Notes from the Studio

I bought a beautiful bunch of irises from the supermarket yesterday, they were slung in the "reduced" bucket with a load of tatty carnations and were only £2. The buds were all tight shut at the time, but in the cosy warmth of my studio they have begun to unfurl.

That flash of yellow amongst the purple is surprisingly lovely - I have been thinking a lot about the colour yellow of late as I deliberate over a particular new colour scheme. To include yellow or not? A rich golden yellow,  or maybe a pale butter yellow? My current Harmony blanket has no yellows, and weirdly I kind of miss it a little. I think my next blanket will be back to full-on happy brights in all the colours of the rainbow plus a few extras thrown in for good measure :)

I love taking pictures in my studio, it's very photogenic with such a joyful, colourful, creative atmosphere. Every single day when I put the key in the lock and open the door, I am full of gratitude for this room, being here makes me so happy. I stood on the chair to take a photo of my table, I've got a few things going on at once at the moment and I am teetering on the edge of making some big decisions. Well, that's to say that they feel big to me, the choosing of colours for a new project is pretty epic in my crazy little crochet world.

I've been asked quite a number of times about the small crochet squares that you often see in my studio pictures. I've made these to represent the blanket packs that I've designed - in the picture above you can see all five of my current colour palettes, including the new Harmony colour palette which will be available in a month or two once I've finished the blanket and written up the tutorial. These miniature blanket blocks help a lot when I am pondering on new colour schemes, they allow me to easily see what I've already got going on.

The pattern for these squares is very straight forward, a variation on a simple granny square. Sometimes called a "solid granny square" or a "target square". When I make each one I leave a 30cm tail end dangling, then use these to stitch the squares together. It's a nifty joining technique (if you don't mind a bit of simple over sewing) and makes an invisible seam. Let me know if you would like me to write up the pattern and show you how to join, I'd be happy to share - these squares would make great cushions/blankets don't you think?

I've been working on a little something for a magazine this week, a new design which I decided needed a bit of a pretty beaded finishing touch. I looked everywhere in local shops to find suitable beads (with holes big enough for dk yarn to pass through), but no luck. I ordered two packs of beads online, but when they arrived the holes weren't quite big enough and one set of beads was too small, the other too big (but still with small holes).

And then - I had a pure light bulb moment - PING!!!!!!!!!!! I suddenly remembered the beaded jewellery that I used to love buying for Little Lady when she was much littler, the sort made from colourful wooden beads strung onto elastic.

I went straight to Amazon and ordered these and these and joy of joys they are absolutely perfect.

The holes are big enough for me to thread them straight onto the cotton yarn I'm using, and the colours are gorgeous, so bright and cheery. The combination of painted wood and cotton yarn pleases me enormously too.

Can't wait to show you what I'm making, it's my favourite sort of pretty-but-useless decorative crochet. I've even remembered to write pattern notes as I go along, crikey, wonders will never cease.

Oh I really love love love my studio so much! I've been there every day this week either working at this middle table with yarn and beads and pattern notes....

....or sat at my little desk in the corner working away at the computer. I've managed to tick off my to-do list rather pleasingly this week and it feels really good I must say.

Tomorrow is Friday and I've got our fabulous Creative Coopers group to look forward to, it's one of my most favourite times of the whole week. If you are ever in Atticland on a Friday morning (9.30-11.30) or a Tuesday afternoon (1-3) you would be most welcome to join us upstairs at Coopers Café Bar. Be warned, it's a pretty noisy affair (lots and lots of laughter, you'll definitely hear us before you see us) but it's a super friendly group. Just come and get yourself a yummy drink (and maybe a delicious home baked treat), pull up a chair and be prepared to do more nattering than crocheting/knitting/stitching.

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Comments

[Rachel]

Would love to have the pattern. Have been admiring these squares the last few weeks when you post pictures of them and now would love to make them into a sweet little blanket.

[Kimberley]

I have been recently introduced to your blog and it has resonated deeply. Your phottography is a beautiful window in a lovely part of England. I have recently been rediscovering crochet, and how soothing it is, and the colours that you select are stunning.
I would really appreciate you writing the pattern for your solid granny blocks and the joining technique you described.
Cheers from Western Australia

[Julie Mills]

Yeeessss please, would LOVE the pattern for the solid granny square; it's just gorgeous!!! Thanks so much for sharing snippets of your days....it really is like a conversation face to face. Cheers from the other side of the world... in Tasmania (Australia); where the weather is overcast and quite cold. Warm hugs...Julie 😊

[Teri Sullivan]

I so love your blog! So inspiring!

[Monica]

Oh Lucy, I love reading your blog and getting snippets of your life. I also enjoy looking at your studio with your different projects and the lovely flowers you place in it. I had a chuckle when you asked if we would like to know how you join the squares. Yes, please. Thank you for the pleasure you give so many people around the world. Monica

[Joan Common]

Dear Lucy,
Ate there any plans for a crocheted contribution to Yarndale 2015?
We are anxious to get started!

[Alexine]

(The photos of your recent trip are amazing!!) I do love to see your sunny studio. I crochet in my livingroom, but you remind me that I have yet to create my inspiration wall in my unused den. I'd like to use that space for paints and art journaling.

I am interested in how you join the squares. I am amassing a bunch of them using my Lucy pack from the Attic24 shop. (I know some ways to join them, but I like to review options.)

Thanks for taking time to post wonderful photographs. Alexine in Maryland

[DebW]

Oh yes please! I've wondered about the pattern for your little squares. And the joining technique sounds intriguing. Had to chuckle when you asked if we wanted it. Duh! lol I just love everything you make and the stories and pictures and letting us peek into your life a bit. It's all such a wonderful escape for me. I appreciate you, your world, your love of color and your creations more than I can ever say.

[Clare]

Yes please a pattern would be great. Perfect project for taking on my travels x

[Angie B]

I love all of the colours on your table this week Lucy but the bottom right set are just lovely with the gold and the orange in the corner and the greens.
Please can you show us the pattern. It is always so easy to follow your tutorials. I love all of your ideas and have had a go at a few myself, I taught myself to crochet on You Tube watching one particular lady who shows you in slow motion how to crochet :)

[Karen]

Loving your blog as always! Yes please for pattern. Looking forward to seeing what the beads are for.

[Winwick Mum]

I love the colour of those irises, particularly in the first photo. Just my favourite kind of purple. Calling your crochet "pretty but useless" made me smile. You're quite forgetting that although the finished article may not be something that every household needs, the process of getting to that point is one exercises the creative processes and brings a sense of wellbeing - both for you and someone else making it - so therefore it is not useless at all. Quite the opposite, I'd say. It's very valuable indeed xx

[Anne]

Have always loved the Summer Ripple blanket, and sorry that there is no kit available. Have bought all the others. Know it was not Stylecraft yarn, but would you consider doing a closest match stripe-sequence for it using Stylecraft yarn?, or even doing a kit?

[Cheryl]

Yes please. i would love the pattern and joining instructions. Your blankets are so beautiful and I would love to try making one.

[Anne Wallace]

Yes Yes Yes re: the pattern ... like you need to ask us???

[TINA]

I love the studio and the colours of your colourful little world.
Have a lovely weekend.
Tina

[Anne]

Oh, a new pattern! Which magazine will you publish it in??

Your studio looks like a true heaven! I spent the week cleaning mine out and getting it into order. Still not done but getting there. :) Hope it will look as nice as yours one day.

Take care
Anne (Crochet Between Worlds)

[Ute Greiner]

So beautifull pictures. Thank you
Greetings from Germany Ute

[Helen]

Yes please, I'd love to know how to make those little squares. I'm three-quarters through your cottage ripple and loving it.

[Lynne]

I had Iris's in my wedding bouquet so they have a special meaning for Mike & I.
Yellow is my favourite colour. After making the summer garden flower throw in lots of brights, my daughter said she'd like a similar one but without yellow. I've found it not so easy to make with the lack of yellow.
I'd love to pop in sometime to the crochet group. I'll have to work on it though as I don't live in the area.

[Vicki Downes]

I would love a pattern for the solid Squares as new to crocheting love the blogg and photos of where you live completly different to Australia

[Shelley (w.cork)]

Hi Lucy I know what you mean with beads, I made a lovely bunting banner for my Sons communion and wanted to hang beads off each banner... I discovered the holes are quite small in beads!!! But I had picked up loads of beads in Yarndale last year so I managed between all of them so put beads on each banner, and it really finished it, and my son loved it :). I slightly wetted the tip of the yarn to help it go through.

[Cynthia]

Hi, I am a new at Crocheting and would love to have the pattern for the Solid Granny Squares. I love your patterns as i can under stand how you lay it out. Love your photos too and your "stories " of your life. You are very talented.

[Jania]

I LOOOOOOOVE when you share pictures of your studio. So bright and cheery ☺️ brings so much joy into my day. Thanks Lucy for sharing your personal colorful corner.

[Christine Phillips]

I would love to have your solid pattern for the little squares. I have made two of your lovely ripple blankets, but they are not very good for taking a project around with you. Something small would be great, especially in the hot weather, big blankets are great to make in the winter. Your studio and lovely fresh flowers are always a treat to see.