The Yarnival of the Animals

    I had some yarn left over in a slightly more muted colour than usual, so I figured I'd use it for some less cartoony amigurumi/decorative objects. These two pieces of fruit were largely free-styled when on the train.The pear stands just under 10cm tall using Scheepjes Catona cotton with a 2.00mm hook. If I find the time and energy, I might turn this into a complete fruit bowl. Pear pattern: For the body of the pear, start a magic ring in green.  R1. sc 6 in the magic ring (6) R 2 . 2 sc in every stitch (12) R3. 2sc in every 2nd stitch (18) R4. 2sc in every 3rd stitch (24) R5. 2sc in every 4th stitch (30) R6. 2sc in every 5th stitch (36) R7. 2sc in every 6th stitch (42) R8. sc in every stitch (42) R9. 2sc in every 7th stitch (48) R10-13. sc in every stitch (48) R14. sc2tog every 7th and 8th stitch (42) R15. sc in every stitch (42) R16. sc2tog every 6th and 7th stitch (36) R17. sc in every stitch (36) R18. sc2tog every 5th and 6th stitc...

And now for something completely different...   So my very clever husband scratch-built a merchant navy ship from the 1600's from bits of cardboard and wooden coffee stirrers. Naturally, he also needed some sails for it. Fabric, yarn and thread are not quite his medium of choice, so he asked me to rustle up some sails. They're made of double layers of uncoloured natural linnen cut out of some old trousers I hadn't worn for years, fastened to the mast with some embroidery yarn. Because of the double layers it all looks a little chunky, but that's usually the case with scale models anyway (I've been told). Please see his blog for a complete three-part story of how he built the ship!

A friend from work re-kindled my love of gardening some years back and although I no longer live in a house with a garden, I've been cultivating my balcony and window sills enthusiastically. We also transformed the office, with everyone exchanging seedlings and produce. It was always great, especially during the pandemic, to come into the office and find an aubergine plant or two on my desk. So I thought it would be nice to make a little vegetable garden in crochet form. I'm not sure it's good enough to give as a gift, but for a first attempt it looks quite well.  The basket is a simple bread basket that you stuff with fiber fill. The yarn used is all cotton SMC Catania with a 2-2.5mm hook.  Patterns are below. Happy crocheting and gardening <3 Soil:  For the soil, ch as many stitches as you need to fill the size of your container. It doesn't matter if its an odd or even number, just include 2 ch stitches for turning.  R1. skipping the first 2 ch, dc in every stit...

Lately, I've been obsessed with ComplicatedKnots 's YouTube channel, where she shows you how to crochet these incredibly cute and easy (but impressive looking) dinosaurs. The triceratops is always a crowd favourite, and I just love the way she's designed the horns and collar. As you can see, I'm quite rubbish at sewing on limbs and I may have overstuffed the body a little bit. But I'm quite happy with the embroidery on the nails! Go give Complicated Knots some love on YouTube, she's got some amazing patterns out there. Including a Squirtle design that's just begging to be made <3

To cosy-up my trusty coffee mug I crocheted a little cover for it, to make sure the mug stays warm and I don't burn my hands. Is it tacky? Most definitely. Is it practical? Debatable. You can make as many colour changes as you like and the project is a great way to use up little bits of left-over yarn. In this case, I've used cotton SMC Catania yarn, suitable for a 2.00-2.50mm hook. Row 1: Chain 60, plus three (counts as the first dc of the next row). Of course, the number of ch's made here depends on the size of your mug. Row 2: dc in every stitch, skipping the ch stitches. Change colour in the last dc. Ch 2, turn (60) Row 3: sc in every stitch, skipping the ch stitches. Change colour in the last sc. Ch 3, turn (60) Row 4: dc in every stitch, skipping the ch stitches. Ch 3, turn (60) Row 5: dc in every stitch, skipping the ch stitches. Change colour in the last dc. Ch 3, turn (60) Row 6: dc in every stitch, skipping the ch stitches. Change colour in the last dc. Ch 3, turn...

I thought it would make for a nice change from the usual toys and amigurumi I usually post here to make a little piece of scenery. This was all triggered when I got obsessed with the chevron or wavy stitch (see earlier post here ), which I initially practiced in some scrap sand-coloured yarn. Perfect for a little desert scene... I've used cotton SMC Catania yarn, suitable for a 2.00-2.50mm hook for all elements. For the main stem of the cactus, start a magic ring in green. R1. sc 6 in the magic ring (6) R2. 2sc in every stitch (12) R3-22. sc in every stitch (12) Fasten off with a ss and leave a tail for sewing.    For the "arms", start a magic fing in green.  R1. sc 6 in the magic ring (6) R2. 2sc in every 2nd stitch (9) R3-6. sc in every stitch (9)   The next 5 steps will be crocheted in rows, not rounds.  R7. ch 1, turn, sc 5 (5) R8. ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc 3 (4) R9. ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc 2 (3) R10. ch 1, turn, sc2tog, sc 1 (2) R11. ch 1, turn, sc2tog (1) ...

Sometimes I get obsessed with a particular type of stitch or technique and I have to work it into everything. Lately, I have been in love with the chevron stitch, which gives a really lovely wave pattern in your work. There is something very satisfying about crocheting to dc together I find. And the chevron stitch makes for a perfect backdrop for some ocean critters <3 I've used cotton SMC Catania yarn, suitable for a 2.00-2.50mm hook.   Ocean waves: In blue, ch a multiple of 12 + 3 (I've done 51 here, 48 for the pattern and 3 for the turn chains). This part of the pattern is crocheted in rows. R1. dc into the 4th ch from the hook (skipped stitches count as 1 dc), then repeat [dc in the next 3 stitches, 2dc2tog, dc in the next 3 stitches, 2dc in the next 2 stitches] until the final ch in which you put 2 dc.  From now on, all rows are crocheted in BLO R2. ch 3 (counts as a dc), dc in last dc of the previous row, then repeat pattern [dc in the next 3 stitches, 2dc2tog, dc in ...

This project was originally conceived as a rainbow-themed handbag, but ended up as a bag that I keep my current crochet projects in. I've been crocheting a lot lately, and it helps keep the living room clean from bits of yarn, half-finished projects and needles.    The bag is made up of separately crocheted circles that are then sewn on top of each other. For each circle, start with a magic ring. All elements are made of SMC Catania cotton yarn for a 2-2.5mm hook.   R1. 10 dc in the magic ring (10) R2. 2dc in every stitch (20) R3. 2dc in every second stitch (30) Fasten off with a slip stitch and weave in ends.    Make as many circles in as many colours as you like.  Sew them onto each other with the rims of the next circle just touching the tops of the stitches in tour 1 of the previous circle. Make two of these swatches, one for each side of the bag. To turn your rectangle of circles into a proper bag, fasten on with white or any other contrasting colour a...