A Hideous Weekend for us and the Bats.

They say a picture paints a 1000 words and so there are a few words here. On Saturday night just before midnight we had strangers banging on our door to let us know that some passing pyromaniac had decided to set one of our hedges on fire. As you can see the fire took over very quickly and the fire brigade took a while to arrive. Needless to say the hedge has been totally devastated.

What concerns me is that someone in there right mind could do something so mindless and destructive. It also concerns me that all the bats that lived in the hedge no longer have a home in my garden.  A truly horrible weekend :-(

Fire photo’s courtesy of Sam-E who actually had the foresight to capture the photos as we all ran around trying to put the fire out.

 

Inside Crochet Magazine

 

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Neon Retro Cushion Cover

Skill Level:            Easy
Materials:             5.5mm hook, tapestry needle, 200g assorted DK yarn – black, green, pink, orange, purple & blue

Notes:                 Bi sided cushion cover for a 16”            square cushion insert. 

Measurements:     17” x 17”

Pattern – Front.

Using black yarn, ch 4 join with a slip st to form ring.

Rnd 1: ch 2 work 11 dc into centre ring, join with sl st and fasten off yarn.

Rnd 2: Join orange yarn in sp between the dc’s, ch 2, work 1 dc into same sp, work 2 dc into each space to end, join with sl st and fasten off yarn.

Rnd 3: Join green yarn in any space between the double dc’s, ch 2 work 2 dc into same space, work 3 dc into each sp around the circle and join with a slip st, fasten off yarn.

Rnd 4: Join pink yarn in any space between the double dc’s, ch 2 work 3 dc into same space, work 4 dc into each sp around the circle and join with a slip st, fasten off yarn.

Rnd 5: Join purple yarn in any space between the quadruple dc’s, in any space between the double dc’s, ch 2 work 4 dc into same space, work 5 dc into each sp around the circle and join with a sl st, fasten off yarn.

Rnd 6: Join black yarn in any space between the 5dc clusters, ch 2, work 2 dc into same sp, *work 3 dc into centre dc in cluster, work 3 dc into next space between 5 dc’s*, repeat a further two times, ch 3 and work another triple dc into same space (to create corner). *Work 7 triple dc’s along next edge to next corner, ch 3 and work another triple dc into same space*, **rep to end until a full round has been completed, join with a sl st, fasten off yarn.

Rnd 7: work as rnd 6 in purple, increasing 1 triple dc cluster each side of the square.

Rnd 8: work as rnd 6 in black, increasing 1 triple dc cluster each side of the square.

Rnd 9: work as rnd 6 in pink, increasing 1 triple dc cluster each side of the square.

Rnd 10: work as rnd 6 in black, increasing 1 triple dc cluster each side of the square.

Rnd 11: work as rnd 6 in green, increasing 1 triple dc cluster each side of the square.

Rnd 12: work as rnd 6 in black, increasing 1 triple dc cluster each side of the square.

Rnd 13: work as rnd 6 in orange, increasing 1 triple dc cluster each side of the square.

Rnd 14: work as rnd 6 in black, increasing 1 triple dc cluster each side of the square.

Pattern – Back.

Ch 50

work 43 rows of HDC in following colour sequence.

Blue x 2, Pink x 3, Orange x1, Purple x1, green x3, Pink x 1, Blue x3, Pink x2, Green x1, Orange x1, Green x1, Pink x2, Purple x2, Green x2, Blue x2, Pink x1, Orange x1, Purple x1, Green x1, Blue x1, Orange x2, Pinkx3, purple x2, pink x1, orange x1, green x2.

To Finish:

Darn all ends in. Sew or crochet (sc) front and back together on 3 sides. Insert cushion and make ties to shut to 4th edge.

This pattern is offered and made available for personal use only. If you wish to reproduce this in any way please contact me or make sure that reference is made to the original author’s blog http://www.goodtimesithinkso.blogspot.com/ Thank you Crochet Conversion Chart US/UK International Yarn Weight Conversion Chart
I hope you enjoy using this pattern and if you are looking for other free patterns please visit Crochet Pattern Central

Tartan Edinburgh Wrap

Get the pattern here. 

Inspired by all things tartan and especially the Edinburgh Festival and Tattoo. I’m delighted with how it resembles woven tartan fabric.