Tag: crochet project

Maleny Knitfest 2018 – Fabulous Fibre Indulgence…

Hi everyone…The Maleny Knitfest 2018 is on again & just around the corner; 2 fabulous days of fibre indulgence. Sat, 30th June & Sun, 1st July.

The theme this year is Outer Space/Sci Fi. As in previous years, The Maleny Knitfest promises to be a fabulous weekend of gorgeous fibre fun, with workshops, exhibits, trade stalls, competitions & much more… so there’ll be something for everyone.

Maleny Knitfest 2018 is offering 30 workshops, which you can check out & book here, I’m sure you’ll find one to interest you; I’m told workshops are filling fast so don’t leave it too long & avoid disappointment. If you’d like to know more about this year’s presenters, you can see them here.

For those of you with a competitive spirit, why not give the competitions a go; individuals, groups & businesses can all enter… check out the categories here, It’s only $5 per entry & you can enter as many times as you like…

This year I will have a trade stall selling my freeform pieces, my books & patterns & presenting the following 2 workshops:

(1)  Title: 13 Novel Stitch Sampler workshop. Saturday 30 June 2018, full day session (10am to 12 noon,- 2 hr break, – 2pm 4pm?)

About the Workshop: This is one of my most popular workshops, covering the basics through to those interesting stitches you’ve always wanted to try: Clusters, Puff sts, Popcorns, Crab st, Bullions, Bent Bullions, Coil st. Off-set Clusters, & a Clone st Tassel – 13 different stitches in all, not counting chains & slip knots… Samplers are a fabulous way to learn new stitches & increase your crochet repertoire… Stitches are worked over a short 21 stitch row allowing you to move on to the next row quickly. However, I do encourage everyone to work at their own pace.

~ The worksop includes 4 pages of written patterns with 1 page crochet chart (graph), & 6 pages of stitch drawings & stitch instruction. Those of you who don’t know how to read crochet graphs (charts), here is the perfect opportunity to learn.

Requirements: it’s essential that participants have good basic crochet skills

~ bring along your own collection of hooks, (I prefer you to use the hook you’re most comfortable with)

~ I will supply pattern sheets (11 pages)

~ I will supply 8ply yarn,

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(2) Title: Crochet Flowers with a Difference. Sunday 1st July 2018, morning session (10am to 12 noon)

About the Workshop: An introduction to crochet flowers worked a little differently. Fun & practical motifs to enhance & decorate your projects: beanies, hats, scarves, thongs & shoes, headbands : turn them into brooches, garlands & lanyards: or anything your imagination can conjure up. This worksop includes 6 patterns, each a little different from the other. Patterns are in both written & graph (chart) form. You can make as many flowers as time allows

Requirements: 

~ it’s essential that participants have good basic crochet skills

~ bring along your own collection of hooks & a large-eyed darning needle

~ I will supply 6 patterns to choose from

~ I will supply some basic, plain coloured 8ply yarn, however, please feel free to bring along your own favourite colours & yarn

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For more information go to the Maleny Knitfest website & you can like Maleny Knitfest on Facebook 

I’m looking forward to a great weekend & hope to meet & greet you there…. cheers, Renate

Maleny Knitfest 2017… it’s on again!!

Hello everyone, the Maleny Knitfest is on again… Saturday 8th & Sunday 9th July, so, mark these dates on your calendar.

The theme for this year is “Under the Sea”

There will be trade & market stalls, yarnbombing, competitions, workshops & demonstrations… all things fibre – a fabulous feast for all of us who love the tactile fibre & yarnie Arts & Crafts: crochet, knitting felting, spinning & weaving & everything in-between & beyond.

I will have a trade stall selling my freeform pieces, my books & patterns & holding workshops on both mornings:

1) Crochet Spiral – The Basics – Saturday morning 8th July 10am to 12pm

2) Crochet Bullions Demystified – Sunday morning 9th July 10am tp 12pm

You can find out about presenters here & book into workshops here or enter a competition here

Bookings are essential as workshop spaces are limited so, don’t leave it too long to avoid disappointment.

Whether you choose a workshop, enter a competition, would like to see some talented fibre artists & their work or, just want a golly good day out with family & friends, I hope to see you there….

The following is quoted from the knitfest site

“Knitfest 2017 is an exciting weekend Yarn & Fibre Arts Festival held on 8th and 9th July, 2017, celebrating winter arts and crafts, embracing the whole community of Maleny. We will be yarnbombing and decorating the main street of Maleny which will come alive with yarnbombing, workshops, Guest Speakers, music and craft markets. It is a magical celebration for families and a time for young and old to discover new skills, talents and creativity with the use of yarns including knitting, crochet, basket weaving, spinning and weaving, felting and lots more. Get involved and join one of the many workshops. The town will literally be wrapped in art, as 7′ high sculptures made from fibre decorate our street!

The town will feature competitions for community groups, art associations and skilled artisans as they decorate posts and trees in our beautiful streetscapes with handmade art installations made of yarn and fibre. There’s prize money too!  There is also several competitions for the Best Beanie, Scarf, Shawl/socks, Tea Cosy etc. Ride the Mystic bus as it travels up and down the Festival Precinct and out to the best tourist locations Maleny has to offer. It’s yarnbombed of course. 

We encourage people to bring their knitting needles, crochet hooks and basket weaving skills for random acts of art in the street with the many demonstrations and art involvement in our cafes and Trade stalls. We want to expose the many Fibre artists, arts and crafts groups, knitting for causes groups, artisan groups and craft suppliers in a fun filled family weekend.

The theme for this year is “Under the Sea”.

We will celebrate all that is winter on the mountain.

Knitfest is a not For Profit Community Group run by volunteers. We rely on our wonderful sponsors and Community Grants for funding each year. The Knitfest Yarnbombing Team meet each Tues at 10am – 12pm at ‘The Garden’, 34 Mountain View Rd, Maleny to work on this year’s projects to decorate the town during the event. To sponsor the event, donate yarn or knitted/crocheted  pieces, please contact knitfest@hotmail.com

3 Crochet Ponchos & a Circular vest – using up large amounts of left-over yarn…

yarn left oversI simply love yarn; the rush you get when you find a new one. How colour and/or texture floods the mind & inspirations just flows in.

As a rule, when I’m in the process of purchasing yarn, in the back of my mind I’m always afraid that I won’t have enough for a single project, either a project in mind or a potential one that hasn’t been thought of yet. And so, inevitably I, more often than not, purchase far more than I eventually use &, as most yarnies will agree, yarn stashes can grow at an alarming rate.

To gain some semblance of control, quick & easy projects can, to some extent, if not completely, reduce that overwhelming feeling of becoming a yarn hoarder…

These 4 projects are a great examples for using up those larger amounts of yarn sitting idle for far too long.

For the ponchos I used variations of my own pattern which can be found here

dscf2060For the hooded poncho I knotted together (leaving the knots as a feature) a combination of complimentary, natural & acrylic, green & brown yarns & using a large hook (UK:10mm / US: N), crocheted in trebles (US: dc) & worked in stripes, adding extra rows around the neck-line to produce the cowl / hood.

 

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The yarn for the red, purple & black poncho is a 12 ply acrylic that I never found again, but luckily I had just enough. Again, I used a largish hook (UK: 8mm / US: L) & crocheted in trebles (US: dc)

 

 

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The pink / purple poncho in made up of a beautiful 30% wool / 70% acrylic 8 ply yarn that, if your lucky, can still be purchased but I’ve never found it in this colour combo again… I used hook size (UK: 6mm / US: H) & also crocheted in trebles (US: dc)

 

cirvest2

 

 

I didn’t have a pattern for the Circular vest. Working in trebles (US: dc) & a hook size (UK: 4.5 mm / US: G), I began in the centre as you would for any circle & spiralled around & around, always marking the first stitch of each round & increasing as you would for a circle. I used my mannequin to determine arm-holes & basically freestyled it to the end. This is a gorgeous 8 ply, 60% super wash wool / 40% polyamide, yarn & a delight to work with.

So, to end this long post, I’d just like to say… don’t be daunted by your growing yarn stash… find patterns & projects that use limited amounts of yarn. Take a chance & use combinations of different yarns, knot them together or just join in new yarn as one runs out. Try out different size hooks… it’s fun, it’s creative, you’re never quite sure how it will turn out but, best of all, it’s a mighty, practical way of losing that hoarder reputation…

Little Dots Rug (Afghan) Crochet Pattern….

little dots rugIt’s been a long while since I’ve posted anything new, 2016 being such a stressful year but I’m determined that 2017 will be a happy, productive & creative time again. This little pattern has been in the pipe-line for ages & I’ve finally put it all together… I hope it’s a pattern that is both interesting to work & practical to boot…

Little Dots Rug (Afghan) Crochet Pattern:little dots stash

Little Dots Rug (Afghan) Crochet Pattern is a great, fun pattern for using up all those bits & pieces sitting idle in your yarn stash; those small yarn left-overs that are not enough for large projects but too good to just discard or throw away…

Little Dots Rug (Afghan) Crochet Pattern is suitable for beginners but still interesting enough for the more experienced.

little dots motifYour choice of yarn, back ground colour, & appropriate hook that you favour, will give your project its own unique result. I’m a big fan of rainbows but there’s no reason why you can’t work your rug in mono tones…

The pattern includes:
~ both UK & US terminology
~ pattern diagram (chart)
~ stitch drawings
~ assembly.

Enjoy this fun pattern using up all those neglected yarn bits & pieces in your stash… waste not, want not… is my motto for this project….

Available now in my Etsy Shop

little dots full

Maleny Knitfest 2016… June 10th & 12th… Hope to see you there…

KnitfestHi everyone… by now many of you will have heard about the Maleny Knitfest to be held 10th to 12th June 2016…  so, just letting you all know that I will be there conducting a couple of workshops…

(1) Saturday 11th (10am to 1pm) ~ Freeform Scrumples ~ this is a shared workshop where I’ll be covering the crochet elements & the lovely Lynn Hall with be covering the knitting bits… should be a lot of fun!

(2) Sunday 12th (10am to 1pm) The ever popular 10 Stitch Sampler – which covers many of those tricky stitches I use in my freeform work… you’re sure to learn something new here.

There will be 16 workshops overall, so have a look, I’m sure you’ll find one to interest you & don’t forget to book as workshops are filling fast.

For those of you with  competitive spirits why not have a go in one of the competitions, check out the categories here ~  only $5 per entry & you can enter as many time as you like…

The Maleny Knitfest promises to be a fabulous weekend of gorgeous fibre fun, with workshops, exhibits, stalls, competitions & much more… so there’ll be something for everyone…

Check out the Maleny Knitfest Facebook page & for more information go to the Maleny Knitfest website

Hope to see you there!