Jolly Holly and Bunting

I'm really having fun making this bunting, it's exactly the sort of project I love. Brightly coloured cottons and speedy results, it's an absolute joy to work on. I am so excited by the whole idea of it and am really looking forward to it coming together with the brightly coloured felt letters and all! I think I've got the wording sorted now too, although need to do some measuring to make sure it'll fit.

Ooooooooooooooo the little red glass beads that I bought are working out beautifully as berries, I'm so happy with them!

The thread I'm using to make the jolly holly is fabulous. I bought it from a local craft shop, it's called Anchor Soft Embroidery thread. It comes in a gazillion different colours (well 255 to be precise), and I am having secret fantasies about spending a small fortune and buying up one of each colour to crochet something in a gazillion different hues. Madness, yes I know.

I've got Little Man home from school (wibbly legs and high temperature time again) and his presence on the sofa has helped to keep Little B happy and in check. Kind of. I've been taking advantage and spent this morning working on the jolly holly tutorial for you. I've finished writing it but just need to check it through to make sure there's no mistakes. For a small crochet item, it took a huge ammount of brain power to write up the pattern. It's not complicated I promise you, but I wanted to make it completely fool-proof. Plus I did have a humungous number of interruptions.

Can you see in the above picture, the Little Hand, bottom right? That's Little B sneaking up to steal my crochet hook.

He then proceeded to climb up onto the table and do a spot of his own crochet with the light bulb. Heeehheeee, cheeky lickle Monkey!!! His presence certainly makes Thinking/Writing/Photographing a challenge!

Anyhow, he's taking his nap now, so I am sitting peacefully once again. I've just read through the holly pattern a couple times and I think it's good to go....please do let me know if you discover any dodgy bits or if you hit any probs. I hope it works out!

You can find the pattern in my lefthand sidebar, usual place down at the bottom or click HERE to find it.

Happy jolly-holly making my lovelies!

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Comments

[Esther]

Thanks Lucy, I'll try. I still do not know much English but I hope to get great pictures. Greetings from southern Spain.

[Sue]

Love the project, thanks for sharing, your banner is going to look great xx

[sue]

Can't wait to try it Lucy. I shall be thinking about it all day at work I know!

[Linda Piotrowski]

Lucy,
I've been reading your blog for about a year now and have been tempted to write so many times. I love reading about your various adventures. Your upbeat spirit and joy in life helps me to remember that my life is good. We all have hard times to be sure. However, you seem to handle yours with such grace and honesty. Your children are so fortunate to have you for a Mom.

I am a knitter. I've never been able to pick up the knack of crochet. But you have finally put me over the top. I am determined to find a friend who crochets and can teach me to do it.

Thank you for sharing your joy in life and your enthusiasm for making life beautiful.

This comes to you from across the Atlantic in Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA.
(My maternal grandmother came from Durham, England.)

Linda

[Isabelle Kessedjian]

I love your work as the crochet.
Isabelle de Paris.

[Bari Jo]

Hello there! Thank you for the holly tutorial! I am making heather black cloches for my nieces (3 and 10 mos) for Christmas and I think the green holly and red berries will be so pretty on this! I was at the yarn store today and purchased the yarn in hopes that the holly would be posted soon. Thank you for making my day! I really appreciate all the inspiration on your blog and all the tutorials you share! I wish I could join you for that cup of coffee! (it's under Kelly Moore in paypal!) Thank you again! Hugs! Bari Jo

[heidi]

precious! can't wait to see the posting of the finished bunting! the holly is soooooo sweet! thanks for the tip on the thread, i inherited a HUGE tin of it from my mom, bless her soul... she was a busy-bee what hooky things, home cooking and baking and DIY in general concern. i do thank her so much for the many inspirations and sharing things-of-the-heart. yes, i do see creativity as a passion and either you have it or you don't...
lil' helpful hands! so cute of him... i bet you have many satifying moments watching your bunch. hoping lil' man will get well soon... all the best to you and yours, lucy and thank you so much for the lovely pattern!
xoxox
ps: to those who write they don't know how to crochet... (HUH??? what's the hold up?) get a hook, some yarn and get going. there are so many tutorials on the net or in books to help to get you started!!! check lucy`s link to amazon in the left margin. you can find all sorts of helpful and inspirational books there for sure!

[Christina]

The bunting looks like it is coming along very nicely! I especially love all the 'help' you have from little busy hands. I have the same problem or should I say I'm equally blessed lol. Sweet P. was wearing my crocheted garland around the house tonight with a cat chasing just behind. Crochet is good for us all! Now if only I can get the garland on the tree!

[Angy Braine]

Cheeky monkeys do make for excellent entertainment do they not :-)

[Erika Mulvenna]

Lovely! Great colors!

[Annemiek]

Can't wait to get home from work and check out the jolly holly tutorial! Thanks for sharing once again :)

[magsmcc]

A bunch of us Information Assistants at the uni library have been following you with interest on Wednesday nights- and are delighted to have the holly tutorial! Our plan is to merge it with Crafty Crow's chain wreath idea for lots of festive hookiness! And we have a ripple too!

[Stitch this]

Gorgeous as evr. Just wanted to let you know I've FINALLY used my piece of Ripple I made back in 2009 when I first came across your little den of crochet-love. It's on my blog if you want a peek. Thankyou, it's a wonderful pattern!

[Lorena Sonido Retro!]

You are crochet machine! wow!

[Sarah]

Hi Lucy,
I have recently learned to crochet from a craftsy course and the other night taught myself flowers. I am so excited about crochet possibilities-and find I much prefer it to knitting. I can't wait to try your holly leaves-not sure if my skills are quite there yet but your tutorial is very clear so thanks for that! I realise I have learned the US stitch names though! Not that it matters-but I didn't even realise they were different!

[michelle]

Happy, Happy, Happy just got in from a night out with my lovely husband to find your holly tutorial-perfect end to perfect day (so long as little ones vomiting bug doesn't return :)) i love your gorgeous colours and fab tutorials Lucy!! Thanks, you are an inspiration!

[Stocki]

Thanks Lucy! You are a star... and thanks for the tip about the yarn too.... :)x

[Rose]

I think Little B is doing macrame with the light bulb. In fact I'm sure of it, a young friend told me the other day that macrame is cool again and Little B obviously knows that.

[arobella creations]

another lovely post from a very creative lady. Makes me wish I could crochet!

[mel]

Hiya!
Once again I wish I could crochet.....I would LOVE to be able to make the things you do! Your holly leaves are wonderful!

Melx

[Sarah west mids uk]

Dear Lucy you have done it again and produced the most wonderful tutorial.
I have just ordered mine from a place in Stroud Glos as I come from Cheltenham and when the package arrives as it should do on Friday it makes me think of my roots so to speak.
So on Friday evening I can give those holly leaves a go!xx

[Jane]

Thank you Lucy - that is a perfect pattern! I have been wracking my brains for a little something to give to a friend at Christmas and some of your holly leaves will make a lovely chirstmas decoration(with a few big red beads)for her.

[karen]

Loving the jolly holly !! thanks for sharing i really wanted to make bunting ,love it in a house. ive featured this post in my blog as my inspiration this week. http://bitsandbobszone.blogspot.com/

[One-oh-four]

Genius! :)

[Archie the wonder dog]

It looks great - thank you, I can't wait to have a go! The thread looks great, thanks for the link!