Tropical Vine Free Pattern

Hello there, as promised here is the new free pattern, I've wanted to make something like this for a while to wrap around my bed and I think it looks very pretty there. It's a bit different to the other things I make but cute and fun none the less, so here is the pattern for you to enjoy:

Vine: (4.5 mm hook)

Make a chain to your desired length, I made it about 200ch because I wanted it nice and long.

Sc in next 2 st

Large leaf:
Ch 12, sl st in second chain form hook, sc in next 2 st , dc in next 3 st, trc in next 3 st, dc, sc and sl st in same space, ch 1

work along other side of 12 ch

sl st and sc in same space, dc, trc in next 3 st, dc in next 3 st, sc in next 2, sl st, ch 1, 12 sl st down the back of the leaf to join to main foundation chain.

Sc into chain and in the next 3 st

Small leaf:

Ch 6, sl st in 2nd chain form hook, sc in next 2 st, dc in next, sc and sl st in same st, ch 1 and work along other side of 6 ch

sl st and sc in same space, dc in next, scin next 2, sl st, chain 1, sl st 6 down back of lesf to meet foundation chain, sc to join to ch and sc in next 3

Repeat, alternating between the large and small leaf and repeat process up the other side of the foundation chain to make it nice and thick.

Flower: (3mm hook)

Colour A

R1 6sc in ring
R2 (front loops only) Ch5 sc in 2nd chain from hook, hdc in next, sc in next 2, sc to join, repeat untill you have 6 small petals
R3 (Change to Colour B) 6sc in back loops of round 2
R4 Sc, ch 3, repeat untill you have 6 loops of ch 3
R5, (in each ch 3 space) 2dc, 2 trc, 1dt, chain 3, sl st in 1st chin from hook, 1dt, 2trc, 2dc, sl st (repeat untill you have 6 petals) FO

Arrange in any way you like, the pattern is a little bit fiddlly but worth it for the end result

Hello Friends

So I finally got a picture of the dress in all its glory, I’m really pleased with the way it has turned out.

I’m currently working on a new free pattern at the moment and that will be in my next post. Need to get some real work done on that tonight so I can show it off to you all, but I’m not going to give anything away, it’s a surprise for you all, and no it’s not cookie monster before you all ask you cheeky monkeys. I get so many people asking about the cookie monster pattern I’m gonna have to get some more blue fuzzy wool to make another and share the pattern with you all. Then I shall get an award for heroic services in the world of crochet. Seriously, someone make me a button that says that, hehe, it would be awesome.

I’m off to London this weekend to watch some roller derby so I have to take some crochet graffiti with me and tag a random lamp post while I’m up there. Sadly I don’t think I’ll have enough time to visit any cool yarn shops while I’m there, not that I need any more yarn, need to work my way through my stash first, Maybe I should write some stash busting patterns, or do you guys have any to share with me? I think blankets seem to be the way forward in stash busting but my collection of blankets is making me look like I have some serious nest building issues.

Anyway my lovers, got to go get some dinner, keep your eyes peeled for the next post with free pattern....

Crazy Days

So the last week has been totally crazy, I’ll be moving house next month so there may be some blog silence while we get internet sorted in the new place. I truly cannot wait to move in with my boyfriend, we’ve found a lovely place together :) I finished making my first monster but I took photos on the wrong camera so not sure if I can get said photos off the camera yet, then I gave the monster to a friend so I may have to re-make him and take more pics, at least this will give me a chance to check the pattern. I also finished knitting that awesome dress and wore it to a documentary interview about knitting graffiti, it was lots of fun, we put some knit graffiti on a tree next to the mall, hehe

Anyway this is a short one today, thankfully after next week I will no longer be working 6 days week so I can be human again. Huzzah!

More Yarn Bombing

I have discovered who the yarn bomber is in Plymouth (uk) a friend told me about Knitizen Kane on facebook and I was so chuffed when I saw all the pictured of things in Plymouth that have been knitted around. I’ve discovered 3 pieces myself and I’m looking forward to finding more:

Seeing these fuzzy fragments of knitting really fills me with joy. It’s a little colourful beacon of joviality in an otherwise dull day and to think that someone went to all that effort to put it there.

I’ve noticed on-line that it is a very love hate art form, some people think it’s a waste of time and can’t be very subversive and underground if everyone is doing it, but i have to say I love it and if everyone is doing it then that’s great, more people to share this wonderful hobby with, and of course the more crocheters in the world, he more people to buy my book when it’s done. I’m looking forward to adding my crochet contribution to the cause: softening the edges of the dull city of Plymouth.

The monster pattern is coming along well so it shouldn’t be long until I have some picture to share with you. I’m slightly annoyed that the kitty counter decided to reset itself, grr *shakes fist* as I had over 31 thousand hits, but never mind, let’s start from the beginning again,

TTFN

All you need is Crochet!

Sigh! It’s not fair, I’m working 6days a week at the moment so I’m not finding a lot of time to crochet. Have started working on one of my monster patterns but my progress is pitiful, just can’t wait till I’ve got some time to sit down and get to work. I’ve been spending a bit of time sorting out roller derby stuff, checking out the skate park and organising a road trip to London to see a bout and I can’t wait!

I have heard rumour that there is a yarn bomber in Plymouth, people keep texting me and asking if I did it, hehe. I’m looking forward to finding some. I have previously done a bit of yarn bombing, its wonderful fun, I would recommend it to anyone who knits of crochets, you get some proper strange looks as you are sewing a patch of crochet to a lamp post :) these are my two pieces of yarn bombage:





I'm plannng to do a few more but outside yarn shops with a label for this blog attached, and also planning to post them to people all over the world so that i can be a global yarn bomber, hehe

Taking Steps Forward

So my plans for crochet stardom seem to be coming together. My patterns will be added to Crochet Pattern Centrals directory very soon and I’m trying to get hold of A Crochet Toy Chest to see if they will link my patterns as well but it seems harder to get hold of them. I love that site though especially the retro patterns.

So, do you guys like the new look of the blog? It took me ages but I found an awesome guide to editing blogs:

http://www.squidoo.com/customize_blogger
http://www.bloggerbuster.com/2008/01/cheats-guide-to-customising-blogger.html

The last one is really good as it shows you how to get the funky backgrounds.

Well back to wool related ranting, I’m currently knitting a dress for myself, it’s in super bulky yarn so it’s knitting up really fast, I love it, it’s going to look great, the pattern is from ravelry and its called Kangaroo Tunic;



The sizing seems to be way off though, I’m a size 10/12 (uk) and it says I should knit the pattern in large but looking at the photos on ravelry of other people attempts they seem to be the same size as me and have knitted it in a small so that’s what I’m doing. I’ll have photos up when it’s finished.

I discovered this lovely photo yesterday and I had to share it with you:



My brother got married in December and I foolishly agreed to make 5 shawls, one for each of the bridesmaids. (One is missing from the photo) All my friends, housemates and family were privy to the ongoing saga of the shawls, and here they are in there glory. They all loved them and I even got a cheer in the speeches for my hard work, yay!

I’ll have another pattern done soon, this one will hopefully be on sale at etsy, I just need to get some time so I can sit down and work on it, but working 6 days a week is not conducive to a happy Maggie, but I will not let “the man” get his way and become an office zombie, I will crochet my way to happiness.

TTFN

Flying Heart Pattern

Hello there,

I have a little pattern here to share with you, I do hope you enjoy it. It's another really quick pattern and is around just in time for valentines day :)



Hanging HeartYou will need:
3.5mm hook
Red Yarn
White/Blue Yarn
Stuffing
Sewing needle

Heart
R1: 6sc in ring
R2: inc in each st, rep around (12sc)
R3: sc in first, inc in next, rep around (18sc)
R4-5 sc around
FO al leave to one side
Repeat same process, do not finish off.
R6: Join the two pieces with sc and sc around both (36sc) Sew gap if there is one.
R7: sc around
R8: dec twice at joins, (34sc)
R9: sc in first 3, dec in next, rep around (27sc)
R10: sc around
R11: sc in first 2, dec in next, rep around (20sc)
R12:sc around
R13 sc in first, dec in next rep around (13sc)
R14-15 sc around (stuff)
R16: dc around until closed

Wings (make 2)
Ch 19 (foundation chain), Sc9 along foundation chain,
Ch9, sc8 along ch, sc in foundation ch
Ch8, sc7 along ch, sc in foundation ch
Ch7, sc6 along ch, sc in foundation ch
Ch6, sc5 along ch, sc in foundation ch
Ch5, sc4 along ch, sc in last 4 of foundation chain

Sew along the “feathers” to make into a wing shape, and sew wings to heart, you may want to add wire to the wings so you can pose them. Enjoy