Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Let's crochet a granny hottie!

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I've got a great idea!

Somehow I've found myself in a bit of a crocheted granny-square, hot water bottle cover marathon, and before I get going on my fourth one, I thought you might like to play too.

We could have a bit of a granny-hottie-a-long. How fun does that sound, not to mention snuggly and warm too.

I'm sure you've got lots of stuff going on in your lives so we'll take it pretty slowly, maybe a step a week, and that way we'll all have lots of time to keep up.

What do you think? Are you in?

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Just a few things before we get started;

Firstly, I'm going to assume a little bit of crochet knowledge here, but at any stage if you get stuck, or if you are crocheting for the first time, ask google, ask me, or ask in the comments and together I'm sure we can work it out.

Secondly, I'm going to be working in US crochet terminology.

Thirdly, I've been making these up as I go along, but if you feel like you'd like to change things up or do things your own way - go for it.

Yay!! Should we start?

The first thing we'll need to do is gather our supplies and the most important supply of all is YARN. I'm using 8ply wool left over from other projects. This is a wonderful way to use up all those rolly-polly odds and ends.

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Next up we'll need a crochet hook. I'm using a 3.5mm because I like the size of the stitches it makes but feel free to experiment. We'll also need sharp scissors for snipping, a darning needle for those perky ends and a larger ball of wool for your main colour (i.e. the edging and neck). And of course we'll need a hot water bottle.

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And now for the fun bit!!

Using your yarn and your crochet hook, hook up 24 granny squares using dc's and chains. Remember these granny squares are a bit mini so stop each one after three rounds. When choosing colours, be as wild or as monochrome as you like.

I like to crochet over the tail of the last colour I used as I go (there are plenty of tutorials online), but if that sounds too hard, don't worry about it at all.

I guess the other thing is joining as you go but I like to lay them out at the end and choose where each one will go before joining.

IMG_0576 And that's step one all done. Yay!

Let's meet back here next Tuesday for step two.

In the meantime we can chat about our granny hotties in the comments here, on Facebook here, and we can share photos on instagram using the hashtag #grannyhottie (I've checked - there are not hot grandma pics - it's safe).

I'm excited - let the grannie hottie begin!!

Just think how much your cold winter toes will love you.

Bye!!

xx



65 comments:

  1. Excellent idea, thank you Kate :-) Jen

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  2. Beautiful! I love the cabled one; I guess my hotties would never be touched again (as with all the blankets and stuff) because I'm afraid I would ruin my crochet in use... oof, first world problems!

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  3. Replies
    1. That's great Emm, can't wait to see yours. x

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  4. Can't really think about hot water bottle covers - it's so warm here! But yours are really lovely.

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    1. I'd swap all the hotties for summer, I really would. x

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  5. Oh I so want to join, first I need to learn to crochet. I can knit, very minimal, garter stitch, haha. Two scarves, a blanket, four headbands and almost a beanie, I'm getting the hang of it slowly. I'm going to say I'm in, once I figure out the granny square. Love the idea!

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    1. Just look around Youtube Kellie, you'll be hooked by the weekend I predict. x

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  6. Although it is a very warm summer where I live (the Netherlands) I really love this idea, so i'm absolutely in. Let's crochet granny hotties at the beach and be prepared for a cold winter!

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    1. Hah! I love the idea of crocheting hotties at the beach, so fun! x

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  7. Off on my hols Saturday but will definitely be in and catch up when I return. Adios x

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  8. these are lovely! I'm not up to doing anything like it but one day maybe!

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  9. I'd love to say yes, but I don't know how to crochet granny squares yet. I'll see how I go because I'd love to join in. If anyone knows of a good granny square video on You Tube please let me know. Thanks xxoo

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    1. You need to check out Meet Me At Mikes - Pip does a great series on a simple granny square, I used this to learn granny squares a few months ago. Now I'm addicted!

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    2. Great idea!! I learnt crochet by watching Youtube clips and highly recommend it. x

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  10. I have been meaning to learn how to crochet a granny square for ever so long, and I just happened to come home from the chemist today with a new hot water bottle. So, it looks like I'm in!

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  11. Awesome....I was only thinking about this the other day...how I love these hottie covers, need a new project after finishing crocheting a life blanket....and here tis. Thanks heaps !

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  12. You know I cannot crochet Kate...but the colours of this wool just pop off the page, beautiful!

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    1. I bet it wouldn't take long for you to learn Jane and with all those sheep there I think it only makes sense for you to embrace the wool craft. xx

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  13. Worried that toes will get stuck in the holes (because my crochet skills are not wonderful) but love the concept. Best of all, they aren't too big. I'm in.

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    1. He he he at least your toes will be warm. And yay! x

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  14. When I read the headline I was expecting a mini skirt or hot pants made of granny squares, lol!!! Though it is summer here your hot water bottles look super cute and I happen to have sme yarn that would be perfect. I give it a try! :-)

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    1. hahahahaha it's winter here, no hot pants or minis to be seen. I'm glad you are crocheting with us.

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  15. I can only chain st (so far) but I will enjoy watching these posts and marvel at the colourful crochet patterns while I knit:)

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    1. If you can chain stitch you wouldn't have far to go to learn the one other stitch involved too. We'll be going pretty slowly, you could catch up. x

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    2. Zena, look for "The Crochet Crowd" on YouTube and learn how to double crochet, if you can chain you'll pick it up no bother, and join in! Make a granny square and keep going in the same colour until you are confident with your dc, then have a go at the little ones. If changing colour puts you off just do your squares in one colour each.

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  16. Awesome! I've always wanted to make one of these. A hottie-along sounds like just the trick to get it done! Thanks for starting this up! I need another project like I need a hole in the head - but I'm joining right in! haha! Ya only live once ;-)

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    1. The more the merrier I say. Welcome aboard. x

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  17. Very pretty, but just too warm to even consider at the moment.

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  18. ¡Hola! Aquí hace calor ya que estamos en pleno verano, aunque la idea me parece genial !!!! ... me apunto y asi para este próximo invierno tendré una funda para la bolsa del agua caliente... Yupiii!!!!... Son preciosas las que nos enseñas . Gracias.Un cariñoso saludo desde España.

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    1. Enjoy your beautiful summer Karmen, I'm glad you are crocheting with us too. x

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  19. Oh I love this idea, it's summer here and pretty hot but I'd love to get a head start on some winter makes.......I shall scour the shops for a suitable hottie, my ripple blanket can wait in the wings for a while, I'm not sure my crochet skills are up to this but it'll be fun giving it a go. I'm coming on board.

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    1. If you can ripple, you can granny for sure.

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  20. Hi Kate, Do you have the pattern for the knitted cover too? ;)

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    1. yep, http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/seamless-hot-water-bottle-cozy

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  21. These are so cute. I'm American and I can't resist telling you that in the U.S.A a granny hottie is a very attractive older grandmother. Your title gave me a chuckle. We don't use hot water bottles much here but these are so cute.

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  22. Having a steaming summer here in London but I am not squandering nearly six weeks holiday from teaching; 27 degrees and still crocheting!! I've made hot water bottle covers before but for the life of me I can't make my granny squares small enough to get a main border around them like you do, so can I just ask a couple questions? Is that a 2L hot water bottle? On your granny squares do you crochet a chain stitch between each group of three dcs and do you do two chains to make the corners? Thanks.

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  23. Great idea! I recently learnt to crochet after seeing all your creations and I love to look at your blog for inspiration! (I am also in love with your garden =) haha)

    I have been looking at granny square tutorials but they all seem slightly different? Are you able to post a link to a tutorial the same as the squares you've made or just the basic pattern?

    Thanks

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  24. I am definitely in! ...lols at sexy grandma instagram pics!

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  25. This is my kind of fun - count me in Kate! Will post in instagram x

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  26. I love the idea. I will try to keep up :)

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  27. Yay Yay! I've been wanting to do one of these for ages... might have a little trouble keeping up as I have 2 under 3 in the house, but I'll give it my darndest! Thanks Kate for the inspiration. I love your blog...!

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  28. Yeah, I'm into this. I need one. The colours make it pop and the deep warmth and comfort that I get from hot water bottles makes this all the more worth it. Great DIY!
    www.dancingthroughsunday.typepad.com
    Bec x

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  29. I would love to join in, even if it is summer at the moment. I love the striped cable one, too!

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  30. I would love to join but I'm traveling to Greece next week. It's OK to join when I come back? That would be after the 19th of August...

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  31. Great idea!:) I discovered your wonderful blog last week, and I'd be happy to crochet along with you. We're having a dreary summer here in Switzerland, and I could almost use a hottie right now.

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  32. AHHHH I am so happy someone else uses US terminology to crochet as well. I had an almost heated discussion one night at stitch n bitch because I was apparently doing it 'the wrong way'. Well I taught myself off the net and now I am stuck in that mind set...oh well ..it still gets the same results :)
    I love these hottie covers - it beats the old jumper ones I made a few years ago. I may just have to update them with this :)

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  33. Hahahaha. The vision of hot grannies .com! LOL. I'm in!! Need to hoke out all the wee balls of leftovers I have lying about. Love these covers.

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Thanks so much for stopping by...

I do read every single comment you leave and appreciate it very much, but I should let you know that I can be a wee bit on the useless side when replying to comments, that's just me, everyday life sometimes gets in the way....so I'll apologise now, just in case.

Kate XX

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