Every crochet design begins with an inspiration. Probably as in any other form of art. Although sometimes it is possible to kind of create inspiration artificially by starting to work on a new project mindlessly, in most cases inspiration is not dependent on our will or wishes and can hit suddenly when we do not expect it. Inspiration makes the designing process quick and easy, as if someone else is guiding you.
The best designs (at this is how it is for me) are born in no time, in days or sometimes even in hours. They carry the passion and strong energy which you can feel by just looking at the pictures.
I am often asked where my inspiration comes from. And usually, I do not know what to say as I simply do not know. I just feel highly inspired sometimes by traveling, or going to art galleries, or spending time in nature. And sometimes I do not feel inspired for weeks and months, and here the automatic designing work starts, which sometimes leads to the birth of inspiration. But usually ends with nothing creative.
No secret, that often crochet designers get inspired by yarn. Being a member of the Scheepjes designer pool, I get early access to the new yarn launches. The first time I saw promo pictures for the newest Woolwise yarn, I immediately felt “aha” moment. Just looking at the pictures I could literally smell the yarn. Sometimes we use this cliché like “love from the first sight”. Guess, this is what I felt.
I ordered a few skeins to try and see if it was any good for crochet, as some yarns are brilliant for knitting but do not work the same way for crochet. The yarn arrived, the gauge swatch was made, and the stitch definition was amazing.
A few more skeins landed on my next order, and here we go! Today I would like to present three neck warmers I designed with Woolwise yarn. They all are worked with the short rows technique, are relatively quick to make (with DK weight and 4mm hook), and are suitable even for beginners.
Hygge
I named the first one Hygge, as it feels very soft and squishy. It has more like a poncho style, but I prefer to think of it as a neck warmer. Hygge uses the similar stitch pattern as Astrid Shawl. It took me a while to figure out smooth increases and decreases, and once it clicked, I fell in love.
Hygge neck warmer comes in 4 sizes which should fit a wide range of body sizes, starting with XXS and up to 4X. You can choose a larger size for more room to wear Hygge over the coat, or a smaller size to go with your favourite long sleeved shirts.
Hygge neck warmer pattern is available on Ravelry HERE and Etsy HERE.
Ebba
Ebba neck warmer is a smaller design with round shape and the buttons. The story of Ebba is a little longer than Hygge’s. For Hygge I knew what I wanted to create from the first second. While Ebba was meant to become a wide straight cowl with the buttons on one side.
I finished the design, and not matter which size I was adjusting to, it just did not fit well around the neck. So a decision was made to add increases at the bottom to turn it more into a round yoke shape.
Ebba neck warmer comes in 3 sizes. It has a high ribbed collar which can be rolled out or styled straight for a maximum neck protection. And again, you can choose or smaller or a bigger size depending on how much of the ease you prefer. You can also easily adjust Ebba as-you-go both for the height and width and create a custom neck warmer for yourself.
The Ebba pattern is beginner friendly and is available on Ravelry HERE and Etsy HERE.
City
And finally, a City neck warmer is a simpler version of the Hygge with the same shape but easier stitch pattern. And slightly smaller than Hygge. Same as Hygge, City neck warmer comes in 4 sizes and I am safe to say that it is suitable for beginners, or those who have never done short rows in crochet before.
City neck warmer pattern is available on Ravelry HERE and Etsy HERE.
All three neck warmers were created with Scheepjes Woolwise yarn, which is 100% recycled superwash merino wool. Soft, not scratchy, wonderful to crochet with. And again, the stitch definition is dreamy.
The patterns are written in English language with US terms and include written instructions and are supported with detailed video tutorials (the links included in the pattern).
Woolwise is DK weight with 200m pre 100g, and it comes in maaaaany colors. Check them with your local Scheepjes stockiest, or shop online with Caro’s Atelier (NL & EU).
And if you cannot wear wool, you can substitute Woolwise with a different DK yarn. Laura of @taemombo helped me testing the patterns and used Scheepjes Stonewashed. And both neck warmers turned out just great!
Macarena Marskell made an Ebba neckwarmer with DK yarn from her stash.
And Esther Schippers crocheted Hygge with Woolwise yarn in size 3. To me, all samples look just gorgeous, whatever yarn you pick.
Hope you enjoy,
In our country, we say that summer is a small life. And this summer felt like a whole small life for me, indeed. We travelled to many places and slept in many houses, visiting our family and friends. I saw the warm sea in Italy for the first time in three years and went to Thom Yorke’s concert again. We also saw Sting and danced to all his hits like no one was watching! This summer felt very long, and it felt even more weird to come back to the silence of the autumn. I am finally home, burning candles in the evenings and drinking my tea with lemon slice. I am back to my beloved sofa, my crochet hook and my never-ending yarn stash.
Designing was slow this summer. I worked on some of the old wips now and then, but did not have enough mental space to create something epic. However! I did have the creative energy to finally finish the Ella Cardigan – something that has been on my hook for a long time. And today I am proud and happy to present it to the world!
Ella Cadigan crochet pattern is out now and is available on Ravelry HERE and Etsy HERE with an introductory 20% discount (already applied, no codes needed). Be sure to grab your copy before Monday, October 7th 2024, as after this day the pattern will be listed at a regular price.
Ella Cardigan differs a lot from everything I have designed so far. It is the first truly oversized garment design of mine.
It has a loose fit and wide sleeves, which is great for layering. While choosing the correct size, be sure to add a lot of positive ease to your actual bust measurements. The cardigan is designed to have approx. 20-25cm/7¾-9¾in of positive ease in the smaller sizes and then gradually less positive ease in the larger sizes.
Being worked from top down, the cardigan has a special construction for the shoulders and sleeves, making it a comfortable fit for different body types. A small textured collar makes Ella Cardigan feel and look like a soft blazer.
And of course, big hidden pockets are an extra bonus!
At the same time, top-down construction allows adjusting the cardigan’s shape as-you-go. You can easily change the width of the armholes and lower body, and of course the length of the sleeves and entire cardigan is up to your taste. You can make the pockets bigger or smaller or leave them out at all, making Ella Cardigan your own custom garment perfectly fitting your needs.
Ella Cardigan crochet pattern comes in 10 sizes to fit the bust of 75-150cm/29½-59in. The pattern contains full written instructions in English language, with video tutorials explaining every pattern’s step. I believe, the video tutorials will answer all your questions.
I usually wear clothes in size Small, but with Ella Cardigan I wanted a lot of positive ease, so made two samples in size Medium for myself (the model in the pictures is also size S wearing size M).
I used Scheepjes Organicon (100% organic cotton) and
Scheepjes Metropolis (wool blend) yarns for my samples and feel like
the wool blend yarn is holding the cardigan’s shape better. With pure cotton
yarns, it might be a good idea to obtain a slightly smaller gauge before
starting to crochet an actual cardigan, as these yarns are a little heavier
and tend to stretch for an even more casual look.
Check a full range of colors in your local Scheepjes store, or online at Caro’s Atelier (NL and Europe), Wool Warehouse (UK, international shipping), Taemombo (US and Canada).
Just to remind, the Ella Cardigan pattern is now available on Ravelry HERE and Etsy HERE.
Hope you enjoy,
It’s the middle of the summer here. The heat is getting serious, and we changed to summer clothes long ago. And what summer outfits would be without accessories. Luckily, we crocheters can create them by ourselves! If you are looking for nice and unusual bracelets and brooches, you might want to check out my new Crochet Jewelry ebook.
The ebook is available on our website HERE.
Crochet Jewelry eBook contains six small modern projects, which will become bright accents in your daily outfits. These projects are quick and effective, and they give an excellent chance to learn the basics of overlay crochet.
The bracelet patterns and animal brooches are written in several sizes, which will suit adults and kids. These projects are perfect as last-minute gifts, too. In fact, with six patterns, you get 12 patterns in total!
Each project uses tiny amounts of yarn in several colors and gives you a great opportunity to use up yarn leftovers from the stash.
Choose a palette and combine the shades for each item differently for a unique look.
Using different weights of yarn and hook sizes, you can easily make the
bracelets and animal brooches bigger or smaller.
Let me introduce them one by one.
Mandala Bracelet reminds me of the cheerful sun with many rays. It comes in three sizes, and I can already imagine a party for girls where mothers and daughters wear the same bracelets. This design is also available as a stand-along pattern on Ravelry and Etsy.
Betty the Owl is my new favourite! With a textured front and plain back in one color, it will make a wonderful brooch. And if you wish, you can make both sides the same and turn it into a hanging ornament. What about creating a family of colorful owls?
Bloomy Bracelet is a classical overlay crochet design with floral lines reminding me of a lotus flower. Large for an adult and small for a little kid. The straps in all bracelets can be easily changed for width and length, and you can also move the button around to adjust the strap in size. If you would like to try just this pattern, you can find it on Ravelry and Etsy.
Oliver the Bear brooch is a new interpretation of my existing Magnus the Bear pattern. It consists of two pieces – a volume face and flat back for an easy pinning to clothes and accessories. Move the ears a bit, and your bear can become a mouse, for example! The pattern is straightforward, and I have also recorded video tutorials about how to join front and back, how to attach ears and how to embroider the bear’s face.
Compass Cuff is the third bracelet in this jewelry series. Made in one size, it introduces lovely texture and crab stitch. (Have tried it already? No worries, a video tutorial is waiting for you). You can also grab it as a stand-alone pattern on Ravelry and Etsy.
Dolly the Sheep is a cute little creature with a head full of squishy loops. Pick a new color for every new sheep and create a collection of unusual brooches. In the pattern, you will find a video tutorial about how I am making the loop crochet stitch. It might differ from what you have already seen, but this is how I was toughed to do it as a kid, and this is how I like it.
All three bracelet patterns use overlay crochet technique.
In the instructions, you will find a link to a video tutorial describing complete basics of the overlay crochet, beginning with magic (adjustable) ring, crochet in back and front loops, adding long stitches on top of the crochet surface, needle (invisible) join, and many other tips.
And then the patterns also include lots of progress pictures for almost every round to help you tackle the texture.
The Crochet Jewelry ebook comes in English language with standard US crochet terms.
Grab it on our website HERE.
Hope you enjoy,
My journey in garment design continues, and here is a new addition to the modest collection of the patterns by Lilla Bjorn. Waistcoats are popular this season, whether fabric or knitted. So, I decided to design one by myself. And here it is – a City Waistcoat.
Less is more.
This works in all spheres of our lives. And although I am a little addicted to intricate crochet with lots of details, sometimes it feels relaxing to create something simple.
The pattern is available on Ravelry HERE and Esty HERE and you will get an automated 20% discount through Monday, June 24th. You do not have to enter any codes, as the pattern is discounted right now and will be listed at a regular price after Monday.
City Waistcoat is designed to have approx. 5-10cm/2-4in of positive ease in the smaller sizes and then gradually less positive ease in the larger sizes. Before beginning your project, measure yourself to determine which size will fit you the best.
The pattern comes in 10 sizes to fit an actual bust of 75-150cm/29½-59in. It is worked from the top down. First, the back yoke is worked back and forth and shaped with short rows for the shoulders. Then, the shoulders/fronts are worked from stitches that are added along the top of the slanting parts of the back yoke. The body with buttonholes is worked back and forth. Then the edging is added.
We have tested it in a variety of sizes, and I am happy to say the fit turned out great in every size. Because it is a top-down garment, you can easily adjust it as you go. The armholes can be made wider, the length can be adjusted as you need with more or fewer buttonholes.
And you can also play with the width by adding more stitches for the lower body.
The stitch pattern is basic with only single crochet and chain-spaces used (US terms), so even a crochet beginners can handle it. For additional help, I have recorded a few video tutorials explaining every step.
For me, light cotton yarn worked the best for a City Waistcoat.
I am in love with Scheepjes Organicon version. It is light and soft, perfect for hot days. And then I created two more waistcoats: one with Scheepjes Bamboo Soft and the other with Scheepjes Cotton 8.
Bamboo soft is nice against the skin and creates a little thicker fabric. And Cotton 8 is great, too. It is on a stiffer side, but for sure will soften with wear. And it is a low budget version too with numerous color possibilities.
Check Scheepjes yarns in your local Scheepjes store, or via online retailers: Wool Warehouse (UK, international shipping), Caro’s Atelier (NL, Europe), Taemombo (US&Canada).
We had a fun time with a photographer taking pictures of all three City Waistcoats. We constructed several looks with jeans and a skirt, wearing waistcoats either on their own or with the shirts underneath.
Our fantastic testers team has created beautiful pieces. Here are the pictures of some of them, with more inspiration for the summer looks.
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| City Waistcoat by Sandra Veneman |
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| City Waistcoat by Claire Shipton |
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| City Waistcoat by Esther Schippers |
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| City Waistcoat by Jenna Bowers modelled by her beautiful daughter |
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| City Waistcoat by Laura Jackson |
The pattern is available on Ravelry HERE and Esty HERE.
Hope you enjoy!
