Tuesday 14 December 2021

December's pattern of the month


Hello! For December's pattern of the month I wanted to choose something cosy for the winter months ahead, and these mitts are certainly warm! I don't know about you but I find that my fingers are much warmer in mitts than in gloves. Apologies for not sharing this sooner, I realised today that it was still in 'Drafts', oops!


If you prefer the fingerless option that's worked into the pattern too - there's a point where I recommended that you stop.I know that when I'm walking the dog I prefer fingerless for picking up slobbery tennis balls, sandy bits & pieces I find on the beach (and poop!). Maybe I'll write a full glove pattern next year - would that be something you're interested in? Do let me know, I want to design things that you want to crochet! In the meantime, here are the details on these mitts ...
  • Pretty shell stitches form the basis of this design; my second mitts pattern.
  • They begin at the cuff, worked in rows, then work up to the fingertips in rounds.
  • The pattern is available as a pdf download from Ravelry & LoveCrafts.
  • Shaping is added to accommodate the thumb and create a beautiful fit.
  • Four sizes are included with the pattern; toddler, child, adult M & adult L.
  • There's plenty of scope for adjusting the fit of these mitts to suit the size you require. It will be easiest to select the circumference you need & then crochet more or less rounds to suit.
  • 100g of sock yarn is sufficient to make even the largest size. I used standard sock yarn from Vicki Brown Designs in the colourway Teal. Vicki kindly provided yarn support for this design.
  • It's an intermediate level pattern, written in both UK & US terms.
  • There are charts & video tutorials included with the written pattern if you need them.
  • This mitts design has been tech edited & tested, giving you peace of mind to enjoy crocheting.
  • My patterns now all include a 'take it further' section with inspiration for you to add your own twist to my designs.
If there's anything I haven't covered here, please drop a comment below or send me a DM on Instagram and I'll happily answer any of your questions.


To take advantage of this month's offer, simply add the code DEC21 at the checkout on Ravelry for 20% off. The code is only valid against Mavis Mitts. Offer ends midnight (GMT) 31st December 2021 (the end of the year, eeek!) I've added the LoveCrafts link above too for anyone who can't access Ravelry. I can't create discount codes for LoveCrafts so please leave me a comment and I can arrange for you to receive the pattern at the discounted price via email & PayPal.

Until next time,

Marta xx

Thursday 2 December 2021

5 quick present ideas to crochet!


Hello! Is it just me that leaves it this late to start crocheting Christmas presents to give to family and friends? Ok, so I have made a few items throughout the year but the bulk of it will be done this month. Are you in the same boat?

I thought I'd theme this blog post around quick gifts to crochet - giving you some inspiration if you need it (or if you are super organised there might be something you can bookmark for next year!). All these patterns have been tried & tested by me. The opinions given and the photos are my own.


No. 1  Granny Square Zipper Pouch by Sewhappycreative. I made this earlier in the year and it was super quick & satisfying to crochet. The lining is optional, I decided to add it and I can say that the photo tuturial for doing so is excellent. This pouch would make an excellent pencil case for a child/ young person or a notions pouch for a crochet friend. You can find this pattern, alongside other granny square projects, on Etsy.


No. 2  Little Star Crochet Pattern by Judith Heller (Merino & Tomatoes). This cute pattern has been a life saver of a quick make for me! Once you've crocheted one, the pattern is easy to remember and they work up super fast! They can be gifted on their own to hang on the tree or strung together to make a garland. They would be cute added to a wrapped present as a decorative feature too! The pattern is easy to folllow, there's a chart too and it's free on Judith's blog.



No. 3  Slemish Thistle Scarf by Ruth Pedlow (Labours of Love Crochet). I absolutely love this scarf pattern! It's worked in 4ply yarn but with a much larger crochet hook than usual, meaning it works up faster. The instructions are clear to follow and there's a chart. The scarf is quite feminine and drapey - I think mums, sisters, teachers and helpful neighbours would all appreciate this being gifted to them. Once this scarf is blocked it looks even more stunning! You can find the pattern on LoveCrafts here.


No. 4  Saguaro by Emma Varnam. I crocheted this back in July for a school teacher friend of mine - it's the perfect addition to her classroom! The pattern is available in Emma's book, Crocheted Succulents. I have the book and I really need to make some more of the designs from it, the patterns are amazing! The Saguaro is a straight forward amigurumi style design made in 3 pieces with the option of crocheting soil too. It doesn't require much yarn and if you reuse a small pot or tin that you have laying around, an inexpensive present! You can find out how to get your hands on a copy of Emma's book on her website.



No. 5  Mavis Mitts - one of my own crochet patterns! These would make a lovely gift for someone close to you. The design is formed mostly of shells worked into the same space, making it a speedy crochet project - and if you're making them for a toddler - super speedy! Four sizes are available, going up to adult-large, with lots of customizable options. You can buy this pattern on LoveCrafts and Ravelry AND throughout the month of December you can get 20% off the usual price on Ravelry! Mavis Mitts are December's pattern of the month - I'll share more details on the pattern in next week's email - but if you can't wait till then, head to Ravelry and use the code DEC21. If you can't access Ravelry please let me know and I can't sort the discount out for you via email/ PayPal.

I hope you've found a pattern you like here - let me know what you think!

Until next time, happy crocheting,

Marta xx





The Art of Yarn Substitution: Four tips to find your perfect yarn match!

  Hello! Have you ever fallen in love with a crochet or knitting pattern, only to discover the specified yarn is unavailable, discontinued, ...