Tag: Zibbet

A Holiday Thank You…

It’s hard to believe that another year is coming to an end but 2012 is definitely just around the corner & galloping ahead at that…. As I look back on the year I can’t help thinking about all the wonderful people I’ve met, both in the flesh & on the net, who have supported me in my endeavours in so many ways: your questions, your compliments, your purchases, your trust & encouragement.

And so, in this spirit, I’d like to say a big THANK YOU by offering you, my readers, ‘Free Worldwide Shipping’ in both my Etsy & Zibbet Shops (patterns of course are not included as shipping doesn’t apply) – the offer is valid till the 30th Nov 2011.

So, if you’ve had your eye on one of my pieces, I hope you will take advantage of this once a year offer.

The Coupon Code for both shops is FRSHIP2011 – just put this code in the appropriate place on checkout & it should automatically apply the free shipping for you… (I haven’t used the shop coupons before so, if by chance they don’t work, please let me know & I’ll refund through PayPal)

You can visit Etsy or Zibbet from here or go to any of the Gallery pages, click on the piece you like & you will be taken to that item in one or the other shop.

Happy shopping & many thanks everyone!!!

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)

The Fingerless Mittens with Ribbed Cuff & Bobbled Wrist pattern.. is now available for sale from Ravely, & soon from Etsy, & Zibbet

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)

2011… Onward & forward…


…as the holidays come to an end & I enter my 60th year on the planet, I wonder where this year will lead me… do I set goals or do I just allow myself to drift along on the raft of life & see where it goes?

Hmmm… perhaps, a little of both….

On the drifting raft:

Creating with yarn, fibre, colour & texture is a passion & something I have little control over – whenever I see an unusual colour combination in a flower or a gorgeous sculptural textured tree trunk it stays in my mind & the need to interrupt the image through my work can become obsessive – I have no choice but to at least have a go – so I’m fairly certain that this process isn’t going to change any time soon

Things to focus on:

I do, however, have a say in how I spend my time on the Net. Promoting my Etsy &  Zibbet shops is a must if I want them to succeed, but the promotion road is still an enigma & an ongoing learning curve that I continue to grapple with but determined to master.

I’ve made some wonderful friends here in cyber world & becoming more involved with the online community is another goal I can set for myself…

I’m a proud member of DUST (the Down Under Street Team) – a vibrant group of Aussies who have shops on Etsy & sell a wonderful array of items from: jewellery, adult & children fashions, paper goods, soap to fine art… you name it – there is something special for everyone.

TAFA (The Textile And Fiber Art list) membership is another group I’m honoured to be a part of. TAFA is a collection of highly talented, international fibre Artists who have come together to support & promote each other & show the world the exquisite variety that fibre artists have to offer – take a moment to check out the TAFA site – the artist profiles & fabulous examples of their work – I’m sure you’ll be delighted & totally impressed with what you find… or visit the TAFA blog

Things to come:

I’m often asked where my ideas come from… what prompted me to use a particular colour/texture/yarn/fibre combination & I hope to have a small series of future posts that may enlighten those interested.

I have some new freeform pieces that I need to photograph, write descriptions & list so I can show them off to the world… so watch this space for those…

And then, of course, I must get back to all the UFO’s that litter every corner of my workspace – there’s a bunch of dyeing, beading, felting, among other things, that are clogging my mind & really do need to get done so I can stop thinking about them & get onto new stuff… definitely a goal worth persueing

My local crochet classes (held at my home) will continue & I’ll endeavour to come up with new patterns & ideas to keep it useful & practical &, above all, interesting – I’m really looking forward to all the ladies coming together again for more fun filled crochet …

So… I guess that’s about it for now – not too much on my plate for the moment & I should be able to get the year started & moving forward – I hope it’s a happy & successful 2011 for you all…

From the bizarre to Classic Style ~ A collection of scarves & wraps

Whenever my creative juices wane or go walkabout & seemingly disappear for a while, I simply return to the basics… the versatile scarf ~ wrap… I’m fortunate that my yarn stash is vast & varied so it’s not all that hard for me to choose a few favourites & play… let the hook & yarn lead the way…

As cliché as it may sound, it’s nevertheless true, at least for me… each yarn has it’s own colour-way & texture & therefore its own voice, so it’s just a matter of listening & going with the flow – this collection of scarves & wraps is the realization – it still surprises me too…