Thursday 3 October 2013

Kicking off the CAL...


Ta-dah! My first hexie for the Hexagon Throw is done! Ah, but please, do hold your applause...I have 113 more to go...

Ladybird Diaries and I are officially kicking off our Bloomin’ Crochet-A-Long today! We are both working on the Hexagon Throw from Cute & Easy Crochet with Flowers. I really love the colours Nicki Trench used in her book, and thankfully, I had all but two of the colours in my stash:



See the ball of yarn with the label still on? I bought that plus five balls of cream-coloured DK yarn (I couldn't bring myself to use a very bold orange shown in the book, it's just not my thing with all these pastels). The rest I had in my stash (you might recognise a few from my Blossoming Bag, they fit the palette of the blanket nearly perfectly!).

Here is your Lazy Crochet Tip of the Day: weave in ends with a smaller hook.


I have decided, for the sake of my sanity, to take the time to weave in the ends after every hexie. I cannot face a stack of more than 100 hexies with billions of ends to weave.

But even weaving in as I go makes me grumpy; I really don’t know why I find it so tedious when I quite happily embroider teeny weeny stitches for Stitching Sundays...but we’ll psychoanalyze that quirk another day. 

Instead of threading a tapestry needle repeatedly with the tails, I grab a crochet hook a few sizes smaller than the one I’m using for the project...


...tuck it under a few loops...


...and pull the tail through. Repeat one or two more times in whatever direction hides the tail best. Sorted.

Same goes for the other tails.


A few snips of the ends and you have a neat piece of work!

What’s on your hook? Grab the button and play along!

Chrissie x

36 comments:

  1. Anonymous5:58 pm BST

    Oooh, the hexie is lovely! And your top tip is fab, it's going to save me hours ... And my sanity! Thanks x

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  2. I am loving these little hexies. They are so cute, also looking forward to seeing yours as it progresses. I use a tapestry needle threaded with the end to weave my ends in, never thought to use a tapestry hook, I just sew them in, but I know what you mean about having those ends hanging there. They bug me!

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  3. What a great idea. Trying it out straight away! Is there a linked In button I missed...?

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    1. Hi Leeane, I was going to wait til next week to do a link, just to give everyone time to get working in their WIPs, but I'm happy to add one here if you want...thanks! Cx

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    2. Voila! I've added a link up...let's see what you're up to! ;-) Cx

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  4. I am so tempted to start one of these but I really really shouldn't - have to get going on my Christmas makes and finish the two blankets I already have on the go....

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    1. Oooo, show us the blankets you need to finish - here's your group support to get 'em done! (And of course as a reward to yourself you can start a hexie throw...;-} ) Cx

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  5. What a great tip! Definitely going to put that into practise. Just really have to finish the current knitted socks project and then I'm going to start some new crochet and join in. I was lucky enough to receive the book as a birthday gift - it's just as fab as the other one and I'm looking forward to working my way through it too :-)
    Your hexie is fab, by the way!
    xx

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  6. I love the colour pallete you have chosen, I'm really looking forward to seeing both your blanket grow.
    Clare xx

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  7. What a fab start! just in the middle of my post I took your advice and went for one of those lovely jam jar covers. I love the colours your using so pretty.
    So exciting to start a new project.
    Thanks again for all you help xx

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  8. I always weave in my ends as I go because the tails drive me crazy. They make it so much harder to work. I've never seen anyone do this with their hook, though. What a great idea. I always use a steel yarn/tapestry needle to do it but this looks really quick. Thank you for the tip. :)

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  9. Love your hexie, such pretty colours. It is going to be a big project, but it will be so rewarding! xoxo

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  10. What a cutie hexie. I crochet my ends in as I go along by holding the tails against my work but it sometimes looks a bit scrappy when the project has holes as they show through so great tip. Jo xx

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  11. It's going to look great when it's finished. I think the motif is like the African Flower motif I used for my African Flower cushion: http://dinkidots.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/finally-at-long-last-what-took-you-so.html - it's such a pretty design it'll look great in a blanket!
    Look forward to watching the progress!
    Maria x

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    1. Thank you Maria, I'm popping over to check out your flower cushion now! Cx

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  12. Anonymous10:00 pm BST

    Oh dear!!! I am loving that hexie coverlet even if I do have a love/hate relationship with hexagons as wells as little pieces that comes to hundreds to sew together!!! On the note of weaving in the ends and crabbiness, well I surmise it is different from your lovely embroidery because the embroidery is stitch by tiny stitch creating the design. The weaving in ends on a crochet project is just the chore of tidying up... and I know I for one get a good case of the cranks with chores on my list, well of course unless the chores involve shopping for yarn/fiber/fabric :D
    Hugs,
    Beth P
    P.S. I might just have to try that coverlet myself... :D

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    1. Well described, Beth, I think you're right about the embroidery and crochet ends - I do hate tidying up after having fun, it's like the end of a dinner party and all the dishes are waiting for you...and do join in with the hexies, we'll sort out our love/hates together! :-) Cx

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  13. Hi Chrissie, the colours are so pretty, can't wait to see it grow. I do exactly the same when weaving in ends. I don't understand why you get told to leave a long tail end to weave in with a tapestry needle - it's such a waste of yarn - I cut (at the most) 2 inches of yarn. Happy hooking! x

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  14. Oh I do love your first hexie, very pretty. Thank you for the tip about weaving in the ends too, I have also decided to deal with them as I go along rather than at the end. Will definitely give your tip a try!
    Marianne xx

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  15. Oh you're doing the African Flower Chrissie, one of my favourites for ever - and in such lovely feminine colours. I do agree it's best to attend to ends as you go for it can be soooooo daunting at the finish to tackle all those little bits!
    All the best to you and Marianne, as well as happy participants!
    Joy xo

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    1. Thank you Joy, I am in love with this blanket already and I've only done one hexie! Thanks also for your caring 'mamma' words on my last post - feeling better each day! Much love, Cx

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  16. Beautiful little hexie, i love the colours! Your post has just prompted me to visit Mr Amazon and order that book (and another NT book too!) and thank you for sharing that tip re: weaving in the ends - i shall try that for sure.

    Gill xx

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    1. Thanks Gill! Keep me posted on what you'll be making from the book, you can link up any time! Cx

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  17. That is a pretty little hexie! :) I do like the look of that book, might have to buy that! ;)
    V x

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  18. I'll try this one....just sewing in the ends of my flowers! Thanks :) x

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  19. Superb idea and Big YAY for you and Huge congrats for being Simply crochets reader of the week....just saw it on their page....Daisy xxxxxxxx

    Yay for Chrissie Hip Hip hooray...xxx

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    1. Thank you Daisy, I was quite surprised by that as well! :-) Cx

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  20. Chrissie just seen your little Red riding hood on Simply crochet website. You should get some hits and new visitors Congratulations. Jo X

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  21. Congratulations on your work so far. Thank you for hosting the CAL. It is the first time I've ever participated in one and the first time I'm making the hexie too! I really like this little hexie flower but I'm using a slightly larger hook so things don't look quite as "sharp". I know what you mean about weaving in those end pieces. I've got to start doing that before I have too many pieces to work on.

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  22. you have just visited me, so you know what I'm up to!!!!! ;oD
    happy weekend, xxxxx Ale

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  23. Hi Chrissie this is just so lovely, the colours are amazing and how pretty it will look when it all comes together. Well done you Chrissie, a really fab job. Love your blog Chrissie, always interesting and colourful. Thanks so much, have a wonderful weekend
    Lots of love as always
    Dorothy
    :-)xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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  24. Chrissie, this is going to be such a pretty blanket when it's done. Weaving in the ends makes me nuts too. It's best to do it as you go along to avoid a complete nervous breakdown at the end! xo

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  25. What a fantastically easy and quick way to sew in your ends! I try to crochet most in as I go along but some still need a little sewing in. I am certainly giving this a go. Have just found your CAL. Can I join in with any pattern?

    I have so many WIP's it is ridiculous and lacking motivation. About 12 months ago I was joining in with a one day linky and this really helped my motivation but sadly this is no longer running.

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    1. Hi Candace, please do join in! You can link up with anything you want - I'm just like you, so many WIPs, needing some motivation, and believe me, I've been very inspired by fellow bloggers linking in with their projects! Feel free to add to the links on the latest CAL post... Cx

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  26. Hi Chrissie
    Thanks for sharing this. Why haven't I thought about this before? Such a lazy but great way of weaving in ends.
    xxx
    Annette

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