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

Mulled wine at the ready..

Kilner Jar Mug Cosy Pattern -

You will need :

6mm crochet hook
4mm crochet hook
Chunky weight yarn (I used stylecraft special chunky)
Aran or DK weight cotton yarn (I used Drops Paris)
Scissors
Wool needle
One large(ish) button

Start by taking your chunky yarn and your 6mm hook and chaining 10
Row 1 - Htr in second ch from hook and each st across, ch2 turn
Row 2 - Htr in back loop of each st accross
Repeat rows 1 & 2 alternately until you have 18 rows. Ch1 turn

Row 20 - dc in next 4sts, ch14, tr in 7th ch from hook, then tr in each stitch until your reach the bottom of the ch. Skip 2 sts, dc in next 4 sts.

Fasten off, weave in ends.

Now attach your cotton yarn and 4mm hook at any point along the  short side making sure your ribs are facing you. dc in each stitch across, when you get to the longer edge dc in top of rib and tr 4 in the middle of htr , carry on this pattern until you reach the end of the long side.
dc in each stitch up until your button hole then dc 7 into the button hole, carry on making a dc in each stitch until your get to the long edge again then follow the pattern of dc in top of rib and tr 4 in the middle of htr. When you get back round to the start fasten off and weave in ends.

Wrap your cosy around your mug and mark where you want your button to go. Attach button here using cotton yarn.

This pattern is very easily adaptable to different sized mugs by changing the amount of chains on your foundation chain and the amount of rows you work. This pattern fits the Kilner Jar Mugs perfectly.

Please use #mythreadthelove when uploading your makes to Instagram! I love seeing the gallery fill up with all your creations!

Please do not republish this pattern or sell it. Thank you

(I'm sorry if none of this makes sense, I am totally sleep deprived, wine deprived and currently waiting on my dominoes order to arrive! Any questions just pop me an email or comment below and I will get back to you as soon as I can)

-A x

Oversized Christmas Star Decoration

Last Christmas I spent hours and hours making lots of little crocheted stars for my Christmas tree. Anyone who knows me knows that I like to supersize EVERYTHING so I decided to make some of the Puff Stitch Stars using heavy t-shirt yarn.

I have added hangers using the same yarn but you could use a pretty ribbon or string to hang them around my home or use them to decorate gifts, or even totally super size them and use them as Christmas place mats!

You will need : 

10mm crochet hook
T-shirt yarn (I used Tek-Tek in Cream)
Scissors
Smaller hook for weaving in ends.

Puff Stitch - Yarn over, insert hook into ring, pull through, yarn over and pull through one loop on hook. Repeat twice, you should have 7 loops on your hook. Yarn over pull through all 7 loops.

Pattern : 

Start with a magic ring

Round 1 : Work 1 puff stitch, ch 2 - repeat 4 more times for a total of 5 puff stitches. Slst into top of first puff.

Round 2 : Ch 3, in the same stitch work (1 tr, ch 1, 2 tr) in the top of the next 4 puffs (2tr, ch1, 2tr), slst into first tr to join.

Round 3: Ch1, in the ch1 space from previous round work (1htr, 2tr, ch2, 2tr, 1htr), ch1, slst to 3rd tr from hook, Repeat 4 more times to create the points of your star. The last slst will end your round.

Fasten off and use a smaller hook to weave in ends.

-

I would love to see your finished projects, tag me @threadthelove on Instagram and use the #mythreadthelove

If you have any questions email me - threadthelove.amber@gmail.com

Have fun making!

-A x

Website coming soon!

So it's been a year since my last post and so much has happened! We finally moved into our first home, it's absolutely perfect. We have barely started any work on it yet but all in good time. Phoebe is now walking, talking and with so much attitude, terrible twos is in full swing!
But the most exciting news - I started a shop selling my makes, then closed temporarily and now I'm reopening again! On the 28th September threadthelove.co.uk goes LIVE! If you're not a stranger to my Instagram page then you will have seen a few of the products that will be available to buy.
My favourite season is autumn closely followed by winter so I thought I'd start with a gorgeous A/W collection for your little ones, and even a few for us ladies too!

Keep eyes peeled for more updates