Advent CAL 2023 – part 1

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Welcome to the Advent CAL 2023 – the 10 Gift Bags of Christmas!

I have indulged myself far too much over the years by crafting presents and do not wish to repeat them.  But I can still indulge myself by crafting gift bags.  This has many benefits including helping reduce my stash of leftover yarn and ensuring my gift bags fit the gifts by tailoring them to size. The bags are all pretty enough to be kept or re-used for another recipient, so I get plenty of satisfaction when making them. This CAL gives me the opportunity to share the gift bags I’ve designed over the years.

Each day for the next 10 days I will present to you a crocheted gift bag.  I’m starting the CAL with a gift bag that I think is easy.  I originally designed this to use up some of my extensive stock of afghan square samples from my designs over the years.  I never like to waste them and using them in a gift bag is a perfect use for them.  However to show you how to make one I designed a straightforward Granny Square Gift Bag.

I made this one in silk so it has a lovely sheen.  The pattern is available here and is free.  All the patterns in the CAL will be available free for the duration of the CAL, until midnight GMT 13th December 2023.

The concept of making this bag is the same for any pair of afghan squares.   I made a lovely small project bag (not a gift bag!) using my Highland Sunburst and Thistle squares designed for Friends Around the World.  

And a tip – you can add a touch of sparkle by holding your yarn together with a strand of metallic sewing thread.  Just look at this: 

I hope you enjoy making this gift bag, Please share progress on Ravelry, Facebook or even instagram (I confess I locked myself out of my original account so I have a newer one here).

Until tomorrow, happy crocheting xxx

Is it too early……?

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Is it too early to mention Christmas? Well, it is 1st November so Christmas is next month and I’m happy to start talking about it – I hope you don’t mind.

Over the years I have crocheted and knitted so many gifts for Christmas that I’m in danger of repeating the presents or even boring the recipients!  So in recent years I’ve started to change my gifting and, like many people, I’ve been driven by a desire for sustainability. Unless someone has told me expressly what they would like then I prefer to buy something useful, frequently consumable, and as far as possible ecological, often meaning no plastic.  This means my crafting has been relegated to gift tags, embellishments and reusable gift bags.

Would you like to join me in making gift bags this year? Gift bags is the theme of the Advent CAL which I plan to run this year.

The CAL will start on 3rd December to coincide with the start of Advent and will run for 10 days.  Each day for 10 days I will present a crocheted gift bag.  I have designed 6 new bags and will include 4 existing patterns in the CAL.  Many of the bags can be made with leftover yarn and many can be made in an evening.  All of the bag patterns will be free from the time of presenting on the blog until the end of the CAL (midnight GMT on 13th December). 

Most of the bags can be made in DK or worsted weight yarn (they make up quickly!), but some very pretty bags will need fingering/sock weight and beads.  Of course you can adapt any of the patterns to other yarn weights provided you use an appropriate hook size.

In the meantime, would you like to make a start on wrappings by making some crochet gift tags?  I have a couple of free patterns to share with you.

First is the mini snowflake, designed way back in 2015! Pattern here.

Then the Quick Decorations, designed in 2018. Pattern here.

The lovely thing about crocheting gift tags is that they can be used as decorations by the recipient!

Until the CAL, happy crocheting xxx

Granny Square Day 2023

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Today (15th August 2023) is Granny Square Day so I thought it the right time to remind you of some of my granny square designs, many of which are free.

First is the Festival Bag with a free pattern on the blog here.

Next there are lots of granny square variations in my Blog Blanket CAL 2015, first blog post here. These are free on the blog but there is also a downloadable pattern on Ravelry for £2.

And my Christmas Blanket 2014 also has granny square variations free on the blog, or again a printable version for £2 on Ravelry.

These are all ‘traditional’ styles of granny square, you can find other square designs of mine on Ravelry here.

Finally, I was having a chat with a good friend today about how I’d love a t-shirt or blouse in granny square fabric. I was so pleased to discover she has some designs available on her website – just have a look here. What a fantastic thing to discover on Granny Square Day!! I may just have ordered a couple of items 🙂

Happy crocheting xxx

Beach Blues Bag CAL – final part

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Welcome to the final part of the Beach Blues Bag CAL. In this part we finish by making a handle.

First you need to strengthen the top edge of the bag, then you need create the base of the handle.  I did all of this in double crochet (US single crochet).

Let’s start with a reminder of the shape at the top of the bag. The photo below shows the shape and final edging, and the diagram shows one side of the bag.  

The first 2 rounds strengthen the top edge and create the base (centre) of the handle. Start the first round at point A, as indicated in the diagram above.

Round 1:  Using White (the colour I used for the centre of the motifs and for joining them), work 1 round of dc as follows: Place 1dc in each tr or 1ch-sp along the edges.  At the top corners of the squares (Points A and B) put 3dc into each 2ch-sp and place a sm into the middle of these 3dc.  At the ‘valleys’ work 3dc together.  As you start the round at A, start by working 3dc in the 2ch-sp. Join the round with a ss.

Round 2:   At point A, 1dc in 1st st, 2dc into the st marked, remove sm and replace into the first of these 2 dcs.  Work 1dc in each st around except at the valleys, work 3dc together and at point B, put 2dc into the st marked, remove sm and replace into the second of these 2 dcs.  Join the round with a ss and then ss into the first marked st.   Now make a chain for the handle (I made 60 ch but you could make it longer), without twisting the ch join to the marked st at B, ss in next st along at B, turn and work back down the ch with 1dc in each ch, ss in next st at A to complete the handle base.

As this is a single handle, I made it wide, adding 5 rounds of dc either side of the centre as follows.  However, you could make it wider or narrower as you prefer.

Round 3:  join Light Turquoise at any point, work 1dc into each around and work 3dc together at the valleys, join with a ss.  Break yarn and fasten off

Rounds 4-7: repeat Round 3 using yarns Jeans Blue, Light Grey, Bright Blue, Blue Grey.

Repeat Rounds 3 to 7 on opposite side of bag top and handle.

Weave in all your ends. Voila! You have a finished bag!

I hope you enjoyed the CAL. I would love to see what you make, please join in the discussion on Facebook or Ravelry.

Happy crocheting xx

Beach Blues Bag CAL – Part 2

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Welcome to the second part of the CAL.

This week I’m going to show you how to turn the motifs into the bag shape.  Here’s a reminder of the bag, so you know the shape you are aiming for:

First you need to block the motifs, if you haven’t already done so.   If you leave it until you finish the bag you may find it a bit tricky.

Then you need to decide how you are going to join them.  I recommend joining in one of these 4 ways:

  1. By slip stitch holding the motifs right sides together, as I did for the Christmas CAL here.
  2. By double crochet (US single crochet) holding the motifs wrong sides together.
  3. By sewing.
  4. By slip stitch holding the motifs side by side, this is the method I used and I worked into the back stitch only.  You may find this a bit tricky if you haven’t done it before, but I think it gives a good effect and is worth that extra effort.  This shows you the technique:
Slip stitch side by side back loops only

Slip stitch side by side back loops only

I joined my bag using the same yarn that I used for the centres of my motifs – White. This is how the joins look:

To form the bag shape you need to join them in a particular order.  And I have illustrated this in the following diagrams:

The final part next week will show you how I finished the bag and made the handle.

I would love to see what you make. Join in the discussion on Facebook or Ravelry.

Happy crocheting xxx

Beach Blues Bag CAL – Part 1

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Welcome to Part 1 of the Beach Blues Bag CAL. One thing I didn’t mention last week was that I started this bag to use up some of my cotton left over from a CAL I did last year run by Black Sheep Wools – the Folklore Jewels CAL. I chose the Pastel colour pack but I love blue, so I replaced some of the colours with more blue! This did mean I had quite a few shades of blue cotton left over and wanted to use all of them. So I now have bag and jewellery to match, perfect for the beach!

Are you ready to start the CAL?

You will need 15 square motifs, each about 13cm/5¼” square.  My motif has an open flower centre for the first 3 rounds, which I did in White and is then squared off and finished with granny rounds in a different colour. You could do more granny rounds to make larger squares and then a larger bag if you like. My bag is approx 36cm/14½” wide and 45cm/18” high when laid flat, excluding handle.

If you are using different weight of yarn you may wish to do fewer or more granny rounds and, of course, you may choose any colour scheme you want.

ABBREVIATIONS
The pattern is written in UK crochet terms.

St(s) = stitch(es)

Sp(s) = space(s)

Ch = chain

Ch-sp(s) = chain space(s)

Ss = slip stitch

Htr = half treble

Dc = double crochet

Tr = treble

Dtr = double treble

PATTERN

Make 15 motifs. All 15 motifs I made have White for the first 3 rounds and for the other rounds (Rounds 4 to 8) I made 3 each of the other 5 colours.

Foundation: Using White, make a 4ch foundation ch and join into a ring with a ss

Round 1: 3ch (counts as 1htr, 1ch), (1htr, 1ch) 7 times into ring, join to 2nd st of original 3ch with a ss. (8 1ch-sps)

Round 2: ss into 1ch-sp, 1ch (does not count as st), 1dc in same 1ch-sp, 5ch, (1dc in next 1ch-sp, 5ch) 6 times, 1dc in next 1ch-sp, 2ch, 1tr into 1st dc (forming last 5ch-sp). (8 5ch-sps)

Round 3: 1ch (does not count as st), 1dc in same 5ch-sp, 4ch, (1dc in next 5ch-sp, 4ch) 7 times, ss to 1st dc to join.  (8 4ch-sps)

Round 4: join new colour into any 4ch-sp, 6ch (counts as 1dtr, 2ch), (2dtr, 1tr, 1ch) in same 4ch-sp, *(3tr, 1ch) in next 4ch-sp, (1tr, 2dtr, 2ch, 2dtr, 1tr, 1ch) in next 4ch-sp; rep from * twice more, (3tr, 1ch) in next 4ch-sp, (1tr, 1dtr) in first 4ch-sp, join to 4th st of starting 6ch with a ss.

Round 5: 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), (3tr, 1ch) into the same 2ch-sp, *(3tr, 1ch) into each of the next two 1ch-sps, (3tr, 2ch, 3tr, 1ch) into the next 2ch-sp; repeat from * another 2 times, (3tr, 1ch) into each of the next two 1ch-sps, 2tr in the first 2ch-sp, join to 3rd st of starting 5ch with a ss.

Round 6:  ss into 2ch-sp, 5ch (counts as 1tr, 2ch), (3tr, 1ch) into the same 2ch-sp, *(3tr, 1ch) into each of the next three 1ch-sps, (3tr, 2ch, 3tr, 1ch) into the next 2ch-sp; repeat from * another 2 times (3tr, 1ch) into each of the next three 1ch-sps, 2tr into the 1st 2ch-sp, join to 3rd st of starting 5ch with a ss. 

Round 7: ss into 2ch-sp, 5ch (counts as 1tr, 2ch), (3tr, 1ch) into the same 2ch-sp, *(3tr, 1ch) into each of the next four 1ch-sps, (3tr, 2ch, 3tr, 1ch) into the next 2ch-sp; repeat from * another 2 times (3tr, 1ch) into each of the next four 1ch-sps, 2tr into the 1st 2ch-sp, join to 3rd st of starting 5ch with a ss. 

Round 8: ss into 2ch-sp, 5ch (counts as 1tr, 2ch), (3tr, 1ch) into the same 2ch-sp, *(3tr, 1ch) into each of the next five 1ch-sps, (3tr, 2ch, 3tr, 1ch) into the next 2ch-sp; repeat from * another 2 times (3tr, 1ch) into each of the next five 1ch-sps, 2tr into the 1st 2ch-sp, join to 3rd st of starting 5ch with a ss. 

Break yarn and fasten off.

The motifs will benefit from a gentle blocking before they are joined. And joining is the next part, which I’ll publish in a week.

I have a Facebook page and a discussion thread on my Ravelry Group here.   Please join in and share your progress.

Happy crocheting xx

Bagging a CAL!

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In my last post I mentioned that I was working on a bag which may become a CAL. The bag is finished!

The bag is based on the Spring Lifter using a different motif but also has an extra 2 motifs and a single handle. It makes the bag feel roomier and by making a shorter handle I can throw it over my shoulder and feel like the contents of the bag are secure because I’m hugging them close. It feels like a beach bag so I named it Beach Blues Bag.

It is March next week, and that means it is International Crochet Month so a great month for a CAL. And I decided Beach Blues Bag is a great bag for a CAL for spring, when plans for summer beach holidays are at a peak! So I’m starting the CAL next week and it will be published over 3 weeks here on the blog and free, although I will also publish a paid for pattern after the CAL. I will publish each part on a Saturday – the first will be on Saturday 4th March.

If you want to join in you need to know the materials required so you can be ready with your hook for next Saturday.

The bag was made in 4ply/fingering weight cotton yarn but can be made in any yarn weight provided you use a suitable hook size.

This is what I used:

Scheepjes Cotton 8, 50g/170m/186yds per ball.  I used 6 colours, 1 ball each of:

White (502), Bright Blue (563), Light Turquoise (622), Grey Blue (652), Light Grey (700) and Jeans Blue (711)

3mm crochet hook (US D/3)

2 lockable stitch markers

Yarn needle

Start gathering your equipment and I’ll post Part 1 next week.

Meanwhile, I have started a discussion on my Ravelry forum here, if you want to join in this CAL please join in the discussion too.

I’d love to see what you make.

Happy crocheting xx

I’m still here!

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I’m so sorry that I have been quiet for the last 10 months, I’m still here but I haven’t had much to say!

Like many people, I’ve had plenty of time for reflection in the last few years. I’ve analysed my design work and realised that, even though I love it, I had become a slave to it. I spent too many hours making items I designed, writing patterns, drawing charts, organising testers and tech editors, and then publishing, promoting and, the most time-consuming, running CALs. I decided the best thing I could do for me is to slow right down and that is exactly what I have done. I confess I like it!

So designs have been minimal and I haven’t even got round to publishing them yet. But I have spent time decluttering and organising. I’ve also used my making time to make things for me, in particular socks which have become one of my easy makes. These are mainly knitted but I have spent time trying to find a great crochet sock – my favourite so far is Riley and Saunders by Joanne Scrace, written for both DK and 4ply yarn in a wide range of sizes.

Over the years, I’ve built a lot of personal stash and, as you will know from previous posts, I have tried to reduce this and did a good job for a while but I need to be more rigorous. So I’ve sorted some stash to sell (this was a hard decision!) and started to advertise it (slowly). So far I’ve advertised only on a facebook group but I may spread further. I’ve also realised that my WIPs have got out of hand so they are having some well deserved love. I’ve pulled out a Cloud Line Wrap that I started last May using some luxury stash yarn and I’m halfway through.

I’m using 4ply yarn in 4 colours and a 4mm hook. I haven’t decided how much of a fringe I want so I’m leaving some lengthy ends. I will do 19 or 20 repeats of the 4 colours using up virtually all the yarn.

I’m keeping some of my precious stash for my own use. I have 6 skeins allocated for more socks and 9 skeins in blues and greens which I may turn into an easy and, hopefully, quick blanket. This may turn into a CAL so watch this space.

Something that will be a CAL is a bag. This will be in blues and greys and will be very similar to the Spring Lifter. This may well emerge later this month 🙂

So I’ve just committed myself to a CAL and there’ll be another blog post soon.

In the meantime, happy crocheting xxx

Round Again CAL – Part 6

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Time has flown. It seems like yesterday when this CAL started yet here we are at the final stage. Part 6 is the border. This is one of my favourite borders, simple, relaxing and very effective.

The pattern here is written in UK crochet terms and these are the abbreviations used

st(s) stitch(es)

ch ch

dc double crochet

htr half treble

htr3tog half treble 3 sts together

ss slip stitch

ch-sp chain space

The first round of the border is best in the same colour as your joining round.  Thereafter, you can use your scrap yarns.  I used about 12g/48m for Round 1 and I found each Round from 2 to 9 took between 8g/32m and 10g/40m of yarn.  I finished with a final round in the same mid grey as the joining.

Round 1:  join yarn in any 3ch-sp in corner, 1ch (does not count as st), work sts in this round as follows:

(2dc, 1ch, 2dc) in each 3ch-sp,

1dc in each st,

2dc in each 2ch-sp,

htr3tog across the join (placing the first leg of the st in the space before the join, the second leg in the join and the third leg in the space after the join)

ss to 1st dc to join, break yarn and fasten off.

You will have an odd number of sts on each side of the blanket and a 1ch-sp in each corner.

Round 2:  join yarn in any 1ch-sp in corner, 1ch (does not count as st),

**(1dc, 1ch, 1dc) in 1ch-sp, 1ch, miss 1 st, *1dc in next st, 1ch, miss 1 st; repeat from * until next 1ch-sp in corner then repeat from ** along each side, ss to 1st dc to join, break yarn and fasten off.

Round 3:  join yarn in any 1ch-sp in corner, 1ch (does not count as st),

*(1dc, 1ch, 1dc) in 1ch-sp, 1ch, (1dc, 1ch) in each 1ch-sp along the side; repeat from * to end of round, ss to 1st dc to join, break yarn and fasten off.

Rounds 4 onwards: repeat Round 3 until your border is the width you want.

I worked the last round in the same mid grey as the joining round and then finished with the final round.

Final Round: *(ss, 1htr, ss, 1htr) in 1ch-sp in corner, (ss, 1htr) in each 1ch-sp to next corner; rep from * to end of round, break yarn and fasten off.

Weave in all ends.

Don’t forget there is a paid for pattern on Ravelry which is also being released in parts and has a US crochet terms available too. It also includes some charts of the joining and the start of the border.

This is my blanket, I would love to see photos of your blankets, please share them on Facebook and Ravelry.

Happy crocheting xxx

All patterns and photographs are copyright