It’s seems an age since I sat down to write a blog. In truth lockdown has taken the norm out of my normal and my everyday routine has totally flown the nest.
Mornings of housework and afternoons of crochet have truly and utterly disappeared. It been such a nice change and even though the world is far from right at the moment with fear lingering in the shadows, I’ve wholeheartedly loved every second having my hubby and boys at home. 🏡
Mark and I have been working our butts off, but you’ll have to pop back and read all about that. I have to admit I’m super excited to share what we have been up to with you all.
But I have to share my latest make with you because I just can’t wait any longer. I love it.
So are you ready to see what I finished up a few weeks ago?

You may have read that I have been really struggling with crochet for a while now especially since lockdown, adding to the my autoimmune diseases have seriously wiped me out, so much so crochet became impossible.
If I wasn’t falling asleep within minutes of sitting down and trying to crochet, my mind would ponder over all the devastation that is happening all around the world as the coronavirus pandemic changes life as we know it.
Tinna from Tinnacrochet.com being the incredible lady she is, reached out to me when she saw I was struggling and gave me a life line.
She kindly asked me if I fancied giving her new secret pattern a try, to see if it would help return my crojo.
Of course I humbly agreed and it workEd, my crojo flooded my soul and I feel in love with crochet all over again. ❤️
I can’t thank Tinna enough for that. She’s a pretty special lady and oozes talent.

The secret pattern got released a few weeks ago. It’s called Arabia.

Arabia is a continuous mosaic pattern, which can be worked for any size you like, and comes with written instructions for how to work it both flat and in the round, as well as user-friendly charts for both versions.

You can use any yarn you like for this pattern and a hook that suits your yarn.
Arabia can be used to make blankets, table or bed runners, scarfs, as well as projects worked in the round like a cushion cover for example, one of Tinna’s testers has even made the cutest purse. (Check out Tinna’s Instagram for photos)

Tinna wrote all about her inspiration for her pattern on Ravelry.

After visiting Morocco in my early twenties, I’ve ever since been totally fascinated with Arabic architecture, motifs and patterns. I find them mesmerizing. I especially like the trellis pattern and Arabia is my take on that.
I got started on this pattern last spring in Havana, so I’ve actually been working on this pattern for almost a year now, which is atypical of me. But I’m glad I gave myself good time to develop it because I’m introducing some new techniques in my mosaic crochet adventures here and think it really paid off to let it mull in my head for a while. To get these smooth lines, I’m taking the slanted DC’s I use in my Mosaic Alphabet and the HOPE motif to the next level. I hope you guys like it as much as I do and agree that this really opens up a lot of new possibilities!

Tinna’s gesture couldn’t have come at a better time not only to help my Crojo return but it was the perfect timing and perfect pattern for a thank you gift that I wanted to make.

Since lockdown, our friends and neighbours Phil and Shirley, have gone out of their way to help us at every opportunity they could.
They have checked in on us, left us milk on the doorstep and even gifted us boxes of food. They even left treats for our not so young puppy ( he’s nearly 8, but will always be our puppy 🐶)

We truly can not thank them enough for not only their kindness, their generosity but their friendship also. We literally couldn’t have better friends. They’ve shown that even in the darkest times there are people who light the world up.
So when Tina gave me the opportunity to make her pattern, I knew it had to be for them.
I decided on a Lapghan, or should we call it a hug from me to them.

I couldn’t justify buying new yarn even though this pattern deserves the best there is and I would have loved to have gifted them the perfect (pattern) blanket in the perfect yarn, but covid has a way of soiling everything especially our income.
How I would have loved to have ordered my favourite yarn, Scheepjes Stonewashed but that just couldn’t happen so I raided my stash, finally deciding on Paintbox yarn Simply Aran 205 Slate Grey and 223 Mustard and set to work.
I was a few skeins short so I ordered a few more and set to work with my Clover Soft touch 5.5mm hook.
I made a starting chain of 120 + 3 (123) and got hooking.

From the second repeat of the pattern, on row 2, instead of the Double Crochet (DC), I made a Front-post Double Crochet (FPDC). I made 5 repeats in totally.

As always Tinna’s pattern was a delight to follow, she’s truly the bees knees when it comes to mosaic crochet, especially with her genius idea of her double boards so no pesky ends to weave in. How I dislike weaving in ends 😩. The double border just finishes off an Afghan perfectly.
If you haven’t given it ago, it’s a must have.

Arabia is a truly calming, simple but intriguing pattern and you’ll be hooked lined and sinker, before you know it.
ARABIA is not a good beginners project tho so if your a mosaic virgin, then Tinna recommends starting with her Havana CAL and work your way up from there.
Don’t be frightened to give it a try though, it’s so easy when you have gotten to grips with mosaic crochet.

Let’s get down to the nitty gritty.
You can grab yourself a copy of “Arabia” here.
If you are new to mosaic crochet, you can find the Havana CAL, here.

I used 8 skeins of, Paintbox Yarns Simply Aran- Mustard Yellow (223) and 7 skeins of, Paintbox Yarns Simply Aran – Slate Grey (205). Total yarn cost was £33.75.

For the double border, I made 3 rounds of Double crochets on the front and back and joined them together with a round of Single Crochets.
For the border corners I made 3 Double crochets in the corner stitch (the middle stitch of the 3 previous rows corner stitches.)

If you our addicted to mosaic crochet, Arabia is a must make. I can not praise it, highly enough. It’s awesome.
Tinna really does have the best mosaic crochet patterns out there.

You can find them and all Tinna’s social media, by clicking on the links below.

Tinna’s website can be found here.
You can find all Tinna’s delicious pattern here on Ravelry. You can show off you makes on her Facebook Group, Tina’s Crochet Club.
You can also follow her on Instagram, here.
You can find her on YouTube here.

 

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Have a hooktastic day, stay safe and hope to see you back here soon.

Too-da-loo for now.

🧶 🧶 🧶