December Progress and SMART Targets… Blogmas No. 9

With only 1 more day left of December (and of 2017!) I thought I’d show you what I’ve been up to. I’m also going to share some of my Tips for making goals in the penultimate days of 2017. I know a lot of you, like myself have a lot of motivation and like to set goals and resolutions in the New Year. I’ll share some of the methods I’m going to use for setting goals and targets.

I’ll make one thing clear – December did not go to plan. The reason why? My plan was completely wrong. (Part of the reason for sharing my strategy for making better plans in the future) I had made a list of my monthly goals without taking Christmas into consideration. I’m also stupid, and decided to do Blogmas when I already had a lot on my plate. But I don’t regret it for a minute! It has pushed me to get patterns out there that I didn’t want to leave until next Winter; and it has pushed my writing abilities whilst trying to keep up with an ‘every other day’ deadline. However, I was planning to publish a third pattern for the Hobbycraft 3 for 2 offer and make some mitts – they turned out way too chunky so I haven”t published the pattern. Please let me know if you’re interested and I may re-think publishing. They are just SO chunky! I’m going to have a think over the next few weeks and see if there’s something else I could make. 🙂

My original December list looked like this…

• Finish Katie’s Harry Potter Scarf
• Finish Cosy Stripe Blanket
• Make 20 Squares for a Charity Blanket
• Edge 20 Squares for Fruit Salad TV Blanket
• Finish 2nd ball of wool on Chunky Knitted Scarf
• Make 2no. Amigurumi Cacti

Here’s where it all went wrong.

1. I wasn’t planning to make any Christmas presents; but in the end made 4.
2. I didn’t plan to do Blogmas until the Christmas season started.
3. I didn’t incorporate the time for Magazine submission work.
4. Christmas is busy! and I underestimated the time that would be spent shopping/wrapping/preparing.

December has been incredibly busy, and I didn’t realise how much I’d achieved until I consulted my bullet journal last night. I realised just how different what I achieved was to my original list of goals. I decided to make a new list for December; despite only having a few days left. I think this ordeal has been a lesson in trying to chose more realistic, achievable goals for myself to avoid feeling disappointed.

My new list looks like this…

• Finish Katie’s Harry Potter Scarf (Done)
• Make Christmas Presents (Done)
• Blogmas (Getting there)
• Publish Hat & Cowl Pattern (Done)
• Start #Oneskeinwonderlandcal (Done)
• Finish 1no. Knitted Sock (Done)
• Write up pattern & make ? for ? magazine (Nearly there)

Baggy 1st knitted sock ft holes… but I’m still proud!

See… how different is this list than the original list? It has taught me that maybe I should only start off with a couple of goals because plans can change midway through the month. I am trying to set goals that are SMART targets. I haven’t used these since High School – but I’m hoping that it will make me think through y plan more thoroughly before committing pen to paper (In a notebook I don’t want to tippex/scribble in… see how obsessive I can get?)

SMART is an acronym and stands for:-

Specific – Set specific goals that relate to more descriptive items. Instead of saying your goal is to crochet, it could be, crochet a scarf and a hat. It helps to compartmentalize tasks so you can tick them off (and ticking feels so good!)

Measurable – Goals should be measurable; and if my monthly goal isn’t to finish a WIP, then the goal should be specified in terms of a measuarble goal. For example; finish a ball of wool, repeat a whole section of colours, reach a halfway point, make a particular number of squares/hexies/circles… etc. This way, it is easier to manage time and tick off goals when they are completed. Write down your goals so that you can tick, highlight or scribble each off as you achieve… believe me – it is very satisfying.

Attainable – This is the one that I really need to consider when setting my goals. Is it attainable? There was no way I was going to finish my Cosy Stripe blanket in Decemeber. I haven’t even picked it up. Who was I trying to kid? I think I loved the idea of finishing it before the end of the year and having a little Christmas present for myself. I think this is the hardest part of setting SMART goals because you can both over and under-estimate what is attainable and also it isn’t ‘set in stone’ what you can achieve from one month to the next. I think it is important to take into consideration what other committments you may have for that period of time, and whether other distractions are likely.

Relevant – (although I like to reiterate the ‘is it Realistic? question here.) Is your goal relevant to your overall aspirations? Does your goal relate to a bigger picture? For example, my goal of knitting socks contibutes to an overall goal of ‘Improving my knitting skills’, and making charity blankets contributes to my overall goal of stash busting and crocheting for a cause.  However I’m not too sure thet relevance is 100% necessary when it comes to crafting (unless it is your job) as it is not for exams and coursework. This is a hobby, and should be something you enjoy. Goal-making isn’t for everyone (I’m just weird and like to push myself)

Time-based – They all are because they are monthly goals… so the time-goal is the end of the month. However if you are making goals for the year (like I will be for 2018) it is important to have a ‘deadline’ to keep you motivated. For example in Crochet I could say, I want to make the Doppio Colleseum Shawl before I go to the Edinburgh Yarn Festival so I can wear it.

I hope you find some use in this random blog post. My failed plan for December has made me re-think how I should be setting my goals, and what better time to share my advice than the days before New Year when everyone is making new years resolutions.

Love Charlie, Xx

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Happy Holidays – Christmas Gifts… Blogmas No. 8

I hope you’ve all had a wonderful holiday. This Blogmas is going to be an ‘All about my Christmas’ blog post and I’m going to share all the yarny gifts I received… I’ll also share a few bits that I made as gifts too.

I wasn’t going to make any handmade Christmas presents this year as I found it very stressful last year. This year I wanted to spend more time designing my own patterns and working on ‘Love Charlie’ however there was no compromise for a handmade gift and I still ended up making  few.

This year, I made a scarf for Katie themed on Gryffindor house colours, a winter wreath, a sprout Christmas tree decoration and a felt needle book. Katie absolutely loved her scarf, and I really need to make a needle book for myself. It is getting hard to part with them.

 

For some of you, it’s time to go back to work – luckily I have a few more days to enjoy some time knitting and crocheting, spending time with Katie and eating ridiculous amounts of chocolate before the New Year diet kicks in.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was the ‘calm before the storm’, the house had been tidied and cleaned (I mean I finally put all the craft supplies from Christmas preparations away) presents were wrapped and I had time to start my Christmas Eve Cast Ons for the ‘OneSkeinWonderlandCAL.

 

Katie and I managed to binge watch the full 2nd season of the Crown in a day and it was so nice to be able to sit on the sofa in PJs drinking wine and actually relaxing – yes – relaxing. I thought I’d forgotten that word existed. Both of us have been very busy and stressed; so the relief of putting your feet up and turning your brain off was very well welcomed and appreciated.

 

Christmas Day

 

This year I spent Christmas with Katie’s family, swapping gifts, drinking copious amounts of alcohol and eating far far too much… all followed by singing Christmas songs merrily around the dining room table and Disney, 80s and 90s karaoke in the lounge. Dogs in Christmas jumpers, lots of yarny gifts, and my #OneSkeinWonderlandCAL WIPs to hand. What’s not to love?

 

 

 

Usually I enjoy giving gifts more than receiving them, but this year I was very excited for my presents as I had only asked for wooly bits and bobs. I was given so much more than I ever imagined and I have been extremely spoilt. I have lots to keep me busy for a long time. I am very grateful and thankful to my friends and family for their generosity and thought for me.

 

 

My next crafty venture is knitting; and knitting socks in particular. I asked for some of Arne and Carlos’ Pairfect sock yarn, Super Socks by Christine Perry, some short circular needles and DPNs. I was also given some wool wash and needle end protectors specially for circular needles. I literally have everything I could ever possibly need so there is no excuse. 2018 is the year to advance my knitting; and also have warm toes!

Katie bought me some beautiful River Knits and Fjord Fibres hand dyed yarn, some Wilton icing colourants and a double stranded sock blank ready for New Year’s #Fridayisdyeday. My Nan & Granddad bought me a yarn swift, so I wound up my #OneskeinwonderlandCAL yarn in my enthusiasm. I also received the KnittyGritty book, a Star Wars Crochet set, and my Mum bought me the Woodland CAL yarn pack ready for Attic24’s CAL in the New Year. My Mother and Father in Law also bought me another year’s subscription to my favourite Crochet Magazine, Simply Crochet.

Well, I sound like a spoilt brat now… and maybe I am.. but I’m a happy one – does that count? I hope you all got some crafty bits and bobs for Christmas – but more importantly, I hope you all got to spend valuable time with your friends and family over the Holiday period.

 

Boxing Day

On Boxing Day, Me and Katie went on a little trip to Liverpool in the afternoon. I bought this beautiful ‘project bag’ (supposed to be a cosmetics bag) from TKMax and it has a pocket on the inside perfectly sized for crochet hooks. This currently has 2 of my #OneSkeinWonderlandCAL WIPs in it so it is very roomy. We had a lovely Yo Sushi! meal and went home to do some online bargain shopping.

Overall I have had an absolutely amazing Christmas, and I have so many new projects lined up; I’m going to have to do some serious planning to stop me from having about 50 WIPs at one time. I can’t start them all now; although the ‘force is strong’ – forgive me; I’m preparing for our Cinema trip to watch the new Star Wars… Katie is very happy with my Star Wars Crochet kit) Hahaa. What did you get for Christmas?

Love Charlie, Xx

 

 

#OneSkeinWonderlandCAL Preparations… Blogmas No. 7

Are you ready for the Christmas Eve Cast on 100g Challenge?

I think I’m just about ready now… I can’t believe how quick Christmas has come around this year.

If you don’t know about the #OneSkeinWonderlandCAL head over here to read about it, or head over to Fay’s The Crochet Circle Ravelry Group to find the chatter thread. FOs will be shared on a FO thread on the Love Charlie Crochet Ravelry Group. Three winners will be selected randomly on the 1st February from the FO thread.

My first job was deciding realistically what I could achieve in January. But let’s be honest I’m not a realistic kinda gal. That’s why I’m stupid enough to pick 4 projects to cast in in January. Yes. 4! Am I crazy? (Or do I just have a WIP addiction) I’ve been working on Katie’s scarf for a couple of months now so I’m ready to start something new.

 

Yarn

First there was the job of picking what yarn I want to use. I know I’ve asked for yarn for Christmas; but I wanted to use some of the wooly bits I bought at Yarndale this year. It’s been sat in the same bag since September and I think it’s unfair to leave it there. This yarn is very special to me as it’s the first hand-dyed skeins of yarn I’ve ever bought (and had to cake up)

I have decided to use:-

1. #Fridayisdyeday Laxtons sock yarn (Bought from Yarndale, dyed in November) This colourway was inspired by sunsets and fairycake confetti.
2. Manos Del Urugauy Alegria (Lost the tag so I don’t know the name of the colourway or yarn content) But it’s colour’s are deep purples and blues.
3. EasyKnits Fidget in Peach Melba, which is a lovely grey colour with vibrant pink and orange flecks.
4. Fjord Fibres in Petal Power. This is the only skein that’s not from Yarndale. I bought this skein of Norwegian Sock Yarn recently after seeing on Fay’s Instagram how beautiful the yarn was. This colourway is a soft combination of delicate pastel shades and is so pretty!

Patterns

It has taken me a long time to finally decide on what patterns I want to use. A couple of these patterns are ones that I’ve had my eye on for a while and others are last minute choices. Here are my final picks… if you’re still struggling to pick a pattern, check out the Bundle that Ravellers have put together especially for this CAL here

Spring Fling Triangle Scarf

The first pattern that I’ll be casting on tomorrow is the Spring Fling Triangle Scarf by Heather J Anderson. For this pattern I will be using my #fridayisdyeday hand dyed sock yarn and a 5.5mm hook. I’m hoping that this will work up quickly and show off all the colours I put into the yarn when dying. It is a free pattern on Ravelry. Click here.

 

Fantail Stitch Fingerless Gloves

The second pattern is the Fantail Stitch fingerless gloves by Hooked by Robin; and is a free pattern on Ravelry. Click Here. I’ve seen this pattern on Ravelry for a while and recently I’ve been suffering with cold hands when crocheting and typing and thought some mitts may help the cause. I’m thinking I may even be able to make two pairs from this Manos Del Uruguay skein.

 

Triangle Infinity Scarf

With my EasyKnits Fidget in Peach Melba, I am going to make a triangle infinity scarf by the Friendly Nettle. Click here. Zeens & Roger inspired this make as she has made a few and wore them on her podcast. She has also written a blog post about her love for this pattern. Click here to read. I picked up this Skein at Yarndale with this pattern in mind, and I think perhaps this was the only skein I bought at Yarndale where I knew 100% what I was going to make with it. This yarn is very tactile, and soft, and I thought the flecks of colour and geometric pattern would suit it well.

 

Simple Shawl

This pattern is the only knitting pattern I have chose and I am almost certain that I won’t finish this shawl by the end of the CAL. But the CAL is a challenge at the end of the day… and knitting for me is a challenge. This is also the most last minute choice of pattern (and yarn) for the CAL. I bought the yarn recently and is is so pretty that I can’t bare to put it away in the stash – but because it’s so beautiful; it took me so long to pick a pattern. I wanted to chose a pattern that would do the yarn justice and I wanted it to be perfect. A lady at Woolgathering Sandbach made this shawl recently and I thought it may have been a good pattern then. This Thursday, I was asking people what they would make with it and she suggested this pattern to me. I’m hoping I can pull it off! The pattern is free on Ravelry and is called the Simple Shawl by Jane Hunter. Click here.

Use the hashtag #OneSkeinWonderlandCAL to share your pictures on Instagram

I know I’m not going to get all four finished by the end of January; especially the knitting one, but I want to continue to develop my knitting skills and I do like a challenge!

#OneSkeinWonderlandCAL

I can’t wait to start tomorrow. I hope you’re all as excited as I am. Two of my skeins haven’t been caked up yet as I don’t have a swift. But I have asked for one for Christmas so fingers crossed! 🙂

I hope you all have a lovely Holiday. Merry Christmas everyone. Enjoy time with your loved ones and get some good craft time 🙂

Love Charlie, Xx

Easy Chunky Crochet Cowl Pattern… Blogmas No. 6

Blogmas No. 6 is the 2nd free pattern in a series of three; showcasing what you can make with three balls of The Women’s Institute Soft & Chunky yarn using Hobbycraft’s 3 for 2 offer. The first pattern is an easy chunky bobble hat… click here for the pattern. This post is the pattern for an extremely easy cowl that can be made within an hour. The chunky yarn is quick to work up and the acrylic/merino blend is very soft and squishy. Perfect to keep you warm through the winter – and a great last minute Christmas present.

What you’ll Need: –

• 1no. 100g ball of Women’s Institute Soft & Chunky Yarn (Exclusive to Hobbycraft)
• 1no. 6mm crochet hook
• Scissors

Stitch Abbreviations: –

• Ch = Chain Stitch
• Tr = Treble Stitch
• Sl st = Slip stitch
• Crab stitch = rdc (reversed double crochet) worked backwards in reverse direction to the rest of the hat.

#lovecharliecrochetdesigns

Click here for Printable PDF Pattern

Foundation. Ch 62. Sl st into 1^st ch to make a large loop. Make sure your chain isn’t twisted.

Row 1 – 12. Ch3 [counts as first tr]. 1tr in each stitch along. Sl st to 3^rd ch of 3ch tr. [62tr]

Top Edge. Ch1. Crab stitch in each st around – Working from left to right around the top of the cowl. Sl st into the 1^st (last) st. Tie off & Weave in end. [62rdcs]

Bottom Edge. Join your yarn to any stitch on the bottom of your cowl. Repeat Top Edge. [62rdcs]

Click here for Printable PDF Pattern

This pattern is as simple as it gets so is an ideal project for a beginner crocheter. This pattern can easily be adapted for any size by simply chaining the foundation row as large as you want the circumference, and continuing more than 12 rows if you like more height to your cowl. It can also be made into an infinity scarf by increasing the foundation row significantly.

I hope you like this pattern. I wanted to show beginers how easy it is to get going. You don’t need a lot of experience to make something brilliant that you can wear or gift to friends and family. I would love for you to share any photos of your projects using the hashtag #lovecharliecrochetdesigns

This pattern has not been tested. Please let me know via Instagram or Ravelry if I need to make any ammendments.

♥ Thank you to my lovely Sister-in-Law for modelling my Hat and Cowl ♥

Love Charlie, Xx

Nb. This post is neither endorsed nor sponsored by Hobbycraft or The Women’s Institute. I just wanted to demonstrate what you could make using their 3 for 2 offer. (If Hobbycraft or The women’s Institute by any chance come across this post and would like to get in touch, please email lovecharliecrochet@gmail.com) Click here for Hobbycraft Website. 

 

Easy Crochet Bobble Hat Pattern… Blogmas No. 5

Now that you know how to make a detachable pom pom… (Click here for the blog post if you missed it.) You may want to make a beanie hat to go with it. My aim was to buy three balls of The Women’s Institute Soft & Chunky Acrylic/Merino Yarn and make a hat and a cowl. I have designed both and still have a ball left; so I’m thinking about designing some simple chunky mitts to match. If you go to Hobbycraft, the yarn is very often on a 3 for 2 offer so I wanted to showcase some simple patterns that you can make quickly with three skeins or effectively £8 (When the 3 for 2 offer is on) Hobbycraft is a UK based craft store; so if you’re in another country, any other chunky yarn will work. either 100g or 110m.

If you need to make a last minute Christmas present, this hat can be crocheted in under an hour… and is a brilliant pattern for a beginner crocheter.

Easy Chunky Crochet Bobble Hat – Printable PDF

• 1no. 100g ball of The Women’s Institute Soft & Chunky Yarn exclusive to Hobbycraft
• 1no. 6mm crochet hook
• 1no. detachable pom pom (Click here for tutorial)

 

Cowl pattern to follow…

Stitch Abbreviations

• Ch = Chain
• Tr = Treble stitch
• Sl st = Slip stitch
• Crab stitch = rdc (reversed double crochet) worked backwards in reverse direction to the rest of the hat.

 

Rnd 1. Make a magic circle. Chain 3. 9tr into the magic circle. Pull tight and sl st into the 3^rd chain of first 3ch. [10tr]

Rnd 2. Ch3 (counts as 1^st tr) 1tr in same st. 2tr in each st around. Sl st into 3^rd ch of 3ch tr. [20tr]

Rnd 3. Ch3. 2tr in next st. *1tr, 2tr in next st* Repeat around. Sl st into 3^rd ch of 3ch tr. [30tr]

Rnd 4. Ch3. 1tr. 2tr in next st. *2tr, 2tr in next st* Repeat around. Sl st into 3rd ch of 3ch tr. [40tr]

Rnd 5. Ch3. 2tr. 2tr in next st. *3tr, 2tr in next st* Repeat around. Sl st into 3^rd ch of 3ch tr. [50tr]

Rnd 6 & 7. Ch3. 1tr into each st around. Sl st into 3^rd ch of 3ch tr. [50tr]

Rnd 8. Ch3. 3tr. 2tr in next st. *4tr, 2tr in next st* Repeat around. Sl st into 3^rd ch of 3^ch tr. [60tr]

Rnd 9. Ch3. 1tr into each st around. Sl st into 3^rd ch of 3ch tr. [60tr]

REPEAT RND 9 UNTIL HAT IS DESIRED LENGTH

Final Rnd [Edging]. Ch1. Crab stitch in each st around (working from left to right) Sl st into last st. Tie off & weave in end. [60 rdcs]

Optional. Attach detachable pom pom using a snap fastener sewn to the top of the hat.

#lovecharliecrochetdesigns

Easy Chunky Crochet Bobble Hat

I would love for you to share your pictures on Ravelry and Instagram using the hashtag #lovecharliecrochetdesigns

This pattern has not been tested. Please kindly let me know if any amendments are required.

♥ Thank you to my beautiful Sister-in-Law for modelling my hat and cowl ♥

Love Charlie, Xx

Nb. This post is neither endorsed nor sponsored by Hobbycraft or The Women’s Institute. I just wanted to demonstrate what you could make using their 3 for 2 offer. (If Hobbycraft or The women’s Institute by any chance come across this post and would like to get in touch, please email lovecharliecrochet@gmail.com) Click here for Hobbycraft Website. 

How to make a detachable pom pom Blogmas No.4

Pom poms are great aren’t they? But if you love making home-made pom poms, you’ll understand the frustration of not being able to wash them. Bits of wool everywhere! The alternative is either very expensive, or not animal friendly. Here’s my handy tip to make your hand made pom poms detachable so you can easily remove them before throwing your garment in the wash with no damage or worry.

Here are my instructions to make a detachable pom pom for your beanie hat.

What you’ll need

• Pom pom maker
• Scrap/stash DK yarn
• Sewing Cotton and needle
• Snap fasteners (I used 8mm but larger is better if you can find any)
• Sciccors
• Beanie hat that would like a pom pom

Step One

Take your pom pom maker and yarn, and begin to start wrapping your scrap yarn around one half of the pom pom maker (Wrap around both arms). I usually continue wrapping from side to side until the yarn is almost level with either side of the center so that I get a nice plump pom pom.

Step Two

Once you have wrapped one half of your pom pom maker, cut your yarn off and close the first half. Repeat step one for the second half. Cut off and close the second half.

Step Three

Take your scissors and slot them into the groove between both halves of the pom pom maker. Start to cut around your pom pom, making sure that the two disks either side are firmly pushed together. (You don’t want your pom pom maker to fall apart at this stage.)

Step Four

Once you have cut around the entire circumference of your pom pom (and there are no strands still wrapped around) you can move to step 5. Check that you haven’t missed any bits hiding in the edges near the hinges.

Step Five

Take a long piece of your yarn and wrap around the pom pom, letting the yarn pull into the grooves. Pull tight and tie into a single knot. Then wrap around the other way and tie a double knot on the opposite side. Pull as tight as you can without snapping your yarn. Leave long tails to sew on your snap fastener. Now you can remove the pom pom maker by holding a disk on either side and gently twist and pull apart to release your home made pom pom.

Step Six

Hold your pom pom by the long strings and use your scissors to give your pom pom a hair cut. I didn’t spend too long on mine as I like a bit of a messy look. If you wanted a perfectly spherical bobble, you could spend hours trimming and making your pom pom neat. (Do this over a bin as fluff gets everywhere) My tip is to only take a little at a time and keep ruffling up the fluff to see where you’re’ up to. Once you’ve cut it, you can’t stick it back on.

Step Seven

Sew on one half of the snap fastener to your pom pom using the long tails left over from tying your pom pom together. Tie securely and cut off your ends to the same length as your pom pom ‘hair’.

Step Eight

Sew on the other half of your snap fastener to your hat using cotton. I used white cotton here so it would show on the photo. You can use whatever colour you want but I recommend choosing the same colour as your hat or your pom pom so if for any reason it shows, it will blend in.

Step Nine

Ta Daaa! You now have a hat with a pom pom that you can snap on and off as you please. Now your hat can be washed whenever, and a new pom pom can easily be added in the event unfortunate event of being dropped in a muddy puddle or getting lost.

I hope you liked this little trick. I think it’s great. I’d love to see your photos on Instagram. Use the hashtag #lovecharliecrochetdesigns.

♥ Thank you to my lovely sister-in-law for modelling the hat (Pattern to follow) ♥

Love Charlie, Xx

#OneskeinwonderlandCAL Blogmas No.3

The third Blogmas post is all about the #OneSkeinWonderlandCAL which is the Christmas Eve cast on that Fay of The Crochet Circle Podcast and myself are co-hosting. The challenge is running from the 24th December to the 31st January and there will be 3 giveaways chosen at random from the FO thread on my Ravelry group ‘Love Charlie Crochet‘. Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, and whether it’s winter or summer in your country, you’re all invited to take part, and that is why we have named our CAL #OneSkeinWonderlandCAL and not ‘Christmas-Eve Cast On’ despite the start date. Whatever your religion or beliefs, get involved with some yarny fun this Holiday season.

Whether you’re a knitter, crocheter, weaver, or any type of yarn enthusiast – this is the challenge for you. We are asking ‘What can you make with 100g of yarn?’

Use the hashtag #OneSkeinWonderlandCAL on Instagram

Christmas Eve Cast on’s are quite common nowadays, but we wanted to make it extra special and challenge you to use a 100g skein of yarn that you have had in your stash for quite a while, or a special skein that has been gifted to you for Christmas. If you’re lucky you’ll get to open one early so you can start on Christmas Eve. Often I get gifted a ball of wool at Birthdays and Christmas’ but it gets left in the stash because I don’t know what I can make with just 100g of yarn. And when I do buy yarn for myself, I tend to over-buy because I worry that I’ll run out. Is this a common worry? Sometimes I even see one skein that catches my eye at the wool shop and buy it impulsively but don’t have any clue what I’m going to make with it.

We are asking ‘What can you make with 100g of yarn?’

With the #OneSkeinWonderlandCAL, we want to see how many different projects you can come up with that use only one skein of yarn… so next time you have that special skein… or an impulse buy (come on, you know we all do it) you can start a project straight away without hesitation and avoid condemning that beautiful skein of yarn to the stash for who knows how long!

Check out Alice’s Instagram @alicecloseknit

As part of the CAL, Fay has held a giveaway of a gorgeous hank of Norwegian sock yarn hand dyed by the very talented Gilly of Fjord Fibres. The winner was chose randomly on Instagram and the lucky @alicecloseknits has won! Well done Alice. You now have a fantastic skein to get you started with the CAL. Fjord Fibres have some gorgeous colours, check out Gilly’s Etsy store here. Fay has a beautiful hank all wound up into a perfect yarn cake in the colourway Ice flow – it is stunning, and perfectly captivates the colour of Glaciers.

@crochet_circle_podcast – Ice Flow

I have also bought a hank in the colourway Petal power and it’s soft, pretty colours are making it hard to not wind up and start now. Gilly has been holding a special advent on her Instagram, so if you like the look of her yarn head over to @fjordfibres to check for today’s discount offer; and get a hank (or two) for your #OneSkeinWonderlandCAL challenge.

At the end of January, three winners will be chosen randomly from the FO thread. Make sure to upload your pictures to the thread to be in with a chance of winning.

Head over here to view the chatter thread; the more voices the better.

Head here to view the FO (Finished Object) Thread.

We would also love to see your pictures on Instagram using the hashtag #OneSkeinWonderlandCAL, but make sure to enter your FOs onto the FO thread on Ravelry to be in with the chance of winning a prize!

I will be publishing another blog post before the 24th sharing my #OneSkeinWonderlandCAL preparations and patterns to give you some ideas. There is only one week left! So start picking your yarn and patterns, get winding and try not to start before the 24th. (I know it’s tempting)

Love Charlie, Xx

Christmas Tree Card Tutorial… Blogmas No.2

The second blog post in my blogmas series is a tutorial on how to make my go-to hand made Christmas card. I like to be able to give an extra special card to those that are important to me, and I feel that a hand made card is much more thoughtful… and what could be better than a crocheted card?

I’m not going to ramble on, so here is my tutorial for an easy crocheted christmas card. See below for links to a printable PDF version of this tutorial.

What you’ll need…

• Green DK yarn
• Brown DK yarn
• 5mm crochet hook
• Sparkly Embroidery floss
• Button (For top of tree)
• Copydex Adhesive
• Black fine liner & glitter gel pen
• Kraft A6 card & envelope
• Sewing needle & Scissors

Stitch Abbreviations 

• Ch = chain stitch
• Dc = double crochet
• Sl st = slip stitch

#lovecharliecrochetdesigns

Click here for printable PDF tutorial

Step 1 – Green Tree

Row 1 & 2 -> With green yarn, ch3. Dc into 1^st st (Counts as row 1 & 2)

Row 3 -> Ch1, turn. Dc into same st. 2dc into next st. (3sts)

Row 4 – 15 -> Ch1, turn. Dc into same st. Dc in each st until the last st. 2dc into the last st. Repeat until the final row has a total of 15 sts.

Edging -> Dc in each st around the triangle and 3dc into each point. Sl st into 1^st st and tie off. Weave in end.

Step 2 – Brown Tree Trunk

Row 1. Chain 5, dc into 2^nd st from hook and dc into each st along (4sts)

Row 2 – 6. Chain 1, turn. 4dc along. Repeat until you have 6 rows in total. Tie off and leave a long end to sew to the back of the tree. Weave in ends and cut off at the back of the tree. (You won’t see the small ends as they will be stuck to the card)

Step 3 – Tree Decorations

Cut a length of sparkly embroidery floss (enough to sew the button on and zig zag in back stitch) You can use any button you like – but I chose a star shape. You can also sew on beads if you like or use any kind of decorations you think would look nice. Tie off at the back of the tree.

Step 4 – Writing on Card

Place your Crocheted Christmas tree onto your card and figure out where you’d like to write a message. This is completely optional as the tree would be enough. I like to write Merry Christmas at the top – but any seasonal message is nice. I mark out my letters with pencil then go over it with a black fine liner. I also use a gold glitter gel pen to outline the card and put some details in to the writing.

Step 5 – Adhesive

Turn your tree over so the back is facing upwards. Take your Copydex and spread evenly over the back of the tree. You don’t want to put too much on as you don’t want your card to get damp and bend – but you also want to out enough on that your tree sticks on properly. Put your card under a heavy book and leave overnight to dry.

Step 6 – Write your card and give it to someone special

Write your message inside the card and seal in your envelope. Now give it to someone special. I bought my cards from Paperchase – but any craft shop should sell blank cards. I also chose Kraft card as I like the rustic look, but you could use coloured card or cards with a scalloped edge for more detail. Use whatever craft supplies make you feel happy and Christmassy and have fun!

Christmas Tree Card

I would love you to share your pictures on Instagram using the hashtag #lovecharliecrochetdesigns and share on projects on Ravelry. I hope you enjoy this tutorial!

Love Charlie, Xx

Free Crochet Wreath Decoration Tutorial Blogmas No.1

Tis the season to get crafting. Fra la la la la, la la la la.

For the next few weeks I am going to be participating in a self-made blogmas. What this means, is that I’ll be uploading more blog posts than usual; and I’ve been working hard to be able to publish some free patterns for you, and some other Christmas related ramblings. This is as much for you as it is for me. I am very anxious that we are rapidly approaching the end of the year, and I have so many things I want to ‘say’ before the end of 2017.

This is a special time of the year, when it seems as though we are all running around like headless chickens trying to get everything done before the Christmas Holidays so we can sit down and have a much needed break, spend time with Family, and eat ourselves silly. Although I will be referring to this series of blog posts as ‘Christmas’ blog posts; please understand that the majority of these posts are only seasonal, and relevant to our Winter break. I am not a religious person but I do love giving and sharing with friends and family; and I want to celebrate that in these posts.

#lovecharliecrochetdesigns

This is a super-easy, super-quick pattern…

The first free pattern I have to share is for a Classic Christmas Wreath decoration. This is a super-easy, super-quick pattern that you can personalise for your tree. I have made this several times but have only just, for some reason written up the tutorial. This can be personalised to suit your Christmas tree theme and will also make a lovely gift for friends and family; not to mention ‘Secret Santas’ at work. I personally love to give homemade presents to those that I love, and something festive is sure to go down a treat.

Click here for the Tutorial…   Easy Crochet Wreath Decoration

Click here for printable PDF tutorial

All you need is a curtain ring, some scrap yarn, some lengths of ribbon, and if you want some extra details you can add sparkly embroidery floss and beads. These look nice when you make quite a few and make them in different shades of green – but you don’t need to make them in Green. You could try making multi coloured wreaths for more of a modern look.

I hope you enjoy making these simple, classic Christmas decorations. I would love to see how you personalise these wreaths to match your own trees and festive themes. Share on Ravelry and on Instagram using the hashtag #lovecharliecrochetdesigns

Merry Christmas – Let the festivities begin!

Love Charlie

 

Sunday Funday…

As you know, I’ve been all about productivity and achieving over the last 3 months. It has been amazing and I have accomplished so much! Although this last weekend, I was supposed to spend a lot of time on my blog and publish a couple of patterns and tutorials – things didn’t go to plan. The weekend came and went so quickly and there are still no tutorials or patterns on the blog. That is because I decided to take a break from my to do lists and schedules and take some time for myself.

Things have been tough over the last few weeks, and although I don’t talk about it a lot, I actually suffer with SAD. That’s Seasonal Affective Disorder if you didn’t know, and it is awful. It affects me every year, and even though I know mentally that there is nothing physically wrong with me, I feel exhausted and lack motivation – I think that’s why I’ve been so dependent on lists throughout the run up to winter. I find it hard to get anything done when I get home from work and fight the urge to go straight to bed… which isn’t ideal when you’re trying to keep develop as a crochet designer, blogger and podcaster. Tired is an understatement. My crochet tribe is amazing, and I can’t express how grateful I am for all the encouragement and support there has been on Instagram. Anyhoo… I really didn’t feel like spending hours on the computer and I think I needed a distraction – something to concentrate on and something new.

On Saturday, we did some Christmas shopping, and at 4pm I ended up at Black Sheep Wools… because my amazing fiancée suggested I go 😉 On a whim, I decided to buy a circular needle and sock pattern for my first knitted sock. I thought this would probably be something that got pushed to the back of the pile… but I was really feeling the urge to learn something new. I thought ‘Am I crazy?’ I’ve never knit anything before, and have only recently learned how to do stocking stitch.

I started on Saturday evening on the rib. I started, ripped back and restarted about 6 times. Oddly though, I didn’t feel frustrated like I thought I would. There is something peculiarly satisfying about knitting that I never ‘got’ before. Although I’m sure I’ll be saying different when I reach the heel. I feel as though I’m going into this blind – but I’m really enjoying it so far.

On Sunday, Katie was going out for lunch near Black Sheep Wools, and I realised I needed another size needle for the socks. (I stupidly didn’t read through the pattern in my impulsive shopping spree.) I got to the shop and bought the size that I needed and then went to get some lunch. I had some lovely home made vegetable soup and a cheese and ham toastie then sat and worked on my sock. I am using Stylecraft Head over Heels sock yarn in the colour way Olympus. I got to the end of the rib (Finally!!!) and started on the knit stitch. I am knitting the Norwegian way so it is much quicker for me as a crocheter to knit this way. I am using a Sidar sock pattern and I think I’m going to attempt the short row heel. I then read through the pattern again (thankfully before leaving Black Sheep Wools) as I realised I will need some DPNs for when I get to the heel, so I went back to buy those and also a beginners knitting book full of images and tips and tricks. I also bought a new Sheepjes tote bag to put everything in and it matches my Crochet Sisters pin from CrochetLuna perfectly.

Click here for the Black Sheep Wools Website…

I then made my way to the cosy Rowan corner and plonked myself down on the comfy leather sofa covered in knitted blankets and continued to work on my sock, before asking the staff for a bit of advice on which heel to try.

I do feel guilty that I haven’t ticked things off my to do list and I do feel like I am behind now – even though I am the only one putting pressure on myself. I feel as though I deserved to have the weekend off and although we were very busy, it was a great comfort to spend a few hours on something that is completely separate to all of my targets and goals. But on the other hand I feel proud of myself for learning something new and giving the knitting another go, despite how much it scares me. Does anyone else ever feel like this when changing plans or rearranging personal schedules?

Thank you again to anyone who has provided comforting words on instagram – I don’t mean to be a Moaning Myrtle. I am honestly fine and it happens every year. It will be over soon enough and I will start to get my energy back when the sun returns. 🙂

Love Charlie, Xx