Diamonds are forever...

Sometimes I am excited about a new design. Sometimes I am very excited about a new design. This time, however, I am quite literally beside myself! Just look at those diamonds in diamonds, with negative space diamonds all over! Just so many DIAMONDS! You see, totally over the top excitement.

This particular 'mosaic crochet' technique is pretty straightforward, once you have mastered the basics. There are very few ends to sew in as well, I know, total bonus right?!! as you use each yarn for 2 rows then switch colours. I could go on at length about all this, I have turned into a bit of a mosaic bore, but best to get the pattern written.

And there really is some feverish pattern writing-coffee swigging going on every evening at the moment, going to get this pattern out there just as soon as I can. Will work harder and drink more caffeine!

And of course, I cannot NOT mention the gorgeous hunk of a cat, Hank Deluxe, who likes to pose shamelessly when the camera comes out. What a beautiful furry lump he is.

More soon!

Esme xx

He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not...

Ahhhh Valentines Day. Some of us love this special day, some of us want to run for the hills. I am a bit of a Valentine dodger really, it gives me the fear every year. 
However, my love for everything crochet is far stronger than my fear of the Day of Love, so I am thrilled and delighted to share a little heart pattern with you! It's super easy, and you could use these hearts to adorn a card, make bunting, I don't know, stick one on your special person's face while they're asleep, the possibilities are endless...

You will need:
Any yarn at all, and any suitable hook. Make them tiny, make them massive, it's up to you.
I used a mercerised cotton and a 3.5mm hook for mine. UK crochet terms.

Round 1: Ch4, (3dtr, 4tr, ch1, 1dtr, ch1, 4tr, 3dtr, ch2, ss) in first ch made. Pull loose end from start to close the central hole.

Round 2: Ch3, 2dc in each of first 3 dtr, 1dc in each of next 4 tr, 1dc in ch-1 sp, ch1, 1htr in bottom dtr, ch1, 1dc in ch-1 sp, 1dc in each of next 4 tr, 2dc in each of next 3 dtr, ch2, ss in ss from Round 1, fasten off yarn.

There you go, a very quick and easy way to show someone that you love them and have taken time to make them a gift that is worth far more than any tat you can buy in the shops. Right, enough words of love and romance from me, enjoy the pattern!

Esme xx

PS I do love my family, just in case you think I'm a hideous cold-hearted person. xx

January... I'm just not sure about you...

Happy New Year! All that fresh start let's shake off the old and start with new adventures stuff to think about. Yes. I do get it and I have made resolutions: 
1. to make more curries.
2. to not feel overwhelmed by stuff all the time. Simple!
Good resolutions, huh?!
...but it's horrible cold-dark, just feel bleh. 
So, to combat the crappy gloomy mind-cloud, I am going all out NEON NEEEEEEON!!!!!
Check out this colour combo!

I mean, seriously, if that doesn't perk up the Jan spirits, I don't know what will. Mosaic crochet does its magical thing again. You may have noticed, but I am in love with this technique... more on this delightful topic soon. xx

Ding Dong Merrily...

As the inevitable roll (stagger?!) towards Christmas starts again, my mind turns to all things crochet-crafty-festive. Thought I'd share this cute decoration pattern with you; I hang these jingly decs up all over the place, windows, over the fireplace, even a few together as a garland look sweet and twinkly, merry and bright (see, I am trying really really hard to muster up the spirit even in November).

So, without further ado, here's my pattern. Hope you enjoy it!

You will need
Any cotton yarn you fancy (pic shows Scheepjes Catona 'Royal Orange')
A 3.5mm crochet hook
A cheap thin metal bangle
A bell decoration, or anything to hang in the centre
Some twine/ribbon

It's easy to crochet around something like a bangle, just take it slow to keep your stitches even.

Round 1: Attach yarn around bangle, then make 59dc around, ss to first dc to join.

Round 2: *skip 3 dc, (3tr, ch2, 3tr) in next dc, skip 3 dc, ss in next dc: rep from * 6 more times, ss into final 2 dc. Fasten off, weave in ends.

...and there you have it! Just tie your bell to the twine or ribbon, and attach the twine/ribbon around the bangle at the top where you made the final 2 ss. If you want, you can starch these, or paint on a thin layer of 50% water/50% PVA glue to the back to give them a bit more structure.

Enjoy, have fun, try different yarns (maybe some glittery yarn oooh there's my next make right there!), experiment with colours, more stitches, y'know, just enjoy the playing around. It's too early for me to even... urh... say happy Christmas, but for now, happy calm-before-the-festive-storm. xxx

Hexagons are the new circles... or something...

Playing around with yarn, creating, letting the mind have a wander, it's all good isn't it? My youngest has recently been studying tessellation at school, and I thought it was such a cool topic that I joined in too. Circles becoming a hexagon, well, I was unaware they could do that before! And the yarn here in my new rug design 'Blue Lagoon' is super-lovely to work with. It's a heavy duty cotton by Hoooked called Spesso. There is of course no give in it whatsoever so it's tough work with a 10mm hook. Calloused hands, pah, I do not care. I have a wonderful new yarn in my life (and a rather fabulous rug too)...

The pattern is out now in Issue 75 of Simply Crochet Magazine!

cool cool colours... in hot hot heat...

Oh my, it's like the Sahara in Suffolk at the moment. We are in the hottest part of the UK, no rain for almost 8 weeks. Pathetic pale Brit that I am, I am keeping out of the sun and finding dark dingy corners of the house to work in. But just notice, if you will, my colour choice of late, it's all cool greens, with cool soothing names like Moon Stone and Tiber... the new Scheepjes River Washed shades (such as the aforementioned Tiber) are very beautiful. I hear the sound of running streams, I see dappled light on babbling brooks, if only there were an actual river to jump in right now... I'd be right there...

Forest Shawl

Take the wonderful hexagon. It's a fabulous shape, right? It's loved by crochet fans everywhere for its delightful tessellating qualities and speed of flying off the hook. Oh, and what goes on within those 6 sides can be amazing. 

We often walk in the woods and forests near our house and I felt inspired by the light dappling through the leaves. Time to design. The yarns for this new Forest Shawl (yes, an obvious name but it is apt I guess!) had to be Scheepjes' Catona as even the names were perfect: Forest Green and Spruce. 

One hexagon with a certain off-kilter repeat in it. On its own, well, it's perfectly fine. Add it to many others...and... there's the pattern! Swirling leaves appear. The beauty of repeat. The beauty of crochet. This pattern is out now in Inside Crochet issue 103 should you desire some forest vibes in your life...

Sunday Collar

So thrilled my Sunday Collar is available in the fabulous new Scheepjes YARN Book-a-zine 5 'Woman' out now! I loved working on this design, it's always interesting to be challenged with concepts outside one's sphere of comfort (and expertise, can I say that?) And I don't usually work on such a fine hook. There is a lot of very intricate and beautiful lacework crochet out there at the moment, and this is probably as near to that delicate work as I'm ever going to get. The yarn is Scheepjes Sweet Treat, an utter joy to work with, as the colours are strong and deep, and the yarn is smooth and just gorgeous. This sweet collar looks beautiful worn over a blouse, or works equally well worn as a pretty neck adornment with a little summer vest top. Options! Always good to keep your options open, my Mum tells me this regularly and I reckon it's sound advice from one of the wonderful women in my life! 

Sore hands, could it be Too Much Crochet syndrome?

Well, there has been far too much crochet going on over the past couple of weeks. I can tell because my hands ache. And, as I simply refuse to stop taking on fabulous commissions from various lovely places such as crochet mags and fabulous yarn makers, something has to be done to save my poor aching fingers!

The answer, I discovered, is simple. Gardening is not only good for the soul, but good for the hands too, as I think I must be using different movements for planting and weeding to dc-ing and trebling! My recent purchase of this beautiful selection of herbs for my herb bed is now planted in the ground, waiting for some sun. There's yarrow, borage, cotton lavender, hyssop, chamomile, thyme, nepeta, angelica and lavenders. A bee's delight in a few weeks I hope. My hands feel better for the break too.

  
In all seriousness, though, us crafters do have to watch out for RSI and muscle strain by taking regular breaks from our beloved projects, even if it is almost impossible to put down the work and move away. 'Just one more row' I know- I can almost hear you saying it! xxxx

Mosaic love...

Hi there, not much time to chat on in my usual waffling way today! Too busy!! Found a new favourite obsession!!!! Oh my, mosaic crochet is both fun AND highly addictive. I'm just writing a new pattern for my new design and cannot stop. What do you think: a cushion cover? A baby blanket? A big throw? A bag?? Right, back to it. Some of us have got work to do, you know.