Aurinkokehra Yarn

Every now and then a really special yarn comes along, something that stands out from the rest. I found just such a yarn, Aurinkokehra, tucked away on a stall at Yarndale this year and I fell in love with the colour of a hank on the display, a subtle pink/deep lavender blend.

Aurinkokehra Yarn comes in a range of weights from chunky to double knit and 4ply. I used the 4ply not a weight I usually use,  but with the subtle blend of colours in a lightweight warm yarn, I knew it would be perfect for a delicate crochet scarf.

The yarn is produced from 100% Finish combed wool yarn and all the yarns are naturally dyed from ecologically and ethically produced dyes. The twenty colours as a result are extraordinarily bright yet subtle blends with some more contrasting colours. The blended colour hanks are irresistible!
Aurinkokehra Yarn produces 360m per 100gm hank and I used a 2mm hook to make the lacy shoulder scarf.

Buy direct from Finland at http://vanjasea.valmiskauppa.fi/aurinkokehra-solid-colors-360-c-45_61_62_83.html

Aurinkokehra Yarn 4ply is perfect for crochet shawls and would make lovely light weight crochet jackets. The thicker weights would be ideal for crochet hats and chunkier scarves.

Find women's crochet cowl scarf made with aurinkokehra yarn here.....

Not all Crochet motifs have to be square or round

Choosing a crochet project with motifs has many benefits. Firstly you can make a motif when time is short, secondly you can crochet on the go and lastly motif based crochet projects grow quickly. Traditionally we make motifs square or round, but not all motifs have to be shaped this way. With a little imagination you can add a new quality to your crochet projects and give yourself more design options with more unusual shaped motifs.

Irish and free style crochet traditionally use free form shapes and you can use these for inspiration. Don’t think that anything other than a square or round motifs will be difficult to make or difficult to crochet together. Triangular motifs for example can be easily fitted together to make a square giving you flexibility to create spectacular designs with the colours you use.

Joining together
As with square or round motifs you have many options when joining your more unusual shaped motifs together.  You can add a filler to make joining easier and this works well with crochet shawls. Base your filler on the centre of your main motif. Most non square or round motifs start in the same way with the same basis as square and round motifs, allowing you to use the middle part of your main motifs to create your filler. Check out my fan shawl to see how this works.

As with more traditional motifs you can use a lacy stitch to join your motifs together or use a simple slip stitch join motifs.  Alternatively stitch your motifs together and doing this will create a denser effect to your finished project. The motifs of my peacock scarf crochet were crocheted  together to create a pretty ridge effect.

If all else fails and you would like to make a throw or shawl using more unusually shaped motifs but  lack the confidence to do this, you can turn your square motifs on their side to create diamonds. You don’t even have to make filers just leave the edge of your throw jagged to give a pretty effect.

Creating your design
As with square or round motifs make your unusual shaped motifs plain or multi coloured or use plain motifs with a different or blended coloured joining stitch. Graph paper does help create designs with more unusually shaped motifs and I sometimes make a few motifs and experiment to work out the best way to join them together. You can use this method as the basis for creating shawls, throws and blankets. Make four or six motifs and find the best way to join these together then use multiples of the six motifs together to create your project.

Crochet Rugs

One of the things I love about crochet is the number of different things you can create and make with knowledge of just a few stitches and techniques. Given the choice of yarns now available we are spoilt for choice with our crochet projects!

Crochet rugs are one of my favourite projects and are surprisingly quick to make. You can make crochet rugs for bathrooms, children’s bedrooms (using a picture based design works well for this) and kitchens.

Make your rug square, rectangular, round or oblong. If you are making your rug rectangular you can work your design horizontally or vertically to create two distinct and very different looks. Working horizontally along the length of your rug gives a longer look to your finished rug. See my pink/green rug pattern. 

Use cotton rich yarn for your rug it’s tough, hardwearing and washable. Sugar n Cream is perfect.  There is a fabulous choice of plain and blended colours. I like to limit the number of colours I use in the rugs I make, overall this creates a more stylish finish. You can also use jute based yarns and recycled t shirt material works well for rag rug style crochet rugs.

Keep your rug design simple, geometric designs look good, but your crochet rug is by no means limited to this type of design. Making a square or rectangular consider using motifs. For round crochet rugs I sometimes use vintage doily patterns. If you are using doily or fine crochet mat patterns just scale up, but be warned you often have to simplify these.  Use textured stitches or Mandela patterns look amazing used to create rugs.

Reduce the number of holes in my crochet rugs or at least make sure they are small to reduce trip hazards. You can add an edging if you like and this works really well on circular rugs.See the pattrn for my blue Sugar n Cream rug.....

Doulton Border Leicester Review

Doulton Border Leicester comes in 100gm skeins and the DK has 200metres per skein. 100% pure worsted spun wool, is gorgeous quality with excellent stitch definition and does not split when crocheting. This is not a prickly wool yarn!

This range of yarn from a rare breed herd of sheep includes 4ply, DK and Aran. The range also includes a mini skein selection, all close blends that have won a wool award, good for a try out of this lovely quality yarn.

I used a 3.5mm hook but a 4mm or 4.5mm would work with the DK. The full range of colours includes blues, oranges, brown, greens and a gorgeous lilac. All the colours are cleverly and carefully blended so any two colours will work well together. Check out the purple and orange I’ve used here. This yarn would be good for crochet scarves, hats and throws.

Buy direct from Doulton, visit the site here, or visit them at one of the many wool, yarn and craft events they attend around the UK. If you are into knitting they have a lovely collection of exclusive patterns and knitting kits. Buy here.....

How to Create Picture Crochet

Otherwise known as Intarsia you can use picture crochet to create a variety of crochet projects. For example one large crochet image for a cushion or a bag or make smaller motifs for cushions and scarves. You can use any weight of yarn for Intarsia crochet, but DK (light worsted) and 4ply (sport weight) work best. You will need to use a yarn with a good stitch definition or your design will be lost. Once you have perfected the yarn change of Intarsia using this style of crochet makes easy crochet projects as usually only one stitch is used, usually dc’s (sc’s).

Intarsia hints and tips

If you are using multiple colours wind small balls to reduce ‘taffle’
Start with two colour designs to build your confidence
Always carry the yarn across the back of your work
Don’t crochet over the yarn you have carried across the back or you will create double thickness fabric
For long stretches of one colour ‘catch up’ the yarn once or twice to avoid long stretches of yarn strands
Take care not to pull up your work as you carry the yarn across the back of your work

For an example of picture crochet see large square cushion

What can you make using Intarsia Crochet?

• Cushions
• Bags look fantastic using Intarsia designs check out Wayuu bags from Columbia and South America on Pinterest
• Scarves with snowflakes
• Tartan cushions and scarves
• Cushions with flowers
• Flowers and leaves work well
• Animals such as cats, dogs, rabbits work well as do birds and look great on children’s clothing
• Contemporary designs such as triangles, zigzags and oblongs

Where to find inspiration and original design ideas?

Anything that can be turned into a grid will work, cross stitch patterns with grids are a good resource or you can place a grid over an image you like. The design you choose shouldn’t be too complicated as it is difficult to create shades with crochet. Check that the grid will fit your crochet work, use 1 stitch on the grid as one or two stitches in your crochet. Crochet Patchwork Bag. 

How to crochet an evening Bag

Given that there are so many stunning yarns available some with sequins, some with metallic threads running through them and silk and mohair blends crochet evening bags can be as stunning and as sophisticated as any shop versions. They can make quick to make crochet projects for proms and weddings outfits for yourself or for gifts.

What shape to make your evening bag?
Clutch style bags are very easy to construct. Basically you just need one long strip of crochet with enough crochet to fold over to form a flap. I like to add a decorative edge to the flap of my bags and to the sides. If you decide to add a decorative edge to the side of your bag you can crochet your bag together saving time on sewing! You can also insert decorative rows, such as rows of clusters or shells into the long strip of crochet as you go along.

Round shaped evening bags are very pretty and the easiest way to make them is with five motifs, one for the bottom and four for the sides. This also has the benefit of giving you an endless choice of motifs and designs to choose from. Use a see through lacy motif and make your bag lining a fundamental part of your design.

Alternatively round evening bags can be made by using a round base and then building up the sides. Make your base plain and make the sides decorative with popcorn stitches or front and back posts. Start with 8dc’s (sc’s) and increase on each row beginning with an increase in every stitch. Then increase in every other stitch, into every second, then third and so on. Stop increasing to work up the sides.

Which yarn to use for your bag?
It’s surprising that even a wool based yarn can produce a lovely bag. Try a sequin yarn or one with a sparkly thread running through it or a silk blend for a touch of luxury. I like to use Double knit (light worsted yarn) but 4 ply or chunky would work just as well. Yarns with soft sheens make very elegant crochet evening bags, Sirdar Baby Bamboo DK (light worsted) is ideal as is Sirdar Toscana 100% cotton which is a gorgeous blended silky cotton. Cotton yarns make strong durable bags.

Crochet Evening Bag

Which stitches to use?
Double crochet (single crochets) stitches work well, as do half trebles (half double crochets) and these create a lovely ridge effortlessly. You can also use a looser stitch or open work lacy style crochet when the lining will show through and this can look very effective. Front and back row post stitches look good, create pretty ridges and are useful for defining changes in rows. For example use front posts trebles (dc’s) before you add a band of cluster stitches.

Finishing your bag
Always line your bag. This really does make the difference between a professional looking bag that will not only look better and be one that will last longer.  If you can line your bag with a cotton or cotton rich fabric to protect your work and to make your bag stronger.
Try to use a material lining that doesn’t fray. Satin or a satin stripe would look lovely as would a lining in a contrasting material to the crochet you have made. Line the base of your bag to prevent stretching and make sure you leave a small gap of crochet around the edge of your lining so you can stitch together.

Add a decorative fastening, a crochet flower or crochet button and you can also add beads to your yarn to crochet them in as you go along. Add a centre button or flower with a loop for a fastening . Add a decorative draw string to the top of tour bag with an oversized tassel and handle.
Handles crochet or bought?

Crochet Evening Bag

I like strong carrying handles on the bags I make and there are different ways to achieve this. You can make a strip of crochet using dc’s (sc’s) for your handle and double it over when finished by stitching the sides together.  Alternatively use your yarn double, doing this creates a lovely strong tweed style effect. You can also buy leather and wooden handles in craft stores and these work well.

Another alternative is to make thinner handles by making a length of crochet and stitching around strong plastic tubing which you can buy from craft stores. I make shoulder straps in the same way as handles for some of my bags.

My favourite yarn for summer scarves

I love soft drapey summer scarves, cover ups and shawls! Not only do they protect your arms and keep you warm on cool evenings they bring elegance to summer wedding outfits and a touch of class for summer parties. The choice of yarn is critical to the finish you want so I choose with care. Here are my favourites. All my choices of my favourite yarns for summer scarves are cottons and cotton blends. Cotton is soft and cool and generally is easy care. The combination of cotton with other yarns, brings in other elements, whether you add it yourself or the blend is part of the yarn you use, such as warmth, softness, stretch and an easier more satisfying yarn to work with.

Who couldn’t love a cotton cashmere blend?  Soft 90% cotton and 10% cashmere Louisa Harding Azalea comes in a choice of subtle colours. Azalea has an elegant drape effect which you can see in the zig zag scarf I made. Azalea is perfect for beautiful warm weather knits and stunning shawls. As you would expect from a cotton yarn, it has fantastic stitch definition.  Lovely on its own I used with another cotton yarn Toscana my number 2 favourite.

Sirdar Toscana Strong is a cool silky blended yarn perfect for summer crochet projects. Strong and firm I used it for a gorgeous summer crochet cover up. Toscana is 100% cotton and machine washable. I love the very subtle colour effects of Toscana, it comes in a pale teal purple, a cream coral blend, a blue/grey blend, a very pretty red/teal/red,  cream/sea green, pale orange/red and a cream/lavender blend.

My number 3 favourite yarn for summer scarves and shawls is Drops cotton merino, blended with merino wool this light yarn combines the cool soft strength of cotton with the soft warmth of merino wool. in 50gm balls and 29 lovely shades, I love the cerise and powder pink which would make a lovely soft, warm scarf and the mustard yellow would work well with coral.

Debbie Bliss Summer Tweed is sold as DK (light worsted) but it feels more like a 4 ply to me. It comes in a lovely range of beautifully blended colours from violet, daisy, poppy, rose, begonia, marigold, honeysuckle and petal. I used honeysuckle for my summer shawl. The yarn has slubs which makes for a more interesting finish and gives an extra level of interest.

Debbie Bliss Eco baby is a Fair trade yarn and 100% organic cotton, perfect for anyone with allergies. The dye colours are non allergenic and non toxic, considering all of this it is well priced and perfect for delicate baby skins. However I love it for lacy shawls.

Rowan hand knit cotton in 50gm balls is 100% cotton and comes in fabulous range of colours its washable. This 100% cotton is a wonderful, soft yarn perfect for light, summery projects. It has great stitch definition perfectly. It is also available in a bright and pretty colour palette.