Welcome to the Baby Shower Blog Hop 2025 – your go-to celebration of all things cuddly, soft, and handmade for the newest little bundles of joy! Hosted by the talented Ambassador Crochetfrom 27th April to 24th May, you can discover an incredible selection of crochet patterns from many fabulous designers—including me!
If you’re not familiar with a crochet blog hop is it’s basically an online networking event hosted by folks in the crochet blogging community. It’s a bit like a virtual scavenger hunt where you will find new designers to follow, and get free or discounted patterns while you’re at it! You’ll “hop” to each designers blog to get the pattern details; by doing this you help the us as designers grow our businesses (thank you!), all while receiving a free or discounted crochet pattern for yourself (yay!)
I’m delighted to be teaming up with a group of talented crochet designers to bring you 28 baby-themed patterns — from cosy blankets and tiny booties to adorable toys and nursery storage.
Each day, a new pattern will be featured, by Ambassador Crochet, either a free PDF download (available for 24 hours only) or a pattern discounted with at least 50% off the usual sale price, giving you a fantastic opportunity to stock up on some fabulous crochet designs.
Crocheting for babies is such a joyful experience — you can fill every stitch with love and snuggles. Hopefully this blog hop inspires you to create beautiful keepsakes and practical gifts that will be treasured for years to come.
Scroll down the designer’s post until you see the download button. The most current featured design will be added to the bottom every morning. This way it stays in chronological order and it’s easy to find the current pattern feature.
Follow the instructions to get today’s blog post link and / or coupon code.
Download the pattern to your device or library!
Patterns will only be available for 24 hours from 1pm to 1pm GMT (8am to 8am EST) the next day.
Pattern Bundle Special Offer:
Can’t wait a whole month or worried you’ll miss a day? You’re in luck! You can get instant access to all 30+ premium baby shower patterns with the Baby Shower Bundle. This bundle is packed with sweet, thoughtful designs made with love — and it’s a great way to support your favourite indie crochet designers!
The bundle includes all 28 designs featured in the event bundle that you can download to your favourite device. You’ll then be able to print out individual patterns at your own convenience.
Don’t forget — my special day is coming up soon, and I’ll be offering a sweet discount on a brand-new baby shower pattern just for the hop! Stay tuned — you won’t want to miss it! 🎁🧶💕
Until next time folks! Happy hooking, keep calm and crochet on my friends xx
Please note that some of the links in my blog are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you purchase via these links, but the price you pay is not affected.
I just realised I hadn’t yet told you about an actual finished object that I made (loud klaxon sound) – an occasion which seems to be a rather rare thing! So let me celebrate in a post all about the Libraryarn Scarf!
In 2023 I decided to treat myself to my first ever yarn advent! And what tempted me, above all else, was Jess’s (from Hook and Cwtch) who was offering the ‘Libraryarn’ Advent, an advent that was completely influenced by books, book covers, and the stories inside. Now after crochet, my favourite thing in the world is reading (as you might be aware from my 2025 Book Blanket Challenge). My two most favourite things were going to be combined – I needed to sign up immediately!!!
Now I’m not going to talk too much about the fantastic advent (because it was), as I’m going to leave that to another post. However, it is relevant I mention it here because, as well as the yarn, we were gifted an exclusive pattern, the Libraryarn Scarf, which had been created in collaboration with Jess, by the lovely Claire of Claire’s Made It.
Strangely I found myself in a tricky situation. You see as soon as I’d signed up for the advent I had an idea of what I wanted to do with the yarn – and I REALLY wanted to make my design idea! But Claire’s scarf looked fab and I wanted to make that too (oh such crocheter difficulties). Luckily I have a huge stash so I just picked out some more Hook and Cwtch yarn, to remain in keeping with the ‘advent’, and looked forward to starting my new project!
I decided to use just three colours; and I ended up using approximately 100g of ‘Hedwig’, 125g of ‘Duelling Wizards’ and 200g of undyed yarn, all 4ply and all dyed by Jess for previous collections she’d released. As always her use of colours are delightful so I thoroughly enjoyed working with them.
The Libraryarn Scarf pattern was really clever, inspired by the shape of a bookmark it combined lots of different stitch patterns for interest. There were stitches I’d used before, and ones that I’d forgotten all about so it was like a lovely discovery of textures as you worked through each section.
I find working on someone else’s pattern very relaxing because all the thinking has been done for me – it’s like giving my brain a holiday. I worked my scarf predominately over the ‘betwixtmas’ period in 2023/24, between Christmas and New Year, so my memories of it are fond ones of being snuggled up on a chair, under a blanket, watching movies with the family as I crocheted away.
I can definitely recommend this pattern, it’s a real library of stitches! Claire’s pattern is now available on Etsy, LoveCrafts and Ravelry. And although you can’t get the specific colourways I used, as Jess tends to work in limited edition colourways, she has a myriad of gorgeous colours to choose from in the Hook and Cwtch Etsy shop and she’s just released her 2025 Advent; A Night at the Ballet (and there’s a few left).
Do you have a favourite finished object that you’ve made recently? I’d love to hear about it – let me know in the comments below.
Until next time folks! Happy hooking, keep calm and crochet on my friends xx
Happy New Year! I’m thrilled to kick off 2025 by joining the Winter Washcloth Crochet Blog Hop once again! From January 1–31, I’ll be one of many designers contributing to this exciting event.
If you’re new to the concept of a crochet blog hop, it’s like an online networking event hosted by members of the crochet blogging community. Think of it as a virtual scavenger hunt where you discover new designers to follow and collect free patterns along the way! You’ll “hop” from one designer’s blog to another to grab the free pattern details. By participating, you’re helping us designers grow our businesses (thank you!), while snagging a free crochet pattern for yourself—win-win!
This particular event is being run by Two Brothers Blankets and will feature 31 fabulous crochet washcloth designs. Crochet washcloths are such a fun and practical project to make – washing things has never been so fun!
Crochet washcloths make an excellent beginner project, but they’re just as enjoyable for seasoned crocheters. These small, practical items are perfect for a quick win, offering that satisfying dopamine boost from completing a project in no time!
Starting TODAY, Wednesday, 1 January 2025, a brand-new pattern will be shared daily by 11 PM UK time (6 PM EST). Best of all, you can download each pattern as a free PDF for 24 hours using the provided coupon code!
Of course, I have a brand-new pattern to share that I think you’ll love! I’m keeping the exact date and design a surprise for now—though you’ve probably guessed it’s a washcloth of some sort. Stay tuned, and be sure to follow along on social media for links to the coupon codes to snag each day’s free pattern!
Follow the instructions to get today’s blog post link and / or coupon code.
Click the link and scroll down the designer’s post until you see the download button.
Download the pattern to your device or library!
Patterns will only be available for 24 hours from 1pm to 1pm GMT (8am to 8am EST) the next day.
If you can’t wait for everyday in January, because you want all the things now, then there is also an option to purchase the exclusive pattern bundle at a saving! This pattern bundle of crochet wash cloths won’t last for long it’s only until the end of January 2025.
The bundle includes all 31 designs featured in the event bundle that you can download to your favourite device. You’ll then be able to print out individual patterns as your convenience.
And that’s a wrap! Whether you grab a free PDF pattern to crochet for yourself or explore an amazing collection of washcloth designs from talented creators, you’re in for a treat. Don’t forget to show some love to my fellow designers as they share their beautiful patterns throughout the blog hop!
Until next time folks! Happy hooking, keep calm and crochet on my friends xx
Please note that some of the links in my blog are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you purchase via these links, but the price you pay is not affected.
Today, I had the privilege of visiting the Longest Yarn Exhibition at Stoke Minster, and I’m still buzzing from the experience. This absolutely breath-taking display celebrates craftsmanship, community, and commemoration in the most extraordinary way.
The exhibition showcases a knitted and crocheted tribute to D-Day; 80 scenes include the build up in England, the horrors on the Landing Beaches and the bloody inland battles on 6th June 1944 in wool art.
Quite simply it’s a patchwork of storytelling and history woven into every stitch. For me, it felt deeply personal; my granddad landed on Gold Beach on D-Day, and standing before the vibrant, intricate scenes definitely made me think of him.
I could have easily spent hours photographing every single detail of the exhibition—it was that incredible—but I’ve captured a small sample to share with you here. I have also shared some videos I took on todays Vlogmas reel over on Instagram. Hopefully, these glimpses give you a sense of the wondrous craftmanship that went into creating this spectacular display.
The level of detail in the yarn creations was astounding. Created with guidance from historians, retained by the project, to be historically accurate, each scene has been selected by the creator to depict the story of this momentous day in history, each scene unique and made with care.
From depictions of soldiers on the beaches to poignant moments captured in yarn that just blew my mind how they had thought to construct them. It was clear how much love and effort went into every piece. I couldn’t help but marvel at how each crocheter and knitter had managed to create such depth and emotion with yarn—it’s nothing short of genius.
Reading up on the the exhibition apparently it began as an idea by a lady called Tansy Forster who admired the post box toppers and yarn bombing events in the UK. She then had the idea that she’d make a topper for her garden wall in Houesville for 80th Anniversary, however mulling it over with a few other folk and some other knitters the whole thing rather grew!
Now it’s a work of 80 meters representing 80 years and the 80 days of The Battle of Normandy. The exhibition, created by over 1,000 crafters, is broken up in to 80 x 1 meter panels being constructed around the world; as from as far as Australia, New Zealand, United States of America, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland and Europe.
What definitely made the exhibition special was the sense of community woven into each piece. Each section had its own story, crafted by individuals or groups who poured their hearts into preserving this vital piece of history. It’s a powerful reminder of how creativity can connect us to the past while inspiring future generations.
If the Longest Yarn Exhibition ever comes to a location near you, I cannot recommend it enough. There is no charge to enter the exhibition, but donations are welcome. Whether you’re a history buff, a craft enthusiast, or simply someone who appreciates incredible art, this is an event you won’t want to miss. From the leaflet from the exhibition The Longest Yarn is scheduled to visit following places next;
The cosy season is here, and what better way to celebrate than with the Fireside Blog Hop, hosted by the talented Ambassador Crochet!From October 1st through the 31st, you can discover an incredible selection of crochet patterns from many fabulous designers—including me!
If you’re not familiar with a crochet blog hop is it’s basically an online networking event hosted by folks in the crochet blogging community. It’s a bit like a virtual scavenger hunt where you will find new designers to follow, and get free patterns while you’re at it! You’ll “hop” to each designers blog to get the free pattern details; by doing this you help the us as designers grow our businesses (thank you!), all while receiving a free or discounted crochet pattern for yourself (yay!)
Each day, a new pattern will be featured, by Ambassador Crochet, either a free PDF download (available for 24 hours only) or at at least 50% offsale, giving you a fantastic opportunity to stock up on some fabulous crochet designs.
Each day of October, beginning Tuesday 1 October, at roughly 1pm UK time (8am EST), a brand new pattern will be shared AND you lovely crocheters will be able to get each pattern with either the link and / or the coupon code that will be provided!
And of course I have a brand new pattern to share with you that I think you’ll enjoy but it’s a surprise as to which day is my day. So watch this space, and don’t forget to keep an eye out on social media for the links to the coupon codes to get that days pattern. There’s blankets, cowls, scarfs, slippers to name a few of the designs you can look forward to.
Scroll down the designer’s post until you see the download button. The most current featured design will be added to the bottom every morning. This way it stays in chronological order and it’s easy to find the current pattern feature.
Follow the instructions to get today’s blog post link and / or coupon code.
Download the pattern to your device or library!
Patterns will only be available for 24 hours from 1pm to 1pm GMT (8am to 8am EST) the next day.
Pattern Bundle Special Offer:
If you can’t wait for everyday in October , because you want all the things now, then there is also an option to purchase the exclusive pattern bundle at a saving of If you don’t want to wait for each day, you have the option to purchase the bundle of patterns were you’ll get all 31 patterns for only £9.78 / $12.99. ! This pattern bundle won’t last for long it’s only until the end of October 2024.
The bundle includes all 31 designs featured in the event bundle that you can download to your favourite device. You’ll then be able to print out individual patterns as your convenience.
Whether you’re looking to start your holiday crafting or just need a new project for those cosy nights by the fire, the Fireside Blog Hop has something for everyone. Be sure to follow along daily so you don’t miss out on these limited-time deals! Let’s make this October our most creative one yet!
Until next time folks! Happy hooking, keep calm and crochet on my friends xx
Please note that some of the links in my blog are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you purchase via these links, but the price you pay is not affected.
I’m delighted to share a new fibre friend chat with you today. Join me in giving a big welcome to the KCACOUK blog to Kitey aka The Yarn Whisperer.
I’m absolutely delighted to include this latest chat! Kitey creates the most delicious hand- dyed yarn that are just delightful to work with, and as well as dying yarn, he crochets, he knits, he tapestries (is that right?), and he hosts a weekly stitch and b*tch social and he’s a fellow small business owner.
As you probably know Kitey and I have been working on a number of fun crochet make-alongs since 2020 after meeting on Zoom during the first UK COVID lockdown. And sometimes I get the opportunity to catch up with him in person like I did last years Carry on Crafting Festival.
As our SEVENTH Mischievous Magpie make-along soon comes to an end I thought it would be nice to know more about his creative processes and about him in general. Here’s what we chatted about…
Hi Kitey, can you tell us a little about yourself and what you do? Hey Heather, I’m an ex-primary teacher (for almost 30 years!) and now work for myself as an Indie yarn dyer and crochet teacher. I grew up in Sydney, Australia and have lived mostly in the UK since 1992, with a 3 year stint teaching out in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
How did you become a yarn dyer? Do you do it full time? I started experimenting with dyeing yarn in 2019 and opened Yarn Whisperer (YW) in Jan 2020, dyeing yarn part time while working as a teacher a couple of days a week. Then the pandemic happened. Schools ended supply teacher contracts (to save on furlough!) so I leaned into the opportunity to work from home and for myself full time.
This year I’m also leaning into my teaching experience still further and am teaching more crochet workshops. I am also doing more pop-up shops at yarn shops and social groups. I will be teaching my first workshop at Ally Pally later this year too!
What is your morning routine look like? Coffee … first cup hot, second served as a Greek Frappe in the warmer months (instant, frothed in about 10ml of cold water, served with ice and cold water!) while catching up on social media and planning my day.
On dyeing days, I’ll get the first batches of yarn ready and set it to soaking in cold water. Then it’s dyeing, packing orders, post office runs, filming and photography for socials and marketing, writing up crochet patterns, working on wips, workshop and display projects, and all the other things! It’s just me so I wear all the hats.
What’s the most difficult part of being a yarn dyer? I love it so it doesn’t feel difficult – it’s true that if you do the thing you love, you’ll never work a day in your life! – but it’s also true that pans are heavy and back pain is real. Show prep takes ages and shows are long hours of standing around .. but I wouldn’t change that as it’s such a privilege to be part of other people’s creative process too!
Have you always been crafty? Yeah, I’ve tried everything from glass painting, bead looming to origami, and crafts too many to list here!
You really seem to enjoy all sorts of crafts, if you were on a desert island and could only pick one to do, what would it be? I’d take knitting probably as it’s usually what I have on a plane, and you can be sure I’d be making fabulous shell jewellery and sandcastles too! wink
You design too don’t you? Do you sketch things out first, or do you just like to grab some yarn and start? I tend to have an idea in my head and then just grab yarn and start. I sometimes go through books of crochet stitches or research knitting techniques on YouTube (I have a huge amount of private playlists on there!)
Do you have a favourite creation or product that you’ve designed? I loved designing my Crocheted Terrarium pattern and have absolutely loved teaching it in workshops because it’s more like a recipe of techniques and everyone creates something truly unique. I love being able to facilitate the creative process for others.
How do you fit everything in that you want to? Are you strict with yourself and your time or is it a struggle to juggle? I don’t fit it all in. I’m really hoping cloning technology advances soon! I can juggle (tennis racquets and balls – my tennis lessons as a child were not wasted!) and I use this juggling skill daily. I set times to do ‘bits’ of projects and get it all done in lots of bits rather than sitting with one thing for hours on end.
What makes you passionate and gets you motivated? Learning has always been my passion. Crafting, knitting, crochet or whatever is just learning plus time and dedication. Everyone can do it. You just have to start, then keep going!
What can we expect to see from you in the rest of 2024? More yarn, more pop up shops, more workshops. New patterns and projects
And just for fun; You’re a new addition to a yarn shade range. What colour would you be and why? Probably a variegated skein of hand dyed, with all the colours, moody black and grey tones and neon pops. I’d call it ‘Wherever next?’ because I just love the idea that creativity is ever changing and evolving.
I’d just like to take this opportunity to thank Kitey for taking time to chat to me. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know him better and hope you have too. Follow Kitey everywhere on the web: www.YarnWhisperer.co.uk, @the_YarnWhisperer (insta) and @iwantyarn (facebook) and you can buy his yarn and patterns on his website.
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If you enjoyed this interview you can catch up on all the other designer chats and discussions with other people in the fiber industry in my Fibre Friends series. And if there’s any other people you’d like to maybe see featured here on the blog, let me know in the comments and I’ll see what I can do.
Make sure you are signed up to blog (below) and / or my mailing list to get a reminder when new blog posts like this one, discounts or new pattern releases are available.
Until next time folks! Happy hooking and keep calm and crochet on my friends xx
Please note that some of the links in my blog are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you purchase via these links, but the price you pay is not affected. You can read more about my affiliate links here.
While the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into the world of crochet brings numerous benefits and opportunities for innovation, it also poses certain challenges and drawbacks, particularly in the realm of online content.
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Now I’m interested in all things crochet, and I certainly find the concept of Ai-generated crochet interesting. As a designer I do see it could potentially be used as a tool to generate or expand upon an idea I might have, but at the moment I’m more concerned with the potential negatives of AI-generated crochet content on the web.
What is Ai-generated crochet?
So what is an AI-generated crochet images? Well, they are computer-made ‘versions’ or ideas of crochet. It can be things like impossibly large amigurumi (as seen recently with the viral photo of the granny with the gigantic crochet cat), or yarn bombs that are just amazing or doing things that yarn shouldn’t really be able to do.
The problem is that these photos are often spread on social media without any indication that they are fake. Whilst some people may recognise these images as fake, their ability to do so hinges on their understanding of both crochet and generative AI to discern the differences.
I’m going to add a caveat here that all the photos in this post have been generated by me using Ai. As you continue reading see how many you could spot as fake! Not going to lie I had great fun thinking of prompts for these images!
Ai Crochet Patterns
The sheer volume of AI-generated content available online is making it more and more challenging to discern what patterns are actually real or not. It’s clear that there are crochet patterns being advertised by an image that has been created by Ai which is leading to people sadly getting tricked into thinking something that’s fake is real. NBC reported on the fact recently that Etsy crochet buyers had reported Ai-made images being used to sell disappointing patterns. These scammers are creating visually appealing images without ever picking up a hook!
The internet has always contained fake images, even before the advent of AI tools, but artificial intelligence has significantly amplified the prevalence of these fakes. As a rule Ai can’t write crochet patterns accurately, as it’s a computer pulling ‘words’ from different places from the web the crochet patterns it produces basically create instructions that don’t make sense – so thankfully us designers aren’t out of a job just yet.
However AI-generated crochet patterns could negatively impact the crochet community by undermining the value of traditional craftsmanship and flooding the market with low-quality, unvetted designs. This influx of AI-created patterns might make it difficult for genuine designers to gain recognition and could devalue the time-honored skills and efforts of experienced crocheters.
Wherever possible, purchase your patterns from reputable sources. If it’s a pattern you are thinking of buying, see if you can find some user photos or reviews of the pattern to verify that you’re getting what you are expecting to pay for – and if you spot a scammer report it on the platform you are using.
I’m concerned that scams however are going to get progressively trickier to spot as the technology advances, but for now I’ve got some suggestions on how you can spot Ai-generated crochet…
How to spot Ai-generated crochet
Have you noticed that AI-generated crochet designs lack the personal touch and authenticity of handmade creations. If it’s too good to be true then it usually is! Ai-generated photos are often too polished and obsessively symmetrical looking, I think the charm of crochet lies in its imperfections and idiosyncrasies.
2. Super intricate? Like incredibly so? That could be a sign of Ai, crocheters can do amazing things, but if it looks like it’s defying the general laws of physics its probably Ai-generated.
3. Ever get the feeling when you look at an image that it’s bit ‘off’? In older photos when humans are in the picture, you can spot Ai by looking at the hands, or missing toes, distorted features or something else will not be quite right about them. Ai has had issues with creating a humans with accuracy, however but Ai is getting more sophisticated all the time so who knows if that will be a way to tell in the future!
4. Have a look at the lighting and shadows, in Ai-generated images they may not appear photorealistic or another dead giveaway is if the background is unrealistic such as a fantasy setting or natural background that looks a little too perfect.
Now I don’t think sadly that this sort of thing is going to stop, but hopefully raising awareness of this issue can only be a good thing. Just remember, next time you come across a crochet photo online, take a closer look and consider the possibility of it being AI-generated.
Did you find this article interesting? Do you have any thoughts about Ai- generated crochet ? I’d love to hear about it – let me know in the comments below.
Until next time folks! Happy hooking, keep calm and crochet on my friends xx
Psst… If you love crochet make sure you are signed up to the blog (below) and / or my mailing list to get a reminder when new blog posts, discounts or new pattern releases are available.
I’m about to tell you some information that might be startling. This blog that you’re reading right at this very moment— has just turned TEN YEARS OLD!
TEN. WHOLE. YEARS.
Gorgeous yarn minis by Hook & Cwtch of current WIP and pattern for numbers by Moogly
A FULL DECADE. I DEMAND TO KNOW HOW. There are human beings younger than this blog, one of my human beings in fact, and it all started with this post. Short and sweet I didn’t really know what I was doing, but I wanted another outlet to talk about all things crochet (I’m an obsessive it’s true!).
So let me take you back to the heady days of 2014 — as a mum to a toddler and a recent graduate (after doing my degree part-time for 6 years whilst working full time) I found myself with a bit more time on my hands, and a newly discovered passion for all things yarny. As my obsession with crochet grew, and the people around me got progressively sick of hearing about it, I decided I needed another outlet to chat about all things crochet – and so the blog was born! And this is now my 637th blog post – crazy! That’s an average of 63 posts per year – that makes me feel like I talk A. LOT!
Sneak peep at a new pattern coming soon!
I really wasn’t sure if anybody would actually read what I written. Never did I imagine that I would be sitting here, a decade later, still crocheting as a hobby which then kinda-sorta-turned into a job. This blog, along with you constant readers, has been one of the most persistent and grounding things in my life.
There’s been several life shifts during the last 10 years; from being a mum of one to becoming a mum of two. From redundancy, to job changes, becoming a small business owner with Yarnybobs and Dear Ewe, creating a plethora of crochet designs, as well as dealing with sickness, mental health, worldwide pandemics and personal loss (phew that’s a lot!) Well it has been a decade!
Sneaky peep at another pattern coming soon!
Whilst I don’t always necessarily share all aspects of my life, this blog, and of course all the masses of crochet I’ve done in those 10 years (geez just think of that) has been a nice place to come and share what I enjoy.
From time to time, somebody will comment on a post and it always comes across what a nice crochet community (the best, in my humble opinion) there is in the world. It’s lovely to know that I’m not alone in my obsessions, and that you share them too. It’s an honour to be part of the crochet community, you’re a wonderful bunch and blogging has led to me meeting several of you in person and developing some real-life friendships for which I’ll always be grateful.
Any excuse is a good excuse for a cup of tea and slice of cake!
If you’ve been here for the long run —thank you from the bottom of my heart for sticking with me! And if you’re more of a newcomer—welcome! I’m so glad you’re here! There’s still lots to look forward to, I’ve got no plans of finishing blogging just yet! So feel free to poke around, check it all out, and let me know if anything’s acting weird (apart from me)!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for 10 wonderful years! I’m going to try and plan some giveaways to celebrate over the next couple of weeks, so keep an eye out here on the blog and on socials!
Until next time folks! Happy hooking, keep calm and crochet on my friends xx
Hot off my hook is an actual finished object and a big tick off my Make 9 in 2024 list and it’s still only January! Yay me!
My eldest daughter had made a request for me to make her some rainbow wrist warmers for her upcoming birthday. Around about the same time I came across a pattern by Rosina (of Zeens and Roger) for her Companions set, which included a lovely pair of stripy wrist warmers. I showed a picture to my daughter and she said I was on the right track…
However, as a pre-teen she had some very specific ideas about what she wanted; and the wrist warmers underwent a few modifications in order to be exactly what she’d envisioned.
The original Companions wrist warmers were made from gorgeous looking Yarnadelic by John Arbon Textiles which is a plump woolly 4ply (baby weight) yarn. However my daughter has clothing sensory issues and would never have coped with a woollen yarn so I had to look for an acceptable (to her) substitute.
With her agreement I used Scheepjes Colour Crafter DK which is a very soft 100% premium acrylic that comes in 100g balls (330m). It’s classed as a double knit (light worsted) yarn, however I would say it is a thin DK, so I thought it would work for this project.
Big shout out to my lovely mum for modelling these for photo purposes x
She knew she wanted long stripy ‘arms’ so I used a combination of Amsterdam (Red 1010), Vlissingen (Orange 1723), Leuven (Yellow 2008), Terneuzen (Green 1821), Knokke (Blue 2012) and Drachten (Magenta 1827) and a contrast colour of Wolvega (Grey 1099).
The pattern provides different measurements for wrist and hand circumference which was very handy *excuse the pun*. My daughter is only 12 therefore I had to make adjustments so that the finished article would fit her smaller wrist size, yet allowing for them to fit higher up on her arm. As a consequence I had to blend the smaller hand with a medium wrist size to make them fit. I think had I been making the wrist warmers for myself then the medium size would have fit my hands / wrists perfectly.
At the last moment, my daughter asked if I could ‘add fingers’ – I tried to explain that this wasn’t part of the pattern, but she insisted that they were necessary. So, sorry Rosina, I cobbled some ‘fingers’ onto the ends of the design. They aren’t the prettiest addition, but they are functional and pleased the pre-teen. Please don’t ask me what I did to make the fingers as I don’t think it could (or should) be recreated in that way.
Anyway, Daughter is delighted with the finished modified mitts – even with the dodgy added fingers. The pattern was easy to follow and I think if I were to make them again for myself I would try the Yarnadelic yarn in a gradient of some of the pretty muted colours they offer in this range. Rosina’s pattern if you want to make some yourself is available from her pattern stores – I picked mine up on Ravelry.
Do you have a favourite finished object that you’ve made recently? I’d love to hear about it – let me know in the comments below.
Until next time folks! Happy hooking, keep calm and crochet on my friends xx
Please note that some of the links in my blog are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you purchase via these links, but the price you pay is not affected.
Aside from my ‘official’ design work this year I want to try and claim some making time for myself! Though I thoroughly love working on various commissions I have felt, particularly last year, that I’d maybe lost a bit of that balance between working on things for others and working on things that I want to make.
I’m not one for making resolutions but I do like lists. So I’m adding a list here on the blog (in no particular order) of some designs that I’d like to find the time to make this year. Having a list is to sort of hold myself accountable, and also so I can look back on, at the end of the year, and see if I accomplished what I’d set out to do.
Now it might be because it’s freezing at the moment but this pattern, that I bought last year, has moved higher up my list as it looks so snuggly and warm!
I just need to check if I’ve got enough yarn in my stash to make it, or if I’m going to have to go yarn shopping…
Now I’m possibly cheating a bit with these as I’ve actually started making these, but these make the list because I’m making them this year.
These were released back in 2021 but I picked up a copy of the pattern recently in Rosina’s birthday sale. My daughter asked me for a pair of long stripy mitts and these seemed to fit the bill perfectly!
I have a thing about mushrooms 🍄, not in real life (because disgusting) but I love to see them represented in things like yarn, wood or ceramic!
I bought this pattern when it was released, in October 2023, and I just need to go through my stash so I can get started on this one while it’s still cold here in the UK.
I’ve had this on my wishlist for what seems like FOREVER! And this is going to be the year (possibly) that I’m going to overcome my ‘never made a garment’ status and make this beauty!
I just need to buy the recommended yarn for this one as I want it to look the same! 😍
I literally fell in love with these when they were released last March – I bought the pattern but have I made them yet. Well that answer is no – but this is the year right!
I mean, how adorable! I just want one to put in my sock drawer!
Another pattern I purchased when it was released last October! I really want to make some crochet socks and these, made with DK weight, look a perfect recipe.
Just need to go stash diving as I’m pretty sure I’ve got loads of lovely yarn that is just waiting to be put on my feet!
Now if you follow me here on the blog you may remember that I have already made a Juniper Cowl. But as it’s one of my most worn items I want to make another one! I’ve got a gorgeous set of mini skeins, that I bought from the lovely Hook and Cwtch, that’s just waiting for me to start this project! Though I think this is one that I’ll treat myself to as a holiday project when we go away later in the year.
I was a guest at the Crochet Sanctuary last year when the lovely Kitey was the guest designer. For his workshop he designed this rather fabulous bag.
That means for this project I’ve got the pattern AND all the yarn, and I’ve actually started it – but I really want to get this finished off this year so that’s why it’s making the list (so it’s not really cheating).
In November last year Tatsiana released a group of patterns that, in theory, you could make in an evening. There were four in total but it was for these ‘One Evening’ beautiful baubles that I purchased the pattern.
They look so pretty, and I love making handmade ornaments for my tree so these need to be made this year before next Christmas!
And that’s it, my ‘wish list’ of nine projects that I’d like to start (and finish) in 2024. This post has certainly showed off my talent for buying patterns – but demonstrates clearly that I haven’t perfected making the projects afterwards! But this is the year! How many do you think I’ll finish?
Do you have particular projects you’ve got your eye on this year? Do you like to make a list of your projects for the year? I’d love to hear about your plans – let me know in a comment below.
Until next time folks! Happy hooking and keep calm and crochet on my friends xx
