-
An Unexpected Bonus.
Autumn is my favourite season. I love crisp, cold mornings, even wet and windy days. I love the turning of the trees and huge drifts of fallen leaves , the colours, and the fruitfulness. And living in a small village, we get the best of the harvest season.
I found this gorgeous Kirsten Holloway Designs for a scrappy art yarn scarf.
I sorted through my yarn stash, picked out colours and textures, and got everything ready to start it the next day.
Then, of all the irony, it was a glorious, warm September day. And I was starting a winter scarf.Well, that’s creativity for you!
I love this ladies’ designs. They are intricate and beautiful, and i love the textures she creates. Each time I make something of hers, I learn something about crochet. She has lots of free patterns on her website, and I would encourage you to take a look.
So I will start my scarf on this beautiful day because one thing you can guarantee about the British weather is that it will change tomorrow
-
A Crafters Christmas
Have you heard of Crafter’s Christmas? It’s generally held of to be in July. It’s the time when Crafter’s start to prepare for Christmas. And they need to!
It’s not just about all those handcrafted gifts but about Christmas Fairs too. Bookings for those few weeks before Christmas are being taken and you need to cram as many in as you can.
It’s all about finding that fine balance between too much stock and not enough. Too little and you might sell it all first time. Too much and it’s hanging around all year. I solve this dilemma by only doing one Fair, at my local village Hall. But Ive started preparing already.
Last year, I made gnomes, lots of gnomes and they sold really well. This year I’m doing Fairies and Reindeer. I’ve tried a new type of Fairy but I’m not sure if i like it.
And I’ve got a different reindeer pattern too. This one I like much better.
So, if you want to start crafting for Christmas, try this simple star pattern.
Simple Christmas Star
You will need:
50g DK yarn
Small amount silver yarn
3mm hook
Small button
Small length ribbon
Abbreviations
Ch chain
Tr treble
DC double crochet
Ss slip stitch
Sp space
FO fasten off
Trtr triple treble, yo hook x 3, insert hook through stitch,( yo pull through 2 loop,) 3 times
Instructions
6 ch, join into a ring with ss.
Round 1. 3ch ( counts as 1st treble) 2 tr into ring *3 ch, 3tr into ring, rep from * four more times, 3ch, join with ss to beginning of round.
Round 2. Ss Into each tr to the first 3ch sp,(3 ch ( counts as 1st treble) 2tr, 3 ch, 3 tr) into same sp,*(3 tr, 3 ch, 3tr) into next 3 ch sp, repeat from * 4 more times. FO.
Round 3 with silver yarn, join yarn to any 3ch sp, (2 DC, 3ch, ss into 3rd ch from hook, 2dc) into same space, *1 dc in each of next 3 tr, trtr inyo second tr of three tr group on previous round, 1dc in each next 3tr*** (2 DC, 3ch, ss into 3rd ch from hook, 2dc) into next 3 ch sp, rep from * to o end, ending last rep at *** join with ss.
Finishing
Add button to centre and thread ribbon through one of the points -
Crochet on the Catwalk
Have you noticed crochet is everywhere! That Taylor Swift dress went viral and sold out in hours.
And 24 hours later there were copy cat patterns and yarn bundles up for sale.
If you are a crocheter, then you have the advantage of being able to make your own catwalk creations. I don’t make garments normally, I find the fitting too difficult, but I’ve been tempted! I looked online for an easy pattern for a loose cardigan. I found this free pattern at Yarnspirations. And this is the result.
I love it and the colour will go really well with a favourite summer dress.
Inspired by my success, my next project is this gorgeous vintage pattern that belonged to my crochet nana. I’ve got this lovely yarn and I’ve made a start.
-
A Ripping Yarn…
I’ve always liked to reuse and recycle in my crafting but always been frustrated that I can’t do this with yarn. In the days when everyone hand knitted, you could buy jumpers from the jumble sale and pull them back to reuse the yarn but those days are gone. You can buy yarn in charity shops but not very often.
I’ve discovered a solution to my dilemma. Not really upcycling but re-using. I’ve pulled back all my half finished projects that are lying around and gathered up all the half balls of yarn and I’m making ‘scrapcakes’. What’s a scrapcake you may ask. Well, I tie all the scraps of yarn together and wind them into balls. I have a yarn ball winder that makes those cakes that you see variegated yarn sold in. I’ve made my own variegated yarn!
You need to have fairly long pieces and then I sorted them according to weight, all the DK together and colour, so all the blues together etc . They are perfect for projects like scarves or blankets, you get random variations in colour and they look great.
I’ve made three blankets so far and I’m working on a fourth in green shades.
My aim by the end of the year is to only have full balls of yarn in my stash. And to only buy more yarn with a specific project in mind.
Yeah, right like that will ever happen! -
A Crafting Community
I am so lucky with where I live. The little village of Elswick in Lancashire is a truly creative community with a thriving arts and craft culture.
It boasts a craft club and an arts club, a choir, a village garden group and they all collaborate on making our village a vibrant and beautiful place to live.
The Elswick in Bloom group do a fantastic job of making the public planting spaces a riot of colour, unusual planting structures and a joy of scents.
The Elswick Singers are a long established group and hold concerts twice a year in the Village Hall.
The Crafty Ladies club meets once a week to create and collaborate on a real mix of projects, currently producing Boomerang Bags. All meetings accompanied by tea and biscuits of course!
Elswick Community Arts Group is a fairly new venture, growing from the success of the first Art and Craft Exhibition in the Village Hall last year. Their aim is to encourage all ages to take up an artistic pursuit and to help people develop their skills. They also want to involve everyone in community Art projects.
We also have a group of crocheters and knitters who regularly decorate the village with their projects. From postbox toppers to a granny square Christmas tree, the village is yarn bombed on a regular basis.
And the best of all…all these groups work together, making our village into the vibrant, creative place that it is.
-
Crochet Abroad
I’ve just returned from a 2 week cruise of the Mediterranean. Yes, I know showing off but what I wanted to tell you is how popular crochet is in Europe. I spotted it all over the place.
I took my crochet with me and worked on it on sea days. Several other passengers came over to introduce themselves and ask what I was making. I’d taken a blanket project which is made up of bands of different colours and stitches, which provoked lots of comments.
I had a lovely chat with this lady in Valetta, Malta. She was making and selling Amigurumi on the street. She spent ages chatting to myself and another lady, we even got out our phones and showed each other photos of our work.
When we reached Kusadassi in Turkey on a Sunday, there was a craft market on the Quay. Lots of crochet for sale there, amigurumi and bags being most popular.
Onto Rhodes Old Town, and in among the tourist shops a great range of crocheted bags and Plushies, toys made from chenille yarn.
Crochet can only be made by hand, although there are some machine made fabrics that look like crochet but aren’t. The question is , do you buy from shops? You have to think about who is making these cheap crochet items. Almost certainly they are being made by cheap labour somewhere in the third world. Those crochet items that you see at craft events that look expensive compared to what you buy from those Chinese websites, there is a reason for that. Lots of hours go into making them, so think before buying about the person who has made them.
-
Holiday Crafting
I always take something crafty on holiday, usually my crochet but this time I’m trying my hand at sketching too.
I am not good at drawing but encouraged by my fellow Elswick Community Arts group members I’m having a go.
Trieste is the perfect place to start, there is wonderful architecture here. So, I’ve taken photos and now, back on board, I’m going to try sketching some of the buildings we saw.
-
Pom-pom Bunnies
This is my session from the Virtual Village Hall today.
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/sF9KWfDwUaETraum/
I’ve been making lots of different bunnies for Easter and here is my crochet pattern for the small bunny.
Small Rabbit
Materials
DK yarn 50g
3mm hook
Safety eyes
Fibre fill
Black embroidery thread
Abbreviations
MR Magic ring
Ch chain
Dec double crochet
Ss slip stitch
Inc. Increase
Dec decrease
BLO Back loop only
FLO Front loop only
Pattern
Body
MR 6 DC into ring
Inc 6 times (12)
(1dc, Inc) 6 times (18)
(2dc , Inc) 6 times. (24)
(3dc , Inc) 6 times (30)
BLO (2 DC, Inc 2dc) 6 times (36)
Next 6 rounds 36 DC
(Dec, 4 DC) 3 times, Dec, 16 DC (32)
Next 2 rounds 32 DC
(Dec, 3sc) 3 times, Dec, 15 DC (28)
Next 2 rounds 28 DC
Stuff
(Dec, 2dc) 3 times, Dec 14 DC (24)
Next 2 rounds straight
(2 dc, Dec) 6 times (18)
FO leaving long tail.
Head
MR 6dc into ring
Inc 6 times (12)
(1dc, Inc) 6 times (18)
Work 1 round 18 dc
(2dc, Inc) 6 times (24)
Work 1 round 24 DC
(3 dc, Inc) 6 times (30)
Work 1 round 30 DC
(4dc, Inc) 6 times (36)
7 rounds 36 DC
Insert safety eyes between rounds 9 and 10
(Dec, 4 DC) 6 times (30)
(Dec, 3dc) 6 times (24)
Stuff
(Dec , 2 DC) 6 times (18)
(Dec, 1 DC) 6 times. (12)
Dec 6 timesc
FO and close
Ears make 2
MR 4 DC in ring
(1 DC , Inc) 2 times (6)
(1dc, Inc ) 3 times (9)
9 DC
(2 DC, Inc) 3 times (12)
5 rounds 12 dc
(5 dc, Dec) 3 times (10)
FO leave long tail
Arms make 2
MR, 6 DC in ring
Inc 6 times (12)
Work 2 rounds 12 DC
(2dc, Dec) 4 times (8)
Work 6 rounds 8dc
FO leave long tail
Legs make 2
MR 6 DC into ring
Inc 6 times (12)
Work 6 rounds
(2dc, Dec) 4 times
FO leaving long tail
Flatten arms and legs, Sew arms and legs to body. Flatten ears, Sew ears to head. Sew head to body. Sew nose and mouth using black embroidery thread -
March is Crochet Month UK
Crochet Easter Chick National Crochet Month is celebrated in March every year. This is a month to interlock loops of yarn or wool and make beautiful pieces to use yourself or give to friends and family members. Crocheting is often confused with knitting, but the differences between the two crafts are quite clear. In crocheting, you complete every stitch before moving on to the next one.
The earliest remains of knitted clothing date back to the 11th century A.D., but it is thought that the skill of making clothes out of cotton and yarn dates back to the earliest of times. The first details of crocheting emerged in the Dutch magazine “Penelope” in 1823, with an exhibit of then-stylish purses crocheted with silk thread. By the 1840s, many books were discussing crochet. The Scottish were among the first in the English Isles to adopt this new method of knitting, and soon local people’s preference changed from conventional stitching to crocheting.Crochet needles were given the name ‘shepherds’ hooks’ and different materials — such as steel, ivory, and boxwood — were used to make them. Today’s crochet hooks are generally either aluminium or plastic, and you can get a wide variety of styles. Acrylic yarn is hard-wearing and easy care for garments, but nothing beats pure wool for feel and look, as long as you don’t shrink it in the wash!
The big yarn manufacturers often have free patterns to download, so take a look at some of these links and make yourself something nice. -
Easter Bunnies
I’m ramping up production of bunnies in the work room at the moment. I’ve got a stall at the Village Hall Spring Gift Fair and I’ve decided to make Bunnies and maybe a few chicks.
I have 3 favourite rabbit patterns and Im making several of each. The biggest is Millie Rabbit, I’ve made lots of these, including a ballerina version. The medium sized bunny is Benji, and the smallest is Minnie Bunny. I’m making them in lots of colours and giving them all little accessories – jackets, dresses , flowers and Easter eggs.
The origin of the Easter Bunny goes back to North America. The idea of an egg-giving hare went to the U.S. in the 18th century. Protestant German immigrants in the Pennsylvania Dutch area told their children about the “Osterhase” . Hase means “hare”, not rabbit, and in Northwest European folklore the “Easter Bunny” indeed is a hare. According to the legend, only good children received gifts of coloured eggs in the nests that they made in their caps and bonnets before Easter.
These bunnies make a great Easter present, packaged together with a chocolate egg.
Confessions of a crafty butterfly
What Kate Made Today 