The Goldilocks Method of Designing Crochet.

You know that feeling! You get a brilliant idea and in your head it is epic!

This is going to be bigger than Ben Hur (Or that is what the saying is, 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 whilst 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 lot of yarn, and it doesn't work that great. Maybe the texture is too rough. You try another lot and it is way too soft. Then you try a third lot 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 in your 4mm and you guessed it, it is 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.

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Single Crochet.

You think you are 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 on you get, you start to think that this stitch is maybe not right for the design. Maybe this will not work. You work slower, so you can ponder how you could possibly be wrong. It worked so well in your head. Eventually you are working one stitch a minute. Your brain is stating in loud terms that IT WILL NOT WORK. The realization dawns on you that it JUST AIN'T GONNA WORK, and a frogging you go.

Your vision begins to shift. This new idea will work, it will be super fabulous for sure. How could you have missed this?

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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 be awarded Queen of the world with 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 had the gift of flight bestowed upon it (you chuck it across the room and leave it there for a few hours.)

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Waist coat stitch.

Waist Coat Stitch. This is it! This is the one!! This will be raised above all others and become legend in this design. People will queue for hours to view the crochet artistry that you have designed with this stitch. As you work, you realise that this is quite true. It does work. It is right. Wonderful even. You work harder and faster knowing that those queues of crochet fans will be waiting to view your masterpiece.

Again your head has grown a few sizes too large for that beanie, and you realise the day is gone. It is late and suddenly you feel like eating a large bowl of porridge. You must have one! You have been working very hard all day on this so deserve it!!!!!

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You are now so exhausted from your day of frogging that you also require a nap. You go looking for a bed, but you do need to find one that is JUST RIGHT!

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

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!

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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).

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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).

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

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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.

Ice Queen Crochet Scarf/Cowl

Quote: The White Witch : I can make anything you like. (Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis)

And with that quote in mind, I did go right ahead and make anything I liked!

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I like things that are unique, quirky and maybe a little odd.

I had this design rattling around in my head for weeks. I had seen a scientists graph somwhere online charting Icicles and instantly my brain decided that this would make a great idea for a crochet design. I did try very hard to resist the urge to purchase the yarn for this, but I already had the cream in stock, so what can a person really do? I gave in and bought a second ball of Bendigo Woollen Mill Luxury to start making it. This arrived by owl mail (yes a Harry Potter reference), but I still did not give in to the urge to start on the design right away.

The design idea refused to leave me alone. It was insistant upon being made. My brain had re-worked it a dozen times over. I had just completed another unique scarf (Moths Ate My Flower Scarf) and was trying to decide what project I would work on next. So I gave in and grabbed my hook and started to create 'Ice Queen'.

The base for this beauty is a simple Sc (US Terms) scarf with tapered ends.

The uniqueness is created with the layer of Surface Slip Stitch over this simple base. Icicles dance from the edges, created by simple chains, puff stitch and slip stitch.

When it came time to name my creation, I had a few names in mind. I wanted the Icicle theme to be apparent in the name and I kept thinking of the Snow Queen in C.S. Lewis Narnia Chronicles. Combining the two themes together created the name 'Ice Queen'.

The Scarf also doubles as a Cowl with the addition of a button and buttonhole. You can also add an extra buttonhole loop near the neckline if you wish to wear it just draped across your shoulder and buttoned at the neck.

So if you would like to feel like an 'Ice Queen', all snug and warm in your very own Scarf/Cowl, now is your chance.

If you have a fear of Surface Slip Stitch, all I can say is DON'T be afraid. It is easy.

The pattern is in written form and is available in both UK and US Terms and is available on:

Ravelry (click here), Etsy (click here) and Lovecrafts (click here).

It comes with many pictures and graphs for the Surface Slip Stitch as well as the written stitches.

Materials Required:(click here) for Bendigo Woollen Mill yarn.

I have some patterns available on Bendigo Woollen Mills Webpage and Ice Queen will be listed on their shortly as well.

  • 5mm hook

  • C1=1 x Bendigo Woollen Mill Luxury 10ply Aran in Cream 300m perball. Approx 220m used

  • C2= 1 x Bendigo Woollen Mill Luxury 8ply Dk in Shadow 400m per ball.Approx. 350m used

  • 1x button approx 45mm/1.77inches (optional)

  • Tapestry Needle

  • Stitch markers

My pattern testers did themselves proud with their crochet abilities. They helped to fine tune the pattern and I know I would be lost without them!!!

Ice Queen Test Scarf by Amanda Haynes. Made using So Crafty Dk in Slate Grey and So Crafty Chunky in Cream.

Ice Queen Test Scarf by Cindy Cary. Made

Bendigo Woollen Mill Luxury in Navy and Aquarium.

Ice Queen Test Scarf by Kathy Mant. Made using Bendigo Woollen Mills Luxury in Slate Grey and Cream.

You can follow me on Auburncraft Crochet on Facebook (Click here), Instagram (Click here) and join Two Redheads Crochet on Facebook (Click here). This is a group I jointly run with an Irish Designer, Fiona Campbell.

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.

Frustrations of a Hooker!

What is frustration to a Hooker?

Some actually find being referred to as a hooker a major frustration! Not me that is just fine! Call me a hooker all you want!

Others cannot stand that mess of yarn barf and will actually throw it away or pay someone to untangle it.

Yarn Barf!

My frustration for the day is reaching for a design I have partly done and then looking for the 4mm hook needed to do some on it. Mr. 4mm is in my favourite colour purple and you would think I would know his where-a-bouts given that. But, no, he has left the building. Maybe he got a better offer. Better work conditions. Someone with nicely manicured hands to hold him. Someone who will pack him away nicely into a beautiful hook case with tender loving care, instead of leaving him laying around till he is needed. He didn't leave a note to say he was leaving! Nothing!

Then to add to the frustration, all the silly red 3.5mm hooks and 3mm hooks that I do use quite often and have slowly lost, turned up in my search.

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Red hooks everywhere!

So I am now in a sea of red hooks and not a purple one in sight.

Footnote: Major alert! Call off the search!!!

I found him... He was hiding in amoungst a bag of purple and pink squares I have been designing. Now we are going to have to have a talk about hiding. He could have let me know with a yell or a 'Hey I am here'. Typical male. he knows how much I want him and he is playing hard to get. Well he won't be happy once I give him a few hours of hard labour hooking away!!!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/703981100116431/

https://www.facebook.com/Auburncraft-Crochet-103007401116090/

On The Wings of a Dragonfly Crochet Shawl

Combining Dragonflies and Crochet have become a bit of a thing with me!

I truly love Dragonflies!

I have many designs that incorporate the Dragonfly in them. My Flight of the Dragonfly Blanket was such a huge success that I decided a triangle shawl using the same motif was in order.

On The Wings of a Dragonfly by Auburncraft Design. Made using 1 x Scheepjes Whirl in Salted Caramel Matcha. 3.5mm hook.

This gorgeous shawl pattern is available in Uk and US terms.

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

I used 1x Scheepjes Whirl in Salted Caramel Matcha, with approx 60 to 70 metres remaining of the one cake. To complete the shawl using a single whirl, you will need to meet gauge and keep your tension the same throughout. Two of my incredible pattern testers found that they required a small amount more than the 1000m that comes in one Whirl. Please keep this in mind when ordering yarn.

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On The Wings of a Dragonfly Shawl by Auburncraft Design, Made using 1x Scheepjes Whirl in Salted Caramel Matcha. 3.5mm hook

I originally designed this for use with one Scheepjes Whirl but felt that a solid colour made using quality cotton would be a great use of the design. The pattern for the solid colour made using Bendigo Woollen Mill 4ply Cotton will be available in the next few days.

This pattern has been through the testing process and the feedback from my testers has been very positive. I always try to credit my testers in my patterns. Their work enbles me to offer quality pattern and I value their input greatly.

Below is some of their work:

On The Wings of a Dragonfly test shawl by Michelle Rose. Made using Nako Angora Luks.

On The Wings of a Dragonfly test shawl by Jamie Johnson. Made with Hobbii Twister using just over one cake.

On The Wings of a Dragonfly shawl by Bethany Colhoff. Made using Scheepjes Whirl in Blackcurrant Squeeze Me. Just over one whirl used. 3.5mm hook

On The Wings of a Dragonfly by Elika Rivera. Made using Caron Cotton Cakes: Hydrangea with a 5mm hook

On The Wings of a Dragonfly test shawl by Stephanie Joann Nolasco.

Made using Caron Simply Soft Ombre Teal Zeal. 3.5mm hook

On the Wings of the Dragonfly test shawl by Sandie Leach. Made with Little Favorites by Rea-Unicorn. G/4mm

On The Wings of a Dragonfly in Cotton by Cindy Cary. Made using Bendigo Woollen Mills 4 ply cotton in Parchment. 2.75mm hook. This version will be made into its own pattern for use by BWM. A huge thanks to Cindy for all her work to make this possible!

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.

Vintage Bouquet for Bethany

I originally designed this blanket for use with a slow colour change yarn. Then I decided that it could look incredible with a Vintage twist to it.

Vintage Bouquet for Bethany Blanket. Made using quality Bendigo Woollen Mills 8 ply cotton in Latte Colour.

Vintage Bouquet for Bethany is a blanket that will stand the test of time. It would make a fabulous choice for a Christening or Naming Day Blanket and has an elegance to it that turns heads.

It uses the same concept as its sister blanket Bouquet for Bethany but made in a solid cotton with the added embroidery feature at the border.

I used Bendigo Woollen Mills 8ply Dk cotton. This is a super soft, quality cotton and well worth using.

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

Please give it some love and favourite or write a comment. The pattern is available in Uk and US terms and has photographs and graphs to help.

Materials:

3.5mm hook

Blanket:

  • C1=4x Bendigo Woollen Mill 4ply Cotton Latte 670 metres/732 yards perball. This is a Fingering Weight. Approx 2300m/2515yd total used

Embroidery:

  • C2=Approx 200m/218yd Bendigo Woollen Mill 8 ply Dk Pink Rose

  • C3=Approx 100m/109yd Bendigo Woollen Mill 8 ply Dk Pine Lime

I am extremely fortunate to have some incredible pattern testers. They help to make my patterns what they are. Below is some of their work on this patterns:

Test blanket by Cindy Cary. Made from Bendigo Woollen Mill 8ply Dk cotton in Parchment. The embroidery is done with BWM Blush and Pine Lime.

Test blanket by Kathy Mant. Made from Bendigo Woollen Mills Cotton 8ply Dk in Snow.

Also available is Bouquet for Bethany. This is made from Scheepjes whirl and whirlette and does not have the embroidery feature in the border. Follow this link (click here) to read about this Version.

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.

Bouquet for Bethany Blanket

Sometimes a pattern design comes out better than you could have ever imagined. this is one of those times!

Bouquet for Bethany Blanket uses the same concept as my Flight of the Dragonflies Blanket, but has the gorgeous stemmed flowers as a feature. It is worked in the round with the pattern being in written form, with added graphs and photographs.

Bouquet for Bethany in Scheepjes Whirl, Cotton Candy and Whirlette in Grapefruit

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

Please give it some love and favourite or write a comment.The blanket is available in two different version (purchase which suits your needs). This version was made from Scheepjes Whirl and Whirlette as I showcase it with a slow colour change yarn. It can look just as fabulous using yarns such as Hobbii Twister or Lola, anything with that lovely graded colour change.

Bouquet for Bethany in Scheepjes Whirl, Cotton Candy and Whirlette in Grapefruit

My hard working pattern testers did a incredible job as usual. They have spent the last 5 weeks pouring over the pattern and finding what I like to call my Boo, Boo's! They produced some incredible blankets, all with their own originality due to colour and yarn choice. Some of their work is featured below:

Test Blanket by Carrie Skach. Made using Scheepjes Whirl in Watermelon Hellraiser and Scheepjes Whirlette in Licorice.

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Test Blanket by Simone Howes. Made from Scheepjes Whirl in Licorice Yum Yum and Scheepjes Whirlette in Ice.

Test Blanket by Michelle Rose. Made from Nako Angora Luks Color 81909

Materials:

3.5mm hook

Colour 1-1x Scheepjes Whirl in Cotton Candy 1000m/1093yd

Colour 2-3x Scheepjes Whirlette in Grapefruit. 455m/497yd per ball.  Approx 1110m/1213yd of Whirlette used

Also available is Vintage Bouquet for Bethany. This is made from quality Bendigo Woollen Mill Cotton and has an embroidery feature in the border. Follow this link (click here) to read about the Vintage Version.

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.

Not For Summer Keyhole Head Warmer Crochet Pattern

I bounced out of bed this morning knowing that today was a pattern launching sort of day.

I had a spring to my step that can only be achieved when a pattern has made its way through testing and is ready to leave home and find its way to places like ravelry and etsy. I put the finishing touches on my pdf and kissed 'Not For Summer Keyhole Head Warmer' goodbye and pressed the publish button.

Pattern Available on Ravelry (click here).

Etsy (click here).

Lovecrafts (click here)

Not For Summer Keyhole Head Warmer

So now for the tedious task of getting it out there on social media.If you would like to save 20% off the cost of the pattern, join the facebook group 'Two Redheads Crochet' (Click here) as I am designer of the month and only those members have access to the code.If you see my baby (Not For Summer Keyhole Head Warmer) making its way around some of the social groups and looking a little lost, please give it some encouragement. It's a big world out there and it is only a baby!

Easy Level

Adding to my collection of Keyhole Head Warmers and introducing, Not For Summer Keyhole Head Warmer. This is the Fourth Head Warmer in the Collection.

This is a unique design featuring the Keyhole.

This can be made from varying yarns due to the nature of the pattern. Size is determined by the length of the ribbed band and the amount of rows worked.
The pattern comes with separate copies for Uk terms and USA terms. It has many photos to help along the way.

Suggested Materials:
4mm/G hook
C1=1 x Rare Essentials Cocoon Persimmon Alpaca and Merino Dk 50g ball. Approx 70m/76yd used
C2=1 x The Homeground Collection in Dye free Alpaca Dk 50g ball. 100m/110yd. Approx 70m/76yd used.
C3= 1 x Cleckheaton Country Dk White approx 35m/38yd used.
Tapestry Needle
1 x 40mm/1.5-inch Button
Scissors
Stitch Markers

While any Dk weight yarn can be used for this project, I found an Alpaca yarn to be a great option. This is another available substitute to the suggested yarn, King Cole Baby Alpaca Dk (click here).

My pattern testers as usual did a Fab-U-LOUS job and produced some really lovely Head Warmers. A huge thanks to them for their efforts!


Right top and Right Bottom: Test Head Warmers by Sheri DeBacker Mc Crork. : Made using Lion Brand Wool-Ease in Dk lakeside. Paintbox Dk in Midnight Blue and Duck egg.
Top Left:  Test Head Warmer by Shaunna Hallon.  Made from  Lion Brand Ice-Cream Scoop and Bernat Softee Baby.
Right Bottom: Test Head Warmer made by Sharon Heard.  Made using Panda Magnum 8ply
Centre Bottom: Test Head Warmer made by Tammy Taylor.  Made using Magic Lite Dk
Centre: Test Head Warmer made by Jane Wynne. Made using Moda Vera Florentine

TO FIND SOME OF THE YARNS MY TESTERS USED CLICK ON THE NAMES BELOW:

Lion Brand Ice-Cream Scoop.

Bernat Softee Baby.

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 affliliate links

Fishing For Luck Crochet Shawl

This shawl was so much fun to make! Each time I added one of the little clovers that hang at the end, it felt like such an achievement. And they look so cute!!!

Working from a Scheepjes Whirl cake is always a blast. The excitment of reaching each colour change in the yarn cake! I just love it!!!

The pattern for this beauty is available on Ravelry (click here),

Etsy (click here) and Love Crochet (click here).

Take the Clover Challenge!!!

CLOVER CHALLENGE. We all know that a four leaf clover is a rare thing!! This shawl has three leaf clovers throughout. The challenge is to place one (JUST ONE) four leaf clover somewhere in the shawl. Show off your finished shawl on ravelry and link it to my pattern.

Fishing for Luck Shawl. Scheepjes Whirl in Scrumptious Lush!

The pattern comes in UK and USA terms and now available in NL Terms (Dutch). It uses a 3.5mm/E hook and one cake of Scheepjes Whirl.

The pattern has been tested by a fabulous group of crochet super heroes, with some incredible results. Below picture shows some of the test shawl results.

Top Left: Dulcy Harris Test Shawl.  Made from Lion Brand Shawl in a Ball.  Colour Feng Shui Grey. H/5mm Hook

.

Top Middle: Amanda Haynes Test Shawl.

Top Right:

Amy Belanger Dreffs Test Shawl. Made from Lion Brand Mandala in Centaur.  2.5 cakes used. 5mm hook

Bottom Left:

Denise Cullen Test Shawl.  Made from Scheepjes Whirl in Brambleberry.

Bottom Middle:

Hannah Schmuker Test Shawl. Made from Lion Brand Mandala.  E Hook.  12 pattern repeats.

Bottom Right:

Amy Elizabeth Peterson Test Shawl. Made from Yarn Bee Rainbow Wrapsody in Gerbera Daisy. 3mm hook

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Congratulations to Denise Cullen. Her Fishing for Luck Shawl took out 2nd at the Canberra Royal Show. What an achievement. I really do only use the very best pattern testers as their work is exceptional.

Now for the Boring Stuff!!!

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.No pattern or photograph may be reproduced or distributed — mechanically, electronically, or by any other means, including photocopying, without written permission of Auburncraft Design.

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

If you are on Ravelry, please add your finished photos as projects as I love to see your finished work.

What is Crochet1?

I guess the answer to that is in the eye of the beholder!The Dictionary says this: 

Crochet is a handicraft in which yarn is made up into a textured fabric by means of a hooked needle. "a crochet hook".

Some who don't like or get Crochet may answer like this:

"Crochet is a complete waste of time and money".

But to those of us who know the true secret of Crochet and the wonder of creating it is much more.

You see, you get (or are maybe given) this magic wand (crochet hook).  You wave this wand and incredible things appear.  Well, that is what is meant to happen.  Sometimes there is a lot of frustration along the way.  A lot of Frogging and the occasional swear word all added into the mix.

We crochet because we enjoy creating something of beauty.  We crochet to help avoid stress.  To keep our minds active.  To create that item for our loved ones, that is unique and special.

And to those who don't get the need to Crochet I say "Full Speed Ahead and damn the torpedoes.  Hooks (or wands), Charge!!!"

poodles 1

poodles 1

Just a Little Bit Batik, Shawl, Capelet, Shrug, Wrap.

Pattern available on Ravelry (Click here for link), Etsy(Click here for link) and Love Crochet.

This uses simple stitches and surface slip stitch to create an interesting textured look. Stylecraft Batik is used for best results. This is available on Love Crochet.

For me the design process is a journey!

Yes, I know. You are now thinking 'Oh she used the journey word, I'm out of here'. Can't say I like sentences that begin that way myself!

I mean it in almost a literal kind of way. I start with one idea in my head and end up taking a few turns along the way. I headed down the motorway of crochet, decided to take one of the exits and ended up in the side streets in a very cute little boho town.

My mind just kicks into overdrive and what I began to make, morphs into something else.

This was the case with this beauty! I find myself looking at it and making mmmmmmmmm noises.

Just a Little Bit Batik began its life thinking it was going to be a basic shawl. Somewhere along the way, the gremlins that keep the cogs in my brain moving, decided to go rogue and it ended up something a little bit more and I would like to think, a little bit more special.

It is now a Shawl/Shrug/Capelet/Wrap (to be honest I have no idea how to classify it) and rather puffed up with itself for being special. It is designed to be worn with the top edge rolled back to form a collar and a button closure to hold it in place.

It's a really unique fashion accessory that I would wear! And while I do tend to have a bit of an 'out there' style of dress sense (or so I have been told), I hope that this pattern will be loved by many.

It is colourful! And I love colour! It is also an easy crochet project and beginner friendly!

When I design something, I don't really think about it in the sense of what may, or may not be a popular item for people to want to purchase. I think about what I like and what appeals to my ideas of what colour, and shape should be. I like original things and will always be the crazy person wearing the tie dye leggings, or the over the top sunglasses. I don't care if they are in fashion. I wear what makes me happy! I design what makes me happy! And if it makes others happy too, all the better!

I can see a blanket in this same style in the near future!!!

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Checking Gauge. Does it Really Matter?

I speak to so many people about their crochet projects, and the question of gauge comes up often. Many will admit that they NEVER check gauge. I know, I often don't bother.


Sure at times you can just pick up your magic wand (hook) and start hooking away and everything will turn out wonderful.

This won't always be the case. The necessity to check gauge, can very much depend upon the type of project you are making. Things like blankets, scarves and dishclothes will give you a free pass, as it really doesn't matter if they are a little bigger or smaller.

Clothing is one area that can end in disaster if gauge is not checked.

Checking gauge may be a pain, but it is much better to do so, than to find out half way through that gorgeous vest/coat/top etc pattern, that you spent a fortune on yarn for and fell in love with, could fit half your family inside it and still have room, when sadly you were making a size small.

Or that cute baby hat you wanted to gift to a newborn actually fits you. You could wait to this baby is a teenager to gift it, cross your fingers the newborn is blessed with a huge head or resolve the issue by checking gauge.

If gauge is not checked you can also find yourself running out of yarn. Yarn quantities stated in a pattern, will be dependant on your project turning out the same size as the designers. This can then make that blanket ( yes, the one that gauge didn't really matter on) unfinished. You ran out of yarn on the last few rows, as yours is several inches larger than the designers, so you need an extra Skein or two. Then you find yourself in panic mode, as maybe you can't get this yarn any longer, or perhaps you can but the dye lot is SO different, that extra skein stands out like a neon light.

How to Check Gauge:

  1. Using the yarn your project requires, and the stitch used in the pattern, make a 4"/10cm x 4"/10cm square.
  2. Place your square on a flat surface and lay a tape measure horizontally over the stitches.
  3. Count how many stitches you have in 4"/10cm.
  4. Now turn the tape measure vertical and count how many rows you have in 4"/10cm.
  5. If your measurements show that you have less stitches than the designers, you need to go up a hook size till you have the same.
  6. If your measurements show that you have more stitches than the designers, you need to go down a hook size till you have the same.


Altering your hook size and yarn choice can often fix many gauge issues, but not all.

In many crochet articles, you will see them mention Lifters, Riders, and Yankers.

  • Lifters pull up on the loops, making them higher than the working row.
  • Yankers pull their work tight, making it very snug
  • Riders keep stitches closer to the working row.

I know my own stitches tend to be shorter in height and tighter, or closer to other stitches, than most peoples.

This was really evident during the testing process of my Billy Thunder Tote. My testers were having cupping issues (circle would not lay flat) with the mandala type bag. It took a lot of work, but we finally got the pattern through testing. Many of my USA Treble stitches were the same height as the testers USA Double crochet. A few adjustments had to be made, and stitch heights for each row, added to the pattern to make it user friendly and suit most.

If after you have tried adjusting hook size, and still cannot meet gauge, it may be your stitch heights causing the problem. Fixing this is possible, and best tutorial I have found to address the stitch height issue is by Crochet Ever After (click name).

Billy Thunder Tote. Beaded both sides.

So, next time you are itching to start that new project, stop for a minute and think about gauge. It may save you a lot of trouble later.

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.







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My Very Own Daisy Hat.

This is a paid pattern but will be available on ravelry free for 2 days, ending 27th June Midday Australian Time. The code to use on ravelry is at the bottom of this post. PLEASE GIVE THIS POST A LIKE AND PERHAPS CONSIDER FOLLOWING MY BLOG. This helps me to keep offering free patterns and discounts. So please do not just grab the code and run as this is a small request. The like button for this post is at the bottom of the page.

I love different things!

I especially love things that are colourful and unique! Yes, I would wear this hat if I had made it in Adult size, but this time I decided to stick with just the three sizes. Babies, Toddlers and Children, have all the fun!

My Very Own Daisy Hat

This is a fun hat for Babies, Toddlers and Children.

The pattern is available in Uk and USA Terms.

Sizing available:

  • Baby – 17-inch circumference
  • Toddler -18-inch circumference
  •  Child -19.5-inch circumference

Materials:

4mm hook (Mytension is firm)

1 Ball Stylecraft Special Dk Greengage = C1.

1 Stylecraft Special Dk Cream = C2.

1 Stylecraft Special Dk Sunshine = C3.

1 Stylecraft Special Dk in Gold or a small amount of black yarn in Dk = C4.

1 (very small amount) Stylecraft Batik Gold = C5.

1 (very small amount) Stylecraft Black = C6.

2 x 6mm beads. (Hand sewn eyes).

Cottonthread to sew beads on.

Tapestry Needle.

Sewing Needle.

Code for use on Ravelry 'blogdiscount3'

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Filigree Flowers Crochet Shawl

If you are looking for a delicate, lightweight shawl then look no further!

The pattern is available on Ravelry, Etsy and Love Crochet (HERE).

Filigree Flowers in Alize Angora gold Simli

Filigree Flowers is a delicate shawl comprised of simple shells for the border and for the main body of the shawl, Solomons/Lovers Knots.

Nestled in between the knots are 4 petal flowers. These are constructed of chains all grouped together. Photo tutorials show how to create these delicate flowers.

If you are looking at this shawl and thinking 'Oh, I can't do that stitch, it looks too difficult,' then you would be wrong!

Lovers/Solomons knot may look a difficult stitch, but it is in fact a simple stitch and works up quickly. Combined together with a shell border and simple flowers the result is quite satisfying.

This is a written pattern in Uk and USA terms, with pictures and graphs to help along the way.

The pattern is a four row repeat and best results are achieved with a light fingering weight yarn. I used Alize Angora Gold Simli for mine.

Success has been achieved with this pattern in several other yarns including Lion Brand Shawl in a ball (available here), Lion Brand Summer Nights and Lion Brand Shawl in a cake (available here).

I love both yarns and while the shawl looks great in the Alize, this is often a little harder to source than the Lion Brand yarn.

I am extremely fortunate to have some fabulous testers and they produced some really lovely shawls.

As for the naming of this shawl....Yes! most of us know what the word Filigree means, but for me it is a little more. I had a gorgeous pure bred Appaloosa Horse with the name Filigree. Her full name was TTT Bar Filigree. I lost her at the age of 23 due to Cushings disease.

She was a character, and was known to push our shed roller door up with her nose, to get at the feed barrels inside.

My husband often had his lunch stolen by her. If he left his esky in the back of his ute and she happened to be in the yard, she would get the lid off with her nose and take his sandwiches.

The birdseed in the bird feeder was a favourite snack of hers, when she was not eating the heads off my dahlia flowers. My kids loved her, and would stop to pat her when they walked down our drive after school! She had a delicate white pattern over her rump and so I named this delicate shawl after her.

Some of my testers shawls. 1. Kim Carlos. 2. Natishia M Curry. 3. Kathy Mant. They all came out beautiful.

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Diamonds Everywhere!

My Diamonds crochet blanket pattern is available in Butterfly Diamonds, Dragonfly Diamonds and Flower Diamonds.

Simple stitches are used making this a beginner friendly pattern. This works up quickly.

Dk yarn is used, although a larger blanket could be achieved with the use of an Aran weight yarn. I used Sirdar Snuggly (available here) which is a lovely soft nylon-acrylic yarn, very suitable for babies.

3.5mm hook 
4mm hook for borders and surface slip stitch 

Flower Diamonds, Butterfly Diamonds and Dragonfly Diamonds crochet patterns are available on Love Crochet (click on blanket names for link).

Flower Diamonds

Butterfly Diamonds

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When you forget to pack your crochet and life happens!

Most people have probably seen the ads for the American Express card in which the motto is, 'Don't leave home without it'.

Yes, a few of you are nodding as you know the ads I mean!

Well for us die-hard crochet maniacs, while a credit card is a very important thing to have on hand, say for if you need to duck into a yarn store or two. Michaels could be having a flash sale and then that card will be your best friend............but I think for most of us, the top of the list of what to take on leaving home, would be an emergency crochet WIP.

You know how it is! You are going about your day and the unexpected happens and you get stuck somewhere. I had one of those days this morning.

I was leaving the gym after a rather strenuous pump class and got to my car, my car must have been in a rather selfish mood as it had a flat tyre. Surely it knew I was actually a bit tired and would rather not have this delay. I did plead with it to not have a flat tyre, but it was refusing to listen. As I stated, SELFISH!

I looked at the tyre and thought about it for a bit. My dad ensured that I knew how to change a tyre and I am pretty darn good at it. Mind you I have told my long-suffering husband that we really need a better jack than what is in the car. It takes longer to get the car up on the jack, than it does to change the tyre. So with this in mind I considered just how much air was left in this tyre, how tired I was, and I made the sensible decision to drive the 200 metres to the tyre shop down the road.

Now they were great and got stuck into changing that tyre right away. But as I sat there, waiting I was also kicking myself. This was prime crochet time. Sitting there, hands idle, nothing to do. I had left all approximately 30 WIPS at home.

I thought about the Girl Guides we have in Australia (for anyone in the USA this is sort of like a Scout) and their Motto "Be Prepared". Well I was not! I guess I can excuse my lack of preparedness due to the fact that I was never a Girl Guide, although I was a Brownie, which is sort of an understudy to Girl Guides. Once initiated into this group you get put into a sub group, some of which were Pixies, Elfs, Leprechauns and I forget what else. As an added incentive to becoming a Brownie you get to wear a hideous poo brown pinafore. I wanted to be a Pixie, but of all the sections to be put in, I got Leprechaun. No wonder I hate green!

Well being a Brownie was obviously a waste of time. Don't think I paid a lot of attention to the Brownie code at all as none of it helped me today. I was not prepared!!

So lesson learnt. I won't make that mistake again! What a boring 15 MINUTES that was! Imagine how many rows I could have done in that time!

Time to pack the car with an emergency WIP!

SO, DON'T FORGET TO TAKE YOUR CROCHET WHEN YOU LEAVE HOME!!!