The YAL - yarn a-long - is here!
Blossom Pin Keeper – Project 1, Jan 2015
What better than to begin with something we use every time we crochet! There is a crochet pin keeper and a different knitted pin keeper.
In this wonderful 'Year of the Flower, 2015, you'll work from a different pattern every month in knitting or crochet and sometimes both! All the projects will have a flower theme and be useful. They'll also be achievable since we yarn lovers tend to take on more than we can manage. :-) You might like to make extras as gifts for Christmas or birthdays! Do let me know how you go!
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| Blossom Pin Keeper, crocheted version |
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| Blossom Pin Keeper, knitted version |
On the first of every month, a new pattern will be posted to the blog, and an announcement will be made on Instagram. The patterns will be available on Ravelry as a PDF, linked from the blog, for ease of printing. You can download the patterns from Ravelry and delete any of the photos in a separate document for printing. Both patterns can be found here Blossom Pin Keeper, crochet version (**please note the additional row 7 which was not in the original pattern) and Blossom Pin Keeper, knitted version on Ravelry
If you complete the pattern, please tag me on Instagram, or leave a comment below. The hashtag for Instagram is #yalyearoftheflower2015
I hope you enjoy making the pin cushion.
Lu xx
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** Errata: please note: there is a 7th row of dc all round, with '3dc, 2ch, 3dc' in each corner. (so sorry)
Blossom Pin Keeper – Project 1, Jan 2015 (crochet)
I love making functional objects that I can use to hold my
notions while I create. This cushion is for the pins I use to block my knitted
or crocheted projects. They lose their
sharp point during the blocking process so I like to keep them separate.
This is a fast project and requires small amounts of yarn
and a little fabric. You can find it on Ravelry here...Crochet Blossom Pin Keeper
DETAILS
6 colours - Yellow, green, white, two shades of pink, red
3.5mm hook
Tapestry needle to sew in ends.
Scissors
2 Pieces of coordinating fabric 13cm x 13cm. (insert)
Toyfil fibre or sand and a funnel for the insert (I have
used toyfil)
Sewing needle and cotton to stitch up the opening of the
insert
Finished size – 12cm square
Abbreviations in UK terms
Ch – chain slst –
slip stitch dc – double
crochet tr – treble
Trcl – with all the clusters, leave the last loop of each
stitch on the hook and then at the end, draw through all loops.
METHOD – the pin
cushion is made from a large granny square with a flower centre
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| Row 1 |
1. Yellow - Magic ring, ch1, 8dc into ring. Sl st into the first dc. Fasten off colour 1.
Weave in ends.
2. (white) Join colour 2 in any dc. Ch3, 2trcl into same place as the slst, 1ch,
*3trcl into next dc, 1ch, repeat from * around,slst into the 3rd ch
of the beg ch3. (8 -3tr clusters, 8 ch)
Fasten off. weave in ends.
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| row 3 |
3. (green) Join colour into any 1ch space. 3ch, 2tr in same place as the ch, 2ch, 3tr in same place (corner), ch1, *3tr in
next 1ch sp, ch1, (3tr in next ch space, 2ch, 3tr in the same ch space, this is the second corner), ch1, repeat from *
two more times, slst into the 3rd ch of the beg 3ch. Fasten off. Weave in ends.
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| Add fourth colour |
4. (red) Join colour into the corner 2ch sp. Repeat as for row 3 only there will be TWO spaces in between the corners. Do 3tr, 1ch in every space and 3tr, ch1, 3tr in each corner. Fasten off. Weave in ends.
5. (med pink) Repeat
as for above with T HREE spaces in between the corners. Fasten off. Weave in ends.
6. Continue with the
rounds of light pink, green and yellow. Fasten each colour off. Weave in ends.
7. Continue in yellow with a dc in every stitch and *3dc, 2ch, 3dc* in each corner.
BLOCK the square.
ASSEMBLY
All corners are going to be brought to the centre and
stitched along the diagonal.
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| 1...bring 2 adjacent corners to the centre |
1. Bring two adjacent
corners to the centre and with a running stitch, join from the middle to the
corner.
2. Work your way around the square joining corners starting
at the middle first and working your way out to the edge. Use a running stitch to join.
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| Join using running stitch |
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| Two diagonals joined |
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| Work your way out to the middle to the edge |
Leave the last
diagonal open (below) so you can insert the filled cushion inside.
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| The last diagonal... |
3. Stitch up the last diagonal.
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| The back side - such a shame to hide it but lovely to know it's there.. |
INSERT - seam allowance
Draw a square on your fabric, wrong side, 5mm in from the
cut edge. Stitch around the square leaving a 3cm opening on one side. You will
turn the square through here.
Fill the
insert with sand or Toyfil fibre. Using
a small stitch, close up the opening. Place the insert in the crocheted square
before closing up the last diagonal join.
FLOWERS
3.5mm hook, white and yellow or colours of your choice
1. Magic ring, 8dc into ring,
Slst into 1st dc.
2.* Ch3 2trcl in same place as sl st, 3ch, slst into same
place as trcl, slst into next dc,
repeat from *
around – 8 petals. Slst into the first
dc on previous row.
3. Fasten off leaving
a long tail.
Join flowers to pin keeper with long tail.
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DETAILS
4 yarns - green, pink, red, multicoloured
size 4mm needles
Tapestry needle to sew in ends.
Scissors
Pearl button or feature button
2 pieces of coordinating fabric 13cm x 13cm. (insert)
Toyfil fibre or sand and a funnel for the insert (I have
used toyfil)
Sewing needle and cotton to stitch up the opening of the
insert and to attach the button
Finished size – 12cm square
METHOD –
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| Blocking the square |
Cast on 20 stitches, Green, cast on 20 st multicoloured
yarn. **Ensure you cross the colours over each other at the join to avoid a
gap.
Knit in stocking stitch for 26 rows, ending on a purl row.
Cut yarn. Join new colour.
Knit across the row for 20 sts in colour 3, knit next 20sts
in colour 4
Knit 25 more rows with these two colours.
Block.
ASSEMBLY
All corners are brought to the centre and stitched along the
diagonal.
1. Bring two adjacent
corners to the centre and with a running stitch, join from the middle to the
corner. Fasten off.
2. Work your way around the square joining corners starting
at the middle first and working your way out to the edge.
Leave the last
diagonal open so you can insert the filled cushion inside.
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| Leave the last diagonal open to insert the fabric square. This will become the TOP. |
3. Once you have made the insert, stitch up the last diagonal.
INSERT
Draw a square 5mm in from the cut edge on the wrong side of
your fabric.
Stitch around the square leaving a 3cm opening on one side.
You will turn the square through here.
Fill the insert with sand or Toyfil fibre. Using a small stitch, close up the opening.
Place the insert in the crocheted square before closing up the last diagonal
join
FLOWER
Leaves and flowers are from the same pattern.
Abbreviation
Kfb – knit front and back into the same stitch
Cast on 2 sts. Knit both stitches.
1. Kfb in the first
stitch, knit to the end. (3sts)
Repeat row 1 above until you have 8 sts.
Next knit row: K2 tog all across (4sts)
K2 tog all across (2st)
K2 tog across. Fasten off.
Weave the ends through the back of the petal. Make five. Leave one tail long to join the
petals together.
LEAVES
Repeat above for the petals in green. Make two.
Assembly
Thread the long tail into a needle and join the petals through
the base of each one. Pull this up tight
and secure the join with a knot. Attach
a button to the centre.
Position the flower and leaves on the pin keeper and attach with the long tails.
Overstitch the diagonal joins on the pin keeper with yarn if you wish.
I hope you have busted some of your stash and that this has been a easy, satisfying project to kick off our Year of the Flower!
If you have any questions, or if you see any errors, please contact me at wildaboutyarn@outlook.com.
I'll be off stitching... planning the next YAL pattern for February.
Lu xxxx
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