A pretty pink flower....

At some point I will turn this into a square but for now it is simply a pretty pink flower!

This is the centre flower from the following pattern:
http://dishclothdiaries.blogspot.it/2009/04/spring-fling.html
UPDATE:
I have now had a chance to finish this off by making it into a square (continuing the pattern above):

It's a bit larger than my usual squares, but a very pretty pattern.

A Mug Cosy......

Having made a mug cosy for a friend a couple of weeks ago I decided I'd quite like one of my own:

The original idea came from here:
http://projectsaroundthehouse.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/crochet-coffee-mug-cozy.html?m=1

More improvements.....

Today's square is an even more improved version of the squares I made on the 4th Feb and the 7th Jan:

I really like the stripes, and being worked in two shades of blue baby wool the matt effect is cool too!

Beautiful alpaca boot cuffs.....

A trip to London last week was a chance to pop into the lovely little wool shop Loop, in Angel. I was looking for an alpaca yarn in cream to make some boot cuffs from, as if by magic there it was - and in their sale too! Here are my creations:

The original pattern can be found here:
http://elkstudiohandcraftedcrochetdesigns.wordpress.com/2013/02/16/free-waves-and-seashells-boot-cuff-pattern/
I have added a final edge of shells along the outside, and - knowing how I will wear them - completed one less round of treble and double crochets before the decrease row on the inside. They are so lovely and soft, I can't wait to have the opportunity to show them off!

Many circles......

One of the many things I enjoy about crochet is the fact that it often doesn't look like you think it's going to as it is being produced and you wonder if it's going to turn out all right, then all of a sudden it all falls into place and the pattern reveals itself! This square was one of those, all the little circles being worked in two stages and linked together as you go along - saving a lot of sewing compared with working them all separately and then stitching them together at the end.

The original pattern can be found here:
http://undisthreadness.blogspot.co.uk/2006/09/16-circles-square.html

A circle....

Today's 'square' is actually a circle:

A surprisingly simple pattern which produces a circle which will lay flat.....
Chain 4 and join with a slip stitch.
Chain 1, 12 half treble crochets in the ring, do not join as you want to create a continuous spiral.
Work 2 half treble crochets in each stitch from the previous round.
*1 half treble crochet in the next stitch, 2 half treble crochets in the next stitch, repeat from * all the way round.

*1 half treble crochet in each of the next 2 stitches, 2 half treble crochets in the next stitch, repeat from * all the way round.

*1 half treble crochet in the next 3 stitches, 2 half treble crochets in the next stitch, repeat from * all the way round.

Continue in this manner, adding one extra half treble crochet between the sets of 2 half treble crochets on each round. I found it useful to use a stitch marker to mark the first stitch in each round so I knew when to introduce the extra stitch. If you lose count you can count the number of rounds completed and this will tell you how many stitches each repeat needs.

One final flower....

This is the last of my posts for half-term week. The last time I created a square using crocodile stitch it immediately became my favourite square of the project so far, today's square also contains crocodile stitch and I think it has taken that top spot!

The original pattern can be found here:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/crocodile-stitch-afghan-block---dahlia

Another pretty flower.....

Following the theme this week of more complicated patterns here is another square with a central flower:

Whilst the original pattern is from a blog which is written in French, there are good diagrams to help! My flower doesn't look like the one in the pattern, but I don't think that is a bad thing. The original pattern can be found here:
http://de-la-maison-au-jardin.over-blog.com/pages/Carres_au_crochet-4255678.html
I only did 4 rounds of the traditional granny square in cream before edging it with 2 rounds of double crochets in the flower colours and a final round of half triple crochets in cream.

A central rose.....

This square starts with a central rose, the pattern says you can use this for all manner of other items - embellishments, pins etc - and I am inclined to agree, it really is lovely.

The pattern for this square can be found here:
http://www.examiner.com/article/catherine-s-granny-square

Celtic Knot (2)......

This square contains the same central knot as yesterday's square, this time used horizontally:

The pattern for this version is found here:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/celtic-knot-squares
I have finished this off with three rounds of double crochets in the same colours as the central knot.

Celtic Knot (1)......

As it is half-term this week I thought I'd take the opportunity to try a few more complicated squares. This Celtic knot pattern is created in 3 bits which are then woven together and edged to make it square, the pattern also contains a version where the Celtic knot is horizontal rather than on the diagonal - one to try tomorrow maybe!

The pattern can be found here:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/celtic-knot-squares

Monochrome.....

When this pattern popped up on my Pinterest page I thought it looked really intricate and had to give it a go, the original pattern is multicoloured but I like the simple effect of just using two different yarns:

The original pattern can be found here:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fireworks-surprise

Making it up as I go.....

This is another square made by making it up as I went along:

As a result it's a bit larger than my usual squares!
In another new venture I thought I'd try to create a chart to work from rather than my usual rather wordy description......
Turns out it wasn't as easy as I thought it would be - clearly needs work!!!

A circle in a square......

Today's square was made up whilst sitting chatting to a friend, based on the lack of concentration I'm pretty pleased with the outcome:

The circles were made with rounds of treble crochets, increasing the number of crochets needed for each round. There is then a round of double crochets followed by the "round" that made it square and then two more rounds of double crochets.

Valentines Day....

A pretty heart pattern for valentines day:

The original pattern can be found here:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/grandmas-heart-square

Practice required......

Again today's square is based on one I found on Pinterest, unfortunately there was no pattern to go with it but in spite of this I thought I'd give it a go. I quite like the open woven effect, but this wasn't  what I was going for when I started. I'm going to try it again another day using slightly shorter strands to give a tighter weave.

I made 10 treble crocheted strands, 5 in yellow and 5 in the mixed coloured yarn. Each of these were made from a foundation chain of 29 chains, with the first treble being worked in the fifth chain from the hook. The strands were then woven together and joined using two rounds of double crochets. The worst part of this square was having to sew in all the ends once it was finished!

Chunky Wool.......

This is the second of the squares I have made using a pattern found in the free e-book Priscilla's Crochet:

This one is the Nordic Star, section 10 of the afghan squares chapter, although I didn't do as many rounds as in the pattern having used pretty chunky wool and a 6mm hook!

Kind of square........

In between working on the squares for this project I have spent the past few days working on these boot cuffs:

The original pattern can be found here:
http://love2bloom.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/a-peek-of-cozy-boot-cuff-pattern.html
I really like how these have turned out and they are ideal for stopping the drafts getting in the top of my knee high boots!

Starburst......

When doing a spot of shopping yesterday I found double knit wool at £1.25 for a 100g ball, on a 3 for 2 offer - less than a pound a ball!!
The bright colours were perfect for today's square:

The original pattern can be found here:
http://www.crochetville.com/community/topic/126467-double-treble-burst-square-12hx12w-inches/

Rows and rounds.....

This square is started off by working in rows to create the initial grid and is then worked rounds until it is the right size:

The initial grid is created by working 17 chains, in the 8th chain from the hook work a treble crochet, *chain 1, skip 2 chains, work 1 treble, repeat from * to end. 4 chains, *treble in treble from previous row, chain 1, repeat from * to end. Repeat previous row twice more to give a 4x4 grid.
5 chains in a corner space, 3 trebles. Work 3 trebles in each space from previous round - in the corners work 3 trebles, 2 chains, 3 trebles. In the final corner work 2 trebles and join to the initial 5 chains.
5 chains in a corner space, 2 trebles. Work 2 trebles and 2 chains in each space from previous round - in the corners work 2 trebles, 2 chains, 2 trebles. In the final corner work 1 treble and join to the initial 5 chains.
5 chains in a corner space, 2 trebles. Work a treble in each treble from the previous round and 2 trebles in each space from previous round - in the corners work 2 trebles, 2 chains, 2 trebles. In the final corner work 1 treble and join to the initial 5 chains.
Work two rounds of double crochets to finish off.
I chose to change colour at the end of each round but this is optional.

I love this wool.....

Today's square uses the same pattern as day 8, but using a chunkier wool and a much bigger hook giving a totally different effect:

This is a hand dyed wool with a variable texture, being pure wool it also felts well.

On the go......

One of the things I love about crochet is just how portable it is, pop a hook and a ball of wool in your bag and you're good to go.
This square was made during an hours train journey to Oxford:

Crocheting this on the go meant I was kind of making up as I went along.....

Create a foundation chain, multiple of 6 plus 4 for the first treble crochet.
Miss the first 6 chains, work 5 trebles in the next stitch, miss the next 2 stitches, work 1 treble in the next stitch, repeat to the end.
Chain 3, miss 2 stitches, work 5 trebles in the middle stitch of the 5 trebles from the previous row, treble in the single treble from the previous row, repeat to the end of the row.
Repeat the previous row until it is the size you require.
Finish with a round of double crochets to tidy up the edges.

Not a square........

Today's project is going straight in the post tomorrow packed full of different teas for a friend's birthday.

I've been admiring a variety of mug cosies and thought they looked like a great solution to burnt fingers. This one was very easy to make using the same pattern as on day 8 as it gave a really stretchy finish to ensure a snug fit round the cup.

I have edged it with a contrasting yarn and added 3 chain loops and 3 buttons to secure it:

Using up leftovers......

I'm sure there are many crocheters (is that even a word?) out there that keep even the smallest scrap of wool thinking it might be needed at some point - just like I do! Well today I decided to use up a few of those scraps and make a multicoloured, striped square in simple double crochet rows:

I started with a chain and double crocheted in each stitch along this chain. At the end of the row I did one chain to enable me to turn and then worked my way back along the row, each time I ran out of wool I joined in another piece and wove the ends in as I went along. Once it was square I finished it off with a round of double crochets to neaten up the edges.

An improved pattern......

Today's square is very similar to the one completed on day 7, I've made a couple of tweaks to the pattern which I think have improved it - there is no obvious join on each round for instance:

Start with a ring of 5 chains joined with a slip stitch.
5 chains, 3 treble crochets, *2 chains, 3 treble crochets, repeat from * 2 times, 2 chains, 2 treble crochets, finish round with a slip stitch in the initial 5 chains of this round.
5 chains, 2 treble crochets in chain space from previous round, treble crochet in each stitch from previous round - working through both loops in each stitch. When you reach a corner do 2 treble crochets, 2 chains, 2 treble crochets in the corner space - except on the final corner where only 1 treble crochet is worked. At the end of the round join with a slip stitch in the initial 5 chains of this round.

Repeat this as many times as necessary to get the size you want. I did the final round of treble crochets and then a round of double crochets in a different colour (mainly because I am using up the end of balls of wool, but also to add contrast!).

As if by magic.......

I downloaded a brilliant free book onto my iPad last week - Priscilla's Crochet. This book contains a whole load of excellent crochet patterns including a whole section on squares! Today's square is called the carousel square and can be found in section 3 on Afghan squares:

What has amazed me about this square is that even though I have been using self-striping noro wool it has worked out perfectly that the colours have changed at the end of each section!

Back to (almost) basics 2........

Following yesterday's twist on a classic granny square I thought I'd do something similar today, this time working in rows:

I worked two rows in each colour to give a striped effect.

Chain 32, work 2 treble crochets in the 5th chain from the hook, *chain 1, skip 3 chains, 3 treble crochets repeat from * to last 2 chains, 2 treble crochets in penultimate chain, 1 treble crochet in last chain.

Chain 4, *3 treble crochets in chain space of previous row, chain 1, repeat from * to end, chain 1, work 1 treble crochet in the top of the 3 chains at start of previous row. Finish off yarn and weave in.

Add new yarn, chain 3, work 2 treble crochets in same chain space, *chain 1, 3 treble crochets in next chain space, repeat from * to end.

Repeat previous two rows until it is the required size.

Back to (almost) basics.......

New month, new twist on the basic granny square!
Today's square is worked from the corner using the same stitches as in a basic granny square but only working two sides of the square:

I have changed colour after every row to try and accentuate the pattern and as is often the case I have finished it off with a round of double crochets.

Chain 6, join with a slip stitch.
Chain 3, 3 treble crochets, chain 2, 4 treble crochets into ring, finish off thread.
Join new thread on same corner as initial 3 chains, work 4 chains, 3 treble crochets, 2 chains, 3 treble crochets in the corner space, chain 1, 1 treble in the top of final treble from previous row, finish off thread.
Join new thread into 3rd chain of the initial 4 chains in previous row, chain 3, 3 treble crochets in chain space, chain 1, 3 treble crochets, chain 2, 3 treble crochets in corner space, chain 1, 4 treble crochets in final space, finish off thread.

Repeat last 2 rows, increasing as needed until the square is as big as necessary.
(NB - the round of double crochets are worked over the 4th treble crochet or the 3 chains on the outside on two of the edges and in the top stitch on the other two edges.....)