Just Clone Me!

I want to be cloned

Why isn't there another me? Another Barbara who can spend all the time she likes on the laptop keying in crochet patterns, sorting through photos, tagging everything (and I mean tagging EVERYTHING) and just getting everything organised?

I would like to spend my day exploring new crochet ideas, crocheting, playing with a variety of yarns, creating at my leisure, and jotting down pattern notes, which could be deciphered and turned into written patterns by the other me.  Where is this other me? 

CROCHET PROJECTS

Some days I look around and I have a stash of projects all finished and a notebook full of my scribbles and notes, and no inclination at all to sit down at the laptop and key it all in - I need help, I prefer to play with my crochet hook, not sit at the keyboard recording the steps!

PREVIEW of PATTERNS

Anyway here is a little snippet of some crochet patterns I am working on and when the urge to sit at the laptop for a few hours to write out the patterns occurs, they will be available for purchase and few will be FREE.

1. SEASIDE Crochet Doily and Coasters

This crochet doily and coasters set will be a great addition to my festive table come Christmas. I love the blues with the green, however, I may try making a set in a range of festive-type colours such as - yellow, pomegranate, fuschia and green. Wow it's only August and I am already thinking of Christmas!

PATTERN DETAILS:

Simple crochet doily and coasters pattern, colours of the sea, you can make them as colourful and festive as you like.

Two simple coaster patterns – both same size, but with a variation to number of rows worked and the stitch sequence. For that eclectic look!

YARN: Patons 100% Cotton DK

HOOK: 4.5mm

MEASUREMENTS:  Doily 11.5ins (29cms) diameter; Coasters 4.25ins (11cms) diameter 

I just love the amazing colour range Patons has available in this DK cotton yarn.  A good substitute yarn is Wendy Supreme Luxury Cotton DK.

FREE CROCHET PATTERNS  SEASIDE Doily and Coasters Crochet Patterns are available from my online stores RAVELRY and CRAFTSY

2. Crochet Mobius (Neckwarmer) and Mittens

Basically my thoughts have been focused on Christmas and the cold weather mainly because this summer has been lacking in warmth, just a wee bit. I am already thinking mittens and neckwarmers and doing a bit of work on my crochet MAN stuff, like crochet mobius for men with matching mittens. What do you think?

Unfortunately for this little project the yarn I used was a left-over from last winter and definitely a yarn I would not recommend, it's by Sirdar called Tweedie Chunky 40% Wool, 15% Alpaca and 45% Acrylic (I think it has been discontinued). I don't like the texture when it's crocheted - the feel is just too r-u-b-b-e-r-y, yep that's right rubbery. Why do they even bother making this awful stuff?

Anyway I made the mobius and one mitten and I hate it so much I have binned it, yeah it's that bad, honesty I couldn't even bring myself to feel comfortable giving it to a charity shop!

THERE IS NO PATTERN for this disaster!  I totally gave up trying to make it in another yarn, I was so put off by the texture and feel of this yarn. C'est la vie!

3. Chunky Mobius for THE MAN

Here is my favourite mobius pattern for men SHADOW named after the yarn I used.  It's a really nice chunky yarn Patons Shadow Tweed 56% Wool 40% Acrylic 4% Viscose. It's not exactly my favourite all natural fibre yarn, but my darling suffers with wool itchiness, no matter how it comes, merino wool, cashmere, or alpaca, you name it, he finds it itchy! go figure! So this is a nice bearable, non-itchy yarn for him to wear.  For substitute yarns check out this website: YARNSUB

SHADOW Crochet Mobius is a great Christmas gift, it can be made with only one skein (using 7mm hook) and Patons has a nice assortment of colours available in this yarn.  UPDATE: now discontinued check with YARNSUB website for substitute yarns.

I am seriously thinking about making a few more of these as quick gifts for Christmas, however even though it is only 56% wool it is still HAND WASH only, which can be an issue for some. 

SHADOW Mobius for Men Crochet Pattern is available from my online stores:  RAVELRY         CRAFTSY         ETSY

MORE CREATIVE IDEAS

There will also be a simple pattern coming soon of how to make a mobius headband with some basic shaping involved. I have made it with cotton yarn and before I release the new pattern want to also make it with wool. So it's something you will have to wait and see when I next post my blog. HERE IS A SNEAK PEAK PHOTO.

Well that's all for now, I am busy crocheting myself another sleeping beanie, oh yeah!

Ciao Ciao!

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Coffee Coaster Blues

"One of these days Alice!" bang!!! zoom!! pow!    "I'm gonna make you some coffee coasters".

Ideas brew!

I love the way ideas just fly into one's head. Rummaging through my stash I came across some cotton ribbon yarn - yes could be a sunhat but is there enough?  maybe, no not really. Oh hang on, there is also this bamboo yarn, ooh cool, just the perfect contrast too. OK, now what?  um let me handle it, play with the yarn that is, hmm hook size recommended is 5.5mm, no I think I will use a 6mm hook. 

This ribbon yarn will have just the right thickness and perfect for coasters. I wonder if I can get six (6) coasters out of one skein? Maybe try it, if not I can also make some from the dark blue ribbon yarn instead. OK let's go for it!

Time tells a story!

From conception to finish, these coasters were a "no brainer". Simple double crochet into a magic loop, for three (3) rounds, and then contrast single crochet and crab stitch to finish.

I like to "just crochet" sometimes. No patterns, no checking gauge, nothing to adhere to - I am free to go anywhere with this yarn and hook. Moments like these I have no thoughts, and I am totally consumed by the process of crochet, totally in the moment, I exist in the present and time is nowhere!  Simply heavenly crochet time!

I started these coasters on Wednesday afternoon and managed to make eight (8) coasters from 1 skein, that was a real bonus. I then decided to make a large centre piece, initial thoughts were to use on my circular tray when afternoon tea/coffee is served.  Good idea! 

Crazy Doily!

This large centre piece was quickly turning into hours of crochet and ripping, ripping and crochet, just experimenting with the stitches so I could make the yarn go further to get the perfect size centre piece to fit the tray.  Hey karumba!  I am starting to admire doily crocheters.  

OK so I was working without a pattern but really how difficult can it be?  You go round in circles right?  Too easy!  Well not so easy when asking a piece of circular crochet to lie flat, it becomes a challenge!  I could have easily done the increasing in the usual manner but then I would have ended up with a hexagon or an octagon and that is not what I was aiming for.  So changing from double crochet to a variety of V-sts and incorporating the contrast mocha bamboo to help bring the piece together was a bit of a "ripping" experience! Hahaha! So glad it is now finished, I literally spent hours. Phew!   Click HERE and watch

Moving along!

After this crochet centre piece triumph? or should I say marathon more like it, so many hours for something so basic, r e a l l y !  I am now keen to try my hand at doily patterns. No, I am not going to re-invent the wheel, I am going to find a pattern to work with. It will be something new to accomplish.

Square Heart!

Earlier in the week I also played around with placing my "perfect heart" into a square. Another small achievement with loads of hours of rip, rip, rip. Yes, it is definitely trial and error week, lucky me!

I believe I am getting a message from the crochet angels telling me to look at doily patterns. Thanks a lot, wish you told me before I started these two (2) projects. I am sure the creations would have been easier to work out with a bit of knowledge of doily construction.

I promise to keep you all posted on my search for a doily pattern which will inspire me!  

Ciao, Ciao

Copyright © 2008

Barbara Summers Hand Knit and Crochet.

All rights reserved.

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