The 8th Gem

Progress with the Kirsty inspired crochet

2012-02-13T06:44:00.000Z

finish and do the posting today, one parcel to Belgium and one to Australia by close of play

busy busy busy

enjoy your week xx

KIRSTY ALLSOPP'S NEW BED LINEN...MOLLIE

2012-02-12T11:02:00.000Z

I love this magazine they use real people as models and they are of ALL AGES AND SHAPES...
makes a change from all the touched up and false looking models in lots of other magazine don't you think?

Kirsty Allsopp is looking as gorgeous as ever on the front cover dressed in my favourite shade of pink

She is doing a huge amount for crafters and have a go and make it your selfers

big cheer for Kirsty

Inside is a feature all about her and her new bed linen for 2012 called Mollie in another of my favourite colour combo's pinks and greens with a splash of ochre yellow and lots of white

the motif in the linen is very like a crochet motif so l started to play with a woolly version

A WIP at the moment

My first effort really needs ripping and starting again or l might just do another one, I had no soft ochre yellow yarn so l left it out in this one.

But think it needs it and l might need a slightly different shade of green too.....need to see the bed linen up close and personal really for true colours, but l can see a lot of ideas forming from this bed linen,

so many l might just have to order a set for our bed

Enjoy your Sunday

out Tulip Table and 4 Panton 's' chairs are on their way...first mentioned them back in September

hope you remember?

cant wait, Phil decided yo order them yesterday as an early Birthday present for my 60th

can't wait

IS IT BIG ENOUGH YET?

2012-02-10T07:10:00.000Z

6 X 7 squares.....30" x 36"....another row on two sides may be?

14 more squares and a 2" Border should do it l think

Bed to deliver this morning catch ya later x

every now and then you come across a UNIQUE CROCHET ARTIST

2012-02-09T09:02:00.001Z

Dee Dee's vintage retro delights

She is new to crochet and has started with a fabulous style that I hope is never lost

Absolutely adore your work Dee

one of her first few wonderful pieces of crochet

isn't it wonderful?

and look at this.....

what l would give to have such originality

LOVE YOUR STYLE DEE...xx

A true natural free form CROCHET ARTIST
IF YOU HAVE A MINUTE.......pop over and show her some support, she could do with a boost and lots of love going her way from the very supportive crochet community

Have a wonderful day everyone x

hugs x

A CROCHET RECTANGLE TURNS INTO A SQUARE TODAY

2012-02-08T15:38:00.000Z

Trying to decide on shape and size....

Now it's a square...

or may be a cushion?

it would have been a bigger rectangle but l made the Liquorice Allsorts pattern, slightly different form this one

so they didn't match and I was 5 short......tomorrow perhaps

Although a square can be made into so many other things...mmmm!

a choice to make

CROCHET PROMISE NO. 2....well on the way to completion

2012-02-08T05:40:00.000Z

Making this sampler throw Promise no.2, It just needs one more row of 6 squares l think then a border to finish it off...just about the right size for a lap or cot blanket at a guess

see the toe nails still looking in perfect condition....finger nails a bit chipped so took the polish off the day before yesterday

then I can finish the Liquorice Allsorts blanket as the second half of the promise for February

Found a couple of new colourful note books yesterday from

a great store that only opened about a year ago, just heard it is closing, not good

Might make the star blanket on the chair, Promise No. 3 for March.....

Help....Talk of March already!
Our Sun filled Birthday Holiday will be next on the list

Enjoy your Wednesday x

Crochet Liquorice Allsorts

2012-02-07T09:30:00.000Z

Another option for the black and blended yarn sampler blanket...

does it remind you of Liquorice Allsorts?

Got quite a lot done in the middle of the night..another bad night's sleep but still feel full of energy this morning so a whirlwind day I hope...do a bit of catching up

I've still got a cough but feel soooooo much better today, all those get well wishes worked I think

thanks again

have a wonderful day x

Little pink daisies or big sea green stars on the mesh scarf?

2012-02-06T09:20:00.001Z

What to add to the mesh scarf?

or one big bloom?

I need to get a ball of black and join the 36 tonal GS already made
then decide on how the blocks will go together?

Have a great week everyone

CROCHET RAINBOW STRIPES RE-MODELLED

2012-02-05T11:09:00.003Z

Half done hiding in bags, boxes and cupboards, THE PROMISE A MONTH CONTINUES

As l had a very odd January l didn't finish the 1st PROMISE,

but it was a biggy so l will keep working on it

My 2nd PROMISE is ALREADY about 2/3rds complete.....

SIMPLE RAINBOW SQUARES

I have lots of rainbow stuff half done so it started me off on a sort of vintage 70's feel blanket

This was a small rainbow cushion front half done so I ripped and blended...

each colour with a random dyed sock yarn for the 1st two rounds and the 3rd round was blended with a different colour or lighter yarn

each small ball was enough to do the 3 round GS and a enough to do a small flower in each colour may be?

giving me another set of squares, enough to do a third 9 GS block

with 4 left over to start the 4th block

this is the first one l made from something but l can't remember what it was now and l only did it about a week ago...blame it on the head cold shall I?

joined with black for a change and a sort of vintage feel

each set is blended in a different way...

'A reference blanket'

Thanks again for the get wells..they really uplift my spirits right now and make me feel so much better

hugs to all xx

Thanks for the get well wishes

2012-02-04T08:56:00.000Z

Thank you all for the get well wishes, thought l was on the mend yesterday but this morning another sore throat yet again...aren't bugs funny these days?

Managing to do a bit of crochet though from my sick bed (sofa really)

Prudence Mapstone Call

Joined in with a a call to do a free form coat hanger for an exhibition in Australia at the beginning of January,

Prudence Mapstone on Ravelry ask us all to send a free form coat hanger, to be in Aus. for the end of February, I'm little bit behind with being poorly but getting there

It may or may not get into the exhibition but thought it a fun project to have a go at

My Coat hanger Progress

went for a sea life sort of theme

Have a good weekend everyone xx

Yet another apology..

2012-02-03T13:17:00.001Z

Been laid up for a few days now, but almost back to normal, caught a bug at Alison's (my friends Birthday Party) last Saturday...head cold but made me feel so tired, although that could have been down to all the excitement of the month

Had time to think a lot over the last few days. Funny how life throws curved balls isn't it?

"Are we who we are or who we become...moulded by events may be?"

just a few of the pick and mix squares

Hope this cold weather isn't keeping you in doors to much!

hugs x

Waves stripes and daisies

2012-01-29T14:17:00.000Z

Fun mix

HELLO...remember me?

2012-01-21T17:13:00.001Z

Sorry for neglecting you all for the last couple of weeks, especially after l started a new blog with the promise of lots of lovely new ideas

But I am back in blogland and with lots of tit bits to share again

The reason l went quite for a while is that l was approached by a publisher to write a crochet book...I was just so excited but terrified at the same time

We all had a meeting yesterday just outside Brighton, I met the team I will be working with and it all went really well. We drove down yesterday had the meeting and stayed in one of their flats over night drove back today after having a peek at Brighton

The flat was wonderful and the team were really lovely and made me feel very welcome and at ease,

so it looks like I have a new crochet book to write....

Now l know the brief I can share some of what I have been working on through January

Hope you will all be as pleased as l am, it is a dream come true for me, something l have always said l would do one day...seems like that day has arrived

Wish me luck, I'll need it....a huge challenge for me

For now how about a few stripes..2 rows of sc in a variety of colours

rainbow of wavy stripes

lots of blue stripes

pastels

greens and reds

and some tweedy ones too..

Don't you just love stripes?

plus a few triangles

and the mesh stitch scarf it coming along great too and a hat appeared

to go with the collar both patterns on their way soon

Magic is believing in yourself. If you can do that, you can make anything happen.

Foka Gomez

ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND XX

Not around much last few days

2012-01-10T17:44:00.002Z

After starting this new blog and with lots of new ideas to share a fabulous opportunity has dropped in my lap, can't say too much just yet, don't want to mess it all up until it is all in the bag, but promise to be back with an update asap

sorry to be so mysterious

Hugs to all and hope your New Year has got off to as wonderful a start as mine has

What you think about comes about. By recording your dreams and goals on paper, you set in motion the process of becoming the person you most want to be.

Mark Victor Hansen

RE-MODELLED BEANIE... WITH CROCHET SWIRL DECORATION

2012-01-04T20:30:00.003Z

TIP: Take a measurement and do a sample before you start the project

It didn't fit James, so l got myself a new hat

complete with swirl decoration and a rolled bottom

NEW OPEN MESH SCARF

A variation on yesterdays mesh......Chain multiples of 4 sts plus 2sts extra

This scarf was 40 chain,

A 5.5mm hook and made with a mix of 3ply random dyed sock yarn and pale shades of a number of DK ends of balls crocheted in stripes

OPEN MESH SCARF PATTERN

Chain 40

ROW 1: SC in every stitch

ROW2: turn then 2 Trebles 2 chain 2 trebles 2 chain until the row is complete

ROW3: turn then SC in every stitch

repeat ROWS 2 and 3 until your scarf is as long as you want it

finish with a SC row

I'm going to decorate it with something but not sure what yet

watch this space

If you can dream it, you can do it.

Walt Disney

Have Fun

CROCHET BEENIE...for James

2012-01-03T10:57:00.002Z

My lovely son came for dinner again yesterday and saw my new tweed mixes...and placed his order...

SIMPLE BEENIE

Mixing a plain DK with a 3ply sock yarn, all in SC work back and forth using 4mm hook

Chain 70 join into a circle (Be careful not to twist the chain)

ROW 1: SC in every st

repeat row one working it back and forth not just on one side, until it is long enough for the head it's made for, for this one i worked 19 ROWS

Divided it into 4 equal sections and decreased 4 stitches every round until only 4 stitches remaining

sew hole together

Add pompom....leaving the choice to James
If it needs to be bigger you can just go up a hook size or two or just add stitches either will work

Having made this one l would try working the next from the top down

PROMISE 1: Progress

only half done because l made James' hat last night

Adding a 2" band of stripes 2 rows of SC for each stripe in pairs of colours

Decided to make this blanket in bands of pattern so l don't get bored with it and can do something new for each band, just keeping the same colour palete

A SHARING MOMENT

My wonderful OH bought me a very unexpected present for Christmas...so pleased with it l cried a little

I couldn't wait to add a book or two and the first one l bought was an

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CROCHET STITCHES

Still working out what l can and can't do with it. Aren't l a lucky girl?

Love, love ,love it..Thank you Phil you're a darling xx

Any one got one? Any tips?..please let me know

Vision without action is merely a dream.

Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world!

Joel Arthur Baker

Have Fun

MIXING YOUR OWN TWEED YARNS....

2012-01-02T09:08:00.004Z

Do you, like me, love all the tweedy and blended yarns?

But find the cost puts you off?

Most of us have an odd ball of random dyed sock yarn in the stash some where and l'm sure we all have just a few ball ends of plain acrylic or wool colours?

For this collar l mixed a fine sock yarn together with random stripes of Stylecraft acrylic in several colours and a 4.5mm hook

I started with 70 chain as a base and decreased when l thought it needed it to make a collar shape

then added a shell stitch to the curved edge and added a couple of DC rows to give the wavy edge

added a soft crochet button and a loop

But decided it looked better as a tight collar so l will add a button to fasten it when l find the right one

and think it give a very good but low cost version of the more expensive tweedy yarns available
update on Pattern notes: 4.5 mm hook, chain 70 to start

All made in SC and l use US terminology makes more sense to me than UK terms lol

Decrease one stitch at the beginning of every row until you have about 45 stitches left, changing your plain coloured yarns in a random combination

I did 4 orange red, 2 orange, 4 pink red, 2 red pink, 2 plum, 2 red pink, 2 plum, 2 pink red, 2 orange,3 pink red...25 rows

My new Freeform circle cowl

Using the same tweedy blend of sock yarn and a deep pinky red l made several different shaped circles in a variety of combinations
Joining them together as l made a few but trying it on all the time
Adding the right size circle into the right space as l went,
Edging it with a blend of plum and sock yarn and a single row of SC

It is quite shaped and sits perfectly on my shoulders with a slight dip at the front all joined together with SC all made with a 4mm hook

Red is really hard to photograph l find so i hope you can see the detail ok?

SIMPLE CHUNKY MESS STITCH

Again using a beige random dyed sock yarn and plain Stylecraft Acrylic in cream, beige, tan and brown

ROW 1 chainless foundation

ROW 2: 2DC 2 Chain 2DC 2 chain turn

ROW 3: SC in every stitch turn

ROW 4: repeat row 2 making sure the 2DC is exactly above making a square pattern

Tomorrow l hope to show you the next stage in THE PROMISE No.1

Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn't really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while. That's because they were able to connect experiences they've had and synthesize new things.
Steve Jobs

Have Fun

HAPPY NEW YEAR...cheers to 2012

2012-01-01T06:59:00.002Z

Hope you all have a wonderful 2012

Thanks for popping by

What to expect from The 8th Gem in 2012....

Hope you will join me on my free form crochet journey though 2012

"To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong." Joseph Chilton Pearce

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL BLOGGING FRIENDS

Please feel free to become a Crochet lover and Friend...

2011-12-23T08:59:00.007Z

...if you want to be included in the crochet addiction to come

There will be new ideas, tips and help to be creative with the hook

Lots of experiments and things to try out

I do hope you will find something you like, find useful and want to try

Projects will be quick to make or in unit form so you can do a little at a time and can add them together to make bigger projects

Creative thinking may mean simply the realization that there's no particular virtue in doing things the way they have always been done before

ARE YOU CREATIVE?

take a look at this VERY INSPIRING post on
ANNEKATA
Some one who was questioning creativity..THANKS Kathrin for making me think

THE 8TH GEM.....2012 Relaunch of my New Crochet Blog

2008-08-08T19:48:00.011+01:00

This was originally a jewellery Blog from August 2008, but l stopped making jewellery and about a year later in June 2009 I started to play hooky again

Now totally addicted to the hook l will be relaunching a New Crochet blog

original circles from 2009...has started me down a new path.....

THE 8TH GEM CROCHET
sometime in 2012

WIP

Comments on this new site enabled from December 2011