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Friday, April 18, 2025

Back to Blogging!

Sometimes, I get these ideas in my head that will not go away.

Then I realise how much work they are going to be!

Do I think "No! Don't do it!!!!" Nope. I mull it over, sometime for a little longer than other times, then I go and do it anyway.

This is one of those times. I have decided to get back to blogging.

There have been so many changes over the last few years, some good, some bad and some downright ugly. The plan is to start now and work backwards to fill in the gaps.

Here is a synopsis of life since the last sporadic posts in 2017/2018

Good: I acquired a Fluffy Puppy in August 2017

Good: I opened a shop in September 2018

Ugly: Covid meant I had to shut the shop in March 2020

Ugly: I had a bit of a melt down from the stress.

Good: I took up Gardening

Good: I had more time for designing

Good: I discovered that I have green fingers.

Good: I grew lots of tomatoes

Good: I have made a lot of friends because of the shop.

Bad: Shop not doing as well as hoped so had to move to a new, smaller shop.

Good: At least the shop is still open and only working part time in it means more time for designing, gardening and, of course, blogging!

Tunisian Patchwork CAL - Week 15

Block 23 is Ripples

This uses stitches we have already learned.

The colour changes create the ripple effect.

Block 24 is Shells

It uses basic Tss for putting the stitches on, although you do need to be careful where you pick them up.

The pattern is created when taking the stitches off.

It is not too late to join the Tunisian Patchwork CAL if you would like to. Full details are on the CAL page on Rainbow Valley.

Friday, April 11, 2025

Tunisian Patchwork CAL - Week 14

Block 21 is Puff Hearts

This stitch was chosen by one of my students. It uses a Tunisian Puff stitch which is very similar to its regular crochet counterpart.

Block 22 is Petals

This makes use of the new stitch from Block 21 and combines it with a few others!

You need to make sure that you follow the instructions carefully for this one.

It is not too late to join the Tunisian Patchwork CAL if you would like to. Full details are on the CAL page on Rainbow Valley.

Friday, April 04, 2025

Tunisian Patchwork CAL - Week 13

Block 19 is Slipped Stitch

Slipping the stitches creates an unusual pattern that is simple to work.

However, it can also make the rows closer together giving a shorter block.

Block 20 is Seed Stitch

Seed Stitch is a combination of Tks and Trs to create the look of a traditional knitted seed stitch.

It is not too late to join the Tunisian Patchwork CAL if you would like to. Full details are on the CAL page on Rainbow Valley.

Friday, March 28, 2025

Tunisian Patchwork CAL - Week 12

Block 17 is Tunisian Reverse Stitch

Tunisian Reverse Stitch (Trs) looks similar to Tunisian Purl Stitch (Tps).

It is easier to work than Tps, more like Tss but working into the back loops.

Block 18 is Relief Hearts

This uses a combination of Tks and Trs to create an almost shadow like effect.

It is not too late to join the Tunisian Patchwork CAL if you would like to. Full details are on the CAL page on Rainbow Valley.

Friday, March 21, 2025

Tunisian Patchwork CAL - Week 11

Block 15 is Honeycomb

Honeycomb combines Tss and Tps in a different way to create an interesting pattern.

Block 16 is Cross Stitch

This uses Tss in yet another way to create the pattern. This stitch can be a bit tighter to create a narrower block.

It is not too late to join the Tunisian Patchwork CAL if you would like to. Full details are on the CAL page on Rainbow Valley.

Friday, March 14, 2025

Tunisian Patchwork CAL - Week 10

Week 10 is all about joining the blocks.

In a break from tradition, we are going to learn how to join the blocks half way through the CAL instead of at the end.

For those who have never used Crab St before, there is a tutorial.

It is not too late to join the Tunisian Patchwork CAL if you would like to. Full details are on the CAL page on Rainbow Valley.

Friday, March 07, 2025

Tunisian Patchwork CAL - Week 9

Block 13 is Tunisian Purl Stitch (Tps).

Another new stitch which closely resembles purl stitch in knitting.

Block 14 is Basket Weave.

This block is made using a combination of Tks and Tps to create a traditional basket weave effect.

It is not too late to join the Tunisian Patchwork CAL if you would like to. Full details are on the CAL page on Rainbow Valley.

Friday, February 28, 2025

Tunisian Patchwork CAL - Week 8

Block 12 is Diamond Bobbles

This block combines the techniques we learned in “Polish Star” and “Bobbles”.

Make sure that you carefully read both picking up the loops and closing them before working each row.

It is not too late to join the Tunisian Patchwork CAL if you would like to. Full details are on the CAL page on Rainbow Valley.

Friday, February 21, 2025

Tunisian Patchwork CAL - Week 7

Block 7 is Polish Star

This block looks complicated but isn’t! Tss is used to put the loops on and the loops are made on the closing.

The hardest part is lacing up the loops at the end.

It is not too late to join the Tunisian Patchwork CAL if you would like to. Full details are on the CAL page on Rainbow Valley.

Friday, February 14, 2025

Tunisian Patchwork CAL - Week 6

Block 10 is Bobbles

Bobbles are made using 3 Tunisian Double Trebles (Tdtr) in the same stitch then all 3 are taken off together.

It is not too late to join the Tunisian Patchwork CAL if you would like to. Full details are on the CAL page on Rainbow Valley.

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Friday, February 07, 2025

Tunisian Patchwork CAL - Week 5

Block 8 is Tunisian Knit Stitch (Tks)

This block teaches you a new stitch.

For those who have not worked with Tunisian before, there is a separate photo tutorial to download.

Block 9 is Fans

It uses stitches we have already learned combinined with the hook placement of Tks.

It is not too late to join the Tunisian Patchwork CAL if you would like to. Full details are on the CAL page on Rainbow Valley.

Friday, January 31, 2025

Tunisian Patchwork CAL - Week 4

Block 7 is Brick Stitch

This is mostly Tss but uses Ttr (US-Tdc) to create the “Brick Wall” effect.

The Ttr is worked in to the same colour 2 rows below and missing the Tss in the row directly below, so that you still have the same number of loops on your hook at the end.

It is not too late to join the Tunisian Patchwork CAL if you would like to. Full details are on the CAL page on Rainbow Valley.

Friday, January 24, 2025

Tunisian Patchwork CAL - Week 3

Block 5 is Tunisian Trebles (US - Tunisian Double Crochet)

This block is a little looser than the most of the other blocks but works up really quickly.

Block 6 is Waves

Another new stitch in this block.

The important thing to remember is that most Tunisian stitches are the same as their regular counterparts but with the last but one loop left on the hook.

It is not too late to join the Tunisian Patchwork CAL if you would like to. Full details are on the CAL page on Rainbow Valley.

Friday, January 17, 2025

Tunisian Patchwork CAL - Week 2

Block 3 is Bamboo

This block builds on the basic Tss with a small twist to create a totally different effect.

Block 3 is Mini Wrap

Again, it builds on what we have already learned with a slightly different twist.

It is not too late to join the Tunisian Patchwork CAL if you would like to. Full details are on the CAL page on Rainbow Valley.

Friday, January 10, 2025

Tunisian Patchwork CAL - Week 1

Block 1 is Tunisian Simple Stitch

This stitch is the Tunisian version of the Double Crochet (dc) in regular crochet or Single Crochet (sc) if you use US terms.

If you have never tried Tunisian before, there is also a photo tutorial included in the download.

Block 2 is Tricolour Tss.

It is just regular Tss but teaches you to change colours.

It is not too late to join the Tunisian Patchwork CAL if you would like to. Full details are on the CAL page on Rainbow Valley.

Saturday, March 11, 2023

A Mad Tea Party

Block 5

“Twinkle, twinkle, little bat!
How I wonder what you're at!”

“You know the song perhaps?”
“I have heard something like it,” said Alice.
“It goes on, you know,” the Hatter continued, “in this way:

“Up above the world you fly,
Like a tea tray in the sky.”

Full information is on the regular CAL page at Rainbow Valley

Saturday, January 28, 2023

Drink me, Eat me!

However, this bottle was not marked `poison,' so Alice ventured to taste it, and finding it very nice, (it had, in fact, a sort of mixed flavour of cherry-tart, custard, pine-apple, roast turkey, toffee, and hot buttered toast), she very soon finished it off.

Soon her eye fell on a little glass box that was lying under the table: she opened it, and found in it a very small cake, on which the words `EAT ME' were beautifully marked in currants.

Full information is on the regular CAL page at Rainbow Valley

Saturday, January 14, 2023

Down the Rabbit Hole

How exciting is this, the very first block of Wonderland CAL has been released.
…but when the Rabbit actually took a watch out of its waistcoat-pocket, and looked at it, and then hurried on, Alice started to her feet, for it flashed across her mind that she had never before seen a rabbit with either a waistcoat-pocket, or a watch to take out of it…

Full information is on the regular CAL page at Rainbow Valley

Sunday, June 03, 2018

The final part of KMQ has just been released - meet Clawdia Crab.

I am really sorry to tell you that KMQ will be the last CAL for a little while.

They take a long time to design and produce, to the detriment of my other designing.

I plan on spending the next few months finishing off WIPs and getting some of the ideas running around my head out on to the hook.

However, I do have ideas for more CALs so there will be some later on.

If you haven't already got this pattern you can find more information on the CAL page on Rainbow Valley.