It’s time I posted my update photos for this week. I have completed the 9 motifs. One edged in fern:
And eight edged in mint:
So now I have 21 motifs, only another 28 to go!
How are you getting on?
Happy crocheting xxx
Author: agrarianartisan
Winter Blanket CAL part 3
Happy New Year!
And Happy Motif no 3!
This is straight from the hook and unblocked. The next one is blocked and joined into the blanket:
I love this – I called it Four Flowers (for obvious reasons!) and I made 9 of them in random colours to go into the blanket; one in the centre and the other 8 spread out evenly. I have already put hook to yarn and started the first one for the CAL blanket I am making along with you – I’m using the bright colours as flowers and several background colours. I will share photos once they are complete.
If you want to join in the CAL you can find the pattern here and the Ravelry discussion thread here.
Happy crocheting xxx
Goodbye 2015
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 🙂
All the best for 2016 xxx
Winter Blanket CAL update
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:
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 🙂
Happy crocheting xx.
Winter Blanket CAL part 2
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.
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:
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:
There is a discussion thread in my Ravelry group here. Please join in the fun!
Happy crocheting xxx
Merry Christmas!
I wish all my lovely readers a great day, whether you celebrate Christmas or not.
And here for you all is the final reveal of the Soothing Mandala CAL. I hope it brings light and joy into your lives.
The pattern can be found here (in US terms and English terms) and the Ravelry discussion thread is here.
Happy holidays xxx
Soothing Mandala Part 4
Part 4 is now published. Today there is one new round, bringing the mandala up to 6 rounds now.
I’ve given you only little peeks so far, but today I thought you’d like to see Part 4 in all it’s glory:
There’s still time to join in the CAL, so pop along to Ravelry to get the pattern. Further details here.
Happy crocheting xxx
Part 3 and a special offer
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!
Happy crocheting xxx
Soothing Mandala CAL part 2
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:
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.
Please share your progress in the Ravelry group.
Part 3 will be published on Monday morning UK time.
Happy crocheting xx
Right now it’s 19th December on Christmas Island …….
…..so I have just published part 1 of the pattern for the Soothing Mandala CAL.
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.
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.
Please share your progress in the Ravelry group.
Part 2 will be published on Sunday morning UK time!
Happy crocheting xx
Agrarian Artisan 