Penelope Chloe

We have a new little grandchild  Penelope Chloe born on the 10th October 2019.  She is just gorgeous.

Here are a few things I have made for her.

Wool Projects 

I've had a very productive first half of the year. 

A maternity jumper for Danica which was a nightmare to make as the pattern made no sense.  I had to do a lot of improvising.  She loves it though and it looks gorgeous on her so it was all worthwhile. 

 A baby Kimono for little baby Georgia.  I even had G buttons. 

A jumper for Will and finally my own label 

A blanket and socks for Bianca and Jono.  This one took forever but I was very pleased with it. 

Crochet Mandalas

I've been having fun creating colourful crochet "mandalas", which is just a new age word for doilies.

I love that every row is different and I don't get bored making them.  I love experimenting with colour and different types of yarn and I especially love that they will last more than a lifetime.

I want to be sure that I don't lose the pattern for this one so am posting it here. 

Crochet Mandala 

Made with 4ply crochet cotton. In this picture I used both Sullivans Natural Crochet and Knitting Cotton Patons 4 ply Regal.

Special Stitches:

V-stitch – DC, ch2, DC

Treble Stitch – yarn over hook 2 times, insert in next stitch, draw up a loop (4 loops on hook), yarn

over and draw through the first two loops, yarn over and draw through the next two loops, yarn

over and draw through the final two loops – one loop should be left on your hook

Double Treble Stitch – yarn over hook 3 times, insert in next stitch and draw up a loop (5 loops on

hook), yarn over and draw through the first two loops, yarn over and draw through the next two

loops, yarn over and draw through the next two lops, yarn over and draw through the final two

loops – one loop should be left on your hook

Small shell – 6DC into the indicated stitch

Large shell – 9 double trebles into the indicated stitch

Cluster – work the first part of a DC (= yarn over , draw up a loop, yarn over draw through the first

two loops – 2 loops left on hook),into the indicated stitch, repeat in the next three indicated stitches

– 5 loops on hook, yarn over and draw through all five loops.

Pattern:

1.     Round 1: Starting with a magic circle, chain 4 (counts as a treble) work 15 more trebles. Join into the fourth chain

2.     Round 2: Start working at any point in the space BETWEEN the stitches of round 1, 1DC, ch2 in each space around. Join to the top of the first DC (or equivalent chain)(48) (cut and tie yarn)

3.     Round 3: Starting in any 2ch sp, work 2SC in each space, and 1SC into each DC of round 2 Slip stitch into the first SC. (48) (cut and tie yarn)

4.     Round 4: Counting the SC worked into the DC in the previous round as the third stitch, work 1 V stitch into the first SC of each repeat (it will look like the bottom of the V is directly above the DC of round 2), join with a slip stitch into the first DC of the first V-stitch. (64) (16 V stitches) (cut and tie yarn)

5.     Round 5: Starting at any V stitch in round 4, in the first DC of each V-stitch, work 3 trebles, ch2 slip stitch into the top of the first treble (or the fourth chain) (80) (16 repeats) (cut and tie yarn)

6.     Round 6: Starting in any chain space - SC in the chain space, work small shell in the middle treble of each triplet from round 5 (112), end with a slip stitch into the first SC. (16 shells, 16 sc) (cut and tie yarn)

7.     Round 7: Start in any SC. In each SC from round 6, work 4DC, chain 1. Work 1SC in 4th DC of the shell in round 6, chain 1. Finish round with slip stitch into the top of the first DC. (112) (DO NOT cut and tie yarn)

8.     Round 8: Continuing from round 7, ch2 (counts as the first partial DC), work the first part of a DC in the next three stitches as described in the cluster stitch above. Yarn over and draw through all four loops. *CH10, skip the SC, work a cluster in the next four DC from round 7, repeat from * CH10, join with slip stitch into the “eye” above the first cluster. (16 clusters, 16 ch10 loops) (cut and tie yarn)

9.     Round 9: SC2 in any chain loop, ch3, work 1 treble in the top of the cluster, ch3. *3SC in loop from round 8, ch3, 1treble in top of cluster from round 8, ch3. Repeat from * until you return to the starting chain loop and work 1SC, and sl st in the first worked SC to join round. (16 trebles, 48 SC, 96CH) (cut and tie yarn)

10.  Round 10: SC in second SC of any repeat in round 9. *Work 1 large shell in treble from round 9. SC in next SC.** Repeat from * to ** until you return to the first SC – join with slip stitch. (16 large shells, 6 SC) (cut and tie yarn)

11.  Round 11: Choosing any shell, start working *1SC in the second DC of the shell. Work two more, then in the next (peak) work 2SC, work 1SC in the next 4 stitches. Decrease: draw up a loop in the next two stitches, yarn over hook and draw through all three loops. **Repeat from * to ** until you

return to the first SC – slip stitch to join.

What I did during the winter we didn't have.

It was a very mild winter here in Brisbane but for those living on the streets the nights still carried a chill.  I broke out the old loom and made about 40 beanies in all different sizes and a few different shapes (some planned, some not).

I then joined a group called Knitting for Brisbane's Needy and donated my beanies to their cause.  KBN provide amazing support for the homeless around Brisbane and do their best to provide them all with beanies and blankets all year round.

I will do this again before the start of next winter.