Tag Archives: Crochet

My Valentine

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With less than a month until Valentine’s Day I’ve been thinking about my new collection of cards for this year.  As I’ve become somewhat addicted to crochet, I wanted to make something a bit different.  So I decided to add my crochet hearts and flowers to cards.

Starting off with my Valentine’s cards, I made a collection of 3 in a different shades of red.

My Valentine Dark Red Crochet Heart

The colour of the yarn really stands out on a simple plain white card.

These three cards proved popular last night on Handmadehour over on twitter and have now sold out. I am now making them to order though, so if you would like one of these please let me know. They are priced at £1.50 or £2.50 including UK postage.

I hope you like my cards and I would love to know what you think.

Happy crafting
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Our Handmade Tree

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This year I’ve let my daughter have a tree in the hall, and given her a huge box of decorations.  The box was full of handmade decorations, some made by her through the few years of her life in nursery and school.   It’s been a real journey of remembering watching her decorate the tree. She made one of the decorations at playgroup when she was only just 1!  It’s great to see how she’s grown as some of the decorations she’s made at school have her photo on.

Handmade Christmas Tree

Once she had reminisced with me over all her decorations, she got out some of the decorations I’ve made over the last twenty years or so. I love the little snowballs at the bottom of the tree. They were some of the first decorations I made over twenty years ago. So there’s a real mix of little stockings, snowflakes, hearts and some Jean Greenhowe decorations (including the snowballs). We love our little handmade tree and long may we keep adding new decorations to it.

Merry Christmas
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Winter Garlands

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Over the last few weeks I’ve been making garlands to hang around the house over Christmas.  It’s been a great way to practice my crochet and I’ve been spoiled for choice with all the gorgeous patterns out there at the moment.

My first one is made using some King Cole dk yarns and was from a pattern on Craftseller magazine.  I started this whilst I was in the hospital recovering from my second foot operation.  The fairy lights appealed to me as there’s no need to change bulbs or batteries and the garland can even be put in the washing machine! It measures well over a meter in length and drapes beautifully from the fireplace.

Crochet fairy lights

Having really caught the bug for crochet I found another pattern in an issue of Knitting and Crochet magazine. This time for a shorter garland, which looks lovely over a door. With my daughter being mad on Frozen still, I thought the stars looked quite like snowflakes.

Star garland

I’ve made a few of these as they look so pretty over the doors.

I’ve just recently finished another couple of garlands, as I discovered a stash of cotton in my yarn bag. The cotton is lovely to crochet with and it really holds the shape of the stitches well. I’ve made a little flower garland in cream and a dark turquoise.

Flower garland

Finally I’ve made a 3 metre long garland, ideal for the hallway, using red, green, cream, white and beige cotton for the stars.

All of the garland pictured are available for sale, so be quick if you want them as these are all one-offs!

Happy Christmas crafting
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Crochet Hearts

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I’ve been working on some crochet hearts recently, perfecting the design and trying lots of different yarns. My question now is what to do with them all?

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I’ve thought about making a garland with some. Maybe putting some onto cards, or making them into brooches. I was also thinking about having them as Christmas tree decorations. I’ve had one suggestion on my facebook page to make them as wedding favours.

I’d love to know what you think I should make with them. Comments below by 10th November 2014 and I’ll put all names in a hat to win a set of 5 hearts in a colour of the winners choice.

Happy crafting
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Christmas Snowflakes

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I’ve been working on some more Christmas decorations this week, in particular a number of crochet snowflakes.

With ‘Frozen’ still being so very popular, the snowflakes are a perfect little decoration for this years tree. My daughter is particularly thrilled that she will have some for her tree this Christmas. I’ve used several different yarns, mostly dk, but I think they work well is cotton and in some different colours too.

Cotton Crochet Snowflakes

Icy Blue crochet snowflakes

I’m working on making a garland with alternate large and small snowflakes on next.

Happy Christmas crafting
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Baby Comfort Blankets

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I’ve been working on a number of baby comfort blankets since Bury Show. I had such a lovely response to them that I couldn’t help myself but make up some more. I’m trying different patterns in the granny squares and trying out different ways to edge them together too.

I’ve combined different colours of yarn too. This one is yellow and two shade of pink, with a bunny in the centre. Each square has a different shape in the centre, heart, flower, square and circle.

Baby blankie 2

I then made one to match a blanket I made, using blue and white yarns. This time I added a birdie to the centre, and made plain squares with white square centres.

Blue Bird blankie

I like the birdie so made another in pink with yellow squares and pink borders.

Pink birdie blankie

I really enjoyed making crochet flowers and decided to make another blankie with just flower motifs. This one is white with pink flowers and borders.

PInk flower blankie

Finally I have another pink blanket, this time with alternate heart and flower centres to the squares and a bunny to cuddle.

Pink Bunny blankie

I don’t know which is my favourite. I love them all. They are fully machine washable on a cool wash and certainly kept my knees warm while I was making them.

Which is your favourite?

Happy crafting
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Christmas in September

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Yes, I’m starting to think about Christmas. I know fellow crafters will have started making already, and non-crafters will be thinking I’m crazy. I’ve had my first stocking tree decoration order and I’ve been thinking about adding some different things to my range this year.

With my new love of crochet, I thought I’d try some crochet stockings. I’ve made a few as a trial and I’m after some feedback now. They are a little larger than the knitted ones, so will hold a few sweets or a small gift.

Crochet stockings

They are lovely to make up and I’m going to try with other coloured yarns too. I’m working on one now to which I am going to add a little snowflake design and button. My next project is to try a stripy one.

I’m also going to look for some ‘Frozen’ beads and buttons to add to them as I know my daughter and her friends are crazy about that film.

Back to the needles!

Happy crafting
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Work-in-progress

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I’ve got so many projects on the go at the moment that I thought I’d share them. I think it’s the heat and humidity that’s been taking it’s toll on my ability to finish these (well that and the fact that it’s school holidays). I’ll get there though!

First of all I have my next baby comforter. It’s in shades of pink for a girl (obviously).

flower granny square

comforter pieces

I should finish the other 2 squares soon and then I can have this one finished. I’d like to make a blue one as well, although I have a lovely soft green yarn, so it might end up in blue and green!

Next is a present for my daughter. She asked for it quite a while ago and after her fabulous school report I decided I would get round to making her something.

Dinosaur body

It’s going to be a dinosaur, a stegosaurus I think. The pattern is from LGC: Knitting and Crochet issue 62. They have loads of free patterns on the website too and they knit up fairly quickly. My daughter has been bonkers about dinosaurs for ages, so this one seemed very appropriate.

Finally there’s my latest granny square blanket. This one has been in progress for some considerable time as I ran out of blue yarn. But I’m on the final lap of this now, just finishing off the frilly scalloped edging.

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blanket close up

This is my largest blanket to date and looks good for a cot, or as a small throw. It’s inspired me to make a more colourful blanket with different granny squares. I have a bag of other squares and a couple of half finished amigurumi rabbits and chicks too. I wish there were more hours in the day to do everything, but it’s hard finding the time when you’re entertaining a 5 year old!

Happy Summer Holidays
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Crafting in the sun

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I can’t believe how hot it’s been so far this Summer.  And it’s the school holidays too!  I don’t know about anyone else, but I’ve been struggling to do anything let alone any crafting.

My house has a South facing back garden with the patio is raised above the garden and it’s been like a sauna sitting out.  I’ve been hiding inside as much as I can but that hasn’t been easy either.

I struggle to knit in the summer as my hands get very hot which often makes my needles stick or worse, squeak.  But this year I’ve been using my bamboo knitting needles and I’ve managed to start a new knitting project as a well done present for my daughters’ brilliant school report.

I have also managed to do a little crochet, but I’ve found using yarn a very hot business, so I’ve been making some cards ready for personalisation and orders.

Card insert

I’ve taken a liking to ripping paper!

I’m looking forward to some slightly cooler, or at least less humid weather so I can get on with some more crafts.

Happy crafting
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