hexagon motif cushion

The September issue of Inside Crochet is out this week, the inspiration for the issue is the humble granny square, and my contribution is this hexagon motif cushion based loosely on my favourite shape for granny motifs. 

The patches use puffs and popcorns instead of some of the traditional three treble groups so familiar in regular granny motifs. It is simple, quick and fun to hook and is easily adaptable for throws, chair covers and other interior uses, so hopefully it inspires you to pick up the hook! 

Issue 45 is out on Friday and includes a range of patterns inspired by the traditional granny square, as well as the regular collection of fashion, kids and homeware.

Baby Shower

Today I finally handed over the beautiful blanket I sewed up for my little friend Emmi. She is the beautiful daughter of one of my best friends and late last year her friends and family knitted a bunch of squares at her baby shower to go into a blanket that I hope she will have always. I think this is the best blanket I have ever pieced together, what a gorgeous bunch of colours and textures and haphazard shapes. Sorry Gemma and Emmi that it took so long, but the weather today was almost autumnal, so perhaps it is good timing... 

Tomorrow, issue 45, September, of Inside Crochet goes to press, so here is a last minute taste of the last summer issue (already?!) IC44. I will give you a sneaky peek at 45 once it is to bed. Less than two weeks to buy this issue in the shops, so go get it if you see something you like. 

  

Yup, that is the littlun, managed to sneak her in yet again!

All the lovely images are as usual by the wonderful Britt Spring

 

15 mins of fame

Walton top, by me, in issue 43 of Inside Crochet, modelled on my littlun

The very lovely Kat Goldin of the fabulous Crochet at Play, Slugs on the Refrigerator, Crochet Camp, Capturing Childhood (shall I go on?!) and now Blogtacular fame, has a little interview with me as part of this summer's Crochet Camp over on her Slugs blog. I feel happy, humbled and a tiny bit famous, not only by the interview but by the comments by very nice people, both familiar and new to me, since. Do hop on over there and take a peek, Kat's blog is such an inspiration, as are all her projects. (Plus you can win a years digital subscription to Inside Crochet!)

Image by Britt Spring, top from Issue 43 of Inside crochet

P.s. Let me know if you are thinking of going to the Blogtacular weekend next year, I am considering it and the more folk I find out I can meet in real life, the more I want to go!

The latest issue of Inside Crochet is out and in it, my first ever pattern for a pair of socks - there they are, on the cover (along with my littlun in those very retro raspberry clamdiggers, how does she keep creeping into the mag I wonder?!).

I had wanted to design some lacy socks for a while, but other stuff (life!) just kept getting in the way. Anyway, here they are, and really easy too - much easier than knitted ones! Hope you like them. You can buy the mag now in all good newsagents, or at pocketmags.

All the lovely images are by the wonderful Britt Spring (apart from the rubbishier ones on the line, which are obviously mine!) do go and check out her new, updated blog which looks rather good.

roundup...

I am aware I have been a bit too busy to post anything much at all this year and it is nearing the end of April - where has the year gone?! The cold weather has made it seem like eternal winter and so I feel I missed the whole of March indoors, crocheting!

To make up for the lack of posting here, I thought I would share a few pictures of some of the exciting things I have been doing so far this year - regular viewing will commence shortly.
I have directed and styled quite a few fab shoots, with the wonderful Britt Spring, the pic above is from the last, with a stunning piece by Kat Goldin.

 Crochet, crochet and more crochet! For the magazine, and for a couple of new projects. This is my favourite blanket project of the lot.

 I managed to catch the Wool exhibition, Wool House at Somerset House in March. It was in collaboration with the Campaign for Wool. This was particularly exciting for me as I finally got to see a crocheted sculpture or 'Crochetdermy' by Shauna Richardson, which didn't disappoint - it was amazing!

I also taught a couple of classes at City Lit  and the experimental class in particular was great fun. I met a bunch of very creative women, one who upcycles old brollies into fab bags and another who is an amazing spinner. All in all a great year so far...

Free Easter Pattern

Happy Easter to one and all! This is a little late, but I have decided to re-post an old pattern of mine that I use in special Easter classes. File it away for next year, or decorate with different face as the perfect project to teach you kids how to knit - and a very happy Easter bank holiday Monday to you all.

Claire xEgg Cosy Pattern copywrite Claire Montgomerie 2010

Materials
Any scraps of dk weight yarn, 4mm needles, darning needle, felt and buttons for decoration

Simple Cosy Pattern, ideal for beginners

With 4mm needles, cast on 30 sts and knit every row for 6 cm, knitting in stripes if you wish.
Cut off yarn, leaving enough to sew up seam. Thread through all stitches and pull up into a round. Sew up seam and fasten off yarn.

Stocking stitch pattern

With 4mm needles, cast on 30 sts and knit every row for 4 rows. Change to stocking stitch and work for four cm, ending with a p row. You can knit in stripes of four rows of each colour if you wish.

Next row: (k3, k2tog) 6 times (24 sts)

Next row: purl

Next row: (k2, k2tog) 6 times (18sts)

Next row: purl

Next row: (k1, k2tog)6 times (12 sts)

Next row: purl

Cut off yarn, leaving enough to sew up seam. Thread through all stitches and pull up into a round. Sew up seam and fasten off yarn.

Use buttons or googly eyes for eyes and felt shapes for beaks. Use oddments of yarn for hair, faces, eyelashes.

Rabbit ears

(These are worked in garter st, but you could do them in stocking st, or in a mixture of stitches.

With 4mm needles, cast on 7sts.

Work two rows garter st, inc one stitch at either end of next row, then work a further 3 rows garter st. (9sts)

Dec one stitch at either end of next row, then work further 3 rows garter st (7sts)

Dec one stitch at either end of next row, then knit one further row (5sts)

Dec one stitch at either end of next row. (3sts)

Next row, sl 1, k2tog, psso. fasten off final stitch.

Make two the same. (you could also make two more ear shapes in a contrast colour and attach them to the inside of the main shade ear shape) and attach to the top of the cosy.

NB. Please feel free to use this pattern to make your own cosies but please do not reprint or resell this pattern on. Copywrite Claire Montgomerie 2013.