Stock Spotlight Sunday

In this Sunday’s stock spotlight post I’m focusing on Puppets Lyric cotton.

Why Puppets Lyric cotton? Well just look at the fantastic colours! I love a good bold colour, a bright pink, a sunflower yellow and of course a strong red.

Cotton has some fantastic properties that make it great to crochet and knit with:

• It’s soft and comfortable against the skin.
• It absorbs perspiration quickly, perfect for the (hopefully!) hot summer.
• It also keeps you cool.
• It retains color well and it’s so easy to wash (this one can be washed at 60 degrees).
• It’s also strong and durable making it perfect for a wide range of items, e.g. baby clothes, shopping bags, throws and more.

Scroll down for Puppets Lyric details.

A Little Inspiration

I love this free pattern from Coats Crafts, crochet keepsake box. It uses Puppets Lyric DK White, a 7mm hook. A shell is used for the lid but you could easily substitute a bead or a button.

Puppet Lyric Details

DK– made from 100% cotton. 50g, 70 metres, 76 yards. 60°C Machine wash, do not bleach, cool iron, do not tumble dry. Dry cleanable (Not Trichloroethylene).

* The recommended hook size for the DK  is 4.00mm.  10cm X 10cm gives 19 stitches and 17 rows.

* The recommended needle  for the DK size is 4.5mm. 10cm X 10cm gives 19 stitches and 26 rows.

4 ply– made from 100% cotton. 50g, 150 metres, 164 yards. 60°C Machine wash, do not bleach, cool iron, do not tumble dry. Dry cleanable (Not Trichloroethylene).

* The recommended hook  size for the 4 ply  is 3.00mm. 10cm X 10cm gives 25 stitches and 23 rows.

* The recommended needle  for the  4 ply size is 3.5mm. 10cm X 10cm gives 33 stitches and 26 rows.

What do you like making with cotton?

Geometric Crocheted Shape Formulas, Works for Circles,Triangles, Squares and Hexagons Too!

I wanted and quick and easy online guide to creating simple flat geometric shapes.  I couldn’t find one so I created one. Please don’t think that I came up with these numbers all by myself (I’m not that clever or patient). It’s created from notes that I’ve collected over the years.

The table below outlines the mathematical formula for creating circles. The table includes formulas for shapes using DCs, HTRs, TRs, DTRs and TTRs (US: SCs, HDCs, DCs, TRs and DTRs).

***

Points to Note

1. The number of stitches needed depends upon the height of the stitch. The taller the stitch the more stitches required.

2.  When you use the same stitch throughout your motif, the number of stitches to be added on subsequent rounds is the same for   every round. That number is the same number of stitches used in round 1.

3. Increases should be made one by one and spaced evenly as possible around.

[table id=12 /]

To Make Other Shapes Using this Table

To make a triangle the increases need to be divided into 3 and placed evenly apart at the same point on every round.

For example complete round 1 according to the table. On round 2 (for a DC, US sc) you  need to increase by 12 stitches. For the triangle shape those 12 increase stitches need to be in groups of 3.

To make a square the increases need to be divided into 4 and placed evenly apart at the same point on every round.

For example complete round 1 according to the table. On round 2 (for a DC, US sc) you need to increase by 12 stitches. For the square shape those 12 increase stitches need to be in groups of 4.

To make a hexagon the increases need to be divided into 6 and placed at the same point on every round.

For example complete round 1 according to the table. On round 2 you  need to increase by 12 stitches. For the hexagon shape those 12 increase stitches need to be in groups of 6.

 ***

 

 

This Week’s Top 3 Free Crochet Patterns

Yes I know it’s only Tuesday but I’ve already found 3 fabulous free crochet patterns that I just had to share.

***

At number 3 is this crochet daisy chain. Very pretty and summery, would look great made with a sparkly thread. This US pattern gives directions for a single daisy and a double daisy.

At number two is the banana hammock, yes you heard me, banana hammock. Although it sounds silly I think this one’s really useful. This US pattern needs a good quality strong crochet cotton and a 6mm hook.

And at number one is this beautiful crochet flower garland (you know how I love my reds). Strictly speaking this is not a pattern, you can actually purchase the finished item made  by UK Etsy Seller Emma Lamb. However you could easily take inspiration from this and make something similar. I found this terrific site with free motif patterns.

***

Now where’s my hook…