Category Archives: Crochet

Happy Friday No. 3

Hello and welcome to Happy Friday!

This is the time of the week when we try to gloss over those tricky, sticky moments (and goodness knows there have been a few of those!) and reflect on the bright side of life. A bunch of flowers, a little one’s milestone, a new project or in my case, a project rediscovered…

I was shamed this week by being reminded of a particular UFO* lurking in the back of a cupboard after seeing someone else’s finished version on Instagram. I brought it out, and was embarrassed to find just how long it had been in the pending tray. The pattern, by Jane Brocket, was in the second edition of Mollie Makes, printed in 2011! eeek!

Mollie Makes - Happy Friday

~M~ollie Makes - Happy Friday blanket

Happy Friday blanket - Mollie Makes

But the happy discovery that I had made a lot more squares than I realised which were still waiting to be added on to the work so far…

Mollie Makes and a Happy Friday blanket …and that actually I’m not so far off making something of a useful size has filled me with enthusiasm to get a grip and get it finished, and that has definitely made for a Happy Friday!

Happy Friday Jane Brocket crochet blanket

So now, over to you. What Happy Friday moments would you like to share? This week I would also like to welcome the Handmade Habour Linkers whom Wendy Massey has pointed this way. I just know your handmade goodness will make people very happy!

*UFO – UnFinished Object

This is how to join in:

1. Pick one special moment that made you smile, post it on your blog, mentioning Planet Penny Happy Friday. That way your readers will find their way to the Linky and the other posts.

2. Add your own post to the Linky below which will take readers from this blog to your own. It’s a fun way to discover new blogs, and maybe gain some extra followers too.

3.Add the badge which you will find here to your blog or post or wherever so people know what Happy Friday is all about. (just copy and paste the code in the little box)

And of course you can also join on Instagram using #PlanetPennyHappyFriday.

I’m really looking forward to finding out what has made your Happy Friday this week. here’s the Linky…x

Remembering Vanessa Cabban

So many people have been remembering Vanessa Cabban since her tragic death last month. I am hoping to bring a positive dimension to our sadness with news of two projects which will keep Vanessa and her huge talents in our hearts and minds.

Firstly, Lisa of the blog, Bobobun is master minding the creation of a crochet blanket with a group of volunteers. Lisa and I chose Vanessa colours and Lisa is scaling up the Little Squares scarf with granny squares…

Little Square Scarf – Vanessa Cabban

…and co-ordinating the production of the squares which we then will sew together to make a blanket. This will eventually be auctioned on Ebay to raise funds for Vanessa’s family’s chosen charity, the Mental Health Foundation. You can find out much more by visiting Lisa on Instagram, or the Bobobun blog and I will have updates as things progress.

Secondly, I was contacted by Christina who runs the Ravelry group, A Knitter’s Life. Christina is remembering Vanessa by hosting a Knit-along, creating a knitted cowl inspired by her beautiful Fair Isle scarf…

Fairisle Scarf – Vanessa Cabban

Christina will be releasing the first part of the pattern on February 6th 2015 on Ravelry, and I will be joining in. If you would like to take part, Christina has listed the yarn and colours she will be using and everything else you will need on her Ravelry page. If you are in the UK you might find, as I have, that you can’t get all the colours specified. The yarn looks lovely so I’m hoping that I can swap some of the colours without losing the ‘Vanessa Cabban‘ vibe!

I’d love to know if you decide to join in, we can compare notes!

I’ll be back tomorrow evening with the Happy Friday Linky. I hope your week has been filled with happy moments so far!

See you soon…x

Crochet Heart Bunting for Little Hearts Matter

Today I am sharing a new Planet Penny pattern for Crochet Heart Bunting to help raise awareness of the Little Hearts Matter Charity.

This is a great charity which raises funds and awareness for children born with only half a heart, something I admit I knew nothing about before. During the month of October there is a lot going on with the theme ‘Handmade Hearts’ and you can find out all about it on the Little Hearts Matter website.

I’ve made my bunting using the Planet Penny Colours range which is perfect for this pattern, but it’s also a great stash buster. (Sadly no longer available but any dk cotton yarn is suitable) If you’ve made a pretty baby blanket as a pressie, coordinated bunting for the nursery would be a lovely little added extra.

The pattern is available here as a FREE downloadable PDF ,however if you use and like the pattern it would be great if you could visit the Little Hearts Matter website and make a donation to help these amazing and brave youngsters.

I hope you have a lovely weekend, and if you decide to make the Crochet Heart Bunting I’d love to hear about it!

See you soon…x

P.S. If you like hearts, you might also like the small heart pattern I created for the #PeytonHeartProject which you can find here.

Being Inside – Inside Crochet Magazine!

A nerve wracking moment, seeing yourself in print, but here I am a Crochet Entrepreneur in this month’s issue of Inside Crochet Magazine!

If you click on the photo you will find the article, but if you have the magazine you will find all sorts of gorgeous things to make and read about. I really love that chunky jumper on the front, don’t you?Such a gorgeous colour!

If you’ve not tried crochet yet but have always meant to have a go here’s your chance to learn with a complete How-To guide included in the magazine.

I’m off to put my feed up with a cup of coffee to have a little read!

See you soon…x

Writing and Testing a Crochet Pattern

One of the aspects of writing a crochet pattern is the constant niggle in the background of accuracy.

I don’t know about you, but I rely heavily on my spell checker when I’m using a keyboard, my spelling is much worse when I’m typing (and it can be a bit erratic when I’m using a pen, I must confess!) However, that’s no help at all for typing crochet abbreviations so it’s quite a slow process. And that’s after dreaming up the idea to begin with and then making it a second time so the pattern can be recorded.

By the time you get to the point where you make the item again from what you have written down it’s hard to judge whether you have explained yourself properly. By then you know the pattern inside out!

My latest make is a granny square cushion cover using the Planet Penny Cotton Colours with Snowdrop yarn which I backed with one of the PP fat quarters – jolly red and white spottiness.

I’m very happy with it, but now there is the question of the crochet pattern, and the making up instructions, and making sure it all makes sense.

What I need are some testers, and I’m trying to work out the best way to make it work.

So…

…if you are a Planet Penny customer with a Rainbow pack of yarn who would like to make a cushion, I’ll provide the pattern, the fat quarter and a ball of Snowdrop yarn in return for trying out the pattern, giving constructive criticism, and sending photos of the finished article. How does that sound?

If you could help test the Granny Square Cushion crochet pattern I’d love to hear from you. You would need to have some crochet experience, be used to working from a pattern, have basic sewing machine skills, and be able to produce a clear photo of the finished article.

You can leave a comment, or get in touch via the contacts form with some details which will help me choose. I need 2 or 3 people to get a good cross section.

I’m really looking forward to hearing from you and hearing about your crochet pattern skills!

Everyone Needs a Crochet Skirt Guard!

Actually, I’ve only just realised that I personally need a crochet skirt guard even though I don’t know whether one would survive many journeys down our muddy lanes!

I spotted one in Mollie Makes a few weeks back in pale, subtle colours. Did you see it? Definitely not mud friendly!

Crochet Skirt Guard – Mollie Makes – issue 41

But it was a conversation I had with one of my Planet Penny customers which set me thinking…

(When you live on your own little Planet in cyberspace it’s such a treat to actually meet up with one of you lovely people out there!)

Debbie bought a pack of Planet Penny yarn when she visited for Open Studios and mentioned making a skirt guard as she left. I pleaded with her to send pictures of the finished piece.I love to see what people do with the yarn after it leaves me as I never seem to have time to be as adventurous as I would like with my own yarn.

My day was made yesterday when an email popped into my inbox with the most gorgeous picture, worthy of Country Living magazine! How fabulous is this…?

The unusual colour combination is stunning and it looks a real labour of love. Debbie used a pattern from JustDo who sells her patterns on Etsy…

Crochet Skirt Guard Pattern from JustDo on Etsy

…and had to be a bit ingenious to make it fit her own bike but it worked beautifully. Thanks Debbie, for allowing me to share, just too good to hide away!

I’ll be back soon…x