Tag Archives: Wool

Froggie Bonnet – a slightly different version

It’s been a while since I’ve published a post, but rest assured, I haven’t been crochet idle (ha ha – is that even a term?) – while I haven’t spent as much time as I would have liked on projects, here is a commission I recently completed.

A while back, I published a post with a free pattern for a froggie bonnet. I was asked if I could make a slight variation of that with the main differences being the straps are ribbed and are an extension of the rib border. I also thought that the eyes would look awesome with a bit of a sparkle, so decided to use a yarn with a gold strand through it.

The biggest challenge, believe it or not, was actually positioning the eyes. Once that was sorted, the bonnet finally made its way to its new owner, Amelie – and here she is!

Fruit Garden CAL – progress

It’s been a while since I last posted – and it’s not because I have no projects completed or on the go, but sheer laziness on my part in taking photos of my work! I am much happier with a hook, or needle in hand than setting the scene and taking the pics! So today, I decided that, come what may, I needed to pick up my handy mobile phone and snap a few shots.

Anyway, back to the Janie Crow CAL which I started a while back – I had ordered the yarn pack for the light colour scheme as the other one was out of stock, but my heart was set on the dark scheme too.

If you’d like to see the pattern details and where I started, have a look at my original Fruit Garden CAL post →

Here is where I got to so far using the original colour scheme (n.b. the CAL is not yet over – we’re still around halfway)

As I could not find the yarn packs in stock for the dark scheme, I opted to find similar shades locally in a different brand of wool (Schachenmayr). Due to the impact of COVID-19 on shipping, not all colours were available, and not wanting to wait for more shipments to arrive, I went with a few alternatives. You can see the outcome below.

I have to say that I much prefer the quality and feel of the Schachenmayr acrylic yarn to the Stylecraft one. It feels a lot softer. The other difference I noted is the Schachenmayr yarn is a little thicker – so the end result is a bit larger – but I don’t mind that and I’m quite happy with the outcome.

I still have quite a stash of yarn, so maybe I will make yet another blanket in a totally different colour scheme of my own design 🙂

If you are following the same CAL, I would love to see your work! Please feel free to share.

Update: Want to see how it all turned out? You can see my finished Fruit Garden blankets here: Fruit Garden CAL – Complete →

Cute little bag – with tapestry crochet base

A few posts ago, I showed you my very first attempt at tapestry crochet, in which I made a little “bowl”.

Well, I was not satisfied and went on to transform it into a little bag. I did not make the sides using tapestry crochet, but instead made little puff stitches – like the ones used in the infinity scarf which I posted about in my last post. Here it is – what do you think?

 

Infinity Scarf

I love winter, and it is slowly on its way in 🙂 One of the things I love about winter is the clothes – those warm, soft & fluffy woolies, in which you wrap up tight.  So, here is my first project in preparation for this season : the infinity scarf.

I love infinity scarves as they are so versatile and you can wear them in many ways.

For this one, I have used a variegated yarn by Katia which has a gold thread running through it, but you can use any yarn of your choice. As for stitch choice, I used the puff stitch because it forms double-sided bobbles that are both thick and fluffy – just what you want for your scarf.

This is a really easy project, and in case you have not made a puff stitch before, here is an explanation :

Step 1 : –  Start by making a chain ( it should be in multiples of 2 stitches plus 4) till it is as wide as you would like your scarf to be.

Step 2: – Once you have made the chain, yarn over hook and insert the hook into the 4th chain from hook. Yarn over again and draw up a loop. You should have three loops on your hook. ** Yarn over hook and insert the hook into the same 4th chain from hook. Yarn over again and draw up a loop. Repeat from ** once more. You should now have 7  loops on the hook. (N.B. some people will even make puff stitches with 9 or 11 loops – it’s totally up to you – but I opted for 7.)

Step 3 : – Yarn over and draw the yarn through all the loops. This is your Puff Stitch.

Step 4: – With the loop pulled through the puff stitch, make a single chain to secure your Puff stitch.

Step 5: – Skip 1 chain stitch and make your next puff stitch in the next chain stitch. Repeat till you get to the end of the chain. You should end the row with a puff stitch.

Step 6: – At the end of your row, flip your work and make 3 chain stitches.

Step 7:- For all subsequent rows, make your puff stitches in the chain-1 space from the previous row.

Repeat till the scarf is as long as you like. Once done, I joined the last row to the initial row with slip stitches – but you can sew this if you prefer.

Enjoy!!

 

Santa Cushion

Christmas is round the corner, and I can’t wait to start decorating!

Here’s a Santa cushion cover I made using the Bernat Santa Pillow pattern from Yarnspirations.

Bernat Santa Pillow – Free Pattern →

Instead of using a zipper to close the cushion, I used buttons and crocheted little hoops.

Enjoy! 🎅

 

To “Gnome” me is to love me…..

Christmas has to be my favourite time of the year, and this year, I just had to make some Scandinavian Christmas gnomes – oh my gosh – they are just adorable! You can find lots of free patterns on Ravelry, and then put your own spin on them. Here are some of mine… and keep a lookout — there are more already being made!

“Bootie-ful” baby booties

 

Here are some more booties I made. 😊

I modified the pattern from my earlier Cute Elmo Baby Booties → post and embroidered some little flowers all around to make them pretty.

What do you think?

Cute Elmo Baby Booties

Baby things are so cute, and these couldn’t be any cuter! What a great way to start baby’s shoe collection — I’m a firm believer that you can never have enough shoes! 😊

I made these using the Elmo Inspired Baby Booties pattern by Olivia Kent of Hopeful Honey.

Elmo Inspired Baby Booties – Free Pattern →

Tapestry Crochet

I am always on the lookout for new techniques and ideas when it comes to crochet and recently, I came across something called tapestry crochet. This technique will allow you to make the most beautiful and intricate designs – some can look very complex and you might think that they are for very experienced crocheters – but other than multiple colour changes, tapestry crochet is practically the same as normal crochet, using a single crochet as the main stitch, and using several colours of yarn at the same time.  So give it a try!

Here is my first attempt where I wanted to get a feel of the technique – the pattern I made up as I went along.  It’s a little bowl 🙂

If you’re new to tapestry crochet, this step-by-step Tapestry Crochet Tutorial → has some useful tips on carrying your yarn, changing colours and getting started with the technique.

Now – I’m off to start my next tapestry crochet project – so stay tuned….

Turquoise sturdy handbag – Variations

I have fallen in love with this bag — so much so that I ended up making several more, with a few variations. Here they are!

If you’d like to make one yourself, you can find the pattern and my original tips in my Turquoise Sturdy Handbag post →

With ribbon :

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2 colours :

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With a wide shoulder strap

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