Super soft ripple stitch crochet scarf

I loved making this crochet ripple stitch scarf. I always find ripple stitch relaxing to do as soon as I get that first crucial row right! I start all my crochet designs with a visit to my yarn and wool room. I put together different colour yarns by choosing my favourite colours and watching trends in fashion and interior design.

One of the things I love about crochet is how easy it is to use up odd balls of yarn, left over from  bigger projects or purchases from the rummage basket in my favourite wool shop.

I had some Louisa Harding Aimee left over from a baby blanket and also some lovely Louisa Harding Willow which I had bought a year ago. This was just 2 balls which I found in the rummage box and I bought it knowing that at some time I would find a use for it!

Ripple Stitch Crochet Scarf

Last year I made a lovely ripple stitch cushion and it gave me the idea for a scarf. By making the scarf widthways I figured the scarf would be quite stretchy and luckily this worked out. I managed to grab some late summer sunshine sitting in the garden with the dogs and most of the scarf was made before an autumn wind made the garden too cold.

Ripple Stitch Crochet Cushion

I always use combinations of different yarns when I am making projects. It always makes the finished item look different and special. It does take a little care, but as long as you keep the weights the same you will be OK. I wanted a luxurious feel to the scarf and by sticking to my ‘use quality yarns’ when you can’ principle the result is just that. The combination of cashmere, alpaca, silk and Merino gives a beautiful soft plush scarf, perfect for Autumn and Winter!

It is strange how some unlikely combinations of colours look good together once you put them alongside each other or crochet up a sample and this was the case with this scarf. The two shades of pink Aimee always looked good together in my wool basket, but I wasn’t sure about the blue. Once I added in the Willow yarn they all look lovely together and made a subtle combination.

Never one to use a simple pattern I adapted a traditional ripple stitch pattern by adding some popcorn stitches and using double crochets and trebles. What do you think?

To order your ripple stitch pattern click here.....

My Flower Bag

You know how it is..... A new book of crochet patterns sets you off to a head full of ideas. This happened to me about a month ago. I have plenty of patterns for crochet flowers and patterns incorporating flowers, some of these are new and some are vintage. But its always good to see new ideas or older motifs used in new ways.

About the same time I'd also made a visit to one of my favourite wool shops 'Little Lamb' in Helmsley in North Yorkshire and rummaged in the 'odd balls' basket. I came away with some Sirdar Sunggly, Sirdar Crofter Sirdar Bamboo. The bamboo I particularly like, it has a lovely sheen.

I could instantly see how good a pattern for small flowers would look made in the bamboo. I'd chosen a rusty red colour for the bamboo, rust for the Sunggly and a blue/rust mix for he Crofter. Putting my ideas and inspiration from the new book together with the lovely Sirdar yarn and I decided to design a holdall. My reason was to have another  place for my crochet projects. I already have the shelves in my work room, a large basket with a current project or design, another basket with a commission I am working on, but you can never have enough!

I  started by creating some of the flowers and trying out the Sirdar Snuggly in double crochet (US single crochet) and borrowed a cross over treble stitch I'm using for a throw. The pattern for the holdall is now in my Ravelry store.....

The holdall was lovely to make and I spent some very relaxing warm summer evenings in the garden with the dogs.

Pink Crochet Hanger

This is the second child's crochet hanger I designed and made made for a friend. This one is also in double crochet but with a slight difference. The flowers are interesting as you can change their appearance by changing the double trebles into popcorn stitches which I love making!

I have a feeling that these won't be the last little hangers I make! the pattern is available for downlaod from my Ravelry store.

Baby pink crochet hanger for friends baby

This sweet baby pink hanger I designed for a baby or toddler and makes a lovely gift. It's quick and easy to make. I added some bows to make it extra special, crochet flowers would also look very nice.

It came about as a friend's daughter is pregnant and I wanted to make and give an original gift, something pretty (it's a girl) and something that would be seen and used.  Both the baby's grandmothers are great knitters so I know they will be making blankets, jackets and hats, so I had to make something a bit different.

While I was working out what I could do I went into my wardrobe and saw some covered hangers my mother had made for me many years ago. My mother was a pretty basic crocheter but the way she made the hangers and the use of colours means they are very pretty and practical too. Clothes don't snack on them and as they are made using wooden hangers clothes keep their shape well.

I hit on the idea of making some hangers for the baby. Surprisingly I easily found some wooden baby sized coat hangers easily, essential for this pattern. I tried out a few designs and a few test covers before I got the sizes and shape right.

The finished pattern is suitable for beginners and is quick to make. Covering the hangers with wadding first is crucial to create a soft springy effect. I added small pink bows to this ones, but other ones I made ( I made a set of six!) have crochet  flowers, some of which I've grouped together.

You can buy the pattern from my Ravelry shop, just click on the link!

Crochet Flower Embelishments

As you know by now I love embelishments, those little extras that make your crochet project something very special! This time I'm looking at flowers. There are so many lovely designs and any number of ways to use them. It's very easy to design your own and adapt existing designs, changing colours, working into the back of stitches and grouping together can all turn an existing design into your own original crochet flower..

I came across this flower design which is very simple to make, this group are for a crochet bag I'm working on at the moment. http://mamachee.com/

and I wanted to share with you one of my own flower designs.

This flower is very easy to make. I made the one in the picture using Bergere de France Coton with a 2.5mm crochet hook.

Start with 8 chain. Join with a slip stitch to form a ring. 2 chain, into the ring make 16 double crochet (single crochet). Join with skip stitch into top of first chain.

Next row 2 chain 1 double crochet (single crochet), 12 chain, 1 treble (double crochet) into 6th chain from the hook, 1 treble (double crochet) into next 7 chain. 1 double crochet (single crochet) into next double crochet (single crochet) of previous row. Repeat to end, 8 petals. Join with slip stitch to top of first chain, fasten off.

Here are a few ways I've used crochet flowers

Designing a crochet throw

What yarn to use?

• Use the best yarn you can get and afford for a better finish, bigger choice of colours, easier to work with, better dyes so better colours
• What thickness your yarn? I like double knit but the choice is yours - thinner grows more slowly but shows more definition
• Using scraps - throws are an amazing way to use up scraps of wool. If I'm doing this I like to have one or two main colours, this brings your designs together saving it from a messy finish.
• Using the same brands and mixing thicknesses. I always mix brands in throws because I like the choice of colours textures you can get. Sometimes I use sock wools for the lovely blends you get in one ball, sometimes I use them as double thickness.
• Do dye colours matter? I've only once fallen foul of dye colours. Because throws are usually multi coloured different dye lots don't usually matter. 

How to Design a Crochet Throw

Do you dream of creating your own original crochet throw or cushion? Something special for your home or family that becomes your own heritage project? Designing and making an original cushion or throw can be much more than usng a pattern and simply changing the colours suggested.

However experienced or inexperienced in crochet you are designing your own crochet items is much easier than you think. A whole world of opportunities to create something truly original exists and you don't have to a creative genius to do. Even something as simple as changing colours or the layout of motifs and your crochet throw will look completely different from the original pattern.

Planning and designing is exciting! Pulling together yarns, ideas and patterns and motifs you love is very inspiring. then beginning my throws or cushions. will the finished item look exactly how I expected it to look, will I make some changes as I get into the project?  Planning is the first stage and it will save you time and money and means you will finish up with something you really love and is exactly what you want.

Throws can be square, oblong or round. Cushions might be square, round, small large, bolster style or small and delicate for your bedroom. Where will your finished crocheted item it go? Is it for your lounge, sun room or window seat.

Cushions, throws and blankets for children need to be softer while throws for outside need to be more robust. Are you going to use double knitting, Arran or 4 ply weight. Children's blankets look lovely in soft 4 ply.

The finer the yarn the greater the definition of the crochet stitches and you will have more opportunity to bring in colours and stitches. Use a thicker yarn and your project will grow more quickly, so if your impatient or are new to crochet, this might be the way to go.

Are you planning to use up all those balls of wool and yarn in your work basket. Are you going to use one type of yarn or would you like to introduce something special, such as a tweed finish, multi colour or yarn with a different content from your main yarn. It will have to be the same weight but it can be very effective. Do you want to make your throw or cushion to be made using motifs or in one piece or a combination of motifs and in the round.