I've had an exciting yarn delivery!

Hello! One thing which has given me a real boost last week was a yarn delivery (who doesn't love those, right?). I've been stalking Pamela at Otter and Pappoose yarns for quite some time and when she posted yet another of her gorgeous yarn photos, I caved and placed an order!

When I opened my package the colours were just what I hoped for! You can see everything in the photo above. I plan to use the 100g orange skein (colourway Dragonfly, 75% SWM/ 25% nylon, 425m per 100g) for knitting a pair of Woodland Trail Socks by Dana Rae Makes. It's going to be the perfect colour to knit with this autumn, I can't wait to finish knitting my current pair to cast on!

All the mini skeins will be crocheted into solid granny squares for my Battenberg Blanket. I don't think you can tell from the photo, but the skein on the left has sparkle through it which I love! It's called Dorothy Sparkle and it's 75% SWM/ 20% nylon/ 5% silver stellina sparkle, 42m per 10g. I've already crocheted through most of it and I can confirm it's lovely to work with. ISo far I've also crocheted up the green mini skein (my Battenberg doesn't have much green in it so far) and the pinky, purple. The mini skeins are also 4ply and the same yarn composition as the orange one. 

Pamela popped in a little dino stitch marker which is super cute - I'll be using him for my socks for sure! All in all, I thoroughly recommend this indie dyer; fantastic customer service, quick dispatch, beautiful yarn! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Pamela has very kindly given me a special discount code for you, click the link below to her Etsy shop and treat yourself to 10% off with the code PAPPOOSEBLOG10

Until next time, happy crocheting!

PS. If you'd like to receive these emails straight to your inbox, please subscribe to my mailing list. There's a free pdf with 25 Top Tips Every Crocheter Should Know waiting for you when you do! Sign me up!

Beginning To End

Hooray! My Lazy Days crochet along starts today! Have you got your yarn and hook at the ready?

If you've been following my journey over the last few months you'll know I've been working towards the start of this crochet a-long (CAL) since way back in March. It all began with a swatch which quickly grew into a wrap with the design all mapped out for others to follow.

I'm here in this post to remind that you that you can ask me any questions from the beginning to the end of this CAL. You can do so via email, or on Instagram you can drop me a DM or join the private chat group I've created there. This group is a great place to ask questions because the chances are if you're wondering about something, someone else is too!

I opened the chat group last Friday to allow everyone time to settle in and introduce themselves. Many of us shared our current WiPs and spoke about hurrying to finish things ready to start the CAL, hooray!

There's still time for you to buy a kit, especially as they seem to be arriving on doorsteps the day after posting which is amazing! One kit even made it to Northern Ireland the next day, impressive! If you order by 12pm, I will post out the same day.

Don't dilly dally too long though, I'm down to the last 16 kits! Order yours here.

There's also the option to buy the pattern and use your own yarn. I recommend anything in a solid, semi solid or lightly speckled colourway and you'll need approximately 170g of fingering weight/ 4ply yarn.

You can buy the pattern on my website here and on Ravelry here.

Like I say, should you have any questions about the pattern or the kit, please ask, I'm happy to help!

Marta xx

Some Of My Followers Love This, Do You?

Hello! A few years ago I began adding a 'Take it Further' section at the end of my patterns, in which I invite you to take my design and add your own twist. I bullet point 4 or 5 ideas to get your creative ideas flowing and then encourage you to go ahead and crochet something a little bit different.

Whilst some of these ideas could be as simple as using more colours or adding a pompom, others will require a little more skill and involve changing the stitch count or using the stitch pattern to create something else entirely. If this is the case I do guide you by letting you know how many multiples are in the stitch count.

The first pattern I added this inspiration section to was my Sunshine & Showers Aplliqué pattern and I launched a competition to see who could come up with the best variation. The collage above shows some of the amazing results from customers who entered - I was VERY impressed! The winner was Jane (@created_uniquely on Instagram) who created the coin purse (pictured bottom left).

I know many of you LOVE this extra section, in fact Holly-Marie shared a photo this week of her In The Groove Cushion Cover, showing how she had done a completely different stitch on the back and created an envelope opening too. You can see her reel on Instagram here. 

Crochet patterns are really easy to adapt and make your own, whether that's intentionally (in similar ways to Holly-Marie) or whether that's because you make a 'mistake' and decide to run with it! So go ahead, have a look at my 'Take it Further' sections and let your creativity flow!

Don't forget to tag me when you do because I'd love to see!

Until next time, happy crocheting,

Marta xx

PS. If you'd like to receive these posts staright to your inbox, sign up to my mailing list - you'll be first to hear all my crochet news and get the biggest discounts! 

Crochet Pattern of the Month for June!

Hello! This time last year I was hard at work putting the finishing touches on my first crochet kit, fun times! That kit featured a crocheted sock pattern, my Lazy Days Socks, and it's this pattern I've chosen for pattern of the month for June.

To rewind a little further I'd better explain how the Lazy Days theme began with an illustration I commissioned from Katie Gammie. I'd been an admirer of Katie's work for a while and I loved how her drawing evoked a sense of laid back summer days, just the vibe I was looking for.

From there I sent the finished drawing to Liv Spencer at The Wool Shed who hand dyed sock yarn for me inspired by its colours. I then designed a pair of crocheted socks taking inspiration from both the illustration and the yarn. 

The socks are a cuff-down design which I had a lot of fun designing. The cuffs have a very unusual look to them - I was recreating the foxglove spikes in wool form! The heel has a flap and gusset to allow for plenty of room around the instep and the soles have extended double crochet stitches for a smooth feel underfoot.

If you haven't crocheted socks before, here are a few of my top tips:

• Use a stitch marker to mark the beginning of each round. This will really help you to keep track of your work.

• Try on your socks on as you go, making sure that they're the right size and adjusting as necessary.

• Weave in any ends as you go. This will help to prevent them from coming undone especially during multiple try ons.

• Be patient and have fun! Crocheting socks is such a rewarding project that can be enjoyed by people of all skill levels.

• Don't forget that you can reach out to me with questions at any time!

My Lazy Days Socks crochet pattern is available on my website and on Ravelry and you can have 10% off the pattern with the code JUN23 

Until next time, happy crocheting,

Marta xx

Come and Make Friends With my Lazy Days CAL

One of the things I really love about crochet is the way it brings like minded people together. In my last few emails I've been telling you all about my Lazy Days Kits, but here in this email I'd like to explain more about the Lazy Days CAL and how it will operate.

If you haven't come across the term before, a CAL is a Crochet A-Long where a group of crocheters get together and work on the same (or similar) project at the same time. This usually takes place in the virtual world, although there can sometimes be opportunities to meet with others locally too.

Over the years I've made so many good friends through CALs. Most of them I've never met in real life but some I have and some I plan to meet in the future. It's a reminder to me that there are good people out there and they fill my life with happiness (you know who you are if you're reading this).

I'm going to kick off my Lazy Days CAL on June 23rd 2023 which gives you plenty of time to stash dive or buy yarn if you're not going to be using my kit.

The pattern is now up on Ravelry and on my website, so you can see the details there and I've set up a special discount code for you JUN23 will give you 10% off the pattern!

The recommended yarn for this project is 75% superwash merino/ 25% nylon in 4ply/ sock weight/ fingering weight. To bring out the best of this design I suggest that you go for something that's all one colour, or something tonal or something with light speckling or mottling. Any yarn with high contasts or bold colour changes will make the finished wrap look too busy. You will need approximately 170g of yarn.
 
The main place I'm going to hold the CAL is in a chat group on Instagram. You can send me a message on Instagram once you've bought the pattern and would like to be added to the group (find my Insta icon link at the very foot of this email). This will be a friendly space where we can share photos, ask questions and generally cheer each other on.
 
I've done this in the past for other pattern releases and it's a great way to work on a longer term project like this and to make new friends in the process. So, don't be shy, come and say hello! 
 
Did I mention that there will be PRIZES? There will be multiple categories and prizes which I'll announce nearer the time!

Until next time, happy crocheting,

Marta xx

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

 

Yarn Substitutes for my Gorse Cowl Pattern

Hello! Thank you so much for the positive response to my latest crochet pattern release - Gorse Cowl! Everything from your likes and comments on social media through to the pattern sales really do boost my small business and encourage me to keep doing what I'm doing, THANK YOU!

Also, I had a flurry of replies to my last post from folks in New Zealand telling me about how gorse is a real pest in that country. Sorry, I had no idea! 

You can find my Gorse Cowl pattern on my website here and on Ravelry here.

In this blog post I'd like to chat about the yarn I chose for this cowl and some possible substitutes for you if you want to use something different.

I bought the yarn for the project one snowy April day in Edinburgh. I'd gone through to Edinburgh for the day with my youngest son and I had my first pay packet from a new job so we visited Jenner's Department Store. There was a good selection of Di Gilpin Lalland in the store - it was the first time I'd come across it and I instantly fell in love with its lambswool softness!

I appreciate that you might not be able to get your hands on the Di Gilpin Lalland or it may simply be out of your budget, so here are a few ideas I have for substituting the yarn because it isn't listed on yarnsub.com.

Biches & Bȗches - Le Lambswool (100% wool). It's slightly thinner than the Lalland at 170m/ 50g but the feel of the yarn is similar.

Simply Shetland Lambswool & Cashmere (88% Shetland Wool/ 12% Cashmere). This yarn has a similar twist to the Lalland and is almost spot on for meterage.

West Yorkshire Spinners Pure DK (100% wool). Lovely and soft with a beautiful twist. Slightly thicker than the Lalland (112m/50g)

King Cole Merino Blend DK (100% wool). An excellent budget yarn which I've used many times in my designs. It is a bit thicker at 104m/ 50g.

Stashbust! This project could potentially be crocheted in most DK weight yarns. Why not pull together a collection of different coloured yarns with the same yarn base? Or you could even make a completely scrappy version - remember all your ends will be hidden inside! Yay!

If you'd like to read more on the topic of yarn substitution, check out this blog post of mine!

 

I hope this has given you some yarn inspiration for the Gorse Cowl, happy crocheting,

Marta xx