Hyperbolic Coral Reef

I went to the Firstsite gallery in Colchester yesterday to take part in the Crochet Coral Reef that they have there.

This is one of many reefs around the world that are being displayed and added to in order to highlight the plight of our disappearing coral reefs. More information can be found here.

There were several people there being taught how to crochet. The staff were friendly and helpful and there was a really nice atmosphere.

I spent about an hour and a half there making a little hyperbolic bit of coral to leave behind, and chatting to some of the other participants. Many had never crocheted before and just wandered in to have a look.

I forgot to take a photo of the actual reef, but I am hoping to find the time to return one evening or next weekend.



My little bit of coral was labelled with my name and location. It will be added to the reef and continue with it to the next location on its tour. It's well worth going to see, even if you don't fancy contributing to the crochet.

Mum's Mittens

I wanted to make everyone close to me a handmade gift this year and I knew that my Mum likes 'flip-top' mittens so I set about making a pair. I got a free pattern from Ravelry and some chunky beige wool (Sirdar Chunky with Wool) that I thought would go with everything.

I was going up to London on the train to see some comedy at Bush Hall so I took my big handbag with yarn, pattern and hooks and blazed ahead. In the outward journey I had made one mitt and started on the top part. By the time I was on the way home I had realised that I didn't like the way that they were going. I think the yarn I chose was too chunky; they didn't sit right. So, I frogged the lot and started to wing it. This was the first time that I had made something without a pattern (except for my momiji couture contest entry) and I was a bit nervous.

But they turned out OK and Mum was happy (or at least she said she was!)

When I started making them I intended to appliqué some turquoise snowflakes onto them, but after leaving them laying around for a while I decided that the addition had to be hot pink because of a pashmina Mum had her eye on (she got that for Christmas, too). I didn't think that snowflakes would look right in pink, so Mr Badschnoodles suggested butterflies!

Here is the pattern by Crocheted Sass that I used for the butterflies

And the pattern for the mittens will follow after a few notes.



Firstly, please don't sell the pattern - it is for personal/gift use only.
Secondly, although I am English, I learned to crochet from an American book before I knew that there was a difference in terminology. I can follow UK terms, but the US ones come more naturally to me, and most of the patterns that I have followed from Ravelry and blogs have been in US terminology. This pattern is in US terms also.
Thirdly, this is a first attempt and hasn't been tested so if you try it and find any errors please let me know. And let me see some pictures, too!

Here's the pattern. If you want to print it you will need to copy and paste into a document programme. Or if you email me I can send it as an attachment.

Mum's Mittens

I used Sirdar Chunky with wool and a 6mm hook.

Stitches used

Ch – Chain
SS – Slip stitch
DC- double crochet
2DC – 2 DC in one stitch
FPDC – Front post double crochet
BLDC – Back loop double crochet
BSS – Backwards slip stitch
DC2T – Double crochet two stitches into one (to decrease yo, insert hook and pull up a loop, insert into next stitch and pull up a loop – 3 loops on hook. YO and pull through first 3 – 2 left on hook. Yo and pull through last stitch.
HDC – half double crochet
HDC2T – half double crochet 2 together



LEFT HAND

R1 Ch 30 and join with SS. DC in each ch.

R2 Ch3 *FPDC in next DC, DC in next DC* repeat until end of round.
Join with SS

R3 Ch3 *FPDC in next DC, DC in next DC* repeat until end of round.
Join with SS

R4 Ch3 *FPDC in next DC, DC in next DC* repeat until end of round.
Join with SS

To make a longer cuff, extend here

R5 Ch3 BLDC around. Join with SS

R6 Ch3 DC around join with SS

R7 Ch3 2DC in 1st stitch. 27 DC. 2DC in next. SS to join.

R8 Ch3 2DC, 2DC, 27 DC, 2DC, 2DC SS to join

R9 Ch3 DC around join with SS

R10 BSSx5 Ch3 DC around. Ch2 and SS to 10th stitch from start of Ch3. The smaller hole will be the thumb hole.

R11 Ch3 DC around. 2 DC in Ch2 space.

R12 Ch3 DC around

R13-15 repeat R12.

R16 Ch3 12 DC. DC2T for next 2. DC to finish and SS to join.

R17 Ch3 10 DC, DC2T, 2 DC, DC2T, DC to end SS to join.

R18 Ch3 DC, DC2T, 5 DC, 4 DC2T, 6 DC, DC2T, DC, SS to join.

R19 Ch3 DC2T around, SS to join.

R20 Ch2 HDC2T around SS to join

R21 SS to close.

THUMB HOLE

Attach yarn to one stitch with a SS

R1 Ch3 DC around with 2DC in the spaces between the CH2 from R11.

R2 Ch3 DC around, SS to join

R3 Ch3 DC around. DC2T at the point where your thumb pad will be (depends on where you started from)

R4 Ch2 HDC2T around. Finish off. (You can ch1 and SS to opposite side if desired)



RIGHT HAND

R1 Ch 30 and join with SS. DC in each ch.

R2 Ch3 *FPDC in next DC, DC in next DC* repeat until end of round.
Join with SS

R3 Ch3 *FPDC in next DC, DC in next DC* repeat until end of round.
Join with SS

R4 Ch3 *FPDC in next DC, DC in next DC* repeat until end of round.
Join with SS

To make a longer cuff, extend here

R5 Ch3 BLDC around. Join with SS

R6 Ch3 DC around join with SS

R7 Ch3 2DC in 1st stitch. 27 DC. 2DC in next. SS to join.

R8 Ch3 2DC, 2DC, 27 DC, 2DC, 2DC SS to join

R9 Ch3 DC around join with SS

R10 5 SS, DC around, SS to 10 stitches back (from last of 5 SS)

R11 Ch3 2DC in Ch2 space from R10 DC around SS to join

R12 Ch3 DC around

R13-15 repeat R12.

R16 Ch3 16 DC DC2T for next 2.DC to finish and SS to join.

R17 Ch3 2 DC2T, 10DC, 2 dc2t, DC, DC2T, DC to finish, SS to join

R18 Ch3 DC2T, DC, 2 DC2T, 5DC, 4DC2T, DC to finish, SS to join.

R19 Ch3 DC2T around, SS to join.

R20 Ch2 HDC2T around SS to join

R21 SS to close.

THUMB HOLE

Attach yarn to one stitch with a SS

R1 Ch3 DC around with 2DC in the spaces between the CH2 from R11.

R2 Ch3 DC around, SS to join

R3 Ch3 DC around. DC2T at the point where your thumb pad will be (depends on where you started from)

R4 Ch2 HDC2T around. Finish off. (You can ch1 and SS to opposite side if desired)



That's it! Any questions or comments welcome - especially about the way that I have written out the pattern - if there is anything unclear please let me know.

Happy Hooking!

Snow Day!

I've been 'working from home' today because of the snow. Originally I thought that this would give me time to crochet and write out a couple of patterns I have been working on (and update this, of course.) Unfortunately it didn't work out that way...

I spent the first part of the morning scouring the traffic reports to find out whether it was going to stop snowing or not - I didn't want to look a fool if it all melted by 10am! After I was utterly convinced the snow was here to stay, I took the dogs for a walk. Then I had to melt off their 'snow trousers' when we got back, which is quite an event as neither of them enjoy the bath!

Then I thought that I'd better actually, you know ... do some work.

And then before I knew it, the day had all but gone!

Still, the weather report says that it will snow for several days so I might get some more time.

***

Well, it's the time of the year for resolutions, hopes and dreams. I'm not usually one for making resolutions as they always seem to be broken by the end of the 10th but this year I have a few vague notions...

1. Keep Calm and Carry On! - This is a work related one; don't let petty people, petty actions and petty problems get me down.

2. Just say no. - Not always, but when it's an unreasonable request I should say so, not try anyway and then feel guilty for failing.

3. Walk before you run, but then run. - (Actually walk more, for a start.) Take one step at a time and don't set myself up for failure by aiming too high. But also, keep one eye on the stars as I'll get there one day.

3. Keep a clear head and always carry a notebook - I have lots of patterns and designs in my head and little time to try them out, but I will keep notes, doodles and designs together so I can get to them all eventually. Or look back and realise they're no good! Either way it's useful.

4. Christmas is coming. - LOL. This year I set myself the somewhat impossible task of making something for almost everyone for Christmas. I managed it, including Mr Badschnoodles' elbow-length cable gloves (based on this fabulous pattern) which I finished at 11.39pm on Christmas Eve! However, I started too late because of a big project I was working on and so every lunchtime, train journey, evening etc. was taken up with crochet and I had no time to even go shopping. This year, I shall start before October and have a go at some decorations, too. I saw a pattern for some lovely crochet snowflakes, but I just didn't have the time.

5. Start selling! - Set up Etsy and Folksy shops and get my stuff out there! You never know until you try.

...and I think that's enough for one year. Hopefully putting them out there into the universe will make them more likely to come true. Or is that only wishes? ;)