A (Very) Late Spring Clean

Yes yes, I am aware that its almost summer but better later than never I suppose.

Last year I decided to take a big break from designing crochet patterns to really focus on improving my skills and researching how other successful pattern designers write so well.

Well, I am not ready to start designing just yet, although I have some ideas in my head, but I thought it about time I reviewed some of my old patterns.

And my goodness aren’t they terrible! Some of them are written so badly, some are just plain ugly, there’s spelling error galore! But to my dismay, there is no way to delete a pattern from Ravelry. So I set about trying to find a solution to remove my hideous contributions to Ravelry. And I happened across this very handy blog post by Blackstone Designs.

So I created this little icon.

And I went through my Ravelry and addressed all of my problem patterns. I also went through my blog and replaced the retired patterns with a note to explain that it is no longer available.

The last 4 patterns I have decided to re write and re photograph. Perhaps even with photo tutorials. I may even make PDF’s!

I hope that this will help me to feel less weighed down and cluttered when I get back in to designing. If nothing it removes some of the frankly embarrassing “designs…?” I came up with years ago!

May Makes

Gosh it’s been a while since I did one of these. Apparently I didn’t finish a single project in April. And only finished a single project in March. I definitely made up for the slack this month though!

I started May by completing my NWR Jumper.

Then I finished my Falling Blossoms Shawl.

After that came my Flower Child Beanie.

And then I finally completed my bundle of OFAPUK critters.

And to finish off the month, I made this Neon Moon Jumper.

I am very pleased with myself, and hope I can keep up this rythm. We are now 6 months in to the year (scary isn’t it) and I am not even half way to my Ravelry Project Goal, and I. Have only used a 3rd of the yardage of yarn I did last year, so I need to get my skates on and crochet faster!

Neon Moon

Hello all! Today I am here to share with you my Neon Moon Jumper, which I finished earlier this week.

The pattern is called Sailors Moon Cropped Sweater, by Cre8tion Crochet. You may well remember this pattern, as I have already made one of these jumpers in the past using Noro Haniwa. You can find the blog post here.

The yarn is Blue Moon Fibre Arts Plushy, in colourway Dye Dreamer.

As before, I had to add an extra 5 rows to the bust area before decreasing for the ribbing, else the jumper would have ended before my bust did, which probably wouldn’t have looked great!

Unlike before, I did not have to mess about with sizing. I have lost weight since making the last one, so instead of having to start with xlarge and end with 2XL. I was able to make an XL throughout.

I love how the neon colours pop against the darker grey.

And I love how the yarn makes its own zig zag patterns in some places.

This jumper will be a lovely reminder of my time spent in San Francisco. Yes the yarn is from Oregon but I purchased it on my birthday in San Francisco, and wandering around Bethnal Green yesterday taking these photographs reminded me of all the insane street art we saw in the Mission.

#Octopledge 2019 May Donations

After what seems like forever, I am finally able to share with you a donation for OFAPUK.

Life majorly got in the way for a few months, what with my course and being ill so many times and my new job. But hopefully from now on I can get on and continue donating monthly.

I made these little critters using Ice Plaid Cotton.

WIP Wednesday (29/05/19)

It’s Wednesday again, so here I am to share my WIP. I have just one this week.

This is the Cherry Pi Shawl, a pattern from the Shawl Project book 1. This has been on my to do list for ages, so I am glad to be finally doing it. And this yarn, Blackened Rainbow Brit Silk Sock by The Knitting Goddess was the very first skein of hand dyed yarn I bought! So it’s about time it got it’s time in the sun too.

WIP Wednesday (Thursday) (23/05/19)

My goodness! I tried so hard to get this post in on Wednesday. I had all the right intentions but unfortunately due to some technical issues my photographs weren’t working properly so I couldn’t post them.

Anyways! I currently have 3 WIP’s.

First of all, I am finally finishing up my Donation for Octopus For A Preemie UK (for many reasons I haven’t been able to donate in a few months).

I am working on a Sailor Moon Jumper.

And I have just today started the Cherry Pi shawl, although it’s not far enough along to be worth photographing. I had to frog a few rows due to me being a numpty and not reading the instructions properly!

I am in the crochet zone at the mo so hopefully I can work to catch up to my goals for the year.

Flower Child Beanie

I have another Finished Object to share with you.

This is the Flower Child Beanie, by TL Yarn Craft. I discovered TL Yarn Crafts back when we were all having the discussion about racism within the Yarn community. Whilst I have never knowingly not taken notice of a person of colour in the yarn community, I realised just how undiverse my Instagram feed was, so I used it as an opportunity to improve the diversity of my newsfeed with more BAEM makers. And I am glad I did, because Toni’s work is gorgeous.

The yarn is the Kick Starter Exclusive yarn I received for backing Sealy MacWheely when she wanted to open a bricks and mortar store. With the addition of the black pom poms, the hat reminds me of all of the tacky neon and black striped wrist warmers I used to by myself in my teenage emo years. What a throwback.

The pattern was so easy to follow and so quick – I only started it on Saturday night, and was finished by Tuesday night.

It has been a lovely distraction from being sick. I have been wrapped up at home crocheting and drinking coffee and feeling sorry for myself.

I am really pleased with the photos I took too. This is my first attempt at shooting myself – normally my Fiance does the photography if I need to be in the pic.

And f course, mistress Maxine a oget volved hwen she saw had the camera out. She look really pleased with her self when she ‘caught’ her prey… She does love a good pompom.

Anyways. It’s also Wednesday, but I have no WIP’s. So I caked up some yarn to start a new project.

This is Blue Moon Fibre Arts ‘Plushy’ in colourway Dye Dreamer. I bought it back in October on my 26th birthday in San Francisco. It will become a Sailors Moon jumper. I really enjoyed making this jumper last time, and I picked this yarn out with this jumper in mind. I thought it would be really food crochet for whilst I am watching Eurovision since once the yoke is complete, it’s straight granny Stitch, which I can do without looking.

Falling Blossoms

Hello all! I have a new Finished Object to show you.

This is the Falling Blossoms Shawl by Ana D Crochet.

I used Truly Hooked Standard Sock in colourway Pickled Cabbage.

Who knew you could fall so in love with a shawl.

I was so excited when I realised it matched the purple flowers on my favourite dress.

I don’t normally post so many pics of myself, but Chris (my fiancé) did such a good job of the photography I couldn’t pick just a few.

The details on this shawl design are incredible. The Lacey part is so intricate it looks much harder than it is. The resulting shawl is so light and summery. I wore it all day yesterday as we explored Greenwich and had our IKEA date. It is really easy to wear. Written within the design is an optional eyelet in the final pattern repeat, which allows you to thread the narrow end of the scarf into the wide end to keep it secure around your neck. This meant it stayed put the entire time I wore it!

And the yarn is utterly scrumptious. I loved working with it so much I went an ordered 2 more skeins! I got a Grey speckled and a turquoise speckled colourway.

And whilst I am here, I have to tell you about the dress. It’s from a company called Popsy Clothing. I found them when I was trying to find more ways to shop with British smaller businesses. I was also really desperate to find pretty dresses that I could wear every day with little fuss (lord knows I hate to iron). They are quite a small company but have really made a fantastic product. It is a company based in the Midlands (where all the dresses are designed and manufactured), run by a Female business owner, and they are really keen on body positivity. I really appreciate them as the owner has struggled with anxiety disorders, just like me, and cares so much about empowerment and confidence. She is just lovely and the dresses are fab quality. Oh, and did I forget to say – all the dresses have pockets! What more could you want. Check them out if you have the time.

WIP Wednesday (08/05/19)

My goodness! Does anyone else find that bank holidays make you feel all confused about what day it is? I expect it doesn’t help much that I went straight into nights after the bank holiday. I haven’t got the foggiest what day it is! But I thought I best pop in to share with you my WIP.

I am now at the end of section 2 of the Fallen Blossoms Shawl CAL, by Ana D Crochet. It’s hard to see but there are lots of little holes. I expect blocking will open them up a bit more. Section 3 is the actual flowers, so that should be fun. I can’t wait to finish it and get it on the blocking mat. And as luck would have it, my new job also affords me long enough periods of inactivity on the night shift for s bit of night shift crochet. So that is a bonus!

And She is Done!

I finished the sweater! So I am popping in to share it with you.

I figured since I am going to call this my NWR Jumper (I started it whilst on a Network Rail training course, and completely coincidentally I made it in network rail company colours), I thought I should take some Railway related photos! Luckily, I had to take the train to a beer festival yesterday so it presented the perfect opportunity for a few photos.

Here I am with a beer.

The weather was crazy yesterday. One minute it was sunny.

And the next minute it was tipping Buckets!

But we still managed to enjoy ourselves.

The pattern was published in Issue 82 of Simply Crochet Magazine and of designed by Fran Morgan.

I altered the pattern slightly, mostly unintentionally.

I failed to see that the work needed to be turned at the end of each round so I worked it in the round instead until I got to the blue part.

I like a longer jumper so I added a few extra cm to the length measurements given in the pattern.

The sleeves are supposed to to increase gradually for the entire length of the sleeve. I misread the pattern though so did the orange and speckled section of each sleeve before I realised so I had to squash all of the increases into a shorter space. (I don’t frog!).

The end is WYS The Croft in colourway Melby, Norwick and Stonybreck.

I am totally in love with this jumper. I would highly recommend it.