*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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This post may contain affliliate links.Clicking on these links does not cost you anything but can help me to keep my blog open. Thank you.
Four separate pieces come together to make this a sturdy little purse. The inner circle adds a feature of its own, with colour peeping through the outer mandala. The flowers are made as you go and not sewn on later.
Instructions are also included in the pattern to make your own polymer clay beads and button. This is quite easy. I don't use any fancy tools to make these as I am always one to improvise and use what you have on hand. Items such as a crochet hook and a lipstick lid are used to get the holes and shapes.
This purse works up quickly and I know several of my testers had family members claiming their finished purses the minute they were finished. Definately a popular item for teenagers.
My testers made this purse in a variety of yarns and colours, each one unique to them. The results were stunning!
A few of my testers bags. 1. By Christy Schuler. In navy and cream and looking fabulous with a two-tone fringe. 2. By Jane Wynne. I love this in the cream with just a hint of blue. 3. By Sharon C. Coys Elderton. I joked with Sharon as anyone who knows me, knows I really don't like green, but Sharon won me over with her beautifully neat stitches. She also made her own polymer clay beads and button (instructions for this are in the pattern ).
This is an advanced beginner to intermediate level project. Instructions include how to make your own polymer clay button and beads if you choose to. Materials: 3.5mm/E hook 5mm/H hook for I-cord 3 x balls Lincraft Dk cotton in black. 100m/109yd per ball. 3 x balls Lincraft Dk cotton in Red. 100m/109yd per ball. 7 x Beads 10mm/0.38-inch or larger. 1 x 40mm button 2 x d-rings or bead circles. 2 x Metal necklace caps/tassel ends. Tapestry Needle. Craft Glue (optional). Polymer Clay (optional if making your button and beads). Acrylic Varnish for craft (optional if making your button and beads.
Sounds great in theory! And I always have grand ideas that seem to take forever from idea to completion.
Last huge idea I had took over two years to complete, and I think I am sizing myself up for a similar experience.
I bought yarn for a large size Afghan approximately a year ago. For this one I am using Stylecraft Aran with wool. (available here). These are fabulous for a larger project as they come in these huge 400g balls.
Then I spent many hours designing a graph for it. In my head the Afghan has two picture panels. These panels have cats on them.
Sounds easy doesn't it? I got as far as putting the cats on the crochet panel via cross stitch and found I was a stitch out somewhere.
Cross-stitch on crochet is not hard. At least it isn't till you make a boo, boo and have to frog back several hours work. These cats were staring at me with their yellow eyes in a mocking manner. Something wasn't right! The cats refused to tell me what the issue was, selfish things!!!
So this has been one of those projects that gets taken out of the naughty corner for a bit, stared at, glared at, and I even begged it to show me what I was doing wrong.
For ages this horrid thing refused to answer and lay despondent in the naughty corner, cats, half done and sulking.
I worked my way through several million WIPS that had been piling up and decided it was time to take another look. It was as if a light bulb went off and all of a sudden it was clear. Why didn't I see that ages ago? After all it is pretty darn obvious!!!
I am now happily working on my Cat Afghan again and while this is going to take a bit of time to complete, it is going to be A-MAZ-ING!!!
I had been playing around with Daffodils for a new bag design and decided to turn one of them into a bookmark. If you are looking for a quick and easy make, or maybe you need an end of year teachers gift, these work up fast and look great!
The free version of the pattern is below. A PDF copy is available for a small purchase amount on my ravelry page.
Daffodil Bookmark
USA terms are used.
Materials:
3.5mm/E hook
This is a perfect scrap buster project as only a small amount of each ball is used.
1 ball Cotton Dk in Orange = C1
1 ball Cotton Dk in Yellow = C2
1 ball Cotton Dk in Green = C3
Tapestry needle.
To cater for different size books, adjust the stem chain length.
2large beads with wide holes. I made mine from Polymer clay. Instructions aregiven if you wish to make your own.
Jewellery cap.
Small amount of craft glue.
Abbreviations:
Sc- Single crochet
Dc- Double crochet
Tr- Treble crochet
Slst- Slip stitch
Blsc- Back loop single crochet
Fl- Front loop
Lp- Loop
Ch- Chain
Measurements: 15 ½ inches/39.37cm from top of flower to endof tassel.
Notes:
Chains count as a stitch unless otherwisestated.
Gauge is not a necessity for this project.Size will be determined by hook and yarn selection.
Keep the orange yarn and stitch marker to thefront of your flower when working round 2.
Stitch counts and hints appear in purple.
Making your own polymer beads is optional. Ifpurchasing beads, be sure to buy ones with large holes.
This bookmark is sized for a medium book.Reduce the stem chains if you wish for a shorter bookmark. Increase the stemchains for a larger bookmark.
Flower head:
Round 1: With C1 make a magic circle. Ch1 into a magiccircle (does not count as a st). Sc15 intocircle. Slst to ch1. Remove hook and insert a st marker. Do not fasten off. [15]
Round 2:With C2. Attach yarn with a slst into any back loop of round 1 .*( Ch2, dc1,tr1) into same back lp. Ch3, slst intofirst ch (picot made). (Tr1, dc1,ch2, slst) into next back loop. Slst across next 2 back loop of sc* Rep from *to * 5 times in total. Slst to first ch2 to close round. Fasten off and cut yarn. [5 petals]
Round 3:Remove st marker from C1. Ch1. Sc into each Fl of round 1. Slst to ch1 toclose. [15]
Round 4:Ch1. Sc into each st around. Slst to ch1to close. [15]
Round 5:Ch1 does not count as a st. Place next sc into same sp). * Sc. Ch2, slst backinto first ch of ch2. Sc2tog over next 2 sts.* Rep from * to * around. Closewith a slst. Fasten off and cut yarn.
Stem:
With C3. Ch50. Scinto 2nd ch from hk. Sc acrossto last ch. Work 3sc into the lastch. Turn and work sc along the otherside of the ch. Work 2sc into the last ch. Fasten off and cut yarn leaving a long tail to sew to flower head. Using a tapestry needle sew one end securelyto the back of your flower. [48sc + 3sc + 48sc + 2sc]
Stem
Leaves: (make2)
Leaf make 2.
Using C3. Ch16.Slst into 2nd ch from hook. Sc into next ch. Hdc into next 2chs. Dc across to last 3 chs. Hdc intonext ch. Sc into next ch. Slst into last ch. Fasten off and cut yarn (leave a long tail for sewing). Sew the leaves to the stem, just above thebeads. [2sc,3hdc, 10dc]
Polymer Beads (optional):
Materials Needed
Polymerclay in any colours (available at most craft outlets: I used red for thisproject).
A rollingpin
5mmcrochet hook.
Acrylicgloss varnish.
Paintbrush
Step 1: If using more than one colour ofclay, combine these by working them together. Roll balls approx 10 to 15mm indiameter.
Step 2: Push ahole through the centre of each ball with a 5mm crochet hook end. Push the hookthrough several times from each end of the hole. This ensures the hole is even.
Step 3:Place your beads on an oven tray and bake in a slow oven for approximately 10 to 15 minutes. Allow to cool. Note: It is a good idea to place foil over your beads and tray, prior to baking. This helps keep any smell from the clay contained.
Step 4: Paint with Acrylic Gloss varnishmaking sure to brush out any bubbles. Allow to dry.
Adding Beads and Jewellery cap:
Thread your beads onto the stem end, not attached to the flower. Place a small amount of craft glue inside thejewellery cap and push the stem end onto it. Allow to dry.
Tassel:
1. Wrap yarn 10times around an iPhone or a piece of cardboard approx 3 inches/7.5cm wide.
2. Thread adarning needle with 15cm/5.90inches of yarn and tie the top of the tasseltightly, leaving the tail to tie to your jewellery cap.
3. Remove the yarn from the iPhone/cardboard.
Diagram showing the making of the tassel (above) is from another project. The same technique applies. Wrap yarn around iPhone or cardboard 10 times as per the instructions.
4. Thread adarning needle with approx 20cm/7.87inches of yarn and wrap around the tassel6-8 times tightly. Knot and push the needle down through the wrapping so it canbecome part of the ends.
You know that moment, that very special moment when you have worked really hard at something so it is unique, one of a kind? You press the publish button on the pattern and fingers crossed, people will like it and want to make it.
Today has been a button pressing and publishing day for me! My Leadlight Afghan decided to become an idea in my head in 2016. And today it has finally found its way to being published.
It took my testers around four months to work their way through the 96 pages of pattern. They did a fantastic job. So Thank you to Carrie Skach, Kathy Mant, Bethany Colhoff and Corlia Van Zyl. This was a LOT of work to test!
I made the 'Billy Thunder' Tote and was pleased with that (and I got to play with beads, which is always a good thing.)!
Billy Thunder Tote
Next was my Re-mojonation purse/bag and I was super happy with that one.
Re-mojonation bag
Then I moved on to 'Field of Flowers' (which is a mess of flowers on a bag and a fantastic stash buster). I do love flowers! I also got to play with polymer clay with this one. Clay is fun to play with, as long as you remember to keep the oven to a slow temperature. Not a lot of fun if you forget. Toxic fumes are not fun!
Field of Flowers is at present in the hands of my long-suffering testers and will hopefully be listed early next month. I am forcing them to work day and night to get it done, so it should be good!
Field of Flowers Tote
I showed Field of Flowers to one of my non-crocheting friends (Yes, I do have one!). This friend is mad, crazy, obsessed with the colour 'RED'. Red is not a colour that I am totally drawn to. I prefer purples and oranges. Anything on the spectrum of those colours and I'm drawn like a moth to a flame.
If I was asked to get rid of a couple of colours in the world, never to be seen again. I would probably get rid of GREEN first, as I hate green. I told my red obsessed friend the other day that green should only ever be seen on a plant or grass. She did agree!
There I would be acting as colour designer to the world and banishing Red and Green. I can imagine them both sulking and refusing to leave! Begging me to let them stay. But I would be firm in my decision as they headed for the exit door offering excuses as to why they should stay! Although I guess Red Roses would be missed! Maybe I could be generous and make a dispensation for Valentines day!
I could make a proclamation: Here yee, here yee. I hereby declare that there may be Red (and I guess Green too) on Valentines Day! But only on Valentines Day!
The world could do without green for sure. Imagine a world full of Purple and orange trees and plants! Throw in a bit of pink and this is a world I could dance in! That would rock!
We could do without red! Couldn't we? My red obsessed friend would vehemently disagree with me and I do have to admit it would seem rather odd not seeing this person dressed in red and driving her red car.
And I guess it could be an issue, due to the fact that I am a redhead.
Yes, yes, this sounds like a contradiction as I love my hair colour, but red hair is totally different to the actual primary colour red, so don't start there! I guess if I ended up with purple hair it would not be the end of the world. Look at how many nannas rock the purple dyed look!
My father would have hated a world without red in it. Red was his favourite colour and he loved his red truck. But this is my imaginary world and RED has to go!!!
I wonder where my dislike of Green and Red comes from. Red is just such an, in your face colour and doesn't go with that many other colours all that well. And always having people suggest I should wear green, probably didn't help the colour green. 'It will go with your hair' they say. Yeah sure, if you want me to look like a potplant! Yes, I love flowers, but I don't want to look like a potplant! Every time I put on something green I just hated it.
But bags, back to the subject of bags! After showing off my Field of Flowers Tote, I decided (after talking to the red obsessed friend) that I did need to produce one with red flowers in purse size. I added a red lining inside so the red peeps through from the back, adding an extra touch to the design. This little beauty is in the capable hands of my testers!
Poppy Meadow Bag
I have two other bags in the works. One is part done, and the other is just stewing around as an idea in my head (and no, in my head it is not red or green in colour, but a lovely shade of lilacs and blues).
I have a ton of ideas for different crochet bags! And I have the stash to do them all (insert evil laugh here)!!! I will take over the world one crochet bag at a time!
Keep an eye out for my latest two coming soon to a ravelry/etsy/love crochet pattern store near you (well at least a computer click away).
This week has had good and bad. I released a pattern (Billy Thunder Tote) and it made it to number one on ravelry, which is pretty darn awesome. I was dancing around like I had just won the yarn lottery and got free yarn for a year.
Unfortunately, this had a damper put on it due to a copyright issue.
You may be thinking, 'What has this to do with free patterns.' A lot!
I decided to list this pattern for one month free. I did this to try and get interest in the pattern, and it certainly has worked. Did I mention it made number one on ravelry? (Yes I am blatantly bragging.)
To have a pattern get to number one is super fantastic as you never know what designs are going to gel with people. Ones you think will go well, may not and visa versa. So it is a real buzz when it happens.
Number one in whats hot now.
Then we get to the unfortunate side of things!
I discovered simply by accident that one of the Facebook Crochet Groups here in Australia had put my pattern up as a PDF in their group. It was made worse by the fact that an administrators of this group was the person who had put it up.
You may think, 'what does it matter? Its free isn't it'. And yes it was free at the time, but with a clear deadline for the end of this. The group in question has almost 7,000 members. So by putting up my pattern as a PDF in a file on their group, they were basically removing any future sales I may get from it. I was getting absolutely no advertising or credit from this as it was just my PDF, no write up, nothing, not even my name beside the PDF.
Most Designers offer free patterns to:
Draw attention to their other patterns.
Attract people to their blogs and web pages etc. Some have affiliate links which reimburse them slightly for the free pattern, by clicks.
So people can try a pattern and see that it is well written. This leads to sales.
Many people seem to be of the opinion that designers make a fortune out of patterns. They visualise them sitting in a room surrounded by money, throwing it in the air and chuckling over their sales. I wish!
Yeah sure I have some affiliate links on my blog, but you can count in cents the amounts I get out of it, so what I wanted for this pattern was future sales once that month was up. I was not going to get these from the 7,000 people who now had access to this pattern. This is pretty much stealing!!!
Another Designer I have been conversing with put it like this:
A free pattern does not mean that the designer has waved all rights to it, and you can do what you want with it. You must have express permission from the designer to share the pattern as anything other than a link to their own page. Free patterns are still copyright.
This Tote was a lot of work.
From design idea, to completion, is a major process. Getting it to the stage that others can remake it with a legible working pattern is huge. Then it has to find its way through testing. I have another design in testing at present that has been 3 years from idea to now. I found the receipt for the yarn I purchased for it in 2016. So I will have to think carefully just how I will launch this. I doubt I will put it up for free after this experience!
So, if you see any of my patterns offered as PDF or any other form not linked to my ravelry, etsy, love crochet or blog. Please let me know. And I am sure other designers would appreciate the same. Copyright still applies to patterns, even if they are free! PDF downloads are for PERSONAL USE!
Rant over. You may now go back to your crochet and enjoy and I will go back to my money room, and throw my millions around. (I use the stuff as wallpaper you know). Chuckling all the while of course. NOT!
Footnote:
I am adding a footnote to this post due to things that have transpired in the last few days. The group in question that put my pattern up as a PDF has now blocked many designers who questioned them for having their patterns up as PDFs without their permission. My pattern was not the only one, but there was hundreds of designers patterns, many had clearly on them that they were not to be distributed via PDF (including mine).
They have now also posted a long response to their members (who have no idea of what has gone on.) This explanation of theirs is something out of a fairytale and does not stick to the truth at all. The designers are being painted as a problem and the admin as victims. This is sad in the extreme. The admins are being thanked by the members for keeping them safe, from the evil ones who dare to complain that they are misusing their property. They have also stated publicaly that they may start up offering free patterns again in the future. My only hope is that they see sense and post links only, and not PDF's. Admins of a group this large should know about copyright laws!
An apology to the designers with a promise to respect their intellectual property in future would have gone a long way. I am saddened by the inability for the admins of this group to take responsibility for their mistakes and own them. I guess saying sorry and telling their members what actually happened is too hard.
Excitement plus! It may have taken me a forever from idea to completion, but it is finished.
My Leadlight Afghan is done and I can move on to one of the dozen, other designs I have partly done.
What a feeling of achievement! You know how it is when you can see that finish line looming. You only have a few more stitches to do and a few ends to sew in. You find yourself trying to work faster, and that feeling when you put that last stitch in place!
The border on this gave me some headaches. Being round I felt it had to have increases. I took three goes to get this and each time I frogged it, I considered heaving it off the balcony and pretending it did not exist. My darling husband just looked at me and stated he was amazed at my persistence. By these last few rows, I had almost 900 stitches per round.
I finally came to the realisation that, although this is round, the increases became unnecessary in this section as each bit of colour was over a section that seemed almost straight. Yes, the blanket had become so large. It ended up being 62 inches across.
When I first began this beauty, I had envisioned that it would be around 52 inches across. That was not to be.
The initial idea had sprung to life in my head after looking at Stained Glass mandalas on Pinterest. I saw this one in greens and blues and thought to myself 'This would make a great crochet afghan!'
I spent quite a while mulling around in my head, as to how I could get this idea from my head into a workable crochet blanket.
The Colourwork sections are done with bobbins, but I used cut cardboard. Yes, I am cheap and didn't want to spring for all those bobbins. Each time I did a colour section I was kicking myself for not getting the bobbins. At times I had a tangled mess and even my beloved Stella (dog) was looking at me thinking I was crazy!
Middle section of Colourwork.
I am now in the process of organising my test group. Testing will begin in a couple of weeks, and I have some very keen (or crazy) people signed up for testing.
I hope to have this pattern published by mid year 2019.
Having a Pattern Tested is a huge part of the Design Process. I would like to think I am perfect, but it is certainly not the case. I make mistakes! My longsuffering testers find these and point them out. We then work together to make certain that the pattern is correct, workable and any sizing issues are sorted out.
I want my patterns to be easy to follow, and mistakes free. Those who use my patterns want the same thing.
What do Pattern Testers get out of the process?
Testers get the first look at original designs. They can take their Crochet skills to the next level. They become part of a select group on Facebook there just for the testers of my patterns. On completion they get a copy of the finished pattern to keep.
My pattern test group brings together people from all over the world. I have testers from Mexico, Alaska, Morocco, USA, Australia, Denmark, Finland, Germany and possibly a few other places I forget.
What is Expected of a Tester?
Are asked to join the Facebook group Auburncraft Crochet. Guidelines are given out and prospective testers are asked to agree to them.
Communication between testers and myself is very important to keep me informed during the test process, and to map the progress of the test.
Must know basic crochet stitches and have experience reading patterns.
Must be able to complete the project by the deadline asked.
Must add the completed project to their Ravelry account within a week of completion.
Must provide 2 plus quality photos (photo credit will be given) to be used in places such as social media and in final pattern listings.
Having an eye for detail is an advantage in testing. When a new design is ready for testing, I will put out the call for testers. If selected you will be given the pattern and details necessary for the testing process to begin. I try to take on board all feedback, but at times I can get conflicting feedback from testers and so if your feedback is not used, it is not a slight towards you. So in saying this, having an easy going temperament is also an advantage to a tester.
You know how sometimes, edges for a blanket are not always perfectly straight! No matter how hard you try, things just end up wonky!
There could be a heap of reasons for this:
Maybe you have joined shapes together and they are a bit in and out in places.
You could be someone just starting out on the crochet journey, and your edges look a bit like a road in Tasmania (if you have ever been there you will get the reference).
Or like me, on this project I am designing, you find that a Single/Double Crochet straight into the other colours or work just looks sloppy.
Whatever the reason, this little cheat can solve the problem and give you a lovely straight edge to work the remainder of your border from.
The first thing you need to know to achieve this, is how to Surface Slip Stitch.
How to complete a Surface Slip Stitch.
Attach the yarn at work edge with a slst.
Insert hook through face of work
Pull up a loop from back of work through to front of work and through loop on hook.
Insert hook into next st. Repeat
Once you have that sorted, work a Surface Slip Stitch in a straight line, along the edge of your project that you wish to add a border to.
Work your next row of stitches into the top loop only,of your Surface Slip Stitch. This is the loop closest to the work edge. It won't matter if you also hook through the main body of your work, as well. This is up to you (I didn't). For the project shown here, I did a row of Single Crochet/USA Terms, Double Crochet/Uk Terms. The result is a lovely, straight transition into your border, without messy stitches just worked into the raw edge.
Main Picture is of my Latest Design which will hopefully be out testing very soon. Round Leadlight Blanket. This measures 61”/155cm Wide.
A while back I started a sizing chart, just for my own records, so I could reference it at a later date and easily see just what sizes I had used, for things like blankets, scarves and hats.
I decided to put the information from my own crochet experiences, into a reduced smaller chart.
So while some of these sizes may not be exactly what other charts may say, these are what works for me.
Maybe it is just me. Who knows! But being a Crochet Designer I wonder what a nice word or comment costs?Does it cost an arm and a leg? Will people be punished and have their crochet hooks confiscated for a week, if they leave a nice comment and do they get bonus points if they find (or think,) they find an error and leave a comment about it (without bothering to send a message to see if they are right?) And are Ravelry and Etsy in on this.It does get a little disheartening to spend huge amounts of time creating, testing and publishing crochet patterns, for sale or for free and have quite a few downloaded only have the odd person comment that sees a full stop in the wrong place.So if you get a pattern for free, or if you buy one, post a nice comment and make the designer feel they are doing a good job. I promise it will not cost anything, and it will put a smile on their face.
What a day! Got home from the gym and intended to do the last two rounds of the third and final colour change on my Leadlight Blanket. I have been working on this solid for ages trying to get this section done. 96 Bobbins on the go at once. I could see the finish line ahead with such a small amount left to do and intended to spend the afternoon working on it.The world had other ideas!Got in the door and number 2 child spots a snake in the house. Call the snake catcher, and he comes and cannot find it. $125 call out fee. About an hour later I spot the snake and so the snake catcher comes again. He still cannot find the snake.Number 2 child goes to the loo and as he is stepping through the doorway spots Mr Snake curled up at the back of the loo. So he slams the door shut. On the phone to the snake guy again who says he is 15 minutes away. I stand on the stairs to keep an eye on the loo door in case the snake tries to escape. About 10 minutes in Mr Snake popped his head and about a foot of his body out from under the door. So I start jumping on the stairs, as they hate the noise. He darts back inside the loo. Snake man phones to say he had to swing past another place to grab a brown snake that was in someones yard. So I spent the next 20 minutes tap dancing on the stairs till the snake guy arrived. He brought the brown snake with him for a sort of play date with my snake. No not really that stayed in a bag, in the back of his car. Thankfully he was able to catch our snake. Another $125 and no crochet done today! I did get some dancing in, but was pretty put out with Mr Snake for spoiling my crochet time!!!!!
I can do anything with a Big Ball of String, or yarn, as the case may be!We all have our favourite or 'go-to' things. I know I do. I have several design techniques that I tend to default to, when working up a new design.I like to work borders for Blankets, one side at a time. I also like throwing in a bit of Surface Slip Stitch, in many of my designs.Surface Slip Stitch can turn a simple single/double Crochet into a work of art! A masterpiece of epic proportions!That plain cushion cover can become interesting or fluffy (depending upon yarn choice).It's also a great way to use up left over balls of yarn in your stash. It is so easy to do too!The main photo shows my Shaggadelic Vest. This turned out fluffy and warm, using Drops Melody for the Surface Slip Stitch.Also, my Wish Upon A Star Cushion. This uses Paint Box Simply Chunky I just love the look.Lastly my Dragonflies in Spring Blanket, made from dk Cotton yarn. The Surface Slip Stitch on this just makes the pattern pop.Three different items and three different looks. How to Complete a Surface Slip Stitch
If beginning your Surface Slip Stitch at an edge, Slip Stitch to attach your yarn. If your Surface Slip Stitch begins in the middle of your work or elsewhere, I just start right from step 2 and leave a long tail to sew in later
Insert hook through face of work
Pull up a loop from the back of work, through to front of work and through loop on hook.
I had a ball of Bendigo Woollen Mills Luxury, that had been begging me to use it. So the name of the hat comes from the Colour of the yarn used. 'Pumpkin Spice".King Cole Merino Blend Aran is a good match if you can't get your hands on some BWM Luxury but trust me you would love it. It is just as the name says.I guess designing is a lot about trial and error and I sure found it to be the case designing this hat.I have written about the journey to design this, previously on my blog. It did test me to the limits. a number of times.Getting the stitches right took quite some time. Too loose, too tight, the pattern running with a slant on it. Some days it was a case of 'this hat just hates me!' And then I ran out of cream yarn!!!!!!!!!!!So dejected, but not defeated I had to wait for another ball of yarn to arrive.So I am happy to say that it is now Published on Love Crochet Ravelry , Etsy and Craftsy a
I had a wedding to attend earlier this year and I was very excited at the prospect of attending. I wanted to (hopefully) look nice.I am one of those people, who go and try on a dress and just cannot find anything I like. I also do not want to spend a million dollars on a dress (if I had a million dollars, I would not spend it on a dress anyway). I have to also say that I do have my own style. What I rather like, may not be something others would wear, but that's okay and I will own it!I had some ideas for a dress, swishing around in my head and so I took a trip to my local yarn store. I walked away with a number of balls of Madame Tricot Metallic Gold yarn (full disclosure, I also grabbed a few other squishy lovelies that were calling my name. We all know you can never have enough!).I set to and began making my dress. I wanted a yoke with flowers around it. After trying several different flowers and a lot of frogging, I finally, settled on this design.The pattern for the flower is available for free on my RavelryGetting the yoke just right was a lot of trial and error. In the end I was very pleased with the result.Once the Yoke was done, the rest was smooth sailing. I placed another row of flowers at the waist and then again near the bottom of the dress.The day of the wedding was quite warm and my dress was just right for it.At times, I like to enter some of my crochet into the local shows and decided to enter the dress. I was quite pleased that it won a prize. One day I may write the pattern for the dress up. But at this stage there is only the pattern for the flower.
PATTERN PERMISSIONS
This is a FREE pattern (download is available on ravelry), and by using it, you’re agreeing to the following conditions.You’re welcome to sell what you make with it; for online listings, please link back to my blog using something like this:
Pattern byAuburncraftAuburncraftcrochet.com
What is not allowed:
Do not resell the pattern, altered or in its original form.
Do not copy and paste the pattern onto your own blog, in a Facebook group, or anywhere else. Link to this page instead (or my ravelry). Doing anything else is copyright theft.
Do not use any of my photos from this site (or any of my other sites) to promote yourself or your crochet business on your own blog, Facebook page, or anywhere else.
Do not post a translation of the pattern anywhere – this is copyright theft. If you would like to help make a translation available, please contact me.
Do not make a video tutorial of this pattern (or any of my patterns).
Find a person, with a head and wrap it in material. There, done!No, not really, just kidding!INTRODUCING MALLORY!Mallory has recently signed on, to do some modelling for Auburncraft Designs.I carried out some extensive interviews, as I am rather particular, as to who works for me. Mallory was the successful applicant. Now I know that we are not meant to discriminate and I did try hard not to. But just quietly some of the other applicants were not all that attractive (ebay has a massive amount of different heads, with different shapes). So I took my time and waited patiently till Mallory applied for the position.I am finding working with her a dream. She is rather a bit on the quiet side, but she does exactly as I ask first time and is willing to work extended hours for nothing more than a warm, crochet hat, as payment.Nothing is too much trouble. Turn that way! Hold still! Stay that way for an hour or so! And I hope you don't mind if I cover your head with Glue?Where else could I get such dedication!Now, if only she could do some of those pesky Math Calculations (that have been plaguing me lately) for my crochet. I did ask her if she would, but she refused to answer!So if you are looking for a model for your Hats, Scarves etc. And you don't want to pay an arm and a leg for one. The 'how to' is below!
HOW TO COVER YOUR OWN FOAM HEAD
Get a Foam Head (I bought my head on Ebay. There were so many different shaped heads to choose from, but I liked this one. They are only a few dollars).
Modge Podge. (This is a water based glue. I think the MATTE, would possibly give a better result, but I had some Gloss on hand so mine was done in that. Most large craft places have it, or buy online)
A paintbrush
Scissors
Some scrap material ( I had some batik material leftover from making the Hygge Shawl Cal last year)
A bowl of water to dip your brush into
Step 1. Cut the material into approx 2 inch squares.Step 2. Using your paintbrush, cover an area on the head ready to attach the material.Step 3. Place a square of material onto the Head.Step 4. Dip your brush into the water and damp the material slightly.Step 5. Add some more Modge Podge to cover the piece of material.Continue adding pieces of material till the head is covered. Allow to dry.Give the Head a Name!
There is beauty in Chaos! Or that is my theory and I am sticking to it!My Leadlight Blanket is progressing slowly.I wanted a Challenge! Something a bit different!Working from only one ball of yarn at a time, is not living on the edge. So what do I do? I design a pattern that in this colour work section, uses 96 bobbins of yarn.How it all Began!I saw a Mandala type Stained Glass and thought, Mmmmmmmmmm, something like this would look great in crochet. So my mind began constructing, breaking down and forming how I would go about this.You know how it is when you are actually trying to sleep. Instead of going to sleep my mind is figuring out how I can turn this Stained Glass into a workable blanket. I thought about how I was going to construct this for several weeks. Then I chose my yarn.I am using Stylecraft Batik Dk and while I have never been a person who likes green, (there is only a minimal amount of true green in, it) I am extremely happy with the outcome.Normally, I have a tendency to go for Oranges or Purples, as I just love those colours. So I jumped out of my comfort zone and went for Teals, blues and the odd bit of green (which I do have to admit I put in grudgingly).Yes, Yes. It sure looks like a huge mess!But there is order in my chaos. I only have 13 Rounds remaining of this section and while each round now takes quite a while, I will get there.It is different and the Challenge I was looking for.I keep adding up in my head, how long this will take to complete.Assuming I don't get tangled in my own yarn and have to call for emergency services to rescue me. IF I do half a round each day, I can have this section done in 26 days. Who knows I may get more done in a day. I like to do a certain amount of a more challenging project each day and then revert to something a little more mindless.Then I can look forward to sewing in 192 ends!But, it already looks FABULOUS! And I really think that when done it will be Super, Duper FABULOUS! Yes, I can see how it would be a bit hard, to tell from this picture. You will just have to trust me on this.I hope to have this pattern out to testing by the end of 2018 and published early next year.With each round of the blanket growing, this pattern will use quite a few balls of yarn. Stylecraft Batik is available here on Love Crochet
I was on a role after doing Butterfly Diamonds and Dragonfly Diamonds. So I just had to round it all up with Flower Diamonds.
I am super pleased with how it turned out and think that I am now done, with Diamonds for a while.
The border of this is my signature style and done working one side, at a time. A little flash of colour is then added with Surface Slip Stitch
This would also be a great blanket to have ready made waiting to hear the gender of an expected arrival, as the Surface Slip Stitch can quickly be added to suit.
I always get a buzz out of seeing the colour combo's that my testers come up with.
The pattern for the flower is available for free on my 
One day I may write the pattern for the dress up. But at this stage there is only the pattern for the flower.
Step 1. Cut the material into approx 2 inch squares.Step 2. Using your paintbrush, cover an area on the head ready to attach the material.Step 3. Place a square of material onto the Head.Step 4. Dip your brush into the water and damp the material slightly.Step 5. Add some more Modge Podge to cover the piece of material.Continue adding pieces of material till the head is covered. Allow to dry.Give the Head a Name!
