free pattern – Crochet blog

Crochet Rainbow Pattern…

Published on May 14, 2020May 14, 2020 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin5 Comments

Hi, I just wanted to drop by to share with you this fabulous and free crochet sampler rainbow pattern by the amazing Sharon from The Stitch Foundary

It’s a quick make and looks fabulous hung up in the window to show support to all of our key workers at this unbelievable time and to add some cheer and unite in community spirit.

From a crochet point of view, the pattern is free, easy to follow and has several different stitches which give the rainbow some lovely textures. There is no gauge to worry about and you can make it from scraps…what’s not to love!

I did alter mine slightly…sorry Sharon!

I used 5 stitches to complete my popcorns in the orange row, instead of the recommended 3 stitches…just because it made my popcorns fatter and I like nice fat popcorns! Then on the last row of red I chained 5 and missed a stitch, instead of chain 3 between each stitch…just because it made the row less ruffled and more arched and I preferred the more simple finish.

Anyway, it’s a fabulous pattern and will make you smile if you hook it!

xxxxx

#Sidekicksistas…

Published on January 21, 2020 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin6 Comments

I wanted to stop by and show a beautiful shawl I made as a Secret Santa swap for one of my #sidekicksistas.

If you don’t know I am wonderfully blessed to be a part of a fabulous group of crafties that meets once a month. I met them online way back when I had my foot operation and I started the #seasidestashbustingblanket in 2018, and they kindly invited me along. They really are just the most supportive and creative women and we all share the same crafty kindred spirit. Even though I don’t make the monthly meets and only get to about three a year, I just love these women so much. The highlight is always our Christmas dinner in December where we all chip in and cook something for the table…here we are look…

This year for the secret Santa swap, I decided I was going to make a shawl and after a long trawl through ravelry, I set my heart on the Dragon Belly Shawl by Johanna Lindahl of Mijo Crochet. It is a free pattern and has a simple 2 row repeat, which means it is the perfect pattern to hook up whilst indulging in a box set. Perfect relaxing crochet. The pattern is well written and I will definitely be making this again.

I decided to treat my recipient to a Scheepjes whirl to hook this shawl in…well to treat myself really as I had never hooked with this yarn before and I had wanted to for ages. I chose the Blueberry Bambam which was my second choice. I had originally chosen the Jaffa Pop colourway…but it was out of stock everywhere, and I mean everywhere and was not due to be re-stocked until after Christmas. So Blueberry Bambam it was.

The yarn was a beauty to hook with. It is a beautifully soft cotton blend 4ply yarn which has a long gentle gradient. I used the whole 200g (1000m) and it made a great sized shawl. The whirl was worth every penny, as it produced a really lovely quality fabric which drapes amazingly. I love the raised rows of this shawl and it is aptly named the Dragon Belly for this reason. So, if your looking for a fabulous make which won’t tax your brain; but will certainly scratch that creative itch and give you a real sense of hooky satisfaction…this is the pattern to go for.

xxxxx

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

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

Grey and white…

Published on March 30, 2019March 26, 2019 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin6 Comments

I said I’d pop by to show you what is on my hook this week, so here I am.

But first of all, thanks for letting me know what you were making…I really enjoyed finding out what you were up to!

This week has been all about grey and white makes for me…and I can’t get enough of this calming colourway.

I have a corner to corner on the go right now

The pattern is The Ombre Heart C2C Blanket by Emma Carter Crochet.

I am really enjoying hooking this blanket. The pattern does not give a finished size and I was a bit worried it would either be too big or too small for what I wanted, but it is turning out to be just right for what I had in mind. It will make a decent sized baby blanket.

I have also made some grey and white burp cloths…well I just couldn’t resist!

Having said all that…my creative heart is now yearning for rainbow colours…so as soon as this is off my hook, I’m getting my rainbow on!

What colours are you working with right now?

Valentine hearts…

Published on February 8, 2019March 12, 2019 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobinLeave a comment

Valentines Day is just around the corner, so I’m just popping in and out very quickly to share three of my favourite quick and easy ♥ patterns.

Firstly there is my free pattern for my yarny little heart

crochet heart free pattern — a yarny little heart

Secondly, there is this lovely heart stuffie…I love this pattern by MojiMoji Designs

Or do you fancy a C2C heart inspired square then look no further than this great pattern by MA Santos

So, there you have my favourite three heart patterns…what’s not to love.

♥♥♥♥♥

seasidestashbusting blanket…The End!

Published on October 9, 2018December 29, 2018 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin19 Comments

It’s done! I have made the last stitch and woven in the last end of my beautiful #seassidestashbusting blanket.

It’s huge and I simply love it!

Oh! what a journey this blanket has been…a beautiful, stitchy, vibrant and meandering journey of colour, crochet and community…not to mention stash busting too!

Thank you so much to Eleanora over at Coastal Crochet for hosting such a marvellous and well organised CAL (crochet-a-long) and to all the lovely people I have met a long the way; who have encouraged and inspired me with kind words or blankets of their own. I have really enjoyed scrolling through the IG feed #seasidestashbustingblanket and seeing so many wonderfully unique contributions.

I am keeping this blanket for myself because honestly, I just can’t bear to be parted from it. I have hooked in so many memories of my year…like the sunny glamping rows, the foot surgery rows, the world cup rows, the too hot to crochet rows and the snowy day bobbles and I can relate each memory to the specific rows. I will leave you with my photographic journey…

Love, love, love this blanket.

I’m not sure what I’m going to do without the weekly rows…

xxxxx

Amigurumi unicorn…

Published on October 6, 2018December 29, 2018 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin7 Comments

After dipping my crochet toe into the world of amigurumi with Abe, the delightful zebra dude I knew I had the bug and it wouldn’t be long before I started another little cutie. This time I fell for the magical charms of this sweet, sweet unicorn.

I wanted her to be white and chose Sugar n Cream worsted weight cotton mix, which gives a lovely texture to her body and face. Her hooves were hooked in a soft lemon aran weight cotton yarn from The Women’s Institute and her mane and tail were created using a dk weight Ricorumi cotton in a baby pink.

I even managed to get everything the right way round this time! and felt much more confident than when I hooked my zebra.

The pattern is by the very talented Chiquipork and is called ‘William the Unicorn’. It is a beautifully written pattern and has lots of top tips for construction. The pattern is written very clearly and it was easy to follow as it is formatted into the different sections of construction. There are lots of photo’s too which I found helped me in the ‘putting together’ process.

Well worth the purchase!

I have named her Bella, but alas she is only staying with me for a few weeks, for she has been adopted by a little girl who will love and cherish her and who may well give her another name!

Bella…she is magical isn’t she?
xxxxx

Vintage Market Tote…

Published on September 15, 2018 by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin10 Comments

Autumn is creeping in and I can feel the joy rising in me. I adore the Autumn and all of her treasures; it awakens my soul and wraps me with comfort.

I know not everyone feels this way…Mr R mourns the Summer, but I am celebrating her arrival.

A great deal has gone on here at the nest over the Summer months and there is still much more to achieve. New windows and doors have been fitted, outdoor adventures have taken place, three weddings have been witnessed and celebrated (we still have two more to come), decorating has commenced, and children have been coming and going and then coming back again only to go off once more it seems!

I have taken great delight in my crochet time, which has been a little bitty. I wanted to share this Vintage Market Tote with you…pattern details and links can be found at the bottom of this post. I made it for my Mama’s birthday and it hooked up quickly.

The pattern is free and I found it to be well written with clear, concise instruction. I altered the length of the handle by about 20 stitches, making the straps a little longer, but that was just preference.

I used a lovely aran weight cotton blend yarn by The Women’s Institute, which flowed from my 5.5mm hook with ease. I crocheted using x2 strands to make my tote more sturdy, which meant I used just over 300g of yarn and finished with a chic black and white spot ribbon.

Tag: free pattern

Crochet Rainbow Pattern…

#Sidekicksistas…

Bright and Bold Summer Flowers…pattern news

Last minute Easter pattern…

Heart baby blanket…

Grey and white…

Valentine hearts…

♥♥♥♥♥

seasidestashbusting blanket…The End!