store our arrows, ahem crochet hooks, in right??!😊😂

You will need:

3 aran weight yarns – I used Drops Paris Cotton (I love the stitch definition and colours 😊):

Yarn A Light Turqouise

Yarn B Shocking Pink

Yarn C Medium Pink

4mm crochet hook

Tapestry needle and a sewing needle

20cm zip in same colour as Yarn C – please be aware that depending on your tension you may need a slightly shorter or longer zip.  It may be worth waiting until you have worked the main body of the case to then measure the circumference.  The finished dimensions of my Crochet Quiver is approximately 20cm long by 23cm around.

Cotton thread for attaching the zip in same colour as Yarn C (l used a strand of the yarn rather than buying a whole reel of thread but it was quite fragile and snapped a couple of times).

I worked each round individually and not in a continuous round like amigurumi to stop my stripes from going wonky!

The only stitch used is the half treble crochet (htr).  For step by step directions go here

At the start of each round ch 1 then continue with the pattern as below!! 

I hope you enjoy making this as much as I did!  Happy hooking!!

Method:

Bottom part of hook case:

Row 1 – Using Yarn A make a magic ring, make 7 htr into the magic ring. (7st)

Row 2 – make 2 htr into each stitch (14st)

Row 3 –  make 1 htr into the first stitch, 2 htr into the next.  Repeat to the end of the row – an increase in every other stitch to the end. (21 st)

Row 4 – make 1 htr into the next 2 stitches and 2htr into the next stitch – repeat this to the end of the row – an increase in every third stitch.  (28st)

Row 5 – make 1 htr into the next 3 stitches and 2 htr into the next st – repeat to the end of the row – an increase in every fourth stitch. (35st)

Row 6 – make 1 htr into the next 4 stitches and htr into the next st – repeat to the end of the row – an increase in every fifth stitch. (42st)

Rows 7-12 1 htr into each st for 6 rows.  At the end of row 12 snip yarn and fasten off.  (42 st)

Row 13 – join yarn b and make 1 htr into each st. at the end of the row snip yarn and fasten off.

Row 14 – rejoin yarn A and make 1 htr into each stitch, at the end of the row, snip yarn and fasten off.

Rows 15 – 20 – rejoin yarn B and make 1 htr into each stitch for 6 rows.  At the end of row 20 snip yarn and fasten off.

Row 21 – join yarn c and make 1 htr into each st. At the end of the row snip yarn and fasten off.

Row 22 – rejoin yarn b and make 1 htr into each stitch, at the end of the row, snip yarn and fasten off.

Rows 23-24 – rejoin yarn c and make 1 htr into each stitch for 2 rows.  At the end of row 24 snip yarn and fasten off.

Turn inside out to sew in ends.

Lid of hook case:

Row 1 – using Yarn C make a magic ring, make 7 htr into the magic ring (7st)

Row 2 – make 2 htr into each stitch (14st)

Row 3 –  make 1 htr into the first stitch, 2 htr into the next.  Repeat to the end of the round – an increase in every other stitch to the end. (21 st)

Row 4 – make1 htr into the next 2 stitches and 2htr into the next stitch – repeat this to the end of the round – an increase in every third stitch.  (28st)

Row 5 – make 1 htr into the next 3 stitches and 2 htr into the next st – repeat to the end of the round – an increase in every fourth stitch. (35st)

Row 6 – make 1 htr into the next 4 stitches and htr into the next st – repeat to the end of the round – an increase in every fifth stitch. (42st)

Rows 7-10, 1 htr into each st for 4 rows.  At the end of row 10 work 5 more stitches, snip yarn and fasten off leaving a long tail.  

Attach the lid to the base of the hook case (attach anywhere on the top of it) along the 5 extra stitches then sew in ends.

Sew zip on the hook case using the back loops only and using the 5 stitches where the base and lid join to put the ends of the zip.  This should give a nice clean finish.

Ta Dah!!  Fill with your crochet hooks (or pens, make-up brushes etc) and admire your lovely new case!!

As with all crochet patterns this is totally adaptable, you can use any colours, choose any aran yarn and you could make it bigger by adding some extra rows if your hooks are a bit longer! 

I’d love to see your finished hook cases or works in progress so please tag me in your pictures on instagram! @hookonepurlone or #hopohearts !😍😊

Love and hugs peeps!! H xx

Hello There!

Helllooo! 👋👋 Welcome to my first blog post!😊💖

I've set this blog up as a space where I can share my colourful crochet makes and free patterns.  I'm also hoping to have the opportunity to connect with lots of other lovely people who love crochet and yarn as much as I do!!

So a brief intro...I'm Heather, I'm a colour crazy, crochet mad mum of 3 👧👧👶 living in lovely Norfolk 💕   I have a massive stash of yummy yarn and a wip (work in progress) pile as tall as me 😂  

I discovered an amazing community of like-minded crocheters on instagram a couple of years ago but only recently found the confidence to create some designs myself 😊 come say hi to me there! I'm @hookonepurlone 😊
 
I recently shared a photo of a hook case I designed and made and I'm overwhelmed by how many people showed interest in it!😊😳 I'm busy writing up the pattern so I can share it with you here.

Here it is:

I'm totally in love with this colour combo!💙💖

I'm going to make a second hook case to test the pattern...Any colour combo suggestions? I'd love to know your thoughts! 

Love and hugs peeps xxx H xxx