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

[Jille]

Glad your first workshop was a success! Would be very interested in any future ones. Jille x

[Lucy Brazendale]

Lucy, I would love to be informed about your workshops please.
How exciting.
Many thanks
Lucy

[Sarah]

Hi Lucy, I would love to come to one of your workshops and see your lovely studio! Keep us all posted xx

[The House of Jones]

Ooh it's coming along a treat! I'm glad you showed how it works sewing up around the ring - I'm thinking of doing something similar for a little project I am cooking up. Can you get those rings without the flat back?
Jones x

[Katie]

As usual, so many bright and cheery colors! Love the flowers on the wreath! Would look perfect in my bright yellow kitchen!

[Judy]

Hello Lucy, I would love to attend one of your workshops, looking forward to be posted the details.Happy crocheting...Judy x

[Lynne]

Oh Lucy, I love love love the picture of your studio. It is so golden and warm and cozy looking. I just sat and looked and looked, drinking it in... I would love to come, but am way over in Alaska! I don't even crochet, I just love the colors and joie d'vie that you have! So I wish a wonderful workshop and many more....

[Corinne]

Magnifique !!!!
J'adore votre blog !!!
On aimerait vivre chez vous tellement la vie y semble gaie. Une femme qui aime tant les fleurs et les couleurs ne peut qu'être merveilleuse.
Thanks a lot
Corinne
From France

[Maria]

Hello Lucy, your crown is wonderful, you always manage to combine colors in a harmonious way!
Want to see the effect it has had on me visit your blog? Here ...

http://www.cosediclem.blogspot.it/

I could not show it to you and say thank you for the inspiration and for sharing!

[Kate]

Good to hear the first class went so well.X

[Helen Lay]

I'd love to come to a workshop Lucy, I'm in York so you're only a couple of trains away :-) As well as actual project workshops, improving techniques workshops would be wonderful. I'm too scared to make baby blankets at the moment for people as I'm worried about them unravelling so help with those sorts of bits would be wonderful (I learn better in real life). Thanks, Helen.

[Dawn]

Hi, I love your wreaths. Boyes also sell the poly rings for about £2 if anybody has a shop near them.

[Joy]

loving the look of the wreath ... I have covered mine but not started any bits and pieces yet as I have other bits to finish off before I start. Mine will not be on the wall this Autumn like yours, more like next Autumn!! Loved the studio photos and so glad your rag rug wreath open day was such a success. I have yarn balled my next door neighbours tree and will post a photo for you shortly :-) love Joy xx

[Kim W]

Oh Lucy!
I am so happy for you! I am going through some really rough stuff right now and seeing your post cheered me up.
Hugs,
Kim

[Janet]

Please keep me posted. This one of my favorite places to be and learn, enjoy all your craft projects.
Thanks, Janet

[Inge]

Beautiful colours!
I can't wait to see your wreath when it's finished.
I'm glad that your first workshop was a success.

[Jacqueline]

For 3 years I have planned to make a wreath and not got round to it and then I look at yours and think just how amazing they look. Too late for this year but next a definite!

[claire coffey]

Your wreath is looking lovely, I'm very inspired to create my own Christmas one, but I think it will have to be next year as I've left it far too late for this year! I do know what you mean about neat finishes though, I am always keen that the back of my work looks as neat as the front does! I'd so love to come to the French Bower bird workshop as I've had the hoop purchased for a while in anticipation of the pattern. Do you think you will be releasing the pattern seperately from the workshop, as you are just too far away in the studio for me to come up for a day, sadly. Claire x

[Rachael Iddon]

Oooooh, I feel another trip to Skipton coming on. I'm not negotiating that flippin' arch with the caravan again though! Well, not in Winter anyway.

[Irene]

Distance prohibits, right now, but oh how I'd love to cozy and learn and share in the creativity! Lovely space and lovely girls!All the very best to your new project!

[Carole Williamson]

Hi there Lucy,
I love your autumn wreath and can't wait to see it finished. I would love to hear more about next years workshops, so please can you let me know.
Love Carole from Rossendale xxxx

[[email protected]]

Your wreath is coming along wonderfully. I especially love those cheerful sunflowers - can't wait to see what else is going to be on there!

Congratulations on a successful workshop - may it be the first of many xx

[michelle]

keep me informed lucy,i,d love to do a workshop please x

[Mags]

Would love to be updated. Only an hours drive for me!

[Jools Morgan-Jones]

Loving the wreath making - both in the workshop and your house, they all look fab! Wish I was close enough to come to a workshop, it would be lovely xx