A few months ago this pretty wrap was in Inside Crochet magazine (issue 99). In the same issue I got the back page interview!! I was ridiculously excited about both the pattern and the interview (see below). And I still am. Anyway, enough time has passed that I can release Emergence of Spring as an independent pattern.
Fancy 20% off the pattern price? Click on the following text:
Photo taken by Lucy Williams for Inside Crochet. Issue 99.
I loved making this shawl. It was actually my Christmas Day 2017 make (and Boxing Day, and a couple of the following days!). The design was inspired by last summer’s holiday to Lancashire and Yorkshire, which you can read about HERE and HERE. I wonder if you see the same inspirations as me. There are lots of moments as a crocheter that push themselves to the front and this shawl (and all the stuff behind it) is one of them. I can’t explain why exactly because it’s a combination of things. But essentially what you need to know is this, I’m very proud of it and myself!
Cheers. X
Subscribe to Blog via Email
I’m learning to hate this headshot!My dogeared copy of Issue 99 of Inside Crochet magazine.
For the longest time I have really, really wanted to go to Menorca. I don’t know why, I’ve just had it in my head that that was where I wanted the next family holiday to be. I probably saw it on the telly and thought it looked like a paradise that was easy to get to. Also, I was vaguely aware that there was good food to be found!
Mitjana. Probably better when it’s not raining and you don’t have to hang out with nudists.
Getting There
We got there the usual way, EasyJet from Bristol. It worked out to be about £400 cheaper than flying via Flybe from Exeter, which annoys me because I could easily walk to Exeter airport from home.
Where to Stay
I spoke to a friend who went a year or two ago. She told me where she’d stayed and where she wish she’d stayed instead. The wish place was Ciutadella. It’s just under an hour by car from the airport, which is pretty much the entire length of the island.
We Airbnb’d it. I won’t tell you which villa we stayed at cos we didn’t like it. It looked the part but not only was it on a busy road, it also reeked of must and damp. It’s such a shame because it was a beautiful space, the gardens were big and the pool was lovely. If they’d looked after the inside like they did the outside, it would have been perfect. It was only a ten minute stroll to the nearest beach (Sa Caleta) and a supermarket wasn’t that far either. We booked in February, if we’d done so a few months earlier there probably would have had a better crop to pick from (I fell in love with a farmhouse surrounded by beautiful fields but nope, someone else had got their mitts on it first).
Sa Caleta.Sa Caleta.An avarcas wearing, beer drinking, lie down near the pool.
What we ate
Menorca has a reputation for its very good food. Therefore I assumed it would be dead easy to find a cheap little cafe or restaurant that local people loved. We didn’t eat out at any of those wherever they were. One place (a cafe in the main square of the capital city, Mahon) barely served real food at all, it was nasty. I also disliked the food at the restaurant we went to in Fornells. We chose a busy one (that’s what I thought you were supposed to do) but it was half arsed. I had stuffed aubergine as it’s a Menorcan classic but it was some disappointing brown slops on a plate. The other place we tried was in Ciutadella and it was the nicest. We ate grilled cuttlefish and patatas bravas and we enjoyed that, even with the party of ants that had joined us at our table.
It boiled down to this: we couldn’t afford to eat in the restaurants that give Menorca its good food rep. I didn’t get to eat the caldereta de langosta that I had my heart set on because it was too expensive. It’s sad day when you can’t even afford “peasant” food.
The markets? Sooo good and loads of fun!! I really enjoyed using some dodgy Spanish to ask for what I wanted (a huge change from my chickening out on last year’s trip to Spain). We went to the fish market in Ciutadella twice. We came back with loads to put on the bbq and it was delicious. Then there was a food market on the Saturday morning too where we bought locally made bread with sobrassada, eggs and some fruit n veg. We took it all back to the villa and had a lovely lunch with yummy stinky cheese that’s made on the island as well.
I almost forgot the fish market/deli in Mahon. That was fab but I was too full of crappy omelette from a crappy cafe to enjoy all the pretty tapas. We got a couple of things but dammit, I wanted it all! Gutted.
Meh, I didn’t research and paid the price. I’m forever cursed with being a lazy food snob.
Oh, I liked the gin a lot even though it’s “not real” gin (it’s distilled from wine not grain). It was interesting, refreshing and tasty. I liked it with schweppes, not lemonade as is traditional in a pomada. Came home with a bottle of that, some vac packed cheese and sobrassada. Yum.
When you tell the kids that conejo is chicken…Yuuuummmm!!!Fella selling pineapple from his wheelbarow. He was lethal with his blade
Stuff to do
You go to Menorca to go to the beach. You just do. It has loads of them. Beach too full? Walk to the next one. That one full? Pop across to the next etc… This is another reason why it’s a good idea to come in the half term hols. I gather that in July and August Menorca is heaving with people. Like sandy sardines in a tin. We avoided all the ones near resorts assuming they’d be busiest. We parked at Son Saura twice. The first time we went to Bellavista, which was very nice but the next time we parked here, we walked a bit further to Es Talaier. It was stunning. A beautiful, beautiful beach. There were a few jelly fish but we swam in the warm water anyway. The boys had never swam in the sea before and were beyond excited! I, however, didn’t swim too vigorously because a boob would bounce out the bikini if I got too enthusiastic.
Es Talaier
Oh, and Mitjana is gorgeous too. Sort of. There was a big group of loud teenage school kids on a trip plus a load of crusty seaweed spread across the shoreline. We walked further on and found a teeny cove to climb down to but I bust a flip-flop, which put me in a mood and there was nowhere to sit apart from a small spot next to Ugly Naked Guy.
Es Talaier
Caves! There were cool caves. Man-made by real cave men! We all really liked it here. The youngest boy absolutely loved clambering all over these. And you do have to climb a little bit to get to them. Good views when you’re at the top. I don’t think I’d want to live in a cave but they were fun to stop by.
The caves at Cala Morell
What else? I dunno. We went to Fornells but thought it soulless. Very grey. The littlest boy said it was like being on the moon. It wasn’t bad but it didn’t do it for us.
I’d like to have tried a couple more towns such as Es Mercadal and Ferreries. We ended up running out of time and felt like it wouldn’t be much of a holiday if we were rushing round trying to squeeze in as much as possible. The aim was to take it easy so we missed out on a few things.
I did go shopping though! Got some new shoes! Oh my, they are so comfortable and I’ve worn them everyday since I got them. If you find avarcas, get yourself a pair. I’d like all the colours of the rainbow, please!
In Ciutadella I found three (or even four) fabric shops and two places that sold yarn. Can you believe I didn’t buy any?! It’s not a woolly sort of place. The yarn wasn’t Spanish, so I wasn’t interested. OK, there was some Katia in an indoor market in Mahon but that’s not what I wanted.
Fornell. Like the moon but wetter.Avarcas
Conclusion
It’s more expensive than Venice! I feel naive for not knowing. But I’ve been and I’m glad of that. Box ticked. We’ve got some saving to do now. No more holidays abroad for quite some time. It’s been an indulgent couple of years. The children are old enough to buy us some freedom so we’ve been taking advantage of that. I also received a little bit of money when Nanna and Grandad died; I think they would have wanted me to enjoy it. I certainly did! Thanks N&G for Amsterdam, Spain, Venice & Menorca! It’s back to camping in Dorset!
A few more pics below.
Subscribe to Blog via Email
Nice bit of gardencrochet spottingFornellsCan you imagine what this terraced garden would look like in top notch condition?CiutadellaA tower thingy at Sa CaletaSa Caleta. Lots of pretty rock bits for clambering over. “Don’t go near the edge!”Mahon. Not as nice as CiutadellaMahonMitjana
Howdy! Are you after some crochet talk? Look no further, Episode 31 of the Zeens and Roger crochet podcast is here! Click on the pic above to miraculously travel to the crochet podcast episode, or pop over and take a look at the whole YouTube channel HERE. Ta very much.
Don’t forget to take a quick look at some photos below, they pretty much show what crafty things I’ve been up to over the last couple of weeks. Cheers. X
Subscribe to Blog via Email
Links To Crochet Good Stuff
I got my star scissors from Stitchsperation. Charlie is a cross-stitch pattern designer; her designs are modern and super hot!
Dodgy Bag MAL Run by Cluadia of Crochet Luna and Ali of Little Drops of Wonderful.
On Monday, I began recording a video tutorial on my older method for making an easy crochet market bag. Crochet market bags are massive at the minute and, jumping on the bandwagon, I hit record and started crocheting.
I completed a few rounds of my old crochet market bag pattern before I started to question its construction. It became quite clear that I was trying to be way too fancy with the crochet pattern. Quite simply, there are some unnecessary increases included, and two years ago, I didn’t ask myself if there was an easier way. I’ve updated the pattern.
What we have here is a much simpler version of that old crochet market bag. However, it pretty much looks the same.
Here is the video tutorial for how to crochet an easy market bag using only one skein of cotton yarn. The written crochet pattern is below.
How To Crochet An Easy Mesh Market Bag
Notes & Things You Need To Make A Crochet Market Bag
3mm crochet hook
1x50g ball of DK cotton. Try DMC Natura Just Cotton (155m/170yds). Or, Rico Essentials DK works well, but it’s slightly less meterage, so you might want to remove a round of the main body, just in case).
The 3ch at the beginning of the first 4 rounds counts as a UK tr/ US dc
If you have very loose tension, it would be better to go down to a 2.5mm hook
The pattern is written in UK terms. Where it says “dc”, that’s a US sc and a “tr” is a US dc. So htr is hdc! Easy peasy.
No turns are made when making the main body of the bag.
Crochet Market Bag Pattern
Start with a magic ring (or ch4 and join with a slip stitch). Round 1: 3ch, 11tr into ring, join to third ch of initial 3ch with a sl st, pull the magic ring to close. [12 sts] Round 2: 3ch, 1tr into same stitch, 2tr into each stitch, join to third ch of initial 3 ch with a sl st. [24 sts] Round 3: 3ch, 1tr in same st, 1 tr in next st, *2tr in next stitch, 1 tr in next; rep from * around, join with sl st. [36 sts] Round 4: 3ch, 1 tr in same st, 1tr in next 2 sts, *2tr in next st, 1tr in next 2 sts; rep from * around, join with sl st. [48 sts]
The Mesh Section Begins
Round 5: 1ch, 1dc in same st, *ch3, miss 1 stitch, 1dc in next; rep from * around until the second to last stitch. At this point, ch1 and work 1 htr into the beginning dc. Refer to the chart above to learn how the rounds are joined. Placing a stitch marker on the last stitch of each row from here will help enormously. [24 chain spaces]. Round 6: *4ch, 1dc in next ch sp; rep from * around until second to last ch sp, 2ch, 1htr into the top of the last st of the previous round (ie, into the top of the htr of the previous round). Round 7: *5ch, 1dc in next ch sp; rep from * around until second to last ch sp, 2ch, 1tr into the top of the last st of the previous round. Round 8: *6ch, 1dc in next ch sp; rep from * around until second to last ch sp, 3ch, tr into the top of the last st of the previous round. Round 9: *7ch, 1dc in next ch sp; rep from * around until second to last ch sp, 3ch, 1dtr into the top of the last st of the previous round. Rounds 10 – 25: Repeat Round 9. Round 26: Repeat round 8. Round 27: Repeat round 7.
Add Stitches Around The Top of the Market Bag
Round 28: 1ch, 1dc in same stitch, 2dc in space, 1dc in dc, *4dc in each ch sp, 1dc in top of each dc of previous round; rep from *, 2dc in last sp, sl st to join to 1st dc. [120 sts] Rounds 29 – 30: 1ch, 1 dc in same space, dc around, sl st to join.
Adding a Crochet Handle
Row 1: 1ch, 1dc in same space, 1dc in next 6 sts, turn [7 sts] Row 2: 1ch, 1dc along the next 7 sts, turn [7 sts] Repeat Row 2 until the desired handle length is reached, or until only half a metre of yarn remains. (I made my handle approximately 18″).
Turn your bag inside out. To attach the handle to the opposite side of the bag, count the stitches around the top of the bag. I had 120 stitches. You want your handles evenly spaced, so I counted 53 stitches along from the right side of my handle, and the next stitch (see pic below) was where I started to attach the other end of the handle. Make sure there are no twists!
The hook should be on the right-hand side. If it isn’t, add another row or remove one. Insert the hook through the first stitch on the handle and the chosen stitch on the other side of the bag. Yarn over and pull through all loops/stitches. Repeat for the last 6 stitches. Fasten off and securely sew the ends.
This crochet market bag pattern has been designed by me, and I really hope that you like it! I think it is such a useful bag, I have made loads; they are just perfect for shoving in the bottom of your bag for quick visits to the supermarket!
And if you enjoyed making your crochet market bag, why not take a look at my other free crochet patterns.
It’s about time I got another crochet chat out, so here is Episode 29 of the Zeens and Roger Crochet podcast.
Immerse yourself in some crochet chat this week!
In this week’s crochet podcast, I share a few delightful things. Check out the photos of yarn and new crochet projects below, too.
Links To Crochet, Yarn & Everything Else!
The Venice blog post. I went to Venice! It was wonderful. We were drooling over the food. And I found yarn shops!
Hotchpotch Granny purse tutorial – I put together a video tutorial showing you how to make a magic knot, how to crochet this purse from the bottom up and how to add lining to your crochet purse.
I’ve decided that this cute design will be called a Hotchpotch Granny Purse, it fits the bill quite nicely don’t you think? It’s a crochet purse that uses a hotchpotch of leftover yarn scraps and is the perfect colourful crochet stashbuster.
You can also use all kinds of yarn and I use a magic knot technique to join yarn ends, which I think works very well with acrylic yarn. It would probably work well with wool too. I’m not keen on the magic knot for cotton, though. In my experience, the knot has slipped undone, especially with mercerised (shiny-coated) cotton. So, you might want to experiment with yarn scraps to see what works for you.
You can use any yarn to make a purse, along with your favourite corresponding hook size; there are pretty much no rules to this. If you’re unsure about hook sizes, check the yarn’s ball band to see what the recommended hook size is. As long as you have plenty of lovely woolly bits, you may find yourself addicted to making multiple crochet purses of all different sizes! Why not go heavy on the stashbusting here!?
Starting Chain For Granny Stripes
And sorry, I know I just said there are no rules but there is actually one rule: when you create the starting chain for your granny stripe purse, you need multiples of 3 plus 1.
However, if you’re a stitch or two out then I’m sure you can fudge it. Crochet is very forgiving, but aim for 3 plus 1, and you’ll be fine. This multiple is to evenly space the granny clusters.
Crochet Granny Purse Video Tutorial
I’ve filmed a video tutorial over on YouTube for this crochet Hotchpotch purse. Pop over to watch how to make a granny Hotchpotch purse. It’s a crochet pattern that’s easier to show you how it’s done rather than follow as a written pattern. However, if you would prefer a written pattern, I have an ever so slightly different version for a granny stripe cotton tote here.
Covered in the Hotchpotch granny stripe purse tutorial are:
How to make the magic knot (such an interesting technique!)
Working granny stripes into a purse from the bottom up
If you have never added a zipper in your crochet before it might well prove a useful tutorial. As you can see below it doesn’t have to be perfect, it gets covered by lining afterwards.
That’s just some dodgy hand stitching, which is perfectly acceptable for this hotchpotch crochet project. There’s another photo below that demonstrates how the embarassment is easily hidden by a matching green purse lining.
What Is A Magic Knot?
I don’t always use the magic knot but when I do, it’s like witchcraft! I demonstrate the magic knot in the hotchpotch granny purse video tutorial. It’s a seemingly scary technique that actually works very well indeed. I did a lot of research and discovered a lot of converted sceptics! Many many yarny folk rely on the magic knot and it never lets them down.
In a nutshell, you tie the end of Yarn A around the end of Yarn B and tie the end of Yarn B around the end of Yarn A. With a slidy motion the two knots are gently pulled together. Then, once nice and tight, you snip the ends leaving behind a neat knot. As I said, it might be easier to watch me demonstrate in the tutorial but the yarn was a bit squeaky that day, so it doesn’t look as gentle as perhaps it should!
I have only used the magic knot in my hotchpotch bags as it’s when I use lots of joins in the middle of the fabric I’m making. Most other times, I diligently sew in my ends because, in my opinion, knot tying is almost as boring as sewing in loads of ends.
I don’t want to go over this in great detail here as, you know, I have shown you how this simple crochet stitch is made in the video tutorial. But, granny is granny, which is to say, we are working with clusters of three UK trebles / US double crochet stitches.
If you know my catalogue of crochet designs you will know that the granny stitch is one of my absolute favourites, I use it allllll the time! Check out my free crochet patterns page, tis littered with granny goodness. And there are more examples on my Zeens and Roger Ravelry page HERE.
Although I won’t break it down in detail here, a brief overview of the plan for this hotchpotch project is to begin with a starting chain (multiples of 3 +1) and create a foundation round of UK dc / US sc stitches down and up the chain. Once you have completed the first round and joined it together, you build upon that foundation with loads of glorious granny clusters. The thing practically makes itself!
Different Sized Granny Purses
I use my little Hotchpotch purse granny stripe purse as my make up bag. But I have one as a notions pouch too. I then made a bigger granny purse for my sister, like a handbag, which I added leather handles to (see below). I added a few rounds of UK htr / US hdc stitches as a finishing touch to that one. These latter rounds also helped as an anchor for attaching the straps.
Using the stitch multiple rule, you can make a small coin purse, colourful handbag, or a tote-like shopper. There are lots of possibilities and not much stopping you!
The teeny tiny granny purse was 16 stitches. The small, 22 stitches. The make-up bag size was 34 stitches, and the handbag was maybe 49 stitches, but I can’t remember now and have eyeballed it from the photos!
The sizes will also vary depending on the yarn you use. So a 16-stitch purse made in Double Knit yarn is going to be a bit smaller than a 16 stitch purse made in aran weight yarn.
How To Make a Handbag-Size Granny Tote?
If you are making the bigger size with the straps, I recommend the following:
At the lining stage, use iron-on interfacing on the outside lining. Then place it inside the granny purse. Pin in place and decide on where you want the handles to be. Attach those to the outside of the bag, ensuring that as you sew, you also stitch through the interfaced lining. You then add the inner lining and neatly hand stitch or machine sew in place (mind those handles!).
This time last week, I was in Venice. It is the most beautiful city I have ever seen. It was awesome, I was literally in awe. Every five minutes, someone heard me say, “This place is amazing, I love it!” The husband started getting annoyed, “You’ve already said that.”
Have you been to Venice? It’s amazing, I love it!
Venice on a Budget
I went expecting to say goodbye to a lot of cash and, if necessary, sell my soul. Yet, our budget didn’t burst its banks at all. This wasn’t actually going to be a post about how you can do Venice on a budget; it was just going to be my usual thing of whacking up pictures and saying what a nice time I had. However, I want you to go to Venice too, and I don’t want you to dismiss it because you think it’ll cost the earth. It doesn’t have to.
Getting To Venice Cheaply
We did Ryanair on the way there and EasyJet on the way back. This wasn’t my job. Another person in our party of six sorted out flights. He found the best times and prices. It didn’t occur to me to choose two different airlines, but this saved us money. We booked in November/December, so I can’t remember how much it was, around £100 pp return from Bristol. Just over, I think.
Once you’re at the airport, you can get a water bus, but it’s half the price to get the train. We wanted to be fancy, so we got the bus. A private taxi would be even fancier, and they really zooom across the water!
That building in the middle? A hospital!
Where to Stay in Venice
It’s Airbnb all the way for me. My job was to find accommodation, and I didn’t bother looking anywhere else. Seeing as we were three couples, we needed a three-bed place. This was also booked in November/December, and I think that was too late. Many suitable apartments had already gone, and there weren’t loads of choices for nice places.
The best bet is to leap on flights as soon as they’re released and book somewhere to stay at the same time. Don’t dilly dally. However, we did manage to find clean accommodation with a nice view out the back and three bathrooms. It was right near a stunning-looking hospital in a pretty square with plenty of bars. Nowhere took more than fifteen minutes to walk to. Unless you got lost. Which we did. Frequently.
The view from our kitchen window. Sadly, there was no access.
What We Ate in Venice
Oh my goodness! Everything I ate was fabulous. The only thing I didn’t care much for was the gelato. I don’t know if I had a duff one or if it’s because I’m normally all about umami, but I didn’t like the dense texture. The gelato I ate was just very sturdy ice cream! If we’d have had time (and emptier bellies), I would have gone to the Boutique del Gelato; apparently, it’s top notch.
Cichetti. I don’t know the name of this place. It was our first bit of Venetian grub.
Venetian Cicchetti!
Cicchetti!! Wowsers, I loved all of it, even the salt cod and pickled fishy things! Cicchetti is a bar snack, a bit like tapas, and you need it in your life. We went to several places to get our fill, and each time we also ordered prosecco. Yuuuum!!!
Stand at the bar and eat, or you can sit too. You might have to pay extra to sit though. Cicchetti is cheap, and you can easily fill up on it for a few quid. Try All’ Arco for traditional/local and also Acqua e Mais for a cone of deep-fried calamari and shrimp. If you’re on a super tight budget, this sort of thing is great, and you don’t need to go mad on the drink (which definitely bumps up the cost). Having said that, a bottle of prosecco is pretty much the same price as a pub here, so much cheaper than I thought it’d be. And so much tastier.
Seafood spaghetti at Trattoria Alla Scala
The husband’s monkfish.
I don’t remember the name of the place this was from. But it was so good!
Dinner Isn’t Always Expensive In Venice
Waiters will tell you that you must order seafood. They’re not wrong. It’s what I ate both nights, and it was delicious. The first night we went to a restaurant we’d found on TripAdvisor.
In we went, winding our way through tables whilst chatting to the restaurant guy about reservations. As we talked, he escorted us right past all the diners, through the kitchen and out into the alley at the back. We thought we’d been kicked out, but actually we were waiting for a table. Others were already there, snacking on chilli pesto gnocchi and little glasses of spritz.
We were given the same and told how to hold our plate and glass. A few minutes later, the guy we’d spoken to introduced us to a bemused-looking man in blue gloves and an apron. We were told to follow him. We did and ended up in another restaurant, a two-minute walk away.
At the Tratorria Alla Scala there were no tables for six, so they got some other diners to budge up and in we squeezed. We got complimentary glasses of prosecco, grissini and gorgeous garlicky tomato bruschetta. Main meals were around 18 euros, which I think is ace, especially as we paid that much for dinner in Amsterdam last year and didn’t get any extra stuff (not even a smile).
I can’t remember the name of the restaurant we went to the second night, but it was a lot of sharing platters, and ours were delicious. Oh man, I ate way too much in 48 hours. I haven’t even mentioned the sneaky chips, pizza, sweets, pastries or any of the other things I stuffed in. I couldn’t sleep the first night cos my tummy was so full. Yet I still didn’t spend that much money! Honest!
And I bought lovely yarn! (Not from the posh wool shop though, as I had Pretty Woman experience in there, so… big mistake, huge!).
Stuff to Do in Venice
I think it’s safe to say that this was very much an eating holiday. I’m a big foodie, and my bestie’s husband is a chef, so it was always going to be about food. That means we didn’t have time to visit other islands or go into any of the touristy places you’re supposed to visit.
If you wanted to go up the tower in St Marks’ square, though, I think it’s only 6 euros. The Basilica di San Marco is free to enter, as are a couple of other places. Just standing in St Mark’s Square is breathtaking, you don’t need to spend money there! You don’t even need to go there at all. The whole of Venice is amazing to just walk around and gawp at.
More pictures below, ones where the tower isn’t chopped off!
One thing which was total bucket list territory was a ride in a gondola. It was made cheaper by the fact that all six of us squeezed into one boat. Our tour needed to include a goggle at the Bridge of Sighs, but the bloke we chatted to said it didn’t work into his 30-minute route. We wangled a 45-minute trip for 120 euros. Usually, they’re thirty minutes for 80 euros. I know it works out the same, but still.
The alternative was spending more on one hour or finding another fella who was nearer to the prison. Whatever, it was worth every penny. We all loved it, I even got overexcited when I saw a little crab perched on the side of a canal! If you want the gondola man to sing, you have to pay extra, but I would probably pay for him not to sing.
Luckily, our guy only came out with interesting facts about what we were seeing. He even knew where George and Amal got married and had their do. Real Venetian culture!
The Bridge of Sighs. Casanova is the only man to have escaped from prison here. Thanks for that bit of info, Gondola Man!
Things I wanted to do but didn’t get the chance? There’s a market by Rialto bridge. I’d like to go there. Next time I’d go to art galleries too and time it with Carnevale! That sounds like an alright weekend…week? There is loads to do and I did what I wanted to do, saw the things I wanted to see and came home happy.
Basically, if you want to do Venice on the cheap don’t spend money in the San Marco area and you’ll be fine. Eat cicchetti and get the train over. Also, you don’t have to have your accommodation on Venice itself. Burano or Murano would probably work out cheaper. There you go. Boom. Bargain holiday in one of the most beautiful destinations in the entire world.
Subscribe to Blog via Email
A book shop with a lot of books. We could see the back of our flat from here.
I’ve now been sucked into buying a tacky fridge magnet wherever I go.
Rialto Bridge. 11pm. Over sunned, over proseccoed, up since 3.30am.
There was a rainbow!
Breathtaking. We wandered into St Mark’s Square quite by accident. The best way to “discover” it, I thought.
shoppin
To commemorate the people who died of the plague. I think. That’s what we were told.
Venice innit.
I’ll give you ten points if you can spot it.
All pics are my own or the husband’s, taken on our phones. xxx
Right, I’m gonna go way over the top with granny jumper pics and guess who doesn’t care?! Meeee, haha! I took them yesterday so I could put one up on Instagram, and I got carried away. I thought my love affair with the crochet granny stitch would have worn off by now. Nope! Still there. And this jumper is the bees blimmin knees. I won’t go on and on; I just want to show it off for a bit.
It is called the Granny Rocks jumper, and it’s by Claudine, of Iron_Lamb. Claudine’s crochet garments are stupendous. She has a real knack for knowing what looks good; her designs are current, colourful and amazing. The pattern is available to buy on Ravelry. I’d been eyeing it up for ages but kept telling myself that I already had granny jumpers and didn’t need another.
Eh, I wanted it, so I bought it. The shaping is completely different from other patterns I’ve followed, and I was curious as to why. It also turns out I really like to see how other designers write out their patterns too (and thus, that was my justification for buying it!).
Open your eyes, woman!
Granny Stripe Crochet Sweater
I used a different yarn from the one recommended and therefore needed a different amount. Remember, always check the label for yardage/meterage! I didn’t until after I’d ordered, and I needed nearly twice as much! This is Drops Merino Extra Fine DK, and it’s a pretty heavy yarn, heavier than the yarn in the crochet pattern. But it makes a smashin’ jumper, and I am super toasty right now (I’m never taking this thing off).
Something else you ought to know. I sort of didn’t obey every step of the instructions. I’ve made crochet jumpers before, and I felt confident enough to give the pattern a semi-skim read, which gave me a good understanding of what was what. I mainly went by the measurements of the schematic.
I cut a big corner doing that; risky, but it paid off. I missed a repeat off the arms and maybe off the length of the jumper too (I haven’t double checked). I relied on measurements rather than the pattern because my gauge was different. I know that my granny clusters are tall and thin; therefore, if I stuck rigidly to the pattern, it wouldn’t look like it was supposed to.
I’ll be entering this into the Different Designer CAL and the Fortune Cookie CAL. Find out more about that on the next episode of the vlogcast, which I’ll be recording on Thursday. x
Right, I’m sharing some pictures…Honestly, it’s so much more fun to muck about when you’re not fussed about your face. I was having a good day! I wouldn’t ever attempt self-portraits on Ugly Day.
I love the internet! It’s thanks to the internet that Sue from Yay Retro stumbled across me via the Granny CAL I’ve been running over on Instagram, Ravelry and this ‘ere crochet blog. As a result, Sue suggested an interview, which I thought was a great idea! A couple of weeks ago, I wrote out my answers to Sue’s fab questions and sent over a massive wodge of photographs of my home (with vintagey stuff- it’s relevant, I promise) and things I’ve crocheted.
In the interest of keeping things a two-way street, I thought it would be nice to get to know Sue, too, so I sent her a few questions for her to answer as well. We have things in common: we both live in Devon, we both love crochet, and we both have a penchant for cool, old stuff! Also, (as an aside) I found all of this really interesting. The questions started a nostalgic trip into the past, which triggered a load of old memories. I think that’s the main reason why I accumulate all my seemingly random junk. They’re connections to places I’ve been and people I’ve known.
Righty, over to Sue…
How long have you lived in Totnes?
We moved here in 2015 to be nearer to our son and family. We felt at home as soon as we got here, it’s a very special, welcoming and friendly place.
How much does living in Totnes feed your creativity and/or love of vintage? [Totnes is a town in Devon known for having an alternative, arty scene]
I did a fine art degree at The Winchester School of Art and trained, then worked as a professional artist (large abstract paintings) for around seven years before becoming a wedding photographer with my husband for six years. After this I set up yay retro! and I think both of these have significantly fed into the look and feel of yay retro! especially as everything needs to be photographed attractively. Totnes and the surrounding area is marvellous for finding vintage wares. I love the beautiful historic buildings and surrounding wonderful countryside, as well as the ‘anything goes’ feel in Totnes, it makes life more interesting and everyone is friendlier and accepting, I think.
What other parts of Devon are your favourite?
I adore Woolacombe in the North as I had all my childhood holidays there, visiting around 5 times a year in our tent and caravan. Tavistock is also a beautiful town, I love the market there and the drive over the Moors. My other favourite spots are the steam railways in Totnes and Dartmouth. These remind me of my Gramp who was a steam engine driver in the 1950s/60s.
There seems to be quite a few creative folk in Devon. Do you think Devon in particular is a good base for creatives? What makes it so special?
I’m quite new here and so have met only a few other vintage sellers and artists. However I am aware of more here than I was in Hampshire where I lived before.
The country and seaside are so inspiring in Devon and the slower pace of life is really superb. I think people’s outlook on life is different to that of people who live or work in or near big cities. Perhaps this is what attracts creative people to the county? Totnes itself is known for its arty folk as it is close to Dartington, which used to be the home of the famous Dartington College of Arts until quite recently.
What is it about vintage/retro stuff that makes you happy?
I was very lucky to have a happy time growing up in the 1960s and 70s, everything I buy for yay retro! makes me think of my Gran, Nan or my Mum all of whom were great home makers. I can recall special, happy times in each of their kitchens, and because each of them had different tastes in home decor, it really is a case of finding and recognising things they had. I only ever buy things that make me smile, that I truly love and would want for myself. If I’m not keen to give it house room myself I don’t buy it! When I find something lovely I say ‘yay! retro!’ in my head and often feel quite elated. It’s a real feel good job to have as I am forever ‘buzzing’ about the lovely objects and textiles I find!
When did you know it was time to make it your full time job?
I started the yay retro! online shop in 2012, and by 2013 knew it was going to take off and that I would need to tail off my other work commitments which were in the family web development company. I now run yay retro! full time.
Do you hangout with other crafty folk?
Being new to Totnes I don’t know that many people yet who are crafty. I do know of other vintage sellers and they are all very friendly and supportive. it’s a lovely community to be part of. On the crafty side of things, I am currently mad on crochet thanks to getting back into it after seeing you publicise the #grannycal18 crochet along. I am currently teaching my daughter in law to knit and soon to crochet. I find joining groups like Hooked on Crochet on Facebook is a good outlet for feedback and crafty talk. It’s also nice to share pics on the yay retro! Instagram page as my followers are really supportive.
What are your thoughts on the maker’s renaissance we’re experiencing?
I think that the internet has allowed people to share their work easily and also to sell their ideas and makes. This probably makes it appear that we have a makers renaissance, when in fact there have always been heaps of creative people out there.
I picked up the ‘making’ bug from my Mum and Gran who were fantastic at making clothes whether it be sewing or knitting. Neither of them crocheted, and I recently taught my Mum so that she could make a blanket for her great grandson.
It’s superb that getting online can enable people to share so much, and get feedback on their work. I spend many an evening being inspired by other people’s beautiful workmanship.
I often think that if only the internet had been as dominant when I was painting as it is now, I would still actually be working as an artist and selling smaller works from a website. At the time I was a working artist going the gallery route, it was the only option, which made my paintings too expensive for most people.
Who are your favourite artistic people? Top blogs? Instagrammers?
There are SO many artists and makers that I love, currently the printmaker Jane Ormes’ work really strikes a chord with me,
Anna Wiscombe’s wooden birds and plants are gorgeous, Jane Foster’s screen prints adorn my home and Chris Made This and Ames_Likes_Toast Instagram’s feed always make me really happy. I have bought quite a few pieces from Anna, Ames and Chris too. My illustrator friend Sara Rhys based in Totnes has a beautiful Instagram page which always brings a smile to my face.
What are your favourite shops/places in Devon to find treasure? And/or further afield?!
I search everywhere I go to be honest. I adore Totnes market; there are some lovely, friendly, helpful sellers there and it’s always great to have a chat as well as browse and buy! Like everyone, I always search around charity shops and often strike it lucky. I particularly like Salisbury in Wiltshire, New Milton in Hampshire and Brixham in Devon.
www.yayretro.co.uk is an online shop where you can buy the very best Vintage & Flower Power wares from the 1940s to the 1980s. Browsing and buying from the website is really easy and worth doing regularly as fresh stock is added regularly… pieces are described honestly and postage and packaging costs kept low, posting across the UK twice weekly. The yay retro! online vintage shop features vintage kitchenware, tablecloths, bedding, ornaments, toys, books, and much more!
Thanks Sue! I really enjoyed your insightful comments. xx
My first (and maybe only!) entry into the Granny CAL 2018
I’m hosting a Crochet Along at the minute and it has got me thinking. It’s easy to assume that every crocheter/maker knows exactly what a CAL is, but it turns out that’s not the case at all. Since the beginning of the “great” Granny CAL of 2018, I’ve had a fair few folk ask me what it’s all about, and I thought a more in-depth look would make a pretty good blog post. Soooo…
What Is A CAL?
The acronym CAL means Crochet Along, just as KAL is Knit Along and MAL is Make Along. Whatever kind of Along it is, it’s usually a themed virtual get-together where everyone makes the same thing. For fun.
The CAL I’m hosting is the Granny CAL and the idea is to crochet something in the granny stitch. That’s all. Nowt tricky. However, there can be loads of different sorts, and loads of different reasons why a CAL pops up. Let’s have a look…
This is a spin off blanket from Cherry Heart’s Spice of Life CAL from 2016. This is Spicier Life!
The Benefits of A Crochet Along
The biggest element of a CAL I’ve discovered is the community. Joining CALs really got me chatting away to other crafty people online, and I’ve made new friends by taking part. I admit that this didn’t even occur to me when I first entered my finished crochet items on Ravelry. To be honest, I just wanted to show off my new stuff and maybe be in with the chance of winning a prize!!
The social side was an unexpected perk, but now it’s one of the main draws. I now know there’s not much chance of getting a prize (CALs are mighty popular and get super busy), but I’m genuinely not fussed about that. The sharing of ideas, as well as tips and tricks, brings a disparate bunch of enthusiasts together, enriching what can be a quiet and solitary hobby. In other words, it’s loads of fun hanging out with your crochet mates!
There are lots of different platforms you can choose to hang out on. I’ve seen CALs hosted on Facebook and Instagram, whilst I mainly find them on Ravelry.Have a look below for a few that are happening right now!
The Three Springs Shawl was entered into Addydae Design’s Accessories CAL last summer.
It’s an opportunity to try something new, too. Perhaps you’re not crazy about handmade socks, but don’t want to dismiss them. Why not try making them with others in a sock along? Maybe the positivity will rub off on you! Want to make a snazzy shawl but are not that confident? Join in the chat, and you’ll be helped and supported by people all over the world!
A CAL (not to mention the people participating) can give you focus and encouragement so you can achieve your goal without the energy wearing off.
There are other benefits too. It might be that the pattern or colour palette is picked for you, so it removes the pressure of working out those details (that’s one of my favourite things to do, but I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea). And let’s not forget the potential for a prize or two!
Why Host a CAL?
There are also many reasons why designers and makers host CALs. In my case, the idea popped into my head one day; maybe I was just jumping on the bandwagon, but a seed was planted. When I mentioned it on an episode of the Z&R Crochet podcast, there was such a wonderfully positive response that it would have been silly not to do it.
Being a crochet designer can be a lonesome job, so hosting a CAL means you’re not on your own. There’s a shared goal, which brings people together.
The most important aspect of my CAL is that it had to be fun and easy, with no pressure to buy a pattern or any extra yarn if one didn’t need to; the granny stitch is the perfect stash buster after all!
A couple of squares for Lottie & Albert’s Squares for Grace.
It is also a fabulous way to raise money for charity. The host asks lots of crafty makers to contribute a small piece of crochet to make up one impressive, giant project.
And then there’s the publicity angle. What a great marketing strategy for advertising a new yarn or pattern release. Whatever the motivation, every single time, it enables people to come together to do what they enjoy, and there isn’t much wrong with that.
I don’t think CALs are going anywhere. Here are just a small handful that are happening at the moment:
The Fortune Cookie CAL by Crochet Luna: Grab a fortune cookie, crack it open and use the saying as inspiration for your project.
Coastal Crochet’s Seaside Stash busting CAL, a gently paced blanket, taking place over the next few months,
Fays’ Different Desginer CAL, choose a designer whose patterns you’ve never used before.
A few months ago this pretty wrap was in Inside Crochet magazine (issue 99). In the same issue I got the back page interview!! I was ridiculously excited about both the pattern and the interview (see below). And I still am. Anyway, enough time has passed that I can release Emergence of Spring as an independent pattern.
I loved making this shawl. It was actually my Christmas Day 2017 make (and Boxing Day, and a couple of the following days!). The design was inspired by last summer’s holiday to Lancashire and Yorkshire, which you can read about HERE and HERE. I wonder if you see the same inspirations as me. There are lots of moments as a crocheter that push themselves to the front and this shawl (and all the stuff behind it) is one of them. I can’t explain why exactly because it’s a combination of things. But essentially what you need to know is this, I’m very proud of it and myself!
