Voulez-Vous 'Crochet' Avec Moi?

We've just taken delivery of a beautiful new yarn from Papatya, called Mouline Chunky. French for 'stranded cotton', it's a gorgeous variegated acrylic yarn that comes in lots of shades, but I fell in love with colour 5680! It reminds me of tropical beaches and I love the green tones. I knew I wanted to crochet a blanket for my 1-year-old with it, but being a busy mum, I don't get much time to relax with a project. So I opted for a super quick corner to corner blanket, and I thought I'd show you how to crochet this popular stitch too!

I'm using a 5mm hook, but you can use a 6mm for a looser finish.

To begin, start with a slip knot and chain 6:

Then work a treble crochet into the 4th chain from the hook, and repeat in the 5th and 6th chains from the hook. This completes your first ‘tile’ and your first row!

Now, turn your work and start the next row. Chain 6:

Then, as before, work a treble crochet into the 4th chain from the hook and repeat for the remaining 2 chains.

Next, find the first chain space in your first tile. This is the space between your chain 3 and the first treble:

Slip stitch into the chain space and chain 3. This creates your first ‘treble’:

Now make three more treble crochets into the same chain space:

This completes your second row and your ready to start the next row. Turn your work, and chain 6 again:

Then as before, crochet one treble into the 4^th chain from the hook, and again for the 5^th and 6^th chains from the hook. Then insert your hook into the first chain space of the tile below:

Slip stitch and chain 3 to start your trebles.

Work 3 more treble crochet into the chain space and slip stitch into the next chain space (working diagonally along the row):

Chain 3 again and work 3 treble crochet into the same chain space:

That's your next row complete:

Now continue working in the same way until your square is as wide as you would like it.

I'd love to see how you get on! Please share your progress in our Crochet Along with The Knitting Network group on Facebook. I'm going to carry on making the blanket and I'll be back in a few days to show you how to decrease, ready to finish the second half of your blanket.

Time to Decrease

Thanks for being so patient! Like most knitters and crocheters, I'm easily distracted by new projects (so many WIPs on the go!) and we have recently taken delivery of our brand new baby yarn, Emu Treasure DK. If you haven’t checked it out yet, please do. It is the softest yarn and the projects are adorable! I love the blanket patterns! So inevitably, my project was a little delayed, but it’s now time to decrease!

Decreasing is just as simple as the increase, it’s only the end of each row that differs.

When you reach the last tile on your current row, chain three as normal and then turn your work:


From here, slip stitch into the last chain space of the next tile, and then continue to work as you have on the first half of your blanket, until you reach the last tile on the row:


Once you reach the last tile, follow the same steps as above. So, chain 3, turn your work and slip stitch into the next tile. Continue in this way until the end and your blanket is complete!

I hope you’ve enjoyed making your corner-to-corner blanket and can’t wait to see your creations!

Happy hooking!

Amy

We’re delighted to be supporting Dementia UK as our charity of the month throughout May!

During the month, you can round up your orders to the nearest £1 at the checkout and all money raised will be donated to Dementia UK.

We’ll again be matching all donations so whatever you donate, we’ll donate the same, doubling the total amount raised for the charity!

About Dementia UK:

Dementia UK is the specialist dementia nurse charity. Its nurses, called Admiral Nurses, offer life-changing support for families facing dementia. They provide compassionate one-to-one emotional support, guidance and practical advice – for families living with dementia, they are a lifeline.

Dementia UK believes that everyone who needs the support of a specialist dementia nurse should get one, and the charity is working hard to increase the number of Admiral Nurses across the UK.

Dementia UK receives no government funding and relies on voluntary donations.

To find out more about the vital work that Dementia UK does please visit their website.

Knitting and Dementia

Knitting isn’t just an enjoyable creative pastime – it’s also thought to reduce stress and anxiety, improve attention and concentration, and even reduce blood pressure, all of which can be beneficial for people living with dementia and their carers.

Dementia UK has shared an article on knitting and dementia, including how handmade ‘twiddle muffs’ may be helpful for people living with the diagnosis: visit dementiauk.org/knitting-and-dementia/.

Dementia UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1039404) and Scotland (SCO47429). A company limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales (02944156).

Last month's charity of the month:

Throughout April we supported Save the Children, raising money for the Child Emergency Fund. Through your generosity, we have raised an incredible amount thanks to checkout donations. We’ll also be matching your donations bringing the total raised for the charity to £1,262. This money will go directly towards helping them reach children in Ukraine, Afghanistan and Yemen whose lives have been turned upside down by war. It will also help protect children at extreme risk of famine in East Africa.

Thank you so much for continuing to support our monthly charities!

This month, we're supporting Save the Children as our charity of the month, raising money for the Child Emergency Fund. Your support can help them reach children in Ukraine, Afghanistan and Yemen whose lives have been turned upside down by war. And it can help protect children at extreme risk of famine in East Africa.

Throughout April, you can round up your orders to the nearest £1 at the checkout and all money raised will be donated to Save the Children, a registered charity 213890 and SC039570.

Your generosity means Save the Children can help Ukrainian children make it through the toughest times of their lives. We’ll again be matching all donations so whatever you donate, we’ll donate the same, doubling the total amount raised for the charity!

About Save the Children:

Save the Children exists to help every child reach their full potential. In the UK and around the world, they make sure children stay safe, healthy and keep learning, so they can become who they want to be. They also provide families with advice and information, as well as food and other essentials.

Save the Children has set up a distribution station at the Romanian border with Ukraine to help families fleeing conflict. It's supplying essential items such as food, water and blankets and warm socks, as well as toys for children.

They run child friendly spaces at a Reception Centre, where there are rooms where children can play and recover from the traumatic experiences they've been through.

To find out more about the work they do, visit their website.

Last month's charity:

Throughout March we helped to support Versus Arthritis and raised £744.04, thanks to your checkout donations. Thank you so much to everyone who donated! We’ll also be matching your donations, bringing the total raised for the charity to £1488.08.

Mother’s Day is a time to appreciate all the wonderful mother figures out there, whether it be a mum, an auntie, a grandma, sister, friend, or anyone else that gives that motherly support we all need from time to time. They all deserve to be celebrated and appreciated! Our little gift guide includes small and sweet projects that you can gift, to show your appreciation at any time of the year, as being thankful for those special people in our lives doesn’t have to be saved for special days!

If you have a favourite photo you’d like to give as a gift, why not pretty up a simple frame with these lacey knitted picture frame covers, to make them even more special.

A perfect gift, bunting just has a way of bringing a bit of joy to a room! Our floral bunting crochet pattern can be made in whichever colour you like and in as many colours as you’d like!

These crochet storage pots would make a lovely gift in themselves and would also be great as a reusable gift box! Fill with all sorts of treats from sweets and chocolates to bath smellies.

Gifting plants is a lovely thing, whether you’ve chosen and bought a special plant or re-potted one of your own with love. Add these crocheted hanging plant pot covers and you have even better gift!

What could be better than flowers that last forever! We’ve chosen Sirdar Happy Cotton yarn to make these pretty knitted flowers in a pot, which is available in just about every shade you can think of!

These stripey knitted hanging hearts are so sweet. You could fill with dried lavender to hang in a wardrobe, or, knit in a plain colour and embroider different designs to personalise them.

We’ve chosen the Emu Classic DK range for these crochet bags. The pattern is for three different sized bags, which are handy for storing anything from craft projects to a packed lunch!

A practical but pretty gift, this washcloth set could be gifted with some bath treats, candles, tea and maybe even some indulgent chocolate for a little pamper hamper.

For the tea lover! This bobble top tea cosy is a fun gift to give and make!

You can never have too many shopping bags! This knitted bag can be folded down small enough to fit into a handbag, so it’s there just when is needed!

Happy making everyone!