Author: Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin

Mostly enjoying this busy, beautiful life with lots of yarn and a hook! I'm hooked on God, my 3 boys, Mr R and if your reading this then you'll know I'm hooked on crochet too!! By day I am a full time nurse working in the community in children's health, but by night I am a maker of cute baby things. Pop over to my Etsy shop by clicking the tab at the top of this page or message me if you would like me to make you a custom order. I also love to blog and Instagram my creative journey and design my own crochet patterns; you can find me by clicking the links below. So thanks for stopping by...feel free to have a good old poke around...and I hope you enjoy your time spent with me because you are very welcome here xx

Bright and Bold Summer Flowers…pattern news

Published on June 25, 2019July 7, 2019 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin2 Comments

Do you remember not so long ago I said I had some exciting news to share with you? Well, I can share that news now…

These are my bright and bold summer flowers and they were featured in Crochetzine, a fabulous online crochet magazine, last month!

I felt so proud and excited to see my work shared. Of course I want to share it with you also. These are great flowers to make from left over snippets, but I think they work best in a cotton yarn, as they hold their shape better.

The pattern is based on hyperbolic crochet, but don’t let that put you off…it is really simple! I have had so many lovely comments about the bunch I have on my table. Here’s the link to Crochetzine, where you will find my pattern.

Do let me know what you think if you make any won’t you?

xxxxx

Panda beanies…

Published on June 22, 2019June 20, 2019 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin3 Comments

One of my lovely crafty friends is having twins…very, very soon.

I knew I wanted to make her something handmade for the little ones and I knew I wanted to make something panda…ery!

I searched lots of sites for panda hats but, I just couldn’t find what I was looking for…surprise, surprise! There was nothing else I could do but come up with my own version of a panda hat…

and now I am so pleased I did because this is what I came up with

Just look at those panda eyes…

I’m not sure if I should write the pattern up or not. I would need to make a small charge as it would take me some time to work out all the sizes…What do you think?

Should I write up the pattern or not?

Let me know by casting your vote below.

xxxxx

pompom saga…

Published on June 18, 2019June 18, 2019 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin4 Comments

After counting the votes over on Instagram and reaching a tie breaker…can you believe it! I decided to pom my hat in neither black nor white. Instead I found this gorgeous faux fur yarn by James C Brett called Chinchilla. It is beautifully soft and has the necessary fluffiness you would want and expect.

What do you think? I am really thrilled.

It sits on top of this little cotton baby hat with grandeur and the whole hat feels divine.

I have been making a whole host of hats and have swapped cotton (just for a little while) for a beautiful alpaca blend yarn called ‘Leader of the Pac’ it is an aran weight yarn and a dream to hook with.

I have hooked quite a pile…

I have also discovered another amazing yarn…’Wendy Botanics chunky’. It is an acrylic yarn and the colourway is simply beautiful. I have made some more baby hats in this and I couldn’t resist making a ‘Papa and baby’ matching set…just look…

So, you can see I have been busy making and adding to the shelves of my little Etsy shop in preparation for the winter time…although it is Summer here in the UK, I haven’t felt out of place hooking these hats as it has been really very cold and wet here!

What have you been up to?

xxxxx

A little crafty…

Published on May 26, 2019 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin4 Comments

Hello lovelies, I thought you may like to see what I have been up to lately. I have been busy crafting and hooking and I have also been busy ignoring my PHD projects in the hope I can convince myself it is ok to start more projects!

I have had this beautiful mustard coloured yarn for a little while and I knew I wanted to make a sweet little beanie for a little head. I still need to pop on a pom pom to finish it off, I just cant decide whether it should be black or white!

Any thoughts?

I even had enough left over to make a sweet little headband too…

I also made a large beanie for Papa’s birthday, Mr R made him some domino’s; so his birthday present was a real homemade affair this year.

The pattern for both the mustard beanie and Papa’s is my own, I just haven’t written it up yet. I have also done some more embroidery hoop art…this is my favourite one so far…

I also have some very exciting crochet news…but I can’t share that with you just yet, I promise I will do as soon as I am allowed. So you see I have been quite crafty. This afternoon though I am just deciding whether I really need this gorgeous shawl in my life and if so what colour yarns I should choose!

It’s a long weekend here in the UK, so I can spend some time crafting later and tomorrow too…Have a great week whatever you have planned.

xxxxx

Off Piste…

Published on May 11, 2019 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin6 Comments

I said I would pop in and write about some recent makes…so here I am, I hope you are well. My makes of late have been a little off piste, in that they are not yarny at all!

Over Easter I had a little time away from work which was just delightful. The weather was sunny and spring was most definitely flourishing. The boys were off school too, so our days were lazy and quite carefree. Amongst the laid back ways, I still had chores and it was whilst ironing of all things that I was overwhelmed with an urge to embroider.

The urge just fell so heavy upon me whilst ironing an old but beloved blouse of mine. The material had become thinned in areas and I sadly decided the blouse could no longer be worn. I loved that blouse and some of the material was still good and this is what sparked my embroidery urge.

Having never done any embroidery before I happily abandoned the ironing pile and exchanged it for a pinterest exploration and I was gone for several hours. I gathered supplies and with a fabric sewing pen I sketched out my design. Between consulting youtube clips and pinterest I ventured on my maiden embroidery voyage. I loved it, it scratched that creative itch so well, I felt so deeply satisfied.

I can only show you a little of this make as it is a gift and is still to be gifted.

I embroidered at every opportunity, I just couldn’t put it down.

I made a second hoop which I can show you, as this has already been gifted.

Oh, how I adore French knots and satin stitching. What do you think?

xxxxx

Amigurumi and CE testing…

Published on May 7, 2019May 7, 2019 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin4 Comments

Amigurumi and CE testing…that is what I am trying to figure out right now and it’s a sizeable pain in the butt!

Since hooking up my zebra last summer, I have had people ask me to make their children one…but, I have been hesitant; as in the UK and within Europe toys must by law carry the CE mark.

So, for a long while I was completely put off the idea of making anymore amigurumi…but, my little zebra is just so delightful that every time I look at him I want to hook another, in a different colour of course. I also want to hook a giraffe and a bear and all manner of other cute stuffies.

So, I have done some research and my brain hurts…it really does. But, I have found that I can do my own CE testing…yes, that’s a whole lot cheaper than sending toys of to the lab to be CE tested!

CE testing also involves science experiments!

So, I am enlisting the help of my Dad as he is a retired primary school teacher, and hence very thorough and I know he will help make sure my testing is rigorous, which is just what I need.

The testing requires two prototypes of each toy, one to test prewash, one to test post washing. I am finding the thought of making two a bit galling to be honest, as it will use my precious stash…but, I am just going to have to get over that!

The testing is even more vexing to me as I have to set fire to it…let me rephrase that…I have to set fire to my zebra! If that still doesn’t register with you

I HAVE TO SET FIRE TO MY YARN!!!! TWICE!!!

Yes, I thought that might get your attention…I feel anxious about just typing that, let alone striking the match. If my prototype survives that, I then have to suspend various weights from it amongst some other things, like checking the materials used are all EN71 compliant. Of course all this has to be documented properly too.

If anyone knows any better than this or has experience of CE testing or can point me in the right direction, especially on what is required by law to sell toys outside of Europe, I would really love to chat with you; as I have decided to bite the bullet and will commence testing soon.

But, first I am going to have to make some more amigurumi for the slaughter, as I just can’t bring myself to burn my zebra!

xxxxx

Spring Sale…

Published on May 6, 2019May 6, 2019 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobinLeave a comment

Just popping by to let you know that this sale ends tomorrow, so be quick if you fancy a truly special baby blanket. You can visit my shop by clicking on the photo!

I will pop by again soon to let you know about the other craftiness I have been getting up to that is non shop related…promise.

xxxxx

Birthday treats and fabulous hooks…

Published on April 13, 2019 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin11 Comments

I’ve had a lovely few days celebrating another year…yes, it was my birthday!

I have been well and truly spoilt this year and I have had some great yarny presents too, which I thought I’d share with you.

I kicked things off by booking time off work and then was treated to the most loveliest of birthday eve meals with my parents and brother as well as my guys too. It was a really great way to start the celebrations. My actual birthday day…you know what I mean! was relaxed and laid back, hanging out with the boys and Mr R.

We had a game of birthday badminton before cake and coffee…

no guilt involved, as calories definitely don’t count on your birthday! It was a beautiful coffee and walnut cake…my absolute favourite!

We took time out to notice Spring has well and truly arrived…

and I enjoyed finding some more spring inspiration whilst browsing around too.

Fabulous zingy spring vibes right there!

I spent more time with family andfriends and of course did some hooking too…this is how far I have got with my C2C rainbow heart blanket. Pattern details are just here.

I also got some great yarny presents too.

Fabulous personalized crochet hooks of my bestie and…

Mr. R surprised me with tickets to this years Yarndale Festival which is in September….SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!

So, I’m feeling very loved and very blessed and quite yarny today.

Have a fantastic weekend, whatever you’re up to.

xxxxx

Last minute Easter pattern…

Published on April 6, 2019 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin3 Comments

I thought I’d drop by to let you know all about a really cute pattern I have found. It’s a quick make and the pattern is free (always a bonus!) and it would make a super cute Easter gift or spring gift.

It’s a very sweet little lambs hat, what could be more spring like…apart from a little fluffy yellow chick perhaps!

The pattern is available in all sizes from 0 -3 months right through to big peoples sizes and it is brilliantly written. If your thinking I’m not sure about making those bobbles there is a useful youtube link to help you with that. All in all this pattern would take you a couple of hours to make…that’s plenty of time to hook yourself a little flock.

I just adore how those lamb ears are low set and droop down.

Of course I made a pink one too…

So here are the pattern details…

Pattern by: Sarah Zimmerman

Pattern Name: Lamb’s Hat

Have you found any good patterns worth a shout out recently?

xxxxx

Heart baby blanket…

Published on April 2, 2019April 2, 2019 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin19 Comments

Here it is, my beautiful grey and white heart baby blanket…

I love this pattern, thanks to the very talented @emmacartercrochet for sharing this fabulous pattern which is called ‘The Ombre Heart C2C Blanket’ and which is also free!!! How generous to share such a brilliant pattern.

It is a corner to corner construction and therefore works up quite quickly. The version in Emma’s pattern has 5 colours which fade into each other, but I opted for a solid grey heart this time. I say this time, because this pattern is addictive and I already want to make more.

I opted to add a simple double crochet (single crochet) border in grey, and added one of my natural sustainably sourced cork labels as the finishing touch.

I just love the soft texture of this baby blanket…

I think the heart would look amazing in a swirl or gradient yarn, but I have chosen to make a rainbow blanket next, so the swirl may have to wait! After working on these calming grey and whites this is what I’m going to be using next…

My favourite colour…..Rainbow!

xxxxx

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