I’ve been running craft classes in a set of residential care home classes since 2017. It started with 7 classes a month and currently I run 26 sessions over 14 days at 8 sites. This will increase to 28 by the end of 2025. Some locations do one session a month whereas others have two so I plan 24 separate activities. There are some favourites such as Christmas card making that take place every November but otherwise I try to mix it up so that they aren’t always doing the same thing time. Whenever possible I try to make the activities seasonal and have projects that can be enjoyed at…
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Stitch Sampler Scrapghan CAL 2021
Another one in the well overdue blogs list Last January I started Hooked On Homemade Happiness’s Stitch Sampler Scrapghan CAL. A good way to reduce my stash AND practice some new stitches.
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Basic Crochet Wristwarmer Pattern
Two versions of a really simple pattern that can be adapted to fit any hand size. Once you have this under your belt you can adapt it to incorporate different stitches, for example swapping the main part to double crochet or incorporating popcorns or fans.
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Taking Control
I’m not suddenly branching out into lifestyle advice, I’ve finally got round to writing up my alterations to the Control Issues Granny Square It’s my favourite granny square pattern but it’s written to be worked in aran weight yarn and on a 5mm hook, whereas I tend to use DK and 4mm. This has meant that I’ve had to add 2 rows of double crochet and I think it loses something with that.
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Srebrenica Rose
I originally did this at the request of a friend around the time of the 25th anniversary of the Srebrenica Massacre. Neither of us could find a pattern so I did my best. 4 years later I got a query on the pattern, which reading it back was understandable. I’d talked my friend through it the first time so a lot of the hand waving was missing. I have a pdf version available, just drop me a message So this is my second attempt: Each round is joined with a slip stitch Round 1: Start with green yarn. Work 22 tr into a magic circle, join and finish. Weave in…
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WYS Florist Collection
The “worst” bit of doing classes at The Wool Haven is seeing all the new yarn coming into the shop. The levels of self-control I have to muster to control my purchases is incredible. One range that appeared around Christmas was the West Yorkshire Spinners Florist Collection. I was doing well at resisting temptation until I was shown The Perfect Bouquet pattern book that went with it.
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Dragon scale wristwarmers
Also known as Crocodile stitch, Dragon scale is very distinctive and I’ve been planning to try from the moment I saw it. I’ve had the yarn for it in my stash for months.
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Tunisian Crochet – Increasing & Decreasing
It is quite easy to increasing & decreasing in Tunisian Crochet
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Tunisian Reverse Stitch
This is very similar to Tunisian Simple Stitch, the main difference is that you work through the rear posts of the work rather than the front.
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Tunisian Crochet Stitch Library
This will be a “holding page” for stitches, I intend to write my own posts for each but in the meantime these are useful links.
