Zeens & Roger. Episode 33.

June 22, 2018vloggingLeave a Comment

Hey! Thanks for being here. This one is a shorty. I’ve been busy behind the scenes so there’s only a small flash of the stitches today. But don’t let that put you off or you’ll miss a lovely little GIVEAWAY!! Watch the episode to find out more. Click on the pic above or go to my YouTube channel HERE. Cheers.

Go HERE to Ravelry to get a copy of Emergence of Spring. Until the 4th of July there is a 20% off discount. No codes needed, it automatically gets taken off at the checkout.

Knitcrate. If you’re interested in finding out more, please go HERE. Don’t forget to take the code ZEENSANDROGER20 with you so that you can get 20% off the first box when you subscribe.

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Emergence of Spring. A Pretty Crochet Wrap

June 15, 2018crochet2 Comments

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:

To celebrate there is 20% off until midnight (GMT) July 4th!! Run to Ravelry to get your copy!

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

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My dogeared copy of Issue 99 of Inside Crochet magazine.

xxx

25% off Crochet Patterns This Weekend

May 26, 2018May 30, 2018crochetLeave a Comment

*offer now closed*

To celebrate the Bank Holiday weekend I’m offering a 25% discount off of all my patterns over on Ravelry and Etsy. There’s no need to enter a code, the money is automatically taken off at the check out. Offer ends Tuesday morning.

So, if you fancy making a new shawl, bag or blanket (or bow, or hat etc …!!) please go to Ravelry HERE or if you prefer Etsy, go HERE!

Thank you so much. xxx

Easy One Skein Crochet Market Bag. Free Pattern

May 23, 2018April 16, 2022crochet, free pattern42 Comments

On Monday I began recording a video tutorial for an old version of this crochet net bag. Crochet market bags are massive at the minute and, jumping on the band wagon, I hit record and started making. I got a few rounds in when I started to question its construction. It became quite clear that I was trying to be way too fancy with the pattern; there are some truly unnecessary instructions in there and two years ago, I didn’t ask myself if there was an easier way! I’ve updated it. This is a much simpler version of that market bag yet it pretty much looks the same.

Here it is…

Pop to YouTube HERE or continue reading for the written crochet pattern. Cheers.

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

Notes for Your Crochet Shopping Bag

3mm hook
1x50g ball cotton dk such as DMC Natura Just Cotton (155m/170yds) (or Rico Essentials dk works well but it’s slightly less meterage so you might want to knock off a round of the main body, just in case).
The 3ch at the beginning of the first 4 rounds count as a UK tr/ US dc
If you have 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 slip stitch, pull the magic ring to close. [12st]

Round 2: 3ch, 1tr into same stitch, 2tr into each stitch, join to third ch of initial 3 ch with a slip stitch. [24st]

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. [36st]

Round 4: 3ch, 1 tr in same st, 1tr in next 2st, *2tr in next st, 1tr in next 2st; rep from * around, join with sl st. [48st]

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 make a half tr into beginning dc. (Have a look at the chart above to see how to join rounds. 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 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, 1double tr into the top of the last st of the previous round.

Round 10 -25: Repeat Round 9

Round 26: Repeat round 8

Round 27: Repeat round 7

Round 28: 1ch, 1dc in same stitch, 2dc in space, 1dc in dc, *4dc in each ch sp, 1 dc in top of each dc of previous round; rep from *, 2dc in last sp, ss to join to 1st dc [120]

Round 29-30: 1ch, 1 dc in same space, dc around, ss to join.

Handle Stage

Row 1: 1ch, 1dc in same space, 1 dc in next 6st, turn [7]

Row 2: 1ch, 1dc along the next 7 stitches, turn [7]

Repeat Row 2 until desired handle length or when nearing the end of the yarn (I made my handle approx 18″).

Turn your bag inside out. To attach the handle to the other side of the bag, count how many stitches are around the top of the bag. I had 120 stitches. You want your handles evenly spaced, 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, make another row or take one away. Insert hook through first stitch on 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 sew ends in securely.

This pattern has been designed by me and is for your personal use only. Please visit my Ravelry store for more crochet patterns! Thank you.

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Show me your makes on Instagram #zeensandroger

xxx

Zeens & Roger Crochet Vlogcast 30

May 10, 2018vlogging4 Comments

Hello. I’m a woman of few words today. Not in the video though, that would be a quiet episode. Clicking on the picture above will take you directly to Episode 30 for your fortnightly dose of crochet chat. Going HERE to YouTube takes you to the whole channel where all the episodes and tutorials live.

Links to stuff talked about in this episode are:

Mesh bag free pattern. A video tutorial is on my list of things to do.

Hotchpotch granny purse tutorial. This is the basis for the granny bag I made.

The Creative Business Network. As well as informal get togethers, Helen also teaches online courses for creative businesses.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. I don’t read as often as I should. It’s always nice to find a good story.

Neveline Silke Arvier. I’d buy this if I were in Italy. It’s on offer!!

Family Tree Yarns and Hedgerow Yarns. Birthday buys for me!

See pictures of what I’ve been up to below…

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xxx

What Are These Crochet Alongs all about?! What is a CAL?

March 8, 2018March 8, 2018crafty, crochet18 Comments

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 biggest element of a CAL I’ve discovered is the community. Joining in 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 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. Check out this thread from The Crochet Circle Podcast which lists the CALs happening in 2018. Also, 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 their positivity will rub off on you! Want to make a snazzy shawl but 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!

My failed Winter Wonderland CAL attempt – this is still UFO so not the greatest example!!

There are also many reasons why people 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. The most important aspect was that it had to be fun and easy, with no pressure to buy a pattern or any extra yarn if you didn’t need to, the granny 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 people 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 you project.
Coastal Crochet’s Seaside Stash busting CAL, a gentle paced blanket, taking place over the next few months,
Fays’ Different Desginer CAL, choose a designer whose patterns you’ve never used before.
The Knitted Knocker CAL, hook up some breasts for women who’ve had mastectomies.

What do you think of CALs? Have you taken part in one? A couple? Loooaads?! Let me know your thoughts. X

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Zeens & Roger Crochet Podcast/Vlogcast Episode 26

March 2, 2018crochet, vlogging6 Comments

Happy March!! We’re supposed to be thinking about spring but it’s most definitely winter outside!! Brrrr, maybe keep warm whilst watching episode 26 of my crochet podcast!? As usual, click on the pic above to go to the episode or go to my YouTube channel HERE. Ta very much.

Here’s some links to stuff I talk about, I wasn’t concentrating so I hope I have it all. If not please give me a shout and I’ll give you extra info.

March Meet the Maker – A month long Instagram challenge

#hookedonyarn2018 Another month long IG challenge.

My Easter Eggs. HERE is the link to the blog post about the latest additions to the family.

Blacker Yarns. This is lovely yarn that I’m going to get more of. I used Tamar Lustre Blend. A real woolly wool from just across the border in Cornwall.

Inside Crochet magazine

Simply Crochet magazine

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Zeens & Roger Crochet Vlogcast. Episode 23

January 19, 2018crochet, vlogging5 Comments

Hello!! It is time for Episode 23 of the Zeens and Roger crochet podcast [SEO, folks!] / crochet vlog. There are some delightfully embarrassing moments, including ungainly lumbering upon a sofa and a super geeky confession at the end. I hope you enjoy it! Please click on the link above for the episode or jump to my YouTube channel HERE.

Links to all the things:

Granny Crochet Along!! information is HERE. The links to Ravelry and Pinterest etc are over there. I am so looking forward to this!

Little Hearts for Grace squares

The Weekender Blankie by Sandra of Cherry Heart

Geek Chic Crochet by Nicki Trench

The knitted mitts pattern is called Rowan Frost wrist mitts on Ravelry.

The Crossed Treble stitch tutorial (also known as the Star Mesh stitch or the Cane Work stitch)

I think that’s it for stuff you might be interested in (my notes are on the other side of the room!). A few pics of the last couple of week are below. X

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Granny is a Go Go! A Crochet Along

January 17, 2018November 20, 2023crochet34 Comments

EDIT::New CAL for the autumn…. Join in with the Corner to Corner CAL HERE!!

I’m hosting a CAL! I fancy trying something new and this is it! Have you ever taken part in a crochet along? It is so much fun! Not only does it become an opportunity to try something different it also gives you the chance to hang out with online friends (I’ll be honest, the community aspect was an unexpected perk when I first discovered CALs, I just did it cos I thought I might get a prize! I’ve never won anything in a CAL but it absolutely hasn’t stopped the enjoyment of taking part). Go HERE for the 2019 Granny CAL.

Why a Granny cal? Well, it dawned on me that I have two favourite “go to” stitches. One is the Corner to Corner (Oooh, I could do a C2C CAL!!) and the other is the Granny. I love its traditionality but I also think it’s great that it can surprise people. It doesn’t have to be a plain old granny, you could turn it into anything. I know that there are people out there who aren’t that fussed about the granny, so let this be your challenge. Create something that changes your mind, put a twist on it, bring it up to date. Do something different! Yes, this is classic crochet but that doesn’t mean you have to stick to traditional. Or actually, you can if you want. How you dabble in your grannification is entirely up to you.

Some Details

The CAL is six weeks long beginning on Thursday 1st of February and ending on Thursday 15th March 2018. A chatter thread is up on Ravelry so jump over there, get talking and share your ideas. I’ll open the FO thread nearer the time. Need help? Here’s my Granny board on Pinterest to get you started. I’ve got a few granny patterns for free right here on the blog, they’re on this page (evidently, I really do have a thing for the granny). If you have seen something amazing let us know in the comments or on the Ravelry chatter thread. For Instagram entries, please use the ever so adventurous #grannyCAL18 (I struggled with an awesome name – they were all too rude…)

The Rules

There aren’t that many…. There must be granny stitches in your make (clusters of three UK trebles/US doubles) * It can’t be something already finished * Wips are allowed *It can be any size (if you’re short on time then don’t feel bad about making a small purse, that’s what I’m doing!) * This CAL is for everyone, whether you have just started to crochet or you’ve been hooking for yonks, this crochet along is for you. * Double dipping is fandabbydozy, I don’t mind if you don’t.

Prizes

The winner of each category can choose five patterns from my Zeens and Roger Ravelry store. We are also very lucky that some prizes have been donated!! Fabulous Fay of the Crochet Circle Podcast is offering one electronic copy of her pattern book Take Two, which she co-wrote with Lynn Rowe. The lovely Vivian from the Keep Calm and Carry Yarn podcast (it’s a lovely listen) makes beautiful project bags and sells them in her Etsy shop, Pearl and Plum. I had a message from her daughter, Alyson to say they would like to give one as a prize! And Laura from Home Fire Ridge will also be sending out a gorgeous project bag to one lucky winner (the ones I’ve seen are really pretty!) Laura’s Etsy shop is having an update on the 23rd of Jan so keep an eye out! Winners will be drawn after I get back from a weekend away in Edinburgh (arghhh, EYF weekend!!) Edit:: Qualyn from the Quoe Podcast (fast becoming a favourite of mine) is offering his Les Mis collection: two fab granny shawl patterns (I have had the songs in my head allll week). And Claudia (my mate Clauds) from Crochet Luna sent me a message to say she’s popped something in the post for us as a giveaway prize!! This is getting exciting!!

Prize Categories

I will randomly select one winner from the chatter thread on Ravelry and one winner from the finished object thread too. I will randomly select one winner from Instagram and one prize will be awarded to my favourite make overall. That is four opportunities to win a prize! Wahoo!

Cheers!

Finally, a massive Thank You!! I have had such a hugely positive response about this crochet along, it has been truly awesome! Without the enthusiasm from you guys the idea would have been fleeting and surely fizzled out. If you have any questions or feel like I’ve left something out, please comment below or get yourself over to Ravelry to join in the chat. I cannot wait to see your gorgeous grannies!!

By the way, it’s episode 21 where I first mention the idea of a Granny along and then there’s a bit more blather in episode 22. I’m sure I’ll go on about it in future episodes too! Ta. X

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All the above items are made by me. The patterns are mine except the Colour Block Jumper by Cleckheaton and the Magnolia Mandala by Crochet Milan.

Episode 22. Crochet Vlog

January 5, 2018January 5, 2018vlogging4 Comments

Happy New Year!! Hope you had a good one. So this is the first crochet podcast episode of the year (above pic is the link but also HERE). Not many links to share but there are photographs to look at: