October Makes: Hats, Hats and Bonnets

This month has definitely been a very productive one for crochet. I've managed to complete six projects, albeit mostly small ones but still!

The month started with finishing the Rainfall Cardigan by Little Golden Knook. I was so pleased to finally finish it and wear it! Its just a great, easy to throw on piece that will keep me nice and warm in the Autumn/Winter months. I used Paintbox Aran yarn in Light Caramel. The pattern was really easy to follow although I did mess up with the sleeves a bit and made them a touch too long, but I don't think it notices.

 

                                   

I then started on making a jumper with my own pattern, i.e. making it up as you go along. I want it to be a cropped jumper that I can wear over dresses in the colder months or a shirt for work. I bought the yarn from Poundstretcher and now of course I can't find any more!! so that project has been parked for now. I'm using the Elizabeth stitch which gives a lovely texture to the front, as the back will be a plain stitch.

 

Now on to all the hats... Here in the UK the temperatures have dipped so a normal autumn/winter feel - I don't know why we are always surprised when it happens! So to help my body adapt I've been making hats with the Bella Coco pattern and some lovely chunky yarn from Hayfield Bonus. I made the one for myself in an evening and it would be a great project for a beginner. I had to make one for my daughter too, just in time for fireworks night. They did keep up nice and cosy :)

 

My husband has two work colleagues who are due babies in November and December, so I decided to make them bonnets. I used Rico Creative Cotton in Silver Grey and then added some colour with Rico Ricorumi DK in Blush with Pastel Yellow and Mint for the baby girl, and Fox with the Pastel Yellow and Mint for the baby boy. The pattern I kind of just made up. I looked at a couple of other patterns to see the measurements and then did a combination of double and single crochets (I think!).

 

And lastly I completed a jumper for my daughter! It's the first time I've created something with my own pattern and it actually fits her!! Apart from one minor thing with the under arm section I'm so happy with it and am planning to make another one in the next size up. I used the yarn I got from Poundland which was actually really nice to use and the colour variation/striping was lovely. My daughter was very pleased with her unicorn coloured jumper!!

 

What have you been making recently? 

September Makes: Part 2



We are in October! My favourite time of year when all the leaves are changing to beautiful tones of orange and I have the perfect excuse to snuggle up on the sofa with the little one under a blanket, with lots of tea and of course crochet!

September was a funny one; not quite feeling like autumn with a mini heatwave in the middle, but then lots of rain that just would not go away! I work in a school so it has been a busy month and now it seems like there isn't much time at all until Christmas now, so I'm busy planning activities, seeing family and friends and getting on with my crochet Christmas makes.

 

 

As you will have seen from my last blog post I made my first cardigan from Claudine's pattern, Sunday Funday Cardigan. I honestly haven't stopped wearing it! Its really comfy and easy to throw on.
I'm now almost finished making the Rainfall Cardigan by Little Golden Nook. Its such an easy pattern to follow and I love all the bobble work. I've been working on it most evenings and when I get a chance during the day. I'm not onto the second sleeve (the worst bit for me!) and just need to sew it all together and add the border. I'm hoping to having it finished by the weekend.

 



I've also started on my first Christmas gifts, a matching Mummy/Daughter hat set but I ran out of yarn! I've been using Groove is in the Yarn by Knitcraft which is available from Hobbycraft and 3 for the price of 2! So I'll be heading down there again this weekend to pick up some more. I love the colour mix of this one, very autumnal and super soft. Whilst at Hobbycraft I found some cordy type yarn which I wanted to use for a necklace make. I kind of made up the pattern but really happy with the result. It looks lovely with a black top or dress as the mustard really stands out.



Poundland also have some lovely yarns at the moment. Not sure if they've always been there but I've only just discovered them. My sister-in-law picked up this gorgeous rainbow yarn for me which is also 3 for 2. I'll see how the quality is and report back, but I'm planning to make a hat and some booties with it.

I would like to make a jumper for myself and my daughter but I'm not sure I'll have time before Christmas now with other bits I want to make for gifts but I might try and do something on the side. I bought Inside Crochet magazine, the first one I've read for over three years! So I have some inspiration from that although I don't want to start lots of projects and not finish them but so easily done.

What are you making at the moment?

xXx

Christmas Crochet 2019: Ideas

Now that our last burst of summer has gone from London I can now start to think about Christmas. I always find it a bit daunting thinking about how many presents there are to buy and for the past few years I've not crocheted anything. Sometimes a handmade gift is more appreciated than something bought as there is always a lot of time and effort that goes into making things regardless of the craft. Other times people think its the cheaper option but actually it can work out to be more expensive when you take into consideration material costs etc.

This year I'm only going to make a few things for selected friends and family and I'm planning to keep things fairly simple so there's no pressure on me to make loads of things in a short space of time (100 sleeps until Christmas I was told today!).

So far I've thought about making Mummy/Child hat and scarf sets, possibly a bag and then I'm pushing it a bit by considering a cardigan for my mother in law. Apart from children I've never made a clothing item for someone else so I'm going to leave that one for now and see how I get on with the others first!

I'll keep you update on my progress and yarn hauls over on Instagram!

Are you making anything for Christmas?

September Makes: part one

September started with a feel of autumn in the air and I for one, was very happy about this. As much as I love summer; long days, warmth etc there is something nice about feeling the crisp morning air and grabbing a cardio or jumper to wrap up in. I'm sure I'll be moaning I'm too cold in another month or so, but for now it's giving me the perfect excuse to crochet more!

So far this month I've managed to finish my first cardigan! I love the colour and style and it feels nice and thick so I can wear it in place of a jacket for a while. The pattern is the Sunday Funday cardigan (by Iron Lamb) and was really easy to follow, although I somehow managed to frog and redo the sleeve three times! I think by that point I  wanted to get it finished and was rushing a bit. I also didn't have any Aran yarn so I thought I was being clever by doubling up some DK yarn but I think this made it a bit thicker than it needed to be, and also meant I had lots of tangled yarn along the way.

I'm so happy with how it turned out and can't wait to wear it!

As a quick make I also whipped up some hairband/scrunchies; me and the little one have been wearing them lots so I plan to make a few more for Christmas to pop into stockings for various friends and family. 

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My next project is the Rainfall cardigan by Little Golden Nook. Yarn has been ordered, pattern purchased and I can't wait to get started! I've got lots of makes planned as well as trying to design something of my own!

Extended Break

Well it’s been over three years since I blogged and almost the same amount of time since I last picked up my crochet hook and yarn. The main reason for the break was a baby. It’s funny how many things I thought about crocheting for a baby of my own but when I finally find out I was pregnant in April 2016 I didn’t want to jinx anything so made nothing, not even a blanket! And then once she came along in January 2017 of course I didnt have the time or energy to think about crochet. We then moved house last year and I cleared out loads of yarn and magazines I had stored. Part of me was sad as I had totally lost interest in making but recently over the past few months I’ve been drawn back to crochet and a few weeks ago I finally ordered some yarn and got making!!

I’m so pleased I found my love and mojo not just for crochet again but to be creative and use my brain in a different way to my usual everyday life. I have time in the evenings now to sit down and relax with a project which has been lovely.

Currently WIPs on the go are a sleeveless cardigan I need to finish off, a gorgeous cardigan from Iron Lamb that’s almost complete and I’ve just finished a cardigan for the little one from Stitching Me Softly. I have to say, in my three year absence there are now so many lovely crochet designers out there with gorgeous patterns. I have plans to try and make my own designs at some point as well as trying to locate my old notebook which had a few patterns and ideas I had written down.

I’m excited for autumn now and all the cosy cowls, hats and jumpers I want to make and blogging about it all too!

Ashlie x

First Attempt Crochet Bag

I don't know about you but I'm a pattern hoarder. If I get an idea in my head I spend some time researching the best pattern, yarn or method of how to make it. As I've mentioned before I usually look to the internet as my main source and before I know it I have 20 tabs opened all with patterns to be downloaded or purchased. I then either print them and squirrel them away if I'm not going to make it that evening, or store them in iBooks on my iPad.

Crochet to Keep Warm // Sunday Snuggly Snood

This weekend we saw a little bit of snow! The cold weather just spurs me on to make anything and everything to keep warm, as demonstrated in my last post about the bobble hat so I finally finished off a snood I started well before Christmas.

The Bobble Hat

Now that winter finally seems to be here I can crack out the cosy hats and scarves. I have been looking to make a bobble hat for a while now but as we had such a mild winter I didn't feel the need to make one, let alone wear one.

How to Find a Crochet Pattern

                      

I had an email from a reader a while back, asking if I had made a hooded cardigan or had a pattern I could recommend. It got me thinking that people who may be new to crochet or knitting would not necessarily know where to find a pattern for a new project. So I thought it might be helpful to (list) some of the places I go to:

Crochet New Year 2016

Happy New Year to everyone! I hope you all had a lovely time over the festive season. Can you believe we are in 2016 already?! With a new year comes new goals whether that be personally through fitness and keeping healthy, to work and of course, crochet. I always start the year with good intentions of eating healthy and trying to do more exercise but by the last week of January its all usually out the window. Crochet goals however are slightly different; I like to challenge myself creatively and learn something new or try something different.

Christmas Crochet 2015

This year I have been far more organised for Christmas in terms of actually buying gifts as well as making them. This makes me very happy indeed, meaning (fingers crossed) that December will be a 'me' month where I can crochet personal projects (and there are a few!) and have some lovely family time where I'm not worry about running around trying to find presents at the last minute!!

First Attempt Jumper

                                

So the jumper is finally complete! I can't actually remember the date I started but it didn't feel like it took a long time to complete.

This was my first attempt at a jumper or any item of adult clothing. I've tried several times before to make a jumper or cardigan but the projects have either fallen by the way-side or I've found it too difficult to concentrate on it and have given up. So now that this one is finished I'm super happy I actually stuck with it.

{Crochet} Jumpers

T

                             

For such a long time now I’ve wanted to make an item of clothing for myself. The majority of the stuff I make is for other people bar the odd hat, scarf or blanket here and there. I love making for other people and it gives me the drive to finish something whereas when I’m making just for me I tend to start and stop…and sometimes never return to it! 

Time Away

I've just come back from a lovely break away to Scotland. We go away to visit hubby's family at least once a year in the Spring/Summer so it was a nice change to go in Autumn.

Autumn // A New Season, A New Blanket

With the new season and dip in temperature I've decided to make a blanket for myself! I've only ever made one other blanket just for me when I first started to crochet so I think its about time!

Blanket for Baby #3!

Where to start with this blanket...my third baby blanket of the year and I think this is the first blanket where I've really planned out myself what the blanket will look like as opposed to following a set pattern.

Weekend Crochet // Preparing for Autumn

The weather in London this weekend was a real mix bag. Saturday was super hot - highs of 30C! I love the weather being hot but it does make me very tired and sluggish. Ice lollies were my friend!

Etsy Favourites {August '15}

At least once a week I find myself looking on Etsy either for something specific or just a general browse. I'm always amazed at how talented other people around the world are and marvel how they have made their craft a business for themselves.

Super Easy {Crochet} Baby Cardigan

With my niece's birthday only next week and having decided that the Happypotamus was too difficult in such a short space of time I needed to make something quickly to go with the other gifts I've bought her. I always like to try and include something handmade as I feel its adds a personal touch.

Crochet Project Ideas // August 2015

As with any crochet enthusiast I am always thinking of new ideas and projects to make. I often keep a notebook handy to write these down; some don't come to fruition but there's always one or two that are at the top of my list(s).