Category: crochet

Rainbow Crochet Granny Square Pattern…

rainbow-rugHere’s a new crochet pattern for you to try… a very easy scrap yarn crochet rug (afghan) pattern, ideal for the less experienced but also great fun for the more advanced.

The finished rug (afghan) as featured in the photo measures approx 117cm (46”) x 117cm (46”) & each individual square measures approx 18 cm (7”) x 18 cm (7”). This, of course, may vary depending on your choice of yarn & hook.

Requirements for rainbow rug (afghan) pattern as featured in photo: 200g of each: yellow, orange, red, purple, blue, green – 400g grey – Hook size: 4.50 (US: G)

Make as many squares as you need depending on your project – a little cot cover, a medium TV knee rug or a king size bedspread.

Although I’ve given yarn & hook requirements, this is your project – work with your own preferred yarn, colours & appropriate hook.

pink rainbow2pink rainbow1blue rainbow1blue rainbow22 tone rainbow12 toned rainbow2rainbow1rainbow2rainbow3rainbow4rainbow5rainbow6

 This pattern is available for sale on Etsy & Ravelry

Freeform Crochet Headband, Ear warmer or Cowl, Neck warmer….

rainbow 2 headband/cowl Here are 3 new women’s freeform ear warmer/headbands, or.. are they cowl/neck warmers,  that I finished this week & are now available for sale on Etsy. I used beautiful Artisan rainbow yarns with long variegations & just love working with them… for their colour combinations, durability & softness. These are always popular pieces, which is just as well because I really enjoy making them… blue purple cowl headbandrainbow headband cowl

Tapestry Crochet – 64 Playful Patterns for Children… Book Release….

Tapestry_coverFrontXI’m so happy to announce the release of my latest pattern book ‘Tapestry Crochet, 64 playful patterns for children’, published by Sally Milner Publishing.

This book is another crochet sampler & my aim is to introduce readers to yet another crochet technique & encourage avid experienced crocheters & beginners alike to try something new, expand their repertoire & enjoy themselves with some colourful, fun designs.

Utilising all 64 patterns will result in a rug (afghan) approx 152cm x 152cm (60” x 60”) in size but there is no reason why you can’t choose a selection of favourites (say 30 to 36 squares) for a smaller knee rug (afghan) or, by putting together just 4 squares you’ll have a colourful cushion face.

The patterns are divided into 8 sections:

(1) Figures & letters ~ (2) Signs & symbols ~ (3) Children & toys ~ (4) Transport (5) Fruit & veg ~ (6) Around the house ~ (7) This & that ~ (8) Birds & animals

so you can please yourself which designs suit your project… be it for a boy or girl, baby, young child or teenager… or even work just a few patterned squares alternated with plain coloured squares…

In Tapestry Crochet (as in Intarsia/Jacquard) a chart, graph or grid is used instead of written instructions for coloured patterns. Each square equals a stitch, each line equals a row and each blank square equals the main colour. Follow grids from the bottom and read right-side rows from right to left and wrong-side rows from left to right. All squares are worked in double crochet [dc] (US: single crochet [sc]). And, for reader convenience, I have written the required number of stitches for each colour, with arrows indicating row direction.   tapestry_rug   I’m really pleased to be able to bring you this collection of Tapestry designs & I hope it gives you hours of creative enjoyment – Renate

Aussie Inspired… A women’s handbag

red gum bag 1This piece is one that I finished recently where I’ve attempted to impart the colours of Australia into a woman’s handbag…. the purple blues of the sky, blue greens of the ocean & the vibrancy of our  fascinating bush in its winter glory. red gum bag 2         Freeform crochet Gum leaf motifs, red bullion gum blossoms, metallic buttons, an assortment of beads & Vilene patches were melded together to create this  Australian inspired piece… a medium size women’s handbag lined in a Royal Blue satin, with sturdy twisted cane recycled/repurposed handles – you can find this bag in my Etsy Shop

Crochet Felt Cloche Hats with flowers… another collection

olive green crochet felt hatHello everyone, this is my new collection of crochet felt cloche hats with flowers that I finished a couple of months ago with only the photos needing to be taken before I could post about them & list them in my shops. There were 10 in all originally, but 3 have sold before I even had time to photographed them, so thought I better get a move on, otherwise, I’ll have no record that I ever made them at all.

I’m so pleased that his crochet felt cloche design is proving to be so popular. They were created in the usual way as I’ve written about in previous posts… using 100% pure wool I crocheted the crowns, which are then felted in the washing machine. I crochet the band directly to the felted crown. The flowers are first crocheted, again with 100% pure wool, & then embellished with crochet, embroidery & beads before being attached to the hat. For this collection I also came up with a plaited crochet braid that I’ve attached to each cloche between the band & crown… I think it adds a nice touch…

It always amazes me… I use the same technique… crochet, felt, embellish… yet, no 2 are ever the same…

Over the coming days, I’ll be listing these cloche hats in my Etsy shop

pink olive crochet felt hatlilac crochet felt hatblue crochet felt hatblack & white crochet felt hatpink crochet felt hatpurple blue crochet felt hat