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
Pleating Tulle with Benjamin Shine
British artist Benjamin Shine takes that tulle and proceeds to pleat, iron, and manipulate it into hauntingly realistic portraits that looks like photographs. For more pics and info go to: https://www.benjaminshine.com/
More Turning 20 Again
Just a quick follow-up to the wonderful weekend at Dunford House.
I had my finished quilt top long arm quilted and then I did the binding myself. I have given it to my son and daughter-in-law who are delighted with it and have attached a photo of the finished quilt for you.
I never thought I would have got as far as I did over one weekend and have to say I was so pleased with the result
Many thanks for all you help and advice especially with rotary cutting that I am now confidently using more and more(this is going to drive my husband mad).
Some comments on the Water Water Exhibition videos
We often cycle along the Thames to Henley..shame I missed it!
But thinking on,it wouldn't have been the same without Kate's input,very interesting..can't wait for part 2!
And yes I remember The Oneidin Line too!!!!!!!
Lyn Thank you for this. I enjoyed seeing my quilt on the film – and thought you did a brilliant job of talking through all the quilts
Best wishes Rachel
Thank you so much for arranging for us to see the film of the exhibition. It was a lovely reminder of a very special and successful occasion. And you were a brilliant presenter; you knew each piece so well..... Gill
Hi Kate
Thanks so much for this ........