blossom

Making Stitches 2025 CAL Part Five : May

~ Making Stitches ~ 5 Comments

Hello and happy May Day! I hope this finds you well and ready to join in with the latest instalment of the Making Stitches 2025 CAL.

I’m loving seeing so many lovely squares appearing online as I release these patterns each month. Thank you to everyone who has joined in along the way, and if you are new here, welcome! Please feel free to join in. There is no time limit on this CAL and the more the merrier!

Last month, I went for April showers as the theme, but I was torn about that. There were so many beautiful blossom trees in my neighbourhood doing their thing and I was undecided for ages about whether to go for blossom or rain showers. As it turned out we have enjoyed a lovely spell of dry weather in Manchester where I am, and it has been very un-April like. However, I am pleased to say there is still quite a lot of blossom knocking about as we head into May, so I’ve opted for blossom for this month’s theme – I hope you like it!

As I have said before, 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 have included 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.

Each square is made to a similar basic pattern and should have 120 stitches in the final round to make joining easier at the end.

Let’s get blossoming…

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2025 Making Stitches CAL Part Five : May – May Blossom

To make this square, I used Stylecraft Special DK  in (A) Pale Rose (1080), (B) Pistachio (1822),(C) Walnut (1054), (D) White (1001).

You will also need a 4mm crochet hook, scissors, a Stitch Marker, and a Yarn Needle.

Abbreviations (in UK terms): blo = work in back loop only, ch = chain, dc = double crochet, dtr = double treble, fyo = final yarn over, htr = half treble, mc = magic circle / magic ring, FLWR = Make a Flower (see NOTE in Round 2 of the border below), rep = repeat, slst = slip stitch, st = stitch, tr = treble.

Tension: Tension isn’t important for this project as long as you maintain the same tension throughout the project so all your squares are the same size. Once blocked this square will measure approximately 20cm x 20cm. The stitch count of the final round of each finished square will be 120 plus corner chain spaces.

Please note, this pattern is written in UK Crochet terms.

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Central floral square

Round 1
Round 2
Round 3

Using Yarn A, make a MC.

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

Round 2 Working in blo, ch2, 2htr into every st around, slst into top of Ch2. ( 24 htr)

Round 3 Working into blo, ch2, (2htr in next st, 1htr in next st) rep around, slst into top of Ch2. Fasten off & break yarn. (36 htr).

Round 4
Round 5
Round 6

Round 4 With Yarn B, join into any st. Working Into blo, ch2, (2htr in next st, 1htr into next 2 sts) rep around. Slst into top of ch2. (48 htr)

Round 5 Working through both loops, ch1, (2dc in next st, 1dc in next 3 sts) rep around, Slst into top of ch1. (60dc)

Round 6 Ch1, (1dc in next 3 sts, 1htr in next 2 sts, 1tr in next 2 sts, 1dtr ch2 1dtr in the next st, 1tr in next 2 sts, 1htr in next 2 sts, 1dc in next 3 sts) rep around, slst into top of 1ch. Fasten off and break yarn. (16 sts on each side = 64 sts)

To make your central flower:

Making the petals
Petals ready to be added to square

Row 1 With Yarn A, ch78, 1dc into 2nd ch from hook and 1dc in every ch across. Turn. (77dc)

Row 2 (Skip next 2 sts, 6dtr into 3rd st, skip next 2 sts, slst) 6 times, (skip next st, 5tr into next st, miss next st, slst into next st) 5 times, (skip next st, 5htr into next st, miss next st, slst into next st) 5 times. Fasten off and break yarn. (6 dtr clusters – big petals, 5 tr clusters – medium petals, 5 htr clusters – small petals). 

To join the flower to the square begin at the end of the petal row with the largest petals. Align the large end petal with the front loops of Round 3 and, using Yarn A, sew it into place. The chains along the bottom of the petal row won’t align exactly with the number of loops available on Round 3, but try your best to make sure that all 6 large petals are arranged evenly around this round before beginning to join the middle sized petals to the front loops of round 2. Continue in this fashion, stopping to arrange the petals around and sewing them to the nearest available front loops. You want to end up with the centre of the spiral of petals finishing into the centre of the MC. Make sure your petals are attached securely and weave in your ends. It’s entirely up to you, but I also like to stitch around the edges of the outer petals so that these lie flat to the square allowing the smaller middle petals to stand proud.

Begin joining 1st large petal in front loop of Round 3
Make sure all 6 large petals go around the outer round
Attach middle sized petals into front loops of Round 2
Flower petals are all attached

Making the border

Border Round 1 Join Yarn C into any st. Ch1, 1dc into every st around & in each of the 4 corner spaces work 1dc 2ch 1dc to turn the corner. Slst into top of Ch1, fasten off and break yarn. (18st on each side = 72sts)

NOTE: To make a flower (FLWR): Work 2tr into next st, you will be using the central space between the two sts in much the same way as a MC and work the petals in around the space. Rotate your work clockwise by 90 degrees, Ch2, 1tr along the stem of the 2nd tr, ch2, slst into the gap (this makes the first petal) rep to make 2nd petal. Rotate your work by 180 degrees & slst onto the first of the 2 tr sts. Make 2 more petals as before on this st, then rotate your work by 90 degrees again and work a final petal into the top of the two tr sts. Slst to close the flower and then you are ready to move on with the next st.

Work into the space between the two trebles to form the first petal
Repeat the process to make the 2nd petal
2nd petal is compete
Slip stitch onto 1st tr
Begin making 3rd petal here
Making 4th petal
All 5 petals are complete, slst to close the flower before moving on

Border Round 2 Join Yarn D into the last st before a corner space. Ch 3 and 1tr into that same st, work 1tr 2ch 1tr into the corner space. 1tr into the first st of that round then (make a FLWR (as described above), 1tr into next 4 sts) four times, 1tr in next st, 1tr 2ch 1tr into corner space. Rep around so there are 4 blossom flowers on each side. At end of 4th side, slst into top of ch3. Fasten off & break yarn. (16tr & 4 FLWRs = 20 sts on each side = 80 sts)

The first side of blossoms are complete
The end of Border Round 2

Border Round 3 Join Yarn C into any st, ch1 and work 1dc into every st around & 1dc 2ch 1dc into each corner space. At end of round, slst into top of 1dc, fasten off and break yarn. (88dc)

Border Round 3 complete
The back of the square after Border Round 3

Border Round 4 Join Yarn B into any st, rep Border Round 3. Fasten off and break yarn. (96dc).

Border Round 5 Join Yarn A into any st, rep Border Round 3. Fasten off and break yarn. (104dc)

Border Round 4
Border Round 5

Border Round 6 Join Yarn D into last st before a corner space. Ch2 only, 1htr 2ch 1htr into corner space. (Miss next st, 1htr 1ch 1htr into next st) repeat along that side until the corner and make 1htr 2ch 1htr into the corner space. Work all 4 sides like this. When you get back to where you started with the ch2, work 1htr into that same st, ch1 and slst into the top of the ch2. Fasten off and break yarn. (28htr on each side = 112 htr)

Beginning Border Round 6
Finishing the final V-stitch on Border Round 6
Image shows the Making Stitches 2025 CAL May Blossom square
Border Round 6 complete

Border Round 7 Join Yarn A into any st. Work 1ht into the space between every st of the previous round & 1htr 2ch 1htr into each corner space. Fasten off and break yarn. (120 htr)

Initially I opted for more vibrant colours when I did my first trial run (below) I had been inspired by a beautiful deep pink camellia in my back garden and forget-me-nots for the border.

Here are all 5 of the Making Stitches 2025 CAL squares together. I’m really pleased with them all!

Making Stitches 2025 CAL squares to date

Thank you to everyone who has joined in so far and shared their makes on social media with the hashtag #MakingStitches2025CAL, it was so lovely over the past few weeks to see lots of April Showers squares appearing. I can’t wait to see what you make of the blossom square!

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If you make a May Blossom square, and you share it online, please either tag me in your post or use the hashtag #MakingStitches2025CAL so I can see what you have done!

Happy blossoming!

Lindsay x

A springtime rainbow

~ Making Stitches ~ 12 Comments

This part of the world seems to be very colourful at the moment, from the geraniums and nasturtiums by my front door…


To the bright yellow and acid greens of the wild flowers growing alongside my regular walking routes to school and up the Med Steps.


The blues and purples of the native Scilla Peruviana (impressed? I have the Alameda Gardens to thanks for the name) and decoractive Osteospermum. 

Even some of the trees are putting on a show!


Just look at the calming pastel hues of the Gibraltar Candytuft and more Osteospermum (also known as Cape Daisies). 

Even the sunlight is joining in…. I spotted this plethora of rainbows 🌈 while I was waiting for a lift in the Mid Town car park.

I must have arrived at just the right moment for the sun to be in the best rainbow producing position. The louvred glass window was the perfect vehicle to produce these technicolour stripes.

Even my Lent granny squares for my Sixty Million Trebles project blanket are joining in on the act… 


And please tell me I’m not the only one who finds the arrangement of these recycling bins pleasing to the eye?

What ever you’re up to today, I hope you have a bright and colourful one!

Sunday Sevens #25 3.4.16

~ Making Stitches ~ 19 Comments

Sunday Sevens is a weekly blog series created by Natalie at Threads & Bobbins. It features seven photos from the past seven days, if you fancy joining in pop over to her blog to find out more.

The joys of a kids club 

And relaxxxxx! This week, we took advantage of the school holidays and drove along the Costa del Sol to just beyond Marbella for a fantastic week. We stayed close to the resort for most of our stay as it had many of the things we needed, a park, an indoor family pool, peace & quiet, easy access to the beach for walks – and best of all, a kids club. 

Most days, one or two of the little postcards decided to partake in the entertainment it had to offer for an hour or so, and twice, yes, twice all three spent an hour there AT THE SAME TIME! That mean time off for Mum & Dad – hurrah for holiday!
 

Nocturnal chess 

Also on the resort is this giant chess set, it really captured the imagination of our youngest and we had regular chess matches under the tutelage of our eldest (I haven’t got much of a clue about chess I’m afraid). The nocturnal one we played on our second evening was the most exciting for the littlest grand master.

Beach walk

 

We were blessed with beautiful weather – what better thing to do than have a leisurely stroll along the beach. It was so nice. Only one child fell into the sea (fully clothed) so I see that as a victory.

Dragon blossoms

 
Very close to where we were staying there was a beautiful tree covered in a blossom which looked like little dragons. I have never seen anything like it before – it was just beautiful and against the deep blue of the March sky, it was stunning.

A trip into the mountains   
We didn’t stay put completely at our holiday base for the whole duration of our stay. We ventured out to the shops at Marbella and on Wednesday took a drive up into the mountains to visit the beautiful town of Ronda (more on that coming soon).  It was so nice to escape to a place so totally different to what we’re used to. Long winding roads climbing up through forested areas and past rock falls, the valleys stretching out below us and huge birds of prey circling in the skies above. It reminded me a lot of holidays to the Highlands of Scotland (apart from the weather – sorry Scotland).

Crochet on the beach 

  

Ooh get me with my holiday nail polish! Well, as you can see, so far this week I have filled my cosy stripe blanket sized hole with two new projects. A rainbow coloured scarf and a magenta amigurumi dinosaur. The latter began life on the beach this week after the happy news that a friend of mine delivered her healthy baby girl this week. Will I get it done in time to give to the new arrival before she takes her driving test? Watch this space!! 🙂

Sunset on our last night…  

 
We are safely back home in Gibraltar now after our lovely Easter break away from home. We didn’t really stray that far, you can actually see Gibraltar in the picture above (which was taken from our resort). If you follow the horizon from the left of the shot, the first ‘lump’ (apologies Gibraltar) is the Rock and our home. We did give her a wave regularly to remind her we would be returning soon. And here we are, another week done, another family holiday to look back on and it’s back to school tomorrow. 

It’s a milestone for me, because our littlest postcard begins 5 days of full-time school tomorrow. So for the first time in almost 12 years, I will have five full days per week, child-free. Imagine that? I guess I’ll have to do a bit more crafting then… Until next week, have a great one! 

Thoughts of spring

~ Making Stitches ~ 11 Comments

 I’m afraid I haven’t had the time for a stroll this week. Family commitments and the production of World Book Day costumes have eaten into my time somewhat. Nevertheless I thought I’d share a few bright sunshiny photos with you as it’s been feeling rather springlike here of late.
  Commonwealth Park

Next weekend we are looking forward to welcoming some very special family visitors to Gibraltar and I do so hope this lovely spell of weather lasts for their arrival.   Commonwealth Park

It’s still long sleeve weather here in spite of the gorgeous blue skies, layers of clothing are the key – so you add or take them off depending on the time of day and the strength of the sun! 

    Main Street

That said, there are plenty of tourists ambling up and down Main Street in T-shirts and shorts but perhaps they are more used to colder temperatures than we are these days. I’ve clearly been here long enough to go soft and I head out in the morning with a vest, jumper and thick coat. You’d never think I’d grown up Up North.  

View of part of the harbour  

Thanks for stopping by, hopefully the normal service will have resumed next week and we can go for another stroll – there are so any interesting things here in Gibraltar to share with you all! Until next time, bye for now.