Category Archives: Crochet

Blogtober 2022 – the end, with free mice!

I can’t believe how quickly the month has flown by. Compared to a lot of people I’ve been seeing out on social media who have been blogging daily, I’ve been pretty rubbish! But I’m actually counting my efforts as a personal success. I’m getting back the blogging mindset, and it’s lovely to have contact with people in this way. I’ve been digging around in the archives, very dusty and cobwebby with a lot of mice scurrying around!

So, I’ve decided to celebrate by sharing the mouse patterns today. The crochet mice pattern is the one which started me off as a business, over ten years ago. A complete fluke, but I ran with it!

At the time I had a shock when it was discovered by an American craft site and 7,500 copies of the pattern were downloaded for free in one day! After that I put it on my online shop. But since I don’t have the shop anymore, I’d still like to share the pattern, so here it is.

And by popular demand I later created a knitted version so the knitters among you can have their own mice as well…

Knitted Rainbow Mice made with Planet Penny Cotton

which you can find here…

I really hope you enjoy them. Although I can no longer supply the cotton yarn there seems to be a lot of rainbow packs available online these days. I wonder, did I start a trend?! When I was hunting for yarn thirteen years ago it was impossible to find all the colours I wanted from one brand, which is why I ended up finding a European supplier and starting my own business. There are lots of colours available from Love Crafts and also Hobbii to name just two.

I’d really love to know if you use the patterns to create your own multicolour mischief of mice, they make great stocking fillers!

I’ll be back soon…x

A crochet sweater for Autumn

As the days grow shorter, and the clocks go back I am revisiting this pattern from 2015. I loved this sweater and wore it to death so I think it’s time to make myself another one. It might be unseasonably mild just at the moment but I’m sure it won’t be long before we need to wrap up warmly.

crochet sweater crib sheet - crochet a sweater without a pattern

This crochet sweater is inspired by a Frank & Olive Crochet pattern. However, I had different yarn, I was making a different size, I wanted a different neck and longer sleeves and so I had to basically make it up as I went along!

The yarn I used for this version was Merino Blend Aran super wash wool by King Cole in a gorgeous shade of Aubergine, bought from the Wool Warehouse. Sadly, this seems to have been discontinued, but a quick search has revealed a gorgeous selection of different colours, and tweedy mixes. I have no idea how I will choose!

Also, looking at it I might try an alternative stitch. In fact, it might end up being a completely different sweater altogether, but that’s the joy of freewheeling with your crochet hook!

So there isn’t a pattern as such, but if you would like a crib sheet of how I worked it out I’m very happy to share so please let me know if you are interested.

crochet sweater detail - side slits — detail – side slits

It’s exactly what I need for cold winter days in the studio, and there’s just about room for Higgins too!

Do leave a comment if you want to know more.

See you soon..x

link to the crib sheet here

Planet Penny Road Trip

We’re all super excited here on Planet Penny, we’re off on an adventure this week, felting needles at the ready!

If you’ve been visiting here a while you will know that I have had a couple of fabulous weekends at the Frank and Olive Crochet Retreats over the past few years. This time I am the guest tutor, taking fluffy fun up to Yorkshire to join Ruby and Dan and their guests.

We will be making something a little bit different for Christmas, decorations that I hope reflects Ruby’s exuberant personality and sense of fun while passing on the necessary skills of needlefelting for the guests to take away and experiment with.

Higgins is off to stay at his home from home just down the road, where he will be treated like a little prince. One person providing a comfy lap where he can help with the crochet projects, and another to crawl endlessly round the floor playing games. I don’t think he will miss us at all!

After a few days in Yorkshire we will be heading to Manchester where my OH has a course to attend. Manchester is a place I have never visited so I’m looking forward to some exploring and a spot of Christmas shopping. If this is your stomping ground, I’d love some suggestions for places to visit.

I’m feeling very excited about getting out and about with more Planet Penny workshops. If you are in Norfolk or Suffolk you can find the next three sessions I have booked for 2020 on the Workshop Page above and I’m always up for discussing another road trip. If you would like me to visit just drop me an email!

Follow me on Instagram if you would like to see what we get up to at the Retreat, or even if you’d like to see me getting lost in Manchester…see you soon…!

A Little Extra – Happy Crocheting Bag

As promised, another prize! Would you like a Crocheting Bag? Part of my Planet Penny campaign is for regular newsletters, so I’m launching this latest one with a chance to win a fabulous bag to carry your stash.

Would you like to see?

There’s loads of room for your yarn stash, hooks and patterns and a handy shoulder strap for travelling. You can find the bag to buy at Happy Crocheting but I have one to give away exclusively to Newsletter subscribers. All you have to do is to click the yellow button to subscribe and reply to the newsletter with ‘Yes, please!’ to enter the draw, it’s that simple.

And, in the meantime don’t forget there is still time to enter the draw for the Crochet Therapy book as seen in the bag above. Just comment on the post here

So just a little post, but full of goodies. Make sure you are in with a chance to win either the crocheting bag or the book, I’m looking forward to hearing from you.

See you soon…x

Crochet Scarflet – Rowan Hemp Tweed Chunky

A little while ago I was asked if I would like a sample of a new yarn to try (I’m sure you can guess my answer!) and the postman duly delivered a gorgeous ball of soft sea green loveliness, Rowan Hemp Tweed Chunky, a mix of 75% wool and 25% true hemp.

Rowan Hemp Tweed Chunky - Sea It’s sometimes a problem to find just the right pattern to show off a sample, isn’t it? I really didn’t want to just knit a swatch to look at, I wanted a ‘thing’, and a lovely one at that. Fortunately, in the wee small hours one night, Madame Serendipity came to call and I came up with a pattern which I think ticks all the boxes.

It’s simple, it’s cosy and makes use of every scrap of the 100gms of the Rowan Hemp Tweed Chunky. I couldn’t ask for more. So without further ado, just a quick Ta – DAAA… may I present my Chunky Scarflet with Pompom… Rowan Hemp Tweed Chunky Scarflet …or button…or even a pin…It’s a really quick and simple weekend project suitable for all skill levels and a perfect little snuggler to pop in your handbag in case of unexpected Autumn chills. The yarn is lovely to work with and makes up very quickly. I used a 7mm hook, didn’t have any problems with splitting and the yarn is soft and light.

I am working on writing basic instructions in much the same way that I did for last year’s crochet sweater so if you are interested do let me know in the comments. The Rowan Hemp Tweed Chunky yarn itself is available for pre-order from the online knitting and crochet shop Laughing Hens and there are eight fabulous colours (so maybe I need to make one to match everything I wear!)

It’s been a busy summer and I’ve missed being here but I have that September ‘New Term’ feeling coming up (does it ever go away?) and lots of things to share.

I’ll be back soon…x

An office in the sun!

Well, this is a rare occurrence, Higgins and I have moved outside. We’re on the veranda outside the studio, there’s blue sky, sunshine, flowers, birdsong…What could be better? office_in_the_sun

Only last week we were huddled under a blanket (in Higgins case, three blankets) watching the rain lash down so I’m making the most of every minute now.

There is just one weekend left of Open Studios here in Norfolk and it’s been good, as usual. Really nice to meet the people who come to visit who are really interested in what we do, and in who, in turn, have interesting stories to tell. Higgins has been working well with the meeting and greeting, he even had an assistant! Higgins&Coco It did get very tiring in the end though… tired Higgins

I have been been diligent in my decluttering efforts. So many things which I have made in order to create patterns, but eventually I have to reluctantly part with them in order to make room in the studio, and in my head, for new ideas.

It’s not easy! The knitting mobile has been sold…

it’s off to Germany as a present.

And the Hearts and Flowers Mobile is off to grace a little ones bedroom which is lovely. It’s nice to know it will have a good home.

Hearts and Flowerts Mobile from Planet Penny Quite a few little needlefelted pieces have been sold too, although I’m not going to part with Clover the sheep!

Flock of needlefelt sheep - Planet Penny

Clover is the one in the middle!

So if you are in the area next weekend do call in. There’s bunting and baubles and fairy lights and books too! I’m never going to rival decluttering queen Marie Kondo, but I’m trying!

Back soon…x