Category Archives: Crochet

Autumn Walks and Weather

It’s the start of a new week, and a review of the past few day here in blog land. We’ve been very lucky weather-wise in Norfolk so far this Autumn. I’ve watched the forecasts and seen just how much wet, windy and stormy weather has been hurtling around the UK, and we’ve got off very lightly. There are positives to being on a bump sticking out into the North Sea, our own micro-climate! It’s a bit nippy though, the fire’s been lit the past few evenings, and I’ve been glad of my wristwarmers whilst sitting at the computer in my new little office! Despite the fact it’s warmer in the house, my faithful companions have chosen to be out in the studio with me, just keeping an eye…

…you just never know when I might suddenly decide to open a packet of pet treats and eat them all myself!

Last week’s needlefelt Robins have come home to roost on wreaths and hearts…

I haven’t put them on Etsy though as I’m having a slightly panicky moment about filling a craft stall at the end of the month. It’s a real juggling act knowing where to place things when the things you sell are all individually made. Can you see my lovely second hand find in the photo, by the way? A metal and wicker corner shelf unit, perfect for displaying little lovelies at craft fairs and in photos. Since my visit to the DIY Oxfam shop in Camden last month, and meeting the Buttonbag ladies I’ve revived my love of poking about in Charity shops. I’ve tried to limit my visits to just donating, and not accumulating more ‘stuff’ , but old habits are hard to break! (There’s a blog post in the offing about my other purchases, so watch this space!)

Higgins and I have been making the most of the dry weather while it lasts with some doggy walks. I really ought to be spending some of that time gardening, but Higgins can only think of one reason why I should be in the garden, and that involves a ball, not a trowel! Still, it gives me a chance to appreciate the Autumn colours and spectacular Norfolk skies…

and there are rose hips galore…

…and this weeks mystery object growing on the wild roses! I can’t for the life of me remember what this is…can you?

…and a bit of fun with a feather!

Well, ironically, since I started writing this post the heavens have opened! The rain is hammering on the skylight, I can’t hear Gardener’s Question Time, or myself think, so I’m going to call a halt and go inside to the fire and my crochet patchwork. I’ll leave you with a link to Handmade Monday over on Handmade Harbour and I’ll be back soon…x

Planet Penny Cotton Inspirations:Week 2

Hello… I’m back again, hoping to be inspiring! If you spotted last week’s mid-week post you will know I have been keeping my eye out for pretty little things which can be made using the gorgeous Planet Penny Cotton rainbow and trying out the patterns so I can recommend them to you.

This week’s beautiful pattern come courtesy of Craft Passion, the African Flower…

…and you can find the pattern here…

I have made a start on a patchwork style cushion using the Planet Penny Cotton…

Obviously very much a WIP at the moment, but I’m enjoying making it, and planning the colour combinations. It requires a bit more concentration than the basic Granny Square but it uses basic single and double crochet stitches (and trebles too for UK readers). It all fell apart slightly last night at our Knit and Stitch Group, (chatting with a glass of wine at one’s elbow does not aid concentration!) It’s written using US terms so bear that in mind if you are used to UK patterns.

There is also a pattern for a beautiful bag if you are feeling really ambitious…

I’ve added this to my ‘Wish List’ , I really do need that extra pair of hands!

With that in mind, I’d better get back to work. I hope this has given you some ideas, I’ll be back soon….x

Planet Penny Cotton Colours

I’ve been feeling the need for a little colour fix just lately, of the rainbow cotton variety, to counter balance the Christmassy slant which my creativity has inevitable taken.

There’s no getting away from it, robins are basically shades of brown with red, and although it suits them very well, it doesn’t press all the buttons for me, colourwise. So off to the Planet Penny Cotton Colours shelves…

and POW!

… oooh, I feel better already!

What started as a very tentative foray into importing something from Europe which I couldn’t actually purchase in the UK is still going well, and I’ve had great feedback and repeat orders from people who have been so happy with not only the gorgeous colour range but the quality of the yarn. (If you are a new blog visitor you can find out the beginnings of the Planet Penny Cotton Colours yarn here and here)

There are only two areas where I feel I’m letting the side down, and the first only is completely out of my hands. It’s so expensive to ship outside the UK! I’ve pared down the packing to the minimum, (and the girls at my local Post Office are impressed that the parcels come in just below the point where the cost goes up to the next band!) so I do apologise to anyone who feels the shipping costs are high, and I really appreciate the loyal customers who buy despite the Royal Mail’s costs. In fact someone in Australia emailed to say she loved the yarn so much she would have paid double the postage rate!

And really the other area is out of my hands too, unless I can magic some extra hours in the day! I’d like to produce more patterns, but is a very time consuming affair … Coming up with the idea, making the item, writing the pattern, typing the pattern, then following the pattern whilst making it again to check it works, etc. etc. you get the picture…

So my plan is to research other peoples patterns, to find pretty ideas which can be made up in the beautiful Cotton Colours and then giving you the links to the websites to try them for yourselves. It also seemed like a cheerful thing to do as Winter approaches and nature makes things a bit dark and monotone. You’ll find plenty of inspiration too, if you visit me on Pinterest!

And this is the first pattern I found…

Aren’t they pretty? So easy, and compulsive to make. At this rate every one will be getting one for Christmas, including the boys!

This has been about for a while and appears to have originated on a Danish blog, but I found a great crochet blog called Hooked on Needles where there is an English version of the pattern

Check out the shop for the yarn and the patterns, and also for the new limited edition, Christmas Crochet Collection…

Which includes the PPCC ‘Snowdrop’ yarn, hook, buttons, ribbon and the pattern for the Christmas Crochet bunting featured in the Winter Simply Crochet magazine, and the heart and snowflake patterns to make tree ornaments or a garland.

And while I was looking for the links for this pattern I found another one…where are those extra hours in the day? I’ll be back with more ideas very soon…

Christmas Crochet for Handmade Monday

I sincerely apologise to those of you who find it hard to think about Christmas in September, but I’m afraid those of us who hand craft seasonal bits and pieces have to start early or we run out of time! I could really do with an extra pair of hands, as I haven’t yet worked out a way of crocheting whilst needlefelting! I’m back with the crochet hook at the moment because I have just had a new delivery of Planet Penny Cotton Club yarn, and this time I have just a few packs with Christmas crochet in mind, lovely Snowdrop.

It’s perfect for the Crochet Christmas Bunting in the tutorial here, which is featured in a magazine published in a few days time, Simply Crochet.

I’ve been experimenting with my own ball of ‘Snowdrop’ to come up with a couple more patterns to use this lovely yarn. Would you like to see? There are crochet snow flakes…

…and crochet Hearts…

and Snowflakes and Hearts…

Christmas Crochet Packs of yarn, crochet hook, buttons and patterns will be available in the next few days in the Etsy shop…

Re-assuming my needlefelting hat, I discovered a fragment of old lace in a box the other day (you see how I’ve benefited from all that boring tidying up I’ve been doing?) and combined it with a new twig heart. I had been a little wary of it, because the wire shaping was so noticeable, (I presume it was made with florists in mind) but I’d raided my Mother-of-Pearl button box and it made all the difference…

And there was still that last dyed top to transform…Remember this?

A rather uninspiring blue/grey… But then I remembered some beautiful binding I bought in France over two years ago…

(… it was lovely to revisit the occasion on Planet Penny via this post – blogging is a wonderful thing!) and with some matching buttons came up with something which I am very happy to have in my wardrobe…

(The camera is lying about the blueness of the dye, BTW!)

There will be a short ‘break in transmission’ over the next week or so as I’m going to be away. Excitingly, I’ve been invited to a book launch in London on Wednesday for Buttonbag’s new craft book, closely followed by a trip to the South Coast to visit the family so there will be lots to tell you about when I’m here again (note to self: charge the camera battery!)

I’ll leave you now with the usual link to Handmade Monday over on Wendy’s Handmade Harbour. Have a lovely week and I’ll be back before long…

Dolly Peg Dolls for Handmade Monday Revisited

If you’ve been visiting Planet Penny for a while you may remember that last year I had some fun with Dolly Peg Dolls and Dolly Peg Angels, and there is a ‘how-to’ in pictures in the Tutorial section of Planet Penny. Well now it’s all in print, as I made this little lady…

for a tutorial in the October issue of The Dolls’ House Magazine! And it’s out now!

Please excuse the fact that I’m very excited…

I think I’m going to have to make some more. In fact we are having and Angels and Light Festival in our local church in the run up to Christmas, so I anticipate making several little Dolly Peg Doll Angels for that occasion. There also some little ladies for sale over on Etsy!

The robins have been breeding well over the last week, it must be the weather…

…and some more little robin wreaths are available on Etsy now…

I’m gradually getting into the swing of things after all my sorting out. I’m so tidy and organised now it makes all the difference being able to find the bits and pieces I want, long may it last! Anyway, for now I’m going to leave you with a link to Handmade Monday over on Handmade Harbour, and take my poor neglected little dog out for a walk now the sun has come out at last. I’m getting that ‘look’!

See you soon….x

Remembering the Memory Doll

It’s been a really hectic week here on Planet Penny as at last we found a quiet time to make me an office out of the storage room adjoining the studio. When the Studio block was built three years ago I already had designs on this little room as you can see from this post but it’s taken until now to find the time to make the big push. There was so much to clear out of the store, and now I’m having to find all the office related stuff in the studio to move it across and I’m unearthing all sorts of memories and forgotten projects! So as I haven’t got a new Handmade Monday project I though I’d share the Memory Doll with you, who has resurfaced from a box of bits and pieces.

She was designed to use up little fragments of pretty things which had some significance which might otherwise might have been put in a box and forgotten. (The irony of this does not escape me!)

So here she is, with her little cape made from my first (and last) attempt at traditional crochet. A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into this small piece which would never have grown enough to be used elsewhere. The dress is made from an old dress from happy days, and the satin covered buttons came from a blouse I had as a teenager. The flower was on a box of toiletries from a long ago birthday, and the pantaloons which you can just see here…

were made from remnants left over from a baby dress of my daughters.

I shall make sure she doesn’t go back in a box, but has pride of place on the dresser from now on!

I’ve been wondering if a tutorial for this might be interesting to anyone? Do let me know what you think…

This is I’m afraid a short post as I’ve been away and it’s nearly time to visit Clovis the Mad French Cat to give him his pill. I will post an up to date bulletin in the next few days when I hope to have good news about his progress. It’s taking a long, long time, but we’re getting there!

I shall leave you with the usual Sunday link to Handmade Monday over on Handmade Harbour where you will find plenty more to see, and I’ll be back soon ….x