Wreath Making

I've really been enjoying this colour palette, working up the soft squishy stripes and feeling all cosy and a bit in love with the Autumn season.

I haven't had a huge amount of hooky time lately, yet somehow during odd snatches of time I've managed to work up a decent length of double crochet. I used Big Merino yarn which is an aran weight, worked up on a 5mm hook. This pattern is worked as a straight length (no shaping required), and it's a case of measuring as you work and stopping when you've done enough. It's not a case of exact numbers and rows, which I am thankful for. I made it 24 stitches wide (to give a snug fit around the girth of my polystyrene wreath), and long enough to go around the circumference of the wreath without needing to stretch it too much.

You can see in the above picture that with every colour change, I made sure to leave a good tail end dangling, about 6-8 inches. I use these to stitch the stripes up, which gives a lovely neat finish without too much hassle.

My wreath base is called a "35cm half round ring", which means it has a rounded front and a flat back. You can find it here on Amazon. I love this size. It is just the right sort of scale for crochet decorations, as you can fit plenty on (more is more!) but at the same time, it's not too daunting to fill.

I spent a delicious, snugly time camped out on the sofa in my pyjamas on Sunday morning, doing the stitching. It was sooooo soothing, I loved doing it. As mentioned, you can see how each stripe is stitched up in it's own colour using the tail end of yarn. It's a pretty nifty way of doing it. The seam runs around the centre of the flat back and won't be visible when the wreath is hung, but I still like to know that it is neat. I am a bit of a stickler for neat finishes.

Stitch, snip, slurp. Stitch, snip, slurp. Slowly making progress.

Every so often I would turn the wreath over to check it was looking ok. This is the fourth wreath I've made now, but it still feels a little bit like it isn't going to work out. The crochet always feels too baggy and the wrong shape. It seems impossible that a long, straight strip can be forced to bend neatly into a circle.....

....and yet it seems to work itself out....

....and by the end of it all, I can let out a huge long huuuuuffffffff of relief.

Phew. I knew it would work, of course it would! And yet I am still a little bit amazed and releived at how neat it all turns out to be. N-e-a-t. It really is just that.

Now comes the heart-skippy fun bit....smothering the whole lot with Autumnal goodness. Flowers, leaves, acorns, berries, toadstools. Oh, and lets not forget the snuffly little critter that will finish it off. I have made most of the above already, just a few bits to do before I get to see it all come together. I am SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!! Can't wait to see how it turns out.

I just love wreaths, I don't know quite what it is about them that appeals to me so much, but they do please me enormously.

On Saturday, Tracy and I welcomed a wonderful group of ladies to our first ever Studio Workshop. The weather was dismal that day, but inside our first floor room it felt very cosy and welcoming. We had worked hard on Friday getting the room ready, and it did look rather lovely and inspiring.

Wreath-making seemed like a good way to kick off our Studio Workshops at this time of year, so we invited a good friend of ours to come in and teach how to make a rag rug wreath. Rachel is a talented maker and an experienced teacher, and it was great to have her at our Studio, starting us off on our workshop journey.

 

We had the use of both upstairs rooms above the café, so there was enough space to spread out the huge collection of fabrics that Rachel has gathered over the years, as well as a lovely display of her work.....

.....the colours and textures were just sooooo inspiring, I spent a long time stroking everything!

During the day, Rachel taught the art of "prodding" which transforms small strips of material into a gorgeous mass of texture and colour. By working the rags directly into the hessian backing in a ring shape, the wreath more or less grows before your eyes.

By the end of the day, Tracy and I were almost fit to burst with happiness. It was just so lovely to see our studio buzzing with happy creativity, the first of many happy workshop days I hope.

Next year, I'll be starting my own crochet workshops at The Studio and I am super excited about the prospect. I'll be teaching some decorative projects (including the French Bower Bird), which I hope will be fun, creative and inspiring. We are planning to run the majority of our workshops on a Saturday, and the day will include materials, tuition, drinks, nibbles and a delicious homemade lunch. Do leave me a comment if you would be interested so that I can keep you posetd with dates/details.

In the meantime, if you can't wait till next year you are very welcome to come and visit The Studio before Christmas. We're having two Open Studio events to coincide with our towns Yuletide Festival, on Sunday 8th and Sunday 15th December, 12-4pm. Come and have a drink and a bite to eat in the gorgeous café, then pop upstairs to the studio to have a nosey around. We'll be prettifying the Studio in a suitably Christmassy manner and you are welcome to come and squidge my yarn stash (ooooo that Big Merino........!)

Right.....on with some more hooky Autumn leaves. I'm hoping to have my wreath on the wall by the end of the week, and a rather glorious, seasonal Ta-dah for you.

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ps Tracy wrote a wonderful blog post about Saturday's workshop with lots of great pictures :: www.patchworkchickens.blogspot.co.uk

x

 

Autumn Inspiration

Autumn Colour

Autumnal Crochet

Comments

[Laraine Quinton]

Hi, can you tell me where I can get the pattern for your wreath as my daughter-in-law would like me to make it for her, thank you in advance

[Sharon Staples]

Hi Lucy , please can you give me details of workshops, would love to come 💜

[Muriel cork]

Could I have details of your classes thank you

[Birgit]

What a fantastic giveaway. I love the patterns and bright colours of the Rice products and always keep my eyes open for them. I can see how the book can make one happy by just seeing all the lovely arrangements and colours.

[Sophie]

Your creations are lovely (as ever) But i LOVE your worktable, especially the white legs and wooden table top! I will definitely be hunting for something similar which i can paint for my new house! Sophie xx

[funny love quotes]

The entire short wedding speech ought to be written in a colorful manner which will not embarrass the groom. My dear reader, I don't know your past and the experiences you might have encountered in your life but there is one thing I know without a doubt, that ALL HAVE MADE YOU BETTER'. You dont wish to scare her with naughty sms, bear in mind that.

[Sheryl]

I wish I lived in your ten Lucy but I'm way dwn in the south. If you were to ever write a book however.......x

[Hazel]

Hi Luce. Please let me know when your workshops are happening. Thanks. Hazelxx

[Tids Chandler]

Yes please to workshop notifications! Moving back up North in Feb. Ooooh how exciting!

[George]

Hey would you mind letting me know which hosting company you're using? I've loaded your blog in 3 different web browsers and I must say this blog loads a lot faster then most. Can you recommend a good web hosting provider at a honest price? Many thanks, I appreciate it!

[Christine Laennec]

I'd love to be kept updated about any workshops you're giving Lucy. Thank you!

[Claire]

I would love to come to one of your workshops, please add me to the email list x

[Rachel Thurlby]

Hi Lucy
Would love to come to one of your workshops - and love how inspiring the studio looks! I have a snap of the room upstairs as it looked on Yarndale weekend to brighten up my own crochet corner, it would be lovely to visit Yorkshire again :)

[Dyantha]

This is crochet wreath is fab and I MUST have a ago at it! I've ordered my polystyrene rings (found mine on eBay for a BARGAIN!). Can't wait to get started :) Thank you! x

[sandra]

Hi lucy, I would love to come and play please keep me informed of workshops, kim and elaine had a amazing time at the studio on Saturday, crafty hugs to you x

[Marianna]

I would love to come to a workshop, and I'm sure my friend Louise would too. Everything I have ever crocheted is from one of your patterns. Not joking! You are fab.

[Tracey Vester-Hodgson]

Hi Lucy, I would love to be kept up to date with your workshops. Your wreath looks gorgeous. See you on Friday Tracey x

[Claudia Virgilio]

The Studio seems to be so special and cozy! I´d love to be nearer...
Lucy, I just LOVE wreaths just like you but here in Brazil they´re not very usual: people only make them for Christmas! but I like to have one for each season. :)
Anxious for yours.

[Hilary Mackintosh]

Hi Lucy
Lovely work you are a true inspiration. Look forward to seeing you in December. I would like you to keep me and my daughter in mind for your workshops
Take care Hilary

[Jules]

Your rooms look so inviting. I loooove rag rugging, I was taught this last year at a hobbycraft craft session and we are planning to make a festive Christmas stocking over the next couple of weeks, the main part of the stocking made with felt and embellished with beads, buttons and embroidery and the top is to be decorated with rag rugging so it has a lovely ruffled top. Would love to see any more free patterns of any of your lovely attachments to your autumn wreath to help inspire us to make our own and be able to bring them out each year as a special family decoration. I wish you all the best with your workshops, I'm down in Berkshire so a bit far for me I'm afraid but I'm sure you will be fully booked. Jules xx

[Trillian Locke]

Love all your wreathes Lucy and the notion of a workshop with you is very exciting. I am intending to visit UK in May, June next year and would love to join a workshop if it fits in. Blessings, Trills

[Marylin]

Looking forward to the Ta-dah of your wreath. I'm contemplating trying one myself, don't know if I can get one together for the Cmas season. Thx for the inspiration m'dear! And Congrats on your first Workshop at the Studio! I had a studio some years ago and I enjoyed tutoring and hosting workshops. The buzz of creativity is addictive. Enjoy, hugs, MO
http://moisbloggingit.blogspot.ca/

[Debbie Long]

Hello...yes please!! would love to come to a workshop and especially to squidge your delicious looking yarn stash - and to drink coffee and eat cake - yum! please keep me updated.
thanks Debbie xx

[Sarah]

I would love to be kept updated about any future workshops. I can't think of a better way to spend a day off work!

[Thomasina Tittlemouse]

Your autumn wreath is going to be fabulous! Do you think using a flat-backed polystyrene base makes it easier to fit the crochet round? So looking forward to seeing it complete with all its lovely components! I've also been making the hedgehogs as,like you, I saw them in Simply Crochet and had to give them a go. So sweet! They've come out rather large though! Wonder if you're going to scale them down for perching on your wreath? I'd love to come to one of your workshops especially to make your wonderful bower bird. How exciting! Wishing you the very best of luck with all your studio plans. E x