Want to Chat?

Just to say that if you'd like to see what I have been up to recently then come and have a chat with me  HERE

I'm doing my best to get the flower tutorials finished (the ones that go on the Victoria Frills Scarf).  I've been so overwhelmed with house renovations, a constant stream of visitors and my mum being unwell = various trips up to Lincolnshire that I just haven't had time to keep up with my blog.

I should however get some new things on here this month and it should improve from there.

As mentioned above though if you want a more dynamic and real-time CleverCheshireCats then visit me at the link above.  I know several of you have already and it allows me to see things like your versions of the Victoria Frills Scarf  - which is great fun  I wish blogger had a bit more of an interactive section where we could chat and save bits etc although I haven't got to grips with all the new bits they've added yet...

Look forward to seeing you soon.

Rachael Xx

A quick hello!

Just popping in to say - take a look at the lovely crochet squares that Manda from manda's challenges has made. They are quite something - what a talented lady she is!

I'd also like to thank everyone for all the lovely comments over the past couple of posts and if I haven't got back to you this time it's just that I've been sooo busy.  If you have an urgent question, just email and I'll get back to you :)

I will be back next week with the flower tutorial for adding to the victoria frills scarf :)

Rachael

Victoria Frills Spring Scarf Tutorial Part 1

It's finally here!

This Victoria Frills Spring Scarf Tutorial will be in 2 parts.  Part one is for the actual scarf. Pretty simple instructions really.

Part two will be for the flowers. Of course you can put whichever flowers you like on your scarf but I will do a tutorial for a few of mine.

Info: I used a type of yarn that is mainly cotton and has a kind of thick and thin effect that varies between 4ply and double knit (you don't have to use the same). I've only used the basic half treble stitch for the body of the scarf but it looks lacy because I used a bigger hook than usual (4.50mm or a 5mm would do it).

Step 1:

crochet a foundation chain (this should be roughly the length of scarf that you want). Be careful not to make the foundation chains too tight or your scarf will end up a bit of a banana shape!

The scarf can be as long as you like. I usually start the chain and then wrap it round my neck the way I would normally wear a scarf so I can see where the scarf will end when it's completed.  The scarf in the picture was made with XXX chains and it's quite long. I used a 4.50mm hook with cotton yarn that sort of goes thick and then thin. (not sure if there is a name for this type of yarn) as I wanted the main scarf bit to be a little lacy and drape a little too.

Step 2:

Once you have decided how long you want your scarf to be, begin crocheting into the foundation chain using half trebles. Half treble = (insert yarn into work, wrap yarn over, pull through work (three loops on hook) pull through all three loops).

Continue on until the scarf is the width that you would like it to be - simple really.

Step 3:

Now that your scarf is the required width and length you need to crochet around the whole scarf for one row in double crochet. Make sure you have 2 double crochets at each corner if you want a squarish scarf. If you want one with rounded edges then you can ignore this.

This will provide the basis for the frills which are coming next :)

Step 4:

Now for the frills!  First change yarn into the one you are using for the contrasting frills. Into each double crochet make 4 or 5 treble stitches. I like the random frills (not too uniform) so I don't do the same number of stitches into each double crochet and sometimes I just put 3 for a few stitches.  Continue like this until you have gone all the way round the scarf.

Fasten off.

Well done!  You now have the basis for your very own Victoria Frills Scarf.

Cindy I hope you have a smile on your face now :)

A quick tutorial for some flowers will form part two - up next.

Rachael Xx

Back soon.....

I know I have been away some time. 

Just wanted to let you know that I will be back very soon.  I have had a sudden rush of things to do and have also been bitten by the spring cleaning bug. 

I haven't forgotten you :)

Rachael Xx

Hangers, Bits and Bobs

Here are a few bits and bobs of this and that for you.

Hangers - which colours?

I've made a few of these hangers and found it to be a very enjoyable project indeed.  It is quick and the results are rather fabulous if I do say so myself.  I have only stopped at 6 because I have run out of the wooden hangers.  They are not that easy to find at a decent price, well I can't find any anyway. If you have any ideas please let me know.

The stripey ones look great on their own although I am wondering if I should add a little something to cover up the join.  With the plain ones I have added a rose which covers up the join and looks quite nice but I'm not sure what colours the roses should be. I have made a few cream ones, a blue one and a pink one (I have not attached them properly yet) but wondered which other colours would go nicely. Not sure why my brain seems to have got stuck on this one but I'd appreciate your thoughts. Sorry the pics are a bit yellow but I took them at night.

Over the past few weeks I have been lucky enough to win a few awards.

Thank you to Leah from why didn't anyone tell me for the 

Thank you to Eileen from Crochet Attic  for the 

Thank you to Sarah from squiggling about for the 

Thank you to Sucrette from Le monde de Sucrette for the 

Please pop on over and take a look at their lovely blogs above, they are all well worth a peek as there are some wonderful things on all of them - as if you didn't know already ;)

You can see the 7 things about me from my previous post here as I am not interesting enough to be able to think of another 7 :)

I'm not passing on any awards again at the moment as I only did just that very recently plus I seem to be coming down with another cold (thank you wonderful children of mine) so don't really feel like any extra work at the moment and am already behind with my blogging schedule.  March Monthly Make will be coming shortly in April and so will will the Victoria Frills Scarf Tutorial (almost done) along with 3, yes 3 different types of give away - woohoo!

I'd like to mention that the lovely Maaike from one of my favourite blogs Crejjion is having give away.  It is open untill the 3rd April and she is giving away some lovely fabric as well as a few other lovelies too. I've already entered and you only have a couple of days left to enter so better be quick!

I was sent an email the other day by Hilde from ildicolor regarding a pin cushion swap. It looks lots of fun and you must leave a comment on the post (link above or click on pic) before April 3rd if you would like to take part.

A few weeks back I had a lovely email from Rhonda about kitty/craft website for people that love to show off their kitties with their crafts.  The link is here and I will be posting my own pictures very soon.  I'd love to see yours as I know many of you love kitties too!

I have finally decided to launch a shop page on the 9th May this year!  Yep I'm going for it - why not :) I hope to add lots of different bits and hopefully not just crochet by the summer as I've had a call from the sewing machine repair man and my machine is fixed - yay!

In lieu of getting the shop ready I have started a facebook page where I will be having updates of new shop products and exclusive giveaways too!  I am currently having a quick giveaway - two prizes (something cute and something not so cute, you'll have to wait and see but I think there will be at least one cute bunny)

To enter the giveaway just go to

http://www.facebook.com/Clevercheshirecats and 'like' my page

I'll be announcing the winners in about a week so you have a few days left to enter.

Lastly, Kirsty from Kirsties Homemade Home is asking for people interested in crafts and who would like to learn more crafts to send an application form to her.

Click here for the link

Phew! That was a long post.  Back soon with the Monthly Make and Scarf Tutorial.

Rachael Xx

Meet Victoria Frills!

Firstly, thank you all so very much for your lovely comments on my last post - you are all wonderful and I really mean that :)

I managed to put aside the Japanese Flowers for long enough to complete my new Victoria Frills Spring Scarf.  

It is a mid weight scarf, warm but not too heavy. 

The Pattern/Tutorial will follow in a few days and will not only be my first written down pattern after 25 years of crocheting but also the first in a series of 'crochet patterns for people that don't like patterns'  This aims to be a series where you don't have to be exact for most of the pattern so it doesn't matter if you aren't great at counting your stitches etc.

Now a progress update on my Japanese Flowers. I am still loving making these. 

I couldn't photograph them all this time as I now have about 80 flowers. 

I can't wait until I have 110 as I know then I should be half way through. I would have completed more but I ran out of yarn and have also had to put some work in on a baby ripple blanket that I am making for my brother and his other half as their baby is expected at the beginning of May and I don't want to get caught out :)

Also I had a go at making some crochet covered clothes hangers as I thought they would be a good thing to take along to the craft fair that I have signed myself up for in June this year (my first one!)

Wow - they were so quick and easy to make and look really really good when finished.  You can see my Cath Kidstonesque one here and I will have more to show you soon once I have made a few flowers to add to ones I've done already.

Quincy - one of my kitties had to check my crochet work to see if it was up to standard.

<br><center><a href="http://clevercheshirecats.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff421/clevercheshirecats/button-1.jpg" title="CleverCheshireCats"></a></center><br>

 

Lastly I have added a button for my blog (top right hand side or click here) and if you like it, please go ahead and add it to your blog :)

Monthly Make - February

A little late, I know but I made....

felt heart bunting with a crochet edge!

24 hearts all together so enough to make two sets of bunting. I'm really pleased with the results as it looks so bright and cheery strung up across the window. I haven't yet tied in some of the tails but I'll get to that in a day or two.

I'm thinking of making some more in the shape of birds and then also some circles with different pictures on them. Tell me what you think. Don't forget to visit Felt Fairy's Monthly Make Flickr group and Felt Fairy herself.

I have been toying with the idea of starting an etsy shop so maybe these bunting strips could go in there along with some of the pincushions?

On another subject I was visiting the lovely blog of Creative Carmelina where I saw a very pretty Royal Albert teacup she had found. I remembered that just a couple of weeks ago I found a piece of Royal Albert also but not a teacup...a sort of tray?  It's very pretty as you can see but I'm not sure what it's for or if it is just a tray :)

Carmelina also informed me that my followers gadget on my blog was not working so if you have tried to follow my blog in the last few days or weeks then I apologise but it is working now so go ahead and follow me!

I am also progressing slowly with the Spring Scarf Tutorial but I have to admit that I have been sidetracked by those Japanese Flowers.  Our new blog The Flower Bed has had a flying start and over 1/3 of the available contributor vacancies has already gone so if you want to be able to contribute to this wonderful flowery blog you'd better hurry up :)

The Flower Bed Japanese Style!

I can't tell you how much I have been enjoying crocheting those pretty flowers.  

They are so so quick to make up and the size with my aran yarn and just a 4.50mm hook is already 6 inches across.  you could easily use a 5mm or a 6mm hook if you wanted them bigger than that.

So many of us have been enthralled by the variations of these flowers that we have started our very own flower blanket crochet-a-long. We aim to crochet a blanket together - big or small in whichever flower motif you choose.

We would love as many of you as possible to contribute and if you would like to be able to post to the blog yourself you need to contact one of the admin (Suz, Hazel or myself) with your email address. Full instructions are on the site.

Here it is:

THE FLOWER BED

Everyone is welcome, beginners and advanced.  If you've never crocheted before, we would like to help :)

If you don't want to join the CAL please feel free to follow the blog to see our progress as the project takes off.  I'll be posting how many flowers I have done, the variation of flower that I am using and any other details on the site shortly. Feel free to post on your blog to let anyone that might like to join know we exist.

Hope to see you there.

Rachael Xx

Japanese Flowers

I'm sure you already know about these lovely Japanese flowers and have probably seen loads of gorgeous blog posts of these pretty things but I'm showing you mine anyway.

After reading Lucy's (attic24) post over over on ravelry and seeing Suz wonderful version I really wanted to have a go. A day or so later, the  lovely Hazel from quietly stitching got me more intrigued about this flowery motif as their bigger size is quite appealing to me at the moment. I made mine with a more solid centre as I liked the look of it more.

They are completed so quickly and look so pretty. The only thing with mine is that the colours in this yarn are quite limited so not that many brights are available to me.  I have ordered some turquoise though as nothing looks right to me without a bit of turquoise or aqua :) The turquoise motif below is made in cotton yarn ( I had to make one in this colour, I couldn't resist) the rest are in pure wool.

I've made several more since taking these pictures earlier today and hope that I can make enough to make a kingsize (uk) bed throw for when my bedroom is decorated later this year.  The only problem is that once you start making these flowers, you become addicted. Just one more I keep telling myself.  I'm supposed to be completing my flowery spring scarf tutorial, making squares for Sarah London's appeal ( I have  done a few but want to make at least 20) and still finishing off more cushions and other wips.

Right well I'd better go as I really want to show you that scarf tutorial so I'll just do one more flower........

Winners!

It has been some time since I began my very first give away and now today is the day!

Remember these...

Just to recap, we have - one Pip Studio plate, Homes and Gardens Magazine, A Cath Kidston Keyring, a Plump Pincushion and a cute bag to put it all in.

Well we have a winner!

Congratulations to..... Hazel from Quietly Stitching you have won the main prize as featured above (the bag isn't showing but you get that too)   :)

Now I had so many comments from so many lovely people that I decided that just one runner up wasn't enough so we went back to the random number generator and selected another 8!

Well done to all of you listed below, you have won one of the plump pincushions each - yay!

Kandi from http://kandipandi.blogspot.com
Millie from http://milliemeadowsweet.blogspot.com
Annie from http://thefeltfairyuk.blogspot.com
Maaike from http://crejjtion.blogspot.com
Marg from http://sunshineparadiseplease.blogspot.com
Twyla and Lindsey from http://twocrazycrafters.blogspot.com
Solstitches from http://asamplerofstitches.blogspot.com
Loo from http://jumblesandpompoms.blogspot.com

In order to get your prize, please email your postal address to me (email button is on the top right hand corner of this blog) together with your choice of pin cushion colours. I'll post everything out to you as soon as possible (depends on the colours chosen and if I have the right ones currently available although I am not adverse to ordering more hehe!)

For those of you that did not win this time, do not despair because I will be having another give away very soon indeed.  Perhaps some Cath Kidston this time?  If you have a preference, let me know.

I'll be back in a few days with my new Flowery Spring Scarf + Tutorial. Rachael Xx

I'm a lucky girl!

I've been very lucky because.....

I found these really cute bits and pieces whilst shopping this week.  They have a whole range in Wilco and everything is really cute. The little drawers are perfect for all those craft bits and bobs.

I managed to finish 24 felt hearts with crochet edges to make bunting!

they are different colour combinations, all plain this time but I am thinking of doing more with some extra decoration or pictures on them - what do you think?

I am going to add a string to them so that there are 12 hearts on each string.

I was also very lucky winning the great give away over at manda's challenges - look what I got!  What a lovely prize.  I am going to use some of the yarn towards some granny squares for the Sarah London - Crochet a Rainbow Appeal.

It doesn't stop there as just when I thought about how lucky I had been, I had a message from Loo over at jumbles and pompoms who told me I'd just won a prize on her give away too - wow! I couldn't believe it.  The books are lovely and there were even a few chocolate coins in there too (they lasted all of 5 seconds after I opened the parcel hehe)

I was so excited

Please do pop on over to their blogs and have a look

On another subject, I did hope to have some sewing to show you, in particular the fabric cushion backs for crochet cushions as I had figured out how I wanted to do it. The problem is that my sewing machine had other ideas and after several hours of trying to sort out the tension, the motor locked - arrgh!  Anyway it's off to the menders next week and I will get that tutorial done as soon as I can.

I've  started a new flowery scarf tutorial instead and hope to get that on here one day next week so keep an eye out for that as I'm already half way through. 

Also there is just today and tomorrow left to enter my give away if you like to win those goodies.

Finally just for the cute factor, here are a few pictures of my kittens. Enjoy the rest of your weekend. Rachael Xx