Making Stitches 2025 CAL Part Five : May

May 1, 2025April 30, 2025 ~ 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

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 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:

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

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

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)

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 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 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)

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

Sunday Sevens #41 24.7.16

July 24, 2016 ~ Making Stitches ~ 8 Comments

Garden DIY

Sunday last week was a bit of a washout. Two members of the Postcard family were struck down with a nasty bug. Our planned afternoon at the beach didn’t happen as a result. Determined that the day wouldn’t be a total waste of time, once people were well enough to be left for 20 minutes, I popped out to our patio and did a long awaited job. Our climbers were badly in need of something to climb up, so I got the drill out and successfully attached a trellis to the garden wall…. almost one week on, it’s still there!

An evening stroll

A walk at dusk on Tuesday evening was very welcome as the bug struck another Little Postcard and it had been a long, housebound day. We’re so lucky to live in such a beautiful place. It’s great to be able to just stop, look up and appreciate our surroundings.

Beach day

On Tuesday we had a lovely day at the beach as thankfully everyone was well enough to leave the house! I’m ashamed to say it was our first visit this summer holiday. We have been quite busy with other things and I have to admit that although I enjoy it when I’m there, the prospect of loading up the car, unloading it all and carrying it down to the beach, then packing up at the end and taking half of the beach back home with us puts me off.

We met up with friends and it was great. I really need to make the effort more often. One of the Little Postcards looked like a prune by the end of the day after all the time he’d spent in the sea. I spent quite a while in the sea too with Littlest Postcard dodging the big waves.

Evening shadows

I snuck into Westside park just as it was shutting for the evening. It was so quiet and peaceful, the complete opposite of what it’s like during the day. It was just what I needed after a busy day getting packed up ready for our trip to England to visit family.

I was on a last minute dash to the supermarket but thought I’d take a moment before doing the shopping. I’m glad I did 🙂

Bunny mugshot

I’ve not shared any photos of Bunny Postcard for a long time so thought I would this week. I think he’s been struggling a bit with the summer heat, it’s been so hot – even on overcast days. He’s got a fan blowing into his night time cage and a run in the cool shady hall but I do feel sorry for him under all that fluff. The Little Postcards and I will miss him while we are away on our summer holidays over the next few weeks.

I love the smell of ozone in the morning

On Friday we woke to beautiful clear blue skies which was a change from the murky overcast Saharan dust filled skies of the previous few days. A fresh wind was blowing and as I opened the front door to take the laundry out I could actually smell the sea. It’s such a lovely smell!

Night flight

We arrived at the first stop of our summer holiday destination in the early hours of yesterday morning. I’ve brought the Little Postcards to visit my parents in Manchester. We left Mr Postcard at work with Bunny to keep him company. It was hard work flying solo with three children, especially at night, as I had two sleepers to deal with by the time I reached baggage reclaim! Still, we survived and I can relax now with Grandma and Grandad’s help!

Sunday Sevens is a weekly blog series created by Natalie at Threads & Bobbins. If you fancy joining in with your blog, check out Natalie’s for more details.

Convent Garden Party 2016

July 6, 2016 ~ Making Stitches ~ 7 Comments

A couple of Saturdays ago, on 25th June, the Governor of Gibraltar opened the doors to his official residence for the annual Convent Garden Party. The event, which has been running for several years now, gives mere mortals like ourselves the chance to enjoy a wander around the beautiful Convent Gardens.
Before heading out into the gardens this year, we took a walk upstairs to have a mooch around the state rooms. This stunning dining room is adorned with shields and crests which (according to Wikipedia) form the most extensive collection of heraldry in the Commonwealth of Nations.

Convent Garden Party 2016 — State dining room

In the ballroom there has been an art show in previous years but this time there was an exhibition of weapons by the Gibraltar Museum. I have to admit that weapons aren’t really my thing, either old fashioned ones or modern machine guns.

The one weapon of note which caught my eye was number 42, which is a relic from the Battle of Trafalgar.

Heading back downstairs we cut across the tranquil courtyard with it’s charity stalls.

Out in the garden we were entertained by jazz musicians playing by the fountain. There were bouncy castles for the children as well as a rope walk between the trees put on by the Scouts. (The Governor is the Chief Scout of Gibraltar and allows scouts to camp in his back garden occasionally).

The ladies of the Convent Charity Committee had a lovely stall with home-made cakes and other refreshments. The people you can see in the gazebo were sitting in the shade enjoying the tasty treats. The Convent staff also had their regular stall selling plants which have been propagated and grown in the garden itself.

The main attraction for me though, as always, is the plants. I’ll let them speak for themselves.

At the far end of the gardens this year there was a display of birds of prey – I don’t remember seeing this on our previous visits.

I really love coming to have a look around this garden – we have been going for about six years now. Last year I wrote one of my first blog posts on the event A stroll up the garden path….

It’s a great fundraiser for the local community and it’s so nice to have the chance to have a look around. When I’m feeling homesick for the British Isles it reminds me a little of a National Trust garden (if you ignore the heat and the Mediterranean planting), in times of uncertainty (as we were feeling two weekends ago immediately after the EU Referendum result) it’s a constant which doesn’t really change. Whatever way you look at it, it’s a really beautiful colourful oasis in a very busy and hectic place.

Home sweet home!

August 1, 2015 ~ Making Stitches ~ Leave a comment

Well, I’m pleased to say we made it home to Gibraltar. We had a brilliant few weeks in England and were sad to say goodbye. It’s good to be home though.

The hot weather has had a curious effect on the plants while we’ve been gone. Some have gone crazy like this bougainvillea, others, sadly have been burnt to a crisp. There’s a bit of work to do in the patio!

It’s hot hot hot, but check out that stunning sky!

That’s all for now, I’ll be back again soon!

Birthday cakes, bubbles & baby birds

July 24, 2015 ~ Making Stitches ~ 1 Comment

A special young man had a birthday recently, and as we are on holiday, I took the easy option and ordered some special cupcakes rather than baking myself. Aren’t they wonderful? On seeing them for the first time as we sang ‘Happy birthday to you’, his first word was ‘Wow!’

They tasted as good as they looked, with vanilla sponge and buttercream underneath the superhero icing toppers. They were made by a very talented lady who runs the Yummy Mummy Cake Company in Manchester. Check out the Yummy Mummy Cake Co webpage to see more of her amazing creations.

The weather hasn’t been quite as glorious this week, but that has not stopped us getting out into the garden. No matter what your age, you can’t beat blowing bubbles!

Another family making use of my parents’ back garden at the moment is a new family of wrens. We’ve been catching glimpses of Mummy and Daddy wren shooting in and out of the nesting box at great speed feeding the chicks over the last couple of weeks. We were lucky enough to get a brief look at the busy new parents at quite close quarters one evening. Please excuse the grainy pictures, but it was the best I could manage, as they don’t hang about for long!

I’ll leave you with a few photos of my Mum’s stunning hydrangeas, the colours just looked fantastic in the evening light.

Thanks for stopping by.

A stroll up the garden path…

June 27, 2015July 21, 2015 ~ Making Stitches ~ 5 Comments

Today we’ve had the pleasure of visiting the Convent Garden. The Convent is the official residence of the Governor of Gibraltar, Sir James Dutton and his wife Lady Liz. Normally, the Convent and it’s grounds are off-limits to the general public, however twice a year the doors are thrown open for the Convent Garden Open Day (June) and the Convent Christmas Fair (November). Both are fundraising events supporting local charities and are very much highlights of the Gibraltar Social Calendar.

The walled private gardens are an utter delight offering peace and much needed shade. It’s an oasis in such a densely populated place – you almost can forget you are still in Gibraltar. The building itself is a former convent (as the name suggests) dating back to the sixteenth century, it’s been home to Gibraltar’s Governors since 1728.

As well as the gardens, a number of formal rooms were open to the public as well. Indoors there was an art exhibition featuring a number of locally based artists and choral and musical performances.

The grand banqueting hall and lounge.

The busy courtyard featured craft stalls.

Enough of indoors … let’s get back outside to that gorgeous garden!

Dotted around the garden are trees which have been planted by various dignitaries and members of the royal family including the Queen and most recently the Earl & Countess of Wessex. The colours of the blooms are beautiful and in spite of the number of other visitors, the place still felt like a sanctuary away from the bustle of Main Street, just metres away.

If you visit early enough in the day you can actually buy a little bit of the garden to take back home with you from the plant stall. For the younger visitors there was an elevated rope walk run by the Scout Association, a bouncy castle and face painting. There were refreshments served on the lawn including home baked good and the most delicious homemade ice cream.

I think this is our third visit to the a garden open day and I can’t recommend it highly enough if you ever have the chance to see it for yourself. I’ll leave you with a few more flower pictures, thanks for reading!