Angel Baby Blanket

I decided to have a new format for my patterns. So from today I'm going to post a photo tutorial on my blog and then a written pattern in my Ravelry store, so you can print and keep.

My first pattern in the new format is a tiny 9" x 12" blanket which is to be donated to charities who help parents of angel babies.

I have chosen to use a baby DK yarn approximately 50g, but you could use 4 ply and increase the starting chain in increments of 2 stitches until you arrive at the desired width.

Using a 4.5mm hook chain 34

Row 1: starting in the 2nd chain from the hook, work 1htr in each st to the end, ch1 and turn = 33 sts

Row 2: work (1sc, 1htr) in first st, then skip 1, (1sc, 1htr, sk1) forms the pattern, continue to the last st, 1htr in last st, ch1 and turn.

Row 3: There is little spaces between the stitches, this is where you skipped a stitch and this is where the next set of stitches go. in the 1st space, work (1sc, 1htr)

 then in the next space work (1sc, 1htr) continue to do this till you've worked the pattern in every  space to the end

You can see you are left with an odd looking end of row. this is fine because you will end up if you follow my photo's with a lovely straight edge. Work 1htr in the last stitch, ch1 and turn

Row 4: the pattern is a repeat of row 3 and you will end up with a lovely tight textured finish. Repeat row 3 another 35 times, you should have 38 rows in total.

Row 39: work 1htr into each to end, ch1

Now we create the ruffle border, working in the end of row 39, work 3tr in each row end all the way around 4 sides , sl st to the 1st tr of the border, Fasten off and weave in ends and decorate if you wish.

Close up of stitch

I hope you enjoy making this little blanket, please ask any questions via the comments box should you have any or use the links to get in touch. A written pattern will be in Ravelry store shortly x

New Pattern Monday!

Good morning, we have a very cold but sunny day today and has promised a new pattern for you.

I was asked to make a little cocoon for an angel baby, I researched sizes and read some very sad stories along the way too. I wanted something simple that could be used for tiny babies from about 12 weeks gestation. This pattern is very easy to adapt and make bigger but I thought I would start with my smallest then arrange a pattern for larger sizes at a later date.

I used Stylecraft Special DK in white then finished in candyfloss pink. I used ribbons to close the sides but you could use buttons also. I uploaded the pattern to my Ravelry store on Friday afternoon and since then it has been downloaded an incredible 220 times. I am over the moon that you keep downloading my patterns.

The pattern is available to download for FREE from my Ravelry store: Angel Baby Sleeping Bag

Cute Baby Jacket

Oh my what a windy day! I was rudely awoken at 3.30 am with the windy conditions. Our dustbins were trying to escape up the street and our small garden table ended up in our fish pond soon to be followed by the 2 chairs. I rescued the chairs and my daughter managed to lift the table out of the pond. Everything secured and hatches battened down yeah! I did think it was supposed to subside by lunch time but as I sit here writing this post I can assure you it hasn't and we are due snow tomorrow. I hope the wind dies down before the snow comes. I joined Slimming World back in October and up to press have lost 1st 8lb so its time to start excersing I thought. I have been doing gentle exercises but now its time to really go for it, so starting yesterday I walked 2.2 miles to our local post office and back to send of my Valentine baby beanies. My plan was to walk 2-3 miles each day, well today that failed. It is so windy you  can hardly stand up, so I thought have a productive day with crochet instead. I made this little jacket a good few weeks ago but never got around to writing down the pattern, so today I have written the pattern and uploaded it to my Ravelry store.  I made it to fit a 12" chest so a baby about 3 - 4lb in weight. I wanted something quick and easy with not a lot of thinking about and I think this fits the bill. It took approximately 25g plus 1 button and it can be made in about an hour. I think this would make great little stash buster and also to be donated to charity. I hope you like it and would consider making one for charity. Be back soon with another pattern, enjoy the rest of your Wednesday x

Simple Baby Jacket Pattern

Beanie Fest!

I mentioned in my last post that I was making little Valentine beanie hats for premature babies around the UK. I make and store items so I can send a box full rather than just a few to save on postage costs. I have had a snaffle through my made stock items and have come up with a box to go today (if the rain stops) to the lovely Janet who runs Crafted with love - donation group Facebook group.  I have updated my charity totals too and so far I have made and donated 373 items. I would love to reach my 1000 makes goal by 31st December 2017. Gonna be busy busy busy but it makes me happy. If you would also like to help the group, just click on the link above or maybe find a group nearer to you and jump on board and make something for charity even if it's just one small beanie. The free pattern for the beanie is in my Ravelry store, just click on the link. Happy crafting on this wet and miserably Monday x

My Ravelry Store

Sweet Valentine

I have recently joined a Facebook group called Crafted with love - donation group the group is run by a lovely bunch of ladies who create and organise donations of handmade items plus shop bought items then distribute them around the UK and also overseas to various charities. They are just coming to the end of a Valentine's hat run. Little beanie hats decorated with a little heart, these will be sent to various maternity units for the new babies born around Valentine's day. I have written a FREE simple pattern which is available in my Ravelry store, should you wish to make one for your local maternity hospital. If you would like the pattern just click on the photo and you will be directed to my Ravelry store. If you would like to join the group and find out more about donating then just click on the name above.  I'm going to take my 3 dogs for a walk now and I will be back later with another pattern for you x

Tribute to a Friend

 Through making items for charity, I made a lovely friend who called Maureen. I would visit as often as I could to have a lovely catch up and to share stories of latest makes and charity needs etc. It was like a day trip, as you could never just pop in for an hour, it was always 4 hours with lunch included. Maureen was a very poorly lady and was more or less housebound, but she was a fantastic lady with lots of friends and a crazy sense of humour. I was making this little cardigan on the day I received a message that Maureen had sadly passed away, so I decided to name this new pattern in Maureen's memory. She was more of a knitter and enjoyed to make toys but she so loved to see what crochet designs I had recently made. I used to save them up so I could take them over to show her. This little cardigan pattern just seemed a nice thing to do in her memory. I organised the pattern on Ravelry and in just two and a bits weeks it has had over 1000 downloads. This makes me happy to feel the that lots of little girls will be wearing my cardigan in honour of such a fabulous lady. If you would like the pattern just click on the photo and you will be taken to my Ravelry store. I would love it if you would download the pattern and make just 1 little cardigan and donate to your favourite charity.

Sweet Little Slippers

I adore making things for babies, wether it is teeny tiny premature garments for my charities or garments for newborns and toddlers. Not only are they quick to make but look so cute when complete that you can't help but go AWW!. These little slippers are no exception. I have tried and tried to make baby shoes using various patterns, but for some reason they just didn't gel with me, so on my every growing list of designs to create were a pair of little slippers. These took a good week to design and I am really pleased with them. Although the photos are for boys I have made these for girls just don't have the right photo to share. The pattern is available in my Ravelry store just click on the top photo.

Not Yet Spring!

I designed and created a lot of cowls for the winter months but all of them for adults and I thought why not for a child, so I set about making a cowl that would be suitable for a 6 - 12 months with a matching beanie style hat. In time I will make them in larger sizes. When my two girls were small I could never get them to keep a scarf on in the winter so I ended up tying the scarf in a huge knot which was obviously uncomfortable being right under their chins. Then I thought why not make a cowl for children, no knots, no uncomfortable bulge under the chin. I have now made a few of these and I think they turn out quite cute, especially when finished off with a flower or maybe a bow.

The pattern is now for sale via my Etsy shop, just clock in the photo if you're interested.

Jack & Jill Pattern

I crochet a lot for different charities and wanted a little jacket that would suit both a baby boy and baby girl, but also a pattern that didn't take much thinking about, just hook and go. So after playing around a lot with different looks I came up with a cute simple little jacket. The finished size using 4mm hook and Stylecraft Special DK is a 14" chest. I have also made these jackets using lots of different types of DK yarns always with my trusty 4mm hook and each time the jackets turn out slight smaller or larger than 14", I didn't mind this as all babies come in different sizes. The pattern is easy to make smaller by using 3.5mm or even 3mm with 4 ply yarn and if you want a larger jacket use 4.5mm or 5mm hook with Aran, although I wouldn't make an Aran jacket for charity. I have to say these little jackets are quite addictive once you get going. I have done a lacy pattern for a baby girl and a plain one for a baby boy but you can alter the pattern to suit as long as it can fit to 62 sts. Why not download the pattern from my Ravelry store and have a play. The pattern can be found by clicking on the photo's

Baby Button Beanie with Mittens

I have been having play instead of getting on with my other projects, naughty I know but I had 70g of a lovely blue mixed baby soft yarn and I have sadly lost the label and do no remember the manufacturer, anyway this little ball of yarn was getting on my nerves. Overtime I opened one of my many draws it seemed to be there asking me to make something with it, so last night I decided to see what I could get out just 70g. In the end I made a sweet button beanie and a pair of mittens to fit 0-3 months and I still have plenty left over enough for probably a pair of booties. I have put the pattern in my Ravelry store for free. I aim to be making these for various baby charities and to sell as a newborn gift in my Folksy shop. Here is a link to the pattern - Baby Button Beanie & Mittens

Ladies Chunky Headband

Morning everyone. A huge thank you first of all for everyone who has popped by to read my blog. I was extremely happy this morning to see I have had over 5000 visitors. So today I want to share with you my latest make. I am not usually a big fan of chunky yarn, but I purchased 8 balls of Stylecraft Brushstrokes in various colours. It is a wool, mohair and acrylic mix yarn which works up really well. I had cowls and headbands in mind when I bought it and it has been on a shelf in my studio for about 6 months now so it was time to create something. I designed this very easy headband with an optional flower the other day while I was waiting for my hubby at the doctors. I tend to wait in the car so that I can keep on crocheting. Anyhow I was sat there merrily watching the world go by and crocheting away and when hubby came back to the car I had finished my headband. 45 minutes is all it took without the flower. I was very pleased with how it turned out. I had the pattern in my head so promptly went home to write it down. I was amazed that out of 1 x 100g ball I got 2 headbands with flowers and enough left over for just the flower which I shall turn into a brooch. This headband is so quick it would make great gifts especially with the dreaded colder months approaching soon. I think I'm going to make a matching cowl too.  My eldest daughter Abi kindly modelled the headband for me.

The pattern is available in PDF format 

Ravelry  - Easy Chunky Headband

Lacy Textured Infinity Scarf

Well I know I'm a day early, I was supposed to upload tomorrow but the sun is shining at last and I felt like getting my head around a few patterns and things I really need to get finished. So do you remember my 'Lacy Textured Infinity Scarf' that I created for the July yarn club over at Dexter's Rainbow well I'm glad to say it had really good reviews and it is now officially for sale from my Ravelry store, just click on the photo if your interested. I have made this scarf so many times it is a real favourite and the beauty of its you can make it for gifts all year round and what with Christmas soon approaching (I know I'm sorry) it would make a lovely handmade gift.

I have also finished my 12 point star blanket in white, blue and silver and I shall share that tomorrow when I have sorted out weaving in the ends and taking photo's. I hope the sun is shining where ever you are in the world, we have been waiting a long time for it so I'm going to sit in the garden while weaving in my ends. Happy Friday everyone x