Cosmic Cal Blanket by Helen Shrimpton

I wanted to make a blanket to match the decor of one of our rooms in yellows and greens.Having made a Helen Shrimpton design before I thought the Cosmic Cal looked perfect.

I made it in the Harmony colourway using Stylecraft Special Double knit in lemon, pistachio, parchment, walnut and mustard.

Really well written pattern, lots of photo help and written descriptions, I particularly like the stitch count given at the end of each row or round so you know exactly what you should have and can easily correct errors before going on too far. 

You can find this pattern and many others for FREE! On Helen’s website: 

http://www.crystalsandcrochet.com/

 I’d been using the U.K. terms without photos  (so I could print the instructions only) however there wasn’t one for section 3 so had to use the US terms, not a problem, just needed to remember that they are different.

On round 52 and 53 I changed the stitch to UK half treble on the long side and left short side as UK treble as I want the blanket to be more rectangular that it I was looking.

Round 67 proved tricky for me, I struggled to get into the back loop of the picot stitches, kept breaking my thumb nail so opted to do it my way which proved a bit tricky getting the correct stitch count.

By now I wasn’t enjoying making it and it was big enough for my needs so I did a few rows of my own design and finished off.

This is no reflection on a fabulous well written pattern, just my personal experience.

Really happy with my finished blanket. Thank you Helen for sharing your beautiful patterns.

Happy crocheting!

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Crochet Flower Blanket or Playmat Pattern Review

 Spoke Flower Blanket by The Crochet Fix.

This pattern was something I’d wanted to do for a long time so was really happy when I got time to get started.

It did start off a bit of a nightmare, nothing to do with the pattern which is extremely well written by the way, no it was me not reading it properly!

I got through the first full pattern repeat and all looked fine, it was nice and flat and looked really nice in the colours I’d chosen.

So I continued on but it started to pucker at one side of the spoke of each petal and twist around, like this ......

So I checked the pattern, felt sure I was right but undid it back to the dark purple where it had been fine.

Off I went again but the same thing happened, I thought maybe it would improve when blocked so carried on, but sadly it got worse and the puckering looked awful, no way was this going to come out with blocking.......

Sadly it was time to undo again! 😥

I nearly gave up, it was so much work to undo but decided to really sit and read the pattern again, I must be missing something and indeed I was, where the pattern called for UK treble/US dc down the side of each petal and UK half treble/US hdc hdc at the spoke, I was doing all half treble from the increase at the petal point! 

Studying the numbered round chart I had a eureka moment realising how I’d misunderstood. What a relief, it meant I could get back on track and actually finish it.

My advice is read, read, read, study, study,study. Look at the charts which give all the stitch counts for each round and you won’t go wrong. 

Here’s my finished blanket or it can be a baby playmat. It measures 36” across from point to point, worked in double knit on a 4mm hook.

I’ve also used the same pattern to make some placemats and coasters, doing just the first few rounds. For the small coasters I did just one colour each round, for the larger mat I did two rounds per colour.

An absolutely brilliant pattern and offered for free which is so kind bearing in mind the amount of work that must have gone into it. Thank you The Crochet Fix. 

Find the pattern on Ravelry: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/spoke-flower-blanket




Happy crocheting!

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Rudolf Christmas Crochet Amigurumi and Soft Toy

Who doesn't love Rudolf!

Using the Reindeer Ralf rattle pattern which is free on Ravelry from Stip and Haak https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rammelaar-rendiertje-ralf

The pattern is really easy to follow and has photo instructions as well as written ones.

I made a Christmas tree decoration by using the basic pattern for the head but not attaching it to the rattle part. I made a tree hanger by making  a loop between the antlers. Using 4ply cotton yarn (Drops Safran) and a 3.5mm hook they came out a good size for a tree decoration.

I then made a large reindeer doll the same way but using a larger hook and DK yarn and  used my knowledge from making other soft toys to make a body and arms/legs to go with it.

I later found that Stip and Haak have a full pattern available for the same idea! So if you don't know how to do a body you can buy the pattern here: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rendier-ralf

They make lovely Christmas decorations and it's a shame they have to be put away in the loft for the majority of the year because they are so lovely!

Happy crocheting!

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Crochet Lamb pattern review

Pookie_Doodle

I  made this little lamb from the free pattern I found via Ravelry.

The pattern is very easy to follow and well set out with clear instructions. I made it in a couple of evenings.

I couldn’t get the recommended yarn but did have a ball of Drops Boucle which I thought would be good for the fleece effect.

I found the Boucle impossible to crochet with though. I just couldn’t see the stitches and kept missing them and getting holes and mis counted rounds.

So I tried holding the yarn along with some cream 4ply I had and it made the stitch definition much better and actually gave the fleece a two tone look.

The face, ears and hooves were done in brown double knit.

I recommend following the instructions for defining the eyes, it really made a big difference to the face and also the yarn wrapping to make the split hooves, it really finished off the look.

Very pleased with the finished lamb.

Free pattern here:

 https://hobbii.co.uk/teddy-basserne

Happy crocheting!

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Fire and Ice Shawl Pattern Review

Pookie_Doodle

This pattern makes a lovely shawl, I used the recommended yarn Lion Brand Shawl in a Ball metallic. "Moonstone" shade.

It is beautiful to work with and although described as an aran yarn it is much thinner, works more like a double knit to me. It is cotton and acrylic with added metallic thread.

I used a 6mm crochet hook to get the recommended gauge.


The pattern is by Marie Segares and is easy to follow, a free version is available on Marie's blog or you can buy a pdf ready made copy. Full details on Ravelry here: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fire-and-ice-shawl-2

I did get a little confused with the instructions - for instance at the end of some rows it says "(Decrease 1 st to an even number of sts)" I thought this meant that you then decreased at the end of the row but what it is actually doing is just confirming what you have done in that row, you've decreased one stitch

After reading some comments on Ravelry I understood it better and I think once you get into actually working something it makes more sense than just reading a pattern. 

It is worked from side to side, starting at one point, working to a wide centre then decreasing down to the other side point.

One thing I did not like was the idea of making a separate small circle and stitching it on to the end to match the start. This is simply because I really hate sewing/joining :)

So, once I had come to the end instead of cutting my yarn I slip stitched over the the other side to make a small loop and into this I crocheted 6 trebles (dc in US terms) and weaved in the end to make it into a circle. It looks fine and certainly matches the start and any discrepancies, if there are any,  are hidden by the multi colour of the yarn. That's the best thing about multi colour yarns, they hide a multitude of sins. :)

I did work the edging stitches, someone said they didn't bother as they thought it did not look right as the colours changed along the row due to the yarn changes, but I think mine looked lovely and was happy with it. It's whatever suits you that matters.

I would highly recommend this pattern.

Happy crocheting!

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Yarn the Sheep free pattern from Yarnspirations. Pattern review

Pookie_Doodle


The pattern is free which is brilliant. It makes a lovely cuddly baby cocoon which fastens up the front and has a textured stitch which looks like the wool of a sheep.

Two ears on the hood and a pair of feet finish off the lovely little Lamb baby nest.

I did have a few problems with the pattern. I'm sure I have read it correctly but it just would not come right.

First there was a mistake for the buttonhole edging on the front it says to use MC (main colour, which is white) but it should be the grey contrast (A) 

Then when making up the pattern says "sew buttons to back and raglan button edgings" but there are no instructions to add a button edging to the back, the only instructions are for the 30 stitches down the front raglan on the sleeve and the button hole bands on the front.

This is how it looked once complete, nowhere to sew the buttons except on the actual back piece:

So I added my own button band to the back in grey by crocheting the 30 stitches down the front raglan as per the pattern but I didn't turn,  I continued down the back edge (around 35 stitches) then turned and worked the 5 rows.

This was a bit of a nightmare because I had already sewn it all together so had to undo the sleeves and in doing so accidentally cut one of the stitches so had to make the whole sleeve again:(

Never mind, it all came good in the end and I am really pleased with it. This is the back band looked, much nicer to sew the buttons on there:

Perfect gift for any new baby and a fun item too, baby is bound to turn a few heads. 

The bobbly fleece looks is super:

The pattern can be found free on Ravelry: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/yawn-the-sheep

Happy crocheting!

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Carol Singing Amigurumi Mice

Fell in love with these mice the first time I saw them and decided to make three, not for blind mice! but for a carol singing trio.

The pattern is free from Sharon at Amigurumi to Go. Thanks Sharon x

https://www.amigurumitogo.com/2015/12/crochet-mouse-free-pattern.html

An easy pattern to follow but I must admit after making three bodies, three heads, six arms, six ears and three tails I couldn't be bothered making six legs! So I hit on this idea:

I cut three circles of card crosswise from a loo roll, about half an inch high and glued them to a piece of card. These were going to hold the bottom ends of the mice so they stood up without falling over.

I then covered these and the card with acrylic toy stuffing to hide them, you could use cotton wool.

I made a lantern free hand by just crocheting a tube, stuffing it and surface crocheting a few lines to suggest glass panels. The lantern holder was a flexible drinking straw crocheted over. This I glued to the base of one of the mice.

The music stand was again made free hand, a rectangle of crochet for the music and a shorter straw for the stand.

I'm so pleased with it, everyone loves it and it is a lovely Christmas decoration.

Happy crocheting!

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Nativity Crochet Figures Set Amigurumi

I wanted to make a Nativity Set and came across this pattern from 5 Little Monsters: https://www.5littlemonsters.com/2015/11/crocheted-nativity-set.html

It is a FREE pattern - thank you for that Erica! - I found it a really easy pattern to follow, it was very detailed in it's instructions.

I didn't make the animals but did make Three Kings, these were made using the Joseph pattern and using a variety of bright yarns - I made up a few hat designs and a beard for one of them. Each is holding a gift, again I just made up a few shapes and added some gold thread.

For the weighted bases I cut out discs of plastic from the backs of those small notebooks you can buy as it was more rigid than any card that I had. I also sewed a small stitch through the centre of the disc to the base of the figure, to stop it moving about.

For the actual weights I filled those small plastic money bags that you get from the bank with gravel, folded over the top flap and then wrapped sellotape around to secure it and make sure the gravel could not come out. I then packed stuffing around the weight.

The figures stand approximately 8" high for the tallest.

The pattern does not give instructions for any features and this looks fine but I did decide to add just eyes - I did a half moon line in thin thread, which gives a closed eye, almost reverent look I thought.

I used lots of oddments of yarn from my stash, mainly DK or 4 ply and a 3.5mm crochet hook. 

It took me a whole year to make, not because it was hard or complicated but simply because I started in January 2018 and then kept stopping to do other things during the Spring and Summer, finally finishing it just in time for Christmas 2018! 

I sold it at a charity event raising money for a charity I work for :) I'm really happy that it was bought by a good friend of mine and now adorns her Christmas decorations.

Hope you have a go, it was great fun to make.

Happy crocheting!

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Winter Bunny Amigurumi with Carrot Sledge

When I first saw this pattern I fell in love with it, how cute is this little bunny pulling his/her little carrot sledge. 

The pattern is free (link below) from Amigurumitogo. Sharon creates beautiful amigurumi and her patterns are always free, no matter how complicated. How kind is that?

I did make a few slight changes to the pattern:

1: I didn't have enough yarn to make two sides to the sledge and sandwich plastic between to strengthen it.

So instead I used some fine wire and crocheted it to the edge to attach it to the carrot shaped piece, you can just see the wire on the wrong side, between the stitches. I was then able to pull and shape it to get the carrot look just right.

2. In the pattern Sharon says that the bunny will not stand up alone, she used pins to make it stand up for photos. I wanted to be able to make it stand as a Christmas decoration without pins as young grandchildren would probably be picking it up, so after a bit of pondering I decided to make the tail quite large and position it so that it acted like a third leg and supported the back, allowing it to stand.

I made it in two evenings, the pattern is very easy to follow with lots of photo help and instructions.

I used Drops Safran 100% cotton yarn and a 3.00 mm crochet hook. The finished size is approx. 6" long on the sledge (including the curve) and the bunny is 6" tall from foot to tip of ear.

Find the pattern here: https://www.amigurumitogo.com/2015/12/winter-bunny-free-amigurumi-pattern.html or on Ravelry: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/winter-bunny

There is also a separate pattern for the hat and scarf which is linked from the bunny pattern.


Happy crocheting!

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Wild Wheat Shawl Pattern Review

I recently found this FREE pattern for a lovely little neck shawl.

It is by Johanna Lindahl at Mijocrochet the pattern can be found here:

https://mijocrochet.se/2016/12/29/wild-wheat-shawl-sjal/

It is available in English, Swedish, Dutch and Danish. Thank you Johanna for sharing your beautiful work for free!

 

I made mine in Boyes 100% mercerised cotton yarn, it took just under one ball. I used a 2.5 mm crochet hook.

If you print out the pattern I would definitely recommend printing in colour if you can because the pattern shows the stitches on the chart in different colours and makes it easier to see what stitches you are going to be doing. 

I would definitely recommend this pattern, very easy to follow the instructions and it grew very quickly.

I've also done a video review showing the shawl and explaining a little about my experience of using the pattern, just click below:

 

Happy crocheting!

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Summer Sun Hat in tape yarn

This was a new experience for me - using tape yarn.
I used Stylecraft Mystique Quick and Light in colour "Azul" (2565). It took exactly 2 x 50g balls to make the sun hat.

I used a 4mm crochet hook.


Yarn is currently available on eBay: http://bit.ly/2GVXvIw

Designed by Ashleigh Kiser the pattern is free if you use Ashleigh's blog post or you can buy a paid for pdf pattern, links available on Ravelry: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/june-sun-hat

It was really easy and I made it in a few hours. The tape yarn is good to work with although I would advise against pulling to too tightly - like at the start when tightening the magic ring - it does snap more easily that some yarns.

I loved the idea of strengthening the brim with slip stitches! It really worked. I've made hats before but they always flop down in my eyes, this is flexible enough to fold into your bag but firm enough to have a good stand out brim. I added a little slip stitched contrast in white around the crown.

Big thank you to Ashleigh for sharing her pattern for free and for creating such a lovely sun hat that really works!

Happy crocheting!

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Lacy Feather and Fan Shawl

I made this lovely lacy fan shawl for my daughter in law for a cruise she was going on.

Designed by A. Westbrook the pattern is a free download on Ravelry. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lacy-feather-and-fan-wrap

It was an easy pattern and I didn't particularly follow any gauge, I used a very fine cotton thread yarn that I had in my stash and used a 4.00 mm hook. It came out fine on the width and I just kept crocheting until it was the length I wanted. If you did need a wider shawl it would be easy to just add in another pattern repeat.

The pattern consists of two rows which you soon remember so you don't need to keep looking at the pattern sheet.

It looked beautiful when worn.

I also added some beads to the edges just to give a bit of weight. 

Although it was an easy pattern to follow I still made mistakes, I kept losing the stitch count and finding I couldn't fit in the required number of stitches so had to undo it sometimes. I think there are still mistakes in it, but you can't tell :)

I would certainly recommend the pattern. Thank you A. Westbrook for sharing it for free :)

Happy crocheting!

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Bedbug Bear crochet teddy

I just loved this bear as soon as I saw it and the idea that it catches bad dreams and keeps them in it's hat is so cute.

A FREE pattern (thank you Nina!) and easy to follow although there are a few times that it does not actually tell you to repeat the instructions all around the row, but I think only a very new crocheter would be confused so bear that in mind. There is also a point where it does not tell you to stuff before finishing off, but again common sense tells you to stuff it!

I did mine in double knit yarn with a 3.5 mm hook, so it came out larger than the pattern suggests, mine are around 10 inches tall. The hats I did just like the pattern suggests by making some triangles of fabric and sewing to fit. I suppose you could crochet a hat too.

I made these for two of my grandchildren and in the stitches that you do to make it look like scars, on the rear ones - near the tail, I actually made it into their initials so they know whose is whose.

As I mentioned earlier, I also liked the idea that these bears catch bad dreams, so made a label explaining this to go with them.

Link to pattern:https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-bedbugbear

One of my favourite patterns. Thank you again Nina for sharing it for free.


Happy crocheting!

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