FO and New Pattern Release!

In my haste to get sidetracked by even more new projects, I spent my Saturday crocheting not one, but two new bits of kit for my current LRP character.

First up, a new snood. I've been wearing the old blue one at every event since I first made it two years ago. While perfectly serviceable for normal daily wear, it doesn't really pass muster any more for a special occassion. As we are holding a coronation at the next event, and I've been talked into wearing a "proper" dress (this one, if you're interested), I decided I needed a new snood in the right colour. I picked up a ball of bright red Patons 100% Cotton 4 ply and got to it.

As it turns out, I modified the original pattern quite seriously when I made the first one, but didn't make any useful notes. I had to get the old one out and keep comparing the two to make sure I was doing it the same. I think I've achieved that! I also made notes this time, so when I come to make a third one (I'm thinking yellow/gold next time) I won't have to figure it out again.

To go with the new snood and the fabulous dress, I decided I needed matching gloves. I had intended to go back to the Afternoon Tea Fingerless Mitts and do another pair of those, but I don't seem to have a copy of the pattern (and I certainly don't remember having to pay for it before!).  A new plan was needed. I had a look on Ravelry but couldn't find anything quite like I wanted. Luckily, inspiration struck and half an hour later I had a brand new pattern flying off the hook.

Aren't they fab? The construction is quite interesting, working into both edges of a foundation single crochet chain before adding the button band and button holes seamlessly. Then it's join in the round and within a few short rows the entire glove is done. The best bit is that they are ridiculously easy to modify for size!

To help explain the construction of the cuff, I even drew up a chart. The pattern is available for free in my Ravelry store here and I can't wait to see if anyone else decides to knock up a pair.

Fame at last?

I was pottering about on the internet the other day, checking Facebook, reading blogs, when I read a rather interesting post over at Crochet with Cris about a rapidly growing politically motivated knitting campaign that had started (I think) earlier that day. Her post is here. It's all to do with the ludicrous notion currently gaining ground in America that women shouldn't have access to contraception. An idea was sparked to knit or crochet female reproductive parts and post them to the various Congressmen in favour of it, in an attempt to demonstrate how strongly the idea is opposed by American women.

Curious, I wandered over to the Ravelry group to see what was going on, and was pleasantly surprised to see a link to my Crocheted Uterus pattern in the forum, in the list of suggested patterns to use. I didn't think much more of it until yesterday evening.

A friend of a friend posted a link on Facebook to an article on Examiner.com, clearly just thinking that it was a pretty cool thing people were doing and that others on her friends list would be interested. My friend commented on how small a world it was, as she knew one of the pattern designers in the article. Sure enough, when I followed the link and read the article and there it was. A link to my blog (the post featuring the pattern being released) in the list of suggested patterns to use!

I was understandably surprised, but at the same time feel quite honoured to be even slightly involved in such an important campaign. I've already spotted two new projects using the pattern on Ravelry, and hopefully more will follow.

On a more selfish note, it was pleasing to see my blog stats quadruple in the last few days, and a massive spike in the number of downloads of the pattern from Ravelry.

Year of Projects Update 4th March

I'm really starting to feel like I'm going to actually do everything on my list by the end of June! With 198yds of heaven and the leafy fingerless gloves finished last week, I wanted a quick crochet fix before I embarked on my next big knit from the list. I posted some early shots of it on Wednesday but it was such a quick project I actually finished it on Wednesday evening!

It's my Fern Cowl, not yet blocked so a little scrunchy in places. I will try and get it blocked this week, and take some better photos for next Sunday.

Meanwhile, today is day five of my seven day Blog Hub swap parcel! I let Jamie choose the next present to open, and he selected this flat, A4 sized one:

I wasn't sure if the inclusion of the pattern book meant the requirement for sending a pattern was fulfilled, so it was fantastic to see that not only had Paula stalked my Amazon wishlist to find the book, she'd stalked my Ravelry wishlist and picked out a beautiful shawl pattern for me.

The pattern is Semele by Asa Tricosa, and Paula has very kindly printed out both the written and charted instructions for me. There are so many beautiful versions of this shawl on Ravelry, I can't wait to knit it myself.

Free Pattern: Kindle Cozy

I have a new free pattern available via Ravelry!

I replaced my stolen Kindle this weekend. Unlike the first one, which I barely got to play with before it was taken, I've been reading my book on it all weekend and I love it. So much so, that I am determined to take it with me to work tomorrow. However, chucking it into my handbag along with everything else makes me nervous, so I wanted a cover to protect it.

I've been looking at knitted Kindle and iPad cozies on Ravelry for a while, but knew the pretty cabled design I had chosen would take me longer than a few hours to make, especially as it involves learning new techniques like Judy's Magic Cast On, and magic loop. I decided to quickly crochet myself something in the interim.

A quick search of the free crochet patterns on Ravelry told me there was nothing to suit my purpose. I had no interest in seaming anything! So I rummaged through my bag of yarn scraps to find all the Hayfield Bonus Aran I had left and got hooking.

The end result is this cozy.

The stripes are uneven, because I was using up scraps and changing colour whenever I reached the end of a ball. But it does the job, it fits my cozy and it will keep the screen scratch free in my handbag.

You can see the pattern on Ravelry here, or download it directly using this link.

New Free Pattern - Crocheted Uterus!

Another secret project now out in the open, complete with bonus free pattern!

A friend of mine recently underwent surgery for an ovarian cyst, so I wanted to make her something that would make her smile. I've seen several patterns for fake boobs and wombs, for women who have undergone mastectomies or hysterectomies, so I considered finding/making a pattern for a crocheted ovary. Of course, I didn't really find anything, and when I started researching what an ovary actually looks like, I quickly realised that they don't look particularly aesthetically pleasing!

So I decided I'd make a uterus instead. A quick search on Ravelry uncovered a couple of knitted uterus patterns, including this awesome pattern from Knitty, but there wasn't really a crocheted version that really caught my eye. I moved my search to Google, and found this free pattern. There were no pictures, and as far as I can see the pattern is not linked on Ravelry. But I thought I'd give it a go.

About halfway through I realised the stitch counts were completely off, and set about working out my own variations which would work. And I ended up with this:

I decided to write up the pattern and upload it to Ravelry, just in case anyone else felt the urge to crochet themselves a uterus. The pattern can be found here, and directly downloaded in PDF form by clicking on this link:

download now

I used Sirdar Bonus DK in hot pink, and a 4mm hook, but any yarn and the appropriate hook size would be fine. I forgot to measure it before I posted it, but I reckon it's about 4-5 inches tall. The fallopian tubes are pose-able, as they have pipe cleaners inside. I did briefly toy with the idea of putting a face on it too, but thought that might be a step too far!

New pattern available!

I finally got around to writing up and uploading the pattern I created for the mp3 player wrist cuff I made a couple of weeks ago!

The pattern page on Ravelry is here, but if you just want to get your hands on the PDF right away, skip on over to my Free Patterns page, where you will find the direct download links for all my free patterns.