A recent crochet gift made for a special birthday.
Made with stash wool….yah
The pattern can be found here.
Category: hand made
Crochet Motif Cardigan
I came across this picture of a crochet motif cardigan a couple of years ago on a blog and fell in love with the cardigan but I had no idea where the pattern came from so I could not get hold of the actual pattern.
Every now and then I would search for it but without any luck until one day I came across it on Google picture search and this pointed to Ravelry, only to find out it is a Japanese pattern (no problem) but it was in a Japanese book (no problem), I could not seem to purchase anywhere (problem). Having purchased Japanese books many times from this great etsy shop Pomadour24
I messaged them to ask if they could get it and guess what – they could. She has managed to get a couple of books for me previously just by supplying a picture of the front cover.
I duly started my cardigan but knew it would have to be a background task as making that many motifs would be a long hard slog. I had chosen after a lot of deliberation to use Sirdar Heart and sole for the coloured part of the motif as it was quite hard to get co-ordinating colours. I didn’t use the blue colourway. For the joining I used Rowan fine lace doubled (from stash – yaah).
Before I started assembling the cardigan I used wooden skewers to hold each row of motifs in the correct order so I didn’t have to find the next one I just slid it off the skewer
To join all the motifs together I used a Join As You Go method of assembly which is great as you only get a couple of ends instead of two for each motif.
The cardigan is now blocked and is looking good, all I have to do is sew in all the coloured ends (yuk)
I’m so please with this even though its taken a year as a background task
My latest crochet commision
My latest crochet commission was for hats for a couple of toddlers. Their godmother had seen my Big Wool crochet hat and wanted something similar.
The flower is made with some scarp navy DK yarn. The hat is in Rowan big wool, using a 7mm hook
The pattern can be found here. Instead of a brim I crocheted a couple of extra rows and finished with a row of crab stitch
Crochet square motif waterfall cardigan
Crochet square motif waterfall cardigan
I’m so pleased with this cardigan, it get many admirers and is so comfy to wear
This is more a recipe rather than a pattern.
Using any yarn and an appropriate size hook, either the correct size for the yarn or up to 1.5mm above standard size for the yarn.
For mine I used Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK and a 4.5mm hook.
The amount of yarn will depend on the size being made and the weight of the yarn.
This recipe will work with any square motif that can have extra rows added to give the size required.
The cardigan is made up of 4 motifs on the back, and each front is also made up of 4 motifs. The sleeves are crochet in the round from armhole to wrist.
Now the maths part!!
- Back: Measure the back width required, divide by 2. e.g. 20/2=10, each motif square will be 10 inches square, this will give a cardigan with a 20 inch back measurement and a 20 inch length from back of neck.
- Shoulder: Measure from your shoulder/arm join to your neck – 1 inch. e.g 4-1 = 3
- Armhole: Measure from top of your arm down to where the underarm of the sleeve will be placed e.g. 10 inches
Motifs
Motif preparation – Select a motif to use, it is easier if you pick a motif that can have extra rounds easily added to it if you need a motif size greater than the motif you are using. I had to add several rows to the motif I was using.
Make 12 motifs in total, 4 back, 4 left front, 4 right front. You can join as you go but do not join the sides to the back.
Assembly
- Join 4 motifs together to form a square to give back, same for right front and same for left front.
- Join the back shoulder to left front shoulder making the join length = Shoulder (measurement from above)
- Join the back shoulder to right front shoulder making the join length = Shoulder (measurement from above)
- Join the back side to the left front side from the bottom leaving the Armhole (measurement from above) open
- Join the back side to the right front side from the bottom leaving the Armhole (measurement from above) open
Sleeves
If you require tapered sleeves then use your judgement and trying on the cardigan to decrease ever 5 rows or so until the sleeve is the shape required
Start arm at the underarm join and crochet in the round until sleeve is required length, I used (Tr 2, 1 Ch) for the whole round,
Finishing
To finish use your favourite edging stitch for mine I used Crabstitch
Charity Blankets
Crochet commision hat
My latest crochet commission was for a gorgeous baby sun hat for a little girl.
Made in Katia Cotton yarn and the pattern is
Knitting – slip stitch cardigan
Knitting – slip stitch cardigan….. I saw this pattern and just had to knit it.
Earhart by Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton
It uses a combination of two yarns. For mine I used Noro Kureyon for the variegated yarn and Rowan Cocoon for the plain yarn.
The cardigan is knitted throughout with knit and slip stitches which gives it is unique look. to achieve the correct tension I had to go up to 8mm needles using 1 strand of each wool. The body of the jumper is knitted in one piece up to the armhole shaping so my trusty Knitpro IC and one of my longest wires came into use.
Not 100% happy about the buttons but will sleep on it.
Paper – simple card gift envelopes
Simple gift envelopes…I had a go at making some gift envelopes mainly for the crochet necklets I’ve been making.
After looking around at images on the internet I stopped at this great inspirational blog and ended up with this version.
For the necklet version instead of ribbon used the same crochet cotton as the necklet.
Others I made at the same time. I will be posting more details about my version soon.
Handmade – crochet baby shoes and gift boxes
This weekend has been crochet baby shoes and boxes weekend.
Purl and Lace(local wool shop) wanted some replacement baby booties in the mary-jane and ballerina style. I had 2 commissions for mary-jane booties. I was also out of the gift boxes I supply them in.
So I settled down on Friday after our visitors had left and got crocheting.
The patterns I use are a variation of a set of patterns I Purchased on Etsy. They are sold in the Lovely Crow etsy shop, she has some great patterns. Be warned though they are american patterns so watch your stitches.
All my booties are crocheted in DK and 4 ply cotton, which means I have to make them at least a size bigger than required as the patterns are designed for worsted weight yarn. I find that american patterns use worsted and aran a lot, its a shame we don’t have the range of aran yarns over here, especially cotton aran.
As I had run out of boxes I also made some origami gift boxes. These are made out of standard craft card stock, just by folding and no glueing although I do cheat by using a sticker to anchor the edges inside each part of the box.
I made a selection of boxes for use now and for use later on.
So now my shoes are ready for sale. I used my label and stickers to finish them off.
Its a good job I don’t make the booties any bigger as I can’t make the boxes any bigger with 12″ card stock.
Got a craft fair next weekend so I shall need some of these boxes.
hand made – a new adventure
Hand made – a new adventure…..A new wool shop has opened in Swanage. To be precise it is a Lingerie and wool shop. Purl & Lace not only sells underwear
from premium underwear specialist it also sells lots and lots of lovely wool.
Run by Steph, who is an avid knitter, she has chosen some lovely wool which compliments the wool available at the other wool shop in Swanage.
After giving a couple of crochet classes just before Christmas she asked me if I would supply some hand made articles to be sold in the shop. I didn’t take much persuading. She mainly wanted baby gifts so I got the old hooks and needles out and have been supplying her for the last few months.
I supply handmade items and patterns under the name of amelia dellow
with my label:-
