MICROCKNIT CREATIONS

Friday 11 February 2011

Perfect Heart Mania!

Perfect Heart Projects

Obsessive Behaviour? That's me!
Its seems I have become a little bit, only a little bit, obsessed with my "perfect heart" crochet pattern - well, only when I have been home and not out walking or touring. I just want to see how many different ways I can use this crochet heart pattern. My brain has got a pile of ideas but I have a reluctance to even try some of those ideas - mainly because my general philosophy for crocheting is to make things that are useful and practical. Yes, I may admire those artistic crocheters who crochet up cup cakes and other odd vegetables and fruits - but for me it is not the direction I want to go!

Big Heart Effort
In the last week, my crochet hours have been limited and my time has been filled with other things. But as soon as I had the chance I was trying different yarns and deciding on ways to turn my perfect hearts into a useful, practical item.

Of course my most basic use of the heart is:

Perfect Heart Motif/Brooch

No.1: attach heart to a hat, scarf, bag, whatever.

No. 2: my favourite use make two hearts, join and fill with dried lavender, to hang in the wardrobe. I really like these lavender pouches and I am glad I have a good supply of lavender which I bought last summer from the Norfolk Lavender Farm.

Perfect Heart Lavender Pouch

No. 3: making heart decos, make two hearts, join together, make a chain loop, and attach to handbag, keyring, hang on tree, make a garland.

No. 4: make a wristband, headband, belt etc. and attach a heart motif.

I am thinking of writing up and posting this wristband pattern. Anyone interested?

Let me know.

No. 5: still working on it.... thinking cap is on and crochet hook is working....

All this talk about hearts reminds me of a fantastic poem written by E.E. Cummings:

i carry your heart with me

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in

my heart)

i am never without it (anywhere

i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done

by only me is your doing, my darling)

i fear

no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want

no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)

and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows

higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

Heart me! I love it!

Friday 4 February 2011

Perfect Hearts - Filling you with Love

crochet patterns, how to crochet, hearts, hearts garland, hearts bunting, hearts motifs,

Day of the Restless!

I was feeling a bit fidgety yesterday, must have something to do with the New Moon! I was not at all inspired to finish writing out the instructions for one of my baby hat designs, and I was totally indecisive about what kind of crochet hat to work on next.

Instead, I spent some time flicking through cook books, flicking through self-help books, found some great stuff again from Louise Hay. Yes, she is my favourite, you know all that love stuff, love thyself, honour thyself, all is well in the world. Which lead me to designing the thinking about designing a crochet HEART.

Ages ago, I used to have a great little heart pattern which I used to attach as a motif or as a brooch to my crochet hats. The simple heart pattern was the centre of a crochet granny square, however, this pattern is now buried somewhere in one of my storage boxes back in Australia. AND for the life of me I can't remember how the pattern went.

crochet patterns, how to crochet, hearts, hearts garlands, hearts bunting, hearts motifs,

And try as I may, I have not found a heart pattern which is as good, or simple, or as pleasing.

So, whilst watching "Farscape" last night (yes, it's a Sci-Fi TV series from the late 1990's - which I have not seen before). I came up with this cute little heart pattern, easy and quick, and a very pleasing heart shape (even if I say so myself) and it's not too complex.

I hope you find it useful. Do try it, AND let me know what you think.

Crochet Heart Pattern:
Yarn: Patons 100% Cotton DK OR any other similar yarn
Hook: 3.5mm
Terminology: US
Gauge: not so important, but I recommend using a hook half to one size smaller than recommended on yarn label.

Perfect Heart Motif for use as:

a heart motif, heart applique,
make it into a brooch by joining two hearts together and then attach a brooch backing;
join two hearts, make a chain loop and fill with lavender, to hang in your wardrobe;
make loads of hearts and join with a chain to make a crochet heart garland, or heart bunting.

I am sure you will find other ways to use this crochet heart pattern.

PERFECT HEARTS CROCHET PATTERN
is available from my online stores

LOVECROCHET RAVELRY CRAFTSY

CIAO, CIAO !

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Thursday 3 February 2011

Tropical Fruits - good enough to eat!

crochet baby hats, how to crochet, crochet patterns, catherine wheel, harlequin stitch, hats,

Nature's Colours!

Nature provides us with amazing spectacular colours present in the beauty of fruits, vegetables and flowers. There is colour all around us, and I just love the variety and vibrancy of colours on show.

I love roaming around farmers' markets and admiring all the wonderful colours of fruits and vegetables - greens, oranges, reds, purples, yellows - and my favourite colours can be found amongst the amazing tropical fruits: mango; passionfruit; pawpaw (papaya); kiwi to name a few. All these vibrant coloured fruits and vegetables just for us to eat and enjoy. Yummy!

Fruity Inspiration!

While doing a bit of travelling around historical Kent, I came across some amazing vibrant yarn colours which made me think about tropical fruits and also inspired my design for the next crochet hat for your baby/toddler.

Probably the one thing I really miss, here in the UK, is the abundance of fresh tropical fruits which were available in my hometown of Byron Bay, Australia. I used to love just stepping out the back door and picking a papaya off the tree or a passionfruit off the vine! So fresh and so delicious!

OK so I apologize I am getting a bit sidetracked, I will return to talking about crochet and vibrant yarn colours.

Yarn and Pattern Stitch!

The yarn is King Cole Bamboo Cotton DK and they have some amazing colours, beautifully deep, warm shades or pastels, you can check out the colour chart here.

King Cole Bamboo Cotton DK is a naturally special 50/50 bamboo and cotton blend. It is soft and smooth on the skin and will create garments with an elegant, fluid drape.

I found this bamboo cotton yarn is just perfect for crochet hats for baby, toddler, teen or adult, and with spring around the corner, I am convinced these colours are just begging to be displayed.

Shrimp, Green and Violet, are the colours I used for my new hat design, which reminds me of tropical fruits. Doesn't it look delicious?

Harlequin or Catherine Wheel?

The pattern stitch I used is Harlequin stitch, which is very similar to the Catherine Wheel stitch and I think it is just the perfect stitch for a multi-coloured project.