Round Up of Socktober Challenges

Socktober is finally here! The month where sock knitters and sock crocheters come together and share their love for sock-making! One of the main goals of Socktober is to encourage people to knit or crochet at least one pair of socks during the month. Another popular tradition is to donate handmade socks to charities or those in need.

If you're looking to add something extra to your crocheting or knitting routine, consider joining one of the many sock challenges that have popped up on Instagram and Facebook. These challenges often have unique themes or requirements, such as knitting a pair of socks in a specific yarn, technique or time frame. Some challenges might focus on charity knitting, where you'll donate your handmade socks to those in need. Others might be more personal, encouraging you to create a pair of socks for a loved one or to try a new skill.

 

Participating in a sock challenge can be a great way to meet new people, share your progress, and stay motivated throughout the month. The yarn community is a welcoming community; by joining online groups & forums you're connecting with fellow creatives and you'll have a sense of belonging and connection. Sharing your work, exchanging tips, and learning from others creates a mutually supportive network which can combat feelings of isolation & loneliness. So, whether you're a seasoned sock maker or just starting out, be sure to check out some of the exciting challenges happening this Socktober ...

 

DB Socktober 2024 Sock A Long: My online friend Mariette in South Africa is hosting this sock challenge on Instagram and YouTube for the 3rd year! She has released a new knitting pattern to coincide with Socktober, but you don't have to use this pattern - knitting and crochet are both welcome! #dbsocktober2024

Fall Into Socks KAL 2024: This challenge runs until the 15th November, giving you a little more time! There are prizes too (I've donated a crochet sock pattern into the mix!). Any socks, any pattern, any yarn weight. Hosted on Instagram by Jennifer @ellyndria.knits with a Discord channel for an extra chance to make new friends! #FallIntoSocksKAL2024

 

Socktober With The Scottish Yarn Festival: A group for sock loving people, all coming together to knit and crochet socks during the month of October. This is a public group on Facebook.

 

EarthtonesGirl 7th Annual Falling Leaves Sock KAL: Denise started this one back in mid September and it runs on Instagram until November 15th with the goal of creating one pair of socks (or more) a month using autumn colour or themed yarn. Any pattern, knit and crochet both welcome, WiPs encouraged #fallingleavessockkal2024

 

Organised October: Whilst not strictly a sock challenge, it could be! This annual event is run by Laura on Instagram. Participants are encouraged to finish WiPs and achieve other creative goals throughout October. There is an Instagram chat group which is already buzzing with encouragement! #organisedoctober24

 

Have you seen a challenge you fancy joining? Most of the hosts are happy for you (indeed encourage you) to double, triple dip etc into multiple challenges, so feel free to add all the appropriate hashtags!

To encourage you to take part, I'm offering 15% off all sock patterns on my website and in my Ravelry Store throughout October! Simply use the code SOCKTOBER at the checkout for the discount to be applied!

Until next time, happy crocheting,

Marta xx

PS. If you're hosting or participating in a challenge which I haven't mentioned, please let me know and I'll edit it into the post!

A New Look For My Business!

Hello! Over the last two weeks I've taken a significant step towards strengthening my brand identity. In the past, I experimented with various styles across different platforms, creating a fragmented and inconsistent look. If you remember, my blog had a rainbow watercolour look going on, whilst my website was cold, blue and grey. Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube were ok, but I didn't have a logo and the overall impression was generic crochet. 

 

However, I've now embraced a cohesive and unified aesthetic that better reflects my personal brand. To achieve this, I've adopted a vibrant colour palette consisting of mostly  blue and orange These colors not only add a cheerful and energetic vibe but also resonate with my personality. Orange, with its warmth and enthusiasm, symbolizes my outgoing and optimistic nature. Blue, on the other hand, represents my calm and collected demeanor. This combination of colours perfectly encapsulates my unique brand essence.

 

Not only did I choose brand colours, I also carried these across into the design of a logo which perfectly captures the essence of my crochet business. Did you know, I've never actually had a logo for this business? It seems crazy now I think of it!

 

This simple yet effective, circular design not only visually represents my brand but also conveys a sense of warmth, creativity, and professionalism. The warm background colour evokes a sense of welcome and comfort, inviting my potential customers to explore what I have to offer. The central yarn graphic in blue, immediately communicates my creative focus. The circular band around the edge makes me think back to my days in the Girl Guides, achieving and sewing on all those activity badges!

 

The fonts I've chosen are also a crucial element of my new brand identity. I wanted to strike a balance between readability and visual appeal. To achieve this, I've selected a slightly fancier font for my headlines, adding a touch of elegance and sophistication. This is complemented by a simpler secondary font for body text, ensuring that my content is easy to read and understand. This contrasting combination of fonts creates a visually interesting and harmonious look that reflects my brand's personality. 

Once I'd created my new logo and brand identity, the next step was applying it across all the places I'm visible online, including this blog. This has taken up most of my time this week, so there hasn't been as much time for crochet as I'd like! Tech is not my strong point and there were times when the laptop nearly got flung, but I think I've got there! 

 

My website was the most involved platform to update because there are so many different pages to go through. When I first got my website I simply chose a theme I liked and worked around it. Now that it has my own look I'm really pleased with how professional it looks. I'd love for you to go and check it out to see what you think! Any feedback is most welcome!

Until next time, happy crocheting,

Marta xx

 

Show Notes for Podcast Episode 59: Two Sweaters in Progress

Hello! Marta here, I have a sweater filled episode for you today! I’ve been crocheting and knitting like crazy on 2 garments and can’t wait to show you them plus news of a pattern release from me!

I'm a crochet designer, so to keep up to date with all my news, get my 25 Crochet Tips pdf AND receive my biggest discount codes (including 50% off my Cornflower Cowl), you'll want to subscribe to my mailing list:  https://martamitchelldesigns.com/pages/about-me

I’ve finished and blocked my Printer Ink Scarf (my own pattern) which is worked up in gorgeous minis from Sealy MacWheely! I will make it my goal to sew in the last few ends and get it blocked for the next episode! Here’s a link to Katie’s online shop where you’ll find the details of the bricks & mortar shop too:  https://sealymacwheely.com

Printer Ink pattern on my website:  https://martamitchelldesigns.com/products/printer-ink-scarf

Printer Ink pattern in my Ravelry Store:  https://martamitchelldesigns.com/products/printer-ink-scarf

The knitted jumper I’m working on the sleeve of is the Little Bousta Yoke by Gudrun Johnston. I'm using Shetland jumper weight wool from various sources, some from old cones, some Jamieson's which I purchased in The Woolly Brew, Pittenweem. Find the pattern on Ravelry here:  https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/little-bousta-yoke

The crocheted jumper which is working up super duper fast is made following the design on the cover of Moorit, issue 1! The pattern is called Cumulo and it’s by Liliana Buce-Chmelko. I’m using Drops Andes which I hadn’t used before but which I’m finding fabulous to work with! Here’s a link to Moorit where you can still find digital copies of issue 1:  https://mooritmag.com/collections/all

I’m making good progress with my new Tunisian crochet project! It’s the Rancher Shawl by Toni Lipsey   @TLYarnCrafts   and I’m really enjoying this slightly different technique to regular crochet! 

The yarn I’m using is from Pigment & Ply:  https://www.pigmentandply.com  and For The Love Of Yarn:  https://fortheloveofyarn.co.uk 

My Cornflower Cowl is being released the same day as this YouTube video! The code CORNFLOWER will give you 25% off on both sites - you’ll find it on Ravelry here:  https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cornflower-cowl-4 and on my website here:  https://martamitchelldesigns.com/products/cornflower-cowl-crochet-pattern 

Let me know in the comments what you've been working on as you've been spending time with me, I'd love to know. If I've missed anything or you'd like more info, please do give me a shout! 

Until the next episode, happy crocheting,

Marta xx

Cornflower Cowl: A Dreamy New Crochet Pattern

Drumroll please! ... I'm here today to announce another crochet pattern release; my Cornflower Cowl. If you've been following me for some time, you'll recognise this beautiful cowl as part of my Winter Coorie Collection, but due to popular demand, I've decided to offer it as a standalone pattern! Yay!

 

You can indulge in the luxury of this lacy cowl, inspired by the delicate beauty of cornflowers, this dreamy piece is a delight to crochet and to wear. The Cornflower Cowl is a mindful crochet project with a meditative chain stitch and cluster pattern. The finished cowl has a light, airy feel that will keep you cosy in style.

 

This intermediate-level pattern is written in both UK and US terms. While there aren't any video tutorials, the pattern does include a schematic and a stitch chart for easy reference.

 

Pattern details:

• Requires 3x 50g balls of King Cole baby alpaca DK - my sample used the colourway Damson (this is such a soft baby alpaca yarn)
• You'll need a 5.5mm crochet hook (a bigger hook than you'd usually use for this thickness of yarn) and a tapestry needle for sewing in ends
• Worked in the round
• Available on my website and in my Ravelry store

 

As usual, I'm offering an early bird discount code: there's 25% off the pattern with the code CORNFLOWER Fancy 50% off future early bird releases (of course you do!), simply subscribe to my mailing list here.

 

I hope you'll love this cowl pattern as much as I do! Until next time, happy crocheting,

Marta xx

Crochet Pattern of the Month Offer for September!

Hello! Who's ready for my latest pattern of the month? If you're looking for a new project for the weekend, this could be the very one for you! I've chosen my Elsie Beanie because I know many of you will be on the search for a new beanie to crochet up for the colder weather ahead. Designed back in 2020, this is still one of my favourite hat designs and I love to see your versions pop up on social media too.

DK version

It's a slouchy beanie, finished with a faux fur pompom! Both DK weight and 4ply weight versions written in the same pattern - you choose (or make both!). Like I said, I created this pattern in 2020 when we were in lockdown and were all stuck at home (it seems so long ago!). The DK (8ply) version in olive green was first featured in the Crate Crochet subscription box in Australia and the yarn which came in the boxes with the pattern was Bellissimo Lucca, a superwash merino/ cotton blend. I did a quick check on Yarnsub.com and found a good match for you if the Australian yarn is tricky to track down: Cascade Yarns Anchor Bay has a very similar yarn content and will produce a comparable drape.

We had a blast taking photos for the pattern in the May of that year; two of my kids, our crazy dog Jazz and I posed with a vintage map and an old camera bag. People passing by might have thought we were a bit strange, but we didn't care!

If you'd like to receive my '25 top crochet tips' for FREE, sign up to my mailing list. There's a load of really good crochet stuff coming your way too, including the biggest discount codes (which I don't share anywhere else). Subscribe here.

When the pattern rights came back to me and I was ready to release the pattern myself, I decided to add a 4ply version. For my pale orange sample I used Cascade Yarns Heritage and I was so chuffed with the way the fabric draped! This photo shoot was taken in the late snow we had in March 2021 - it was another fun one with snow all around and the chance for me to throw snowballs at my photographer! The eagle-eyed amongst you will notice the mitts I'm wearing - we did the photo shoot for my Bandwagon Mitts pattern the same day!

4ply version

Elsie Beanie will be pattern of the month throughout September, which means you can have 15% off the pattern with the code SEPTEMBER - it's valid on both my website and Ravelry!

So, are you Team 4ply or Team DK? Which version will you be crocheting?

I'll be back next week with more crochet news, in the meantime happy crocheting, 

Marta xx

New FREE Crochet Pattern Alert: The Tay Beanie

 

IT'S PATTERN LAUNCH DAY!

Hello! I'm always excited about pattern launch day but this beanie pattern is especially exciting beacuse I've lined it up to launch on the day of The Scottish Yarn Festival at Errol Showground, Perthshire which is also today! I've designed my Tay Beanie using the Clan DK wool from The Scottish Yarn Festival and it seems fitting to release the pattern into the world on this special day!

I've spoken at length in previous blog posts about how much I LOVE this wool, but if you missed those you can find them on my blog here.

The Tay Beanie pattern is FREE for you here in this blog post with the option to upgrade to the paid-for pattern on either my website or on Ravelry. The paid-for version has another two sizes plus a video tutorial to accompany the pattern. It also includes my prompts for taking the pattern and creating your own spin on it, something I love to encourage! Use the code BEANIE for 25% off the paid-for version!

To make this beanie, you'll need:

• 1x 100g skein of The Scottish Yarn Festival Clan DK (230m/ 100g, 80% Shetland/ 20% Cheviot), I used colourway Sinclair. Link to buy yarn  https://thescottishyarnfestival.com/our-custom-yarn

• 5.5mm (I/9) crochet hook

• Needle for sewing in ends

The full instructions to make the medium size hat are below, in both UK terms followed by US terms! If you make one, don't forget to tag me on Instagram so I can see!!

Tension 

6.5 stars x 8 rows per 10cm (Star Stitch pattern in rounds, unblocked with 5.5mm hook or required hook to achieve gauge). No time for gauge swatches? At the end of Round 5 of the Crown, the diameter should be approximately 11cm.

Measurements

Medium size: to fit 53-58cm; finished hat circumference 58cm; brim to crown height 20cm. My medium sized sample used just under 60g of yarn.

For the small and large sizes visit my website or Ravelry to download the paid-for pattern.

Abbreviations

UK terms		US terms
bptr	back post treble    ⇨  ⇨  ⇨	bpdc	back post double crochet
ch	chain	ch	chain
chsp	chain space	chsp	chain space
flo	front loop only	flo	front loop only
fptr	front post treble    ⇨  ⇨  ⇨	fpdc	front post double crochet
fptr2tog	front post treble 2 together   ⇨  ⇨	fpdc2tog	front post double crochet 2 together
htr	half treble    ⇨  ⇨  ⇨	hdc	half double crochet
htr2tog	half treble 2 together   ⇨  ⇨  ⇨	hdc2tog	half double crochet 2 together
RS	right side	RS	right side
ss	slip stitch	ss	slip stitch
st(s)	stitch(es)	st(s)	stitch(es)
tr	treble     ⇨  ⇨  ⇨	dc	double crochet
tr6tog	treble 6 together   ⇨  ⇨  ⇨	dc6tog	double crochet 6 together
WS	wrong side	WS	wrong side

Notes 

• Begin at the Crown and work down to the Brim in rounds with RS facing at all times. Do not turn at the end of rounds.

• Some testers found that they went up a hook size (or two!) for the Star Stitches. If you feel your Star Stitches are too tight, go up a hook size then back down a hook size for the Brim. You can try on the hat for size & fit after each reset round of Star Stitches.

• If you’d like more length to your beanie add extra rounds of the Brim section.

• Stitch counts are only given at the end of rounds with a change of count from the previous round. If there is no stitch count stated, it’s unchanged since the previous round.

Special stitches

• Star Stitch is worked over 2 rounds. In the first round you will tr6tog/ dc6tog with the first part of each tr/ dc worked as follows; in chsp just made, in mid side leg of last star worked, in lower side leg of last star worked, in same st as last leg of last star, in each of next 2sts, yo, pull through all 7 loops on hook, ch1 = tr6tog/ dc2tog made. To complete the stars you will work a round of (1tr, 2htr)/ (1dc, 2hdc) in each chsp around - be careful not to miss the last chsp before the ss join! A reset round is then worked to bring the stitch count back down.

• To begin a round of Star Stitch; ch4, then tr6tog/ dc6tog with the first part of each tr/ dc worked as follows; in 2nd ch from hook, in 3rd ch from hook, in 4th ch from hook, in the same space as joining st at end of last round, in first st, in 2nd st, yo, pull through all 7 loops on hook, ch1 = tr6tog/ dc6tog made

• Front post stitches (fptr/ fpdc) & back post stitches (bptr/ bpdc) are worked in almost the same way as regular trebles/ doubles except they are worked around the post of the stitch instead of in the top.

I’d like to thank my tech editor Ruth Brasch for checking over the fine details; my testers (their photos are in the collage above) - Gillian Clifford, Mary Dodds, Daniela Haible, Carmen Heffernan, Raffaella Invernizzi, Angela Lawton & Hannah Wingfield; my photographers, stylists - Niamh Mitchell & Joy Saunders; my model Niamh Mitchell! Thank you everyone, this design wouldn’t have been possible without all your help. xx

Video links 

I’ve made two YouTube video tutorials to help you with this beanie. If you purchase the paid-for pattern on my website or on Ravelry, you will have access to my introduction video which talks you through the construction of this beanie. 

How to work back post/ front post ribbing  https://youtu.be/WH21Ohlq4IE

How to work the Star Stitch  https://youtu.be/2Y4v6VxATuc