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

Printer Ink Scarf pattern release!

Hello! I've kept this scarf pattern under wraps for a while but now's the time to release it! Yay!

You may have spotted me wearing the scarf in the Mavis Mitts photos? Niall and I took the photos on the same location shoot and because the two went so well together I kept it on in the background.

The pattern is called Printer Ink Scarf, named after the set of 12 mini skeins which inspired the design called Printer Ink. I thought it described the colours so well that I also mimiced the printer bleed effect in the way I changed colours. Do you like the name?

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Here are all the details you'll want to know ...

• the design calls for a set of 12x 10g mini skeins. I used Printer Ink Shades from The Knitting Goddess but it would work well in scrap yarn or perhaps an Advent calendar mix if you have one of those?
• this yarn is fingering/ 4ply weight (480m/ 120g, 40% British Blue Faced Leicester/ 20% British Wensleydale/ 20% British Alpaca/ 20% nylon) 
• it's an intermediate level pattern, written in UK & US terms.
• when you reach the border the colours are worked until they run out, making the most of your pretty yarn.
• the finished scarf is 15cm x 200cm
• the pattern includes a few ideas for taking the design further by adding your own twist.
• 4mm hook required.
• there's a chart for the main scarf pattern.
• I'm here to help if you ever have any questions, no matter how big or small.
• you can buy the pattern on Ravelry here.
• you can buy the pattern on LoveCrafts here.
• you can buy the pattern on my website here.

Did I miss anything? You can leave me a comment if you need more info.

I'm offering a 24 hour early bird discount on this pattern! Use the code PRINT15 on Ravelry to receive 15% off the pattern from now until midnight on Wednesday 24th November (GMT). If you can't access Ravelry, please leave me a comment and I'll arrange your discount through email/ Paypal.

I hope you love this pattern as much as I do!

Until next time, happy crocheting,

Marta xx

November's crochet pattern of the month!

Hello! I can't believe we are almost finished the first week of November and I haven't announced my pattern of the month! I'm actually really busy behind the scenes at the moment with a magazine commission that I need to keep a secret and a collaboration that I'll be sharing real soon! These things, as well as the day to day stuff are filling all my time at the moment - I can't wait to share more with you!

So, November's pattern of the month as you can tell from the image above, is my Sedimentary Beanie! I released the pattern last autumn and it's been very poular. It's a two colour design inspired by the sedimentary layers & textures found in rocks. The beanie is crocheted in rows with the side seam sewn up and the crown gathered to finished. It's a simple four row repeat which will soon become rhythmic and mindful.

The pattern is rated intermediate level and it's written in UK and US terms. I designed it in Coopknits Socks Yeah! DK weight (8ply) in colours Astra Planeti & Anemol (top photo) and Tartarus & Sphene (above). The beanie is written for 4 sizes; child, teen, adult M & adult L.

You can receive 20% off the pattern on Ravelry with the code NOV21. If you can't access Ravelry, let me know in the comments and I can sort it out for you via email.

Until next time, happy crocheting,

Marta xx

Crochet Sock Workshop coming up in the New Year!

Hello! I have been BURSTING to bring you this news about my first crochet sock workshop which is happening in the New Year! It's an in person workshop taking place at the newly opened Central Scotland School of Craft in Dunblane.

Although it's my first crochet workshop it's not the first time teaching for me. Just before the pandemic I taught a needle felting workshop (pictured below) which went down a treat for everyone who attended. I also successfully help & teach in a non-official way at the local craft groups I go to.

The full day workshop takes place on Saturday the 7th February 2022. Yarn and hook will be provided and participants will receive a printed copy of my Synthesizer Sock design to take away with them.

Some previous crochet experience is necessary for this workshop – participants will need to know the following basic crochet techniques; working in the round, double crochet stitches, half treble stitches, treble stitches (all in UK terms), how to increase & decrease stitches.

If you're interested in booking a space please visit the Central Scotland School of Craft website here, I'd love for you to join me!

Until next time, happy crocheting,

Marta xx

It's crochet pattern release day for my Mavis Mitts!

photo © Niall Mitchell

Hello! I'm really excited to bring you my Mavis Mitts pattern! The design was tech edited, tested & photographed last month, I was just waiting for the photos coming in, which they did first thing yesterday morning!

photo © Niall Mitchell

So, what's this pattern all about? Allow me to dive in with the key points here ...

• 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 patterns 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.
• This is 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 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 leave me a comment below and I'll happily answer any queries you may have.

photo © Niall Mitchell

To celebrate the release of this pattern, I'm offering you 30% on Ravelry with the code RELEASE. Hurry, offer expires at midnight tomorrow (Wednesday 20th October BST)

I hope you enjoy my new pattern! Until next time, happy crocheting,

Marta xx

How to design crochet socks that fit

 

Hello! This week I'd like to delve into my design process with you and let you know how I go about designing crochet socks that fit. There are two key things which really help me in this process; firstly crocheting lots (and lots!) of socks and secondly my specialisation in Sculpture at art college. I feel it's these two elements together which help me manipulate crochet stitches and create the shapes I need.

I frequently crochet socks using my own patterns and I also follow patterns from other designers to learn how they use crochet stitches to create the heel in particular. I love the way that in crochet, unlike in knitting, the results are instant - you don't have to wait until your work is off the needles to see if your idea has worked, it's there for you to see right away. 

Socks almost always begin either at the toe as toe-up socks, or at the cuff as cuff-down socks. It's possible to crochet socks sideways too, but I've yet to try this technique! When crocheting toe-up socks I begin at the toe and increase stitches until I reach the correct circumference for the foot. I keep my blocker by my side so I can try it on the blocker as I go along and get the fit spot on. 

With cuff-down socks like my Fiddle Socks above, I use the same technique. I know approximately how many stitches I need for the cuff because I've got the numbers in my head from crocheting so many pairs of socks. Once I've worked 3 or 4 rounds of cuff I'll try it on my blocker for size - making sure it fits over the heel too!

Going back to my student days, I graduated from studying Fine Art, Sculpture at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design in the year 2000. I specialised in making life sized (and life like) sculptures of the human figure in clay and casting them into resin reinforced with fibre glass. Alongside this I drew hundreds of large self portraits and made small terracotta clay self portraits from memory which were fired in the kiln.

Working from life models and using what I could see in front of me to create in clay or on paper is definitely a skill which has transferred itself to my crochet practice. Somehow my brain just takes the shape & size of a heel and says "oh yeah, the next row will be 10 stitches with a decrease at either end" - I don't think I can explain it better than that!

As you can see in the photo above, it's not always right first time! Last week I was working on my latest sock design (which is going to be called Fiddle Socks) and I was on the gusset. Within a few rounds I could tell that my calculations were way off and the gusset and heel section were going to be huge! A quick bit of rattling down (you may have seen my frogging reel on Instagram?) and by working less stitches down the side of the heel flap things were back on track. I am super pleased with this heel, it fits my blocker and my foot perfectly!

If you're keen to start designing your own crocheted socks my advice would be to follow lots of other designers patterns for ideas on technique (not to copy their designs!) and to work with a sock blocker at your side. If you're working with sock yarn it will rattle down easily when things don't go to plan, which will happen! Use your mistakes to learn and to work out how to shape differently next time. 

I'll finish with a quick update on where I'm at with this new pattern and my other recent designs. I need to do a few calculations to work the heel stitch numbers out across the different sizes for my Fiddle Socks before I send it to be tech edited and then tested. My Mavis Mitts are very nearly ready for release - I'm just waiting for the photos back from eldest son, we had an excellent photo shoot together. As for my Air Balloon Beanie, it's been tech edited and is currently at the testing stage. To keep up to date with these future releases (and receive more generous discount codes than anywhere else on the internet) subscribe to my mailing list here.

Until next time, happy crocheting,

Marta xx 

5 of the best crochet sock patterns!

Hello! I'm here today to share 5 of the best crochet sock patterns - tried & tested by me! I love crocheting socks, they're one of my favourite things to make - partly because they're a small project so they work up fast, partly because there's such a beautiful range of sock yarn out there to choose from. Some of these patterns I have Ravelry links to, others require a bit more tracking down as you will see. All the photos below are my versions of them, let's have a look ...

No.1  Tipping The Scales by Joanne Scrace. This pattern was released on Boxing day 2020 as a 5 part mystery crochet along and I remember starting straight away on that day! It's now available as a complete pattern on Ravelry. Written for 7 sizes (baby to adult) this pattern is a fantastic stash buster. I made mine in a UK2, they're tiny! 

No.2  Brickyard Socks by Rohn Strong. One of my favourite sock patterns - I've made about 5 pairs of these! I love Rohn Strong's sock patterns, they're easy to follow and often combine more than 1 colour throughout the sock which keeps things interesting. I had a look online and can only find the pattern in Rohn's book 'Step Into Crochet'. I've crocheted about half the socks in this book, I'd definitely recommend it.

No.3  Sparkler Socks by Vicki Brown. I had a hard job choosing my favourite Vicki Brown sock pattern, I've made quite a few of these too! This design uses linked half trebles (UK terms) to create a lovely flat fabric - perfect for socks. Available in 3 adult sizes, you can download it from Ravelry on its own or as part of a 6 sock pattern bundle which is excellent value. Popping Vicki's website here too, although this pattern isn't on there, many other good ones are!

No.4  Everyone (Needs) Socks by Kat Goldin. This is the first pair of socks I ever crocheted so they're very special (on that note, please excuse my photography - this was back in 2017 and my photography skills have come a long way since then!). I can't seem to find this pattern anywhere online, but it is available in Kat's 2nd crochet book 'Hook, Stitch & Give' - another book well worth investing in. Amazingly it's written for 12 sizes, from baby throught to UK12 and it's very adaptable for different widths.

No.5  is one of my own designs - Fabulous Socks! This is my most purchased pattern and an excellent choice for the first time sock crocheter. It's a toe-up design with extended double crochet stitches for stretch and finished with a ribbed cuff. Designed using Paintbox Yarns sock wool, 100g is enough for each of the 3 adult sizes available. The pattern is downloadable from Ravelry and from my website.

I hope you've found this mini guide useful! I send regular emails to my list covering topics like this, together with discount codes, free patterns, crochet tips & advice. If you'd like to subscribe to my list please sign up here.

Until next time, happy crocheting,

Marta xx