Another week gone !!!

Hi

I can't believe another week has flown by since I last wrote the blog.

The roofers are still here and it looks like an industrial landscape with all the scaffolding.

I have not been doing much crocheting, just making lots of tea, easy you would think, but I don't drink tea or coffee, so I don't have the skills for tea making. they keep asking for more so it can't be too bad.

I have been working on a small sample of crochet using a lovely yarn.

It is called Cosy Soft Prints by Ella Rae, it has a 25% content of wool and is beautifully soft.

I have been using a combination of UK half trebles and slip stitches with a 5.00 hook and I love how it is making patterns. It costs about £5.95 for a 100gram ball, I think I will have to see if I can find some more.

Looks like it might be time for more tea making.

Before I go last week I asked if anyone would like to try my new blanket to test the pattern and I only had one lady ask 

Please contact me by email ali.crafts@ntlworld.com if you are interested.

Thank you...

Happy days

Alison

Stockton and Fireworks

Hi

Another lovely morning here in Stockton, we really have had the most amazing summer this year in the UK.
Our garden is still full of flowers, I hope that it stays the same for the next week.

The yellow dahlia is the size of a dinner plate.

We are having more work done on the house, Phil and I have been here for over 33 years, so I guess that things don't last forever. This time its the soffits and gutters and a new automatic garage door.

We really need the garage door I can't open it now it is too heavy. I need to get in there to sort out the things I still have left to sort.... The story of my life too much stuff and not enough room.....

I will be adding a new patten to my shops on Etsy and Ravelry today. It is called Firework shawl.

I was wondering if anyone would like to try my Stockton Squares Blanket it is ready for testing, so it might not be perfect, I will send a copy to the first 5 people to email me on ali.crafts@ntlworld.com

I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you...

Happy crocheting...

Alison xxx

Stylecraft Yarn Sales

Good Morning

Well its been another busy week here in Stockton, the instructions for the new Stockton Blanket are nearly ready to go to be tested. I have decided to sell a pack of yarn the same as for Bright blanket , six balls and your choice of colours with either free pattern for Bright Blanket or free pattern for the new blanket. I will keep you posted when the new one is ready to go.

I have also promised Phil that I will clear out some of the overstocked yarns I have stored everywhere here at home.
So I have an Ebay shop for that purpose it is ali.crafts22.16 click here to see what is available. 

Once they are gone they will be gone, thank you for looking.

I have Stylecraft Vision, and Special Aran and will be adding more as soon as I can, so keep checking the store to see if there has been any new stock added.

I have been looking for some inspiration for a Tatting workshop that I am doing in January for a local lace guild and found this book among all the others in my library!!!  its just the spare bedroom.

I keep all kinds of books there from tatting, Hardanger, knitting, embroidery, scrapbooking, card making, patchwork  and lace to name just a few subjects, all my crochet books are on shelves downstairs. 

I am afraid I love craft books and can't bear to part with any, I tried a while ago and found that they were selling for coppers and it was not worth trying.

I think that it was because I used to work in the library in Stockton that I am really addicted to books.

The book is called The Country Diary book of Crafts by Annette Mitchell

Guild Publishing, London., it was published in 1985.

The patterns include knitting, crochet, cross stitch and more. Here are some of the crochet patterns  from the book. I love how the fashions change for jumpers, but the shawls and children's dresses could still be used today. This book can still be found second hand on Amazon.

I am going to add some more wool to the shop, I hope that you all have a super week..

Happy days

Alison xxx

Crochet Workshops

Hi

I have just updated new Crochet Workshop Dates 2016
for this term.
These workshops take place in Stockton on Tees, Cleveland, UK.

Fridays

9th September

14th October

25th November

16th December

Tuesdays

13th September

11th October

25th November

6th December

Beginners welcome, booking is essential. £12 per person per workshop. Tea, coffee and  biscuits provided, please bring your own lunch. Please contact me for more details or to book a place.

ali.crafts@ntlworld.com




I have been teaching crochet for over 30 years and I love what I do, teaching, designing and having stands at the shows.

I would love to hear from you soon.

Alison xxx

September CAL

Happy 1st of September

Hello I have just added part 7 September Square to Ravelry

I know that it looks complicated but when you try this one I think that you will like it...

I liked it so much I designed a circular baby blanket with the same kind of technique

This is Pineapple Swirl this pattern is available on Etsy

Now for this months Free Flower pattern

  

Materials Required

Oddments of Stylecraft Classique Cotton Double Knitting in 3 colours

3.50  

Using the 3.50 hook and 1st colour 

All rounds are worked with the right side facing

1. RS, Ch.5, ss. into 1st ch. to form a circle, 1ch., 10dc. into circle, ss. to join in 1st dc.
2. 1ch., work 12 dc. over the last round of sts. into the circle, ss. to join in 1st dc. Fasten off. 
3. Using 2nd colour and working in front loops of stitches for this round, join with a standing dc. into any st., work 2dc. in each st., ss. to join in 1st dc.  (24dc)
4. Working in the front loops of stitches from the last round, 1ch., 1dc. in 1st st., * 2ch., 1dc. in next st., rep. from * ending 2ch., ss. to join in 1st dc.
5. Working behind last round into back loops of stitches from round 3, work 1ch. ss. into back loop of 1st dc., 1dc. in same place, 2ch., * 1dc. in next st., 2ch., rep. from * ending ss. to join in 1st dc. Fasten off.
6. Working behind last round, using 3rd colour, work standing tr. in any loop left on round 2, 1tr. in same loop, * 2tr. in next st., rep. from * ending ss. to join in 1st tr.
7. Work in front loops for this round, 1ch., 1dc. in same place, 2ch., * 1dc. in next st., 2ch., rep. from * ending ss. to join in 1st dc.
8. Work in back loops left on round 6,  3ch., * 1dc. in same loop, 3ch., 1dc. in next  loop, 3ch., rep. from * to end, ss. to join in 1st dc. Fasten off.

I hope that this one is ok, it really is hot off the hook, if you have any problems with the instructions please contact me

Alison xxx

www.alicraftsdesigns.co.uk