Month: August 2025

Let’s Celebrate Wreath – a crochet collaboration with Eleonora from Coastal Crochet

Image shows the Let's Celebrate wreath completed and hanging against a white wall.
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Ten years ago this summer, this little blog of mine turned 10 years old. Way back when I first started blogging about my life (which at that time was mainly spent in Gibraltar) under the name of ‘Postcard from Gibraltar’ and as I shared a few of my own crafty makes, the idea that anyone would actually find my posts and read them was a bit mid boggling. I also never imagined I would one day be brave enough to begin designing my own crochet patterns.

Way back in those early days, the main advice I came across for newbie bloggers was to read other people’s blogs and interact with the blogging community. When I did that, I discovered a blog which really appealed to me. It was called Coastal Crochet, and, like mine featured posts about family life (by the sea) and crochet makes. Over time, Coastal Crochet’s creator Eleonora and I would regularly correspond with each other through comments on each other’s posts and through social media.

Coastal Crochet Logo
Making Stitches Blog Logo

When Eleonora began her first crochet along ‘The Seaside Stashbusting Blanket’ I jumped straight in and joined along with many, many other crocheters around the world and I loved sharing my own progress through my blog and social media with the backdrop of Gibraltar or nearby Spain in my pictures. You can read the story of my Seaside Stashbusting Blanket here if you would like to find out about the inspiration behind my colour choices.

The first rows of my Seaside Stashbusting Blanket in January 2018
My completed Seaside Stashbusting Blanket at Sandy Bay, Gibraltar which had inspired my colour choices in October 2018

Fast forward a few years and, after a relocation back to the UK in 2020, a couple of years later, I met Eleonora in real life for the first time at Yarndale, it was so lovely to actually chat in person after so many years of ‘chatting’ online. Two years later, at Yarndale 2024, we met again and decided we would do something together to mark a decade of both of our blogs. This is it… the ‘Let’s Celebrate Wreath’.

Our first meeting at Yarndale 2022
Meeting again at Yarndale 2024

We thought it would be nice to mark our joint celebration with a project which would help others celebrate too.

In our house, we have ‘birthday bunting’ which we bring out every time a birthday is celebrated in the household. Without fail, the bunting goes up in the front window on the morning of the birthday and it remains there along with the birthday cards which have been received for a week. I used our family’s birthday bunting in this photo for my Making Stitches 2025 CAL Bonus Birthday square.

When we chatted our idea through, Eleonora and I thought, perhaps this Let’s Celebrate Wreath could become something like our birthday bunting and be put up whenever a birthday is celebrated – it certainly will be in our house!

As this is a true collaboration between Eleonora and myself, it’s been designed in partnership drawing from things we are both known for; the gingham effect of the Tunisian crochet comes from one of Eleonora’s blanket designs, the ‘Picnic on the Beach blanket’, the tiny string of bunting has also featured in a similar way on one of Eleonora’s previous designs for a Life Ring Wreath.

From my side of things, I have designed a number of amigurumi dolls and other things which I have shared both on this blog and in my Etsy pattern shop so I have created the pattern for the balloons and the birthday cake following the amigurmi technique of crocheting in the round.

In order to create your own Let’s Celebrate Wreath, you will need to visit Eleanora’s blog in order to find the pattern for the gingham wreath cover and the little string of bunting, you can find my pattern for the balloons and the birthday cake below.

Pattern to make the ‘Let’s Celebrate’ balloons Part of the Let’s Celebrate Wreath

By Eleonora Tully & Lindsay Weston

Materials

We used 4-ply yarn, ‘Scheepjes Catona’, as detailed below, but any 4-ply or DK weight yarns, especially cottons, can be used to achieve similar results.

Scheepjes Catona (100% cotton, 50g / 125m), Royal Orange (189), Lemon (280), Emerald Green (515), Powder Blue (384)

  • 2.5mm (US C/2) hook
  • A small amount of soft toy filling
  • A stitch marker is useful to mark the first stitch of each round

Tension

Tension is not critical for this project.

Measurements

The finished balloons are approximately 75mm long and 45mm wide.

Pattern notes

The balloons are worked in the round using the amigurumi technique of crochet. It is useful to mark the first stitch of every round with a stitch marker and move it as each round is completed. Once they are all finished, they can be sewn onto the wreath base (the pattern for which can be found at coastalcrochet.com). Please use the photos as a guide for where to position and sew the decorations onto the wreath base.

Abbreviations in UK terms:

ch: chain

dc: double crochet

dc2tog: double crochet 2 stitches together

mc: Magic Circle/Magic Ring

mm: millimetres

rep: repeat

st(s): stitch(es)

To work:

Using a 2.5mm hook and yarn make a MC

Round 1 Work 6dc into the MC. Pull ring tight. (6dc)

Round 2 2dc in every st around. (12dc)

Round 3 (2dc in next st, 1dc in next st) rep around. (18dc)

Round 4 (2dc in next st, 1dc in next 8 sts) rep. (20dc)

Round 5 (1dc in next st, 2dc in next st, 1dc in next 8 sts) rep. (22dc)

Round 6 (1dc in next 2 sts, 2dc in next st, 1dc in next 8 sts) rep. (24dc)

Round 7 (1dc into next 3 sts, 2dc in next st, 1dc in next 8 sts) rep. (26dc)

Rounds 8 & 9 1dc in every st around. (26dc)

Round 10 (1dc in next 4 sts, 2dc in next st, 1dc in next 8 sts) rep. (28dc)

Rounds 11 & 12 1dc in every st around. (28dc)

Round 13 (1dc in next 4 sts, dc2tog, 1dc in next 8 sts) rep. (26dc)

Round 14 1dc in every st around. (26dc)

Round 15 (1dc in next 3 sts, dc2tog, 1dc in next 8 sts) rep. (24dc)

Round 16 (1dc in next 4 sts, dc2tog) rep around. (20dc)

Round 17 (1dc in next 3 sts, dc2tog) rep around. (16dc)

Round 18 (1dc in next 2 sts, dc2tog) rep around. (12dc)

At this point, stuff the balloon. Don’t stuff it too firmly though as you want it to be oval rather than round when viewed from the top, so it lies nicely against the wreath when it’s attached.

Round 19 dc2tog around. (6dc)

Round 20 1dc into every st around. (6dc)

Round 21 (2dc in next st, 1dc in next st) rep around. (9dc).

Fasten off with a slst and break yarn. Sew in the end. 

Make 4 balloons for the wreath, one in each colour. 

Round 3 complete
Round 9 complete
About to begin Round 19

Pattern to make the ‘Let’s Celebrate’ birthday cake

Image of amigurumi birthday cake

Materials

We used 4-ply yarn, ‘Scheepjes Catona’, as detailed below, but any 4-ply or DK weight yarns, especially cottons, can be used to achieve similar results.

Scheepjes Catona (100% cotton, 50g / 125m), Snow White (106), Hot Red (115), Lemon (280), Powder Blue (384), Camel (502)

  • 2.5mm (US C/2) hook
  • A small amount of soft toy filling
  • A stitch marker is useful to mark the first stitch of each round

Pattern notes

The cake is worked in the round using the amigurumi technique of crochet. It is useful to mark the first stitch of every round with a stitch marker and move it as each round is completed. You will need to make all the components of the cake (the top, the base, the candle and the flame before joining the cake top to the cake base).

Once it’s complete, it can be sewn onto the wreath base (the pattern for which can be found at coastalcrochet.com). Please use the photos as a guide for where to position and sew the decorations onto the wreath base.

Abbreviations in UK terms:

BBL: This is a 4tr bobble stitch [yo, insert hook in st, yo, pull up loop, yo, draw through 2 loops on hook] 4 times (you will then have 5 loops on your hook) yo and draw through all the loops on the hook]

blo: blo

ch: chain

dc: double crochet

dc2tog: double crochet 2 stitches together

flo: front loop only

fyo: final yarn over 

mc: Magic Circle/Magic Ring

mm: millimetres

rep: repeat

st(s): stitch(es)

yo: yarn over

To make the cake base:

Using 2.5mm hook and Camel yarn, make a MC

Round 1 Work 6dc into the MC. Pull ring tight. (6dc)

Round 2 2dc in every st around. (12dc)

Round 3 (2dc in next st, 1dc in next st) rep around. (18dc)

Round 4 (2dc in next st, 1dc in next 2 sts) rep around. (24dc)

Round 5 (2dc in next st, 1dc in next 3 sts) rep around. (30dc)

Round 6 (2dc in next st, 1dc in next 4 sts) rep around. (36dc)

Round 7 (2dc in next st, 1dc in next 5 sts) rep around. (42dc)

Round 8 (2dc in next st, 1dc in next 6 sts) rep around. (48dc)

Round 9 (2dc in next st, 1dc in next 7 sts) rep around. (54dc)

Round 10 (2dc in next st, 1dc in next 8 sts) rep around. (60dc)

Round 11 (2dc in next st, 1dc in next 9 sts) rep around. (66dc)

Round 12 Working in blo, 1dc in every st around. (66dc)

(From now on the st count for the rounds will remain at 66dc.)

Round 13 1dc in every st around.

Rounds 14 & 15 Rep Round 13 but change to Hot Red in fyo of Round 15

End of Round 11
Round 16 in progress
Creating the first bobble of cream in Round 17
Bobble 1 complete in Round 17
Round 17 in progress

Round 16 Working in blo, 1dc in every st around, changing to Snow White in fyo of Round 16.

Round 17 Working in the blo, (1BBL in 1st st, 1ch, miss the next st) rep around (on this occasion slst into the top of the 1st BBL). Change to Camel in fyo of Round 17. (33BBL)

Finishing Round 17
Beginning Round 18
Round 23 in progress
Cake base completed at end of Round 27

Round 18 1dc into the top of every BBL & into every 1ch space between the BBLs. (66dc)

Rounds 19 – 24 Rep Rounds 13 to 18.

Rounds 25 – 27 1dc in every st around. Fasten off and break yarn.

To make the cake top:

Making Bobbles in Round 4A
Round 4A completed

Using Snow White yarn make a MC

Round 1 Work 6dc into the MC. Pull ring tight. (6dc)

Round 2 2dc in every st around. (12dc)

Round 3 (2dc in next st, 1dc in next st) rep around. (18dc)

Round 4A Working in the flo, (BBL in first st, slst into next st) rep around. (9 BBL)

Working into the blo for Round 4B
Round 4B completed

Round 4B Working in the blo, (2dc in next st, 1dc in next 2 sts) rep around. (24dc)

Round 5 (2dc in next st, 1dc in next 3 sts) rep around. (30dc)

Round 6 (2dc in next st, 1dc in next 4 sts) rep around. (36dc)

Round 7 (2dc in next st, 1dc in next 5 sts) rep around. (42dc)

Rounds 8 (2dc in next st, 1dc in next 6 sts) rep around. (48dc)

Round 9 (2dc in next st, 1dc in next 7 sts) rep around. (54dc)

Round 10 (2dc in next st, 1dc in next 8 sts) rep around. (60dc)

Round 11A Working in the flo, (BBL in first st, slst into next st) rep around. Fasten off and break yarn. (30 BBL) 

Round 11B Join Camel yarn and working into the blo, (2dc in 1st st, 1dc in next 9 sts) rep around. (66dc) 

Do not break yarn as you will be using it to crochet the top to the base once the candle has been added to the centre of the cake top.

Candle & flame
Candle & flame joined and candle stuffed
Candle ready to be added to the cake top

To make the candle:

Using Powder Blue yarn, make a MC

Round 1 Work 6dc into the MC. Pull ring tight. (6dc)

Round 2 Working in the blo, (2dc in next st, 1dc in next 2 sts) rep. (8dc)

Rounds 3 – 12 1dc into every st around. Fasten off and break yarn leaving a tail to sew it to the cake top. 

To make the candle flame:

Using Lemon yarn, make a MC

Round 1 Work 3dc and 1tr into the MC, then 2ch & slst into the 1st ch to form a picot, work 1tr and 3dc into the MC. Pull the ring tight. Fasten off and break yarn leaving a tail to sew the flame to the top of the candle. (6dc, 2tr & 1 picot).

To assemble the cake:

First of all, sew the flame onto the top of the candle and attach it firmly, weave in the ends of the Lemon yarn. Then stuff the candle firmly with toy filling. This is a bit fiddly but if you have a long thin implement to help force the stuffing in that is helpful (a chopstick is great for this purpose!).

Once the candle is stuffed firmly, sew it securely to the centre of the cake top. Once it is securely in place, it’s time to attach the cake top to the cake base. This can be done by sewing it together, but I prefer to crochet it on working through both the edge of the cake top and top the last round of the cake base, as it’s really neat.

Candle stuffed and attached to cake top
Crocheting the cake top onto the cake base (wrong sides together)
Finishing the join

Take the cake base and the cake top wrong sides together and put the hook through the first st of Round 11B on the cake top and then one of the sts of the final round on the cake base and work 1dc into it. Then proceed to make 1dc into every st around working through both the cake top and the cake base. Once you are two thirds of the way round, this is a good time to stop and fill the cake with toy filling. You don’t want to over stuff it as that will result in a rounded bottom to your cake, but you need enough stuffing for it to hold its shape. You can always add a bit more just before you close the hole, so if you are usure, carry on crocheting the top onto the base and stop when you still have a few stitches to go and you can still decide to add a bit more filling. 

When you are happy with the shape and size of the cake and you have completed the join, fasten off and break your yarn, weaving in the end. Your cake is now complete and ready to be sewn onto your ‘Let’s Celebrate Wreath’!

Once you have completed your cake, balloons and bunting, pin them onto your wreath base. When you are happy with the position of the different elements, sew them firmly in place.

Image shows the Let's Celebrate wreath completed and hanging against a white wall.

And there you have it, complete with the bunting & the wreath base pattern as detailed on Eleonora’s Coastal Crochet blog, you have your very own ‘Let’s Celebrate’ wreath!

We really hope you enjoy making it and that it brings many years of enjoyment to your home!

The latest episode of the Making Stitches Podcast features a chat between myself and Eleonora about this project and how we have become friends over the past 10 years thanks to our blogs. You can find a link to the episode show notes here.

Image shows the Let's Celebrate Wreath held up in front of a view of the English Channel on a beautiful sunny summer's day

Isn’t this photo Eleonora has taken beside the sea of our Let’s Celebrate wreath stunning?

If you make a Let’s Celebrate wreath and share it on social media, please tag myself @making_stitches_blog and Eleonora @coastalcrochet in your posts so we can both see yours!

Thank you so much for your interest in our crochet collaboration, I really hope you enjoy making a Let’s Celebrate wreath that you and your loved ones can enjoy for many years to come!

Happy hooking!

Lindsay x

Summer Craft Challenge 2025 : Week Five

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Hello there! Bit late getting this out to you following the Bank Holiday Weekend. It’s thrown me out of routine and I’m only just getting back on track (and knowing what day it is!) today. We started Week Five of this year’s Summer Craft Challenge up in the Lake District visiting some lovely friends of ours. The view behind the pictures above is of Grasmere, where we enjoyed a lovely kayak around on Sunday. We have visited the Lakes many times over the years, and have never seen it in such warm and sunny conditions – we were really lucky.

Here’s what I got up to this week!

Last Saturday, we woke up in the Lakes again and packed a picnic ready for a big climb. We managed to get to top of a mountain! Cat Bells to be precise. When we made it to the top and found a quiet space to sit, those cheese rolls tasted like nectar from the Gods! Bliss! After our picnic lunch, I whipped my hook out and made another Orla Square at the top as a souvenir of our big climb.

Sunday morning was my last Lake District crochet session, we went to Grasmere and got our friends’ inflatable kayak pumped up so the boys could get out on the water. Once they had all had a go paddling around the island in the middle of the lake, my friend and I got in and had a go. While I was waiting for my turn, I sat in the shade and hooked up another Orla square. I wonder if I will remember where I made each one, when I finish the project later on? Maybe not, but they will certainly remind me of this summer.

On Monday, after work, I found myself back at home with the rather boring backdrop of our dining table for my Orla Squares today!

On Day 32, work was incredibly busy and the evening was too, but I managed to find a bit of time before bed to begin another heart for the North Wales and North West Paediatric Transport Service (full details of appeal is here). Unfortunately, once I was committed, I discovered I’d run out of filling to stuff it with, so had to leave it like this! Off to the shops soon…

Wednesday already and as I am planning on using my Orla Squares to make a garment (once I have enough made), I realised that I will probably need some ‘half’ squares to help with the shaping, so I did a bit of experinenting tonight.

Busy day on Day 34, including a really lovely funeral for a very good friend’s Dad, so not much inclination for making when I got home, some mindless sock-knitting rounds was just the ticket.

On Friday, I did a different bit of crafting – I crafted a podcast episode! The first episode of the new series of Making Stitches Podcast is ready to go live on Friday!

And that’s it for Week 5 of my Summer Craft Challenge from my part of the world.

Huge thanks to everyone who has joined in with the Summer Craft Challenge this week, it’s been so lovely to have company on this challenge. Included below are some of varied Instagram posts I’ve seen including a beautiful crocheted sea shell from Sandra @wilddaffodilwild, a beautiful Crochet Sanctuary Christmas blanket and a cardigan in the making from Kristina @crochet_at_holme, a Making Stitches 2025 CAL Bonus Birthday square from Sarah @sarahsheehangib and the cutest Snoopy and Woodstock from Jothi @jothiquestcraft – Thank you all!

And that’s all for this week, thanks again to everyone who’s joined in with the craft challenge to keep me company this week! If you want to join in, you can do at any time, just share what you’re making (any crafts welcome) over on Instagram using the hashtag #SummerCraftChallenge2025 and we can all enjoy each other’s creativity!

Happy crafting!

Lindsay x

Summer Craft Challenge 2025 : Week Four

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Week Four of this year’s Summer Craft Challenge was much like week three – a real mix of things going on. I made a point of trying to have something different each week. Back in the old days when this summer challenge first started, it was completely different – we were living in Gibraltar (where the beach was a 10 minute drive and the sun (almost) always shone, I was a stay at home mum and my kids were a lot smaller. I now work part time, have only 2 young men at home and they are teenagers, so things have needed to be a bit more strategic.

This week was chilled for the lads as I was working 3 days, then we packed up the car and headed north again (not as far as our last holiday to Scotland though) and went to visit our very good friends who live in the Lake District. It was quite hard trying to find time for crochet or anything else in between things on my working days, but after that, it was a different matter.

Here’s what I got up to this week!

Last Saturday was a busy one (every day seems to be busy at the minute) and the first time I had to sit down and get my hook out was in the evening as I watched Guardians of the Galaxy 3 with the boys. That’s another 2 hearts made for the North West and North Wales Paediatric Transport Service. For full details on why I’m making these, check out this post!

Sunday and I revisited my Orla squares. I’m really enjoying making these as they work up so quickly.

On Monday I managed to make a third yellow heart for the North West and North Wales Paediatric Transport Service. That’s a fourth trio of hearts done.

On Day 25 and I took my knitting into work with me in the hope of getting a few rounds done on my sock at lunch time. I was a crazy busy day at work with one thing and another, so no time for lunchtime knitting for me. I enjoyed a sit down late at night and managed a few rounds whilst watcing the finale of Series 3 of The Guilded Age.

Blimey it was really hot on Wednesday (Day 26), and I managed to spend a good chunk of the afternoon sweating it up under a nylon cape at the hairdresser while she made my ‘silver highlights’ a bit less silver. I managed to hook some more squares up while I was in the chair!

Day 27 found us in the Lake District visiting some very dear friends. First night there involved half a pint of local ale and a lovely pub meal. I managed a teeny bit of crochet while we waited for dinner to come.

On Friday, I found myself beside Loughrigg Tarn (after taking a dip on my first ever wild swimming experience). It was a bit cold, but very invigorating and I am so proud of myself for going out of my comfort zone. I also managed to get last night’s square finished by the side of the water too!

And that’s it for Week 4 of my Summer Craft Challenge from my part of the world. This is coming to you a little bit late on Monday rather than Saturday owing to us being away for a few days. Back home safely now and back to ‘normal’ again for the time being.

Huge thanks to everyone who has joined in with the Summer Craft Challenge this week, it’s been so lovely to have company on this challenge. Included below are some of varied Instagram posts I’ve seen including some crocheted sea anemones from Sandra @wilddaffodilwild, a beautiful Merton Abbey Flower Square designed by Janie Crow and made by Kristina @crochet_at_holme, a stunning black crocheted fan comission from Sarah @Sarah.livelovecrochet. A truly lovely cardigan in the making from Carol @nanaseamakes, some dressmaking for the first time this summer from @seaside_karen, a Making Stitches 2025 CAL August square from Sarah @sarahsheehangib, a stunning collection of Granny Squares from Jothi @jothiquestcraft and finally a beautiful photo from Zeli @yarnstorms of her crocheting at the top of Foel Offrym, the Hill of Sacrifice in Wales. Thank you all!

Some of the brilliant Summer Craft Challenge posts shared on Instagram

And that’s all for this week, thanks again to everyone who’s joined in with the craft challenge to keep me company this week! If you want to join in, you can do at any time, just share what you’re making (any crafts welcome) over on Instagram using the hashtag #SummerCraftChallenge2025 and we can all enjoy each other’s creativity!

Happy crafting!

Lindsay x

Making Stitches 2025 CAL : Bonus Granny Square Day Square

Image shows Making Stitches 2025 CAL Squares
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The Making Stitches 2025 CAL squares to date with the new bonus Granny Square Day square

Hello and happy Granny Square Day to you! What a joyous celebration of crochet today is, where ever I look online, there are colourful granny squares popping up all over.

Seeing as this year has been rather dominated by crochet squares in my world, I thought it would be silly not to join in and create my very own Making Stitches 2025 CAL Granny Square Day Bonus Square too. If you fancy having a go at making this square, look no further, you can find the pattern down below…

As always, I have made these squares using my own stash of Stylecraft Special DK yarns, I have included the numbers for the shades I have used below, but please use any yarn you like. It’s a perfect way of using up any small odds and ends you have left over from other projects.

Each square in the Making Stitches 2025 CAL is made to a similar basic pattern and should have 120 stitches in the final round to make joining the squares together at the end a little bit easier.

You will need:
Using Stylecraft Special DK 
(A) Pomegranate (1083) 
(B) Pistachio (1822)
(C) Lobelia (1825)
(D) Saffron (1081)
(E) Spice (1711)
(F) Silver (1203)
Size 4mm crochet hook
Scissors
Stitch Marker
Yarn Needle

Abbreviations (in UK terms): blo = work in back loop only, ch = chain, dc = double crochet, dtr = double treble crochet, fyo = final yarn over, htr = half treble crochet, mc = magic circle / magic ring, rep = repeat, RS = right side, slst = slip stitch, st = stitch, tr = treble crochet.

Round 1 Ch2 (not counted as a st unless noted), 12 tr into MC. Slst into top of ch2 to close the round. Pull the central yarn tail tight to close the MC. (12tr)

Round 2 Ch2, 2tr into every st around. Slst into top of the Ch2 (24tr)

Round 3 Ch2, (2tr in next st, 1tr in next st) rep around. Slst into the top of the Ch2 to close round changing to Yarn B with fyo. (36tr)

Round 4 With Yarn B, and working in the blo for this round, (2dc into next st, 1dc into next 2 sts) rep around. Slst into top of ch1 to close round. (48dc)

Round 5 Working into both loops as normal in this round, ch1 (2dc in next st, 1dc into next 3 sts) rep around. Slst into top of ch1 to close round. (60dc)

Round 6 Ch1, (1dc in next 3 sts, 1htr in next 2 sts, 1tr in next 2 sts, 1dtr 2ch 1dtr in next st, 1tr in next 2 sts, 1htr in next 2 sts, 1dc in next 3 sts) rep around. Slst into top of the ch1. Fasten off and break yarn. (16 sts on each side = 64 sts)

Round 7 Join Yarn C into any st. Work 1dc into every st around and 1dc ch2 1dc into every corner space. Slst to top of 1ch. Fasten off and break yarn. (72dc)

Round 8 Join Yarn D in one of the corner spaces, Ch3 (counts as 1tr in this instance) 2tr ch2 3tr, (skip the next 2 sts, 3tr into next st) repeat along that side until you reach the corner. In the corner space work a 3tr cluster, ch 2 and then work another 3tr cluster and continue along the side as you did before (skip the next 2 sts, 3tr into next st) rep around. Slst into top of first Ch3. Fasten off and break yarn. (You should have 7 x 3tr clusters along each side = 28 x 3tr clusters in total)

Round 9 Join Yarn E into one of the corner spaces. Ch3 (counts as 1tr in this instance) 2tr ch2 3tr, then work around the square making 3tr clusters into every space between the 3tr clusters of Round 8. Work a 3tr cluster 2ch 3tr cluster into each corner space. Slst into top of Ch3. Fasten off and break yarn. (8 x 3tr clusters along each side = 32 x 3tr clusters in total)

Round 10 Join Yarn Cinto one of the corner spaces and rep Round 9. Fasten off and break yarn. (9 x 3tr clusters along each side = 36 x 3tr clusters in total).

Round 11

In order for the final stitch count on this round to add up to 120 (to match the other Making Stitches 2025 CAL squares), you will need to work 1 more st in this row than there are stitches to work into i.e. the last row was made up of 108 tr sts, or 27 sts on each side and we need to end with 30 sts on each side. The natural increase at the beginning and end of each side accounts for 2 extra sts, but you will need to add an extra one somewhere to bring that count up by an extra one. I did this by working 2dc 2ch 1dc into the corner spaces. If you are just making this square as a one-off, this additional stitch is not necessary.

Join Yarn B into any st, 1ch (does not count as a st) 1dc into the same st, 1dc into every st around, when you reach a corner space, 2dc ch2 1dc. Rep around. Fasten off and break yarn. Weave in your ends. (120dc)

Then make 2 longer strands of yarn of 15ch and 2 shorter strands of yarn of 12 ch in Yarn A and for the hook, you will need to make a ch of 22 using Yarn F. In each instance, make sure you leave a decent length of yarn tail on each end of your strands and your hook chain to allow you to sew them into place on top of the yarn ball.

Sew three yarn strands across the middle with the longest length across the centre of the ball and one shorter length on either side. Once they are secure, add your crochet hook by sewing it in place at a different angle to your yarn strands. Then turn your square by approximately 180 degrees and repeat the process of sewing the remaining yarn strands over the top of the crochet hook.

Your Granny Square Day Making Stitches 2025 CAL square is now complete. I hope you enjoyed making it! If you decide to share your make online, please use the hashtag #MakingStitches2025CAL so I can see what your colour choices have been, I would love to see it!

Happy hooking, and happy Granny Square Day 2025!

Lindsay x

Summer Craft Challenge 2025 : Week Three

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Week Three of this year’s Summer Craft Challenge was for us a mix of being back at home and in work, traveling down to London to visit Eldest and entertaining friends back at our home in Manchester. Lots of fun times for us all and thankfully a few little windows of opportunity for me to get crafty!

Here’s what I got up to this week!

Last Saturday we headed off on the train down to London to visit Eldest. It gave me the perfect opportunity to get a good amount of crochet done, I couldn’t help but start a new project! I found the pattern for these ‘Orla Squares’ from @psicrochet on Instagram and fell in love with the multi coloured flowers. I only had a teeny amount of the off-white yarn for the centres so squeezed as many out of it as I could while on the train both ways.

Sunday and Day 16 offered me the chance to sit down and relax a bit after a very busy day of traveling and walking around London the day before. I was able to add to my collection of little Orla Square flowers before running out of the yarn for the middles.

Last day of leave for now and it was mainly spent cleaning, washing and ironing! I did manage to fit in a teeny bit of crochet time in the evening though to complete my third trio of hearts for the North West and North Wales Paediatric Transport Service. If you don’t know what this is, please find the full details here.

On Day 18 and my first day back at work after our holiday, I received some happy post to come home to – supplies of the yarn I need to turn my Orla Square flowers into squares – hurrah!

Yet another busy day in our household, once work was out of the way, we were joined by some lovely friends from our days in Gibraltar who traveled up today to visit us for a couple of days. Needless to say, there wasn’t much time for craft, but I did fit in a few moments of sock knitting in bed, before dropping off!

I’m so pleased with these little squares which are growing slowly but surely in number!

Unfortunately we had to say goodbye to our lovely friends on Friday, we had a really lovely time with them. As I sat in front of the TV after taking them to the station, I indulged in a little bit more of this embroidery project which I started in Scotland. Will I get it finished before the end of this Summer Craft Challenge? Somehow, I think not, but it’s proving a really cheerful ongoing project.

And that’s it for Week 3 of my Summer Craft Challenge from my side of things.

Huge thanks to everyone who has joined in with the Summer Craft Challenge this week, it’s been so lovely to have company on this challenge. Included below are some of varied Instagram posts I’ve seen including some embroidery from Kristina @crochet_at_holme, an ever growing crochet coral reef from Sandra @wilddaffodilwild. Also included below are a Making Stitches 2025 CAL July Square from @sarahsheehangib, purple mandalas from Mo at @mojo_5_yng, a rainbow wind spinner from @sarah.livelovecrochet, a beautiful rose covered blanket from @jothiquestcraft, a temperature embroidery from @crochet_at_holme, a brand new project from Ann Marie aka @crochetscot and a beautiful granny square in the making from Carol @nanaseamakes. Thank you all!

Some of the other Summer Craft Challenge posts from Instagram

And that’s all for this week, thanks again to everyone who’s joined in with the craft challenge to keep me company this week! If you want to join in, you can do at any time, just share what you’re making (any crafts welcome) over on Instagram using the hashtag #SummerCraftChallenge2025 and we can all enjoy each other’s creativity!

Happy crafting!

Lindsay x

Summer Craft Challenge 2025 : Week Two

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Week Two of this year’s Summer Craft Challenge found us in Argyll on the West Coast of Scotland, such a beautiful place to visit and one which has strong family connections for us.

Here’s what I got up to this week!

I’m really enjoying this embroidery kit from Hello Hooray Blog, it’s been quite a while since I last did any embroidery so it’s been a lovely change.

Day 9 brought with it a new design, I have created a brand new bonus square design for my Making Stitches 2025 CAL, which I’ll be releasing very soon!

We had a busy day, meeting friends, having a woodland walk and then time for ice cream & a bit of sock knitting on the beach at Dunoon!

My second set of hearts for the North West & North Wales Paediatric Transport Service was finished today. To find out more about this important appeal, please check out my blog post here.

My last full day on holiday in Scotland, and my last early morning sitting in my favourite chair enjoying the peace and quiet before everyone else was up and being creative with a beautiful view.

Long trip home today – my only opportunity for craft was a spot of sock knitting while sitting on the car ferry!

First day back at home in Manchester after our lovely holiday and I felt restless and unable to settle on anything. I raided my pattern library to look for granny squares and made a few to satisfy my need to make, I think there may be a new WiP in the pipeline!

Huge thanks to everyone who has joined in with the Summer Craft Challenge this week, it’s been so lovely to have company on this challenge. Included below are some of varied posts I’ve seen including some incredible sculptural felting from Sandra at Wild Daffodil. Also included below are photos from @sarah.livelovecrochet @sarahsheehangib @crochet_at_holme @nanaseamakes @jothiquestscraft & @yarnstorms. Thank you all!

Some of the other Summer Craft Challenge posts from Instagram

And that’s all for this week, thanks again to everyone who’s joined in with the craft challenge to keep me company this week! If you want to join in, you can do at any time, just share what you’re making (any crafts welcome) over on Instagram using the hashtag #SummerCraftChallenge2025 and we can all enjoy each other’s creativity!

Happy crafting!

Lindsay x

Making Stitches 2025 CAL Part Eight : August

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Hello and welcome to Part 8 of the Making Stitches 2025 CAL! As August is traditionally a time for summer holidays in the part of the world I live in, I was inspired by our many seaside holidays from being a child myself to taking my own children away on holiday. But what could I put in the centre of my square which indicated the seaside and was based on a circle? After much head scratching and debating with myself, I opted for a life saving rubber ring, the kind of floatation device you often see fastened to a fence or sea wall near the beach or on a pier.

As luck would have it, over the past month or so, I found myself beside the seaside a few times, in Norfolk and Suffolk on the South East coast of England and on the West coast of Scotland too. That meant I could get inspiration from my trip to Norfolk and Suffolk and then use my trip to Scotland for my photo shoot! Perfect!

The whole point of this CAL is to be a stash buster project to help you get rid of some of your odds and ends of yarn left over from previous projects. I am certainly using it for that purpose!

I have made my squares using my own stash of Stylecraft Special DK yarns and I will include the names and numbers of the shades I’ve used in case you want to replicate what I have done exactly, but you can use any yarn you like. The only thing you need to do is make sure it’s all the same weight, ie all DK or all Aran or whatever yarn you choose, and if you are making the whole project along with me, make sure all your squares are made using the same weight and the same size of crochet hook to make sure they all measure the same size so they can be joined together easily at the end.

Here’s the pattern for my August Making Stitches 2025 CAL square!

August : Seaside Holiday Square

Using Stylecraft Special DK:

(A) Aster (1003) 

(B) Stone (1710)

(C) White (1001)

(D) Matador (1010)

Size 4mm crochet hook

Scissors

Stitch Marker

Yarn Needle

A small amount of toy filling

Abbreviations (in UK terms): blo = work in back loop only, ch = chain, dc = double crochet, dtr = double treble crochet, fyo = final yarn over, htr = half treble crochet, mc = magic circle / magic ring, rep = repeat, RS = right side, slst = slip stitch, st = stitch, tr = treble crochet.

To make the square:

Using Yarn A, make a MC.
Round 1 Ch2 (not counted as a st throughout), 6 tr into MC, changing to Yarn B in fyo of last st, then make 6tr into MC, changing to Yarn A in fyo of last st. Slst into top of ch2 to close the round. Pull the central yarn tail tight to close MC. (12tr)

Change to Yarn A fyo of last st of Round 1
Round 1 complete
Change to Yarn B halfway through Round 2
Change to Yarn A fyo of final st in Round 2
Round 2 complete

Round 2 Ch2, 2tr into next 6 sts changing to Yarn B in fyo of last st, then work 2tr into the next 6 sts, change to Yarn C in fyo of last st. Slst into the top of the ch2. Fasten off and break yarn, but mark the first st of the round with a stitch marker  (24tr)

Round 3A Join Yarn C into flo of first st and working in the flo around this round, ch2, 2tr in first st, 1tr in next st, change to Yarn D in fyo of last st, [2tr in next st, 1tr in next st, change to Yarn C in fyo of last st, (2tr in first st, 1tr in next st) x2 change to Yarn D with fyo,] x3 times, then with Yarn D 2tr in next st, 1tr in next change to Yarn C, 2tr in next st, 1tr in final st.  Slst into top of Ch2 (36tr) (You should have 4 red stripes).

Beginning of Round 3A
Round 3A complete
Round 4A complete

Round 4A With Yarn C, Ch2, (2tr in first st, 1tr in next 2 sts) around making sure you work white stitches into white stitches and red into the red stitches of the previous Round. Slst into top of ch2. Fasten off and break yarn. (48dc)

Round 3B Join Yarn A into blo of 1st st, ch2, (2htr in first st, 1htr in next st) rep around, changing to Yarn B in fyo of 18th st, continue following pattern to end of Round & changing to Yarn A in fyo of final st. Slst into top of ch2. (36 htr)

Start of Round 3B
Round 4B completed

Round 4B Ch2, (2tr in first st, 1tr in next two sts) rep around following the colour change as detailed in Round 3B. Slst into top of ch2. 

Round 5 You will be joining the front (Round 4A) and back (Round 4B) of the rubber ring together in this round, and you can add a small amount of toy filling between the layers to make the ring stand proud.

With Yarn A, Work 2dc into the first sts of both Round 4A & 4B, then 1dc into next 3 sts, (2dc in first st, 1dc into next 3 sts) rep around, making sure to change to Yarn B on the fyo of your 30th st so you can continue the colour pattern as it was in the centre of the square. Once you have reached the final st, change to Yarn A with your fyo and slst into the top of the ch1 to close the square. 

Round 5 in progress
Round 5 complete

Round 6 With Yarn A ch1, 1dc in next 3 sts, 1htr in next 2 sts, 1tr in next 2 sts, 1dtr + 2ch + 1dtr in next st, 1tr in next 2 sts, 1htr in next 2 sts, 1dc in next 6 sts, 1htr in next 2 sts, 1tr in next 2 sts, 1dtr + 2ch + 1dtr in next st, 1tr in next 2 sts, 1htr in next 2 sts, 1dc in next 3 sts changing to Yarn B in fyo of 3rd st, with Yarn B 1dc in next 3 sts, 1htr in next 2 sts, 1tr in next 2 sts, 1dtr + 2ch + 1dtr in next st, 1tr in next 2 sts, 1htr in next 2 sts, 1dc in next 6 sts, 1htr in next 2 sts, 1tr in next 2 sts, 1dtr + 2ch + 1dtr in next st, 1tr in next 2 sts, 1htr in next 2 st, 1dc in next 3 sts slst into top of ch1 to close round. Fasten off and break yarn. 

Round 6
Round 7

Round 7 Join Yarn C into any st. Work 1dc into every st around and 1dc ch2 1dc into every corner space. Slst to top of 1ch. Fasten off and break yarn. (72dc)

Round 8 With Yarn B, join into the blo of the final st of one of the sides of the square, ch2 & 1tr in the blo of that st, in corner space work 1tr + 2ch + 1tr, then working in the blo around, continue with (1dtr, 1tr, 1htr, 1dc, 1htr, 1tr,) and repeat to penultimate st of each side, work 1tr into final st, and 1tr +2ch +1tr into the corner space. Repeat around and slst into the top of the ch2 at the start of the round. Fasten of and break yarn. (80 sts)

1st side of Round 8
Round 8 complete

Round 9 With Yarn A, join in the blo of the final st of one of the sides,  ch2 & 1htr into that st, 1htr + 2ch + 1htr into corner space, then working in the blo around, continue with (1htr, 1dc, 1htr, 1tr, 1dtr, 1tr)  and repeat along the side of the square your final st will be a dc, and work 1htr 2ch 1htr into the corner space. Repeat around the square slst into the top of the first ch2 to close the round. Fasten off and break yarn. (22 sts on each side = 88 sts in round)

Start of Round 9
Round 9 complete

Round 10 Again, working into the blo around, join Yarn C into any st around ch1 and 1dc in that st, 1dc into every st around, 1dc 2ch 1dc into every corner space. (96 dc)

Round 10
Round 11

Round 11 Join Yarn D in any st, ch1 and 1dc into that st, work 1dc into every st around and 1dc 2ch 1dc into every corner space. Fasten off and break yarn. (104 dc)

Round 12
Round 13

Round 12 Join Yarn C into any st, rep Round 11. (112 dc)

Round 13 Join Yarn B into any st, rep Round 11. (120 dc)

With added surface crochet / embroidery

If you wish, you can use some Yarn C to either surface crochet or chain stitch embroider along the edge of the wave between Rounds 8 & 9 – I have left one of the squares I’ve made without the embroidery and added it to the other so you can see both. I like them both and can’t decide which I like best!

So there you have it, your Making Stitches 2025 CAL August Seaside Holiday square is completed. I hope you enjoy making one, or maybe even more than one!

Happy hooking!

Lindsay x

PS If you do decide to make an August Seaside Holiday square, please, if you share it online, I would love it if you could use the hashtag #MakingStitches2025CAL so I can see any squares when they appear!

Happy making!

Lindsay x