What can I show you at this time of year?! Everything that’s going on right now will be a Christmas present, and I can’t show those. It’s a serious dilemma for a crafty blogger, I’ve got nuffink to talk about!
Actually, I have managed to scrape a few bits together…
Christmas Craft Fair
I enjoyed last Saturday at the local school Christmas craft fair. Not exactly a money spinner, but it still counted as a success in my eyes. Plus, it gave me an excuse to make things and making things is what I like best! (The felt owls are my new favourite Christmas decoration!).
I won’t blather on; I did that last week. Needless to say, I’ve got enough Christmas felt designs to write a book! (I even looked into that the other day, but I’m still not entirely sure how it works. I’m too much of a chicken to ask the experts all the stupid questions that have arisen in me noggin).
A Little Deer Toy
Anyway, Christmas came early for one person. I took part in my first (of three) Secret Santa craft swaps. It turns out that these things are absolutely brilliant. You get the best presents! Why wouldn’t you, when like-minded crafty people are doing the buying and making? It’s great!
This crazy reindeer (by way of dolphin!?) was the present I made for my Colour Pop Craft Swap person. This swap was arranged by Miki at Set Free My Gypsy Soul. In my head, it was the stuff of Legend: A Grand Stag of Epic Proportions!
It ended up more cutesy and feeble than I’d envisaged, but do you know what? The recipient loved it, and that’s what counts. Does it look like a dolphin?
I used a pattern I’d found in a magazine from a couple of years ago. It’s also on Ravelry as Little Deer Toy. I designed the antlers and made two pairs, which I stitched together for a bit of stability. I also made up a little sparkly star to jazz up his rump.
I felt the need to compensate somewhat (I had rushed my deer, and he didn’t turn out as expertly crafted as I wanted). Into the parcel, I also popped a few cotton crochet coasters and a little toadstool brooch.
I love these coasters, so so quick to knock up; I bet every crocheter has had a go at making these at some point.
These are my Christmas spoils. They arrived beautifully packaged, from the Netherlands. I was so happy to receive this fabulous bundle. I can tell you that the cat has had her eye on the spangly jangly stars. She pounced on them this morning, and I’ve had to put them out of reach. I’ve been wearing my wrist warmers (I changed to mittens this morning cos the temp was -2 degrees C).
I absolutely love my Father Christmas. He is super awesome! Mirjam from Stin’s Place is the creator behind all these marvels.
Crochet Winter Woolies
The last few days have been focused on getting my crochet winter set of cosy things ready. The patterns need typing up, and some photographs need sorting. Then I can hopefully have a pattern for sale. This will probably take longer than I want because I’ll be making it up as I go along (when am I not?)!
I’m aiming to work on it all day on Friday, and I think that should get me a good way into it. Given more time and more energy, I’d make a whole other set in different colours. I really like it all would love to see it in a different guise. What I need now is a name!
Well, I haven’t done too badly with this blog post. This time of year is definitely a struggle. I’ll be scraping the bottom of the barrel next time. Crikey, what’ll I do!? Anyone else suffering from the same problem? At least there will be plenty to talk about in January!
Since November started, it feels like I’ve hardly had any time for making things, but looking at my photos, it turns out that isn’t true. I actually appear to have been quite busy. I’ve been sewing instead of doing my crochet.
I’ve got the school’s PTA Craft Fayre on Saturday, so these felt Christmas decorations will hopefully be sold to lots of jolly holly people, like they were last Christmas!
I’ve used a few designs from previous years, and there are new ones, too. This year, I designed a bunch of mistletoe, a bell, some stars and a cute Christmas pudding. There are three or four other designs I came up with that haven’t made the cut, and some old ones that I didn’t bother with either.
They’re more complex in their construction, and they’d end up costing more. One day, I’ll make the whole collection. I’ve got quite a few felt Christmas decorations now.
I really, really would love to turn them into sellable patterns, but first I need to work out how to transfer rough, scribbly templates into professional printable patterns.
Crochet Granny Baubles
I’ve made these crochet baubles too. Get yourself to Wilko’s to grab a naked set. £2.50 for 12.
I’ve used various cotton DK’s. I’ve mostly used Drops Muskat, Stylecraft Classique and Paintbox Yarns. My favourite is the Drops. It’s hands down, the best of the bunch (although there’s nothing wrong with the others either).
The pattern is a mix of existing ones. I’ve got the book Boho Crochet, which has a bauble pattern for giants. I used that as a base and took out lots of rows. Then, future me created a Christmas crochet bauble pattern too:
Buying Crochet Books
I went into Exeter a couple of weeks ago (and actually did some Christmas shopping!). Whilst there, I popped into The Works because they now have an awesome selection of craft things. A lot of it isn’t my cup of tea, but if you’re into all things crafty, then there’s a shedload of treasure waiting for you.
I always head for the books. I bought four crochet books because the most expensive was four quid. Why the blazes would you leave any behind? I’ve since discovered that these are new publications. New! Why are they being sold in a cheap shop for £3 or £4??! Does it get sales figures up or something?
Getting Into Crochet Design
A new aran weight design has been one of my only crochet projects over the last few weeks. I’m making myself a scarf out of some Paintbox aran. It’s the stuff that Emma from Potter & Bloom sent me for when I tested her Geoffrey scarf. I caved and bought more colours (here, that’s the blue and green).
A Fluffy Mohair Hat!
Ok, I crocheted this fluffy hat, too. Since doing the Take Care Mohair review I’ve been on a mission to find a cheaper alternative of yarn. I feel quite guilty, actually (not that I’m under any obligation), but I cannot afford to buy the Wool and the Gang stuff for experiments and pattern workings.
I’m using Drops Melody instead, which is nice but not super fancy. Now that I think I have a pattern sorted, I might get some of the real deal. Comparatively, it is much silkier and has a thicker halo on it. I really like the designs I’ve come up with; however, I’ve been looking at and working with mohair for two months. Do I want to buy the posh stuff when the excitement is waning? Hmm.
This picture is not a good representation, as the one on the left has more stitches. But it is the Take Care Mohair, and you can see that it does come out thicker, and it’s a nicer shade of pink too. Not that I have any reason to favour it other than personal preference.
Lying side by side, there is not much difference in yarn thickness. I think it must be the halo that adds body to the yarn once it’s hooked into a fabric.
I’m trying to decide if I can recommend both yarns in the pattern I write. There might be a considerable difference in the finished product. Gah, it’s mini stumbling blocks like this that make things so much trickier than they need to be.
Things I didn’t think would be important but actually are if you want to be a crochet designer. Anyway, it is my hope that I can write a pattern for a crochet hat and scarf combo that I can sell. I’m miles off because the Paintbox scarf has taken my attention (I think I want to write up the pattern for that too). Maybe have some crochet wrist warmers to go with? I say this all the time, yet I still only have one pattern for sale! I’m easily distracted by new pretties, that’s my problem!
Lastly, there’s this jumble of crazy. Funny that the thing I should have finished first is the thing that I’ve left until last! Must do this today. I must also remember to take pictures of it complete! Can you guess what it is?
Oky doky, I must go. Got lots to do, and time is not on my side. xx
I’ve been thinking a lot about colour for crochet palettes over the last few months. I’m not the only one, either. When I researched colour in crochet, I found a ton of articles and blog posts about it. Many of the articles have looked specifically into colour theory and taken choosing colours quite seriously (colour theory is the scientific approach to understanding how colours go together, it’s sciencey, you can even get twiddly colour wheels to help and everything). I’m not going to go into that, I’m just going to explain an easier way at choosing my colours for crochet!
When I first started to crochet, I didn’t think much beyond what colours I liked and which colours were available. That was fine, but sometimes my favourite colours didn’t translate into yarn very well, or I didn’t know which shade would work best with another. Thankfully, there are far more colours and shades available than there used to be (this crochet thing has really taken off).
What’s Your Crochet Style?
These days, I ask myself what style I’m after or how many colours will achieve a good balance for the picture I have in my head? Perhaps approach a crochet project from a different angle. I take inspiration from different sources rather than turning up at the shop and chucking balls of yarn in my basket. And consider more than just my favourite colours.
For me, a good starting point is deciding on the theme I want, which can often be just a one-word affair: neutral, bright, pastel, earth, vintage, contemporary, seasonal, blah blah. Once I’ve decided this, it’s so much easier. There are lots of colours I can then eliminate.
The secret to choosing a good colour palette is probably a mixture of confidence and experience. Overthinking can really take the fun out of it. Stop worrying and just begin. You won’t know if something works until you try it out. If it doesn’t work, then that’s a lesson learned. If it does work, then awesome!
Another secret is this: crochet. A lot. All the time!
Before I go into the easy crochet “cheats” I use, I’m going to mention a little bit about whether to be “Random” or “Organised” in deciding the colours you choose for your crochet projects; I think it could be helpful. I’m usually Random. What are you?
Go for A Random Crochet Palette
I love a bit of random colour selection. To go truly random is a risk that can really pay off. It’s also great for stashbusting yarn. Is random really random though?
It’s fun blindly grabbing yarn and putting it all together in a crochet blanket; it can lead to some very interesting results, but it can also backfire tremendously! Arbitrary colour placement can sometimes get you in dodgy situations, but you might also discover that those weird colours actually look fantastic sat side by side.
My only rule about placing colours randomly is not to have the same shades or contrasts too close to one another. And I think I’ve broken that rule a couple of times, too. Rule-breaking is encouraged!
When I’m making a blanket that’s going to be random, I like to choose a minimum of seven colours. Fewer than that and it’s going to be tricky mixing up the colours effectively. More than fifteen colours and you might lose any colour balance you’re trying to achieve.
Blankets where I’ve used over thirty colours have looked like a dog’s dinner. They’ve also looked pretty good, too, if you’re after something you’d find at Granny’s house. I guess it depends on your crochet aesthetic.
Get Organised With Crochet Colour Selection
Don’t want to risk random? Then everything needs to be worked out before you even pick up your hook. I’ve already confessed that I’m Random, so to be properly organised, you probably shouldn’t listen to me. I’m talking colour wheels, yarn pegs, pre-made crochet squares a la Attic 24 Colour Play and The Patchwork Heart.
It’s really not my area! I’m pretty envious of these super organised people. I don’t know why it doesn’t work for me. Oh yes, it’s because I’m lazy!! Instead of taking the time to organise my yarn stash, you’ll most likely find me sitting in a tangle of mismatched balls, whilst umming and ahhing about what I’ve got enough of to eke out into a small blanket.
If you’d rather be in control of colour choices, then Attic 24 and the Patchwork Heart are definitely the crochet folk you need to visit. You’ll learn about matching warm and cool colours so that the balance brings out the best in all shades. You’ll find out about whether you prefer contrasting or complementary colours too. Maybe once the decision has been made, you could get fancy and choose an ombre style, go for block colours or get your rainbow on! Of course, you’ll then get lost in a sea of crochet and colour, but that’s not such a bad place to be.
Easy Ways to Cheat the Crochet Colour
It’s time to get cheaty. If you’re still struggling with choosing colours for crochet projects then here are a few pointers to help. If you can’t be bothered with a methodical approach and you don’t have the time for a potentially hazardous risk, then these tricks might be the ticket.
1. Copy Someone Else’s Colour Palette!
This is controversial! Find a blanket someone else has made and copy it!
Loads of blogs (including mine) will share the brands of yarn and colour choices so that it’s easy to do. I would add that if you do this, then you MUST credit the creator. If I’ve been inspired by someone, I will always say so.
Copying is a good starting point if you’re a beginner. Gradually, you can move away from this once you’ve got more confidence. Copying will become less literal, and the original design will be more of an inspiration. An homage or something! Look at blogs, Ravelry, Pinterest, Instagram etc.
The circle in squares blanket (pictured above) was inspired by Crochet With Raymond. I loved the colours and grabbed some similar Stylecraft colours. I wrote a blog post about it in more detail.
For this Petal Patch blanket, the colours are from Attic 24’s Harmony blanket but with a different granny square. So I’m mixing it up, developing ideas while still finding my confidence.
2. Use Pretty Pictures To Inspire Your Colour Choices
Find inspiration from pictures. I love finding pictures in magazines and using them as a starting point. What’s particularly brilliant about this is that current magazines will have on-trend colours (if that’s what you’re after).
Even a picture of a person in a room is great. You’ll see the colours of the decor or the clothes the person is wearing and how they go together. Craft magazines are perfect, they’ll be completely switched on with regard to colour palettes and tonal balance. Also, look at books with illustrations.
Here is my Fireplace blanket, inspired by fireplace tiles (a special request from my sister-in-law and a great idea).
This green granny curiosity was surprisingly inspired by the Meg and Mog books. I’m not sure I’m keen. It was an interesting experiment!
3. Be Inspired by The Colours of Nature
Go back to nature. Look at a garden you like, where’s your favourite place to be? What mood does that place evoke? Take a picture of a scene that’s pretty and use it. The seaside seems to be an inspiration for many, as does woodland. Maybe some city lights could conjure up a good bunch of colours.
4. Ready-To-Use Colour Palettes
Let technology help you. Design Seeds is a big one. Lots and lots of ready-to-use colour palettes that you can incorporate into crochet. Or you can create your own with palettes with an app.
Try a random colour generator, which can be interesting. On some sites, you can sort by hue, saturation or value. There are apps aplenty that do palette builders. I’ve got one called Real Colours. I’ve been testing lots of pictures from my phone gallery!
Based on colour theory, which I mentioned earlier, is the Adobe colour wheel. It was fun to tinker with, but I’m not sure I’d want to use it all the time.
Anyway, who am I to tell you what to do?! You can choose any colours you like. That’s the beauty of crochet! There are endless possibilities and the freedom to play and have fun. If there are any easy ways of choosing colours for crochet that I’ve missed, do let me know. I’d love to hear about more ways in which I can cut corners!
It’s November, and I live in Devon, which means one thing to me: Tar Barrels!!
I am alive and well after spending an evening being squeezed and squashed amongst thousands of people. Saturday night was absolutely mental! It’s been a few years since the Tar Barrels was held on a Saturday night, and the difference in crowd numbers is huge. If the 5th of November landed on a Tuesday, for example, it’d be comparatively sedate (I’m lying, it’d still be nuts).
Ottery St Mary is a town in East Devon, and it’s been my home for seven years. It’s my favourite place too, and there are many reasons why. Pop over to The Guardian’s latest Let’s Move To… for a bit more of an insight as to why I think it’s so special. (I wonder if you’ll spot anything interesting in that article… Let me know if you do! heehe). I can’t believe the article didn’t mention the beavers that live on the river: the only wild ones in England! Ottery obviously has so many good things, they can’t all fit into one article.
I wrote about the Tar Barrels last year but didn’t get many pictures (didn’t get much of an experience at all, but that’s last year’s story). This year, I really wanted to get some decent photographs. Since I got my nice camera, I’ve spent the last eleven months practising taking pictures of crochet. I never thought to learn about taking pictures of moving flames, whilst trying not to get trampled in the dark. Silly me. The pictures I got on Saturday are not as good as I’d hoped for. Some people have taken better on their iPhones. Meh.
The Kids’ Barrels
The family set out just after four o’clock and made our way to one of the kids’ barrels. Luckily for us, one of our friends has a garden with the perfect vantage point for observing one of the barrel runs. It’s good for kids watching, as they don’t always like being in the crowds, and this event isn’t really recommended for children. We only take the kids out for the early barrels and the bonfire. After that, they have to go home!
Children as young as seven get the honour of rolling the barrels. It’s local families that do it, generation after generation. It’s a wonderful tradition, and it’s a privilege to be able to witness it. This year, we got to see Eldest’s classmates do it for the first time, and that added something extra, too. They’re all layered up, so they’re not in too much danger of getting burnt.
We managed to miss the lighting of the bonfire as we’d gone home for tea. It’s one of the best bits, if you ask me! This year, even if we’d given it plenty of time, we still would have missed it. Dolly steps had to be taken to get over the bridge. It was rammed. I’ve been a few times on a Saturday, but this is the busiest I can remember. I’ve had a look online today, but I can’t find the numbers of attendance. I’ve seen estimates of up to thirty thousand people, but I don’t know if that’s accurate. I’ve also spotted figures nearer ten thousand. I dunno. It’s a lot, whatever the number. (It’ll be busy next year as I think it’ll be a Saturday then too- they don’t do Sundays).
The bonfire is fierce. And massive.
We went to the fair as well. A funfair is great, but it’s easy to spend all your money, so we ended up being mainly spectators. I love looking at the bright lights and hearing all the screams!
After the fair, we got rid of the children and went out to watch the big barrels. There’s no art to this bit; getting a good Tar Barrel experience is mostly down to luck. If you’re not in the right place, it is nearly impossible to fight your way to a good spot. And you can’t always tell what will be a good spot until you’re either in it, or standing miles away, feeling sad that you won’t feel the heat or the thrill of getting right up alongside a great big burning barrel. That is certainly the case on a busy night. I’ve found it more fun and been braver when there is that little bit extra room to move. You can follow the barrels and get closer.
I swapped cameras for the late night stuff. Crikey, I’d forgotten how annoying my old point-and-shoot job was. The delay on the button drove me crazy, and I missed loads of potentially amazing shots. I have many pictures of the back of strange heads, my sister’s boyfriend’s bum (deleted, thanks) and out-of-focus close-ups of the hessian mitts (that protect roller’s hands). The zoom wasn’t instantaneous like I’m now used to, either. I’ve become spoiled by a fancy pants camera. However, it was too dodgy to take it back out again.
Flaming Barrels
Even with the point and shoot, I do like those flames. I wish I’d been able to capture the sea of people around them. Next year. There’s always next year….
I’m a bit embarrassed to admit that I only managed to stay out until half ten. My back was killing me, and two days later, it still hasn’t recovered. The plan is to train my muscles for the next 363 days so that I will not be a feeble old lady but have the stamina of a midnight barrel man. I was hearing stories in the playground this morning, and I felt envious; people had seen late-night punch-ups and partying, and I missed it! Pah!
We went and checked on the bonfire one last time, which had reduced in size and heat. Beyond it, the funfair was still full of gusto.
And then I said goodbye to it all for another year…
I’ve had a look at YouTube, and new videos are popping up all the time. I enjoyed this one shows the bonfire.
This week, I haven’t been making my giant crochet granny blanket, but here is what I’ve done so far. It is a pick-up, put-down type thing. I’m using up any rejected yarn scraps and leftovers. I’m determined to go as big as possible with this blanket. I’m itching to pick it up right now, but I’ll be sewing instead for the next few weeks.
I’m making loads of Christmas felt decorations for the school fayre (fair?) in about 3 weeks. The living room is scattered with lost sequins and discarded threads. The Hoover objects.
Last weekend, I got a delightful parcel in the form of Paintbox yarns. A present from Emma of Potter and Bloom. I was lucky to be one of the first to finish pattern testing for Emma’s Geoffrey Scarf, and this was my prize! It’s an aran weight, and I haven’t decided what it’ll be.
Do I focus on the colours I’ve got, or do I get silly and buy loads more to go with? For some reason, these colours are telling me poncho, but I fear it might turn out Ugly Betty. Or I could do another scarf…?
Playing With Fluffy Yarn
I met in the middle with mohair, which was tempting me recently. I wouldn’t have given any of this fluffy yarn a second look a few weeks ago, but after playing with Wool and the Gang’s Take Care Mohair,I went on the prowl for cheaper alternatives.
I really couldn’t afford to buy the lovely yarn they gave me, so I thought I’d try Drops Melody. It is a lot cheaper, but it isn’t real mohair. I’ll be tinkering with it in between Christmas decorations. I also got some Alpaca Silk stuff to compare. Drops yarn is on offer quite a lot.
And Cotton Yarn, Too
I also got a mixture of cotton double knits to experiment with. These have been stored with the fluffy Melody and are covered in yarny short n curlies. There are worse kinds. I have a crochet design to work on that I think will look good in cotton. I wish I had more time! I need more time.
Over on Instagram, I try my best to comment on things I like. Last week, maybe the week before, I casually joined in a conversation about naming some patterns for The Crochet Project.
They are releasing a gorgeous quartet of wintery patterns this weekend. I didn’t really think my comments would be considered. I’m fortunate enough to have named two of the four projects!! So I got the patterns for free!! I am so chuffed. I had no clue that there would be a gift or even that they’d like my suggestions. I’m very happy indeed.
If you see the Kelpie hat or the Selkie cowl, I named those! (I do like my fairy lore). However, now I need to get some yarn so that I can make the patterns. It’ll need to be a little bit special too. I also have The Crochet Project shawl books on my Christmas list. I want to make it all!
On that note, I’m off. I’m hoping that my next blog post will be about this weekend’s Tar Barrels. If I survive.
I put my name down for a Halloween themed craft swap recently. You make something for someone, someone else makes something for you. I have no idea if my recipient got their present, but I got my spooky gifts!
I absolutely love the idea of crochet coasters spelling out Boo! I wonder where they got the pattern? It shouldn’t be too difficult to reverse engineer, though.
A Crochet Halloween Garland
I made a Crochet Halloween garland withsmall pumpkins, stars, bats and one of my little crochet spiders.
I didn’t get a decent photo of the garland, so let’s use our imaginations and my “design concept” scribbled picture. I made pastel coloured crochet balls (pictured below), using my own pumpkin pattern, like the more traditional orange pumpkins, above. The balls become pumpkin-shaped as you wrap yarn tightly around their outsides.
I made the crochet Halloween garland with pastels and some glittery yarn, as it was supposed to be bright and colourful.
The plasticky silver stars did not block well. I think a coating of watered-down PVA glue, or starch, while pinned down and left to dry, should have been something I explored.
Crochet Bat with Felt Wings
This winged creature is my crochet bat. He is a design in a set of Halloween Amigurumi patterns. I gave him feet, here, so he could grab onto the garland, swinging happily upside down.
I love my spiders! The purple one made a home in the garland. The grey one is lurking around a corner of my house, somewhere…. Does anyone else fancy making a cute little crochet spider? Here’s the pattern.
Last year, I made a very speedy, sparklyDIY Halloween tiara. I remember hastily cobbling together some photos of how I made it. It’s super easy, especially with the step-by-step pics.
The tiara was made as part of my fancy dress costume for a Hallowe’en party. I’m still not sure what I was… a witch, bad fairy? I think I wore green wings.
My little Ami Halloween Collection made its first appearance. You can find the pattern on Ravelry. I love the idea of a Halloween tree to decorate. I found a bunch of twigs to use. You could go one step further and paint them black. Hanging upon gnarly twigs, my fierce little crocheted witches were flying!
Crochet Owls for Halloween
My crochet owl pattern is also a fabulous Halloween-themed idea. Next to the amigurumi witches, cats and bats, they would likely be considered giant owls! I wondered if they’d be more proportionate if made in a lightweight yarn? Hmm, worth exploring.
What fun it was to learn Tunisian crochet! I now have a new Tunisian crochet cowl, which is a fabulous free pattern by BHooked. Once I got stuck in it took next to no time. I wrote about the beginnings of it a couple of weeks ago. I’m wearing it right now; I’m absolutely freezing.
I used different yarn colours from the original pattern. I ordered Mustard and Barley Lionbrand, Wool Ease Thick and Quick from Wool Warehouse. When I first put it on it was quite stiff even though my tension couldn’t have been that tight (I would have had loads of yarn left over if it was too tight and I didn’t). It’s sitting a lot better now that I’ve worn it a few times.
I think if I blocked it, it would relax a bit more.
Finished Puff Stitch Hat
To go with my new crochet cowl, I made a puff stitch hat with Drops Big Merino. The mustard pompom matches the cowl, but the cat found it and has mauled the hat slightly. I came downstairs the other morning to find lots of mustardy worms sprinkled on the carpet. She does love a pompom.
Can I get away with this crochet combo? I’ll at least be warm!
A Cute Crochet Kitty Purse
I finally got this made. A cute kitty purse by Nicki Trench (from the book Cute and Easy Crochet). It had been sitting waiting (half-made) for a few weeks. I was gearing myself up towards getting out the sewing machine for the lining.
The thought of dragging the heavy machine out from the cupboard under the stairs and then setting it all up was a bit of an effort (so lazy). I thought it’d be better to wait until I had a few other sewing jobs and get them all done at the same time. Does it look more like a mouse? Whatever.
It has been posted to my niece whose birthday was in the middle of August. Seeing as she’s only two, I didn’t think she’d notice that it was momentarily delayed.
The lining is my favourite! More kitties! It’s a ploy cotton cat fabric from Fabricland. I bought it a year or two ago, but I think they still sell it.
Marceline is always nosy. She came over and sat on top of all the crochet.
A Chevron Scarf
Sorry, more selfies. I had no idea how tricky it’d be to take a picture of a scarf! The angle you need to get it all in! This is the Geoffrey Scarf by Potter and Bloom.
Isn’t it lovely?! I watch podcasts every now and again (they’re vlogs really, but podcast seems to be the word that has caught on), and I have recently found one by Potter and Bloom. I have now stalked Emma everywhere: YouTube, Instagram, Ravelry, her blog; I have probably made quite a nuisance of myself. But it has paid off because when she asked for pattern testers for her Geoffrey scarf, I was there shouting, “Pick me, pick me”. I spent last weekend scrutinising every last word, number, asterisk of the pattern… It was like a really weird crochet exam.
I have never read a pattern so intensely in my life. I wanted to do it properly, though. I thought it’d be a doddle; it was only a scarf! I thought I’d get it done and dusted in a few hours. It was actually a lot of work. It was a good experience, though, and I’m glad I’ve done it. It also turned out that I was the first of a handful of testers to finish. That means I get a lovely gift of Paintbox yarn from Emma! I’ll report back on that another day.
There’s a nice intersection of crochet motifs in the centre of the scarf. When it’s wrapped around your neck, they sit nicely at the front. My middle motif looks like an eye. It’ll be staring at whoever I talk to when I’m wearing it. Except for it won’t. I’m not keeping it, I’m putting it aside as a Christmas present. I’ve got my chunky Tunisian cowl!
Should I add tassels to the pointy ends, or leave them as they are? I think Emma decided to leave hers; she had pondered over the idea of pompoms.
If you’d like to hear more about the Geoffrey scarf, pop over to YouTube to watch Episode 10 of Potter and Bloom’s podcast. Just before the six-minute mark is the part where my fellow testers and I are mentioned. And if you watch Episode 9, she starts talking about yarn for a shawl. Yeah, that was my joke!! How exciting to be mentioned! I was watching the podcast whilst cooking the tea (sausage and mash!) and had to “rewind” as I hadn’t been quite sure I’d heard right. But you should watch all of them! Not just the bits I’m in!
And there have been so many other exciting things happen this week. It has been ridiculously busy… A winner for the Take Care Mohair Giveaway was picked yesterday (that was over on Instagram), I’ve been to an event run by The Creative Business Network to get a massive injection of motivation (the artist Sarah J Perry gave a talk on Imposter Syndrome), and I’ve actually been writing out some new crochet patterns. It all feels great! But I must get on, I need to continue writing patterns. I forgot that it’s half term next week, which means I lose time I thought I had!
Last week I got a message from Wool and The Gang asking if I’d like to have a go at playing with their new yarn, Take Care Mohair. In return for free yarn, they asked if I’d be interested in writing a review. Would I also like to host an Instagram Giveaway, they asked!? (More on that in a minute). It’d be rude to refuse, wouldn’t it?
My first thought was that they’d asked the wrong person. Maybe they actually meant to ask Blah from that other blog (I dunno, Zones & Podger or something). Then I realised I should get in quick and say “yes, please!” before they twigged they’d got the wrong person. So, I politely did my “yes, please” and hastily added, “Can I have the pink and more pink, thank you, please?”
Today I’m here to report my findings!
There were a couple of days chatting via email, a couple of days waiting for the postman and just a handful more days immersing myself in little fluffy clouds.
WATG Parcels
I loved how the yarn arrived. The packaging is super cool. The sturdy paper bag was utilised as the project bag while I made my mohair projects. The box was claimed by the cat (she fits, so she sits).
Take Care Mohair
Whilst I waited for my mohair yarn to arrive, I started to wonder about what I could crochet with it. I did a cursory check of Pinterest and Ravelry, but nothing jumped out. I’ve not noticed mohair in any shops over the last few years. I think this could be it, making a comeback. Looking at the WATG website, it certainly made me want the jumpers. It could even spur me on to start knitting. Hmm.
I decided that I really wanted to come up with something of my own. Seeing as we’re headed for winter and seeing as though I’m not practised in jumper designing, I went with a hat and scarf combo.
Take Care Mohair is like pink fluffy clouds! Above is a scarf I thought I was going to crochet.
…However, I ended up making two crochet hats.
They look like boobs! blancmange boobs.
I don’t think I’ll name them that. I was thinking along puddingy lines, though. Maybe something candyfloss related because this stuff truly does look like candyfloss. Especially when it’s slowly unfurling from the ball. I can imagine it getting twiddled around the stick.
The reason I made two hats is that I didn’t like the stitch of the first one. What works for an acrylic DK swatch truly does not translate to luxury mohair! I should know this, I really should, but I didn’t want to waste any of the delightful mohair on swatches.
With hindsight, a couple of swatches would have been nothing compared to a whole hat’s worth of yarn. Hey ho, I played the game and kind of lost. In other circumstances, a bit of unravelling would be the answer, but I’m well aware that you do not frog mohair. Thankfully, I knew not to even try- what a test of patience that would be!
Mohair Yarn Needs Specific Crochet Stitches
First crochet hat. See? Ugh. Not good enough. And not what I’d pictured in my head. This was made with UK trebles. Having used a 10mm hook, the stitches were too large.
UK double crochet stitches. Much better! I wish I’d been less hasty. I would love a matching scarf. I wanted it to have bright, fluffy pompoms.
I made the pink pompoms! I’ll keep these to one side.
If I cave and buy extra yarn, I’ll at least have my fluffy pompoms waiting. To be honest, I would start from scratch; I want to try new colours!! All the colours! I’m thinking Space black and Dusty grey, or the blues together would look good. Black and Hot Punk Pink! Black and Bubblegum! I bet they know this sort of thing happens. I bet they know that I’ll just go and order loads more fluffy yarn. I’m broke, I’m not allowed!
Anyway, here is my daft face with the hat I don’t like much. Despite it being perched on top of my head, it does fit properly. Look at my glorious pompom!
Here is my daft face in the one I do like. The smaller stitch work is so much more suited to the mohair yarn. Much better. If only I’d tried this one first, I’d have a lovely scarf too.
I’ve got a few pages of pattern scribbles, and I’d like to write them up at some point. But, er, I think I need to order more yarn to see if I can get the proper scarf as well as the hat. I’m fairly certain I can. And then I’ll have a fabulous crochet pattern to publish!
Anyway, I did mention at the beginning about a Giveaway! It’s very exciting! Wool and The Gang are offering to send three balls of Take Care Mohair to one lucky individual over on Instagram (a winner will be picked at random). The details are on my IG account. Pop over and have a look.
Is that a review? I feel like all I’ve done is describe what happened.
It’s properly autumn now; the urge to crochet woolly warm things is upon me. I’m starting with accessories for me (this will come as no surprise to those who know me)! Then I have lots of things waiting which will become wintery outerwear for others.
Crochet hat? Crochet scarf? Crochet gloves? I hope so! Sorry, everyone, it’s another handmade Christmas!
Basic Tunisian Crochet
I ordered more Tunisian crochet hooks quite soon after I first tried it a couple of weeks ago. I very quickly spotted a gorgeous looking Tunisian crochet cowl from BHooked. It says it’s the perfect beginner project, and it’s true! I knew it was something I could do with my new skill.
I ordered the same brand of wool used in the original pattern (Lion Brand Wool Ease in Barley and Mustard), and I have to say that it’s perfectly nice. I’ve got no problems with it, and it’ll be lovely and warm because of the wool content. And there is no itch, which is very important when smooshing against a neck.
Tunisian crochet has quite a curl to it. This won’t be an issue once it’s finished. To get a good idea of my progress, I have to hold it flat. My progress is slow; I’ve found that chunky yarn is not something that can be worked on for long stretches. Achy fingers are a bit of an issue. Also, I hold a Tunisian crochet hook differently, which will hopefully improve with practise.
A New Puff Stitch Hat
To go with my new crochet cowl, I’m making a hat, which is just normal crochet. I’m picking this up when I put down the other. I’m two balls into a three-ball hat. I’ve guessed at three, I think it should just do it, but there probably won’t be much slouch when I’ve finished.
I’m using aran weight yarn; Big Merino by Drops (love Drops!). It’s dense but super soft. I like it and know it’ll be lovely and warm. The pattern for this is sort of made up, but before I started, I looked around on Pinterest and found that there are several patterns that essentially make this hat. Here is my crochethat boardfor Pinterest, try the Urban Slouch Beanie.
There had better be enough yarn left so I can make a pompom…
I’m a little early, but I couldn’t wait to get stuck into some Halloween crochet! Wahaha. This crochet spirder pattern is so speedy, it really only takes a few minutes. You could make an army of crochet spiders, it’d be brilliant!
These guys are so much better than real spiders, which interfere with your telly watching (out of the corner of your eye, there they are stomping across your sofa, on their way to eat your face whilst you innocently watch Bake Off).
I’m a little disappointed that this spider pattern didn’t become part of last year’s amigurumi Halloween collection but I hadn’t thought of it when I designed that lot. This pattern is a great partner to all the other spooky creations from that collection, though…
[Edit: New for the summer of 2017 is a YouTube tutorial for a crochet spider!! If you’d rather watch me make this spider on film, then pop over and take a look! Thanks]
What You’ll Need to Make Your Own Crochet Spiders
3.5mm hook (you could go up or down a hook size if you want),
DK acrylic yarn – small amounts for these 8-legged critters.
Darning needle.
For the eyes, you’ll need some sewing thread,
A sewing needle
Little beads.
Crochet House Spider Pattern
I’ve written the crochet pattern in US terms; that’s what I’m used to with amigurumi. An increase means working 2 stitches into the same stitch. A decrease is working 2 stitches together so they become one stitch.
6 into a magic ring [6 sts]
Increase around [12]
Sc around [12]
Decrease around [6]
Fasten off, leaving a tail of about 50cm. Stitch the hole closed with a darning needle, looping through the 6 front loops. Pull closed and secure. Do not cut yarn; you’ll need it for sewing on the legs.
Choose where you want your head to be. With a slip knot on your hook, attach the yarn with a slip stitch to the body. I put my hook on/behind Round 3. The pictures above are two different angles of the same thing. It’s just demonstrating where I’ve put my hook and where I’ll be making the slip stitch.
A Puff Stitch Head
To get a nice plump spider head, you need a puff stitch!
[yrh, insert hook into st, yrh and pull up yarn] four times, yrh, draw through all 9 loops on hook, chain 1 and join back to the body with a slip stitch in the same place. Fasten off and sew in the head ends.
Mr Skinny Legs
Make four chains for legs: 1: ch18, 2. ch20, 3: ch22, 4: ch24.
Before you snip them short, pull the legs really tight to make sure the knots won’t become undone. This is why it’s best to use acrylic yarn; it’s less likely to break off when you pull.
Using the tail from before, thread through the middles of all the spider’s legs and stitch to the underside of the body. Shortest legs nearest the head.
Stitching the legs on is really simple. When they’re secure, thread the yarn out through the spider’s bottom.
Pass the yarn through the ends of the two back legs.
A Crochet Spider Completed
There is now a spider… where there wasn’t one before!
Adding Little Spidery Eyes
Little beads make great spider eyes. I went in from underneath with the thread, going in and out a couple of times to make sure it wasn’t going to go anywhere.
This sparkly, woolly arachnid has too many eyes for a real spider, but I wasn’t really concentrating. Most spiders have eight eyes if you want to go for accuracy!
And it’s as easy as that! A happy Hallowe’en house spider!
I made one with t-shirt yarn too!
This is a free crochet pattern that has been designed by me (Zeens and Roger). Please don’t sell the pattern or finished product. They’re all mine! Tis personal use only. Thanks very much. X
