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?
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?
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.
rainbow baby blanket
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.
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.
I have been reviewing my yarn stash…I have lots of little balls and some big balls of mainly acrylic yarn…mostly Stylecraft special dk and some balls of ‘I just don’t know what’. They are leftovers from projects long gone by like my Happy Ripple
the ‘his’ colour wayCosy Cottage Blanket by Attic 24
Of course, I did well last year de-stashing a lot of what I had with the lovely coastal crochet CAL
I was going to gather the rest up and take it to the charity shop…as I have felt for quite a long while that the numerous odd balls of this colour and that colour have been blocking my creative mojo. But, as I gathered what was quite a tangled mess a pang of guilt coursed through me…it seemed so wasteful.
I peered into the bag of what I had managed to detangle, not even sure if I liked the colours anymore, but I couldn’t shake that wasteful feeling. I also felt tired, but I needed to hook; and so before long a simple granny stripe (there are several versions of the pattern out there) began to fall from my hook. Even more surprisingly, the random colours were so very satisfying to my soul…as was the feeling that this odd surplus of yarn was not only becoming useful, but it was becoming something rather splendid indeed!
I am calling it my ‘Make Do’ blanket. I’m not sure what size it will be when it is finished…I’m not even sure how many chains I began with, I’m just making do!
I spent a lazy New Years afternoon looking at lots of different heart patterns over on pinterest, but this pattern was written well and was my favourite by far.
I really like the neat little invisible decrease stitch which is recommended in the pattern too. I had read ‘invisible decrease’ in a few patterns, and had no idea how to make my decrease invisible, but this pattern clearly explains how to execute said stitch…and it is super nifty and is indeed invisible.
These hearts are made from Stylecraft Special Chunky and measure approx. 10cms x 9cms.
I ended up hooking several and found it a very pleasant way to spend an afternoon thawing out after an extremely cold and particular lengthy walk with the dogs.
I think these hearts would be adorable as little newborn photo props or for gender reveals or perhaps even for Valentine’s which is just around the corner!
As 2018 draws to a close and 2019 peeps over the horizon, it is that time of year when bloggers from all around the world post their obligatory review of the year.
Yes, this is that type of post…however, I have kept it simple and I have decided to choose just one photo from each month…yarn related of course.
Suffice just to say, 2018 has had it’s ups and downs, as I am sure it has for you; but crochet has, as always been my constant therapy! 2018 was all about busting my stash, finishing Projects Half Done (PHD’s) and learning to knit…I have also released the following FREE patterns this year which I hope you have enjoyed.
Being part of an amazing crafty community means so much to me and I just want to say a MASSIVE thank you to you, whether you are a first time reader or if you are a regular here at the nest. Your support and encouragement is treasured.
February, revolved around guilt free crochet as I ended up on crutches and had to take a month out of work. Luckily, for me I found the beautiful Seaside Stashbusting Blanket CAL hosted by the very talented Coastal Crochet It was the perfect project to bust some of my stash…every cloud eh!
March 2018
crochet and coffee
This is my favourite photo from March. My Seaside Stash Busting Blanket was starting to look more blanket like and by now I was enjoying the random colour selection from my stash.
April 2018
On a personal level April was profoundly traumatic and sad here at the nest, but on a yarny level I released the pattern for this beauty. I just love this blanket so, so much and it proved to be a welcome shower of cheer which burst forth amongst the grief. This also fulfilled the remit of completing a PHD!
2018 saw the beginning of my learning to knit adventure…this is as far as I got. I started really well and perhaps got a little ambitious…which became my downfall. Here are my posts to prove it here,just here and here
I haven’t returned to this project yet as I can’t work out where I am in the pattern! I do really want to finish this off…a New Year Challenge perhaps?
June 2018
We had an unusually hot summer here in the UK, so hooking al fresco was great now that my Seaside Stash Busting Blanket had grown in size. We had a beautiful sunny weekend glamping and those soft pink and grey shells will forever remind me of that recharging break away with Mr R and the Robins. You can read about those glamping adventures just here.
July 2018
The stash busting continued throughout July and inspired me to hook this cheeky dude. I had some black, white and grey Paintbox cottons just sitting in my stash and the most apparent thing to make was a zebra of course.
Having never made amigurumi before I am now completely smitten with all things amigurumi, which came as a total surprise to me! I made so many mistakes with this pattern, but learnt lots about the process of amigurumi along the way…if you want the full details of the mistakes I made take a look here.
August 2018
This was a joy to hook and also busted some more stash. I made this Vintage Market Tote for my Mama…and she loved it
September 2018
The end was in sight for the now glorious Seaside Stash Busting Blanket…and just in time for the change of seasons as Autumn crept in.
October 2018
A real …tadaaa… moment. This beautiful unicorn was made with a lot of love in my heart and no mistakes…well none that I know of! A real gem of a pattern that was easy to follow and so well written. It was an absolute joy to send her to her forever home and I am looking forward to hearing what she has been named. The pattern details are just here.
November 2018
My two favourite things to do when I’m on my own are to crochet and drink coffee and if I can do both whilst watching the world go by then that is near perfect for me.
This is another stash busting win for me also…a super soft and pretty baby blanket using up left over yarn from my Sunday Shawl.
This photo is from January…a PHD fail. I have added some more rows over the course of the year…honest I have. I don’t know why I haven’t finished it. The pattern is simple and it is very handsome… and it is not really that far from being finished; but the pretty things call me more loudly.
All in all 2018 has been quite yarny, maybe not as yarny as some, but yarny nonetheless. I have met some amazing crafty friends along the way, busted through a lot of my stash and finished a PHD or two.
Well this is the last yarn a long Sunday in this June series. Apologies for this last session being a bit late…It has everything to do with a manic weekend, a 16 mile charity walk and a wedding in a field! It is still Sunday in the UK…so only a bit late eh!
I now have a little collection of cute summer projects and if you follow me on Instagram you will know what has captured my heart…but I will post about that separately in the week.
Just a couple of weekends ago, I abandoned work early, gathered my brood and made a little journey to a truly magical place. We only travelled 30 minutes away but we found ourselves in a different world.
We went glamping…that is camping in style!
And let me tell you it was absolutely luxurious. Running hot water, flushing toilet, the most comfortable bed in the world (honestly I felt like I was sleeping in a cloud) and a roll top bath with a gorgeous and very private view.
The boys happily shunned their screens and devices and spent hours splashing in the hot tub
and lighting fires
We cooked contently on the dutch oven (although there was a large wood burning stove inside our abode)
And we cycled the short distance into Arley where the great Severn Valley Railway passes through.
In the evenings we lit another fire and made use of the blankets provided for us;
and we chatted and laughed and breathed in and out deeply inhaling as much of the tranquillity as we could whilst toasting marsh mallows and drinking bubbles.
Of course I took my own blankets and they looked so pretty out on the decking…which has fairy lights at night.
(Yes, that is a candelabra you can see on the dining table! )
There was also plenty of time to crochet
and knit
This place is a true gem…and look what I found in the dresser…
a happy piece of yarn!!!!
So thank you Mark and Sonja for all of the fairy dust you sprinkled for our stay with you….we loved it!
Oh my word… you guys have hooked, knit, sewn and crafted in some amazing places…but I think the most out there has to go to Connie who hooks whilst being a pillion passenger on the back of a motorbike! Yes you read motorbike!!!!
Now that’s extreme crochet and some serious nerves of steel.
S0, welcome to this Sunday’s yarn a long. So far this month we have nattered about our crafty hacks and our alfresco crafty habits in honour of world knit in public day.
This week I thought I would like to gather your ideas about what you like to hook, knit, sew, or craft in the sunshine. The weather here in the UK has been quite pleasant of late and I have several blankets on my hook and it’s just too warm to be hooking under a blanket for any length of time. I did write a blog post about the top 5 things to crochet when it’s hot which is just here…they included
Crochet blog 