I Like To Write

If you follow my works on facebook, instagram etc. You may have noticed that I often add a poem or a little bit of writing here and there. Or maybe you have purchased one of my patterns and found a poem hiding amidst the instructions.

I like to write!

Now, I didn’t say I was great at it, and I know my grammar and punctuation is much like an out of control train headed straight for the station, but I do my best.

I find writing an extension of creativity and feel it adds just a little bit more of a personal touch to my designs. I write about things that I love and feel strongly about. I thought I would share just a few of my scribbles here.

Note: If there is pattern attached to any of these writings you will find it by clicking the poem.

In my latest design ‘The Tangled Garden Shawl’ I have written about what I think a garden should be.

Those who know me well, will know I love the colour purple.

Naturally I had to write about it!

Become a Dragonfly Cindee Rose Blanket was dedicated to a dear friend that left the building quite suddenly. I wrote ‘Good Bye Cindee Rose’ for this.

Many of my designs feature my own signature Dragonflies. At certain times of year I have Dragonflies in abundance where I live. I love to watch them flit about, seemingly on a mission of their very own.

One of these little scribbles is ‘I Wish I Were a Dragonfly’. And following that I wrote ‘If I Were a Dragonfly’

I dedicated ‘Pink’ to an Irish friend who really does not think very much of the colour!

When I designed ‘A Contemplation of Cats Blanket’, I used a BWM cotton yarn in a lovely peach/orange colour and this prompted a poem about the colour ORANGE!

Last year I designed ‘I wish I were a Butterfly Blanket’ and wrote a poem with the same title.

I am always spending way too much time trying to discover where I have put my crochet hook. I am sure that they are hiding from me. I decided to write about this issue.

Who doesn’t find it hard to put the crochet down and go to bed!

This prompted this poem.

And my final one for this post is dedicated to one of my fabulous pattern testers/editors who has the patience of an angel. She puts up with my crazy errors and wades her way through my inability to count at times. Nikki also likes to make a point of creating her tests in the colour GREEN, mainly due to the fact that she knows I really hate green. So I wrote this for NIkki.

I will continue to add my musings to my patterns and platforms and hope that they are received well!

Six Wishes for a Dragonfly by Nikki Barker

Diary of a YARN HOARDER

I began this year with a vow to myself that I would downsize my yarn stash. This is never easy and so I thought I would share my bravery via my diary exerpts from earlier this year.

28th January 2022

Dear Diary,

Today was a difficult day! I made the decision to downsize my yarn stash. I knew this day had to come sooner or later. And I knew today had to be the day!

I honestly don’t know how it happened. First it was just one ball and then 2. Before I knew it there were hundreds of the things. Yarn had slowly crept into the house and grew much like feeding a gremlin after midnight.

I can honestly say that I have enough yarn to make a chain length that would span the Pacific Ocean. And while that would look really great the yarn invasion must end!

Now Diary, as you know I do use quite a lot of yarn in my designer endeavours, but there is a small amount of yarn that should have left home many moons ago.

Of course there will be tears but I can do this!

I do have a few things I do need to do first (such as browsing yarn stores online) and then the destash will begin. I think! Maybe! Or Maybe tomorrow!

29th January 2022

Dear Diary,

No time today! Destashing will have to wait!

30th January 2022

Dear Diary,

I tried to make a start on cleaning out the yarn stash but I got distracted and spent the day just squishing and admiring it all.

31st January 2022

Dear Diary,

What yarn stash?

1st February 2022

Dear Diary,

Busy, busy! I didn’t get to the yarn destashing yesterday! But have made a start today. Separating the yarns into piles in order of, I MUST KEEP, want to KEEP, need to KEEP and the very small pile that I can maybe stand to rehome.

I do think someone is trying to sabotage my efforts as several of the balls placed in the rehome pile have found their way into the keep pile. But then maybe that was just me!

Diary, I think I need help!

2nd February 2022

Dear Diary,

Yarn everywhere! I need a medal for bravery! I gave 6 skeins of yarn (of dubious quality) away. I was responsible and carried out in-depth interviews with those wanting to give the yarn a new home. I am confident they will be well cared for. I said goodbye to them, gave them one last squish and watched them depart. Yes, tears were shed but they are going to a better place.

Tomorrow I will continue sorting the massive piles of ‘MUST KEEP’ yarn and storing it neatly away! Maybe a few more will need to be rehomed! Or not!

3 February 2022

Dear Diary,

Didn’t get any yarn sorted today. Life just got too busy. I must try to get to it soon as there have been family complaints re: having to leapt over mounds of yarn to traverse the house. I even received several threats of violence directed at the yarn.

Tomorrow for sure!

4th February 2022

Dear Diary,’

Wow, sorting yarn is great! I found a skein of Malibrigo Lace that had been missing for ever! Of course I had to jump online and order 4 more in the same colour to make a shawl. One is just never enough and it would be irresponsible not to make use of this beauty!

While I was online I also spotted some lovely Debbie Bliss alpaca in a gorgeous shade of purple and added 6 of those. And what luck, they had a sale on Scheepjes Whirl, so 3 of those crept into the checkout basket. Oops!

But Diary, you would be so proud of me. I managed to get much of the yarn stash stored away and now only need around 5 large plastic containers to store the rest. Tomorrow I will head to the shops to get the containers.

5th February 2022

Dear Diary,

Shopping day was fun! I ended up purchasing 6 plastic containers as I figure it is better to be prepared. I had to pass the LYS on the way to get them and I am not quite sure what happened but the car just stopped. Now some say that is what happens when you hit the brakes, but I can neither confirm or deny this!

And what luck! They had Premier cotton on sale.. I managed to get 10 skeins at half price! Woo hoo!

6th February 2022

Dear Diary,

Today I finished cleaning out the yarn stash and packing all the lovely squishies away. I did need the 6th plastic container as the Malibrigo/Debbie Bliss/Whirl also arrived this morning. I may need to grab just one more container next time I shop as they are all very full.

The feeling of achievement from downsizing my yarn is AMAZING and I am feeling really superior!

I shall have to clean out my yarn stash more often!

Dragonfly Labyrinth Blanket

Enter the Labyrinth…. If you dare!

Lured into the Labyrinth by the scent of flowers, the Dragonflies find themselves lost. Their sense of direction gone! Maybe you can help them find their way!

i designed this beauty last year and it has spent the past 6 months under exclusive contract, but now the 6 months has ended and so I am showing this one off yet again and doing a little re-launch!

I put a lot of thought into the design of this one.

I would classify it as an intermediate level blanket.

It has dragonflies (of course) as a feature and for the border I placed my dragonflies into boot camp. They underwent a grueling course learning to fly in the opposite direcction. It took a bit of hard work, but they finally mastered this. The result is some extra special dragonflies heading into the labyrinth. They just cannot resist the scent of flowers and feel they must investigate.

Of course life was never meant to be easy and their path has many obstacles. Once inside it is almost impossible to leave! Filet chevron shapes block their way to freedom!

For this blanket I worked in fingering weight yarn. Any of the many different brands of this will give a great result. Several people have made this in a slightly heavier weight yarn and also with great results. Just keep in mind that this will result in a larger outcome.

Each round in this blanket is different and you won’t find a simple repeat anywhere.

So take a look at Dragonfly Labyrinth and hopefully you will feel the need to ENTER THE LABYRINTH!

Click here to be taken to my webpage to purchase the pattern (HERE).

Click here to be taken to Ravelry (HERE)

Webpage subscribers can use the re-launch discount code on raverly.

Or Etsy (HERE)

Guest Blogger Claudia Bierau of CB Creations!

Claudia of CB Creations and I crossed paths a few years back over a ‘Borrowed’ pattern of hers. I was concerned about the situation that had arisen where someone had taken a bit of licence with one of her patterns and we had a mutual connection to the source.

So we bonded over a Amigurumi Viking and have stayed friends ever since.

Claudia hails from the Netherlands and thankfully is fluent in English, as I have no understanding of Dutch at all.

Claudia has written of the adventures of Pedr The Viking (with a bit of artistic licence added in) and how he formed our friendship. Take a look at her webpage and her beautiful work. Claudia produces some of the best Amigurami I have ever seen.

Click any picture to be taken to PEDR THE VIKING and CB CREATIONS!

Viking Pedr connects crochet pattern designers worldwide

This is the romanticized story of Pedr the Viking. All the names are real, the story is based on true facts, but of course there are some fictional elements in it!

The origin of Pedr, a tough Viking

It's been almost 3 years since I designed Pedr the Viking.

I had wanted to make a Viking for a while, but that idea remained only an idea in my head. And suddenly there was the series Vikings!! But I also watched the Vikings in the movie How to train your dragon.

I wanted to make a tough looking Viking with a wild beard. So I mainly looked at Hiccup's father, in combination with Ragnar Lothbrok. And here's my Viking pattern.

Pedr is armed with a knife, an axe and a shield. He has a fur coat and a helmet with horns. Yes I know, real Vikings didn't have horns on their helmets, but because Pedr is my creation and he's just as stubborn as I am, he has horns on his helmet!

He may look ferocious, but in real life he is very nice!

 But why the name Pedr?

I like to explore my family tree. During that research I came to a distant ancestor on my father's side.  Pedr Hansson, born approximately in 1748 and from Graa-Dyb in Denmark. In 1781 Pedr Hansson married Magdalena Wilkens in Amsterdam. So I have a little Viking blood in me... Yes!! I knew it!

 Pedr the Viking in Denmark

Pedr the Viking was welcomed everywhere. He was very popular, not only in the Netherlands but also far beyond! Via a detour via France, he also ended up in Denmark. What more could I wish for?! Pedr Hansen was back home, where the story once began.

 When he arrived in Denmark, he had a great time, in the beginning! He was well taken care of, asked if his axe needed extra sharpening, if he wanted a larger fur coat. But after a while they were not so nice anymore. Something bad happened to Pedr in Denmark. He was kidnapped, kidnapped and held captive for the purpose of cloning him. Yes really, they wanted to make another Viking out of him!

 Help from Australia

He tried to convince them neatly, to explain that that was not supposed to happen. That he is unique and wanted to stay that way! If you want to create another Viking, you have to come up with a completely different Viking. Then we can still be brothers, but not twins!!  After reasoning didn't work, help came from an unexpected source! A nice lady from Australia heard his cry for help and decided to put on her world famous boots. These are very special magic red boots, which this lady puts on every now and then to save people from difficult situations. And yes, it helped! After a large kick to the kidnapper's buttocks, Pedr was able to escape and sail back to the Netherlands.

Auburncraft Crochet Design

Back in the Netherlands he couldn't get this lady out of his head. Who was this Australian lady? After some detective work in certain purple groups on Facebook, he found the lady. It was Sue from Auburncraft Crochet Design! Oh and what did he see? She also had red hair just like him! Terrific!!

 He sent her a beautiful bunch of purple flowers, because purple is her favourite colour, and heard from her that she had created a whole new group on Facebook to combat this kind of abuse in the creative world. A group for designers of crocheted creations. To support each other with all the problems that can occur in this world of crochet, such as kidnapping of creations! Sue runs this group together with another red-haired lady: Fiona. Fiona lives in Ireland! The name of the group is: Crochet Designers Support Group.

 Of course, a special Facebook group of these 2 ladies could not be missed: Two Redheads Crochet! 

Look them up!! (click here for Two Redheads)

 Pedr has recovered well from his adventure and is already looking for other adventures here at CB's Creations. Would you like to invite this great tough Viking to your home? Then it is best to crochet him yourself, so you can be sure that he is really yours!  

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Links to CB Creations

You can find more of Claudia’s incredible Amigurami on her webpage (click here).

Other links: (click here)

You can also find my guest blog post on Claudia’s webpage:

Oh, The Shame of it ALL!

I recently did a bragging post about the Yarnfast I was on (see previous blog post as to an explanation of what this is).
Yes, I was so proud that I had made my way through 2 full months of the year and in fact the whole of 2022 without buying yarn.

Well the fast has broken!

I feasted on yarn yesterday! Now I did not over indulge and really only bought what I NEEDED. But it still results in the same thing!

Yesterday I felt the call of the LYS. The store was loudly shouting in my ear ‘Come visit me!” The thing is, it wasn’t as though I went out of my way to go there. Due to recent flooding (see previous yarn fast post), I simply had to drive right by it, as my usual way home is still blocked.

And if we are going to get all technical about it all, the best way to lift ones spirits after a tough few days, is a visit to the LYS.

I hopped out of my car and was totally surprised at the extra spring in my step. My feet just danced across the road towards the LYS entrance.

I think I may have even been humming a cheery tune as I entered. I was very clinical in my approach to this just the same. I headed directly to the shelves I know housed the Scheepjes Whirl (again, (see other blog posts) why won’t Scheepjes just give me some yarn? I did ask them once with a lovely proposal and got a Dear John back . So I have no idea why I bother to use it so much).

I needed a Whirl in Shrinking Violet for a super fantastic blanket of which I have on the design board and partially completed. I didn’t let any of the other colours distract me and ignored their pleas begging for me to caress them. Then I headed to the Whirlettes. I needed 2 different shades of what colour? Purple of course! How silly that anyone may think it could be other than that!

I can tell you the colours I grabbed do looks so nice together !

Straight to the counter to pay and while the staff chatted with me for a bit, I did try to rush out the door as the temptation to shop was strong. It was all done in a kind of ‘Buy (no, not BYE), gotta run’ and all the while trying to not look as the shelves whilst muttering to myself ‘Don’t look!”

I have not used any of this purchase as yet but have spent some time admiring and squishing it. It is so pretty!

Now I must really try to start my YARNFAST all over again!

Batten Down The Hatches Blanket

This pattern is dedicated to Barry and Joy!

This post is simply to write about the dedication on this pattern.

Barry and Joy were my mother-in-law and father-in-law. Both were heavily involved in the local sailing/yacht club. Barry spent many years as Commodore and Joy ran the race day staff, acting as race secretary.

They passed this love of sailing onto their three son’s. I married the youngest!

Barry raced a Sabre (dingy) most weekends and my now husband raced in his 125 dingy that he had built himself. The Sabre was a one man boat and the 125 had a crew. The first Easter long weekend that I was dating my now husband, he found himself without a crew to race the Easter weekend races. I was recruited. I had never been even on a sailing boat before and had no idea what I was doing. The day had a very brisk 10 to 15 knot wind and I was shoved into a Trapeze harness and connected to a self tacking wire and we headed off to race. My husband told me how I was meant to exit the boat and hang on the wire. I did exactly as I was told and with the brisk wind I had to spring over the side and keep my feet on the gunwale and my body as horizontal as possible, to keep the dingy level. We did okay that race day and I think that was the day I first made really good friends with my future mother-in-law.

She told me I was a natural on the trapeze. I didn’t bother to tell her that I had absolutely no idea what I was doing so did exactly as her son told me to. We went on to race many, many weekends, with Barry many times running the race days (when not competing himself) and Joy keeping a watchful eye over us from either the race tower or one of the patrol boats. We did this until our family grew too large for us to be able to do so. My last race series I was 16 weeks pregnant with our second child and I know my mother-in-law was nervous the whole series watching us race in heavy winds with me out on the trap wire.

Barry and Joy loved sailing and it was part of their lives. So I thought it fitting to dedicate this blanket to them!

Looming Pattern Launches and New Designs

I am always busy! There is always something I can be doing if not in our main business, then in my own little crochet business.

The crochet hook has been working overtime over the past few months and I have lots of new things on the horizon.

At present I have 2 patterns in testing. One of these is due to be launched in 4 days time. I also have 1 new pattern design almost completed. So, lots to do!

However some days one just does not feel like playing crochet designer! Today feels more like a day to pretend I am queen of all that surrounds me. Perhaps the staff could do the work instead (if only there were any staff).

Crochet related things I have achieved today (it is only mid morning):

Answered crochet related questions✔

Wrote a blog post✔

Perused yarn sites✔

Spent time on social media re crochet✔

Conversed with other designers✔

Things I have NOT achieved YET today:

I have not checked in with my pattern testers

I have not done any on my new design

I have not finished my webpage for the new pattern launch

I have not checked the final copy of the pattern due to be launched

Excuses:

Apart from the items on the list that I have achieved, I have done a workout and drunk 2 very nice cups of tea . I run on TEA!

The new design that I have almost completed is a bit of a mind bender. I ❤ it, and can’t wait to finish it , but with 5 rounds to go, one round has approximately 400 chain loops to complete and I am getting all chained out. It is slow to write up! I am however looking forward to torturing my long suffering pattern testers with this one. MAhahahaha!

The design I am almost ready to launch has taken approx 4 months from idea conception, to completed item and now the test process. Therefore I believe it should just launch itself as I have already put in hundreds of hours on it. The webpage is also time consuming and rather boring to do. Just think of all that time that I could spend crocheting instead . Sounds fair, doesn’t it?

As for the 3rd point, all I can say is DITTO!

Yes, it will all get done! The new pattern WILL get launched. The new design Will get completed but at present I have a nice cup of tea calling my name and I may just ignore the blanket with all those chain loops, that seems to be glaring at me in defiance, daring me to finish it. They won’t beat me!

Keep your eyes 👀 wide open in the next few days (assuming I get around to finishing the webpage etc) as the new pattern (in my humble, YES humble opinion) is rather wonderful!

And to those who are wise enough to have subscribed to my webpage, there will be a discount (oh the pain of it all) on launch day. That is of course assuming I can force myself to do a (splutter, cough) DISCOUNT code! Discounts are painful!

I am hoping all will really enjoy the new design! Let me know your thoughts once it is live!

Those Little Moments!

Today I had a moment!

A split second where I had to decide whether to act my age and behave, or let the 10 year old me have free rein.

What was this moment in time? I just know you are dying to know!

I arrived at my local gym and on entering the building and viewing the stairwell, the first thing that caught my eyes was a sign. This sign and several others stated in bold letters ‘WET PAINT’.

The very first thought that popped into my head was, How wet is it! Maybe it isn’t wet at all! Maybe it’s dry and they have just left the signs there to taunt me! I could find out by touching it! Really I should just touch it!

I rounded the corner on the stairs and there was a young person with paint roller in hand working away trying very hard to ignore those arriving to the gym, stomping up and down the stairs!

At this point I am still thinking that I could just stick my finger (or hand) on the wall and see just how wet this paint is. I managed to muster all my strength and resisted this urge. Instead I casually commented to this person with the paint roller,

‘You know those signs are kind of like a dare, or challenge, just begging me to find out how wet the paint really is!’

The look on this persons face was priceless. The response ‘I certainly hope not!’

I reached the top of the stairs without managing to run my hand over the wall and after my workout I bumped into this same person. They were now painting a wall in the lower part of the building. I smiled as I exited. I was left wondering if they then made a mad dash to the stairwell to check if there were any finger marks in the paint!

So my day was quite fullfilled. I had a laugh and I think I did make the young painter smile (once they realised I was joking).

It did however get me thinking though.

This is all a bit like when you go to a yarn store. With covid times such as they are, we probably should not be touching, squishing, patting or doing anything with the yarn on the shelves. But it is there right in front of us, basically daring us to squeeze it. Yes of course this is quite a bit different than sticking your hand in freshly done paint, but still the urge to squeeze yarn is strong in this one!!!

Or maybe I am just now tipping over the edge of sanity! Perhaps I was the only person who thought about sticking their hand in wet paint!

Use the force Sue, you must resist!

Dating profile of a crazy crochet designer

Way more than you really want to know!!

Ssssssssssssh, don’t tell my husband!

So there I was, sitting with my crochet (purple yarn of course) and an advertisement for dating flashes across the TV screen. It gets me thinking about just what I would say, if I had to do a dating profile.

I am rather unsure if I would want to date me, but ah well, here goes nothing!

Details:

Older than I was yesterday, but younger than I will be by tomorrow. What does that mean you may ask? I am old and I am not saying how old!

Redhead (although I cheat a bit these days.. Okay, okay I cheat a lot and its DYED! I am getting older).

I like long walks with my dog in the rainforest especially when it is raining.

I like older cars BUT only if they are manual drive.

I do have a newer car at the moment, named Scarlet (yep I name my cars) and I cannot stand the way she beeps at me. You are too close to the car in front, you haven’t shut the boot (trunk) properly. YOU TOOK YOUR SEAT BELT OFF!

Stupid car! I am in my driveway and if I want to take my selt belt off, I darn well, will. I don’t yell at it, so why does it yell at me?

I have an older 4wd (Sam) which I prefer much better, even though it has seen better days. I used to drive around in my very old xr6 (Sally) till she finally died. She never yelled at me once! Sure she used to cough and splutter at times, but she never yelled!

I have my motorbike licence although it has been a few years since I have used it. I am at home on horseback and love most animals! I don’t love snakes!

A sticker that I have on my car

I used to race 125 yachts when younger and played the part of crew. Yep the one out hanging on the end of a trapeze wire! So a couch potato type person is not for me!

I prefer people who are capable of thinking on their feet. Think MacGyver and you are on the right track and if you happen to look like a very young Richard Dean Anderson, then I can work with that! But if you cannot change your own car tyre, then move along!!!!

The ability to change a car tyre. There will be a test on this one and if I can do it faster, you can forget it!

And if you are gonna stand back and watch me try to save the world, all on my own, then you’re not for me. You had better be right by my side, knee deep in Zombies, when the Zombie Apocalypse happens.

And if I yell ‘Grab all the essential supplies, as we are under attack’ you had better grab as much yarn as you can carry!

Things I am addicted to:

Yarn

Purple Yarn.

Working out

Cups of english breakfast tea. But let me clarify. It must be made with 2 teabags (NOT ONE). It must be strong, but with a good splash of milk. DON’T SKIMP ON THE MILK! (There will be a test on this one).

Yarn.

Did I mention Purple yarn.

Dance based workouts (which is different to just a workout).

Pump workouts.

Drawing up designs for crochet. (I have dozens all drawn up and cannot seem to stop. I need more hours in the day to make them).

Painting and 3d resin art.

Oh, and yarn, especially the purple variety.

What do I expect from a partner?

Don’t talk when I am crocheting.

Don’t talk when I am counting.

Ooh and ahh over my work.

Tell me often that I need more yarn.

And they MUST, I repeat MUST, know how to make a decent cup of tea! Note to the husband: You could up your game on this one!

Please also refer to the notes re: Zombie Apocalypse.

I can see all the prospective suitors just lining up as no doubt they will realise what a catch I am!!! But perhaps I will just stick with the husband, as after all he does totally fit my above criteria (apart from the making of a decent cup of tea. Mmmm, is that a reason for divorce I wonder?)

Oh and if you are wondering where the crochet is in this post then here is a sneak peek at my latest design. Not much of a look I know! But I have to say that I am totally loving this new design. Launch will be within the next 2 weeks!

Adopt a Dragonfly Discount Code

Oh the pain of it all!

Honestly what am I thinking at the moment? A discount of my precious dragonflies!

My hands are typing but my heart is saying ‘No, don’t do it’! It does hurt you know!

Well it doesn’t probably hurt anyone else, but for me there is definately heartache involved. As most are aware I don’t offer discounts often. Maybe I need a doctor! I must be ill to even consider it!

But anyway, dragonflies are my thing. I have a LOT of patterns featuring them and I have many more to come.

Yes, yes I am getting to the discount code, have patience!

This September there will be an exciting launch of a new blanket featuring them and to be honest I am a little chuffed with myself as I did manage to teach my dragonflies to do a new trick, but you will have to wait till September to see what that may be.

Shortly after that I have a couple of other dragonfly designs that I will publish. The drawing board has several more just waiting for their turn to come to life and soar into the crochet world, on gossamer wings.

BUT, I have decided to let my precious dragonfly patterns go out into the world with a discount code of 10% off on ravelry only. If the title of the pattern has the word ‘Dragonfly’ in it then it is on offer for 10% discount. This spans the whole of my designs from my basic dragonflies, (when I began designing) to my latest designs which feature my own exclusive dragonfly, unique to Auburncraft Crochet Designs. If you see the same stitch combo used by someone else you will know where it began.

So make haste to ravelry as this discount will only be available for 3 days. USE THE CODE ‘adoptadragonfly’. And take one of these home to be your own!

CLICK THE PHOTO TO THE RIGHT WITH MY DRAGONFLIES TO BE TAKEN TO RAVELRY!!!!!

And if you have not subscribed to my webpage then you are missing out on the best discount codes when I launch a pattern. Sign up so they come to your email.

The Australian Way!

Upon checking the letterbox today I discover a box jammed into it by our postie. Firstly I wondered at why they jammed it into the letterbox when we have a parcel fridge around 1 foot away, but they did.

Then I start to ponder which of my online purchases are in this 7 inch by 7 inch box. With my excitement building I rushed into the house to prise open this wonderous parcel.

Is it yarn, or could it be yarn. Maybe it's yarn!

I am thinking a few balls of yarn could fit inside this box but then I should have factored the 'Australian way' into my calculations. And to be honest I did forget my enormous purchase of ONE lipstick in the colour Gangsta Wrap. But then in my defence who would really consider that someone would package ONE lipstick into a 7 inch x 7 inch box.

Like really! They could have at least stuffed some yarn around the sides of it to pack it out. You could fit at least 4 skeins of yarn in there too! Yeah, you would think so!

I Am Me!!

Wheel of Time

At times I have people tell me you should make this, or you should make that! My long suffering husband is one of the worst offenders.

‘I saw some really nice lamp shades today, you should crochet those’.

My response is usually the same. ‘I don’t want to crochet THOSE’.

One of my lovely pattern testers asked me very recently if I would do dreamcatchers (yes Elika I mean you). Maybe! I guess I could! But will I? Mmmm probably not.

I rather like making unique clothes but often these are just for me! I hate sizing things as it is BORING! This is why I don’t offer many clothing patterns.

And when I refer to unique clothes I rather do mean unique!

I was recently walking several kilometres to a local fair that was running. I had some crochet entered and I did rather well in it (brag, brag). I won two sections, but on the long walk to gain entry (there was no parking as everyone was heading there), I had to pass a very elderly couple. I had doned my latest purchase of some hot pink chennille capris, with large purple hippie flowers on them, and to compliment them, I was wearing my Porcupine Peak purple long crochet vest. I had my new crochet handbag that I designed just for me, over my shoulder. It has cats on it to complete the look!

I Should Have Used Mothballs

One of these old dears who is most likely partly deaf (and not realising that not everyone suffers the same affliction), looked at me as I passed and exclaimed to her partner ‘they do wear some strange things around here’. I turned and gave her a smile (which probably just confirmed her suspicion that I was rather strange, due to the pink and purple streak I have added to my hair). I continued on my walk happy in the knowledge that I gave them something to talk about on the long walk to the fair.

As for my crochet, well I try to do MY THING! It may not be everyones thing, but it is mine!

Ice Queen

Some of my shawls are evidence of this!

Take my ‘I Should Have Used Mothballs’ Shawl. It is designed to look moth eaten. Some get it, but others want to tell me how sorry they are that moths ate my shawl.

Then you have my Ice ‘Queen Scarf’. I designed this to appear as if icicles are dripping.

A Prison for Flowers

A Cotillion for Butterflies!

In 2020 I designed ‘A Prison for Flowers’ shawl and got a few people who exclaimed that they did not like the name. Maybe they were upset that the flowers were trapped inside a diamond prison. Who knows!

‘A Cotillion for Butterflies’ was an idea that jumped into my head. What is not to love with the idea of butterflies attending a ball!

I just love adding little back stories to my designs. I have ‘Dragonfly Hide n Seek’ where the dragonflies are among flowers playing a game.

Then came ‘Lost in the Dragonfly Labyrinth’ shawl. The poor dears cannot find their way out!

In 2019 I designed ‘Fishing for Luck’. This shawl has been one of my best sellers and you can always gauge success of a design by whether someone tries to steal it and yep, I had that happen this year too. It is a fun shawl with netting '(hence the name) and with small 3 leaf clovers dangling from the edge. You can join in with the clover challenge and add just one four leaf clover somewhere along that edge.

I followed the theme of Fishing for Luck and this year designed ‘The Wheel of Time’ shawl. Similar to Fishing for Luck but then also very different. This is proving to also be a popular design, so maybe my uniqueness is appreciated after all.

Porcupine Peak Vest

You can be guaranteed that I will do my own thing and come up with something that some will love and others, well they will just stare and wonder why!

You can find links to all these shawl patterns in the premium patterns section on my webpage. Then select shawls.

Stay tuned in the coming weeks as I have another unique shawl design in the works!!!

Make sure you are subscribed to my webpage to get a nice discount code on launch days. And if you like my designs and blog posts, please leave a comment!

A Visit from the Hobbii Fairies!

Fairies have been working overtime of late dropping goodies off.

I had a visit from the Hobbii fairy today. He said he was the postman, but I know that is just a clever disguise to cover his real occupation and to be honest I am sure I saw some gossamer wings peeking out from under his uniform. At least I think it was that, as if not the poor fellow has a very strange hair issue going on that I just don't want to know about!

But back to my Hobbiiness! I danced into the house and ripped open the parcel to lay my eyes (for the very first time as I have never had Hobbii before) upon a wonder of wonders.

These almost look too good to use!

Hobbii had also thrown in what I think may be a tiny light saber? I know I was discussing online recently that I may end up in a fight with Darth Vader. Who knows with the internet listening in on every word these days. Well whatever! I will now also be set to take on any storm troopers or Darth Vader if he appears! I have just gotta figure out how to work it!

It's All Fun and Games Till You Run Out of Yarn! Famous Quotes with a TWIST!

Live revolves around yarn! Oh, and of course crochet!

It does, doesn’t it?

So many things in life would be better, brighter and of course a heap more fun if they were based on, or changed to crochet.

To this end I have been looking at famous quotes and I may have been just a tiny bit on the peckish (hungry) side when I added quotes about chocolate, (well they used to be about chocolate, before I got to them).

Let’s face it, I was also bored!

You may well think I have too much time on my hands if I can bother to play around with famous quotes, but this is most definately not true.

I have a super secret crochet pattern test running at present and another blanket about to head out to testing. I also have more designs all drawn out and awaiting the day when they will get their turn at coming to life.

In fact when things are rather quiet I can hear these designs calling to me. It is sort of like when you have your kids in the car and they are stating (every two minutes) ‘Are we there yet’. But these designs are calling ‘Is it my turn yet’. I usually tell them that their turn will come one day, but not today! Of course they then tend to whimper and cry a bit, which can be so annoying!

Enjoy these Famous Quotes and how I personally think they should have been said. (Bold shows what I have changed).

Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals likes crochet.
Sandra Boynton

If there’s no crochet in Heaven, I’m not going.
Jane Seabrook

Knitting is only a fad. Crochet is a permanent thing.
Milton Hershey

The greatest tragedies were written by the Greeks and Shakespeare…neither knew crochet.
Sandra Boynton

What use are cartridges in battle? I always carry a crochet hook instead.
George Bernard Shaw

The way to a woman’s heart is through truth and trust. Well, all except mine. Mine is through crochet.
Taylor E. Bennet

My favorite thing in the world is a box of fine European yarn which is, for sure, better than sex.
Alicia Silverstone

Happiness. Simple as a ball of handspun yarn or tortuous as the heart. Bitter. Sweet. Alive.
Joanne Harris

Always remember that your crochet is absolutely unique. Just like everyone else’s. Margaret Mead

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their crochet. Eleanor Roosevelt

Tell me to crochet and I forget. Teach me to crochet and I remember. Buy me yarn and I learn. Benjamin Franklin

The best and most beautiful crochet in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart. Helen Keller

It is during our darkest moments that we must crochet to see the light. Aristotle

Whoever is happy to crochet will make others happy too. Anne Frank

Do not go where the crochet may lead, go instead where there is no crochet and leave a trail of yarn. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Spread crochet everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving with a crochet doily. Mother Teresa

When you reach the end of your crochet, tie a knot in it and hang on. Franklin D. Roosevelt

The secret of success is to crochet uncommonly well. John D. Rockefeller Jr.

I find that the harder I crochet, the more luck I seem to have. Thomas Jefferson

The way to get started is to quit talking and begin crocheting. Walt Disney

When life gives you lemons, insist on crochet instead! Hubbard

I hope you enjoyed my variation on these quotes. Life needs a tad bit more silly in it! Oh, and a heap more crochet!

My Shoes Needed Some Abbey Road Cotton!

I had a need to purchase a wooden curtain ring for a project I had in mind. So I took myself to one of the local stores (Spotlight) here in Oz. They sell a bit of everything, from homewares to craft supplies.

I only needed this one small item so figured I would zip in and out very quickly. Or so I thought!

I located the item on the shopping list and turned to head for the checkout. Then something rather BIZARRE happened!

My feet refused to move! I could wiggle my toes but my shoes appeared to be stuck to the floor. I tried valiantly to move them forward towards the checkout but they would not budge!

One poor shopper made an obvious side step around me with a look that simply stated their concern over my behaviour. But, what could I do, I was stuck there, unable to move!

The next thing I knew my shoes were turning me around and heading deeper into the store. I clung to one of the shelves that contained casserole dishes. The shelving began to topple so I had to let go. I certainly didn’t want a bill for a dozen broken casserole dishes!

My shoes just kept on going and before I knew it they had taken me to the back of the store. Right in front of me was the cotton yarn shelf. I looked at my shoes and told them quite firmly that I DID NOT need any yarn, I had plenty. They were obviously not in a listening mood. They just seemed intent on ignoring me!

I stood there for at least 20 minutes (well, it seemed that long but maybe it was only 20 seconds. It does get hard to tell time when you are in the yarn section).

What could it hurt just to squeeze a couple of those luscious balls of cotton? Just a squeeze, nothing more! Ohhh, and it was so soft!

My feet still refused to budge from that one spot! Maybe if I get just a ball! So I selected just one ball of Abbey Road Kung Fu cotton. Sure enough I could move just slightly, but this evidently was not enough to please these shoes. Sure I could have taken them off but they were my good gym shoes and I could not leave them behind.

I grabbed another ball, and this seemed to please the shoes as I could move back and forth but they still would not let me leave the yarn aisle. So what is a person to do in this sort of situation? I did the only thing I could!

I picked up 6 balls of Abbey Road Kung Fu Cotton, and this made my shoes SO HAPPY! I danced my way to the checkout. I sashayed down the aisles past the casserole dishes (that seemed to be glaring at me). I Tangoed past the shopper who had side stepped me earlier, and with a graceful pirouette stopped right in front of the checkout with my arms full of unnecessary yarn!

But the shoes were happy now and while they were rather naughty, I just could not find it in my heart to remain angry with them!

And I did make a rather nice potholder from my purchase!

GREEN, DO WE REALLY NEED IT?

The colour green and I are not the best of friends!

I use it at times and I am actually using it at the moment as a request, but we will never really see eye to eye on life and things in general!

Sure I guess green has its place in the world, although personally I think that trees and grass would do very well in a lovely shade of purple!

Do we really need green yarn?

I do find it harder working in green as I tend to procrastinate. My eyes keep wandering to the partially done blanket sitting in the corner in lovely purples and pinks.

No! I must not pick it up! I must stay focused. It’s only a bit of green and I will get through this trial!

Bendigo woollen Mill 4ply Cotton in the colour fruit tingle

I can see myself dancing my way through life without the colour green daring to damage my eyes with its presence. Do we really need green? I think not!

Maybe I shall become like the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland and demand that all greenery be painted in a tasteful purple colour. Anyone caught consorting with the colour green and it shall be proclaimed ‘off with their head’.

It’s not too much to ask is it!

my latest design. flowers don’t tell but i do blanket.

The pattern is available on my webpage. Go to premium patterns and then blankets.

It All Starts Out So Innocently!

A Helpful Guide to Managing Your Yarn Stash Hobby/Addiction/Disorder/Problem!

And so the crochet JOURNEY begins!

You decide to take up a hobby and get creative! Crochet sounds good, doesn't it? You begin to search online for helpful tutorials and join a group of like minded beings who can guide you on this wonderous journey.

DAY 1: THE CHANGE BEGINS. After reading up on what you need to begin, you head to your LYS and frugally select a ball of yarn and a hook.

Day 3: After a couple of hours spent with your new hobby you decide that you don't have the necessary supplies in order to continue on this wonderful JOURNEY! Heading back to the yarn store you decide to treat yourself to several balls of yarn in several different colours. These will be all you need!

Day 13: By now you are feeling a bit masterful of this new hobby and feel that you need to expand your knowledge further. New stitches must be tried. None of the yarn you have is going to work. Back to the LYS you go and spend 2 hours fondling the yarn and exclaiming how wonderous it is. You end up selecting a trolley full of the wonderous fibre. You also stop and buy a number of storage containers to keep these treasures safe.

Day 21: You now belong to at least a dozen online groups for crochet. You have started trawling marketplace web groups and find several posts about private yarn sales which you feel you must attend. You rush to the address and manage to beat an elderly woman in a walking frame to the huge yarn collection and even though she is crying you know your need is greater. You also spot a tasteful yarn tote (which you ripped from the grip of the previously mentioned old ladies fragile grasp) so you can now take your crochet with you wherever you go.

Day 25: Today is dedicated to ensuring your yarn pattern library is equal to the yarn stash and 5000 patterns is NOT too much. You also managed a few hours of crochet and taught the whole family to NEVER, NEVER speak when you are counting.

Day 28: The last stage of metaphorphis. A few days back you discovered online yarn stores and very sensibly took out a loan from the bank to purchase while the yarn happened to be on sale. The truck arrived today with all your yarn. The metaphorphis is now complete.

Welcome to the Crochet Family!!!

Disclaimer: No elderly ladies with fragile hands were harmed in this journey, although some harrassment of yarn delivery drivers did occur!

Woo Hoo, It's A New Year! What Is In Store Crochet Wise?

Like many, each year I decide that this new year that has just begun is going to be better than the last. This year will be the one! I am sure to excel at everything I touch and the world will be my oyster!

Blanket coming soon

Sneak peek!

I have to say I am still waiting as each year ticks by for that one elusive year that everything comes up roses, but I am hopeful.

The year has started off busy and productive. I spent yesterday listing yet another free pattern and thankfully I am able to mulit-task as I was cooking a roast and playing online chess with my youngest son for 3.5hours while also helping someone with a crochet issue.

To this end I am hereby awarding myself the title of CROCHET SUPERWOMAN and my motto of course ‘SAVING THE WORLD ONE CROCHET STITCH AT A TIME!’

Shawl Coming Soon

Sneak Peek

But what will be on offer in crochet in 2021 you ask?

Well! I have donned my superhero tights (made in a tasteful purple colour of course) and begun the year with a larger style filet blanket. And yes! Of course this blanket is in purple. The colour is called Fruit Tingle! This blanket is being done with the support off Bendigo Woollen MIlls and I am happy to say that it looks fabulous! But how could it not, done in the best colour ever! My pattern testers have this in hand and are working hard to make it look like I know what I am doing!

I have a fingering weight shawl almost ready for testing very, very soon.

I have put pen to paper and signed on with Yarnish Australia to produce one of my signature style blankets, to be released by Yarnish later this year and this is just so exciting.

I also have around 15 projects all drawn up and ready for their turn in the queue to make, as well as several items already started including a shawl which I think is going to be rather good.

I am also busy with online marketing and run/admin/jointly admin way too many crochet groups. My page is Auburncraft Crochet. I co-run a fabulous group on Facebook called Two Redheads Crochet, with my Superhero Side-Kick Fiona Campbell (yes Fiona if you are reading this, you have to be the side-kick as I believe it is your turn!), along with 2 other groups we co-run.

So if you haven’t already subscribed to my webpage then what are you waiting for? Subscribers get notified when a new pattern is published and they also get the best discount codes.

But, UP, UP and AWAY! 2021 awaits and saving the world one crochet stitch at a time beckons!

Auburn Flowers Soap Saver Discount Code!

Super fast little project that is a great last minute gift!

A little pre- Christmas discount for my subscribers awaits on ravelry. and get a huge 30% off. This is exclusive to my subscribers. Links to the pattern can be found via my webpage in the premium pattern section under the section ‘Other Patterns’ If you want to recceive discount codes for future pattern launches then please subscribe to my webpage.

I will also pop up a post in Two Redheads Crochet Group, with a code for a limited amount of freebies, but these will go quickly, so keep an eye out for the post if you are a member of Two Redheads.

I hope everyone has a wonderful break this Christmas no matter how you choose to celebrate and thank you for supporting me and my crochet this year!

A selection from my pattern testers.

Bethany Colhoff. (Top Right) Farmers Yarn Cotton 8/4 in bright pink from Hobbii.

Kristina Kirk (bottom centre right) Premier Yarn.

Jane Wynne (centre bottom left). Bendigo Woollen Mill Cotton 4 Ply (click here for supplier)

Shirley Anne Streep (top left). Made by me yarn.

Christy Allen (top centre). I Love This Yarn in Aqua Sparkle.

Bronwyn Bellwood (bottom left). Raseesh Bamboo

Sonia Scothern (bottom right)

Six Wishes for a Dragonfly Blanket Discount Code for use on ravelry for subscribers only

Materials
3.5mm hook
2x Scheepjes Whirl in Forbidden Fuschia 1000 metres/1093 yards per ball.
I had very little left of the 2 balls so check gauge to ensure you can complete your project with 2.

1. A wish for Change

2.    A wish for Adaptability

3.    A wish for Joy

4.    A wish for Deeper thought

5.    A wish to see through illusions of life

6.    A wish to experience the magic of nature

To say I am happy with this design would be an understatement! I have been not so patiently waiting for this to be through the testing process and launch day to arrive!

I love my dragonflies and many of my designs feature these. This blanket has my very own stitch combination for the dragonflies which is unique to Auburncraft Crochet Design.

I have been amazed at the incredible and diverse blankets that my hard working pattern testers have produced, during the test process. Each with their own yarn choice and yarn selection.

Head to my webpage and look in the premium patterns section under blankets or head to my ravelry store to get this one while it is at the discount as it won’t last.

I am mean with my dragonflies as I don’t really want to part with them!

Don’t forget to use the tags below when showing off your work. This way I can see all your efforts.

#sixwishesforadragonflyblanket

#auburncraftcrochetdesign