That two weeks went fast!! Here, as promised on Insta the other day, is my ranty episode. I missed some things for sure but I can always come back to it at a later date to moan and complain some more (I love having a good rant!). And also, it isn’t a full on raging rant, I don’t want to you to think I’m nuts!
Go HERE to YouTubeto see what’s on my channel. Or click on the pic above to go to the episode (I forgot to name this one so it’s just 68). Cheers. x
At last, my new shawl design is here and I love it! It’s something of a miracle because I usually learn to hate my own designs, having worked on them for so long, I’m sick to death of them by the time I hit publish. Not this one though, the DK version has become my new favourite accessory in the last few chilly weeks. It is warm, lightweight and the colours go with everything I wear. Result.
Road to Nowhere is now available on Ravelry where there is a 20% discount until the Saturday 7th March. It is also on Etsy (with the discount too!) and LoveCrafts will follow shortly.
Before I go into more detail (and I’m not going to go on and on, I promise!), I must mention my friend Paul, who’s a photographer. I asked him very nicely to come and take photos of me while I messed about on East Hill, near where I live. If you’re in the Southwest and you’re looking for a photographer then pop over to his website HERE. He does weddings and all that jazz.
Lots of snaps with my eyes closed…ugh
It was very cold the day we went up and just before storm Ciara hit. No matter what time of year it is East Hill is guaranteed to be windy and cold. After less than an hour I couldn’t feel my toes. But it seemed like a good place for taking pics and there were plenty of roads that I’m pretending lead to Nowhere but do, in fact, lead to Somewhere.
What do you need to know about the shawl? Well, the pattern comes in both US and UK terms because I know not everyone uses the same terminology. It also has two options: you can choose to make it in DK or 4ply/fingering. To be fair, you could probably make it in any weight of yarn but these are the two included in the pattern.
I have included a crochet chart for the main body, which accompanies the written pattern. There’s no chart for the ribbing because of two reasons. One, it is pretty simple when following the written pattern alone. And two, I won’t lie, I couldn’t work out how to create the chart without it looking like a nonsensical jumble of symbols! Erm, not my greatest moment….
One of the main reasons I often included variations in my patterns is because I’m intrigued about how a design will work in different colours and different yarn weights etc. I’m curious about the differences; there’s a lot to be learned by experimenting and playing. I can never choose a preferred outcome so I like to include more than one!
(Not sure why I’m squatting by the side of this road…. Brings to mind sayings about bears in the woods).
I haven’t worn the bright one much as it is very loud. I do love my bright colours but I’m not always in a colourful, joyful sort of mood. That’s one of the reasons I named the shawl Road to Nowhere. The writer of the song (by the Talking Heads) says it’s a “joyful look at doom”. Joyful! See? But it is also named thusly because the border reminded me of a road and it is, indeed, a road that doesn’t go anywhere. Just round and round.
I think it’s quite a fitting name. I was feeling a bit “meh” when I came up with it but I actually think it fits rather well. It’s important to me not to name a design project after the colours used due to the fact that other crocheters, who will hopefully make your design, will use an entirely different palette.
Not my dogApparently, once you start throwing sticks, you’re not allowed to stop.Rainbow Road
I’ve run out of things to say about it now. Have I missed anything? Let me know!
Also, that’s quite enough of the photographs too. We took loads and were there less than an hour. That was plenty. In that short time my nose had gone red, my fingers numb and my feet had turned to ice. Hope you like the shawl (and Paul’s pics!) Cheers. xxx
Hello, how are you? I think you need to make a cup of tea, grab some yarn and get cracking with some crochet (or knitting, embroidery etc) while you catch up with what I’ve been up to! I feel like I’ve done loads over the last couple of weeks so there’s lots to chat about. check out my YouTube channel HERE or go to the latest episode by clicking on the picture above.
Not many photos today but, honestly it’s because I’ve been so busy crocheting I haven’t had time to snap it all! 😀
First of all, this is a sniffy sniffy, hair touchy episode. So sorry, but I was super fidgety today. Plus, I had a cold nose! With that out of the way, welcome to Episode 66! Please click on the picture above to go to the episode of go Here to my YouTube channel. Ta very much. x
Happy New Year! I hope you’ve had a good time over the last few weeks. I know I’m ready to just get on with things… As always, please hit the pic above to go directly to the latest episode of my little crochet podcast or, go HERE to my YouTube channel. Cheers.
I have a couple of WIPs and a couple of finished objects but no more photos. I will endeavour to get the camera out more in the next few weeks.
Hi, this is the last video for the year and indeed, the decade! Nuts! It’s super busy every where at the moment so hopefully you find twenty minutes to have a sit down. Please click on the pic above to go directly to Episode 64. Or, you can have a look at the whole YouTube channel HERE, where you’ll find all other episodes and lots of crochet video tutorials. Cheers!
Hello again! I hope you’re well? Episode 63 has WIPs galore as well as a couple of little FOs. There are two Giveaways as well. And finally, I can talk without the fear of getting cut off every four minutes! Hoo-bloody-ray.
Please hit the pic above to go directly to the episode or visit all of the Z&R YouTube channel HERE for more crochet podcasts / vlogcasts as well as plenty of crochet video tutorials. Ta very much. x
Links:
I had every intention of telling you that I was wearing the Mount Tremper Sweater but totally forgot. I mentioned in the previous episode and thought I should give it an outing before making my mind up whether to frog it or not (probs no point really).
The fabric is from Wool Warehouse, which you probably already know and then Cloth & Candy, which is a lovely online store that Shirley Rainbow told me about.
Christmas is one month away. One month is sure to whizz by! Are you making presents? Crochet Christmas pressies are always good. Ones that take less than half an hour to knock up are even better.
The brooch is made in one long piece and spiralled around into shape. A few stitches with a needle and the tail ends secures everything in place. Then sew on the brooch back. It’s pretty simple.
Whilst the pattern tells you to change colour during Row 1, you don’t have to. You can make them in all one colour if preferred.
Oh, because it was published in a UK magazine, the terms are UK crochet stitches. It is pretty easy to translate: A UK dc is a US sc, a UK tr is a US dc and so on…
Pattern:
Materials.
● Sublime baby cashmere merino silk dk (75% extra fine merino, 20% silk, 5% cashmere), 50g/116m/127yd, 1 ball of Dusty Pink (346) & 1 ball of Twinkle (491). You can stash bust any other dk weight yarn. I’ve made them in aran too and the result is similar.
● Twilley’s Washable Goldfingering (80% viscose, 20% metallised polyester), 25g/100m, 1 ball in antique gold (shade 4). I have also found sparkly yarn in Aldi before now.
● 4 mm hook
● 3cm brooch back
● Needle
Measures: 8cm/3.5in
With Yarn A chain 31
Row 1: 5dc in 2nd ch from hook, 5dc in next st, [5htr in next st] 5 times, [6tr in next st] 7 times, [6dtr in next st] four times, change colour to YB, [6dtr in next st] four times, 7dtr in next st] 8 times, do not turn. [181st]
Row 2: Attach YC to the first st of Row 1 (leave a tail), 1dc BLO in each stitch to end, fasten off.
Coil the crochet around on itself, securing with stitches with a needle and yarn tail as you go (begin with the end of smaller petals). Sew on the brooch back. Make loads.
When you’re done, don’t forget to add it to your projects page on Ravelry!! Ta very much. x
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PS if you want to make a small batch for your local Christmas fair or something then that’s fine. But please let me know; I’m nosey and really want to see!
Hi! I trust you’re well? After a break of a few weeks I have returned with the latest crochet podcast. Head on over to YouTube to watch! Click on the pic above to go directly to the episode. Links and pics are below. If I’ve missed something, or you have a query, please do give me a shout. Thanks ever so much. X
Hello! This crochet podcast is pretty short. Camera issues have caused problems again! Therefore, I kept it short and sweet. Hope that’s OK, will endeavor to pull my finger out. Please click on the pic above to go to the episode, or go HERE to YouTube for the whole lot.
