handmade Archives - Page 2 of 11

Asymmetric Granny Cowl. Free Crochet Pattern and Tutorial.

June 22, 2019June 23, 2019crochet, free pattern3 Comments

It has taken an age but I finally found time to record a new crochet tutorial! Hurray! Thank you for being so patient with me. Video tutorials take a lot of time to put together so it’s very easy to drop it lower on the list when something else pops up. Please click on the picture above to go to the tutorial or HERE to my YouTube channel. Don’t forget my Free Patterns page too, that’s HERE.

If you would like to support my crochet adventures, which would surely melt my ice cold heart, please do so over on Patreon. Fanx!!! xxx

Materials & Notes:

One colour: 2x 100g (135m) balls of chunky yarn. I used Stylecraft Alpaca Tweed
Stripey version: 3x 100g (135m) balls of chunky yarn
8mm hook
Written in UK terms (converting is dead easy, a UK tr is a US dc, that’s it!)
3ch counts as a stitch (st/s)
I have a loose tension, go up a hook size if you don’t!
Scroll down for a “chart” showing colour changes and a it more info.

Pattern:

Chain 28

Row 1: 1tr in 4th ch from hook, miss 2 sts, *3tr, miss 2 sts; rep from * to the last st, 2tr in last st, turn.

Row 2: 3ch, 3tr in each sp along to end, 1tr in last st, turn.

Row 3: 3ch, 1tr in same st, 3tr in each space along to end, finishing with 2tr in last st, turn.

Row 4 – 24: Rep Rows 2&3 ten times and Row 2 once more.

Row 25 (increase row): 3ch, 2tr in same sp, cont as Row 2 to end.

Row 26: Rep Row 3.

Row 27: Rep Row 2.

Row 28 (increase row): Begin as Row 3, end with 3tr in last st, turn.

Row 29: Rep Row 2.

Row 30: Rep Row 3.

Row 31 – 45: Alternately rep Rows 25- 27 and Rows 28 – 30.

Row 46 (edging): 3ch, 3tr in each sp along, (3tr, 2ch, 3tr) in corner sp, 3tr in each sp to end. Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.

Sew the short piece to the other end of the straight side (see chart below). Add tassels if desired! Voila, one seriously speedy granny cowl.

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Cheers! x

Zeens & Roger Crochet Podcast Episode 50.

March 30, 2019March 30, 2019vloggingLeave a Comment

Hallooo!! Episode 50 of the Zeens and Roger crochet podcast is up and waiting for you! As usual there are pictures and links below. Click on the pic above to go directly to the episode or go HERE to all my YouTube videos. Cheers!

Links:

EYF 19 video

Granny CAL info

Please follow @kirkandroger on Instagram, we’ll be posting pics of what we get up to with our hook making adventure.

The ribbing as you go tutorial is by Toni of TL Yarn Crafts. You can find it HERE.

Doulton Border Leicester. I’m using the 4ply.

Hinterland. It’ll be available to buy very soon!

John Arbon Exmoor sock

Granny Tie book

Somerset Yarns, Life in the Long Grass, Countess Ablaze, Vicky Brown Designs, Ginger Twist Studio

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xxx

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2019

March 25, 2019March 25, 2019vlogging2 Comments

Hallooo, I’ve done a quick video rundown of this year’s Edinburgh Yarn Festival. I’ve not done one before and thought it’d be a good idea. Go HERE to watch on YouTube!!

Watching it back I can see how much I’ve missed out (there was so much I wanted to say!!) but hopefully what I do talk about is something you find interesting. In a bid to get it out so that EYF is still fresh in my mind, I’ve just talked at you for half an hour as stuff falls out my mouth. Now I’m off to have a power nap because I still haven’t recovered from my weekend in Scotland.

See below for the few photos I took whilst there, some of the yarn I bought and what I plucked up the courage to wear…

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Ginger Twist Studios and Vicki Brown Designs

So I’m already getting stuck in. I think I have managed to make stuff with about 82% of each year’s EYF purchases!

My granny tie is made with lots of stash bits. I’ll talk about it more in Episode 50 of my crochet podcast.

xxx

Zeens & Roger Crochet Podcast E49.

March 16, 2019vlogging1 Comment

Hi, welcome to Episode 49 of the Z&R crochet podcast. How are you?! I’m OK, only slightly off centre today, I think I manage to hold it together! Please click on the pic above to go to the episode or go HERE to my YouTube channel. Ta very much. x

The winner of the Crochet Succulents book is Cyan Steffani. Please send me an email at zeensandroger@gmail.com

Links:

Granny CAL 2019

Granny market bag. Free pattern.

The Grainbow Shawl is out Now! Go HERE to read the blog post and go HERE to get straight to Ravelry. There’s 20% off until 29th March 19.

Leaping Waves is also now available on Ravelry. To see it in action, I talk about it from about 12 minutes in Episode 43.

Global Hook up. A monthly live video chat for crafters run by Fay of the Crochet Circle Podcast.

Find me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram. Share a post, pin a picture or leave a lovely comment…

Havana Nights blanket – it’s the one on the sofa behind me!

Crochet Easter Egg. Free written pattern HERE, video tutorial HERE

Ball Bag tote.

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Asymmetric granny cowl. Pattern and tutorial coming soon.

The Frost shawl by Hannah of the Cozy Cottage Crochet

Another Granny cowl from my design in Mollie Makes issue 103.
x

Free Crochet Pattern: Granny Market Bag

March 15, 2019March 27, 2021crochet, free pattern7 Comments

As part of the Granny Crochet Along for this year (see HERE for Granny CAL info!) I’m making one of these crochet market bags. It’s one of my own designs, you might remember that it was published last summer in an issue of Olann And (find out more about this lovely online magazine HERE).

The download pdf is here: Granny Market Bag_ zeens and roger 2021

Please note that it is written in UK terms. Just remember that a UK tr is a US dc and that’s pretty much all you need to know. 🙂

If you would like to support my crochet adventures, please consider supporting me on Patreon. It would mean the world. Thank you. x

Ok, I think that’s it! Enjoy your weekend. x

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The Grainbow Shawl. New Crochet Pattern!

March 13, 2019March 14, 2019crochet4 Comments

This is the Grainbow shawl! If I may I’d like to tell you a bit about it…

Firstly, it is now available to buy on → Ravelry← and Etsy!! As usual I’ll pop a 20% discount as an introductory offer for the first two weeks. The final day to get the discount is Friday 29th March 2019 (you don’t need a code).

Secondly, I am a little bit proud of the fact that it’s a pattern partnership with one of my favourite independent yarn brands, John Arbon Textiles! They very generously supplied me with some of their Knit By Number double knit to make the first shawl. Knit By Numbers (KBN) is 100% merino and comes in both 100g skeins and 25g minis. You can get it in 4ply too (I used it for Harvest Moon). They also sent some of their gorgeous Exmoor Zwartbles to try. The Zwartbles is earthy and sheepy (oh my, the smell is beautiful!). The KBN is super soft, and saturated in gorgeous colour. Two different wools make two (almost!) different shawls, thus showcasing the awesome ability yarn has to create completely unique looks. I hope to take both shawls up to Edinburgh next weekend for EYF 19.

In the pattern there are two options for the shawl edging because I did my usual trick of not wanting to make the choice between two different ones. I don’t see the point in only offering one if two will work equally well, albeit in different ways. The main body of the shawl uses simple stitches, eyelets and touches of colour; creating a modern crochet accessory. You can turn it from contemporary to classic crochet by adding the pretty lacy border.

Another thing I had fun doing was pretending to be a model for half a day. The Grainbow Shawl had to look its absolute best so I asked my friend to take the pics (the modelled ones. The others are mine). It worked well for us both because he got to work with someone who didn’t know how to model (this is a good thing apparently because he’ll learn how to direct others by having bossed me about), and I got to see how a real photographer works! If you’re in the south west of the UK and need a snapper, he’s Paul Courtney Photography.

I couldn’t decide what to call this shawl, no ideas came. Instead of plumping for something half arsed, I put it out to my friends online . Over on Instagram I asked for names and the one that put the biggest smile on my face was “Grainbow”, which was suggested by My Chaotic Bliss (I’ll link as soon as I can but shock, horror! Instagram is down right now!). The name works for both versions, don’t you think? I was delighted when Kat also volunteered to test the shawl too. Maybe I should have called it Chaotic Grainbow?!

Kat wasn’t the only tester. Everyone who volunteered has made or is making some fabulous versions of Grainbow. I have so loved seeing the enthusiasm these guys have shown for what might be my new favourite shawl design (I think I said that about the last design too!). I’ve been a tester on many occasions myself, I know the effort that is put in and I’m forever grateful to those who want to do it for me. Thank you!!

You’ll be able to buy the pattern from the John Arbon website in the near future too. I’m thrilled that quality yarn companies are embracing crochet design more and more, it’s very exciting to see it being taken seriously. Getting to be a little part of that and see others joining the party makes me very happy indeed!

If you make Grainbow please be sure to let me know. You can tag me on Instagram @zeensandroger and add your project to Ravelry. #grainbowshawl Cheers! x

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Picture overload below…

Zeens & Roger Crochet Podcast 48

March 2, 2019March 2, 2019vlogging4 Comments

Hey, how are you?! I’m a bit late with this episode, so sorry! Better late than never though, yes?! Clicking on the image above will take you directly to the latest episode of my crochet podcast. Click HERE and you get to all the vids!

There’s a rather lovely book Giveaway this episode, please remember to like, subscribe and comment over on YouTube! Cheers. x

Links:

Granny CAL 2019

The Creative Business Network. Fancy coming along to one of the chats?

Mollie Makes

The Volt Sweater is the jumper that used the yarn I’m grannying.

Coop Knits. I love that you can buy 50g skeins

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This episode has a Giveaway for this pretty book!

Zeens & Roger Crochet Podcast 47.

February 15, 2019February 16, 2019vlogging6 Comments

Hi! Welcome to Episode 47 of the Zeens and Roger Crochet Vlogcast/Podcast! Please click on the image above to go directly to the episode or go to my YouTube channel HERE to see all the videos. Cheers!

By the way, please look down below for lots of pics of what I’ve made over the last couple of weeks. x

Links to Stuff:

Pob. Remember him?!

The Granny CAL post for 2019 is HERE.

Waking Winter. For sale on Ravelry. There’s 20% off all my patterns until the end of Feb! The discount is added at the check out, you don’t need a code. I wrote a quick blog post about Waking Winter HERE too if you fancy it.

In a Flap. Pretty and delicate, I love this scarf.

One Way or Another. Click HERE! (thanks to a very early wake up this morning [Saturday], this pattern is now LIVE!)

Ravelry

The ZigZag Jumper by Yarnfamily

The Slope Style hat from Ironlamb

Wool and the Gang crochet kit

John Arbon Textiles. The Grainbow shawl is coming soon!

The Making Things App.

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Waking Winter. New Seasons Crochet Shawl

February 11, 2019crochet5 Comments

Better late than never, Waking Winter is here! This is the third crochet shawl pattern in my Seasons Collection. If you fancy a nose, Emergence of Spring is HERE and Harvest Moon is HERE. All of the shawls in this collection are connected by their take on filet crochet, which is essentially crochet with loads of holes!

The pattern is available on Ravelry, it’s HERE.

Because I also recently added my In a Flap scarf to purchase (and I’ll be adding a couple of other patterns soon) I’ve decided to whack on a 20% discount on all my Ravelry patterns up until the end of Feb. No code is necessary, it’s taken off at the checkout.

Waking Winter will also soon be available on Love Crochet and hopefully The Making Things App.

Can you believe this shawl was supposed to be released on the 21st December? The idea was to have it out in time for the winter solstice. There have been a few snags along the way ranging from genuine Can’t Help It, to my usual lazy apathy (not because I don’t love the shawl, I really really do! Just don’t like writing up the patterns). It’s here now and that’s what counts!

I hope you like it. I’ve really enjoyed creating a proper grown up “collection” so far. I don’t know if I’ll do another one anytime soon but it has been a fantastic challenge to link the designs thematically, yet have them all be different and unique.

Waking Winter comes in both UK and US versions, which I know you love. As well as the written pattern you’ll also find useful stuff, like a proper table for stitch count. I made up a chart for the set up rows and the edging too but all my testers followed the written instructions so I know they’re good on their own.

It has been tested by five fabulous crocheters (thank you!!) and fully tech edited by the lovely Tamara of Crafty Escapism (double thank you!!).

Now to work on the final design: Summer! I have a few ideas but nothing concrete. I know I want it to be a single skeiner and that I want it to be green. That is all so far! I wonder if I’ll manage to actually release it on time…

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The Granny CAL 2019!

February 5, 2019February 5, 2019crochet9 Comments

It’s Granny time again! In just a couple of weeks let’s start grannying with a Crochet Along, what do you say?!

Last year’s Granny CAL was loads of fun and I absolutely loved seeing all the different projects that you came up with. The great thing about Granny is just how diverse she can be. It’s a super simple stitch but can be used in a myriad of ways. She is my heart and soul. Anyway…

First things first, what is a CAL? I wrote a blog post about that last year. Go HERE to find out.

Unlike last year, this Crochet Along will be a bit more low key. I’m into the idea of a very laid back CAL. Rather than going in all guns blazing, which I feel the last two CALs have been, this one will be mega casual. I’m not going to have loads of categories for entries and I’m not going to be dishing out loads of prizes (soz!). It’s all too much for one person and to be honest, the bit I enjoyed the most was seeing everyone come together to share their enthusiasm for crochet.

The Details:

The rules are there are no rules! Well, there’s one: your project must contain the granny stitch somewhere (you know the one). Other than that, make what you want. Finish off an old wip, start something new, use up your stash, whatever, there’s no pressure here.

The CAL officially starts on Friday 22nd February. Let’s say it’ll run for 6 weeks but if we’re all having so much fun we can’t stop then I’m pretty sure we can keep going.

Please look at my Free Patterns page HERE , you’ll see rather a lot of patterns with the granny stitch and that’s because I love it!! I have bags, blankets and things that go round your neck. There’s lots to start you off and I also have another idea for a shawl design that might become a free pattern very soon. ;p

For amazing inspiration please go HERE to the Pinterest board dedicated to all things Granny (it’s not just squares, you know!).

Chat over on Instagram HERE (use #grannycal19 or #grannycal2019) and on the Ravelry thread HERE. Absolutely everyone is welcome to come and chat. Share your ideas, help out others, share what you’re making etc.

And I think that’s it! I thought I was going to write more than that but actually this is keeping in line with being laid back. Phew! 😀

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xxx