But I Don't Want Gaps! A Linked Double Crochet How To!

Linked crochet isn't simply a substitute for ordinary double crochet. It's another tool in the designer's toolbox, and one that can be surprisingly versatile.

Depending on the stitch height and the way it's used, linked crochet can be useful for:

• Creating a denser fabric. Particularly useful when you want fewer gaps between stitches.

• Adding texture. Those little connecting bars create their own distinctive appearance across the rows.

• Keeping the height. You can work a taller stitch without automatically getting the more open fabric associated with it.

• Reducing the number of stitches. Compared with using a shorter stitch to achieve a similar fabric height, linked double crochet can save you from working quite so many stitches. Your wrists may send a small thank-you note.

• Giving a design a different look. Sometimes it's not about filling gaps at all. It's about the texture you want to create.

Of course, linked crochet won't suit every project. Sometimes those gaps are exactly what you want. But when you need a denser finish, it's well worth considering.

Linked stitches in my own designs

Over the years, I've found myself returning to linked stitches for different reasons. They're not confined to one type of project, and these designs demonstrate just how differently they can be used.

STEPPING STONES SCARF

CHECKERBOARD SYMPHONY SCARF

Checkerboard Symphony Scarf

This design uses linked stitches to create a denser fabric while working with the checkerboard effect. The linked stitches help give the scarf its particular look, rather than relying on ordinary double crochet and the spaces that come with it.

Stepping Stones Scarf

Here, linked double crochet (US) helps create a denser appearance that works beautifully with the design. It's another example of how a simple change in the way a stitch is constructed can influence the finished fabric.

Winter Enchantress

This design uses Linked Half Double Crochet (US), showing that linked crochet isn't limited to double crochet. The linked half double crochet provides a different stitch height and texture while helping to create a denser fabric.

These are just three examples of how linked stitches can be used in actual designs. They're not merely a clever trick for closing up gaps; they can be part of the overall design itself.

So, how do you make a Linked Double Crochet?

The concept is really quite simple. Instead of working each stitch independently, you connect it to the previous stitch by working into the little bar across its middle.

Let's start at the beginning of the row.

Creating the first linked stitch

Step 1: Chain 3. This counts as your first stitch.

Step 2: Insert your hook into the second chain from the hook and draw up a loop. This creates the connection for your first linked stitch.

Step 3: Insert your hook into the next stitch and draw up a loop.

Step 4: Yarn over and pull through 2 loops on your hook.

Step 5: Yarn over and pull through the remaining 2 loops.

That's your first linked double crochet completed!

Working the remaining linked stitches

Step 1: Identify the horizontal bar across the middle of the previous double crochet. In the photograph, this is indicated by the red line.

Step 2: Insert your hook down through this bar and draw up a loop.

Step 3: Insert your hook into the next stitch and draw up a loop.

Step 4: Yarn over and pull through 2 loops.

Step 5: Yarn over and pull through the remaining 2 loops.

Step 6: Repeat.

And there you have it! Your next Linked Double Crochet (US).

Continue working in the same way across the row, connecting each stitch to the previous one.

Where can you use linked crochet?

That's the fun part. You don't have to restrict yourself to scarves or blankets.

Linked stitches can be useful for garments, bags, accessories, washcloths and plenty of other projects where you want a denser fabric. You can work them flat or in the round, and the little bars that form across the rows give the fabric its own distinctive character.

You can also experiment with different linked stitch heights. Linked Half Double Crochet (US), for example, gives you a shorter stitch than Linked Double Crochet (US), with its own look and texture.

As with any stitch, the finished fabric will depend on your yarn, hook size, tension and the way you combine it with other stitches. A little swatching is always worthwhile before committing yourself to several hundred rows.

Ask me how I know.

Give it a go!

If you've never tried linked crochet, grab some yarn and give it a whirl. It may take a little practice to get comfortable finding the right bar, but once your hands get used to the movement, it becomes much easier.

And the next time you're looking at a project thinking, "I'd love that stitch height, but I really don't want all those gaps," you'll have another option to consider.

Because sometimes the answer isn't to change your yarn, use a smaller hook or resign yourself to a thousand rows of single crochet.

Sometimes, all you need to do is link a few stitches together.

Happy crocheting!

Auburncraft Crochet Design

WINTER ENCHANTRESS NECK WARMER

The Goldilocks Method of Designing Crochet. An Auburncraft Initiative!

You know that feeling — you get a brilliant idea and, in your head, it’s epic!

This is going to be bigger than Ben Hur (or that’s the saying, I think?).

You map it out in your head, and the sheer magnitude of just how brilliant this idea is makes your head a few sizes too large for the gorgeous crochet beanie you made last week!

Of course, in your head, this design works per-fect-ly... Every stitch lines up, and it all falls into place to create a piece of crochet that a queen would wish to have adorning her in some manner or other.

Then you begin working on this masterpiece. You try one yarn, and it doesn’t work that great — maybe the texture is too rough. You try another, and it’s way too soft. Then you try a third, and it seems just right.

You grab your 5mm hook and do a few rows — turns out it’s too big.

You work a few rows with your 4mm and, you guessed it, it’s too small. By this time, you can hear your 4.5mm grumbling from the hook storage: “Told you I was the right size. You should have picked me in the first place.”

Sure enough, the 4.5mm is just right — and it did have a point. You should have listened.

Single Crochet

You think you’re now ready to whip up this masterpiece and begin using single crochet (US). You work up a large portion of the design, but the further you go, the more you start to think this stitch might not be right for it.

Maybe this just isn’t going to work.

You slow down, partly so you can ponder how you could possibly be wrong. After all, it worked so well in your head! Eventually, you’re down to one stitch a minute. Your brain is shouting loud and clear: IT WILL NOT WORK.

The realisation dawns — it just ain’t gonna work — and off you go a-frogging.

But then your vision begins to shift. This new idea will work — it will be super fabulous for sure. How could you have missed this before?

Half Double Crochet

Half double crochet may well be the way to go with this. This will work! This will be great! Fantastic! Fabulous! You may even be awarded Queen of the World for this design.

Butttttttttt… you get to about the same point you were at with the single crochet and just know it is NOT SO!

By this time, the new, fabulous, incredible design has been given the gift of flight — you chuck it across the room and leave it there for a few hours.

Waistcoat Stitch

This is it! This is the one!! This stitch will be raised above all others and become legend in this design. People will queue for hours to admire the crochet artistry you’ve created with this stitch.

As you work, you realise it’s true — it does work. It’s right. Wonderful, even. You crochet harder and faster, knowing those queues of crochet fans will soon be waiting to view your masterpiece.

Once again, your head has grown a few sizes too large for that beanie, and before you know it, the day is gone. It’s late, and suddenly you feel an overwhelming urge for a large bowl of porridge. You must have one! After all, you’ve been working very hard all day and thoroughly deserve it!

You’re now so exhausted from your day of frogging that you also require a nap.
You go in search of a bed — but of course, it has to be one that’s just right!

The Goldilocks Method of Crochet Design is a patented technique used exclusively by Auburncraft Crochet Design.
No bears were harmed in the making of this crochet method — although several bowls of porridge were definitely eaten.

The Goldilocks Method of Designing Crochet.

You know that feeling — you get a brilliant idea and, in your head, it’s epic!

This is going to be bigger than Ben Hur (or that’s the saying, I think?).

You map it out in your head, and the sheer magnitude of just how brilliant this idea is makes your head a few sizes too large for the gorgeous crochet beanie you made last week!

Of course, in your head, this design works per-fect-ly... Every stitch lines up, and it all falls into place to create a piece of crochet that a queen would wish to have adorning her in some manner or other.

Then you begin working on this masterpiece. You try one yarn, and it doesn’t work that great — maybe the texture is too rough. You try another, and it’s way too soft. Then you try a third, and it seems just right.

You grab your 5mm hook and do a few rows — turns out it’s too big.

You work a few rows with your 4mm and, you guessed it, it’s too small. By this time, you can hear your 4.5mm grumbling from the hook storage: “Told you I was the right size. You should have picked me in the first place.”

Sure enough, the 4.5mm is just right — and it did have a point. You should have listened.

Single Crochet

You think you’re now ready to whip up this masterpiece and begin using single crochet (US). You work up a large portion of the design, but the further you go, the more you start to think this stitch might not be right for it.

Maybe this just isn’t going to work.

You slow down, partly so you can ponder how you could possibly be wrong. After all, it worked so well in your head! Eventually, you’re down to one stitch a minute. Your brain is shouting loud and clear: IT WILL NOT WORK.

The realisation dawns — it just ain’t gonna work — and off you go a-frogging.

But then your vision begins to shift. This new idea will work — it will be super fabulous for sure. How could you have missed this before?

Half Double Crochet

Half double crochet may well be the way to go with this. This will work! This will be great! Fantastic! Fabulous! You may even be awarded Queen of the World for this design.

Butttttttttt… you get to about the same point you were at with the single crochet and just know it is NOT SO!

By this time, the new, fabulous, incredible design has been given the gift of flight — you chuck it across the room and leave it there for a few hours.

Waistcoat Stitch

This is it! This is the one!! This stitch will be raised above all others and become legend in this design. People will queue for hours to admire the crochet artistry you’ve created with this stitch.

As you work, you realise it’s true — it does work. It’s right. Wonderful, even. You crochet harder and faster, knowing those queues of crochet fans will soon be waiting to view your masterpiece.

Once again, your head has grown a few sizes too large for that beanie, and before you know it, the day is gone. It’s late, and suddenly you feel an overwhelming urge for a large bowl of porridge. You must have one! After all, you’ve been working very hard all day and thoroughly deserve it!

You’re now so exhausted from your day of frogging that you also require a nap.
You go in search of a bed — but of course, it has to be one that’s just right!

The Goldilocks Method of Crochet Design is a patented technique used exclusively by Auburncraft Crochet Design.
No bears were harmed in the making of this crochet method — although several bowls of porridge were definitely eaten.

Did you know my website subscribers get exclusive discount codes whenever a new pattern is launched?
Scroll down to the bottom of the page to subscribe and never miss a release!

Crochet It's a Fairytale!

My kids grew up with me reading them all the old Fairytale stories. They each had their favourites.

Well the older two did. The youngest took great pleasure in making me read a book about combine harvesters, tractors and potato harvesting over and over and over........................ till the very thought of potatoes made me ill. That book was a gift from a friend. Needless to say we are no longer friends! Trying to sound enthusiastic about a conveyer belt full of pototoes is pretty darn hard!

But back to the fairytales! Life is sure not like a fairytale for most of us, but maybe it should be!

I got to thinking about how much better life would have been for these fairy tale characters if they had, the ability to crochet?

Think about all the things they could have achieved if they had this unique ability to hook along with the best of us.

The Ugly Duckling would have been strutting around in a lovely crochet sweater. Not so ugly any more!

Hansel and Gretel could have left a long Chain of crochet to help them find their way back home.

The Emperor in the Emperors new clothes would not have needed fine invisible clothes. He would have had a drawer full of granny square outfits to wear.

Little Red Riding Hood's cape would have really popped, having been made from a lovely red toned yarn and any wolf would have been sure to get the yarn stuck in his teeth, making the idea of eating her a lot less appealing!

Rupunzel could have whipped up a nice rope ladder scarf to make her escape with. With the ability to crochet her escape would have been swift and assured.

She could make her escape by dantily climbing down that beautifully crochet scarf, head to the nearest Spa and get herself cleaned up and begin her own life (just thinking of all those years locked away in a tower that didn't even appear to have a bathroom). She could open a little business selling handmade crochet scarves and certainly would not have needed someone to save her!

Think about Sleeping Beauty! With all this social distancing the Prince would have been really frowned upon, just turning up and planting a kiss on a damsel sound asleep. Now if Sleeping Beauty had been a crocheter it would have been a simple thing to wake her. The Prince could have kept his distance and yelled 'HALF PRICE YARN SALE'. Sleeping Beauty would have jumped up and made a dash to her nearest yarn store and again problem solved!

The mind boggles with what these characters could have been with their hobby of crochet. They most certainly would have been a lot more chill with this calming ability.

Billy Thunder Crochet Tote

Sometimes when I design, I begin with an idea in my head and it tends to morph as it progresses. I may get an idea part way through, suddenly change course and the design changes.

This was very much the case with this design. I had already begun to make the Tote when I decided it needed beads. I found myself thinking of ways to stiffen the edges of the Tote by thinking a little bit outside the square. I ended up using plastic clothes line, inside the edges, and I added stiffness to the base of the design with a layer of pvc plastic, sandwiched between the crochet.

I am very happy with the end results!

I chose to use Patons cotton blend DK simply as I had some in my stash and I rather liked the idea of using black. I also wanted my beads to shine through and be a contrast to the black.

My only complaint with using black is the horror it is, trying to get decent clear pictures. The pattern has pictures of most rows to help with stitch placement and count.

Most rows of the pattern have pictures.

I spent a bit of time looking at the Tote and trying to think of a name for it. Nothing was really jumping out at me and then I thought about the colour cotton I had used. This prompted me to choose a name.

So introducing the 'Billy Thunder Tote'. Named as a tribute to a squatter who decided to move into our house a few years ago.

The following is the story behind the name:

One very cold winter a few years ago we discovered that a stray cat had been sneaking into our house and curling up on one of the beds in one of our now grown childrens rooms. It was caught sneaking back out the door, which was promptly locked in an attempt to keep this interloper out.

The cat had a collar on, so we assumed he had owners. We discovered soon enough that he did not.

Over the next couple of weeks, we had a number of sleepless nights due to this cat crying outside our bedroom window. I vividly recall one night when the men in the family were away racing motocross, that I resorted to banging a saucepan outside the house in an attempt to get the cat to stop. The cat had no intention of doing so. It had already decided it now lived in our house and was letting us know, he did not approve of being locked out of his home.

My husband and I have always loved animals and at one stage in our lives had, two horses, three dogs, over a hundred very large goldfish and our property was and is the home of a mob of kangaroos. But we were now at a stage where we really only had the one dog and the fish (and the mob) and were happy with that.

I found myself leaving food outside for this cat without telling my husband. I then discovered my husband was doing the same. Both of us are softies when it comes to animals, and neither of us wanted the cat hungry.

Slowly the cat moved in! He already felt he owned the place and was allowing us to reside there with him.

He didn't have a name and my husband kept suggesting some pretty terrible names for him. I believe one of his first suggestions was 'Pushkas'. I remember just looking at him with a 'what the' expression on my face with that one!

We couldn't call him any of the names I had yelled at him during the sleepless nights and the saucepan banging. This name choosing went on for a number of weeks with me vetoing the suggestions put forward. I kept telling my husband that I refused to be seen calling out some of his suggested cat names. He eventually decided to name him 'Billy' as he would now come up and rub his head against him. He said it was like a billy goat head butting him.

I was still not totally wrapped with this suggestion until I remembered a children's novel all my kids had read named 'Billy Thunder and the Night Gate'. This is a brilliant book by Isobelle Carmody!

So I began calling OUR cat 'Billy Thunder' and the name caught on. It slowly got extended to 'Billy Thunder Cat'.

It also suits him as he was very vocal with his necessity (demand) to live with us.

Billy is a very plain, all black cat ( you cannot count the tiny smudge of white under his chin) with a lovely nature and so the black yarn made me think of him.

So this one is for Billy Thunder! Interloper, squatter and now (in his opinion) ruler of our house!

And yes I am quite happy to be seen calling out 'Billy Thunder Cat', it just seems right!

As for the Tote, it is now in testing and the pattern will be released on my Ravelry and Love Crochet pages in a few weeks. So stay tuned for the release!

This post may contain affiliate links.

A Prison for Flowers Crochet Shawl

Where do flowers go when they misbehave? You will find them locked away in a prison made of diamonds.

Locked away inside a Prison of Diamonds the Flowers look to each other but cannot touch. They see beyond the filet fencing (filet holes) to the garden outside. Nestled in the centre of this garden (border), locked in their own triangle prisons are individual Tulips. Together but forever apart!

A Prison for Flowers Shawl. Woltraum My Melody.

A Prison for Flowers is a delicate shawl with a lovely lace edging. This shawl works up beautifully in many different yarns.

This was a lock down project for me and I used 2 different cakes of Woltraum My Melody with a total yarn usage of 1100 metres.

The pattern is also available formatted for use with Bendigo Woollen Mill 4ply Cotton. This wil be available soon at Bendigo woollen mill.

The pattern is available on Ravelry (click here), Etsy (click here), Bendigo Woollen Mills (click here) and Lovecrafts (click here).

Materials:

3.5mm hook

1x Woltraum My Melody 4ply.  Approx amount used 1000m/1093yd to 1100m/1202yd.

Tapestry Needle.

Scissors.

Woltraum My Melody

Yarn Substitutes:

Scheepjes Whirl (click here)

Scheepjes Whirl Fine Art (click here)

Lana Grossa Twisted Summer Shades (click here) 

Rico Creative Cotton Degrade Print (click)

I had some very capable pattern testers for this project and their work is just beautiful. These testers are what makes my patterns what they are. They find all my silly errors and show just how different a project can be in their chosen yarns and colour choices. They chose varied yarns to work in and have produced some stunning shawls.

I was also extremely fortunate to have Kerri Nosworthy in my test team working in Bendigo Woollen Mill yarn. This has meant I can also offer the pattern for sale through Bendigo Mill. So a massive huge thank you to Kerri.

Test Shawl. By Kerri Nosworthy. Gorgeous in Bendigo Woollen Mill 4 Ply cotton. Parchement and Teal.

Test Shawl by MJ Rose. Made using Yarn Bee Wrapsody in Crimson Poppies.

Test Shawl by Amy Elizabeth Peterson. Made using Rea Favourites Little Club Yarn.

Test Shawl by Sallyanne Fisher. Made using Yarn Bee Rainbow Wrapsody in The Slate Divide. Background is embroidery done by my Grandmother. She gifted this to me when I was very young and I have treasured it ever since. It hangs in a frame on my wall.

Test Shawl by Nikki Barker. Made using Red Heart It's a Wrap Rainbow yarn. I have never been a fan of the colour green but this work of Nikki's is bending my thoughts towards green, as this is gorgeous.

More photos of Nikki's shawl.

Test Shawl by Ruth Tipping. Made using Scheepjes Whirl in Turkish Delight.

Now to the boring stuff!

You are welcome to sell items made from this pattern, but please credit me as the designer and add a link to purchase my pattern in your sale. You cannot manufacture and mass produce my designs for sale.

Many hours of work has gone into the designing and producing of this pattern.

You are purchasing/downloading this pattern for personal use only. Please note my patterns and my images are copyright protected, please do not use my images to sell your items. No pattern or photograph may be reproduced or distributed — mechanically, electronically, or by any other means, including photocopying, without written permission of Auburncraft Design. Please do not copy, rewrite, or redistribute this pattern or any part of it as your own or otherwise. Just because you can copy does not mean you should. Please do not resell my patterns. This post may contain affiliate links.

Auburncraft Crochet Design is moving

In the next few weeks I will be moving my online presence to a new webpage which will have a pattern store and blog all combined into one place. Wordpress can be challenging to use at the best of times and at the moment it looks like I will move to Wix. I will be keeping my domain name.

So keep an eye out for the move and please do follow me and subscribe to my site once I get it up and running.

I will no doubt still do the odd post here till I move but am focussing on working on the new page. Hopefully it will be bigger and better and much easier to manage.

I Want Flowers!

A world filled with flowers is a beauty to behold!

I have been making shawls and blankets of late. Occasionally I have added a few bandana cowls to mix it up, but I needed a break from the blanket I have been working on.

On looking around the room where I store my yarns, I viewed the mountain of what I would consider scrap yarns and decided I should make a bag out of scraps.

The bag on completion really needed a flower. This little flower is the result!

This has a raised centre for that 3D look.

US terms are used for this pattern:

Materials: (scrap yarn).

Flower Centre: Chunky weight.

Petals: Aran weight for the inner petal and Dk weight for the edge.

Abbreviations:

• Sc - Single Crochet

• Dc- Double Crochet

• Dtr- Double Treble

• St- Stitch

• Yo - Yarn Over

• Slst- Slip Stitch

Notes:

• Numbers in Red Italic represent the corresponding photograph.

• Numbers at the end of the rows represent the stitch counts.

Flower Centre

Round 1:[1]Wrap the yarn around your finger 10 times.  Remove the circle of yarn from your finger, keep the circle intact. [2]Insert your hook through the centre of the yarn circle.  [3] Yo and pull up a loop. Yo and draw through both loops (doesn’t count as a St). [4]Work 12Sc into the circle.  Slst to the first Sc to close the round. Cut yarn and fasten off.  Leave a long tail for sewing the flower on. [12Sc]

Petals

Round 2: Turn the work over.  Attach a different colour yarn with a Slst into any Sc.[5][Ch5 (counts as a Dtr).[6]Work 3Dtr into the same St as Ch5. [7] Ch5, Slst back into the same St. Slst across 2 Sc]x6 omitting one Slst in last rep. [8]Fasten off and cut yarn.  Leave a long tail for sewing the flower on. [30Dtr]

Round 3:[9]Attach a different colour yarn with a Slst into any Slst between Petals on Round1. [10] [Ch5. Sc into the first Dtr of Round 2. [11] [2 Dc into next St]x2. [12]Ch5. Slst into next Slst of Round 1]x6. Fasten off and cut yarn.  [12Sc, 24 Dc, 12 Ch5 lengths]

Sew on to your project using the long tails.

The Stem:

I usually use surface slip stitch for most items like this, but this time I wanted it to really stand out. This stem is sewn on.

 I used the same Chunky yarn that was used for the centre of the flower.

Steps to making a flower stem.

Direction of work.

[1]Ch20. [2]Slst into the 12th Ch from the Hk. Ch12.[3] Slst back into the same 12th Ch.[4] Slst to the top of the Sp between the 2 Loops.  [5]Ch10.  Cut yarn and Fasten off.  Leave a long tail to sew the stem on. Sew on.

Now to the boring stuff!

Yes! This is free for your use but there are still some copyright legalities that come even with free!

You are welcome to sell items made from this pattern, but please credit me as the designer and add a link to purchase my pattern in your sale. You cannot manufacture and mass produce my designs for sale.

Many hours of work has gone into the designing and producing of this pattern.

This pattern is for personal use only. Please note my patterns and my images are copyright protected, please do not use my images to sell your items. No pattern or photograph may be reproduced or distributed — mechanically, electronically, or by any other means, including photocopying, without written permission of Auburncraft Design. Please do not copy, rewrite, or redistribute this pattern or any part of it as your own or otherwise. Just because you can copy does not mean you should. Please do not resell my patterns. This post may contain affiliate links.

LYS (local yarn stores) Are Great!

LYS are great! I love those wonderful shops that stock unique yarns, and don't stick to the standard selection that you find in many large companies. I want LYS to use my patterns and enjoy doing so, and will happily work in with them to achieve a great working partnership.

What I find annoying is when I google my designs to find one of my top sellers being advertised as a class in a LYS without any mention of whose design this is. The one particular LYS in this instance, claimed in their advertisment for a class to make my design, that for $15 dollars you could attend as many classes as you needed to make this pattern. This class comes with line by line instructions and graphs! All sounds pretty good doesn't it? But no mention of the Designer! No mention of each class participant paying for a copy of the design, but on searching I find the owner of this establishment has indeed bought my pattern.

Permission to use my design in this manner was not asked for, or granted. I am willing to give them the benefit of doubt that it was all a misunderstanding, but as you could imagine it sure didn't look good!

I encourage any LYS Stores who would love to feature my designs in classes etc, to please contact me. Apprise me of either the fact that class participants will be purchasing the pattern via one of the outlets I sell on: Ravelry (click here), Etsy (Click here), Lovecrafts (click here), Bendigo Woollen Mill (Click here) and coming soon Ribblr.

Or if you would like to pay a contract fee on an agreed amount for patterns, for each class participant, which will entitle you to copying the pattern for each class member. This could be arranged at a discounted price, if the conditions are right. So send me a message via my blog or find me on Instagram (click here) and Facebook (click here).

Any advertising of classes need to have the designers (Auburncraft Design) name and credit for the pattern attached to them. Class fee structure needs to clearly state that this includes a fee for the copyrighted pattern. Then we are all good. The LYS is happy, those attending the class are happy and most of all I am happy.

I take copyright seriously and expect the same in return. My blog posts and patterns all have the following copyright information on them.

Now to the boring stuff!

You are welcome to sell items made from this pattern, but please credit me as the designer and add a link to purchase my pattern in your sale.

Many hours of work has gone into the designing and producing of this pattern.

You are purchasing/downloading this pattern for personal use only. Please note my patterns and my images are copyright protected, please do not use my images to sell your items. No pattern or photograph may be reproduced or distributed — mechanically, electronically, or by any other means, including photocopying, without written permission of Auburncraft Design. Please do not copy, rewrite, or redistribute this pattern or any part of it as your own or otherwise. Just because you can copy does not mean you should. Please do not resell my patterns. This post may contain affiliate links.

A Cotillion for Butterflies Scarf/Wrap

A Cotillion for Butterflies Scarf/Wrap. Made Red Heart Unforgettable Yarn.

You are cordially invited to the Butterfly Cotillion. Dress in your finest and come join the Butterflies.

Come dance the night away!

This is a whimsical scarf/wrap with three different size Butterflies competing for the best costume (wings) and the best dance moves. Large Butterflies in rows are lined up with their dance partners the medium sized Butterflies. The matriarchs of the Butterfly world stand aloof in the extended Triangle edging, carefully watching to ensure all is proper.

Smaller Butterflies dangle from the edging trying to get a peek at the dance floor, hoping one day it will be their turn.

The pattern is available on Ravelry (click here), Etsy (click here) and Lovecrafts (click here).

Materials:

5mm Hook

3x Red Heart Unforgettable in Petunia.

20x Small seed beads.

20x 4mm beads.

Tapestry needle

Sewing needle and thread.

Scissors.

Gauge: Measured over double crochet stitches of the pattern. Measured while blocking.

11 Rows to 4 inches/10cm

16 Stitches to 4 inches/10cm

Finished Measurements:

69.2 inches/176cm long.

13.5 inches/37cm wide. Measured across widest section of the shawl.

Yarn Substitutes: (ensure to check gauge)

Lion Brand Mandala (click here)

King Cole Riot (click here)

Scheepjes Secret Garden (click here)

Sirdar Jewelspun (click here)

As always I like to show off my pattern testers hard work. They sure deserve the credit and everyone gets to see a little bit of diversity in yarn etc.

Test Scarf/Wrap by Sallyanne Fisher. Made using Lion Brand Mandala in Ombre. It looks fabulous!

Test Scarf/Wrap by Margo Mead. Made using Red Heart Unforgettable in Gossamer.

Test Scarf/Wrap by Amanda Haynes. Made using So Crafty Yarn

Test Scarf/Wrap by Bronwyn Bellwood. Made using Blue Label Cupcakes.

Test Scarf/Wrap by Ruth Tipping. Made with WI yarn

Now to the boring stuff!

You are welcome to sell items made from this pattern, but please credit me as the designer and add a link to purchase my pattern in your sale. You cannot manufacture and mass produce my designs for sale.

Many hours of work has gone into the designing and producing of this pattern.

You are purchasing/downloading this pattern for personal use only. Please note my patterns and my images are copyright protected, please do not use my images to sell your items. No pattern or photograph may be reproduced or distributed — mechanically, electronically, or by any other means, including photocopying, without written permission of Auburncraft Design. Please do not copy, rewrite, or redistribute this pattern or any part of it as your own or otherwise. Just because you can copy does not mean you should. Please do not resell my patterns. This post may contain affiliate links.

I Should Have Used Mothballs Scarf/Wrap

Just doesn't pay to turn your back on your crochet! I put my Scarf/Wrap down for just a minute and when I turned back Moths had attacked it. The little blighters were all over it. They had devoured huge chunks of it and were hanging from the edges!

If you feel the need to own your very own moth-eaten Scarf/Wrap then follow these links to the pattern. Ravelry (click here),Etsy (click here) and Lovecrafts (click here).

This Scarf/Wrap is made from Scheepjes Whirl in Caramel Core Blimey. It works up into a very wearable, light-weight accessory to your wardrobe.

The pattern is in written format, with photographs and a graph to help along the way. It comes in UK written terms and US written terms.

Materials:

3.5mm Hook

1x Scheepjes Whirl Caramel Core Blimey 215-225 Grams = 1000m/1093yd per ball.  Approx 150m/164yd of one whirl left over.

68x Small beads.

Tapestry needle

Sewing needle and thread.

Substitutes for yarn:

Birdies Knits Hand Dyed Cotton (click here).

Rico Creative Cotton Degrade (click here).

Lana Grossa Shades of Cotton (click here).

Lion Brand Shawl in a ball (click here).

I Should Have Used Mothballs

The pattern has been tested by my dedicated team of pattern testers and some of their incredible work is below.

Test Scarf/Wrap by Stephanie Fitzgerald Hall. Made using Premier yarn in the colour Tulip. I have to say I think Stephanie only has herself to blame for Moths eating this. Keeping it in a tree has to have something to do with it!!!

Test Wrap/Scarf by Danielle Hanken Tetreault. Made using Birdies Knits hand dyed cotton in fingering weight. Colour Water Lily and Lemon Drop (see yarn substitutes for a link to this).

Test Scarf/Wrap by MJ Rose. Made using Yarn Bee Rainbow Wrapsody in Teal of Fortune.

Test Scarf/Wrap by Jane Wynne. Made using Bendigo Woollen Mills 4ply in Glacier

Now to the boring stuff!

You are welcome to sell items made from this pattern, but please credit me as the designer and add a link to purchase my pattern in your sale.You cannot manufacture and mass produce my designs for sale.

Many hours of work has gone into the designing and producing of this pattern.

You are purchasing/downloading this pattern for personal use only. Please note my patterns and my images are copyright protected, please do not use my images to sell your items. No pattern or photograph may be reproduced or distributed — mechanically, electronically, or by any other means, including photocopying, without written permission of Auburncraft Design. Please do not copy, rewrite, or redistribute this pattern as your own or otherwise. Just because you can copy does not mean you should. Please do not resell my patterns. This post may contain affiliate links.

Please and Thank You!

It has been a week of standing on the sidelines and watching many designer friends deal with situations very unique to designers. I decided that it was time for a blog post on the trials and tribulations facing crochet designers.

Find yourself a time machine and step back in time fifty years. To crochet you had only a couple of options. You would learn from someone else and if you needed a pattern you would either go to the library and borrow one (where no doubt the designer had been paid for the design in the publication) or the local store that sold a little bit of everything and buy one, along with your yarn and probably most of your groceries as those stores had everything.

Sneak peek of a design that will be listed this weekend

Of course most people didn't need to use a pattern as there was often someone around to help show you how to crochet, but then you were limited to their abilities.

Right now you can go online and learn to crochet for free and there is a huge amount of patterns for free. Many designers offer free patterns and I know I have a few myself. But these patterns don't magically make their way onto the web for everyones use. They take work.

This week I know of one designer who was almost in tears, due to having one of her patterns bought by one person and then placed for free on a website that is well known for doing this. Her pattern had then been downloaded over 5000 times for free. She complained about this and was told (by someone who claimed that they never bought patterns and all patterns should be free) that she was greedy. Patterns should be free. She pointed out that her crochet business was her only means of feeding her family, but the accuser did not seem to care. Patterns should apparently be there for everyone to just have. Doesn't matter the hours of work involved in this pattern. It should just be free!

A lot of the bigger name designers can offer free patterns and still gain income. They get kick backs from yarn companies and affiliate links. Smaller designers don't have these options.

Another designer friend did a giveaway to try and draw some marketing interest in her work. She gave away quite a number of patterns for free to people. Again, it was hard work for her. Out of all the people who took those patterns, only 6 bothered to say thank you!

Designers are mostly creative people with a love of crochet. But this doesn't mean they should not be paid for their hard work. If you are offered a free pattern by someone, when you know it is actually a paid design, think twice before taking it. You could actually be taking food out of some families mouths by doing so. You don't walk into a Bakery and just take the bread rolls. You don't ask a Tradesperson, Doctor or Accountant to work for nothing and give you freebies. So please do the right thing and pay for your paid crochet patterns, and be thankful for the free ones given to you by the designer.

Also if you have to contact a designer, please be considerate of their time. The stories some of us could tell you about customer contact. We love to help you, but if you just so happen to do a blanket with chunky yarn when it should be make in fingering weight and decide you have an issue, please realise that the issue is your own. If your printer won't work then call a tech person as a crochet designer can't fix your printer.

I will end with the fact that most people who designers have contact with are lovely. It is just not always the case. But designers need to eat too!!!!

Disclaimer:

No Designers or crocheters were harmed in the writing of this post!

Filet Crochet. Keeping it neat!

What is Filet Crochet?

Basic filet crochet is a beautiful technique that creates pictures and patterns using a grid of open and solid blocks. It is worked using a combination of double crochet stitches (US terms) and chains, and once you learn the basic structure, the possibilities are endless.

Sneak Peek at My Latest Design: Mosaic Filet Blanket

Here’s a sneak peek at my latest design, a Mosaic Filet Blanket, created using basic block filet crochet.

Many filet crochet patterns are provided in graph form only. These graphs are worked with odd-numbered rows from right to left, and even-numbered rows from left to right.

The heading photo shows my most recent design, the Filet Mosaic Lap Blanket. This pattern uses one chain per block and is currently still in the design stage. Hopefully it will be in my testers’ hands within the next few weeks.

The design contains 125 rows of pattern and will be available in both fully written instructions and chart form.

Stay tuned for the upcoming release.

Tips for Neat Filet Crochet

I do love a bit of filet crochet. Watching the pattern slowly appear is incredibly satisfying. Filet can look absolutely stunning when worked neatly, but getting those crisp little blocks can be tricky.

So, if your filet work is starting to look more like a maze no one is ever going to escape from, here are a few helpful tips to keep it neat and tidy.

• Keep your starting chain consistent. Your foundation chain needs to match the tension you’ll use throughout the project. If you tend to chain tightly, go up a hook size for the chain. Otherwise, the bottom edge of your blanket may bow.

• Maintain even tension. Consistent tension is key to creating neat blocks.

• Watch your stitch height. Tension and stitch height are not the same thing. If you struggle with stitch height, there are many helpful tutorials online that can assist.

• Work into the chain space, not around it. It’s very tempting to crochet around the chain loop instead of into it. But if you want your filet design to really pop, take the time to work solid block stitches into the chain, not around it.

• Stack your stitches neatly. Ensure each double crochet sits squarely on top of the double crochet in the row below.

• Consider a standing double crochet. Chaining three at the beginning of a row can sometimes look messy. A standing double crochet (US terms), or standing treble crochet (UK terms), can create a much cleaner edge.

• Count your stitches regularly. Count each row and section. Discovering you missed a stitch ten rows back is no fun at all.

• Choose your yarn wisely. Some colours show filet work better than others, and fibre content can make a big difference. A flatter yarn such as cotton often creates more defined stitches and sharper detail.

Filet Crochet does not have to be just open and closed blocks. Once you get past the basics of Filet Crochet, you can step into slightly more advanced patterns such as adding blocks that span two normal sized blocks, with chains and Single crochet (USA terms). Below pictures showing a close up of this as an example.

An example of more advanced techniques that can be incorporated into Filet Crochet,

One of my designs is still waiting to find its way to my testers. I decided the original version (which I made a number of years ago) needed a bit of improving. It now sits half-finished, giving me that familiar look every time I walk past it, patiently waiting for me to pick it back up and complete it.

This piece includes more advanced filet squares nestled inside basic blocks, adding extra texture and interest to the overall design.

You can also learn techniques for increasing and decreasing blocks. An example of this can be seen in the photo below, taken from my Fishing for Luck Shawl/Wrap, which is now in the capable hands of my testers. I’m hoping to publish this pattern in early to mid-September.

Fishing for Luck Shawl/Wrap showing increasing Filet Blocks

If you have not tried Filet Crochet, grab your hook and give it a go.

Below my Butterfly Diamond Filet Blanket This pattern is available on Love Crochet (click here), Ravelry (click here) and Etsy (click here).

Butterfly Diamonds Filet Blanket. This is an easy blanket and part of a series which includes, Butterfly Diamonds Blanket, Flower Diamonds Blanket and Dragonfly Diamonds Blanket.

Flower

Diamonds Filet Blanket. This is an easy blanket and part of a series which includes, Butterfly Diamonds Blanket, Flower Diamonds Blanket and Dragonfly Diamonds Blanket.

Above my Flower Diamond Filet Blanket This pattern is available on Love Crochet (click here), Ravelry (click here) and Etsy (click here).

Lace Me Up Bandana Cowl.

This Bandana Cowl is made using Ice Yarn Kuka 100% wool. I have had this yarn quietly hiding in my stash drawer for some time. I made a pact with myself, that I would attempt to use stash yarn for a few projects and resist the urge to get more. Lockdown sure helped with this and Lace Me Up is the result.

This is a fun design made using mostly basic stitches. The neck has a unique laced effect and this does take some patience.

Lace Me Up Bandana Cowl by Auburncraft Design.

The pattern can be found on Ravelry (click here),Etsy (click here) and Lovecrafts (click here).

Materials:

5mm/H hook

27-inch size: 2 x Kuka Magic Wool Deluxe 251yd/230m per ball. 27-inch sizing: 382yd/410m.  

30-inch sizing: 3x Kuka Magic Wool Deluxe. 251yd/230m per ball. 27-inch sizing: 430yd/490m.  

Tapestry Needle.

Needle and Thread

Scissors

Stitch Markers

Substitutes for yarn:

Red Heart Unforgettable (click here).

Katia Azteca (click here).

Adriafil Zebrino (click here).

I am fortunate to have some amazing pattern testers who help to make my designs become reality. Below is some of their work.

Test Bandana Cowl by Sallyanne Fisher. Made using Lion Brand Mandala yarn in the colour Troll

Test Bandana Cowl by MJ Rose. Made using Premier Everyday Baby yarn in Black, white and green.

MJ managed to capture a real hippy vibe with this one!

You can follow me on the following:

Facebook: Auburncraft Crochet (click here).

Instagram: Auburn1414 (click here).

I also run a Facebook group in partnership with an Irish Designer: Two Redheads Crochet (click here).

Now to the boring stuff!

You are welcome to sell items made from this pattern, but please credit me as the designer and add a link to purchase my pattern in your sale.

Many hours of work has gone into the designing and producing of this pattern.

You are purchasing/downloading this pattern for personal use only. Please note my patterns and my images are copyright protected, please do not use my images to sell your items. No pattern or photograph may be reproduced or distributed — mechanically, electronically, or by any other means, including photocopying, without written permission of Auburncraft Design. Please do not copy, rewrite, or redistribute this pattern as your own or otherwise. Just because you can copy does not mean you should. Please do not resell my patterns. This post may contain affiliate links.

I Talk To Yarn!

Like a lot of crazy crochet people during this difficult worldwide pandemic, I have been locked away with my quite substantial yarn stash, whiling away the time crocheting and whipping up designs.

I have been drawing up quite a few new designs as my head just refuses to stop doing so. If I am out on my lawn mower I find by the time I am finished, I have a new idea all formatted out in my head and I am reaching for a pen and paper to jot it down. This happens no matter what I am doing. I just try to remember my ideas for a more appropriate time.

I have truly done my best to use stash yarn for many new designs, but sometimes it just is not enough.

I have one new idea that I have been itching to start. I then start to think about what yarn I need for it and of course colour!

If I had my way every single design would be made in the only colour truly worthwhile of being named Overlord of all Colours! Yes. Of course I am talking about PURPLE! I would truly make everything in purple if I could, but being a designer I do try to be a little bit diverse. Just don't suggest I work in GREEN (yuck) and we will probably get along fine, and don't get me started on RED! Red I only use very, very occasionally. One of my only designs in red is my Frankie Drake Cloche Hat (click here for a link to the pattern).

Frankie Drake Cloche hat. Pattern available on

Etsy (click here)

,

Ravely (click here)

and

Lovecrafts (click here).

Suitable Yarn to Make

Frankie Drake (click here).

For this new design, I had a NEED, LONGING, NECESSITY, UNDENIABLE URGE for Scheepjes Whirl yarn and thankfully my LYS has finally re-opened with a 2 person limit on how many people can be in the store at any one time.

I pondered long and hard as to which colour I should use. Of course I truly wanted to use Whirl in Lavenderlicious, but I have recently done a blanket in this and so I knew I must resist.

I looked at many items made in all the colours, trying to decide what colour would be just perfect. This had me rushing for the anti nausea pills as I came across Peppermint Patty Cakes (Green YUCK!). Once my stomach had finally calmed down, I narrowed the choice down to Mid Morning Mocha'roo and Licorice Yum Yum. Trying to decide between two colours totally does my head in at times. I find myself swapping and changing my mind over, and over, and of course the Lavenderlicious keeps popping into my head as the ultimate choice.

Find Scheepjes Whirl Click Here

The outing to the LYS was a real treat after being stuck in for so long, but my trusty little car had not forgotten the way there. I could hear the joyous hum from the motor as it knew just where to go. I soon found myself stepping over the threshold into yarn heaven. I didn't let any of the other yarns entice me to stop and adore them. Don't you worry, they were really trying. I could hear them whispering, 'Look at me, I am so soft'. 'Come on over here, you know you want to squeeze me! I told them to leave me alone in a harsh tone and they did quieten down considerably.

I stayed focused on my mission and headed straight for the Whirl section. I quickly scanned the shelves looking for the Mid Morning Mocha'roo and finally found one lone cake sitting all by itself as though being shunned by the other cakes. Normally this find would have had me singing BUT.... I needed TWO. My bottom lip dropped to the floor and I had to resist the urge to cry, or throw a tantrum. I managed to hold it all together as the last thing I could want is to be banned from the yarn store. Looking again for the Licorice Yum Yum my eyes landed on the LAVENDERLICOUS! I slapped myself a few times and forced my gaze to move on. 'My eyes, oh my eyes'. My gaze had fallen into the abyss, landing on the PEPPERMINT PATTY CAKE. This had me staggering to hang onto the shelves as nausea took hold.

Regaining my composure and averting my eyes from the hideous green, they finally landed on several cakes of Licorice Yum Yum. I reached for two cakes and headed to the checkout. The Mocha'roo was taunting me as I passed it 'You know you really want me, I'm much better than Licorice, C'mon buy me'. 'You know I can't' I muttered to it. I held my head high and kept walking. The store owner did give me an odd look as I paid for my purchase, but doesn't everyone talk to the yarn? Surely they were standing well back simply due to the covid restrictions and no other reason. Oh, well back to my designs!

You can follow me on the following:

Facebook: Auburncraft Crochet (click here).

Instagram: Auburn1414 (click here).

I also run a Facebook group in partnership with an Irish Designer: Two Redheads Crochet (click here).

Now to the boring stuff!

You are welcome to sell items made from my patterns, but please credit me as the designer and add a link to purchase my pattern in your sale.

Many hours of work go into the designing and producing of my patterns.

You are purchasing/downloading my patterns for personal use only. Please note my patterns and my images are copyright protected, please do not use my images to sell your items. No pattern or photograph may be reproduced or distributed — mechanically, electronically, or by any other means, including photocopying, without written permission of Auburncraft Design. Please do not copy, rewrite, or redistribute this pattern as your own or otherwise. Just because you can copy does not mean you should. Please do not resell my patterns. This post may contain affiliate links.

I Just Can't Bear It Crochet Washcloth

I Just Can't Bear It Crochet Washcloth

I have seen these little bears made from normal type towels and washcloths many times. I had not seen any done in a crochet washcloth, so I thought to myself that it was time.

These little washclothes are simple to make, great for a last minute gift or for adding to gift hampers such as baby shower hampers, house warming gifts etc.

I used one full 50g ball of cotton/bamboo for mine but any soft cotton or cotton blend will work great.

US Terms are used in this pattern.

Materials:

• 5mm/H Hook

• 1 x Noya Bamboo Cotton Dk 50g. (I rate this as a thicker Dk.) This yarn may not be readily available everywhere. An alternative would be King Cole Bamboo Cotton (click here to find).

• Ribbon in a matching colour.

• Rubber Bands in a matching colour.

Materials used.

Notes: 

• Chains count as a stitch. A Chain 1 is used at the beginning of the row instead of Chain 2. This creates a tighter and neater edge. This method suits my style of crochet and tension. This may not be the case for everyone. I offer two options as alternatives here and work what suits your style of crochet best. Alternative Option 1: Ch2 at the beginning of each row instead of Chain 1. Alternative Option 2: Ch1 at the beginning of each row and do not count this as a stitch. Place your first Half Double Crochet into the same place as the Ch1.

• This washcloth is designed to be lightweight and not tightly stitched. Check your gauge to make sure you have the right hook size for your yarn choice.

• If your tension is similar to mine your washcloth should be square. If not adjust the number of rows to make a square.

Gauge:

10 Rows to 4inches/10cm

14 Stitches to 4inches/10cm

Abbreviations:

Ch- Chain

Hdc- Half Double Crochet

Sc- Single Crochet

St- Stitch

Hk- Hook

Sp-Space

Cnr-Corner

Slst- Slip Stitch

Measurements:

30cm/11.8inches x 30cm/11.8inches

Abbreviations:

Ch- Chain

Hdc- Half Double Crochet

Sc- Single Crochet

St- Stitch

Hk- Hook

Sp-Space

Cnr-Corner

Slst- Slip Stitch

Washcloth:

Basic Half Double Crochet Washcloth

Row 1: Ch42:  Hdc into 3rd Ch from Hk. Hdc into each Ch across.  Turn [40Hdc]

Row 2: Ch1 (counts as a St). Hdc into each St across. Turn. [40Hdc]

Rep. Row 2 till you have a total of 38 Rows.

Border:

Ch1. Work 2 Sc into the same Sp as Ch1. Sc into each St across top edge.  Work 3 Sc into Cnr.  Work Sc into each row end across side.  Work 3 Sc into Cnr. Work Sc into each row end across side.  Slst to Ch1 to close.  Fasten off and cut yarn.

Sew in Ends.

Create your Bear:

Steps 1, 2 and 3.

• Step 1: Lay your washcloth flat. Firmly roll one edge towards the middle.

• Step 2: Repeat Step 1 on the opposite end of the washcloth so they meet in the middle.

• Step 3: Gently twist the top half of the washcloth.

Steps 4,5 and 6.

• Step 4: Fold the top section towards the back. You need the fold to be placed so that you the back section of the fold is longer by approx 2 inches.

• Step 5:Picture shows what the back of the bear will look like after the fold.

• Step 6: Get a matching colour rubber band and place this part way down the front section of the fold to form a head.

Steps 7,8 and 9.

• Step 7: Open the ears and arms out slightly.

• Step 8: Add a matching colour rubber at the top to form an ear.

• Step 9: Rep the last step for the second ear.

Steps 10 and 11.

• Step 10: Add matching colour rubber bands to form the bears feet.

• Step 11: Tie a length of ribbon around the neck.

Enjoy your bear!

And if you love my pattern buy me a cup of tea! Find the button to do so on my blog!

My pattern testers makes. Aren't they amazing!

You can find my patterns on Ravelry (Click here), Etsy (Click here),Lovecrafts (Click here) and Bendigo Woollen Mill (Click here).

Follow me on Instagram Auburn 1414 (click here), Facebook: Auburncraft Crochet (click here) and Two Redheads Crochet (click here).

Now to the boring stuff!

You are welcome to sell items made from this pattern, but please credit me as the designer and add a link to purchase my pattern in your sale.

Many hours of work has gone into the designing and producing of this pattern.

You are purchasing/downloading this pattern for personal use only. Please note my patterns and my images are copyright protected, please do not use my images to sell your items. No pattern or photograph may be reproduced or distributed — mechanically, electronically, or by any other means, including photocopying, without written permission of Auburncraft Design. Please do not copy, rewrite, or redistribute this pattern as your own or otherwise. Just because you can copy does not mean you should. Please do not resell my patterns. This post may contain affiliate links.

Please note that while this pattern is free on my blog, free does not mean you can reprint, distribute or use this without permission. This is for personal use!

Dragonfly Hide n Seek Crochet Shawl

What fun it is to see the Dragonflies playing Hide n Seek amoungst the flowers and diamonds.

The pattern for Dragonfly Hide N Seek can be found on Ravelry (click here), Etsy click here) and Lovecrafts (click here).

Dragonfly Hide n Seek Shawl

If you have not noticed or maybe it is your first time visiting my blog, I kind of love dragonflies! I also love flowers!

Dragonflies have a habit of appearing in my work as I keep thinking up new ways to incorporate them into my designs.

The Filet Crochet Technique is used for this project and the stitches are basic. A need for concentrating is there due to the width of the shawl. You have over 300 stitches per row.

I used 2 x Scheepjes Whirl in Shrinking Violet (click here for yarn) for this project.

I worked from the inside of the first ball till completion and then from the outside of the second ball to keep the colours flowing. Once the main body of the shawl was completed, I then worked from the inside of the remaining ball to make the border along the bottom edge. This kept the colours all flowing nicely.

This versatile shawl can be worn many ways.

The testing process is so important to my designs and my hard working testers deserve credit for their efforts. You will always find a page on in my patterns dedicated to showing off their efforts. Some people find having extra pages to a pattern annoying, but to me these people deserve to be credited and so I do. You can choose to omit printing this page if you like. Below is some of their incredible work.

Test Shawl by Angee Hudson. Made using Cotton Kings Twirls Deluxe in Edcora Red.

Test Shawl by Michelle Ross. Made using Nako Angora Luks col 1915.

Test Shawl by Amy Elizabeth Peterson. Made using Redheart Its a Wrap in Rainbow.

Test Shawl by Asra Konzak. Made using Cotton Kings Twirl in Rainbow.

Test Shawl by Jamie Johnson. Made using Cotton Kings Twirl in Yellow Citrine. Approx 1748yds used.

Test Shawl by Stephanie Joann Nolasco. Made using Caron Cakes.

Test Shawl by Michelle Westwood. Made using Lalables

Test Shawl by Cindy Cary. Made using Scheepjes Whirl in Peppermint Patty,

I had someone recently trying to pick my brains about the stitch composition of my Dragonflies as they are (according to the person) neater and more defined than other patterns they have seen. Of course I am not going to state outright how I achieve this as it is in the pattern, but I do have my very own way of combining stitches to achieve my particular Dragonfly.

It may seem mean not to just openly share my method, but this particular shawl has taken over 200 hours from idea, to drawing and then to construction and slowly working its way through the pattern testing process. Imagine asking a plumber, doctor, architect, cleaner or anyone else to share their work processes or work for free! Yeah I don't think this is gonna happen!

You can follow me on the following:

Facebook: Auburncraft Crochet (click here).

Instagram: Auburn1414 (click here).

I also run a Facebook group in partnership with an Irish Designer: Two Redheads Crochet (click here).

Now to the boring stuff!

You are welcome to sell items made from this pattern, but please credit me as the designer and add a link to purchase my pattern in your sale.

Many hours of work has gone into the designing and producing of this pattern.

You are purchasing/downloading this pattern for personal use only. Please note my patterns and my images are copyright protected, please do not use my images to sell your items. No pattern or photograph may be reproduced or distributed — mechanically, electronically, or by any other means, including photocopying, without written permission of Auburncraft Design. Please do not copy, rewrite, or redistribute this pattern as your own or otherwise. Just because you can copy does not mean you should. Please do not resell my patterns. This post may contain affiliate links.

6 (un)Helpful Crochet Hints That Could Save Your Project! Maybe!

Helpful crochet hints

1: How to find the yarn tail to pull from the centre of the ball:

This really depends upon whether the Pixie living inside the yarn ball is in a good mood or a bad mood.  They tend to like biscuits, honey and warm milk and so if you speak to them nicely and offer them at least a nice biscuit they may offer the end of the yarn up to you.  Whatever you do, do not annoy them. Get them annoyed and you will end up with a tangled mess and may never find the end of the yarn.  Good luck!

2: How to deal with finding a mistake in your project and the need to Frog (pull the project back to before the mistake).

Frog it!

There are several different methods that I have used/employed to deal with this situation.  I guess my all-time favourite is throwing the project into the open fire.  It solves the issue of having to Frog (see what that means above).  If you really cannot do this, I do recommend you throw the item across the room and call it names for several minutes.

3: How to deal with people who want you to make them items for nothing.

Perfect item to make certain you never get asked to make anything again!

This can be a really tough one as sometimes (just sometimes) you really don’t want to annoy your friends and family as you may need them at some stage,  so saying a firm ‘no’ may  not be the best answer.  The best thing you can do is make them the item and do a really, really bad job.  Make this the worst thing you have ever crocheted.  I can guarantee they will never again ask you to make something.

4: Those you live with are getting annoyed that you are using the dining table as a blocking board.

My Fishing for Luck Shawl Blocking. Pattern available on Ravelry, Etsy and Lovecrafts

Of course, you could just go and buy some blocking boards but really that is just money you could have spent on more yarn. Yes, I do know that most of us have a huge stash that could sink the Titanic but that is another issue altogether.  I suggest visiting a thrift store and buying those little trays that you can sit on your lap, or even a stable table (those things were a fad back in the day and nearly every mother and grandmother ended up with one, so thrift stores are full of the things). Train your family/room mates to eat with their meal on their lap.  Problem solved and everyone is happy.  I think!!!

5: You made your starting chain or foundation row for your exceptionally large blanket too tight.

Dogs have super powers

Yeah sure you could Frog the whole thing but who enjoys frogging. A tried and sure-fire method to fix this issue is to give your dog one end of the blanket and encourage a game of tug of war.  Dogs really do have super powers! Keep this up till your chain or foundation row has enough give in it.  If it has not worked then your blanket is probably ripped to bits by the dog anyway, so problem solved!

6:Your child or pet will not let you crochet and is insisting upon being on your lap!

Of course you could get rid of the offender but I know this is not an option for everyone. This is however a simple fix.  Go out and buy a large playpen.  Put your crochet chair inside the playpen and leave the child or pet outside of it.  If you also leave a set of textas with the child and perhaps a full bag of doggie food with the dog. Problem solved and a bit of peace to crochet. I cannot guarantee the condition of the house after several hours of free rein with textas and dog food (note: It is also not a good idea to get these two methods confused. Unless your dog is a budding artist). Crochet time is everything!!!

Disclaimer: No crochet items, children or pets where harmed in the writing of this post. If you took this seriously, then all I can say is 'Really!'

Fanatical Flower Fiend Bandana/Cowl

I decided it was time I designed a Cowl. I decided to use the flower I designed from my Clematis Shawl and turn it into a Cowl.

The results are just amazing and I am extremely pleased with the outcome.

I used Lion Brand Shawl in a Ball for the proto-type and feel this yarn is very suited to this design. Find Lion Brand Shawl in a Ball (click here)

The pattern is available in Uk and Us terms and comes in two sizes. Find it on Ravelry (click here), Etsy (click here) and Lovecrafts (click here).

Materials:

5mm/H hook

1 x Lion Brand shawl in a cake. Pastel Unique Unicorn 481yd/440m per ball.  Total used for 26-inch/66cm approx. 400yd/365m. Total used for 29-inch/73.6cm approx 460yd/420m

This pattern works up very quickly, which is a great bonus if maybe you want to whip something up as a gift for someone. It only uses the one ball of Lion Brand Shawl in a cake.

The process to get this pattern ready to publish is a rather lengthy one! I wish I was perfect but I am not! I make errors or what I like to call 'Boo, Boo's'. I have amassed a great pattern test team over time and I really make them work hard!

My testers are overworked (I work them 24 hours a day, or it seems that way as they are from all over the world, so at least one of them is working at any given time), they are underpaid (I don't pay them at all. They get access to my latest design and a final copy once completed). Even with these tough working conditions, they seem to keep lining up to test for me! I appreciate their efforts to get my patterns ready to publish, as without them they would really be a real mess!

You will notice in my patterns that the last page is always dedicated to thanking these hard working, underpaid heroes. I know some people don't like extra pages to a pattern, but to me it is very important to give credit where it is due.

Below are some of my testers makes:

Test make by Amy Jj. 26-inch sizing. Made using Lion Brand Shawl in a Cake in the colour Jade Pool

Test make by Karen J Best. 29-inch sizing. Made using Sirdar Colourwheel.

Photo Left: 26- inch size. Test cowl by Bronwyn Bellwood. Made using Elle Gold.

Photo Right: 26-inch size. Test Cowl by Jane Wynne. Made using Moda Vera Bouvardia in the colour Canyon Flight.

Test make by Amy Elizabeth Peterson. 26-inch sizing. Made

Lion Brand Shawl in a Cake in the colour Feng Shui Grey

Test make by Nikki Barker. 26-inch sizing. Made using Lion Brand Shawl in a Cake in the colour

Prism.

Test make by Bethany Colhoff. 29-inch sizing. Made using Namaste in Neutral colour.

You can find my patterns on Ravelry (Click here), Etsy (Click here),Lovecrafts (Click here) and Bendigo Woollen Mill (Click here).

Follow me on Instagram Auburn 1414 (click here), Facebook: Auburncraft Crochet (click here) and Two Redheads Crochet (click here).

Now to the boring stuff!

You are welcome to sell items made from this pattern, but please credit me as the designer and add a link to purchase my pattern in your sale.

Many hours of work has gone into the designing and producing of this pattern.

You are purchasing/downloading this pattern for personal use only. Please note my patterns and my images are copyright protected, please do not use my images to sell your items. No pattern or photograph may be reproduced or distributed — mechanically, electronically, or by any other means, including photocopying, without written permission of Auburncraft Design. Please do not copy, rewrite, or redistribute this pattern as your own or otherwise. Just because you can copy does not mean you should. Please do not resell my patterns. This post may contain affiliate links.

Pixies and Leprechauns stole my Crochet Hook!

I have a habit of misplacing things!

In reality I don't actually think that I misplace them; I am pretty sure that I have Leprechauns and Pixies that live in my house.

Maybe I could entice the little things with a pot of gold. If only I had one.

Note to self: Ask my Irish designer friend and partner in crime if she knows how to trap a Leprecaun!

These little creatures wait till I am asleep and steal the things they know very well I am going to want to use the next day. My fabric tape measure was missing for several weeks. I eventually found they had returned it and shoved it down the side of the couch. Very Sneaky!

I love my Clover Armour Hooks, but I only have one in a few sizes. My 6mm is gone. No doubt the Pixies found the shiny hook too much to pass up! They don't realise the imposition that they are putting me too. I have had to resort to using a cheap Aluminium hook for my latest design. It is equivalent to entering a Formula One race, while driving a Mazda 3, or attempting Brain Surgery with a Chisel.

Clover Armour

The Clover Hooks glide nicely through the yarn seemingly with no or little effort. I feel like I am wielding a Jack Hammer having to use an inferior hook.

I bet those horrid Pixies and Leprechauns will wait till I have finished this design and then my Clover Hook will appear. I can just imagine their laughter having caused the chaos they wanted.

So if you happen to know how to trap a Pixie or a Leprechaun please let me know and if you speak to one, please ask them to return my 6mm hook.