Will there be snow

Will there be snow?

Every year here in the UK we are told that there will be snow. We don't actually get it every year though. When there is snow we as Bits do not cope very well our transport systems go down, people panic buy food in supermarkets and the whole country is a mess. I personally don't like the snow, I don't like the cold, wet and icy weather. I stay at home and hide. This year my preparations for the snow is not to buy loads of milk and bread like the rest of the country. (what is with that? do you drink more milk in the snow?) I have got in stocks of yarn so I can crochet my new designs.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/09/uk-weather-blast-arctic-blow-snow-britain/

I will of course still have to walk the dog and do the school run but at least ill be sporting a woolly hat and scarf which I have made from the softest, warmest yarn. It will be a quick dash out and then back home in the warm and dry and crochet crochet crochet.

I have plenty of new designs to write up, a couple of paid patterns to try out and plenty to watch on Netflix.

 

Are you a pattern snob

Are you a pattern snob?

Now that everyone has packed Christmas away, celebrated New Years, cleaned their homes, realised how big their house actually is and how many toys their children own, its time to get back to normality and to return to work. So January is here and so is the time of year to fill out our tax return. Even though my accounts are well kept and its quite easy it is one of those jobs that's just a bore. I'd prefer to be designing my next pattern or even crocheting it.

This time of year people are thinking about their future and changes they might make to achieve them, I of course did that too. Just the usual stuff, get healthy, stop binge watching Netflix but I know by February I'll be well in to my third boxset while eating my weight in chocolate reminding myself that I'm not going on holiday this year so don't need that beach bod.
But what I also thought about what crochet patterns and the snobbery that goes with them.
When I design a pattern and type it up I'm very aware of the person that will be using this pattern and their needs for it. Each pattern usually comes with a grade easy, advanced etc. Over time I have collected many different types of patterns, some I've paid a lot of money for and some I have got free from a magazine. They are very different in their style, photos and the way they are typed up. There are also the branded patterns, the ones written by our favourite designers.

Crochet patterns are a lot like fashion. We have our everyday generic items which we love but are not really special and our designer black dress patterns. Our special handbag which we get out to impress. Of course we need a target audience for these, someone who knows the difference between luxury alpaca wool and market acrylic wool, someone who knows the difference will applicate the quality of the design the advanced nature of the pattern. All these things do not make us a better crocheter but it in some small way makes us happier that we own a pattern from a well known designer that we are able to recreate the item in the pattern.
Are you a pattern snob? Will you turn your nose up at a poorly displayed pattern, a pattern that has bad quality photos, one that clearly has been written by a novice. I certainly think I am. I realised this when I was looking to purchase a new pattern and one was so cheap I made a judgment before even looking at it. I actually shocked myself that I would do this. I re looked and as it turned out I was right in my pre judgement it was a pile of rubbish.
I do prefer a pattern that doesn't have too many photos as printing and storing these long winded patterns are a pain and they have an air of patronisation, almost like the designer thought the person reading this doesn't know what a hook is. To me a pattern should be quick to read. To the point. Have a list of needed items, stitch abbreviations and if necessary a small explanation in to the stich type. A photo of the end product and maybe a photo of a tricky bit that is hard to explain in words. A chart is helpful for those who don't like words. The designers name and website or email address. But that's it. Not a photo of each step. Certainly not instructions into every single stitch and a long winded bio of the designer. Its like giving a child a toy and explaining every part of the toy before allowing them to play with it and not letting them figure it out for themselves. The sense of achievement I've had from finishing a complicated item was amazing. I felt very proud that not only did I finish it but I leant something from it.

In conclusion if you like a long winded pattern that coaches you through every single stitch and hundreds of photos, my patterns are not for you. If you like to learn how to read a pattern I will of course help you and there are plenty of resources at your disposal via the internet and in books. My patterns are well informed in what you need and are quick to read. I'm on stand by if you do come across a section you need help with, as we all need help and we all are still learning new ways of doing things. 2017 will bring you lots of patterns from me. I'm already in the process of designing a whole range of animals and science fiction characters. Because this takes time I will be releasing a coupe of patterns I designed last year. I will be attempting to release charts with every pattern and lots of free items and patterns too.  

I hope your new year is great and that 2017 brings you all you hope for. Now go away I have Netflix to watch and chocolate to eat.

Christmas baubles

Christmas baubles

Crochet pattern from The Hook Geek

You will need

a polystyrene ball

(I used 5cm but you can use any size you’ll have to adjust the pattern to fit)

different coloured yarns.

I used 5 different colours and they all were different styles of crochet thread and yarn of different thickness’s. When I used a thin thread I used it for two rounds and saved the thicker threads for one round.

Hook size 2 – a different size hook will change the size of the bauble

embroidery needle

stitch marker

This pattern is written using UK terms and is crocheted in the rounds using increasing method.

To increase you will need to put two double crochet stitches in one stitch. You’ll be making two halves and sewing them together because this makes a cleaner nicer finished look.

Stitches used:

dc – double crochet

inc – increase stitch

cc – change colour (this is a suggestion you can change colour any time you’d like)

Magic circle

6dc in to the circle

2dc in each stitch

cc 1dc, 1 inc

1dc in each stitch

cc 2dc, 1 inc

3dc, 1 inc

cc 4dc, 1 inc

cc 1 dc in each stitch

5dc, 1 inc

1 dc in each stitch

1 dc in each stitch again

cc repeat the last two rows

1dc all the way around using the colour you’d like to join the two halves

Try it on your ball, it need to be a little tight so when the two are sewn on to it they stretch a little and it keeps the bauble tight. Once you have made two sew them on your ball. The first few stitches are a bit tricky but after a few it holds itself on. Remember to leave a stand at the end so you can hang your bauble.

To download pattern click here

Pine cone elves

Pine Cone Elves

You will need:

large pine cone

hook size 3.25

face coloured yarn

hat coloured yarn

small bell

small amount of toy stuffing (or you can use scrap yarn)

Glue

embroidery needle

This pattern is done in the rounds with increasing and decreasing stitches using the UK terms.

Stitches used:

dc – double crochet

inc – increase stitch, two double crochet made in one stitch

2dctog – decrease stitch, hook through stitch yarn over, hook through the next stitch and yarn over and you’ll have three stitches on your hook, yarn over and pull through all three

The number in the brackets at the end of each row is how many stitches you should have in that row.

Head

magic circle

6dc in to the circle, pull tight to close (6)

2dc in each stitch (12)

1dc, 1inc (18)

2dc, 1inc (24)

1 dc all the way around (24)

1 dc all the way around again (24)

1dc, 2dctog (18)

1dc, 2dctog again (12)

2dctog all the way around (6)

stuff and sew hole using embroidery needle. I like to weave the needle in and out of the stitches and pull close. It leaves a neater close.

Hat

magic circle

4dc in circle (4) pull tight to close

1dc in each stitch (4)

2dc in each stich (8)

1 dc in each stitch (8)

1dc, 1inc (12)

1 dc in each stitch (12)

2dc, 1inc (18)

1dc all the way around (18)

keep going putting 1 dc in each stitch until you reach the desired length. Try it on the head to make sure it fits.

Turn the hat inside out and using the tread from the magic circle in the first round sew the bell on to the hat. The hat will remain inside out as this gives it a better look.

Using the tread from the last round sew the hat on to the head.

Get the cone and cut the tip out of it. Make sure it stands up turned upside down. If it doesn’t trim it until it does.

Glue the head to the cone.

download pdf click here