Clematis Crochet Shawl Pattern

*Ravelry Discount Link in post . For two weeks only (till 26th Aug 19) buy both the Clematis Shawl and the Vintage Clematis Shawl using the code 'Clematis' and get both for $6. *

I have a few favourite things in life!

Flowers! I love flowers! Many of the things I crochet incorporate flowers in them as flowers make me happy! The Clematis flower is supposed to be part of the Buttercup family and if this is so, then it must be the cool Aunt, due to its beautiful colours (usually purples, pinks and creams).

Clematis Flower!

I love Purple! Purple makes me happy!

Chances are if I am looking at yarn, my hands will automatically be drawn to the purples. I have always had a love of purple. When I got my own bedroom as a child, my father was silly enough to ask me what colours I wanted in my room. While he didn't let me paint the walls purple, I did get purple curtains and a purple chest of drawers.

So while shopping for some unnecessary yarn (haven't we all been there?), I spotted the Lion Brand Shawl in a Cake (which also comes in a ball). They had a few different colours on offer but of course that Mindful Mauve was just calling to me.

The result is the Clematis Shawl. Pattern available on Ravelry, Love Crochet and Etsy.

Made from Lion Brand Shawl in a Cake. Mindful Mauve.

My long suffering pattern testers were outstanding during the test process. They produced some really beautiful shawls, each with their own individual yarn choices and colours.

Top left: Shawl by Nikki Barker made from Cascade Sateen.
Top Centre: Shawl by Simone Howes made from Stenli Candy.
Top Right: Shawl by Amy Elizabeth Peterson made from Lion Brand Shawl in a Ball, Community Coral.
Bottom Left: Shawl by Opal Pickard made from Lion Brand Mandala in Gnome.
Bottom Right: Shawl by Shaunna Hallon made from Lion Brand Shawl in a Cake.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on a yarn link on my page and purchase yarn, I get a small commission. This does not affect you in any way but helps me to keep my blog going.

Billy Thunder Crochet Tote Pattern.

It is always a fabulous feeling when you get to publish a pattern. Months and sometimes more, can go into the making and testing of a design. It becomes a collaboration with the testers making sure it works for everyone (well hopefully, fingers crossed).

I won't go into the story behind the name as you can view that in another of my blog posts (crochet ramblings section).

Now down to business:

This is a functional fun bag. It features beads on both sides.

Beading on both sides. Don't stress it's easy!

The links to the pattern are at the bottom of the page.

It is made from two mandala type pieces worked in the round. The beading is added as you go. If you have never done beading then that is ok. It may look hard but not the way I do it. Pictures are there to help.

The Tote has stiffening in the base and outer edges to help hold the shape.

It is not a lined bag as I have left it more of a market bag style look.

This bag has been tested by a fabulous group of people and some of their bags are shown below. I do feel I need to name them as they were great, five star quality!
Debbie Schell Kirkland
Michelle Rose
Christelle Norrbohm
Jane Wynne
Dulcy Harris

Tension is important with this bag and measurements have been listed with stitch height to ensure success.

There is a wide variety of stitches used: Us terms right/Uk left

Chain 
Slip Stitch 
Treble/Dtr- Double Treble 
Treble 2 together/Double Treble 2 together 
Treble 3 together/Double Treble 3 together 
Treble 4 together/Double Treble 4 together 
Treble 5 together/Double Treble 5 together 
Back Loop Treble/ Back Loop Double Treble 
Linked Double Crochet/ Linked treble crochet 
Back Loop single crochet/ Back loop double crochet 
Reverse double crochet (also known as Crab Stitch).

Now for the bits I just have to add (although boring).

You are purchasing/downloading a pattern only- Instant download of PDF pattern. You will require a PDF viewer to open pattern.

The pattern is available in Uk terms and USA terms

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 do not copy, rewrite, or redistribute this pattern as your own or otherwise. Please do not resell my patterns.

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.

Please note my patterns and my images are copyright protected, please do not use my images to sell your items.

This pattern has been tested by a large group with varying abilities in crochet.

Please do show me your finished bags and if you can add them to ravelry as projects. I love to see your finished work.

Pattern available on Love Crochet

and Ravelry

Why didn't I use my yarn winder!

I am working on something for myself at the moment. I wasn't going to write the pattern up, but I just could not help myself.

At this stage I am nineteen pages into the pattern and almost finished the design. I am pretty chuffed with how it is turning out, and I have found these super cute buttons to add to it. I can't wait to finish it.

You may be thinking, what is this design? Well at this stage you will just have to wait and see as I am only showing a portion of it. It should be ready to test in the next few weeks.

But back to the issue at hand! You know how it is with a project, when you can see the finish line up ahead and are in a mad rush to finish it. You attempt to work faster, but every little thing seems to stop you.

I am using Ice Magic Light yarn in this design and from past experience I know very well that half way into a ball of yarn, it becomes a tangled mess of yarn barf.

Yarn Barf. If you see an end in there message me!

Sitting over in the corner of the room is my yarn winder. It is glaring at me and chanting 'I told you so. Serves you right'. It probably has a point, although I do wish it would be quiet! I did know it would happen, but I just wanted to keep going. The finish line is just there!

The thing that is really, really annoying, is the ten minutes I have just spent attempting to find the end of the yarn. I know, and you know, that there are two ends in there. But where are they? Have I somehow ended up with an endless part ball of yarn, with no start and finish? Is the yarn taunting me and trying to mess with my mind by hiding its ends?

So here I am with my tangled mess. I could still be here in a months time attempting to find the ends. I will probably be found sitting on the floor, completely tangled in my yarn and muttering 'there are no ends' over and over.

Maybe I should just hire a Detective to find these camouflaged ends and save myself the torment . And can someone please tell the yarn winder in the corner to Shut Up!

Leadlight! Sending the Testers 'Down The Rabbit Hole'

After spending forever on the design process, the Leadlight Afghan is about to begin its journey into the testers hands.

I put out the call for testers about a week ago and had quite a few testers (people crazy enough to put their hands up), respond. I have selected/forced 6 testers through a vigorous selection process. In a kind of ' survivor camp' of crochet, set of tasks to prove their worth. No, not really! They were the only ones silly/brave enough to offer to test!

The first part of the pattern will be sent out on the 28th of this month and then the fun begins. I hope for smooth sailing and happy testers! And if I only allow them out of the locked room I am keeping them in, for short breaks, I am hopeful to have the pattern successfully tested and published mid year 2019

And to my testers I strongly suggest that they use the plastic bobbins that stop the yarn from unravelling. Cos' if you are cheap like me, and only use cardboard, the tangle factor is quite large. The final Colour Work section has 96 Bobbins in play!

Major Tangles

Keep an eye out for my Leadlight Afghan mid year 2019

The Leadlight uses Stylecraft Batik Dk and Stylecraft Special Dk.  It is comprised of simple stitches and some surface slip stitch. It has three colour work sections that require Bobbins worked in the round. This spans 62 inches and looks lovely across a Queen or King Bed.

Post contains affiliate links