Autumn or is it Winter???

I have not been blogging (except for one very small post last week) for several weeks. I have been visiting blogs but sorry I have not been commenting as much as I would have liked to. I love Autumn but it also seems to come with colds and coughs, which I always seem to get. I am OK in the day but the night air makes me cough cough cough. As this is when I usually do my blogging I have been feeling too ill to even turn the computer on.
I'll post some crochet make updates soon plus I have had several very good subscription boxes.

Is it still autumn or is it winter? (I think its a few days before it's winter) here's the Autumn coaster I should have posted weeks ago.

 Matches the charts  "Beckia", "Gwein" and "Belinda"

Here is the August coaster graph and symbol chart 

The chart below could be also worked for other crafts - cross stitch, knitting, beading.

 
INSTRUCTIONS: 
Note: Where the pattern states Treble crochet UK/ Double crochetUSA if you follow UK crochet instructions do a treble, if you follow USA instructions do a double crochet DO NOT do both!

Starting at bottom of chart/ graph chain 82 and another 3 chains to turn (this will count as the first treble crochet UK/ double crochet USA) of first  the row. 

Treble crochet UK/ Double crochet USA into the 5th chain from hook. Double crochet in next 2 chains to complete bottom right solid square of row 1.

Continue following pattern for first row reading chart/ graph right to left. After completing first row, chain 3 to turn to start next row.

Continue following chart/graph until all rows are complete. At end of row 27 fasten off.

MATERIALS :

(Crochet cotton size 10) About 76 metres/ 83 yds, hook size 1.5mm/ US size 7 steel crochet hook or SIZE FOR GAUGE.

APPROXIMATE FINISHED SIZES:

Using Crochet cotton size 10: width = 40.1 cm/ 6.2 inches, height = 43.5 cm/ 6.8 inches

GAUGE:

Using Crochet cotton size 10: 10 squares = 14.8 cm/ 2.3 inches, 10 rows = 16.1 cm/ 2.5 inches

HOW TO READ PATTERN:

Each solid square is equal to 4 Treble crochets UK/ 4 Double crochets USA. Each open square is equal to 1 Treble crochet UK/ 1 Double crochet USA, followed by 2 chains, followed by 1 Treble crochet UK/ 1 Double crochet USA. The Treble crochet UK/ Double crochet USA at the end of each square also counts as the first Treble crochet UK/ Double crochet USA of the next square. For example, a solid square followed by an open square is 4 double crochets,

2 chains, 1 Treble crochet UK/ 1 Double crochet USA.

For those that prefer to follow a symbol chart I have included one for you

If you do make the coaster, don't forget to link via ravelry, or let me know how you got on :)
The Winter coster is coming soon

Summer Coaster Trio - July

Summer Coaster Trio

 

 

Following on from last months coaster "Gwein", can you believe how fast June went! Here is July's coaster graph and symbol chart 

Filet Crochet Coaster "Belinda"

This is the second of a trio of coasters, or squares they could be used for something else.
This coaster is called "Belinda"
The chart below could be also worked for other crafts - cross stitch, knitting, beading.


 
INSTRUCTIONS: 
Note: Where the pattern states Treble crochet UK/ Double crochetUSA if you follow UK crochet instructions do a treble, if you follow USA instructions do a double crochet DO NOT do both!

Starting at bottom of chart/ graph chain 82 and another 3 chains to turn (this will count as the first treble crochet UK/ double crochet USA) of first  the row. 

Treble crochet UK/ Double crochet USA into the 5th chain from hook. Double crochet in next 2 chains to complete bottom right solid square of row 1.

Continue following pattern for first row reading chart/ graph right to left. After completing first row, chain 3 to turn to start next row.

Continue following chart/graph until all rows are complete. At end of row 27 fasten off.

MATERIALS :

(Crochet cotton size 10) About 76 metres/ 83 yds, hook size 1.5mm/ US size 7 steel crochet hook or SIZE FOR GAUGE.

APPROXIMATE FINISHED SIZES:

Using Crochet cotton size 10: width = 40.1 cm/ 6.2 inches, height = 43.5 cm/ 6.8 inches

GAUGE:

Using Crochet cotton size 10: 10 squares = 14.8 cm/ 2.3 inches, 10 rows = 16.1 cm/ 2.5 inches

HOW TO READ PATTERN:

Each solid square is equal to 4 Treble crochets UK/ 4 Double crochets USA. Each open square is equal to 1 Treble crochet UK/ 1 Double crochet USA, followed by 2 chains, followed by 1 Treble crochet UK/ 1 Double crochet USA. The Treble crochet UK/ Double crochet USA at the end of each square also counts as the first Treble crochet UK/ Double crochet USA of the next square. For example, a solid square followed by an open square is 4 double crochets,

2 chains, 1 Treble crochet UK/ 1 Double crochet USA.

For those that prefer to follow a symbol chart I have included one for you

 

 If you do make the coaster, don't forget to link via ravelry, or let me know how you got on :) Check out my Instagram account to see what happened to the coaster!!!

Summer Coaster Trio

Filet Crochet Coaster "Gwein"

This is the first of a trio of coasters, or squares they could be used for something else.
The first coaster is called "Gwein"
The chart below could be also worked for other crafts - cross stitch, knitting, beading. 

INSTRUCTIONS: 

Note: Where the pattern states Treble crochet UK/ Double crochetUSA if you follow UK crochet instuctions do a treble, if you follow USA instructions do a double crochet DO NOT do both!

Starting at bottom of chart/ graph chain 82 and another 3 chains to turn (this will count as the first treble crochet UK/ double crochet USA) of first  the row. 

Treble crochet UK/ Double crochet USA into the 5th chain from hook. Double crochet in next 2 chains to complete bottom right solid square of row 1.

Continue following pattern for first row reading chart/ graph right to left. After completing first row, chain 3 to turn to start next row.

Continue following chart/graph until all rows are complete. At end of row 27 fasten off.

MATERIALS :

(Crochet cotton size 10) About 76 metres/ 83 yds, hook size 1.5mm/ US size 7 steel crochet hook or SIZE FOR GAUGE.

APPROXIMATE FINISHED SIZES:

Using Crochet cotton size 10: width = 40.1 cm/ 6.2 inches, height = 43.5 cm/ 6.8 inches

GAUGE:

Using Crochet cotton size 10: 10 squares = 14.8 cm/ 2.3 inches, 10 rows = 16.1 cm/ 2.5 inches

HOW TO READ PATTERN:

Each solid square is equal to 4 Treble crochets UK/ 4 Double crochets USA. Each open square is equal to 1 Treble crochet UK/ 1 Double crochet USA, followed by 2 chains, followed by 1 Treble crochet UK/ 1 Double crochet USA. The Treble crochet UK/ Double crochet USA at the end of each square also counts as the first Treble crochet UK/ Double crochet USA of the next square. For example, a solid square followed by an open square is 4 double crochets,

2 chains, 1 Treble crochet UK/ 1 Double crochet USA.

 For those that prefer to follow a symbol chart I have included one for you

If you do make the coaster, don't forget to link via ravelry, or let me know how you got on :)

Valentines Heart Pattern 2016

With Valentines coming quickly I just added a new pdf pattern "Valentines Heart 2016" to ravelry and loveknitting/ lovecrochet's sites 
To keep the love the it's currently free, very quick to make, recommended for intermediate filet crocheters (includes increasing) but beginners used to following symbol charts could easily follow charts.

Suggested thread cotton size 10
PDF - Includes basic instructions
Filet crochet chart
Symbol chart
Duel pattern uses both UK and USA terms

Use to make coasters, doily's, motifs for bags & clothes, to decorate a card, let me know what you use the pattern to make. Plus remember if you download from ravelry please give the pattern a like :)
Have a play and make not just in white but red or pink :) 
 

Christmas Crochet

10 days to Christmas wow that was quick!
I have been ill for what seems like weeks and weeks with bronchitis. I have not felt like doing anything, my poor blog has not had any updates for ages :( but I am much better now so have managed to complete the Celtic Knotwork Christmas Charts E-book at last. It has been added to my Ravelry store today, this version of the e-book uses American crochet terms (All 3 charts are also available individually).

I will be adding a version of the e-book using UK crochet terms tomorrow to the LoveKnitting.com site as this is a UK based site (my other patterns on their are currently using American crochet terms but I will be updating themearly next year).

I wanted to remind everyone there are lots of free Christmas charts on my main website, here are a few mix and match Happy Christmas Charts in Spanish, France, German, Irish, Portuguese, and Italian. I'll post more free matching chart links tomorrow :)

Linen Moth Part 2

If you have made your flower from yesterdays symbol chart post, now you are ready to transform it into a moth.

You have make some yarn friendly moths. Add them to bags, hats, make into brooches or necklaces have fun and let me know how you use your moths :)

Linen Moths Part 1

This year I have been trying to encourage more crocheters to read symbol charts. They are easy to follow once you know what the symbols are and tend to have less mistakes. Spring also sees the return of moths, I have been busy making little lavender bags (to put in with my yarn) when I got the idea to make some moths. I do like moths but outdoors and nowhere near my yarn. This is a moth/ or flower pattern I designed a few years ago for a crochet class.
This moth pattern uses 3 stitches

Slip Stitch 



Chain Stitch



Treble Crochet (UK)/ Double Crochet (USA)



I used 2 ply 100% linen yarn from Namolio for the moths. The linen comes in tons of colours all stunning, its one of the nicest linens I have tried. But the pattern works well in most yarns (make sure you use the correct size hook to match the yarn/ thread/ wire you choose) I have even tried 0.2mm wire (it took  approx. 11 metres of wire).

Leave a 10cm/ 4inch tail of yarn (for one of the antenna) Follow the chart and you will end up with this pretty flower, you are now ready to make your moth. I will post Part 2 tomorrow. Update: Click Here's for part 2

Which came first the sea dragon or the egg

Yesterday I managed to finish and enter (just in time!) my entry to the "Mythical creature plushie pattern" contest run over at Spoonflowers site. Here's the brief "Create a cut-&-sew pattern to make a plush mythical creature toy. The sewing pattern, with instructions, should fit on a fat quarter of linen-cotton canvas (27" x 18"). Contest will close for entries on February 17, 2015. Voting opens Thursday, February 19th."

So here's my entry "Sea Dragon and Egg" usually I do more complicated cut n sews but decided to keep the pattern simple and let the design shine through. I thought also my doing this the design could be used for an appliqué onto a t-shirt, cushion, bag. There's also a little touch of the metal cogs design to match my other steampunk inspired "Cogs and Gears Collection".
Here's the link to vote for your favourites, no need to sign in and you can vote for as many as you choose.
http://www.spoonflower.com/contest_voters_temp/new?contest_id=291
I am looking forward to seeing all the other entries.

Fabric arrives

Recently spoonflower had a BOG OFF sale (buy one get one free) on fat quarters of fabric. My fabrics arrived last week, here's some of the pics.

 
The first two are cut and sew patterns, both printed on 100% cotton fabric.
"Mr Fox Awake/ Asleep Cover" is inner pillow/ cushion, that is filled with wheat or rice to create a  heatable pillow(in a microwave), it can then be put into the fox (one side awake the other side asleep) outer cover.

"Bees 'n' Flowers Barrel shaped pencil case" make one lined barrel shaped pencil case with a strap, or two unlined barrel shaped pencil cases :) 

 

 

And "Mom's Recipe - Soda Bread Tea Towel" this is printed on the linen/ cotton blend as its larger size, I think I may also make a smaller size so two prints can fit on a fat quarter. I was very happy with how this printed and it just needs the edges neatened and hemmed.

I'll post the other fabric quarters as soon as I photo them :)

International Crochet Day 2014

It's IDC or International Crochet Day today, ICD was created 7 years ago to promote crochet, what are you doing to celebrate :)
What will you do?
Here's a few ideas
- teach a friend to crochet
- crochet out in public
- read crochet bloggers posts and leave a comment to encourage them:)
- crochet a small gift for a friend
- try a different crochet style (broomstick, hairpin, filet)
- try a new stitch
- crochet with a different material (wire, recycled plastic, string)
- sort through your yarn stash (I so need to do this!!)
- visit Jimbo on his blog who created ICD, he has an excellent competition to win one of his beautiful hand craved hook (I won one several years ago and have purchased one also) at http://jimbosfrontporch.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/international-crochet-day-approaches.html

So to celebrate I am posting the mini version of my I ♥ 1 bookmark, follow the grid or follow the symbol chart below.

Starting at bottom of pattern chart, chain 28

Chain 3 to turn which will count as first double crochet of first row.

Treble crochet (UK)/ Double crochet (USA) in 5th chain from hook. Treble crochet (UK)/ Double crochet (USA) in next 2 chains to

complete bottom right solid square of pattern.

Continue following pattern for the first row reading the graph right to left. After completing first row, chain 3 to turn to start next row. 

Continue following graph until all rows are complete.

At end of row 31 fasten off.

I have some tips on decreasing in filet crochet on a previous post here at Christmas Gift Tag  

And here's some links to previous pattern I posted for ICD
ICD 2009 - Red flower
ICD 2010 - I love crochet bookmarks (2 of them) also available free as a pdf via ravelry
ICD 2011 - Hearts Bookmark
ICD 2012 - A spiral flower pattern


Have a HAPPY INTERNATIONAL CROCHET DAY :)

Tote bag granny hexagon fabric arrived

My tote bag (Lined Tote Bag featuring a Crochet Print) fabric arrived today. I am so happy with the results of the printing. I will cut out and make the bag later this week and post the results :)