Showing posts with label crochet shawl. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crochet shawl. Show all posts

Friday, 22 March 2024

Transitional Crochet Patterns For Warmer Days

Image shows a bunch of daffodils on the left and the edges of a crocheted shawl on the right, fanned out to dhow the lacy effect


Transitional Crochet Patterns For Warmer Days

It's almost Spring here in the northern hemisphere - a time of renewal - and that fresh feeling can extend to our wardrobes! As the days get longer and the weather warms up, we look for clothes & accessories which bridge the gap between winter cosiness and summery lightness. Crochet offers a large range of options for creating beautiful, functional pieces that are perfect for this transitional period, so here in the blog post I'm sharing my top tips for making the most of crochet patterns for these warmer days ahead.

Embrace Lightweight Yarns and Open Stitches:

Crochet Cardigans: A lightweight cardigan is your best friend in Spring! Look for patterns which use 4ply or DK weight yarn and incorporate open, mesh or lace stitch patterns. These cardigans add a layer of warmth on cooler mornings but remain breathable for those afternoons that surprise you with sunshine.


Shawls: Crocheted shawls are incredibly versatile. Work a simple lace pattern in a vibrant spring colour for a statement piece, or choose a variegated yarn that creates a beautiful colour gradient. Shawls can be dressed up or down, making them perfect for all sorts of occasions.
 

Choosing the Perfect Fibre for Your Spring Wardrobe:

When selecting yarn for your Spring crochet projects, consider the fibre content. Natural fibres such as cotton, linen, silk and bamboo are all excellent choices. They are breathable, allowing your skin to stay cool on warmer days. Cotton and linen yarns also drape beautifully, creating garments & accessories with a light and airy feel. If you're looking for a bit more warmth, consider pure wool or a wool blend. Remember, spring weather can be unpredictable, so if there's an unexpected shower of rain, wool will keep you dry for a short while!

Spring is all about celebrating nature's rebirth. Reflect this joy in your crochet projects by using bright, cheerful colours. Pastels, neons, or even a rainbow palette can create stunning garments & accessories. Don't be afraid to experiment, especially if it's on a smaller piece!


On the left; bunched up crocheted shawl. On the right; chart detailing the position of the stitches

Here are some project ideas to get you started:

Lightweight shawl: I'd like to recommend my Daffodil Shawl (above) to you - it's wonderfully light and drapes gracefully around the shoulders. I designed it in Koigu Mori (50% merino wool/ 50% mulberry silk) in a beautiful variegated daffodil colour. As you can see, this crochet pattern comes with a chart.


Home Decor: Extend the springtime feel to your home with crocheted decorations! Light and airy throws in pastel colours add a touch of fun to your living room. Crocheted bunting or crochet flowers are a delightful way to bring a touch of the outdoors in. My Teenie, Tiny Bunting pattern (below) is quick to whip up and looks really cute hanging on an Easter tree, across a vase of flowers or draped over a photo frame to add a pop of Spring colour to your home!

crocheted bunting strung a cross branches of an Easter tree


My Top Tips for Choosing the Perfect Transitional Crochet Pattern:

Consider Your Skill Level: Choose a pattern which matches your crochet experience. But Spring is also a great time to challenge yourself with a new stitch or technique, it's a time of fresh beginnings! There are plenty of beautiful, easy-to-follow patterns for all skill levels out there.


Think About Wearability: Crocheting garments & accessories you'll love to wear is key. Consider your personal style and the types of clothes you enjoy wearing. Choose patterns that flatter your figure and which complement your existing wardrobe.


With a little planning and creativity, crochet can help you create a beautiful and functional wardrobe which perfectly embraces the spirit of Spring!

If you like these tips, please consider signing up to my mailing list, when you do so, you'll automatically be sent my PDF with 25 top tips that every crocheter should know! 


Until next time, happy crocheting,


Marta xx

 
 

Monday, 29 May 2023

Pre-orders Now Open for my Lazy Days Kits




Hello! Looking for a relaxing way to spend your free time this summer? Pre-orders are now open for my most relaxing crochet kit ever! 

This kit includes everything you need to enjoy crocheting a beautiful wrap, including:

  • 2 full skeins of high-quality yarn from The Wool Shed
  • An ergonomic crochet hook
  • Detailed, printed instructions for crocheting your wrap
  • 4 little extras, including stitch markers from Labours of Love Crochet and a vinyl sticker from Qwerty Cat Shop!
  • Plus an organic cotton drawstring bag to keep it all together with the illustration from Katie Birdie on it.
This wrap begins in the centre, one half is crocheted and then the foundation row is worked into for the second half, which is a repeat of the first half. The pattern repeat is super easy to remember which makes it an excellent choice for those lazy summer days.


I'm running this as a CAL (Crochet A-Long) and you have the option of buying the kit or buying the pattern and using your own yarn. The CAL launches on the 23rd of June and I'll give you more info on the yarn requirements in a future blog post.

Whether you're a confident beginner or a seasoned crocheter, the Lazy Days Kit is perfect for you with its easy-to-follow instructions and carefully curated contents. You can be sitting back and creating a gorgeous wrap this summer. You can have 10% off the pre-order price with the code LAZYDAYS10

So, what are you waiting for? Pre-order your Lazy Days Kit today!

Until next time, happy crocheting,

Marta xx


 

Friday, 3 June 2022

Are you joining in with The Crochet Project's MCAL?

 © Joanne Scrace


Hello! I'm here this week to tell you about The Crochet Project's upcoming MCAL! Now I think about it ... CAL and MCAL are not terms I covered in my crochet acronyms post the other week ... so, if you haven't come across the terms before; CAL is short for crochet a-long and an MCAL is a mystery crochet a-long. But what's a crochet along some of you might still be asking? It's when people work on a project at the same time as each other, posting photos on social media and cheering each other on in the process. Usually it's timed for the release of a new pattern but sometimes there can be themed CALs, for example I saw a Christmas in July one advertised yesterday!

Back to the The Crochet Project ... there is a new MCAL this summer, beginning with the first clue on July 8th. Because it's a mystery, we only have a few details including the name, Aestival Shawl (aestival means belonging to, or appearing in, summer), the type & quantity of yarn required and there has been a hint dropped that delicate lace sections are included.

I've taken part in this annual MCAL in the past but one significant change this year is that it's going to be exclusive to The Crochet Project's brand new Hub. The Hub is a monthly membership which gives you access to crochet patterns, tutorials, articles, stitch dictionaries and a forum. I thought it sounded like a great place for all things crochet, joined straight away and have become an affiliate member! At the moment membership is just £2 per month with the code HUBINTRO and you can of course cancel any time.


Back to the shawl ... Joanne Scrace has designed the Aestival Shawl and she has teamed up with one of my favourite indie yarn dyers, Vicki Brown Designs, to create limited edition yarn kits for the MCAL. Each kit contains 2 skeins of Kid Silk Fluff (69% silk/ 22% Kid Mohair/ 9% polyamide per 100g/ 350m) and there are 3 colours to choose from!

I've ordered mine, but I'll keep my colour choice secret for now! Kits cost £46 (plus shipping) but you can use code AESTIVALMCAL to get 10% off. You can access The Crochet Project's page with more info on the MCAL and a link to the yarn kits hereOf course, you can crochet the shawl in whichever yarn you choose - perhaps there's something in your stash?


I hope this post has been of interest and I look forward to some of you joining me in The Hub!

Happy crocheting,

Marta xx 

PS. Sign up to my mailing list to receive these blog posts straight to your inbox! 

Wednesday, 17 March 2021

2 shawls to crochet for Sping!




Hello! Today I would like to highlight two of my shawl patterns which are perfect for Spring! The weather is starting to get warmer here in the northern hemisphere and it's time to think about replacing hats, gloves & thick scarves for something lighter.

First up is my Crocheted Alpaca Wrap - a warm yet light wrap which would look pretty worn over a blouse or dress. It's worked up in one of the neutral King Cole baby alpaca shades. 

The Crocheted Alpaca Wrap is available on LoveCrafts here on Ravelry here (please note Ravelry may cause issues for people with photosensitivity).

The Daffodil Shawl is gorgeously soft and drapes gracefully around your shoulders. It's crocheted in Koigu Mori (50% merino wool/ 50% mulberry silk) giving it such a delicate, light feeling. The filet crochet design creates staggered rows of daffodil motifs.

You can find the pattern on LoveCrafts here and on Ravelry here (please note Ravelry may cause issues for people with photosensitivity).

I hope you like these shawl patterns, as always, let me know if you follow one!

Marta xx

Elevate Your Crochet Photoshoots with the Effective Use of Props

Hello! This week I've been taking photos of my crochet and i n this blog post I’m going to pass on my tips on how to make the best use o...