Design, design, design

It's been all about designing this last week or so! Now that I have learnt how to write up my patterns in the traditional format I'm able to work faster from idea through to finished pattern. It seems that no sooner have I sent a pattern off to be tested that I start on the next one. I'm sure the sunny weather and the pretty spring flowers which are beginning to open up all around are helping with my creativity too.

Yesterday I emailed 3 lovely testers with my latest pattern. It was an amigurumi design which I had made a few times 4 or 5 years ago but I didn't know how to write it up at the time. I looked at how my original amigurumi was put together, counted the rounds and thought about the colours.

 My new amigurumi in the centre with the original designs either side

I decided to use my current favourite yarn; MilliaMia ( http://www.millamia.com/home.php there are a few free patterns on the website, worth a look!). I buy most of my yarn from UK based Lemonade Yarns ( http://www.yarnandcraftshop.co.uk/  free patterns on this website too!). There is a pattern competition running at the moment which might have something to do with my increase in designing too! The details are on the Lemonade Yarns facebook page if you are interested in finding out more  https://www.facebook.com/lemonadeyarns?fref=ts

Cover photo for my new design

This morning I received a free sample of wool from Emma at Lemonade Yarns. It was a ball of Jenny Watson, pure merino DK, a new line of yarn for her shop and I was keen to try it and see what it was like. The wool felt lovely and soft and not at all scratchy so I thought it would be perfect for a cosy headband. I began working on a cable sample straight away and I'm happy with it, ready to move things on to a bigger scale. 

Work in progress

I am extremely grateful for all the work my pattern testers do. There is always something obvious missing from one of my patterns and I appreciate these little mistakes being pointed out, making the final pattern just right for someone to pick up. For every pattern tested the tester's name will be added to a prize draw to receive a surprise parcel of homemade goodies from me. I will do this every six months. If you are interested in pattern testing for me please get in touch, I'd love to hear from you!

Half Term Crochet Project

I have been enjoying some personal crochet time recently which I have thoroughly enjoyed. The boys were off school for their half-term long weekend so we were out and about swimming, going to the cinema and spending pocket money! On the Monday morning I managed to catch up with my friend Gwen and her 2 children. Gwen brought her current crochet project with her, the cowl she is busy pattern testing for me. It was good to see the pattern taking shape and watch Gwen working on it. My eldest son sat with us and began a new crochet project (using my lovely 70% wool / 30% alpaca mix wool no less!), I took a sneaky photo of them working away.

Concentrating on crochet

My husband surprised me with a copy of Mollie Makes magazine for Valentine's Day (a very thoughtful gift!) and I loved the pixie hood pattern in it so much that I started straight away, using wool from my stash.

All ready to begin!

This pattern uses front and back post stitches to create a cabled effect which looks fantastic. The first few rows required extreme concentration but then it began to make sense and became much easier to follow. The pattern is available in Mollie Makes, issue 37 or directly from the book, Aran Nordic Fair Isle (ISBN 978-4021905278).

More pattern writing

I've been pattern writing again! This time for a 4 colour, pinwheel granny square. I'm using this pattern on a blanket I am making for my sister and brother in law. It's a multi coloured blanket, crocheted using odd balls of wool, mixed with some new fresher colours too. I thought it was time I wrote it down because I'm taking a short break from this project while I wait for more yarn to accumulate. I have an Instagram friend in Australia, called Lynda, who is working on a crochet mood blanket, crocheting 1 different square a day for a year. Her blanket is looking beautiful so far with so many different patterns and textures.  I asked if she would test out my pattern and she has kindly agreed. I really hope it works out, it would be lovely to see one of my designs on Lynda's blanket.

 Finished pinwheel granny square

I have also been working on my felt bunnies for Easter time. I'm having fun playing with different colours and patterns, these bunnies are fun to make!

Work in progress

The fabric for the ears and tummies is either vintage fabric which my mum has given me or modern scraps from my own stash. The fabric in this picture is Liberty scraps, leftover from a dress my mum made me when I was 5. I am so glad she hung on to all these little pieces!

I currently have a promotion on in my Folksy shop; as a special Valentine's offer, all orders will receive a FREE felt brooch! Offer ends Friday 14th Feb 2014 at midnight.

Promotional brooches

If you'd like to see any of my items for sale,  www.folksy.com/shops/martasecocrafts  is the link.

New Ideas

I've been very creative so far this week but have very few photos to show for it because the weather has been consistently dark and rainy. I prefer to use natural light for photographing my work and there have only been short glimpses of sunshine. In the northern hemisphere I think we are all looking forward to the coming of Spring!

I finished writing up a crochet pattern for a cowl and a close friend has agreed to test it out for me. The cowl is made with alpaca wool which feels luxuriously soft and warm against the skin. The use of chain stitches makes the pattern quick to make up, and gives the cowl a light and airy feel. 

Detail of cowl pattern

Today the cold and dark weather continues and I decided it was time to start thinking of warmer weather and plan what to make to sell at Easter time. I remembered making hanging bunny ornaments 5 or 6 years ago, when crafting was simply a hobby and thought I would try sketching out something similar to see how it looked. The bunnies can be made from thick woollen jumpers, embellished with scraps of fabric and lightly stuffed with ends of wool from my numerous crochet projects.

Bunny sketch in my drawing pad

I have a good selection of flowery fabric in my stash which I can look out for the ears and tummies. These sunnier fabrics are sure to brighten up these dark days!

Deadline Achieved

I started making heart shaped coasters at the start of the week and set myself a personal deadline of today to make a dozen coasters, photograph and list them on folksy.com. I was very happy to achive my goal early this afternoon. Our middle son was off school with a virus mid week which held me up a little but other than that I focussed and sewed away!

Work in progress

Finished coasters

Working for myself is proving to be a lot of fun and I think I will continue to set myself goals and targets so as not to end up at the end of the week thinking "what have I done this week?"

Inspiration

This week I have turned my attention away from crochet pattern writing (it's going well, patterns are being tested at the moment) to making new items for my folksy shop (I need to pay for my wool habit!).

Yesterday I decided to create a Valentine's Day themed item to generate fresh interest in the shop. I looked through my home library of craft books and magazines for inspiration, not really sure what sort of item to make. Flicking through Stash Happy, FELT by Amanda Carestio I found the pattern for scrap coasters which I had made a few of for the house last year. While I am happy to copy patterns and ideas from other crafters for personal use I would feel wrong about producing them on a mass scale for selling. I do often take inspiration from fellow crafters and tweak them, adding my own personal touch. In this instance I thought of changing the shape from circular to heart shaped to give these coasters a Valentine's Day twist.

The evolution of the coaster

Some of my ideas are formed in similar ways to this and at other times completely new ideas form in my head. The circular felt brooches, which are proving popular in my folksy shop, were created by playing and twisting the felt and enjoying the way the spirals were shaped. To create my chunky bead necklaces I took inspiration from other necklaces in high street shops and thought "I could make something like that!".

First pair complete

My plan is to make a dozen of these coasters by the end of the week when I will list them in my folksy shop, www.folksy.com/shops/martasecocrafts . I think I will sell them in pairs, and make each pair limited edition!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! So far this year I have spent most of my time doing what I love best ... crocheting! Up until a few days ago the weather was grey, rainy, windy and horrible, the perfect excuse to snuggle under my granny square blanket and crochet away!

I finished a toy polar bear for my youngest son a few days before New Year and he immediately started talking about the possibility of a family of polar bears! The one I had given him was Daddy Bear and he thought there should be at least a Mummy Bear and a Baby Bear. I had followed a pattern in Mollie Makes magazine by Kerry Lord and using this as a guide I adjusted the pattern to make Mummy Bear. She was a big hit with my youngest and from there I had to design my own pattern for Baby Bear. He was to be a lot smaller than his parents and I had to stick to similar proportions in order for him to look similar. He is very nearly complete but has been pushed to one side to make way for a delivery of yarn from www.yarnandcraftshop.co.uk!

Mummy and Daddy Polar Bear

I have decided that this year I am going to start writing down my own patterns and spent a big chunk of my Christmas money on purchasing some gorgeous yarns to play with. Towards the end of last year I wrote up my first pattern and I am excited that it's now in the testing stage. Although time consuming the process was very satisfying and I am keen to write more. I have been designing my own crochet patterns for the last 4 or 5 years but I prefer to make them up as I go along as I am so absorbed in the process that I don't want to keep stopping and analysing what I'm doing! I have however found the solution to this; make the crocheted item in the same fast and furious way and then when it's finished carefully examine it and write down the pattern before making it again, checking that everything is correct as I go along.

Pattern writing progress

Today I began work on my first hat pattern using Erika Knight's Maxi Wool. This wool is chunky and feels lovely and squishy! I used a 10 mm crochet hook and the hat came together quickly, within an hour and a half I had produced a hat! I used pen and paper to scribble down my method and my next step is to take it to the computer because I doubt anyone wants to read my scribbles!