Monday, 30 July 2012

inside crochet 32 ::

On Friday the new issue of inside crochet hit the shelves.  I was so excited about this issue for lots of different reasons.
:: Firstly, I have 2 patterns in this issue, I've never had 2 patterns in one issue of anything before, so that was pretty cool.
:: Secondly, one of the garments is adorned with some of my handmade buttons and as a result I was asked if I could send over some photos of my buttons for them to be included elsewhere in the magazine.
:: Thirdly, I had a sneak peek of some of the photographs and knew they would be gorgeous.
:: Fourthly, the lovely Claire Montgomerie has returned to her post of editor after a maternity break and has given the magazine a grand new look. After all the drama surrounding the magazine under it's previous ownership (I won't go into all the details here, but I'm sure if you google All Craft Media administration you'll get an idea) I was really pleased to see the magazine continuing under much improved leadership.



What I wasn't expecting, when I popped in to Smiths to see if I could spy it on the shelves, was to see my creation gracing the cover.  I squealed with excitement! I was on my own with the toddler and so very nearly grabbed the nearest grown up to show them my achievement, I managed to hold off, but did very loudly show said toddler (who was more interested in the cbeebies magazines, which are inconveniently located right next to the craft magazines).



This issue is really great and everything I hoped a UK crochet magazine could and would be.  When I heard of ACM's administration, what I was most upset about, even more than the money I was owed and would most likely never see, was the loss of our only UK crochet magazine. The shelves are awash with knitting magazines and some really fantastic one's at that, I believe there is room for a crochet magazine and that it could do fantastically well.  The US has 4 that I can think of off the top of my head and some really great quality one's at that, but I feel, with the new look and great new team at the helm, inside crochet is going to be fantastic.



I haven't had a chance to read it cover to cover yet, but some of the highlights for me so far are a really interesting article on the '(short) history of crochet' by Zoe Clements (the new editor of inside crochet's sister, knitting magazine, yarnwise), a fantastic stripy sweater pattern by Emma Varnam and the exceptional photography by Britt Spring.


Claire was the first editor to commission any of my patterns, a mere 12 months ago, which gave me the confidence to carry on when I'd already received a fair few rejections and now just a year later I have deadlines looming every week and more work than I could have dreamed of, for inside crochet, 2 US crochet magazines and a few knitting magazines! So I'm very grateful to her and the rest of her team and proud to be a part of this new vision of her magazine.


Thursday, 12 July 2012

lacy sweater pattern ::


now available for purchase is the 'lacy sweater' pattern I originally designed for inside crochet issue 25.


It's a fairly simple sweater, worked in a lace pattern repeat.  The sweater is worked in one piece from bottom up in the round.  Originally worked in cotton this light garment, is a great feminine edition to a spring/summer wardrobe. 

ravelry page :: here
yarn :: here 

Thursday, 5 July 2012

child's raglan sweater pattern ::


Now available for purchase, is the child's raglan pattern, I originally designed for 'Inside Crochet'.

childs raglan sweater ::

This easy, chunky weight, child's sweater, is great for beginners, a simple, quick to work, versatile jumper.

I used a discontinued yarn, by paton's for the original I made for Milo, and Wendy Mode Chunky (a lovely soft merino) for the Inside Crochet sample, but any chunky weight yarn would work.  It would be great in cotton for a warmer weather sweater for example.

ravelry page :: here

yarn :: wendy mode chunky 

Friday, 15 June 2012

in the garden ::

so it has not exactly been sunny here the last couple of weeks, in fact it has been positively miserable.  It has been rainy forever, well it certainly feels that way.  As a result my garden is very much behind compared to this time last year.

But there is still stuff happening, plants are still growing, fruits are appearing, and even, ever, ever so slowly beginning to ripen.

in the garden ::

blueberries, we have lots lots more than last year (the bushes first year) and they are looking much bigger this year too, though I'm guessing they are still a way from ripening.

  in the garden :: 

 cornflower, the first to open, last year I had flowers in April!

  in the garden ::in the garden ::

in the garden ::

in the garden :: 

courgette, I'm fairly sure that by this time last year, we were already putting courgette in everything, this is the first and doesn't seem to be growing at all.

I'm trying not get down about it all and hoping that we'll have a lovely hot, long summer yet.  

On a more positive note we did have our first handful of raspberries a couple of days ago and a handful every day since.

First raspberries! There may not have been sunshine for last 2 weeks but these beauties made it. So excited.

Tuesday, 15 May 2012

Granny Heart Bunting ::

Just a note to say that my granny heart bunting, that was published in 'inside crochet' issue 24, is now available for free download on my ravelry page.



You can find it :: here

Tuesday, 8 May 2012

finding inspiration :: BIG knitting/crochet ::

I cannot get enough of giant knitting and crochet at the moment.  I love the way the stitches look so clean and tidy when the are so massive!

Here are a few of my favourites that have been making their way on to my pinterest boards recently ::







Source: plaza.fi via VickiBrown on Pinterest






















































Wednesday, 2 May 2012

WIP wednesday :: Dahlia Cardi ::

Oh my I love this pattern, I came across it after I purchased the online edition of Interweave Knits Fall 2011, for the Pembroke Wrap pattern, as soon as I saw it I wanted to make it, but wasn't really sure my knitting skills were up to the challenge.  But I needn't have worried as it turns out they were (well so far anyway).

Rainy weekends make a perfect excuse to master new knitting skills.

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 With all the miserable rain we've had the last....hmmm....well it feels like forever, but lets say, week, I've had plenty of oportunity to stay indoors and knit.  I literally spent the whole weekend on the sofa doing just that and as a result finished the lace panel on the back in super speedy time (especially for someone so new to lace knitting) and as far as I can see without any mistakes!

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I'm now on to the mass of stocking stitch which makes up the rest of the piece, I have a feeling this bit is going to take a long time, but I'm so eager to wear the finished piece I'm hoping this project won't get abandoned.

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my ravelry notes :: here
the pattern is available from interweave knits fall 2011 :: here 
the yarn is :: here

For more WIP wednesday's check out Tami Amis' blog.