Simple Baby Booties

Apologies, it's been over a month, I. Am. Rubbish. The new job keeps taking up loads of time! But on with today's post......

People are having babies left right and centre and I've been off work ill so I've been making baby booties....

These were made using this pattern which I adapted a little because they seemed to come out a bit skewiff....

What I did.....

Note: this is all in american so sc is and english dc and a dc is an english treble, i just couldn't be bothered to translate.

First bootie (my changes are indicated in red)

Row 1: ch 15, sc in 2nd ch from hook, 13 sc, 4 sc in first back loop, 12 sc, 2 sc in last back loop. (32 sc)

Row 2: ch 1, 12 sc, 2 sc in next 4 sc, 14 sc, 2 sc in next 2 sc. (38 sc)

Row 3: ch 1, 12 sc, *2 sc in next sc, sc* x 4, 14 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc. (44 sc)

Row 4: ch 1, 12 sc, *2 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc* x 4, 13 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, 3 sc. (50 sc)

Row 5: ch 1, sc around (50 sc)

Row 6: ch 1, sc around in back loops only (50 sc)

Row 7&8: ch 1, sc around (50 sc)

Row 9: ch 1, 17 sc, *2 dc tog, 2 dc* x 4, sc around (46 sc)

Row 10: ch 1, 17 sc, *2 dc tog, 1 dc* x 4, sc around (42 sc)

Row 11: ch 1, 17 sc, 2 dc tog in next 4 dc, sc around (38 sc)

Row 12: sl st until 2 away from curve, *ch 1 turn, 3 sc* x 11, ch 4, sl st into 3rd sc, sl st down edge of strap and continue to sl st to start of row.

Finish off.

Second bootie

And to do the other bootie I followed the above instructions in reverse from Row 2.

So the first two rows are:

Row 1: ch 15, sc in 2nd ch from hook, 13 sc, 4 sc in first back loop, 12 sc, 2 sc in last back loop. (32 sc)

Row 2: ch1 2 sc in first 2 sc, 14 sc, 2sc in next 4 sc, 12sc (38st)

I'll admit that the instructions I've posted here are a little hit and miss, but if anyone actually wants to have a go and gets messed up or confused then I think loopyjess is fine with questions as am I! They are fairly simple tho so adapting them to your needs or your amount of twisting should be fairly straight forward, just give it a go!

How To Granny Square!

EQUIPMENT

I have chosen:

Main (M) - Patons Zhivago 4443

The contrast colours are all Patons Zhivago Home

Contrast 1 (C1) - 0002

Contrast 2 (C2) - 0008

Contrast 3 (C3) - 0001

Contrast 4 (C4) - 0003

I am using a 5mm hook which makes the squares about 15cm x15cm.

Ok so here goes....

INSTRUCTIONS

Square A

Rnd1:

Using C1.

Make a slip knot and ch6 join with a sl st.

ch3, tr2 into centre, ch3, then (tr3, ch3) 3 times.

Join with sl st into 3rd chain at the beginning.

Rnd2:

Using C2.

Pull a loop through any 3ch sp.

ch3, tr2, ch3, tr3, into same space.

ch1, and in the next 3ch-sp (tr3, ch3 ,tr3, ch1).

Repeat in all 3ch sp.

Join with sl st into 3rd chain at the beginning.

Rnd3:

Using C3.

Pull a loop through any 3ch sp.

ch3, tr2, ch3, tr3, into same space.

ch1, [tr3 in next 1ch-sp.

ch1, and in the next 3ch-sp (tr3, ch3 ,tr3, ch1)] repeat to end.

Join with sl st into 3rd chain at the beginning.

Rnd 4:

Using C4.

Pull a loop through any 3ch sp.

ch3, tr2, ch3, tr3, into same space.

ch1,

[(tr3 in next 1ch-sp, ch1) repeat twice, and in the next 3ch-sp (tr3, ch3 ,tr3, ch1)] repeat to end.

Join with sl st into 3rd chain at the beginning.

Rnd 5:

Using M.

Pull a loop through any 3ch sp.

ch3, tr2, ch3, tr3, into same space.

ch1,

[(tr3 in next 1ch-sp, ch1) repeat 3times, and in the next 3ch-sp (tr3, ch3 ,tr3, ch1)] repeat to end.

Join with sl st into 3rd chain at the beginning.

Note: The ch3 spaces form the corners of your square.

I have decided on making 8 different squares and will probably make 10 of each before sewing them together - I'll post about this later and link to it. They are

B: C2, C3, C4, C1

C: C3, C4, C1, C2

D: C4, C1, C2, C3

E: C1, C4, C3, C2

F: C2, C1, C4, C3

G: C3, C2, C1, C4

H: C4, C3, C2, C1

Which should give squares that look like this:

Top: A, B, C, D,

Bot: E, F, G, H

Tips

1. My general technique is to ch1 in between treble clusters (groups of trebles) unless crocheting into a 3ch-sp then ch3 instead, this makes it kinda easier than following a pattern every round.
2. Whenever you have a loose end either from joining a new colour or from fastening off, crochet over the ends to secure them and make the sewing in of the ends a bit easier.

Stitch Abbreviations

st stitch

ch chain

sp space

tr treble

sl slip

Crochet Addict

I'm not doing very well at this posting thing am I? It probably helps that there aren't any people reading this anyway!

I have become a bit obsessed by crochet and have made 2 things and started a third in the last week.

Note that in the given patterns the stitches are labelled using the US conventions and since I use the UK/International naming conventions my amendments are given in these.

Dishcloth
Based on this pattern, a present for a friend in the UK. I say based on this since I didn't follow the pattern particularly carefully and found that when I went back to it it didn't quite work so I made up my own. Don't panic if your dishcloth curls at the edges, a bit of blocking should sort that out.

Crocheted in MODA vera bamboo/cotton (70%/30%). I chose this since both bamboo and cotton are natural and bamboo is slightly antibacterial.

Doily
The second is the doily that I said I would make for Vicky (Ferris Wheel Doily). There seem to be a couple of discrepancies between the picture and the pattern - Rnds 5-8:... looking at the picture there are only 2 rounds crocheted in this way so I split the difference and did 3, then carried on with the pattern. The edging seemed a bit long and unattractive to me so instead of ch7, I ch5 then sl st in 3rd st from hook and then ch3 and dc in ch5-sp (you might find that moving the thread around the hook as if you're twisting the stitches stops the point from pointing the wrong way at some points).

Crocheted in DMC BABYLO 3ply crochet thread (100% cotton). This was chosen simply because I couldn't find anything else of the right size! I don't know what difference the bamboo would make here. The doily was a bit "crinkly" when I'd finished and needed ironing and then was fine.

Next on the Agenda
I've decided that I'm going to make a traditional granny square blanket and my own design doilies and see where that takes me.

Oh and I'm not starting my internship until the 6th April so I should have plenty of time to spare...

Crochet and C++

It's been a while but I do have news. I have a 6 week (paid) C++ internship starting in a couple of weeks, yey! And I have started to learn how to crochet. This is a consequence of trying to find friends in a new city and having shipped my knitting needles and them not having arrived as yet.

So far I have made a double crochet coaster in jade! A coaster wasn't really my intention, but since I's started I continued on to a square! I shall be adding to this a variety of shapes and stitch types just to see if I can!

A friend of mine, who makes the most wonderful cakes (once her website is up and running I'll post a link), is getting married! Her boyfriend took her on a romantic weekend break to Prague and produced a ring! Congratulations Vicky and Andy!

I was already planning on using my new crochet skills to send her a present, I guess it'll now double as an engagement present - I suspect that Andy won't be too enamoured with it tho!

I'm off to crochet some more!