TTL x SFMGS Snowflake Garland!

Hey there lovelies!
Sorry I have been so MIA recently, This time of year is always so hectic, and I have been super busy preparing for my Festive Crochet Workshop at Rugby Art Gallery tomorrow where we will be making lots of Christmas decorations! For full details see my Facebook page.

As I'm sure you've all seen on the WONDERFUL Miki from Set Free My Gypsy Soul's blog we've been collaborating on a super cute snowflake garland together using the brand new Paintbox Yarns!


Here is the pattern for my Puff Stitch Snowflake :

Materials needed :

5mm crochet hook
Paintbox Yarns Aran in shade of your choice
Scissors
Yarn Needle

Pattern
Start with a magic ring, make a* puff stitch into centre of magic ring, chain 2* repeat from * to * until you have 6 puffs, pull tail to close, slst to top of first puff.

Round 1 – slst into ch2 space between puffs and make another puff stitch, ch3, *make puff stitch in next ch2 space then ch3* repeat from * to * around. Slst to top of first puff.
Round 2 – Chain 5 slst into puff, chain 8, slst into puff, chain 5, slst into puff. Dc3 into chain 3 space, continue around. Slst into first puff.

Fatsen off and weave in ends 

Check out Miki's blog for instructions on joining to make the garland and for her own snowflake pattern!

Tutorial - Crochet Trim Boot Socks

This is a super easy and fast way of up-cycling a bring pair of boot socks, or even by crocheting on to a lovely new pair of woollies and making a beautiful handmade(ish) Christmas gift!
This really is so simple!

First you'll need some socks, preferably with a turn down cuff. I got mine from M&S but they are all over the place this time of year!

Then you will need to chose your yarn and hook. I used Drops Paris in Mustard with a 4mm hook. I wouldn't normally use such a small hook for an Aran weight yarn but it seems to work in this case. If you wanted a more lacey trim then just opt for a lighter weight yarn and a smaller crochet hook.
You will also need a pair of scissors and a darning needle for sewing in those pesky ends!

First, turn down your cuff and attach yarn through the sock wherever you wish to start. Make sure you are working on the right side of the cuff. so if your cuff isnt turned down you are working from the inside of the sock..

Start with one dc where you have attached the yarn then simply crochet 4tr, dc, 4tr around evenly spaced out! It's as simple as that.

They make great book socks, or even just pretty socks for chilling about the house!!

Make sure you tag your makes with #mythreadthelove so I can see them!

Have fun making them!

A x

Shell Stitch Bonnet Tutorial

Thread the Love Pixie Pom Bonnet 

Materials needed :

1 x ball of Drops Paris 100% cotton Aran 50g 

4.5mm crochet hook

Yarn needle

Scissors

Pom-Pom maker

Acrylic yarn DK - enough for a pom-pom

For this shell stitch bonnet your foundation chain will need to be a multiple of 6 + 2. For newborn size I used 48 + 2.

Chain 50, keeping quite a long tail which is useful for sewing up at the end. 

In second chain from hook make one dc,

 skip 2 sts, 5tr in next,

skip 2 sts, dc in next. Repeat to end of row.

If you have ended your row on a dc then you will need to chain 3 which counts as your first tr of row 2.

Tr 2 more in same st

Skip 2 sts, 1dc in next (top of shell from previous row)

Continue to the end, When you get to the last stitch just make 3tr in last st (half shell) 

Ch1, turn. Dc 1 in same stitch, skip 2 sts, 5htr in next. 

Continue this pattern until you have 12 rows of shells. Do not fasten off.

Chain 27, htr in second ch from hook and each st along, slst to base, fasten off.

Attach yarn at opposite side

Chain 27, htr in second ch from hook + each stitch along, slst to base, fasten off.

Your work should now look like this

Sew in ends leaving the long tail from where you originally made your slip knot. 

Fold your work in half ensuring the right side of your work is facing out. Using the long tail sew up the back of your work. 

There you have your super cute, super easy shell stitch bonnet!! 

At this point you could make a pom-pom and attach it at the top. I used a small clover pom pom maker and stylecraft special dk for a more 'pouffey' pom-pom. 

Please do share your makes on instagram and tag them with #mythreadthelove so I can see them :) 

Basic Granny Square Tutorial

You can now purchase my Granny Square Peplum Top on my Etsy store here so I thought I'd leave a quick and simple tutorial here showing you how to make the main structure of the top which is super easy! For this tutorial I won't use any abbreviations to make it a little simpler.

Materials needed - 

• Any hook (see the peplum top pattern here for which hook and yarn I used) 
• Yarn 
• Yarn needle

Start with a slip knot and chain 4, slip stitch into your first chain to create a ring, 

Round 1 - chain 3 (counts as your first treble) then do 2 more trebles into the centre of the ring. chain 2 (makes a corner) then work 3 more trebles. chain two for a corner and make 3 more trebles. Continue until you have 4 corners. slip stitch to top of chain 3. 

Round 2 - Chain 3 (counts as first treble) in chain 2 space (corner space) from previous round work 3 trebles, chain 2, 2 trebles all in same space. Then move on to the next corner space and do exactly the same. When you get to the last corner space work 3 trebles, chain 2, 2 trebles then slip stitch to top of chain 3.

Round 3 - Chain 3 (counts as first treble) work 2 more trebles into space below. Work 3 trebles straight into corner space, chain 2, 3 trebles in same space. work 3 trebles in next space, Only chain 2 inbetween trebles on a corner. 

When you get to the last corner space, continue the pattern of 2 trebles, chain 2, 2 trebles then slip stitch to the top of chain 3 from previous round. 

Continue this pattern for as many rounds as needed. 

Amber x

I am not a blogger! I repeat, I am not a blogger!!

Hello all! (anyone there?)
I am so useless at this blogging game, I just signed in for the first time since November. I know, terrible!
So I've been pretty busy since then, at home and with work. I have finally got my butt into gear and opened an Etsy store so you can now purchase my patterns via this link www.etsy.com/uk/shop/threadthelovedesigns but don't worry I'll still be popping a few free patterns on here too!

I'm also running some workshops at Rugby Art Gallery. There is a free 'drop in' session on the 6th August and 25th August where I will be sitting in on the current Sheila Bownas 'A life in pattern' exhibition, so you can come along and meet me, see what projects I'm currently working on and learn more about the workshops starting early next year.

I promise I will try to keep more up to date on here! You can follow me on twitter @threadthelove_ or on Instagram @threadthelove

Amber x