About Gaynor
Gaynor is a crochet-obsessed teacher and pattern designer from Wokingham in Berkshire.
She learned to knit and crochet as a child, trained and worked as a French teacher for over 10 years, and then picked up her hook again 10 years ago. Gaynor jokes that she is “lucky enough to call myself a full-time hooker…”
In 2012, Gaynor set up The Barkham Hookers crochet group with a few friends in her living room. They now run 4 group sessions a week as well as many regular private lessons with over 600 members on Facebook alone. You can find them on Facbook via The Barkham Hookers’ Charity Group, where many of their charity projects can be seen.
She is very proud of the fact that The Barkham Hookers raised over £60,000 for various national and international charities, £52,000 of that for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal. Click here to watch Gaynor share a quick and easy method for crocheting a poppy.
Gaynor loves designing and making blankets, many of which can be found as free CALs (crochet-a-longs) on her blog: Confessions of a Barkham Hooker. During the pandemic, she designed the Coronavirus CAL, posting a new section daily then weekly with colourful pictures and detailed notes.
Signature Technique
Crochet Blankets incorporating a variety of patterns and colours
Top Tips
- Crochet is very forgiving. Don’t be afraid to adjust or change the pattern to suit your needs or likes. And remember, if in doubt pull it out!
- Use a larger hook to work a long foundation chain to avoid it curling up.
- If you work quite loosely choose a slightly smaller hook than advised and a larger hook if you work tightly.
- When working in rows do not forget to work into the last stitch – – which is probably the chain 2/3 made at the start of the previous row.
- Use military buttons as the centre in poppies to add something special.
- If you are working with several balls of yarn, chuck them on the floor and let gravity help you keep them untangled.
Videos
Patterns
Posts
40 minute quilt – a variation
Gayle contacted us as she wanted to make the 40 minute quilt but was a little unsure about winging it and asked Valerie for a little help as she had cut her strips to 4" As Gayle's strips were wider, Valerie said that this just means that the quilt will get made faster! (Valerie's original quilt was made from 2.5"strips).
Manchester Quilting Bee
#manchesterquiltingbee have been collecting fabric squares from generous quilters, crafters and first timers around the world in order to make up quilts for those affected by the tragic attacks in Manchester this May and they've had an amazing response so far. They are collecting five inch hexagons appliqued onto 6.5 inch cotton squares. They are being made into quilts for the families affected by the Manchester terrorist attacks.
Lady Sew and Sew retreat – the fruits of your labour
A few of you have been in touch to show us your work wih Valerie from our Lady Sew and Sew retreat back in April 2017. Jennie contacted us to say she had a really good time at the retreat and learnt SO much! Here's a photo of the piece she made. Her youngest daughter fell in love with it so she has nearly finished it for her.