As the year draws to a close it is time for us all to reflect and to consider what New Year resolutions we will make.
My reflection of 2015 shows I have released over 30 individual designs and 2 ebooks, not bad for a year when I felt I hadn’t done much! Here’s a photo montage of most of the designs:
Looking more closely I can see it was the year of the mandala and cowl – 11 mandalas and 6 cowls amounts to 50% of my designs. I love them both for different reasons – mainly colour for one and comfort for the other! It was also a good year for publishing in magazines and on magazine blogs – 10 of my designs featured there.
What were my favourite designs of 2015? Well, they were both cowls and both published in magazines – Medina Cowl published in Inside Crochet and Pastel Cowl published in Mollie Makes. The rights to both these patterns returned to me recently and I have published them as individual patterns. You can find them on Ravelry here and here. And as a special treat until midnight GMT 31st December you can get them at a discount on Ravelry – but you have to read about this on Ravelry here.
Who knows what 2016 will bring? I do know that my first resolution is to be more organised. I feel pretty organised normally (anyone who knows me will say I have a spreadsheet for everything!) but anyone with yarn in their life will tell you it is difficult to keep your yarn organised for long (unless you have a huge studio!). My notebook is already filling with neat lists of things to do. My second is to collaborate with some indie dyers, and that is already happening….watch this space 🙂
Just popping by to give you a quick update on my CAL progress. I have now completed all 4 of the second motif, and all in the same colour: Fern.
Here’s the progress shot:
Motif 2
I now have 12 motifs complete, and all use Fern as the main colour – so the little balls to the right of the basket are all I have left of Fern. Just enough for one more motif – which will be one of Motif 3 and which I plan to put in the centre of the blanket. I am looking forward to Motif 3 – I know what it is and the temptation to start is huge! But I will resist 🙂
Well the big day is over, and you’re probably stuffed full of food and wanting some not too strenuous exercise. So how about tackling square number 2 in the Winter Blanket CAL? Wielding that hook will get you moving and maybe when you’ve done a motif you’ll gain that sense of achievement which will power you up for a Boxing Day walk 🙂 Or maybe you’ll just prefer to lounge on the sofa and make more motifs!
As a reminder about requirements have a re-read of this post.
Now onto motif number 2:
First a reminder of abbreviations:
The pattern is written in English crochet terms.
St = stitch
Ch = chain
Tr = treble (US dc)
Ss = slip stitch
Sp = space
Ch-sp =chain space
MOTIF 2 – AGATHI
I call this motif Agathi. Agathi is a lovely lady called who has a craft shop in Kassiopi, Corfu. The open filet style design is inspired by one of her motifs, but is not as complex.
This motif is best made in one colour throughout.
Motif 2 – Agathi
Foundation: Make a 4ch foundation ch and join into a ring with a ss
Round 1: 5ch (counts as 1tr, 2ch), (3tr, 2ch) 3 times into the ring, 2tr into the ring, join to 3rd st of starting 5ch with a ss.
Round 2: ss into 2ch-sp, (note for this and each subsequent round: this ss is to position the start of the round in the right place) 5ch (counts as 1tr, 2ch), 2tr into the same 2ch-sp, *1tr in next st, 1ch, miss 1 st, 1tr in next st**, (2tr, 2ch, 2tr) in 2ch-sp on the corner; repeat from * another 2 times and then from * to ** once, finish with 1tr in the first 2ch-sp and join to 3rd ch from start with a ss.
Round 3: ss into 2ch-sp, 5ch (counts as 1tr, 2ch), 2tr into the same 2ch-sp, *1tr in each of next 3 sts, 1ch, miss 1ch-sp, 1tr in each of next 3 sts**, (2tr, 2ch, 2tr) into the next 2ch-sp; repeat from * another 2 times, then from * to ** once, finish with 1tr into first 2ch-sp, join to 3rd st of starting 5ch with a ss.
Round 4: ss into 2ch-sp, 5ch (counts as 1tr, 2ch), 2tr into the same 2ch-sp, *1tr in each of next 5 sts, 1ch, miss 1ch-sp, 1tr in each of next 5 sts**, (2tr, 2ch, 2tr) into the next 2ch-sp; repeat from * another 2 times, then from * to ** once, finish with 1tr into first 2ch-sp, join to 3rd st of starting 5ch with a ss.
Round 5: ss into 2ch-sp, 5ch (counts as 1tr, 2ch), 1tr into the same 2ch-sp, 1ch, *1tr in each of next 5 sts, 1ch, miss 1 st, 1tr in next st, 1ch, miss 1ch-sp, 1tr in next st, 1ch, miss 1 st, 1tr in each of next 5 sts, 1ch**, (1tr, 2ch, 1tr, 1ch) into the next 2ch-sp; repeat from * another 2 times, then from * to ** once, join to 3rd st of starting 5ch with a ss.
Round 6: ss into 2ch-sp, 5ch (counts as 1tr, 2ch), 1tr into the same 2ch-sp, 1ch, *1tr in next st, 1ch, miss 1ch-sp, 1tr in each of next 3 sts, 1ch, miss 1 st, (1tr in next st, 1ch, miss 1ch-sp) 3 times, 1tr in next st, 1ch, miss 1 st, 1tr in each of next 3 sts, 1ch, miss 1ch-sp, 1tr in next st, 1ch**, (1tr, 2ch, 1tr, 1ch) into the next 2ch-sp; repeat from * another 2 times, then from * to ** once, join to 3rd st of starting 5ch with a ss.
Round 7: ss into 2ch-sp, 5ch (counts as 1tr, 2ch), 1tr into the same 2ch-sp, 1ch, (1tr, 1ch) in each tr along each side (missing all the 1ch-sps and the centre tr of each group of 3tr) and (1tr, 2ch, 1tr, 1ch) in each 2ch-sp on the corner, join to 3rd st of starting 5ch with a ss.
Round 8: ss into 2ch-sp, 5ch (counts as 1tr, 2ch), 2tr into the same 2ch-sp, 1tr into each st and 1ch-sp around, (2tr, 2ch, 2tr) into each 2ch-sp, and work a final 1tr into the first 2ch-sp, join to 3rd st of starting 5ch with a ss.
Break yarn and fasten off, leaving a long tail of about 3m for sewing or crocheting together later.
You should have 31tr along each side and a 2ch-sp at each corner.
This is where I placed the motifs on my blanket:
Agathi motif is shown as 2
Today the pattern is published on Ravelry here, including a chart for Agathi. The next 6 motifs will be added to this pattern on a weekly basis, with photos and progress updates shown here on the blog.
Of course, you may prefer to use just the 2 motifs I have published here on the blog. So here are a couple of possible layouts you may like to try:
Agathi motif is shown as a cross, solid motifs are shown as shaded squares
There is a discussion thread in my Ravelry group here. Please join in the fun!
Part 3 of the Soothing Mandala CAL is now published on Ravelry. You can read all the details here.
If you look here you will see some crocheters have been posting progress photos 🙂
And I have some exciting news for you. In the summer Autumn Beaches Scarf was published in Inside Crochet and the rights returned to me recently. So I have published this as an individual pattern.
The scarf was designed in some luscious Mobberley DK from Yarns from the Plain and as a special offer Nic, the owner of Yarns from the Plain, is offering a 10% discount on any of her DK yarns. So if you purchase the pattern here you will find a discount code in the pattern which will enable you to obtain the 10% discount. This applies to any DK yarn in her shop, and she has some gorgeous yarns to choose from.
The pattern works well in semi solid colours and variegated colours, but would also work in multiple colours. It works up fairly quickly and would be a lovely scarf to make for yourself in the New Year.
Some yarns in Nic’s shop that I would love to see in this pattern are:
Wilmslow DK in colour Ask:
Mobberley DK in colour Bewitched:
Mobberley Dk in colour Greengage:
And there are many more colours to choose from. Go on, spoil yourself!
Part 2 of the Soothing Mandala CAL was added to the pattern this morning. This brings us to 4 rounds…….would you like a sneaky peek?
Remember, you can find the pattern here and if you use coupon code CHRISTMAS you will be able to purchase the pattern free. This code expires at midnight GMT on 31st December 2015.
So sneaky peek:
….but only a peek!
If you enjoy this CAL please consider donating to The Christie – there is a Justgiving page here.
Remember, the pattern is easy enough for anyone to try (provided you know how to crochet in the round) and each day it should take only a short amount of time to tackle the new round(s) in the CAL – just a little daily crochet to soothe you in the hectic days before Christmas.
And if you use coupon code CHRISTMAS you will be able to purchase the pattern free. This code expires at midnight GMT on 31st December 2015.
If you enjoy this CAL please consider donating to The Christie – there is a Justgiving page here.
Remember, the pattern is easy enough for anyone to try (provided you know how to crochet in the round) and each day it should take only a short amount of time to tackle the new round(s) in the CAL – just a little daily crochet to soothe you in the hectic days before Christmas.
The next stage of the Winter Blanket CAL won’t be published until Boxing Day, so if you have been waiting patiently (or impatiently!) I have another CAL to keep you occupied until then.
It is a charitable mandala CAL which will commence on Saturday 19th December and conclude on Friday 25th December. Each day one or two rounds of the mandala pattern will be published, with the last round being published on Christmas Day – or I should say rounds because I will have 2 options for the final round. I’ve named it the Soothing Mandala as a round or two of crochet every day may help soothe you in the hectic run up to Christmas! If you don’t know what a mandala is this may inspire you:
Mandalas…
My aim is to raise some money for a great charitable cause – The Christie Charity. This is a UK cancer hospital charity and for those who don’t know about it you can read more here. This has been one of my favourite charities for many years. Not many people are aware of all the services provided by The Christie – two in particular are the Complementary Therapy and Art Sessions & Therapy, both of which are funded entirely by the charity. Mandalas are frequently used in colour therapy and meditation, and these fit very well with the Complementary and Art Therapies, and so it seemed a good type of CAL to use to support the charity. Who knows, one day crochet could feature in the alternative therapies used!
How will it work?
The pattern will be available on Ravelry, and will be updated each day as new rounds of the mandala are published. A code will be published on the blog on Saturday which will allow you to obtain the pattern free until the end of the year. This makes the CAL accessible to all, which I hope will raise awareness of the charity. However, I will also publish links to a Justgiving charity page where you can donate to the charity; whether you wish to donate is up to you, as is the amount. In addition all proceeds from the sale of the pattern from Saturday until the end of 2016 will be donated to The Christie, so hopefully there will be ongoing benefits for the charity also.
What materials are needed?
I used a dk cotton in up to 9 colours, using only small quantities of each, a 4mm hook and a tapestry needle.
However, it could be made in any type or weight of yarn (although I wouldn’t recommend anything heavier than aran), provided you use a suitable hook size.
How difficult is it?
The pattern is written in the round and uses no complex stitches, just chain, double crochet, treble, half treble and slip stitch. So if you know how to work these then you should find it straightforward. I will publish an update photo on the pattern each time new rounds are published, so you will have a visual aid as well. The pattern will be written in English crochet terms initially, but I will add US terms once the full pattern is published on Christmas Day.
If you’ve never made a mandala before this should be a great one to try as there will be chatting and support on my Ravelry group.
Yesterday I finished my 8 motifs for the CAL. It has been my ‘knitgroup’ project, so I’ve been doing a little every few days, I had a spare couple of hours yesterday so decided to finish them.
Here’s a progress photo:
Motif 1 – finished!
You will notice that I have a chain running off the corner of each motif. This is my way of ensuring I have enough yarn on each motif to slip stitch them together afterwards. You see a chain st uses the same amount of yarn as a slip stitch, so if you work out how many slip stitches you will need all you have to do is a chain the same number (plus a bit spare) and you should have enough yarn to join the motifs at a later stage. Just don’t tie off the chain, leave it loose so that you can pull it back quickly. For me this meant a chain of 70 sts, because each motif has 33 sts down each side and most of the motifs will be joined along 2 sides – so 2 times 33 plus a bit equals 70. I guess this is Tip number 6!
How are you getting on with your CAL? Have you finished all 8 of the first motif yet?
Well, if you have you may be getting impatient, so I’m planning a quick CAL in the week up to Christmas which should keep you interested. And I plan to do it for charity. All you will need are some scraps of cotton dk yarn in some nice colours – up to 9 colours. More about this soon 😉
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