It is a selection of mandalas. This is a new obsession for me. But I didn’t realise just how many people are also obsessed or at least love mandalas; that is until I saw my facebook hits – they rocketed off the scale!
So I thought I should at least tell you more about the mandalas in the photo (and yes, test how far my blog hits go!).
In no particular order – there is the Sunshine Mandala which I published the pattern for a few weeks ago, the two I designed on my Knitaway holiday, one which was a bit of a test (or what I call a crochet doodle!) and a couple I designed very recently that will feature in a new workshop (design your own mandala). You see I love designing these so much that I thought I should share how I do it 🙂
I received something lovely in the post the other day. Here’s a photo of some of it:
PERFECT PROJECT LABELS
These labels are cheeky and practical. They are perfect for adding to handmade items, informing the lucky recipient just how to care for their gift and hopefully giving them a smile as they read the cheeky words!
They are supplied by Joanne Scrace (aka Not So Granny), a talented crochet and knitting designer, and she sells them in her Etsy shop here. A few weeks ago she ran a competition on her facebook page asking what people would write on a care label. Now I don’t often enter competitions, but I thought this was a great idea – I always worry that preciously-made gifts should be cared for properly, I have been known to produce care sheets for those I make! So I entered the competition with ‘one of a kind – just like the wearer’. Lo and behold, Joanne liked it and I won some labels!
There are several cheeky messages to choose from, so I may be going shopping for some more. I love the one designed for your project bag. I will be adding mine to my favourite project bag:
Carpet wool bag
This bag was made from a kit by Hookedbydesign given to me for my birthday last year by Karen and Ruth, another lovely surprise. It is made from carpet wool which is exceedingly sturdy and perfect for a bag. I lined it with fabric, added some strong hessian tape to the handles (which I encased with crochet) and it is now my most favourite project bag which travels to many a knit group. Similar kits can be found here.
This week I published a new ebook: Hooking Up!
This ebook contains 6 patterns that are ideal for those who have just learnt to crochet as well as experienced crocheters.
Hooking Up!
If you are new to crochet then you will gain experience and learn new techniques as you work through the 6 designs. The book also provides good reference material – a reminder of the stitches used, the importance of tension and how to adjust your hook size, what to have in your beginner crochet kit, all about blocking and lots of other useful reference material.
If you are experienced at crochet then you will find some beautiful projects which you can make quickly and adapt to your requirements.
Over the next week I will be featuring each pattern in turn. Today it is Simple Scarf.
Simple Scarf
I designed this especially for some gorgeous silk yarn by Willow Knits and I used 5 mini skeins. However, it is adaptable and can be used with any type of yarn – ideas on how to adapt are provided in the ebook. Here is one I made using a single ball of Rowan Kidsilk Haze:
Simple Kidsilk Scarf
If you make a mistake counting your foundation chain on this pattern then you will find a cure – I provide instructions on how to work with this little mistake without having to take back your work; a simple scarf with simple solutions!
The other patterns in the book are April Scarf, Round and Round Cowl, Granny Blue Lap/Baby Blanket and, by special permission, Cassia Cowl and Starry Night Blanket by Amanda Perkins. More information on these 5 patterns will feature in future blogs.
I’m embarking on a new project, something using the traditional granny square.
New granny
I am using some cotton 4 ply/fingering weight yarn which I haven’t used before – Scheepjes Cotton 8. It is lovely to work with and when I started to use it I got carried away with just making some grannies, they fly off my hook! So I have a little production line going:
Grannies growing
What am I making? You’ll just have to wait and see!
I have finished my blanket now, but I will save the big reveal until New Year’s Day. Today I am sharing my little embellishment.
If you have been reading this blog for the last week or so you will know that I had my idea for the little embellishment only a few days ago. I thought a small flower would look lovely in the centre of some of the squares:
Embellishment
Regular blog readers may recognise this flower, it is the Anniversary Crochet Flower that I designed and published here. I used one colour for the first 2 rounds, then swapped to a different colour for the last round. I think it is perfect as a little embellishment.
Embellishment 2
What do you think? Maybe you should wait until your blanket is joined and edged before making these, as you don’t want to run out of yarn! But you can practice on some scraps, as these little flowers don’t use too much yarn.
Flower field
I still haven’t decided whether to add them to my blanket (hence the long tails haven’t been cut off yet as they will be needed for sewing on), I think my blanket zings already………..decisions, decisions…….
Tune in tomorrow for the final part and THE BIG REVEAL!
Happy crocheting xxxx
Now for the legal stuff – I designed this, it’s all my own work and is copyright. Please feel free to make as many as you like, but not for commercial purposes, and please credit me with the design. Thank you!
Today I finished my final square. Phew! Only just ahead of you all….this spontaneous CAL has been a lot of fun and has kept me busy over the Christmas season. It is lovely to be able to say I made a blanket in this short time.
My promise for today was to publish the final 2 motifs, so here we go……
Here’s the usual reminder of the 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
This GRANNY 2 MOTIF, I am making 10, 2 of each of my colours:
Granny 2 motif
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 first 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), (3tr, 1ch) into the same 2ch-sp, (3tr, 2ch, 3tr, 1ch) into each of the next three 2ch-sps, 2tr into the first 2ch-sp, join to 3rd st of starting 5ch with a ss.
Round 3: ss into 2ch-sp, 5ch (counts as 1tr, 2ch), 2tr into the same 2ch-sp, 1tr into each tr and 1ch-sp along each side and (2tr, 2ch, 2tr) in each 2ch-sp on the corners, finish with 1tr in the first 2ch-sp and join to 3rd ch from start with a ss. You should have 11tr along each side and 2ch in each corner of your motif.
Round 4: ss into 2ch-sp, 5ch (counts as 1tr, 2ch), 2tr into the same 2ch-sp, 1tr into each tr along each side and (2tr, 2ch, 2tr) in each 2ch-sp on the corner, finish with 1tr in the first 2ch-sp and join to 3rd ch from start with a ss. You should have 15tr along each side and 2ch in each corner of your motif.
Rounds 5 and 6: Repeat Round 4. You should have 23tr along each side and 2ch in each corner of your motif. Break yarn and fasten off leaving a long tail about 3m long for sewing or crocheting together later.
This GRANNY 4 MOTIF, I am making 10, 2 of each of my colours:
Granny 4 motif
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 first 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), (3tr, 1ch) into the same 2ch-sp, (3tr, 2ch, 3tr, 1ch) into each of the next three 2ch-sps, 2tr into the first 2ch-sp, join to 3rd st of starting 5ch with a ss.
Round 3: ss into 2ch-sp, 5ch (counts as 1tr, 2ch), (3tr, 1ch) into the same 2ch-sp, *(3tr, 1ch) into the next 1ch-sp, (3tr, 2ch, 3tr, 1ch) into the next 2ch-sp; repeat from * another 2 times (3tr, 1ch) into the next 1ch-sp, 2tr into the first 2ch-sp, join to 3rd st of starting 5ch with a ss.
Round 4: ss into 2ch-sp, 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 5: ss into 2ch-sp, 5ch (counts as 1tr, 2ch), 2tr into the same 2ch-sp, 1tr into each tr and 1ch-sp along each side and (2tr, 2ch, 2tr) in each 2ch-sp on the corners, finish with 1tr in the first 2ch-sp and join to 3rd ch from start with a ss. You should have 19tr along each side and 2ch in each corner of your motif.
Round 6: ss into 2ch-sp, 5ch (counts as 1tr, 2ch), 2tr into the same 2ch-sp, 1tr into each tr along each side and (2tr, 2ch, 2tr) in each 2ch-sp on the corner, finish with 1tr in the first 2ch-sp and join to 3rd ch from start with a ss. You should have 23tr along each side and 2ch in each corner of your motif. Break yarn and fasten off leaving a long tail about 3m long for sewing or crocheting together later.
My mind is now turning to edging but first I need to join them all. I don’t have a lot of yarn left, in fact I have to confess now that I didn’t have a full 2 balls of each colour and I knew I might be a little short of yarn at the end. But you should have taken my advice and made sure you have at least a full 2 balls of each colour (or 2 x 184m/201yds), so you should have plenty left.
I do want a simple edging and I know I have just enough for that, but you may want to do something more fancy and I know you’ll have enough yarn left to experiment.
Tomorrow I’ll share layout ideas and how to join.
Please keep sharing your progress on my Ravelry group here:
Happy crocheting xxx
Now for the legal stuff – I designed this, it’s all my own work and is copyright. Please feel free to make as many as you like, but not for commercial purposes, and please credit me with the design. Thank you!
I’ve been busy today, so I apologise for being a bit late with this post. My ‘busy’ was a family gathering. It is always lovely to see the family, especially at Christmas. And I do enjoy the catering for a crowd, which I don’t do very often. Perhaps if I catered for a large group more frequently I wouldn’t enjoy it as much!
So now I am ready for some relaxing crochet. Are you ready for the next motif? I hope so, because here it is:
First a reminder of the 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
This is the third motif design, I am making 10, 2 in each of my chosen colours.
I call it the GRANNY 3 MOTIF:
Granny 3 motif
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 first 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), (3tr, 1ch) into the same 2ch-sp, (3tr, 2ch, 3tr, 1ch) into each of the next three 2ch-sps, 2tr into the first 2ch-sp, join to 3rd st of starting 5ch with a ss.
Round 3: ss into 2ch-sp, 5ch (counts as 1tr, 2ch), (3tr, 1ch) into the same 2ch-sp, *(3tr, 1ch) into the next 1ch-sp, (3tr, 2ch, 3tr, 1ch) into the next 2ch-sp; repeat from * another 2 times, (3tr, 1ch) into the next 1ch-sp, 2tr into the 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 into each tr and 1ch-sp along each side and (2tr, 2ch, 2tr) in each 2ch-sp on the corners, finish with 1tr in the first 2ch-sp and join to 3rd ch from start with a ss. You should have 15tr along each side and 2ch in each corner of your motif.
Round 5: ss into 2ch-sp, 5ch (counts as 1tr, 2ch), 2tr into the same 2ch-sp, 1tr into each tr along each side and (2tr, 2ch, 2tr) in each 2ch-sp on the corner, finish with 1tr in the first 2ch-sp and join to 3rd ch from start with a ss. You should have 19tr along each side and 2ch in each corner of your motif.
Round 6: Repeat Round 5. You should have 23tr along each side and 2ch in each corner of your motif.
Break yarn and fasten off leaving a long tail about 3m long for sewing or crocheting together later.
Tomorrow, yes so soon, I will publish the last 2 motifs. I know some of you are powering away with your hooks, I can see the smoke from here! And those of you who haven’t progressed as quickly may like a little variety.
On Wednesday I will share my 2 proposals for layout, suggestions on how to join and my little embellishment.
And on Friday I will give you ideas on edging – mine will be simple.
As always, how you finish your blanket will be up to you, so all my ideas are only here to help inspire you. I love seeing variations, so please feel free to adapt as you like.
Please share your progress on the discussion thread on my Ravelry Group here.
Happy crocheting xxx
Now for the legal stuff – I designed this, it’s all my own work and is copyright. Please feel free to make as many as you like, but not for commercial purposes, and please credit me with the design. Thank you!
I’ve done all my shopping and only have a few pre-Christmas chores to do before I can relax……..well almost, maybe total relaxation will arrive after the dinner is cooked tomorrow!
When your chores are done, pull up a chair, get yourself a glass of something good (with or without alcohol), have a few nibbles in a dish handy for when you feel peckish and ….put your feet up.
Did I forget something? Ah, yes – grab your crochet hook and a basket of yarn because I’d love you to join me in this Christmas CAL. It should be an easy relaxing project, perfectly manageable for this season.
I’m making a lap blanket and here are the details to get you started:
SIZE
The lap blanket I am making will be 7 motifs square – a total of 49 motifs. The blanket will be about 1m/42in square without border, because I haven’t designed a border yet, and I may have to find some more yarn for that!
YARN
I am using Stylecraft Cotton Classique DK yarn, 100g/184m per ball. I estimate I’ll need about 10 balls.
HOOK
I am using a 4mm crochet hook (US G/6)
MOTIF/TENSION
The motifs are square and each motif is approx. 15cm/6in square.
ADAPTABILITY
You can use any yarn you like, as long as you use a suitable hook size. And you can make it to any size you like. It is a perfect stash buster.
COLOUR SCHEME
I am using 5 colours, and each motif is one colour. But you could use as many colours as you like and change colour each round if you like.
These are my colours.
Christmas CAL colours
So here we go:
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
The first motif is based on the standard granny square, so you should be able to tackle this easily.
GRANNY 5 MOTIF (I am making 9, 2 in each in 4 of my chosen colours and 1 in the last colour)
GRANNY 5 MOTIF
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), (3tr, 1ch) into the same 2ch-sp, (3tr, 2ch, 3tr, 1ch) into each of the next three 2ch-sps, 2tr into the first 2ch-sp, join to 3rd st of starting 5ch with a ss.
Round 3: ss into 2ch-sp, 5ch (counts as 1tr, 2ch), (3tr, 1ch) into the same 2ch-sp, *(3tr, 1ch) into the next 1ch-sp, (3tr, 2ch, 3tr, 1ch) into the next 2ch-sp; repeat from * another 2 times (3tr, 1ch) into the next 1ch-sp, 2tr into the first 2ch-sp, join to 3rd st of starting 5ch with a ss.
Round 4: ss into 2ch-sp, 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 5: 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 6: ss into 2ch-sp, 5ch (counts as 1tr, 2ch), 2tr into the same 2ch-sp, 1tr into each tr and 1ch-sp along each side and (2tr, 2ch, 2tr) into each 2ch-sp on the corners, finish with 1tr in the first 2ch-sp and join to 3rd ch from start with a ss.
Break yarn and fasten off, leaving a long tail of about 3m for sewing or crocheting together later.
You should have 23tr along each side and 2ch in each corner of your motif.
I have a discussion thread on my Ravelry Group here. Please join in and share your progress or, if you prefer, add comments on this blog.
Stay tuned for the next motif pattern, which I aim to publish on Friday…..or is that too soon?
Merry Christmas xx
Now for the legal stuff – I designed this, it’s all my own work and is copyright. Please feel free to make as many as you like, but not for commercial purposes, and please credit me with the design. Thank you!
…..and I haven’t written a full blog in almost 2 weeks! So first I must apologise to my readers for being so quiet.
As well as being busy preparing for Christmas, I have also been thinking hard about my designs and how I sell them from next year. This is all due to a change in legislation relating to EU VAT. Aimed at making large tax-avoiding companies pay VAT, it has hit also a huge number of small businesses who sell digital downloads, whether crochet patterns, music or a multitude of other digital downloads or PDFs. The legislation has been in the wind for 6 years but hasn’t been widely marketed because the legislators did not realise just how many micro businesses there are that operate in the digital world. And yes, that includes me! I will not bore you with the details, but from 1st January 2015 I will be limiting my pattern sales to a few websites – definitely Ravelry and also Loveknitting.
Meanwhile the good things that have happened in the last few weeks:
I published my last crochet scarf design of 2014 on 1st December, the culmination of a year of scarf designs. I called this one The Starflower Scarf for obvious reasons:
Starflower Crochet Scarf
I used lots of oddments of gorgeous silk yarns from Willow Knits.
Also, I compiled all 12 designs from my monthly challenge into one ebook – My Year of Scarves.
My Year of Scarves
I can’t express just how good it felt when I pushed the button to publish this. I never expected I would last the whole year on this personal challenge but I did!
Remember the beaded crochet pouch that featured at the Buxton Knitaway? Well that has been published also.
Crochet pouch
So I am ready for a relaxing Christmas season, but if course it will always feature some making. I have a design I need to finish but it requires concentration, which may not be readily available during the holiday season! So I have decided to make a straightforward lap blanket, something that will flow quickly and easily off the hook, and doesn’t need too much concentration. This is designed (in my head) and will be started soon…..do you fancy joining me in a seasonal CAL? Some easy quick crochet, perfectly suitable for the holidaytime, great as a stash buster…….if you are up for it, then I will publish the pattern in parts on this blog over the festive season, starting on Christmas Eve. The pattern will be written as the design comes out of my head, so you will be crocheting along with me. It should be fun 🙂
November is here, already. Remarkably I published my 11th crochet scarf design of the year last Saturday, the first of November.
Here is Swirling Seas Crochet Scarf, named because the glorious green silk yarn shimmers and the design reminds me of swirling green seas.
Swirling Seas
The silk yarn is one of my favourites from Willow Knits. Anne of Willow Knits has very generously offered a 10% discount on the yarns in her shop on Etsy to anyone who purchases the pattern (details on the pattern). She doesn’t just dye pure silk yarns, she has some lovely laceweight in silk/alpaca and silk/merino mixes.
And until midnight GMT on 16th November, if you go to Ravelry to buy this pattern you will get 50% off if you use the coupon code NOVEMBER. Half price pattern from me and 10% off the yarn from Anne – Happy November!
I am delighted and surprised that I have managed to keep up with my personal challenge. Only one month to go ……………but, although the December design is in my head, it hasn’t quite gone to plan. The design hasn’t worked with any yarns I have chosen yet – other than the acrylic I swatched with. Yes, readers I do sometimes swatch with acrylic yarn! But fear not, I do not plan to make December in acrylic……….(ETA I have nothing against acrylic yarn; these days it is excellent quality and comes in an amazing range of colours, but I do have a preference for natural fibres!) Yesterday I settled on the yarn and it is silk again, I have a lot of small quantities and will be using 20 colours in this. I will have to be quick to make it, write the pattern and find a couple of people who will test it for me before December…….wish me luck!
The only thing that will stand in my way is a new design; yet another a challenge. This time a challenge by Sigrun who is a member of my forum on Ravelry – she asked if I could design a crochet wrap pattern for her 2015 weather project. It had to be something that could be used with a range of colours that she will use, and she suggested the lovely fine lace yarn that I used for Bohemian Rhapsody. I do have a few scraps of that yarn left so I did some swatching and designed a motif that I think will work well. This is now charted and ready for me to start making the sample….and I have been patiently awaiting the yarn. Yes, it had to be the exact same yarn, and it landed on my doormat yesterday having travelled all the way from France. I will have great difficulty deciding which of the 2 designs to work on – December or Weather? I will just have to move between them.
I just managed to finish October instalment of the Kaleidoscope Mystery Blanket Club from the Natural Dye Studio. Only 2 more instalments to do now, so hopefully I’ll have a new blanket by Christmas. I have said it many times before, so I am repeating myself……I love this yarn! The single pure merino is a dream to crochet with. Here is October (sorry for the photo quality – I finished it at night and photographed inside with a flash).
October
I am looking forward to Amanda’s 2015 Blanket Club – Zodiac. This is available in crochet and knitted versions. I have an insight on the design and I know I am going to love putting the colours together. The Zodiac motifs are larger than Kaleidoscope and less than 300 are needed for the blanket, so the project will be quite quick to make. If you want to join in then you can sign up here. This is the last blanket club that Amanda will be doing for a while, so sign up now before they sell up!
I’m off now to crochet something…….now do I choose December or Weather?
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