Crochet Wreath Base

 So - today's post is an old one re visited.  You can fin the 2016 post here. I've only made a few edits, but I thought it was time to share it again. 

Crocheted wreaths are very popular - for all times of the year. Here is how to make a plain wrath base, which you can decorate any way you like!

I picked up a Decofoam Wreath and some 8ply  acrylic yarn - the Kringle value ball, from Spotlight. 

pictures from spotlight.com

Then, using a 3.5mm hook 

Make a chain of 40, and then (in US terms)
Row 1 : skip the first three chains, 37 dc, turn. 
Row 2 - 100 : ch 3, 37 dc across, turn. 

Check your size against the foam wreath and bind off.

It should fit very snug.

Using a whip stitch, or whatever you find easiest, without twisting,sew the two short ends together. Then sew the sides together around the wreath.

Now you have a lovely base to add decorations to!

Hope you enjoy! 

Happy Crocheting, Emma.  

Two new Patterns - Rose Sisters

 This month I released some new patterns.. and totally spaced on sharing them here!

First up is the Rosebud Wrap - This one is designed to showcase your favourite gradient yarn.

Link to Etsy

Link to Ravelry 

I've used a Stenli Muffin - a yarn from Bulgaria! This is a huge 2000 m thread cake, which means it's made of three threads held together - not plied - and the colour changes happen as one thread at a time is changed over. 

I've also included a chart with the fully written pattern (US terms). 

Rosebud is named after the little clusters within the design, and also as a sister piece to go along with the Primrose Wrap

Which is the second release!

Primrose is a re - release,updated to include a chart, and written in US terms. Primrose is also still 'under contract' through Bendigo Woollen Mills, and they are selling the UK version - via their own website and on Ravelry. I will be selling mine via Etsy and Lovecrafts. 

Primrose was one of my first patterns I wrote! This one uses 2 colours in 4ply cotton - I've used Bendigo Cotton in 'Primrose' - where the name came from! and 'Snow'. Sadly the Primrose colour has been discontinued. 

Link to Etsy

Link to Lovecrafts

If you get a chance to make one - please let me know via social media. And don't forget to sign up for my newsletter - that way you don't wait to hear about new releases! You can do that by clicking here

Thanks for reading and Happy Crocheting

Emma

Knitting Socks!

Not too long ago I wrote about making a sock blank, and dyeing them. Well, I just started knitting one up and the two months of prep have been all worth it!

This is part of my Sock Blank Blog Series 

See the first post here

And the second one here

I'm knitting directly from the blank. the curly yarn isn't an issue for me. I find I can be a bit messy with yarn, so it's actually really good for me. Not worrying about the yarn getting tangled up means I can just concentrate on the socks. The pattern I'm using is the 'Easy Peasy Socks for First-Timers' by Stacey Trock. If you can knit and purl, then this is the pattern for you if you want to try sock knitting. I've had to look up a couple of the techniques, but a quick search on Youtube has given me all the answers. 

The stripes are working.. so far. I'm crossing my fingers I'll get a second sock that matches close enough. If you look at the sock - each stripe repeat (one purple and yellow) is only one row of the blank.   I think I can get about 10 socks from this one blank! So I might make as many as I can, and see which ones match the best. 

Here's a reminder of the full dyed blank

I'm using a fixed cable needle, that's specially designed for socks - an addi sockenwunder - 3.75 mm (US 5) Which I got from Yarnish. I've previously only used a longer fixed cable and used the magic loop method. The sockenwunder has allowed faster knitting, due to the fact I don't have to rearrange the cables every row, but the turning of the heel was a bit of a challenge. 

I've made another blank, and have been dyeing with more precision to get some perfect stripes - which I am sure I'll blog about soon!

Thanks for reading

Emma. 

Update: One sock finished! 

Fall Fashion Blog Hop - Day 3 - Step in Line Gloves

Hi Everyone 

Welcome to Day 3 of the Fall Fashion Blog Hop! Today's  PDF is my very own Step in Line Gloves. 

EDIT: we have now hopped to the next blog, and my code has expired, but I'm keeping up the links. 

Need a quick recap - Click here to be taken to E'Claire Makery - and our wonderful Blog Hop Hostess has explained it all! 

The Step in Line Gloves are made 'amigurumi style' – as a spiral, with increases and invisible decreases. This could be a good introduction to these techniques for someone who wants to try amigurumi but has so far found it a bit daunting. Gloves are made in one piece, cuff up. They first appeared in Issue 44 of Crochet Now Magazine, and there are options for both US and UK terms, 

Missed a day, or maybe want to just grab all 32 patterns now? Click the image below to purchase them all now! 

Once again, thanks for being here and joining in the Hop!

Happy Crocheting,

Emma.

Fall Fashion Blog Hop

 I had so much fun participating in the Summer Blog Hop, that I've teamed up with some more great designers and taking part in the Fall Fashion Blog Hop.

The Fall Fashion blog hop is featuring 32 crochet designers, who will be sharing beautiful crochet fall fashion patterns. From garments to accessories, there are so many amazing designs that are a part of this event! During the event, each designer will be sharing a FREE PDF pattern! That’s right, there are 32 FREE PDF crochet patterns that you can get from this event! By the end of September, you’ll have so many amazing patterns to make each fall!

This time, there is one difference - and that you can purchase the entire collection of 32 patterns now. Price is in US dollars. 

To purchase, click this affilate link (which means I earn a small commission on each purchase)

This means you will have a PDF copy of every pattern to keep, without having to check back each day! 

If you do love to check back each day - the follow the Blog Hop - It's being hosted by Claire from E'Claire Bakery and you can find all the info here on her blog - with all the links and instructions. 

On my Day - I'll be updating this post with my free link! Remember each pattern link is only live for 24 hours! 

Thanks for dropping by, and Happy Crocheting!

Emma

If you missed the link: Click here to visit E'Claire Makery for the full Blog Hop

Standing Stitches (standing double crochet)

PIN FOR LATER

Standing stitches are a neat way of starting a new colour without chaining. There are a few different chainless methods, and this is one of my favourites.

In my example I'm using standing stitches to change colour in the Good Old Granny Square (pattern here)

In this tutorial I'll show you how to make a (in US terms) standing double crochet, but it works for any height stitch. 

Step 1: YO hook twice (YO one more time than usual - 3 times for a treble, once for a sc) The first YO mimics the last st/ch that would be on the hook. 

Step 2: Insert hook in stitch or space - like the ch-2 corner space for this granny square

Step 3: Pull up loop. It now looks like a regular dc, but make sure to keep loops on hook! 

Step 4: YO, pull through 2 loops, twice (like a 'normal' stitch) 

Continue your work. The top loop may look a little loose, and it's OK to tighten it. Once you finish the round, sl st into the top of the standing st, and once the ends are woven in, it will be hard to know where you started! 

DO you like chainless starts? DO you have a favourite?

Thanks for reading,

Happy Crocheting,

Emma.

Sock Blank Update - how I dyed my wool

This is part of my Sock Blank blog series

If you missed the first post about Sock Blanks - click here.

In this blog post I tell you how I dyed my sock blank, but this method works for also dyeing wool and finished items. This method is easy, great for small batches and for those who like to experiment.

A few days ago I dyed my two sock blanks. I ended up using things I already had in the kitchen, which was food colouring, white vinegar, water and the microwave!

My long thin blank is a mixture of purples and greens:

The second blank I made wide, and did my best to keep one half a magenta, and the other half a rainbow mix. This one had a few dropped stitches in the middle, but I don't think it will present a problem. I have seen some other sock blank makers use dropped stitches to mark out the centre, which would be good for those who want to dye their blanks more precisely than I did. 

My process uses things you might already have in your kitchen, and if not; you'll be able to get easily at a grocery store.

You'll need, food colouring, white vinegar, a microwave safe dish, and a microwave. 

Vinegar works as the fixing agent. This method works for wool, and can work for acrylic/wool mixes. It's always good to try a small swatch first.

First step is to soaking the item in a mix of water and vinegar,  (1:1) Then I painted a mix of food colouring and vinegar on. 

If you don't want the colours to bleed into each other, miss the soaking step. I wanted the watercolour look, though. If you aren't painting the wool, try dipping or submerging the item in a bath of your dye mix. The best thing about this method is that it works well with experimenting.

I left the blanks for a while (I didn't time anything) then rinsed out excess colour. 

Then, in a microwave safe bowl, I microwaved for 1 minute, sat for a minute (about three times each) to help set the colour. Then I hung outside to dry, and I left overnight.

Next day, I gave each 2 more minutes in the microwave (they were still damp) If they were dry, I probably would have skipped this step. 

At this point, no colour has come off on my hands, but I will most likely rinse out once more before using. 

Each blank has 'waste' yarn on either end, but next time I may secure it better 

Hopefully next time I post, I'll have the start of some socks! 

Happy crocheting,

Emma