Vintage Floral doily - Motif Monday no. 2 CAL

Vintage Floral motif 2, May 2020

Motif 2 - Vintage Floral 

have you joined in to the crochet along to make doilies?  I just love the centre of this one!  My only lament about motifs/doilies is that often, the most beautiful design is in the middle and gets covered up.  Now and then I just sit an arrangement of doilies on a table to show them off!  (I might have to do that with this one. :-) )

FACTS

Yarn – 4ply

3.5mm hook
Finished diameter - 20cm (7 3/4") 

Abbreviations -  UK terms

Ch – chain                  tr - treble

Dc – double crochet    2 stitch dtrcl -  2 stitch double treble cluster
3 stitch dtrcl - 3 double treble cluster - made over three stitches **

**   2-stitch dtrcl -  2-stitch double treble cluster

Omit the last step of each double tr – to begin: go into the first stitch and do a double treble to the last step, go into the next stitch and do a double treble to the last step, then yo and pull through the  three loops on the hook.

3-stitch dtrcl : 

Omit the last step of each double tr, go into the first stitch and do a double treble to the last step, go into the next stitch and do a double treble to the last step, go into the third stitch and do a double treble to the last step,  then yo and pull through  two loops, yo and pull through the three loops on the hook..  

4dtrcl: 

Omit the last step of each double tr and instead of going into the stitch, go into the chain space of the row before.  Repeat  in the same manner as for 3stdtrcl  but do one more repeat before pulling through all the 5 loops on the hook. 

Magic circle  

1. Ch1, 24dc into ring.  Join with a slst into the first dc.

2. Ch4 (counts as 1tr), 2dtrcl, (the ch4 and the 2dtrcl is equal to a 3treble cluster)  *ch7, make a 3dtr cluster over the next 3 dc  . Repeat from * around joining the last ch7 with a slst in the top of the 1^st cluster. 

3.  Slst into each of the next 3ch, ch1, dc in the same loop, *ch8, dc in next loop.  Repeat from * around, joining the last ch8 with a slst in the 1^st dc.  

4. Slst into the loop, ch4, make three 4dtr clusters with a ch5 in between, *ch5, three 4dtr clusters  with 5ch in between in the next loop. Repeat from * around.  

5.  Slst into  1^st 2 ch of the 5ch space,  dc in the same loop, *ch5, dc in next loop.  Repeat from * around. Join with a slst to the dc. 

6.  Dc in same place as the slst, 7dc in 5ch space, *dc in dc of previous row, 7dc in 5ch space. Repeat * around.   Fasten off.

 Block using your preferred method.

This reminded me of the handkerchiefs my Nan used...

There...a fresh bright Spring  floral motif.  (It's Autumn here in Australia.  The nights are a bit cooler but the days are divine!)

Please tag me #wildaboutyarn on instagram or @lindadouglas  on Facebook if you use some of your stash to make your own Vintage Floral doily

Happy Crochet making, 

Linda xxx

Favourite things of 2016

Hello November

where did the year go? 

The other day, I sat and wrote down all the projects that were my favourites for 2016.  Socks, dyeing, flowers, little bejewelled blankets...too many to include here!  I think you all know that knitting socks is one of my favourite things to do...it's theraputic for me and now that I've gotten my formatting down, I can do it without a pattern.  You could too if you tried.
(Free tips on knitting socks here...☺
                              http://wildaboutyarn.blogspot.com.au/2014/11/aburning-sock-desire-sock-knitting-in.html  )

This is Secret Garden yarn, gifted to me by the lovely Connie  who has just uploaded a whole new batch of delicious yarns!

(Find these beautiful yarns here...Chile Knitz yarns

I fell in love with this Regis Thelma colourway  - this is the basic sock pattern

Hermione socks http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hermiones-everyday-socks  in Kaleidoscopeali Paintbox 7 yarn

 I wanted ankle socks and Rosecity Rollers  (Find them here...) seemed perfect, 

quick to make and are so cute.    (I used a Madeline Tosh  - light pink - and  a multi coloured sock yarn from Spotlight for the toes and cuff.)

Nature featured in many of my projects this year whether it was in dyeing or prints.   I travelled extensively throughout Queensland this year teaching workshops. It's my passion and seeing the achievements of all those who attended is just one of the rewards of being able to share my knowledge and skills. At last count, there were more than 120 participants  who took part in my classes this year. A huge thank you to everyone for the support and creative fun we had.

Sock yarn dyed with avocado pits/skins and wattle

DYEING yarn and paper were part of some of the workshops.  Dyeing is easy to achieve for beginners but the process  always offers a uniqueness;  there is some ofthe unknown in how it turns out which makes it  exciting.

Are you like I am & want to knit every skein you dye just to see what colour pattern emerges? Alas, some fly out the door to other homes before there's a chance but there's always the thrill of seeing the variations once the skein is dried and caked up.  Gathering plants in season ensures I achieve the colours I want so keep that in mind. (Freeze the leaves and flowers for later use.)

You don't need to use plants to achieve dyes.  The yarn on the left has been dyed with food colouring and yes, it's permanent.  In the 3rd issue of  Wild About Yarn Magazine (still available here Wild About Yarn issue 3, PDF download only ) there is a yarn dyeing tutorial using food colouring showing how easy it is for anyone.  The magazine also has an interview with the very generous Heike Gittens of Madewithloops  and did you know Heike and Claudia  now have a new book available? (Find it here A Little Book of Shawls).  



 Dyeing with plants is a matter of science and sometimes serendipity even when you follow all the rules!  Water quality effects the ph balance too, so what might have been purple can turn out brown.  I teach yarn and fabric dyeing workshops so if you are interested in a workshop, contact me for details. (wildaboutyarn@outlook.com) 
Announcement: Later this year, my book  - The Magic of Microwave Dyeing - will be published! 

Flowers

One of the most popular photos this year has been my knitted and crocheted flower arrangements. I created my own secret garden.
We have the best of both worlds today - the colours of our yarn choices are innumerable and the internet brings many designs and tutorials for us to try.   I love that more designers are creating wearable art and home decor that fits in well in contemporary times.  And I look forward to discovering more creative ways to display and arrange yarn projects.  Pinterest (Lu Douglas Pinterest crochet)
Pinterest is nothing short of magic.






Montages are compact moments of  personal history and every month, I prepare one. It reminds me of just what I've achieved and I don't mind telling you that I sometimes surprise myself.

(top right) current Scrappy socks   (bottom left) daisy granny squares for a blanket

                               (bottom right) basket made using foraged plants

Clockwise from top left:  I called this my Bijoux Blanket and have been working on it with my multi talented friend, Teresa Mercer, from Montana (find her crocheted items and jewellery here  Mercer Made)  This tiny block is a universal one but how delightful to create a join-as-you-go project when the larger ones get to be overwhelming. (You could join us too. See below for the method and hashtag it   #bijouxblanket on Instagram. Tag me please @wildaboutyarn)  
Thank you Alice (Instagram @alicebyday)  for the inspirational photo. 
The Bijoux Blanket is a great way to use up left overs for a runner or a small throw; make it into a bag and line it, or add more blocks to the design to create a shawl.  So many possibilities.

BIJOUX BLANKET METHOD
Magic ring. (UK TERMS) 
ch3, 2tr into ring, *ch3, 3tr into ring, repeat twice more from *, slst into the 3rd ch of the beg ch3.  Done. :-) 
For subsequent motifs, use join-as-you-go method at the ch3 section by doing ch1, slst into the corner of the first motif, ch1, continue with 3tr into the ring, Repeat this at the next corner and at corners where the motifs meet.   Work in rows. 

 Remember to put aside a little time each day for you...and enjoy November before the rush of Christmas begins.

Happy stitching,
Lu