Tuesday, 1 October 2013
steampunk mitts/cuffs
I've now released the pattern - it's available for free for a short time only in my ravelry store after which the pattern will be on sale for the very reasonable price of £1. They come in 2 sizes and can be finished as either mitts or cuffs. They are also super-quick to make - great for stash busting as well as last minute gifts - I'm planning to make up a few pairs for Christmas gifts this year. I'm also going to experiment with some hand dyed yarn and see what happens...!
My testers are putting their projects up on ravelry for this pattern - they've all enjoyed making this pattern too - check out their projects on this here page!
Wednesday, 25 September 2013
How could I forget?!
I've also released Marcus' snood pattern on ravelry here - what a handsome pup! It's a free pattern but I'm asking people to make a small donation to GRWE if they like the pattern.
I will be revisiting the pattern over the coming months and adding some other sizes hopefully, I'm not sure whether to fiddle around with the pattern itself or sub in and out with different yarn weights and hooks...
MrJoeyGrey - I am unable to reply to your question in comments, I have been trying all weekend but no luck! In answer to your question, after you have worked into the last stitch of the short row, the next stitch along will need you to drop down to the longer row. If you don't pick up an extra loop you will end up with a small hole in the fabric.
To pick up a loop and close the gap, push your hook through one of the strands in the side of the short rows and pull up a loop, keep this loop on the hook and drop down and pick up a loop (sc) as you normally would, from the next stitch. Yarn over and pull through all 3 loops on the hook. Essentially what you are doing is working a sc2tog, so you are not increasing the stitch count, just closing the gap.
I hope this makes sense and I look forward to seeing your project! If you need any more help please feel free to comment on my post, or pm me on ravelry (redclover) so I can reply directly!
I will be revisiting the pattern over the coming months and adding some other sizes hopefully, I'm not sure whether to fiddle around with the pattern itself or sub in and out with different yarn weights and hooks...
MrJoeyGrey - I am unable to reply to your question in comments, I have been trying all weekend but no luck! In answer to your question, after you have worked into the last stitch of the short row, the next stitch along will need you to drop down to the longer row. If you don't pick up an extra loop you will end up with a small hole in the fabric.
To pick up a loop and close the gap, push your hook through one of the strands in the side of the short rows and pull up a loop, keep this loop on the hook and drop down and pick up a loop (sc) as you normally would, from the next stitch. Yarn over and pull through all 3 loops on the hook. Essentially what you are doing is working a sc2tog, so you are not increasing the stitch count, just closing the gap.
I hope this makes sense and I look forward to seeing your project! If you need any more help please feel free to comment on my post, or pm me on ravelry (redclover) so I can reply directly!
after the summer
Well, the kids are definitely back at school. Just me, the dog and the cat now. And while two of our number snore away the day, one of us can usually be found with a hook and a ball of yarn.
I currently have... (counts in head)... 8 wips on the go. As is always the way, I am going through a period where I can't settle on any one thing. I have loads of ideas pinging through my head and not enough hours in the week to get them all done. So I will work on each project a little at a time until I make a decision.
Part of the problem is that I'm all shawled out. I completed the 12 shawls challenge months ago but I still have 4 shawls in progress! One of them is languishing at the bottom of the pile because it requires more concentration than I can give it right now, one is a prototype for a new pattern I am thinking about, one of them is being worked in a pure silk yarn that is forever knotting itself up. The last one is a rework of my p-hop pattern, October Leaves. I am using some left over Fyberspates yarn from 2 other projects - a gorgeous green called Chartreuse that I used in my first Jacob's Ladder Shawlette, and a vibrant purple from Betty's shawl. I like the possibilities of October Leaves - one of my testers did a striped version that I ended up using as the first picture on the pattern. My project will be mainly green with 3 purple stripes (I don't have enough purple left to do any more than that!).
I've been getting a few patterns tested (and re-tested) recently. Firstly, hopscotch cowl:
I've updated the original pattern a little and also written it up using US terms as well as UK. The testers have all added their projects to Ravelry, you can have a look at them all here The pattern is available for £1 for a short time only - available here (discount at checkout!)
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Secondly, and still currently being tested are my steampunk mitts. I've borrowed the stitch pattern from springy socks and turned it sideways and hooked it up with the stitch pattern from my yoga socks pattern. I'm thinking that I will probably offer the pattern for free for a few weeks once it is released...
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At this rate I will definitely hit my target of having 20 patterns on the ravelry database by the end of the year!
I currently have... (counts in head)... 8 wips on the go. As is always the way, I am going through a period where I can't settle on any one thing. I have loads of ideas pinging through my head and not enough hours in the week to get them all done. So I will work on each project a little at a time until I make a decision.
Part of the problem is that I'm all shawled out. I completed the 12 shawls challenge months ago but I still have 4 shawls in progress! One of them is languishing at the bottom of the pile because it requires more concentration than I can give it right now, one is a prototype for a new pattern I am thinking about, one of them is being worked in a pure silk yarn that is forever knotting itself up. The last one is a rework of my p-hop pattern, October Leaves. I am using some left over Fyberspates yarn from 2 other projects - a gorgeous green called Chartreuse that I used in my first Jacob's Ladder Shawlette, and a vibrant purple from Betty's shawl. I like the possibilities of October Leaves - one of my testers did a striped version that I ended up using as the first picture on the pattern. My project will be mainly green with 3 purple stripes (I don't have enough purple left to do any more than that!).
I've been getting a few patterns tested (and re-tested) recently. Firstly, hopscotch cowl:
Secondly, and still currently being tested are my steampunk mitts. I've borrowed the stitch pattern from springy socks and turned it sideways and hooked it up with the stitch pattern from my yoga socks pattern. I'm thinking that I will probably offer the pattern for free for a few weeks once it is released...
Finally, I have bitten the bullet and put Betty's shawl up for testing as of yesterday. I'm looking forward to seeing how everyone gets on with the pattern :)
At this rate I will definitely hit my target of having 20 patterns on the ravelry database by the end of the year!
Friday, 23 August 2013
Rouge Hat
Our family holiday this year was at Wareham, Dorset. It was a couple of hours journey in the car - plenty of time for crocheting so I took a couple of skeins of aran weight with me. After picking out a gorgeous Elvincraft yarn, 'Winter Berries' Wensleydale, I came up with this hat. The pattern is based on my first hat patten, April Showers but this is sized for a grown up!
I used a 5mm hook and under 100g of Aran weight wensleydale. Here's what I did:
1. Ch3, in 3rd ch from hook work 11dc (counts as 12dc), sl st in back loop at top of ch2.
2. Ch2, dc in back loop only (BLO) of first st, 2dc in BLO in each st around, sl st in BLO turning ch (24)
3. Ch2, dc in back loop only (BLO) of first st, *dc in BLO, 2dc in BLO* around, sl st in BLO turning ch (36)
4. Ch2, dc in back loop only (BLO) of first st, *dc in BLO in next 2 sts, 2dc in BLO* around, dc in BLO in last 2 sts, sl st in BLO turning ch (48)
5. Ch2, dc in back loop only (BLO) of first st, *dc in BLO in next 3 sts, 2dc in BLO* around, dc in BLO in last 3 sts, sl st in BLO turning ch (60)
6. Ch2, dc in back loop only (BLO) of first st, *dc in BLO in next 4 sts, 2dc in BLO* around, dc in BLO in last 4 sts, sl st in BLO turning ch (72)
7. Ch2, dc in back loop only (BLO) of first st, *dc in BLO in next 5 sts, 2dc in BLO* around, dc in BLO in last 5 sts, sl st in BLO turning ch (84)
8. Ch2, dc in back loop only (BLO) of in each st around, sl st in BLO turning ch (84)
9- 18: Repeat row 8
19: Ch1, sc in same st, sc, *ch2, sc in next 3 sts* around, ch2, sc in last, sl st in first sc, bind off and weave in ends.
I used a 5mm hook and under 100g of Aran weight wensleydale. Here's what I did:
1. Ch3, in 3rd ch from hook work 11dc (counts as 12dc), sl st in back loop at top of ch2.
2. Ch2, dc in back loop only (BLO) of first st, 2dc in BLO in each st around, sl st in BLO turning ch (24)
3. Ch2, dc in back loop only (BLO) of first st, *dc in BLO, 2dc in BLO* around, sl st in BLO turning ch (36)
4. Ch2, dc in back loop only (BLO) of first st, *dc in BLO in next 2 sts, 2dc in BLO* around, dc in BLO in last 2 sts, sl st in BLO turning ch (48)
5. Ch2, dc in back loop only (BLO) of first st, *dc in BLO in next 3 sts, 2dc in BLO* around, dc in BLO in last 3 sts, sl st in BLO turning ch (60)
6. Ch2, dc in back loop only (BLO) of first st, *dc in BLO in next 4 sts, 2dc in BLO* around, dc in BLO in last 4 sts, sl st in BLO turning ch (72)
7. Ch2, dc in back loop only (BLO) of first st, *dc in BLO in next 5 sts, 2dc in BLO* around, dc in BLO in last 5 sts, sl st in BLO turning ch (84)
8. Ch2, dc in back loop only (BLO) of in each st around, sl st in BLO turning ch (84)
9- 18: Repeat row 8
19: Ch1, sc in same st, sc, *ch2, sc in next 3 sts* around, ch2, sc in last, sl st in first sc, bind off and weave in ends.
Tuesday, 20 August 2013
October Leaves now on P/HOP!
I'm pleased to be able to announce that my October Leaves shawl is now available for your crocheting consumption via the P/HOP site! I'm hoping it'll raise lots of money for the vital work MSF do :) Please drop by my Ravelry pattern page or go direct to the P/HOP page and pick up your copy today - I'm looking forward to seeing the finished projects too, if you have a ravelry account I promise to do a little leap of joy for every project posted :)
Please spread the word to your crocheting (and knitting) buddies, P/HOP is a fantastic concept and of course MSF is an amazing organisation.
Please spread the word to your crocheting (and knitting) buddies, P/HOP is a fantastic concept and of course MSF is an amazing organisation.
Sunday, 21 July 2013
autumnal cowl
My eldest son starts his new school in September - he's growing up so fast! He also needs some more grown-up winter woolies and as I spend Autumn and Winter making hats for a local company I have to get in early with projects for the family or I inevitably run out of time to get everything finished in time. Which is how I ended up writing up this pattern in the middle of a heatwave!
I used a 4.5mm hook and Manos del Uruguay silk blend yarn (or a dk alternative). This project used 33g left over from another project but it could be made bigger or smaller, just make sure your starting chain is an even number! This version incidentally also works as an ear warmer although I'm not sure my son will wear it that way!
1. Ch 100, sc in bottom bump of 2nd ch from hook and in each st across (99)
(this could be worked in the round by joining the foundation ch with a sl. st and working in a continuous spiral, but as I like to work into the bottom bump for the sake of neatness I always end up with a twisted ch that I can never rectify no matter how many times I rip out my work and re-try!)
2. Ch1, and without turning, check your work is not twisted and join to form a circle by working a sc in 2nd sc of row one (skip the first). You may want to mark the first ch sp... *ch1, sk1, sc* around, moving st marker up each row.
Continue *ch1, sk1, sc* for as many rows as you'd like, I worked 22 rows.
Final Row: sc in each sc and ch sp around, when you reach marked st, sl st in marked st and next 2, break yarn and fasten off.
Weave in ends and wear :)
I used a 4.5mm hook and Manos del Uruguay silk blend yarn (or a dk alternative). This project used 33g left over from another project but it could be made bigger or smaller, just make sure your starting chain is an even number! This version incidentally also works as an ear warmer although I'm not sure my son will wear it that way!
1. Ch 100, sc in bottom bump of 2nd ch from hook and in each st across (99)
(this could be worked in the round by joining the foundation ch with a sl. st and working in a continuous spiral, but as I like to work into the bottom bump for the sake of neatness I always end up with a twisted ch that I can never rectify no matter how many times I rip out my work and re-try!)
2. Ch1, and without turning, check your work is not twisted and join to form a circle by working a sc in 2nd sc of row one (skip the first). You may want to mark the first ch sp... *ch1, sk1, sc* around, moving st marker up each row.
Continue *ch1, sk1, sc* for as many rows as you'd like, I worked 22 rows.
Final Row: sc in each sc and ch sp around, when you reach marked st, sl st in marked st and next 2, break yarn and fasten off.
Weave in ends and wear :)
Friday, 21 June 2013
Jacob's Ladder
When I was at school, I was a committed doodler. I was forever drawing little pictures on the back of my exercise books instead of concentrating. This was especially true in Maths, but instead I used to doodle patterns by colouring in the squares of my exercise book.
A few weeks ago, I bought a pad of squared paper with the intention of working on some filet crochet shawls, and the first one I came up with is Jacob's Ladder. I named it after a quilt block I used for a quilt I made for my eldest son when he was a baby and it's also a song by one of my favourite bands. It's currently being tested on ravelry and I'm planning on having it ready and available on 1st July.
A few weeks ago, I bought a pad of squared paper with the intention of working on some filet crochet shawls, and the first one I came up with is Jacob's Ladder. I named it after a quilt block I used for a quilt I made for my eldest son when he was a baby and it's also a song by one of my favourite bands. It's currently being tested on ravelry and I'm planning on having it ready and available on 1st July.
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