It’s that time of the new month when the latest LGC Knitting & Crochet Magazine is out on sale. Issue 111 is out now and it’s a corker and I’ve got a couple of fun patterns in it’s pages.
On page 13 you’ll find Bedtime Betsy. She’s a sweet little doll that would make a great companion to encourage a child to sleep. I’m certainly always ready to try anything where that’s concerned – my toddler still hasn’t got the message that sleep is a good thing!
I’ve designed her so that she has removable nightie and slippers – I was thinking that your little one’s could then take part in the bedtime routine with Betsy as they get ready for bed. Plus she’s also got her own cuddly bear companion so there’s everything you need when it’s time to snuggle down.
Because I’m a bit of a tea-belly I have to say that the tiny tea cup is my favourite and I’ll definitely be making another one of those for sure! I think my daughters favourite is the ice-cream so I’m going to make her another one of those to add to her book bag for school.
I was also chuffed to be asked this month to contribute to an article, which you can find on pages 50-51) titled ‘Why do we craft’. It really is an inspiring read as many fabulous different designers share the reasons they craft and what fuels their creativity.
There are lots of other fab things in this month’s edition too; there’s an exclusive interview with Debbie Bliss (and a bonus pattern) and there’s 10 free Stylecraft patterns free in an additional leaflet.
The patterns I particularly love this month are the Happy Monsters by Hannah Cooper, which are just so darned cute, and I also love the Plant Hanger by Ella M Austin, I’ve been seeing crochet plant hanger patterns a lot lately and I really want to make one!
And although I can’t knit I’m completely in love with Mary Puffins (that name made me laugh probably more than it should!) the pattern of which is by Sachiyo Ishii and I also love the stripy knitted men’s socks pattern by Dawn Finney.
There are 43 exclusive patterns in this months edition along with news, articles and tips in the 74 page magazine. It also comes with a lavender field themed yarn pack which has one ball of two tone variegated yarn.
If you hook up either the Bedtime Betsy or the Custom Keyrings I hope you’ll share your photos with me on social media (facebook, twitter or instagram) or as a project on Ravelry – I love to see what you make!
Until next time folks! Happy hooking, keep calm and crochet on my friends xx
I was so busy telling you about Spot the Dog the other day that I didn’t tell you about the other pattern I’ve got in the latest issue of Crochet Now magazine. Now you can help little one’s master shapes and colours with my new fun crochet Play and Learn Set.
The play and learn set was designed to teach little ones about colours and shapes in a fun soft play set complete with a drawstring storage bag. Not only does it give them the chance to identify and compare colours and shapes, it’s something that they can touch and feel too – which I think is all part of the creative learning process isn’t it.
I was thinking about the Spot the Dog books, which are very much about things like determining shapes and colours, when I was designing this set and also about my two year old. ‘What’s this shape’ and ‘what’s this colour’ are totally the things that we are talking about at the moment and so this was very much inspired by her.
In the set are a squishy square, circle, oval, rectangle, triangle and star all in bold and bright primary colours. And there is a photo tutorial included to explain how to do surface crochet (which is how I did the word ‘Shapes’ on the front of the bag) if you’ve not tried that before.
I used Rico Design Ricorumi which is 100% DK cotton for both the shapes and the bag as I wanted something that was going to be durable and that could stand up to lots of touching from little hands!
Little Miss loved the shapes and particularly enjoyed getting each shape out and then putting them away again…and then getting them out…and then putting them away again…
This is just a fab little diy busy bag that will keep them engaged and that you can play along with too. I also think this could be a fun set for a nursery or playgroup too as well as for any little ones you know.
As I said at the start, this Play and Learn set pattern is available now in Issue 41 of Crochet Now magazine which is available in all major supermarkets and newsagents across the UK.
Until next time folks! Happy hooking, keep calm and crochet on my friends xx
My heart is brimming over at the moment with childhood nostalgia! Look it’s crocheted Spot the Dog!! I’ve been so excited about this design and I’m so happy to finally share it with you!
I cannot image my childhood without the classic Spot the Dogbooks, I remember flipping the flaps of Where’s Spot? when I was young, then I reread the various board books to my eldest when she was small, and more recently I’m enjoying rediscovering them with my two year old.
I was therefore absolutely delighted when Crochet Now magazine asked me if I’d like to have a go at designing the crochet version of Spot.
If you aren’t familiar with Spot, he is a lovable yellow puppy character created by Eric Hill who is a firm favourite with toddlers and pre-schoolers. The children’s books have sold more than 60 million copies and 2020 will be celebration year for Spot’s 40th birthday.
Of course I said YES and got to planning. It wasn’t until after I’d said yes that I kind of realised what a task I’d taken on! Spot is such a well loved character that I really had to get him just right! It was very important therefore that what ever I did was a faithful representation of Spot the dog and was in keeping with his lovable playfulness.
This was also a very different experience for me as it wasn’t going to be my design per-say as it’s a character that already exists and I was very grateful for the supportive guidance from Crochet Now magazine and Penguin books who publish the Spot the Dog books
My Spot went through lots of different phases of sketches before I got my crochet hooks out and then I tried out different shaping techniques to get the look of the 2-D character into a 3-D form. Picking the perfect ‘Spot’ yellow and brown was also very crucial to the process!
The finished Spot is about 15.5cm tall and I designed him with embroidered features which makes him perfect for little ones under 36 months – for older children or adults you could use safety eyes instead.
I love how he turned out in the end, and I love how the magazine have styled him so he looks JUST like he’s stepped out of one of his own books!
Do you love Spot? You can get the exclusive pattern and kit to make him now in Crochet Now magazine Issue 41! Just so you know, due to the branding guidelines, this pattern will never be released by me independently, you will only be able to get him through the magazine – so if you want him you need to go get him quick!
Crochet Now is available in all major supermarkets and newsagents across the UK and there is a subscription available to overseas customers which you can find out more about on their website.
I’ve also got another design out in this months issue that’s kind of related to Spot but I’ll talk about that a bit more soon!
Until next time folks! Happy hooking, keep calm and crochet on my friends xx
Yesterday Yarn Shop Day returned for it’s sixth year in the UK with over 200 shops sharing lots of fibre fun, discounts, free patterns and (probably) cake!
I was back at Abakhan Fabrics in Hanley (where I spent Yarn Shop Daylast year), this time for the full day, where there was both cake and yarn galore!
I had a little table at the back of the shop where, in the morning, I held a bit of a crochet surgery so that anyone who wanted to come and ask crochet questions, or who perhaps wanted to learn how to crochet, could come and ask / or have a go.
Yarn shops are usually such a great place to get crafty tips as owners usually have such a wealth of knowledge. They often also run demos or classes where you can learn a new hobby too – just like the ones I’m doing this year (read more about those here and here).
And despite the really awful weather we had (that I thought might put people off venturing out), it proved quite popular so I actually ended up having a table full of people nearly all day asking questions and learning different techniques.
It was so lovely to meet the people who had popped into the store or who had found out about the workshop because of my blog (it’s very encouraging to know that there ARE actual people reading this out there!).
The people I met were folks who had always wanted to try crochet or others that wanted help with a particular crochet problem – and I’m also secretly a bit gleeful that there were some knitters that were giving crochet a go too!
By the end of the day there were two completed granny squares by people that had never crocheted before which is just so awesome! And will hopefully show anyone thinking of giving crochet a go that it’s not so scary – you can do it!
Luckily I wasn’t presented with something that I didn’t know (that could have been embarrassing!). The main things that we covered were how to make granny squares, how to join motifs, how to weave in ends, how to keep seams straight when working in the round, how to keep tension when crocheting, how to do the magic ring, and increasing and decreasing in the round.
The latter being all helpful tips for anyone that wants to try crocheting amigurumi…which brings me neatly onto the mascots for this year ‘s Yarn Shop Day.
They were a cute amigurumi whale by Sarah-Jane Hicks called Bubbles and a family of knitted turtles by Sachiyo Ishii – both of which were patterns exclusively designed for Yarn Shop Day and were available free in stores.
I was lucky enough to get a copy of the crochet pattern before hand so I could make up my own whale to take along with me.
I used Ricorumi yarn and I think he came out looking really cute! My eight year old has now claimed him as hers.
As well as Yarn Shop Day being super fun for customers it’s also important for yarn shop retailers who say that the increased footfall and boosted sales of Yarn Shop Day really can help with keeping them going.
I never need an excuse to visit a yarn shop and I think it’s great to support local yarn shops all throughout the year. Yarn Shop Day is just a great reminder of just how much these shops have to offer – and that’s why I personally feel it’s important to support them in any way I can. I want to help keep these yarn shops on the high street so we don’t lose them altogether.
Did you get out for Yarn Shop Day? Or I’d love to hear what your Local Yarn Shop means to you? Let me know below!
Until next time; keep calm and crochet on my friends xx
Have you heard about the wonderful international makers project ‘Every Bird sings it’s own Song’? It’s a wonderful crafters connection project to try and create the longest line of hand crafted birds at the Textiel Festival Weerribben (in The Netherlands) in June.
The theme of the festival is Strange Birds, and the idea is to embrace core values of the crafting community of cooperation, diversity and connections.
I was contacted by Esmeralda, a facilitator of the project, to see if I could maybe share the information about the project which I said of course I would; as soon as I heard about this project I knew it was something I wanted to get involved in!
As well as sharing the information about the project here on the blog I decided to also have a go at designing my own little ‘strange bird’ – and the Little Kooky Bird was the result.
I used some Scheepjes Catona from my stash and some scraps of felt to create the little jellybean shaped hanging bird ornament.
Scroll down for the free Little Kooky Bird pattern but before then if you want to join in with the project too, maybe with a Little Kooky Bird you have made yourself, then please send them to: Creazy Ladies: de Hare 10, 8375 GC Oldemarkt, The Netherlands.
Birds don’t have to be crocheted, they can be from various materials: knitting, crocheting, quilting, embroidery, felting, drawn or dyed will all be accepted as long as it is made of textile, wool or yarn. The maximum size of any bird is 25 cm high and 15 cm wide.
The deadline for all birds to be in The Netherlands is 31 May 2019 and you can find out more, or follow the progress of the project of GGDW, on facebook, twitter and instagram with the hashtag of #evc2019
The following pattern is free here on the blog but it’s also available in my Ravelry store where there is a nominal fee for a downloadable 3 page PDF pattern free of advertisements if you’d prefer.
Yarn:4ply / Fingering YarnScheepjes Catona used in photos;
1 x 15g / 37.5m x Shocking Pink (Shade 114)
1 x 10g / 25m x Ultra Violet (Shade 282)
Pattern will work in other hooks and yarns though finished size will be different.
Hook: 2.75mm hook (US size C)
You will also need:
Polyester toy stuffing
2 x 9mm Black Safety Eyes
Small scraps of white and yellow felt
Yellow sewing thread and needle
Small piece of silver thread (optional)
Stitch Markers
Yarn Needle
Gauge: 4dc/sc = 2.5cm (1 inch)
Obtaining the correct gauge is not critical to this project but finished size may differ if your gauge is different to the one specified.
Finished Size: 7.5cm (2.95 inches) high
Abbreviations:
st(s) = stitch(es)
sl st = slip stitch
ch(s) = chain
dc/sc = UK double crochet / US single crochet
dc/sc2tog = UK double crochet 2 together / US double crochet 2 together
htr/hdc = UK half treble / US half double crochet
tr/dc = UK treble / US double crochet
[…] = Repeat the sequence between the square brackets by the number indicated.
(.. sts) = The number in round brackets at the end of the instruction indicates the number of stitches after working the row.
Stitch Guidance:
Slip Stitch (sl st): Insert hook in st indicated, yarn over and draw through all loops.
UK Double Crochet/US Single Crochet (dc/sc): Insert hook in st indicated and draw up a loop (two loops on hook), yarn over, draw through both loops on hook.
UK Double Crochet 2 together / US Single Crochet 2 together (dc/sc2tog): Insert hook in st indicated and pull up a loop (two loops on hook), Insert hook in next st, yarn over, pull through three loops on hook.
UK Half Treble Crochet / US Half Double Crochet (htr/hdc): Insert hook in st indicated and pull up a loop (two loops on hook), Insert hook in next st, yarn over, pull through three loops on hook.
UK Treble / US Double Crochet (tr/dc): Yarn over, insert hook in indicated st and pull up a loop (three loops on hook), yarn over, pull through two loops, yarn over, pull through remaining two loops on hook.
Pattern Notes:
Magic ring: is also known as a Drawstring Ring or Magic Loop and is often used as a start for working amigurumi. If you are not familiar with this technique you could substitute with a ch2 and then work in the second ch from the hook.
Working in the round: Most of the sections of this pattern are worked in the amigurumi style without joining in continuous rounds. Place the stitch marker in the top of the first st to mark the start of each round.
Invisible double crochet decrease: Invisible decreasing is a method of removing stitches to shape your fabric without gaps. Insert hook in the FRONT LOOP ONLY of the first stitch indicated and pull up a loop (two loops on hook), insert hook in the FRONT LOOP ONLY of the next st, yarn over, pull through three loops on hook; decrease made.
Pattern:
Head / Body:
Rnd 1: With Shocking Pink make a magic ring, work 6dc into ring. (6 sts)
Rnd 2: [2dc/sc] to end. (12 sts)
Rnd 3: [1dc/sc, 2dc/sc] to end. (18 sts)
Rnd 4: [1dc/sc in the next two sts, 2dc/sc] to end. (24 sts)
Rnd 5 – 9: 1dc/sc in each st around
Rnd 10: 1dc/sc in 11 sts, 2dc/sc in the next 2sts, 1 dc/sc in 11 sts (26 sts)
Rnd 11: 1dc/sc in 12 sts, 2dc/sc in the next 2sts, 1 dc/sc in 12 sts (28 sts)
Rnd 12: 1dc/sc in 13 sts, 2dc/sc in the next 2sts, 1 dc/sc in 13 sts (30 sts)
Rnd 13: 1dc/sc in 14 sts, 2dc/sc in the next 2sts, 1 dc/sc in 14 sts (32 sts)
Rnd 14: 1dc/sc in each st around
Rnds 15: dc/sc2tog, 1dc/sc in 13 sts, 1dc/sc in the next 2sts, 1 dc/sc in 13 sts, dc/sc2tog (30 sts)
Rnds 16—17: 1dc/sc in each st around
Rnd 18: [1dc/sc in the next three sts, dc/sc2tog] to end. (24 sts)
Rnd 19: 1dc/sc in each st around
Rnd 20: [1dc/sc in the next two sts, dc/sc2tog] to end. (18 sts)
Rnd 21: 1dc/sc in each st around
Cut two small flowers roughly 2.8cm (1.1in) high, cut a small hole in the centre of the flower and thread the safety eye stalk through the hole. Then add the safety eye between rnds 5 – 6 approximately 10 sts apart.
Stuff body.
Rnd 22: [1dc/sc, dc/sc2tog] to end. (12 sts)
Rnd 23: [dc/sc2tog] to end. (6 sts)
Fasten off with a sl st to the next st and using the yarn tail sew up the remaining six sts, weave in ends
Wings:
Make 2. Wings are not stuffed;
Rnd 1: With Ultra Violet 7ch, sl st in second ch from hook, 1dc/sc in the next 2sts, 1htr/hdc in the next 2sts, 8tr/dc in the last st, then working on the other side of your beginning ch; 1htr/hdc in the next 2sts, 1dc/sc in the next 2sts, 1 sl st in the last st.
Fasten off but leave long yarn tail for attaching to body.
Breast:
Make 1.
Rnd 1: With Ultra Violet make a magic ring, work 6dc into ring. (6 sts)
Rnd 2: [2dc/sc] to end. (12 sts)
Rnd 3: [1dc/sc, 2dc/sc] to end. (18 sts)
Rnd 4: [1dc/sc in the next two sts, 2dc/sc] to end. (24 sts)
Fasten off but leave long yarn tail for attaching to body.
Tail Feather:
Make 1.
Rnd 1: With Ultra Violet make a magic ring, work 6dc into ring. (6 sts)
Fasten off but leave long yarn tail for attaching to body.
Making Up:
Cut a small diamond shape out of yellow felt approximately 2cm (0.78in) long.
Attach beak to the front of the head (in-between eyes) on rnd 6 with yellow sewing thread.
Attach the breast onto the front of the body over rnds 13 – 19.
Attach wings over rnds 13-18 on each side of the bird.
Attach the tail feather to the back of the body on rnd 16.
Add your silver thread (or use some Ultra Violet) in a loop to the back of the birds head on rnd 6 so your bird can be hung up.
I also made another pattern for issue 110 which was Lulu the Lobster. I’ve always wanted to have a go at making a lobster amigurumi, but the obvious challenge to that is making the lobster look cute, because let’s face it lobster aren’t really known for their appealing looks!
This month I’ve also contributed to an article called Crafting the Best Toys where, along with other toy makers, we share some top tips with you on crafting both crochet and knitted amigurumis.
There are lots of fab things in this month’s edition; I really love the sweet little Granny Square eco friendly pattern of the Beeswax envelopes by Corinee Bradd and I also love Flora and Fleur the flowers pattern by Sarah Louise Reed – my daughter wants them for her bedroom!
And although I can’t knit I really love the Acrobatic areoplanes pattern by Nicola Valiji (which are available for FREE) and the gorgeous knitted pattern Jessica flamingo by Sachiyo Ishii.
There are 43 exclusive patterns in this months edition and you get your yarn and 3.5mm hook and 3.5mm knitting needles included with your 68 page magazine.
If you hook up either the Chameleon or the Lobster I hope you’ll share your photos with me on social media (facebook, twitter or instagram) or as a project on Ravelry – I love to see what you make!
Until next time folks! Happy hooking, keep calm and crochet on my friends xx
So a while back an idea popped into my brain to make a little bluebird amigurumi. I think I’d read somewhere that they had something to do with being happy, so I did a little Google research and discovered that yes, bluebirds are seen as a symbol of happiness in many cultures which dates back thousands of years. How cool is that!
I don’t think you can ever have TOO much felicity in your life and I liked the idea of making a wee bit for myself and of course sharing some joyousness with you!
Oh I apologise in advance for all the synonyms for happiness I use in this post – the thesaurus was my friend ladies and gentlemen!
Hopefully this free pattern will bring YOU a bit of good cheer and maybe you can pass on a bit of jocularity and glee if you make a little bluebird for someone else (or just make two and double the happy!)
My eldest daughter has said that the bluebirds name is ‘Blue’ which isn’t incredibly original, bless her, but it certainly is very fitting! I made him in Scheepjes Catona Cyan Blue (Shade 397) which was exactly the colour I’d envisioned him to be.
And here is Blue enjoying some lovely Spring sunshine – as was I when I was taking these photos. I so do love Spring with it’s promise of warmer days, lighter evenings and blossoming flowers don’t you? We are waiting in anticipation here for the annual cherry tree blossom flowering of the trees that line our street – it’s always a joy to see.
Worked in the round in amigurumi style this little bluebird is a quick project to make up and you can easily whip a couple up in an evening.
The fiddly (or fun bit depending on how you look at it) is making some wire feet, the wire I used was floral wire doubled together which I just twisted with my hands until they looked right. Alternatively one of my testers created a bird without legs so it looked like it was sitting (would look perfect with a little nest of yarn) and another tester used pipe cleaners for the feet, which I thought was a really good idea, and which might be easier to manipulate.
The following pattern is free here on the blog but it’s also available in my Ravelry store where there is a nominal fee for a downloadable 3 page PDF pattern free of advertisements if you’d prefer.
Yarn:4ply / Fingering YarnScheepjes Catona used in photos;
1 x 25g / 62m x Cyan Blue (Shade 397)
1 x 10g / 25m x Lemon (Shade 280)
Pattern will work in other hooks and yarns though finished size will be different.
Hook: 2.5mm hook (US size C/2)
You will also need:
Polyester toy stuffing
Florist or jewellery wire for feet
Black embroidery thread
Stitch Markers
Yarn Needle
PVC glue (optional)
Gauge: 5dc/sc = 2.5cm (1 inch)
Obtaining the correct gauge is not critical to this project but yarn amounts and finished size of projecy may differ if your gauge is different from mine.
Finished Size: 25cm (9.8 inches) from nose to tail
Abbreviations:
st(s) = stitch(es)
sl st = slip stitch
ch(s) = chain
dc/sc = UK double crochet / US single crochet
dc/sc2tog = UK double crochet 2 together / US double crochet 2 together
[…] = Repeat the sequence between the square brackets by the number indicated.
(.. sts) = The number in round brackets at the end of the instruction indicates the number of stitches after working the row.
Stitch Guidance:
Slip Stitch (sl st): Insert hook in st indicated, yarn over and draw through all loops.
UK Double Crochet/US Single Crochet (dc/sc): Insert hook in st indicated and draw up a loop (two loops on hook), yarn over, draw through both loops on hook.
UK Double Crochet 2 together / US Single Crochet 2 together (dc/sc2tog):
Insert hook in st indicated and pull up a loop (two loops on hook), Insert hook in next st, yarn over, pull through three loops on hook.
Pattern Notes:
Magic ring: is also known as a Drawstring Ring or Magic Loop and is often used as a start for working amigurumi. If you are not familiar with this technique you could substitute with a ch2 and then work in the second ch from the hook.
Working in the round: Most of the sections of this pattern are worked in the amigurumi style without joining in continuous rounds. Place the stitch marker in the top of the first st to mark the start of each round.
Invisible double crochet decrease: Invisible decreasing is a method of removing stitches to shape your fabric without gaps. Insert hook in the FRONT LOOP ONLY of the first stitch indicated and pull up a loop (two loops on hook), insert hook in the FRONT LOOP ONLY of the next st, yarn over, pull through three loops on hook; decrease made.
Pattern:
Head:
Rnd 1: With Cyan Blue make a magic ring, work 6dc into ring. (6 sts)
Rnd 2: [2dc] to end. (12 sts)
Rnd 3: [1dc, 2dc] to end. (18 sts)
Rnd 4: [1dc in the next two sts, 2dc] to end. (24 sts)
Rnd 5: [1dc in the next three sts, 2dc] to end. (30 sts)
Rnds 6 – 10: 1dc in each st around
Rnd 11: [1dc in the next three sts, dc2tog] to end. (24 sts)
Rnd 12: [1dc in the next two sts, dc2tog] to end. (18 sts)
Begin to stuff head; continuing to stuff as you go.
Rnd 13: [1dc, dc2tog] to end. (12 sts)
Rnd 14: [dc2tog] to end. (6 sts)
Fasten off with a sl st to the next st and using the yarn tail sew up the remaining six sts, weave in ends
Body:
Rnds 1—5: With Cyan Blue work as Head. (30sts)
Rnds 6 – 7: 1dc in each st around
Rnd 8: [1dc in the next three sts, dc2tog] to end. (24 sts)
Rnds 9 – 11: 1dc in each st around
Rnd 12: [1dc in the next two sts, dc2tog] to end. (18 sts)
Rnds 13 – 14: 1dc in each st around
Fasten off with a sl st to the next st, leave a long yarn tail for sewing head to the body. Stuff body.
Beak:
Beak is not stuffed;
Rnd 1: With Lemon make a magic ring, work 4dc into ring. (4 sts)
Rnd 2: 2dc in the first st, 1dc in the next 3sts (5 sts)
Rnd 3: 1dc in each st around
Rnd 4: 2dc in the first st, 1dc in the next 4sts (6sts)
Rnd 5: 1dc in each st around
Fasten off with a sl st to the next st, leave a long yarn tail for sewing beak to the head.
Wings:
Make 2. Wings are not stuffed;
Rnd 1: With Cyan Blue make a magic ring, work 5dc into ring. (5 sts)
Rnd 2: 1dc in each st around
Rnd 3: [2dc] to end. (10 sts)
Rnds 4-7: 1dc in each st around
Rnd 8: [1dc in the next three sts, dc2tog] to end. (8 sts)
Tail Feathers:
Make 3. Tail feathers are not stuffed;
Rnd 1: With Cyan Blue make a magic ring, work 6dc into ring. (6 sts)
Rnd 2: [1dc in the next two sts, 2dc] to end. (8 sts)
Rnds 3-8: 1dc in each st around
Rnd 9: [1dc in the next three sts, dc2tog] to end. (6 sts)
Making Up:
Attach the head to the body
Using black embroidery thread add an eye on either side of the head over rnds 5-7 approx 8 sts apart
Attach beak to the front of the head (in-between eyes) over rnds 6-8
Attach wings over rnds 10-11 on each side of the bird.
Attach the three tail feathers to the back of the body; two on rnd 6 and one above on rnd 7
Using the floral / jewellery wire fashion push the length through the bottom of the body of your bird (testing as you go to check the balance.
Fashion some bird feet at the end of each end of wire making sure your bird can stand without toppling over.
Wrap some lengths of Cyan yarn around the top of the leg and secure with a few stitches with your yarn needle to the body of your bird. You may wish to coat the yarn in a little PVC glue to stop it from slipping (optional).
Now I’ve got a bit of a thing for crocheted baskets! I love them! I love having them around my house and I love making them.
I was delighted therefore to have the recent opportunity to design some little bathroom baskets for Issue 109 of LGC Knitting & Crochet Magazine (on sale now) and I came up with these little bubble baskets.
Use them in the bathroom, bedroom – anywhere really to store little bits and bobs. You can make them in any colour to match your own home decor with a little pop of contrasting colour – really love the versatility of these.
I also made another design for Issue 109 which is just super fun – though I’m not anything will quite beat last years Easter project of the Bunny Bow tie (still love that!).
For this years issue I made some Mummy and Me bunny headbands! Cute right?!
My two girls just loved these! Hopping around everywhere pretending to be rabbits!
They would be great for dressing up on Easter Sunday (or just as a fancy dress accessory) and if you add some craft pipe cleaners to the inner ears you could make them position-able!
There are lots of fab patterns in this month’s edition; I really love Madonna the Cow by Sarah-Jane Hicks (it’s a cow…called Madonna!!) and the Baby Bear Comforter by Sarah Louise Read is just so cute!
And although I can’t knit I really love the Little knitted Chicks by Nicola Valiji (which are available for FREE) and the Table Mandala by Ella Austin.
There are 43 exclusive patterns in this months edition and you get your yarn and 3.5mm hook and 3.5mm knitting needles included with your 68 page magazine.
If you hook up either the Bathroom Baskets or the Easter Dress up headbands I hope you’ll share your photos with me on social media (facebook, twitter or instagram) or as a project on Ravelry – I love to see what you make!
Until next time folks! Happy hooking, keep calm and crochet on my friends xx
Oops I’ve just realised I haven’t told you about my latest patterns in Crochet Club. magazine so I’ll thought I’d fill you in quickly as I’ve got a pattern in Issue 41.
On page 14 you will find my Rocky and Rita the Raccoons who are just perfect if you want to make yourself a quick little friend – or two.
You can make both raccoon with the yarns from the kit or with only 32g of beige yarn and some scraps of pink, yellow and white – so they are great little stash busters.
I also have another pattern to tell you about and it’s available for FREE on TopCrochetPatterns.com.
Crochet Club. magazine are celebrating the fact that the Top Crochet Patterns website has had a makeover and there are now over 650 patterns you can pick up from over there (including several of mine see all of them HERE).
I had great fun creating these miniature fruit well because they are miniature fruit and what’s not to love about that! In the fruit bowl you will find peaches, an apple, a banana and a pear, and so you can get an idea of the scale of these mini fruit here’s a photo with me holding some of them…
You can pick up your free copy of the pattern HERE.
Crochet Club is full of cool patterns for all skills levels and in this issue you get;
💙 Exclusive 8-ball bundle & 3.5mm hook 💚 68-page mag 💛 Tips & tricks from the UK’s top crochet designers ❤️ Crochet-along blanket pattern (part 2) 💜 Stories from other crochet fans
I know that the new issue of Crochet Club. magazine is on its way soon… So if you haven’t bought the current issue yet you might want to go visit the shops quick!
So has the title of today’s free amigurumi made you want to break out into song?
Ba-be shark do do doo do do doo doo doo! Ba-be shark do do doo do do doo doo doo!
Sorry about that! It kind of had to be done! You can thank my toddler for today’s earworm! If you have no idea what I’m talking about and the phenomena that is the Pingfong Baby Shark Song has passed you by – lucky you! The baby shark song is now reportedly listed as one of the Top 40 most-viewed videos songs ever on YouTube – and my two year old LOVES it!
You may remember me saying that every year I try to crochet my girls a little something for Christmas; I made my (now eight) year old a giant narwhal (get the free pattern here) and so keeping with the oceanic theme it seemed only appropriate that I make Little Miss a baby shark.
I actually made the whole shark out of what was left of the one ball of Marriners plain Super Chunky (in Silver) that I used for the narwhals tusk – so if you bought the yarn for the giant narwhal then you should have enough left over to make this ami too.
Designed with embroidered features this ami is perfect for little ones under 36 months – for older children or adults you could use safety eyes instead.
The following pattern is free here on the blog but it’s also available in my Ravelry store where there is a nominal fee for a downloadable 3 page PDF pattern free of advertisements if you’d prefer.
Marriner Super Chunky (Silver – Yarn B) used in photos.
Pattern will work in other hooks and yarns though finished size will be different.
Hook: 6.5mm (US size K)
You will also need:
Stitch markers
A yarn needle
Polyester toy filler
Black yarn
Gauge: 7dc/sc = 8cm (3.1 inches)
Obtaining the correct gauge is not critical to this project but yarn amounts and finished size of projecy may differ if your gauge is different from mine.
Finished Size: 25cm (9.8 inches) from nose to tail
Abbreviations:
st(s) = stitch(es)
sl st = slip stitch
ch(s) = chain
dc/sc = UK double crochet / US single crochet
dc/sc2tog = UK double crochet 2 together / US single crochet 2 together
Stitch Guidance:
Slip Stitch (sl st): Insert hook in st indicated, yarn over and draw through all loops.
UK Double Crochet/US Single Crochet (dc/sc): Insert hook in st indicated and draw up a loop (two loops on hook), yarn over, draw through both loops on hook.
UK Double Crochet 2 together / US Single Crochet 2 together (dc/sc2tog):
Insert hook in st indicated and pull up a loop (two loops on hook), Insert hook in next st, yarn over, pull through three loops on hook.
Pattern Notes:
Using a stitch marker: Many parts of the narwhal are worked without joining in continuous rnds – place the stitch marker in the top of the first st to mark start of rnd.
Pattern:
Body:
Worked from tail to nose;
Rnd 1: Either make a magic ring (adjustable ring) to start or 2ch, work 6dc/sc into the ring / 2nd ch from hook, use tail yarn to tighten centre ring closed if necessary (6sts).
Rnd 2: * 1dc/sc, 2dc/sc in next st * repeat from * to * until the end of the rnd (9sts).
Rnd 3: * 1dc/sc in the next two sts, 2dc/sc in next st * repeat from * to * until the end of the rnd (12sts).
Rnd 4: * 1dc/sc in next three sts, 2dc/sc in next st * repeat from * to * until the end of the rnd (15sts).
Rnd 5: * 1dc/sc in next four sts, 2dc/sc in next st * repeat from * to * until the end of the rnd (18sts).
Rnd 6: * 1dc/sc in next five sts, 2dc/sc in next st * repeat from * to * until the end of the rnd (21sts).
Rnd 7: * 1dc/sc in next six sts, 2dc/sc in next st * repeat from * to * until the end of the rnd (24sts).
Rnd 8: * 1dc/sc in next seven sts, 2dc/sc in next st * repeat from * to * until the end of the rnd (27sts).
Rnd 9: * 1dc/sc in next eight sts, 2dc/sc in next st * repeat from * to * until the end of the rnd (30sts).
Rnds 10-14: 1dc/sc in each st until the end of the rnd.
Rnd 15: * 1dc/sc in the next eight sts, dc/sc2tog in next st * repeat from * to * until the end of the rnd (27sts).
Rnd 16: 1dc/sc in each st until the end of the rnd.
Rnd 17: * 1dc/sc in the next seven sts, dc/sc2tog in next st * repeat from * to * until the end of the rnd (24sts).
Rnd 18: 1dc/sc in each st until the end of the rnd.
Rnd 19: * 1dc/sc in the next six sts, dc/sc2tog in next st * repeat from * to * until the end of the rnd (21sts).
Rnd 20: * 1dc/sc in the next five sts, dc/sc2tog in next st * repeat from * to * until the end of the rnd (18sts).
Rnd 21: * 1dc/sc in the next four sts, dc/sc2tog in next st * repeat from * to * until the end of the rnd (15sts).
Rnd 22: * 1dc/sc in the next three sts, dc/sc2tog in next st * repeat from * to * until the end of the rnd (12sts).
Rnd 23: 1dc/sc in each st until the end of the rnd, fasten off but leave a long yarn tail.
Stuff the body
Then pressing rnd 23 sides closed sew together.
Side Fins (Make 2):
Rnd 1: Either make a magic ring (adjustable ring) to start or 2ch, work 5dc/sc into the ring / 2nd ch from hook, use tail yarn to tighten centre ring closed if necessary (5sts).
Rnd 2: 1dc/sc in each st until the end of the rnd.
Rnd 3: 1dc/sc in the next two sts, 2dc/sc in next st, 1dc/sc in the remaining two sts (6sts).
Rnd 4: 2dc/sc in the next two sts, 1dc/sc in the remaining four sts (8sts).
Rnd 5: 2dc/sc in the next four sts, 1dc/sc in the remaining four sts (12sts).
Rnd 6: 1dc/sc in each st until the end of the rnd, fasten off but leave a long yarn tail
Top Fin:
Rnd 1: Either make a magic ring (adjustable ring) to start or 2ch, work 4dc/sc into the ring / 2nd ch from hook, use tail yarn to tighten centre ring closed if necessary (4sts).
Rnd 2: * 1dc/sc, 2dc/sc in next st * repeat from * to * until the end of the rnd (6sts).
Rnd 3: * 1dc/sc in the next two sts, 2dc/sc in next st * repeat from * to * until the end of the rnd (8sts).
Rnd 4: * 1dc/sc in next three sts, 2dc/sc in next st * repeat from * to * until the end of the rnd (10sts).
Rnd 5: * 1dc/sc in next four sts, 2dc/sc in next st * repeat from * to * until the end of the rnd, fasten off but leave a long yarn tail (12sts).
Tail:
Rnd 1: Ch13; 1dc/sc in the second ch from the hook then 1dc/sc in each st until end, then working down the other side of the starting ch, 1dc/sc in each st. 24sts
Rnd 2: 1dc/sc in each st until the end of the rnd, fasten off but leave a long yarn tail
Then pressing rnd 2 sides closed sew together.
Making up:
With black thread embroider eyes on between rnds 18-19 approx 5sts apart
With black thread embroider three gills on rnds 13-15 on each side of the body
Attach the side fins (with the curve pointing backwards) on each side of the shark over rnds 10-16 approx 7sts apart
Attach top fin on top of shark over rnds 15-9
Attach the centre of the tail piece vertically onto rnd 1 of the body.
