If your stuck for any last minute homemade gifts, I’ve got you! There’s 15% off all patterns in my Etsy shop until Christmas Eve and there’s lots of Christmassy patterns that can be made in an evening, so don’t sweat it! Just use code JINGLEBELLS at the checkout!
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
Apparently April 2020 has been and gone, it has seemingly slipped by silently…drowned out by the roar of Covid-19, and all without as much as a blog post from me. My sincerest apologies, the NHS has been a crazy place to be employed of late and I have found it difficult to transition from there and slip into the rather relaxed mode at home…it feels like I am straddling two time zones!
I have been productive however, and I have a few things to show you and some good patterns I have found to share with you. The first of which is from one of my all time favourite designers…Mon petit violon. I have a brand-new niece scheduled to arrive in this world at any moment and I fell in love with the ruffle romper by Mon Petit Violon. So just before we were locked down I ordered 2 balls of Rico cotton soft in saffron. As soon as they arrived through the letter box I got my hook out and, well pretty much got lost in the beautiful stitches and shape of this romper. I oohed and aahhed as I hooked (no, I really did…out loud!). The pattern is a wonderful hook, it is clearly written and comes in two size options 0 – 6 months and 6 -12 months. I am hooking the 0 – 6 months as baby is due any day now.
There are plenty of helpful pictures included in the pattern too and although the stitches used are simple, I would suggest you would need some previous knowledge and experience of crochet and reading patterns so as not to be overwhelmed. Oh and of course it is very important to test swatch your gauge to begin with!
So there I was oohing and aahhing and hooking away merrily and what I should have done was read the partof the pattern which suggested amounts of yarn, because just as I got to the ruffle part…I ran out of yarn!
I should have ordered 3 balls! No problem! I thought and hit the button to order more…but an ‘out of stock’ message appeared! No problem! I thought as I checked the box that said ‘send email when back in stock’.
Three weeks passed and no email…a frantic search online found my heart sinking as shop after shop did not have any balls of saffron left. In desperation last week I put an appeal out on Instagram to see if any lovely hooker, anywhere in the world had some in their stash to sell to me… and my wonderful #sidekicksistas came to the rescue. The beautiful Karen alerted me to 3 balls that were available at Laughing Hens! Now I had never come across this beautiful gem of shop before…but I hit the order button and am now just waiting for my yarn to arrive, so I can get that ruffle hooked hopefully before my niece arrives!
Talking of patterns I just wanted to say a HUGE thank you for the support you have given to me with my recent pattern release.
You have really blessed me!
I promise I won’t leave it as long before I next drop by.
Stay safe.
xxxxx
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
Wow…I have a finished blanket to show you! You may want to take a seat at this point as it has probably come as quite a shock to you. It may be even more shocking when I reveal that it has taken me over 18 months to get this stunner finished.
You can read the original post I wrote way back, when I initially put it on my hook just here. It has been neglected and unloved for much of that time, which is crazy because I have thoroughly enjoyed hooking every last stitch. The new owner of this handsome blanket now has it in his possession and I am so thrilled as he always was the intended heritor of this creation. I am also thrilled that I finished hooking the main body and border of this blanket in and around Brixham Harbour which seemed so fitting as I had named it the Charming Harbour Blanket.
I couldn’t resist adding four enormous pom poms to each corner. Mr R did not approve…but inside I squealed with delight at those fat poms!
I love this blanket and I love that it is certain to have more seaside adventures in a happy little camper van…because every camper van needs a little (lot) of crochet!
Now I’m pretty certain that a finished item equals buying more yarn…right?
xxxxx
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
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
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
This is the fifth tea cosy in the Grandma collection, and is quite simply delightful. The use of traditional granny stitches means that this pattern can be hooked within an evening. Ideal for that last minute handmade present. This cosy is sweetly uncomplicated and will cloak any tea pot with elegance.
Row 20: ch1 (does not count as dc), dc into same space, dc in next 2sts, dc in next 10 chain sts, dc in next 6sts, ch3 (counts as tr), turn. (19dc).
Row 22 – 32: Repeat rows 3 and 4 but omit turning ch on row 32.
nb/ top and bottom – x1 granny cluster underneath spout
Noting top and bottom correctly, attach gold yarn to top right side.
Now to complete the petals.
Now I think it’s time for a brew…don’t you?
In my haste to release the fourth gorgeous tea cosy of the Grandma Collection…The Grandma Florence tea cosy; I realised that I hadn’t posted the formal introduction. So here it is…
I followed in her duty shoes and trained as a nurse, inspired by memories of her putting on her nurses hat and cape…of course that style of uniform has long since gone…but I wanted to help people just like her.
So this is the Grandma Florence tea cosy, a pretty cosy woven with bright ribbons to represent the encouragement, love and inspiration that my Momma has woven throughout my life… Thanks Mom!
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