Wednesday 23 November 2022

5 of the best cowls to crochet as gifts



Hello! I don't know about you, but I'm beginning to panic about the amount of crocheted items I've yet to make as Christmas gifts! Once again, I'm asking myself why I leave it until the last 2 months of the year?

If you're in the same boat - a cowl is the answer! It's fairly small so it won't take you much time and many of the designs I'm about to share with you are stash busters, so they're easy on the pocket!

All the cowl patterns have been crocheted up BY ME and the opinions are my own, this is not an affiliate email. The photos are all my own. 



Claigan Cowl by Claudia Dingle

This cowl was first published in Moorit, issue 2 and was the first thing I crocheted from that issue! It's worked in the round in 4ply weight yarn and has an easy to remember repeat, making it perfect to relax with in these busy months.
 
At the moment this cowl is still exclusive to Moorit magazine; physical copies are still available, digital copies too.

Friday 18 November 2022

Spilling the beans!

 


At last! I can share this project with you, it's been soooo tough keeping quiet on this one!

I was the featured designer for Crate Crochet's October box!

I was delighted to be asked to create a new sock design and I'm really pleased with how this one turned out. Crate Crochet are a crochet subscription box service based in Australia, run by the lovely Carmela. This was the 4th pattern I've designed for them but the first one since the pandemic, it's been a while!

Like I say, they're based in Australia and deliver throughout Australia & New Zealand as well as the USA. Click this link to learn more - their boxes are beautifully curated. 


I designed the socks in Manos Del Uraguay Alegria Grande which is a 10ply weight yarn, 75% superwash merino/ 25% nylon and comes in the most amazing aray of colours!
 
It was fun to create a sock in 3 colours, something I hadn't done before, but because the yarn comes in 100g skeins and 20g minis it was totally possible!

The photos for the socks were taken on our local beach when the tide was out. It was a nippy day, so I was wearing my Fair Isle Mitts to keep cosy! My youngest son took a turn at being my photographer and I think they did a great job!
 
At the moment, this pattern is exclusive to Crate Crochet but once this exclusive period is up I will be releasing the pattern myself - sign up to my newsletter be first to be notified.
 
I've also been invited to collaborate with them on another box, which I'm really excited about!


Well, that's my exciting news for now! Until next time,

Marta xx


Friday 4 November 2022

Winter Coorie Collection release day!

 


Hello! I'm pleased to be able to offer you this carfeully curated bundle of crochet patterns! And to ensure your stitching journey is smooth and stress-free, I've included clear written patterns alongside helpful video tutorials for any of the trickier techniques. So, grab your favourite yarns, dive into these inspiring patterns, and experience the joy of crafting something beautiful with your own two hands!


In case you're wondering ... coorie is the Scots' answer to hygge, which embraces cosy nights by the fire, but also extends to enjoying the crisp outdoors and finding contentment in the simple pleasures of Scottish life.



A bundle of 3 crochet patterns all suitable for wearing in the chilly winter months;

  • Fields of Wheat Beanie
  • Lyre Socks
  • Cornflower Cowl

Immerse yourself in the ultimate comfort zone with this Winter Coorie Collection! Crafted from luxurious, natural fibres, these patterns promise a delightful sensory experience – both while you crochet the soft yarns and as you snuggle up in your finished creations. Get ready for cosy nights in and compliments galore!

All patterns are rated Intermediate level and are written in UK terminology.

There are video tutorials to accompany the patterns too.


A little bit about each pattern;

Fields of Wheat Beanie

A pretty crocheted beanie with intricate wheat stalk motifs. Juniper Moon Farm's baby alpaca wool was chosen for this design because it's so soft and delicate against the skin. Available in 6 sizes! 100g of DK weight wool is enough for all sizes.

Lyre Socks

Crochet yourself a pair of socks that FIT! This is my 6th sock design and features a textured detail which goes down the outside of each foot. Extended double crochet stitches are used for their superb stretch! 100-150g of 4ply yarn required.

Cornflower Cowl

A lacy cowl made in King Cole baby alpaca DK which feels luxuriously soft & gentle. The pattern is quick to make up due to repeats of chain stitches - they give the cowl a light and airy feel too. 150g of DK weight wool required.


The Winter Coorie Collection is exclusively available on my website. I'm offering blog readers 10% off this beautiful collection of patterns, simply use the code COORIE at the checkout on my website.
 
If you have any questions about the collection or about the individual patterns, please reach out by leaving me a comment or emailing me at crochet@martamitchelldesigns.com


Until next time, happy crocheting,
Marta xx





Thursday 3 November 2022

Pattern of the month for November!


Hello! It's the 3rd of November and I'm here to introduce you to my crochet pattern of the month! I've chosen the same design as this time last year because it's a super one for keeping cosy - Mavis Mitts!
I love this mitt pattern a) because it works up quickly and b) because the stitch pattern is so pretty!
It's a fantastic choice If you have a skein of sock weight yarn in your stash and are wondering what to crochet with it, this pattern is a fantastic choice. 100g is enough for even the largest size.
A solid or semi-solid colour way is the best choice for shaowing off the shell stitch pattern.
As with all patterns on my website, there are video tutorials to help keep you on track. This pdf also includes a chart.
If you're interested in this pattern there is 10% off on my website throughout November with the code NOV22



Fun fact: the image above is actually on the home page of the Enamel Happy website! The gorgeous mug I'm cupping is from Enamel Happy - a UK based company with outdoor alternatives to plastic.

I'll be back with more crochet news soon,

Marta xx

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