Gertie the Giraffe

Having made a few blankets for the Woolly Hugs charity appeal I have decided to get my groups involved in making Giraffes for the same charity. These giraffes will be distributed to children in the Great North Children’s Hospital in Newcastle to help with their 10th year anniversary celebrations. Their planned celebrations have been cancelled due to COVID so they are hoping the knitted and crocheted creations may help the children in some way. Their logo is a giraffe and they are trying to give as many children as they can a giraffe to take home with them.  We will need to post them off between 12th September and 1st October so if anyone wants to help me then please bear this in mind.    

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Cotton Dishcloths

You will need:

50g Aran cotton yarn - I used Drops Paris (3 dishcloths out of 2 x 50g balls)

4.5 mm hook

stitch marker

Chain 26sts

Round 1 Dc in 2nd chain from hook, 2tr in same stitch, (skip 2 sts, dc, 2tr in next st) repeat till last 3 sts. Skip 2 sts, dc in last st

Round 2 Ch1, (dc, 2tr in first st, skip 2 sts) repeat until last 3 sts. Skip 2 sts, dc in last st.

Rounds 3 to 16 Repeat round 2

Round 17 Ch1, dc in east st until corner, 3sts in corner. turn work and work along side. Dc alond side evenly spacing aproximately 25sts, 3dc in corner st. Repeat along next 2 sides. Join with a slip stitch to complete round.

Fasten ends

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NHS BEAR

You will need

1 ball of Stylecraftt Special DK in Mocha

1 ball of Stylecraft Special DK in White

1 ball of Stylecraft Special DK in Midnight

A small quantity of black DK for features

A small amount of navy embroidery thread for NHS detail

A 3mm hook

Toy Stuffing

A stitch marker

Notes

The bear is made in the amigurumi method. Working in a continuous spiral without closing off each round.

HEAD

Using Mocha make a magic ring
Round 1 ch1, 6dc into ring (6 sts)
Round 2 2dc in each st around (12 sts)
Round 3 (dc in next st, 2dc in next st) repeat around (18 sts)
Round 4 (dc in next 2 sts, 2dc in next st) repeat around (24 sts)
Round 5 (dc in next 3 sts, 2dc in next st) repeat around (30 sts)
Round 6 (dc in next 4 sts, 2 dc in next st) repeat around (36 sts)
Round 7 (dc in next 5 sts, 2 dc in next st) repeat around (42 sts)
Round 8 (dc in next 6 sts, 2dc in next st) repeat around (48 sts)
Round 9 (dc in next 7 sts, 2dc in next st) repeat around (54 sts)
Rounds 10 & 11 dc in each st
Round 12 (dc in next 8 sts, 2dc in next st) repeat around (60 sts)
Rounds 13 to 19 dc in each st
Round 20 (dc in next 8 sts, dec 2 tog) repeat around (54 sts)
Rounds 21 & 22 dc in each st
Round 23 (dc in next 7 sts, dec 2 tog) repeat around (48sts)
Round 24 dc in each st
Round 25 (dc in next 6 sts, dec 2 tog) repeat around (42 sts)
Round 26 (dc in next 5 sts,dec 2 tog) repeat around (36 sts)
Round 27  (dc in next 4 sts, dec 2 tog  repeat around (30 sts)
Round 28 (dc in next 3 sts, dec 2 tog) repeat around (24 sts)
START STUFFING AT THIS POINT
Round 29  dc in each st
Round 30 (dc in next 2 sts, dec 2 tog) repeat around (18 sts)
Round 31 (dc in next st, dec 2 tog) repeat around (12 sts)
Round 32 dec2 tog around (6sts)
Pull yarn through all sts and fasten off

MUZZLE 

Using Mocha, ch5

Round 1 dc in second ch from hook, dc in next 2ch, 3dc in last ch, working in the other side of the chain; dc in next 2ch, 2dc in last ch (10sts)

Round 2 (2dc in next st, dc in next 4 sts) twice (12 sts)

Round 3 (dc, 2dc in next st, dc in next 3 sts, 2dc in next st) twice (16 sts)

Round 4 (dc in next 2 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 4 sts, 2dc in next st) twice (20 sts)

Round 5 (dc in next 3 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 5 sts, 2dc in next st) twice (24 sts)

Round 6 (dc in next 3 sts, 2dc in next st) 6 times (30 sts)

Rounds 7 & 8 dc in each st around

Fasten off

EARS (make 2)

Using Mocha make a magic ring

Round 1 ch1, 6dc into ring (6sts)

Round 2 2dc in each st around (12 sts)

Round 3 (dc, 2dc in next st) 6 times (18 sts)

Round 4 (dc in next 2 sts, 2dc in next st) 6 times (24 sts)

Rounds 5 to 7  dc in each st

Round 8 dc in first 7 sts, dc 2 tog 5 times, dc in last 7 sts (19 sts)
Fasten off. Flatten the ear with the last st worked in the centre. Sew open ends together. The side with the decreases will face the front when finished.

BODY

Using Midnight make a magic ring
Round 1 ch1, 6dc into ring (6 sts)
Round 2 2dc in each st around (12 sts)
Round 3 (dc in next st, 2dc in next st) repeat around (18 sts)
Round 4 (dc in next 2 sts, 2dc in next st) repeat around (24 sts)
Round 5 (dc in next 3 sts, 2dc in next st) repeat around (30 sts)
Round 6 (dc in next 4 sts, 2 dc in next st) repeat around (36 sts)
Round 7 (dc in next 5 sts, 2 dc in next st) repeat around (42 sts)
Round 8 (dc in next 6 sts, 2dc in next st) repeat around (48 sts)
Round 9 (dc in next 7 sts, 2dc in next st) repeat around (54 sts)
Rounds 10 & 11 dc in each st
Round 12 (dc in next 8 sts, 2dc in next st) repeat around (60 sts)
Round 13  dc in each st
Round 14 (dc in next 9 sts, 2dc in next st ) repeat around (66 sts)
Round 15 (dc in next 10 sts, 2dc in next st) repeat around (72 sts)
Rounds 16 & 17 dc in each st
change to white
Rounds 18 to 22 dc in each st
Round 23 (dc in next 10 sts, dec 2 tog) repeat around (66 sts)
Round 24 dc in each st
Round 25 (dc in next 9 sts, dec 2 tog) repeat around (60 sts)
Rounds 26 & 27 dc in each st
Round 28  (dc in next 8 sts, dec 2 tog) repeat around (54 sts)
Round 29 (dc in next 7 sts, dec 2 tog) repeat around (48sts)
Round 30 (dc in next 6 sts, dec 2 tog) repeat around (42 sts)
Round 31 (dc in next 5 sts,dec 2 tog) repeat around (36 sts)
Round 32  (dc in next 4 sts, dec 2 tog  repeat around (30 sts)
Round 33 (dc in next 3 sts, dec 2 tog) repeat around (24 sts)
START STUFFING AT THIS POINT
Round 34 (dc in next 2 sts, dec 2 tog) repeat around (18 sts)
Round 35 (dc in next st, dec 2 tog) repeat around (12 sts)
Round 36 dec 2 tog around (6sts)
Pull yarn through all sts and fasten off

ARMS (make 2)

Using Mocha make a magic ring

Round 1 ch1, 6dc into ring (6sts)

Round 2 2dc in each st around (12 sts)

Round 3 (dc, 2dc in next st) 6 times (18 sts)
Round 4 (dc in next 2 sts, 2dc in next st) 6 times (24 sts) 

Rounds 5 to 7 dc in each st
Round 8  (dc in next 2 sts, dec 2 tog) 6 times (18 sts)
Rounds 9 to 13 dc in each st
Change to white
Rounds 14 to 24 dc in each st
Fasten off

LEGS (make 2)

Using Mocha make a magic ring

Round 1 ch1, 6dc into ring (6sts)

Round 2 2dc in each st around (12 sts)

Round 3 (dc, 2dc in next st) 6 times (18 sts)
Round 4 (dc in next 2 sts, 2dc in next st) 6 times (24 sts) 
Round 5 (dc in next 3 sts, 2dc in next st) 6 times (30 sts)

Rounds 6 to 11 dc in each st
Round 12  (dc in next 3 sts, dec 2 tog) 6 times (24 sts)
Round 13 (dc in next 2 sts, dec 2 tog) 6 times (18 sts)
Round 14 dc in each st
Change to navy
Rounds 15 to 29 dc in each st
Fasten off

MAKE UP

Stuff muzzle and join to head and embroider a nose and mouth as per the image using black yarn. Embroider eyes using navy yarn positioning as per the image.

Join head to body

Stuff legs and arms in lower sections only.

Join arms by flattening top edge and sewing in position

Join legs in same way ensuring bear is in a sitting position.
Embroider NHS to top with navy embroidery thread

FACE MASK

Using white ch 25
Round 1 dc in 2nd chain from hook , dc in each st
Rounds 2 & 3 dc in each st
Rounds 4 to 7 dc in next 8 sts, htr in next 8 sts, dc in next 8 sts
Rounds 8 to 10 dc in each st
CH 30 then join to top of mask to make one strap.
dc along bottom of mask
CH 27 then join to top of mask on the other side
dc along the top of the mask.
Fasten off

STETHOSCOPE

Using white make a chain long enough to go around bears neck. Dc along the length of the chain. Fold along the length of the chain and sew the cast on edge to the final edge to make a long tube. Make a shorter tube in the same way to make the earpiece section. Join the short tube to one end of the long tube and roll over and sew the ends to make ear pieces. 

Make a magic circle , ch1 and make 6dc in the ring. Fasten off. Attach to the other end of the long tube.

YOUR BEAR IS COMPLETE
I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE PATTERN. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU SPOT ANY ERRORS

KARIN X 

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Corner to Corner Cushion

I absolutely love the corner to corner stitch and it works really well in bright rainbow colours.
I used the tutorial on YouTube by BellaCoco. There are many other tutorials around on the internet. I used the Stylecraft DK bright colour pack by Attic 24. It has a lovely range of colours.

I made this blanket a few months back and was contacted by a lady who wished to purchase it but wanted a cushion cover too. No problem. Finished the matching cushion cover today and I am delighted. What a gorgeous set.

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BASICS - holding the hook and more

For many the hardest part about learning to crochet is working out how to hold the hook and yarn. To be honest I teach many ladies (and a few men) and I tell each one that there is no right or wrong way. I can show anyone the way we are meant to hold the hook and yarn but at the end of the day we all find our own way. My way is that I crochet like a knitter. Many of my friends comment that I crochet like a nutter but I think they mean knitter!

Here is a picture of me holding my hook and yarn.

It is very comfortable for me but it may seem quite strange to a lot of you. What I would say is that if you are struggling with your grip then you might as well try this hold and see if it works for you. I have found many ladies who already knit and have found this method easier. This is probably because our brain is already set in this way for knitting and it comes quite natural.

The other thing to bear in mind is the hook itself. For me, and the way I hold my hook, the thinner metal hooks are more suitable. These are relatively cheap and you can usually buy one for about £1. Sets of about 10 different sizes quite often retail for under £5 on on-line selling sites. I have made myself a lovely hook holder to store mine in and I love it. This is the second one I have made with some extra sections this time. I chose to add a ring to attach my stitch markers to and a couple of felt pieces to place my darning needles in.

If you hold your hook in the correct crochet way then you may need a more substantial hook. There are many on the market from around £2 but they can get very expensive. I would ask to try other people’s hooks before you invest in a really expensive set and check on-line reviews too.

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BANK HOLIDAY

What lovely weather for the Bank Holiday. Spent Saturday crocheting in the garden. I looked up from my crochet and noticed out of the corner of my eye a lovely frog hopping across the lawn. He stayed still for many minutes to pose for this photo then hopped back into the pond. He knew exactly where he was going, obviously a regular to our garden.

This year the yellow flags in the pond have been amazing. The pond itself needs a bit of tidying up but we are aiming for the wild look. We have many young fish in there this year. A few less after a recent visit from a kingfisher! This is the second time we have had a kingfisher in the garden. The first was around xmas a few years ago and it came back every day for about a month. This time it only popped by one day that we noticed.

This year I have tidied up the clematis at the front of our house. I spent a bit of time encouraging it to grow up the trellis and it has kindly obliged. There are at least 10 flowers this year and it is looking really healthy. The photo does not do it justice I am afraid. Next year I am hoping it will be even better.

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Woolly Hugs Blankets for Chernobyl

Ladies at my crochet groups have been busy over the last few months making blankets for the children of Chernobyl. Each year many children from Chernobyl visit this country for a break and each child goes home with a blanket thanks to the lovely team at Woolly Hugs and all their supporters. We have made 2 blankets at our groups, but unfortunately due to the coronavirus these have yet to be sent off to Woolly Hugs. I am keeping them safe until that time. Thank you to everyone that has helped.

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Neat Ripple Baby Blanket

A new project begins. I have made 2 blankets previously in this pattern and it is very addictive. I have been asked to make a baby blanket and couldn't wait to do this pattern once again. It is the Neat Ripple Pattern by Attic24. I love this pattern with the repetitive ripples and I also love the way Lucy writes her patterns. They are very clear and packed with many photos and so are suitabe for absolute beginners. The yarn I am using is Stylecraft special double knitting. It is a lovely acrylic yarn which comes in a vast range of colours. The colours I have chosen are white, mustard, grey and charcoal. Grey seems to be a popular colour at the moment and I felt it went well with mustard, a colour I have  not used in any blankets previously.This is the start but as it is a small blanket it hopefully wont take long.

Well it didn’t take long! The blanket is finished. It measures 88cm wide by 80 cm high.  It will be for sale on my Facebook page for £40. It will make a lovely blanket for a new baby.

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