Category: Ravelry

Fingerless Mittens with ribbed cuff & bobbled wrist… warm hands, nibble fingers…

I often have to pinch myself because I really am so fortunate to be living in one of the most beautiful places in the world… gorgeous, lush tropical foliage, flowers & brightly feathered birds & the sun shines almost every day… so, it might surprise many of you to know that I’ve become a bit of a complainer of late… ‘This year’s winter has been COLD…’ or am I just becoming more woosy & sensitive with age?

In any case, as I sit at my computer, something I seem to be doing more & more, my fingers icy cold & numb, I decided I needed some fingerless mittens that would keep my hands warm but my fingers free for the keyboard… something practical yet stylish (in case I have to answer the door… ha!) – after much thought, working out, doing & re-doing… Voilà… I came up with what I trust is an easy, quick & versatile Fingerless Mittens with Ribbed Cuff & Bobbled Wrist pattern…. The mittens take very little time to make, a frugal amount of yarn & I’ve made them with all sorts of 8ply yarn with consistent results.

They make lovely gifts too & are a great little item for fundraisers – I hope you’ll give this new pattern a go – warm hands & nibble fingers… how can you not?  Enjoy!

The pattern includes:

  • the mitten/cuff pattern, 3 different edging patterns & the crochet flower pattern
  • both UK & US terminology
  • clear stitch drawings & pattern diagrams (charts)

Although it’s not imperative to work differently for right & left hand mittens, I have, nevertheless, giving instructions for both right & left hand mitten because I personally like the cuff join to be on the inside wrist – if this doesn’t matter to you then just follow instructions for either right or left, the cuff instruction are the same for both.

Size: suit most adult women

Requirements:

approx 50/75grams 8 ply for one pair (depending on yarn used)

Hook size: 5.00 (US H)

When custom orders are a delight…

 

Janet - Freeform Crochet Vest

Some months ago a lovely return Etsy customer asked me if I could make her a vest in a specific size & nominated colours….

I’m always hesitant about taking on custom orders mainly because I’m never sure how a project will work out – Freeform has a habit of going off in all sorts of directions & not always in the direction I’m aiming towards ~ that hat I’m working on can quite easily lose its way & work better as a bag or vice versa ~ &, although I truly love this part of the Freeform process it can be a rather daunting when I really do have to stay on target…..

It took a while to make & there were a few moments of self-doubt from time to time, but it’s done & dusted now & this delight plum toned vest is off to its new home in the USA where the gorgeous lady is anxiously waiting for its arrival….

I’m super pleased with the results.

Freeform Home Decor…

OK, I know I’ve made cushion covers before so they’re not really something new but I had forgotten just how much I enjoy playing within the limits of the circle/square (no going out of the lines, like when you were a kid & colouring in) – keep in mind the design… colour, texture, form – where to fill in & where to leave spaces. After my usual willy-nilly-freeforming & doing as I please, staying within the lines is actually more challenging than I remember.

Creating your own freeform cushion covers is a lot of fun, not only because you have a ready made template, but you can really let your imagination fly & bring together some of those much loved crafts that you also like to do as a change of pace… the felting, dyeing, beading & sewing… these cushion covers do take a lot of time but, I think you’ll agree, they look fabulous & will certainly brighten the world with colour & textural happiness…

Metamorphosis: Scrumptious Plum tones bring this gorgeous Freeform Crochet Cushion Cover alive …

A lavish array of Vilene, machine & wet felted patches, felt beads, crochet motifs & glass bead embellishments have been sewn directly onto a pre-made cushion cover leaving lots of spaces for the original cover fabric to show through.

Metamorphosis is avalaible for sale in my Etsy Shop

Tropical Seas: Freeform Fabric created in vibrant blues & greens with a scattering of glass beading, sparkles… just like a tropical sea…

Tropical Seas is avalaible for sale in my Etsy Shop

The Lattice Scarf with Berries – Crochet Pattern

A special friend’s birthday was coming up, she knows my stuff, so I had to find something different… well I didn’t have to but I did want to make her something extra special that she hadn’t seen before.

Hurray!! My friend loved it but unfortunately, I forgot to take photos … no worries, I loved it too… so much so that I decided I wanted one for myself – same yarn different colour [Patons Sorrento viscose/cotton blend]

It’s become an instant hit – the scarf isn’t too long, it’s lightweight & has a wonderful drape… whenever I wear it people ask me ‘where did you get it?’ & isn’t it nice to be able to say… ‘I made it’

So, of course, you guessed it I just had to write it down – the pattern is now available for sale from Ravelry, Etsy, Zibbet & Artfire

~ For those of you who can’t wait & don’t want to make it yourselves, I have ready made Lattice Scarves in various colours available from my Etsy & Zibbet shops so please, come in a have a browse…

The Lattice Scarf with Berries is a fabulous, super easy crochet pattern. The finished item is funky & fun &, because it’s made on the diagonal, has a beautiful drape.

I’ve included 3 different bobble patterns to suit any skill level &, although I’ve given yarn/hook recommendations (with a preference for 8 ply cotton), this pattern can be worked in your yarn/hook of choice & will still give you perfect results

The pattern includes:

  • the scarf pattern & 3 different Berry Bobble patterns
  • is written in both UK & US terminology
  • has clear stitch drawings & pattern diagrams (charts)

Cheeky Freestyle Crochet Vest/Top….

The idea for this cheeky freestyle crochet vest/top has been mulling around in my head for months &  I’m overjoyed to have finally finished it but now that it’s in front of me, I’m not entirely sure if it’s a vest, a top or perhaps a half jumper (sweater).

In any case, I was so happy with the result that I made another one just to prove to myself that it wasn’t a fluke.

Here’s what I did for No 1….

Gathered together a collection of complementary yarns (10 in all) & chose a large crochet hook [12mm] then, on my dressmakers dummy, I measured from the centre front to under the arm across the hip, approx 32 cm [12 1/2″] & made a chain.

From here on I worked in rows of dc [US sc] & tr [US dc] (not necessarily in that order), alternating yarns at random & increasing on one side only until it measured approx 79 cm [31″] across the top (shoulders)

~ I made 2 of these sort of triangles ~

From there it’s just a matter of sewing or crocheting the 2 pieces together across the top leaving a space for the neck opening & doing the same along the straight seam from the bottom up & leaving a space for the arm hole… done… well almost…. I just couldn’t leave well enough alone & decided to add some interesting tassels on each end of the sleeves.

The Cheeky Vest/top No 1 is available for sale in my Etsy shop

For No 2… I worked in the same way but I used only one yarn, the beautiful Noro Silk Garden yarn & No 9 (M/N) hook, this one turned out a bit longer in length but that’s OK because I’m keeping it for myself…

So there you go… something new to try out for yourself… experiment with yarns, hook size & stitches… easy enough to do & lots of pleasure & creativity in the process.. have fun…