My Books – Page 3 – Emma Varnam’s blog

Introducing Ben Fox – Cute Crocheted Animals

Seeing as this week we have had ‘International Pirate Day’ I thought it only fitting that I should introduce you to a star of my new book Cute Crocheted Animals. If any animal has the swagger and daring zeal of a pirate, surely it must be a fox. Ahoy there Ben Fox!

The photo is my original drawing for the design and you can see how he turned out – not too far off the mark.

In the book I introduce both a girl and a boy in each animal. I had in mind our son for the character of this cheeky chappie. Little B has the most amazing playful imagination and can quite happily spend an hour in his own company thinking of stories and adventures to embark upon.

The head of each animal is worked in the round. Both fox faces have a more advanced technique of changing the colour mid-way in the round to create the flash of white fur on the chin. Even I need to use stitch markers for this process – so don’t feel discouraged. But the over all look is well-worth the patience.

The Clothes

I hope you can spot form these photos that the trousers and the shorts have a cheeky wee hole where you can pop the tail through. For climbing the rigging on your pirate galleon you will need a swishy tail for balance.

Most weekend I am found in a Breton stripe t-shirt and so this was one of the first garments I made for the new book. Ben Fox also has a rather jaunty pirate bandanna, with handy holes for his ears. If you know me – you would guess that designing these little clothes made me giggle. The basic question; ‘What would a pirate fox wear?’ just tickled my sense of humour.

If you have spotted a favourite animal in the last few weeks do tell me. Indeed if you have any animal ideas for a future book I would love to hear.

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Pumpkin Pattern Pick-me-up

I know how many of you love a free pattern. You also love it when a pattern is seasonal and cute. So I wanted to show you some of my most popular pumpkin patterns. People from across the world love these designs and they are just perfect for a quick and easy Autumn or Fall gift.

Firstly the King of the pattens in this Pumpkin pincushion. You can download it for free here. I still use this very pincushion everyday. Even though this is simple amigurumi design – the overall look of this pattern makes it perfect for autumnal table decorations or a birthday gift for an autumn born crafter.

Secondly why not make this crochet pumpkin baby hat – how cute is this? One of my favourite patterns, my own son looked so cute in this hat – I just wanted to eat him. I think it is the twirling tendrils which make all the difference. You can download it free from here.

Finally if you love teacosies, you will love this book; Teacosies 4. I have quite a few patterns in this book, but this is one of my favourites. It seems to work well with the days getting a bit cooler and the need to snuggle up nursing a steaming cup of freshly brewed tea.

If you do end up making one of these patterns – please do send me your photos. If you would like to be kept up to date with my news and new patterns published – please do subscribe to my newsletter at the top of the side bar.

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Cute Crocheted Animals – my new book

The Animals

I am so excited to introduce to you my new book, Cute Crocheted Animals. This is my favourite of all the books I have had the privilege to write. Inside you will find ten little cuddly character. A boy and a girl for five different animals; fox, mouse, bear, cat and rabbit

Each little person has their own character and a cute little outfit to wear. Once you have chosen your animal, you can mix and match, tops, dresses, shoes, jackets and hats.

The Wardrobe

I have been keen that the wardrobes reflect a quintessentially British style. Plus if you know a budding ballerina or sports fanatic there are outfits to suit.

It was so much fun designing little outfits for these guys. I had in my mind the children I knew and how they would love, play and cuddle these animals.

Our own darling cat Stanley also gets a look in – he is very much a ‘mews’. He is very much a star of the book and his own little character forms part of the narrative. I am almost tempted to crochet him his very own red tank top.

The book is published today; 7th September. If you are visiting the Knitting and Stitching show at Alexandra Palace on Friday 7th October I will be doing a book signing and demonstration on the GMC stand. More importantly if you get to flick through a copy of the book please do leave a comment to tell me what you think. I would also love to see any photos of animals made. That would thrill my heart.

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Cute Crocheted Animals – inspiration for my book

My new book Cute Crocheted Animals will be published in a matter of days. I am so very excited. I wanted to give you a little background to why I designed the patterns and wrote the book.

My childhood memories

I have very distinct childhood memories of sitting in my own imaginary world playing with my toys. I was very fond of one particular pretty rag doll, happy dress her for bed, settle her in a small wooden toy cot and smooth her woolen hair as I imagined her drifting off to sleep. The play-acting of the nurturing role is universal I think. An added joy is to choose and dress toys – creatively putting different combinations of clothes, shoes and accessories together.

All of these moments of play and flights of fantasy are such a precious part of a carefree childhood. It occurred too me that it would be delightful to create animal characters that could be dressed, loved and cuddled for a new generation.

Design development

Over the years I have designs and developed lots of different animal patterns and I really enjoy making rabbits. I was commissioned to make a lovely bunny for Inside Crochet Magazine and that bunny was dressed a a pretty Liberty print dress. Over time I kept thinking it would be great to develop a whole wardrobe of clothes for a bunny. I also wanted to develop my pattern design to make the toy easier to dress.

I started talking to my publishers at GMC, and we began thinking about different animals I could create and the kind of outfits I could design. It was lots of fun and soon little characters began to emerge. I drew the animals and their outfits first and then I had conversations and email discussions with my precious editor Wendy. The outfits are intended to have a quintessentially English style. Children I know should recognise and like the clothes which their animal will wear.

That must be me!

Each animal in the book has a character of its own. A couple of weeks ago I visited my oldest friends and their children. I had taken a copy of the book with me to see what they thought. I sat quietly in an adjoining room listening to their conversation; ‘That cat is definitely me, listen to the description – that is me!’ ‘Well we all know I am the fox… I love her cardigan…’. Such precious sounds. A happy smile spread across my face as the imagination of young people was sparked. W

hen you make things with you loved ones in mind then, nothing is more satisfying then to hear them participate and enjoy the journey with you and get the joy of creating small toys which have a character of their own. If you get to see the book, even if you can’t crochet – I hope you will see and read the humour within it. Some of it is my own crazy imagination, lots of it is due to the fabulous creativity of my editor Wendy and designer Rachel, who captured the joy of the project too.

I hope you will like it and will be able to think of someone you could make an toy for.

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New Book Alert – Cute Crocheted Animals

I am just a little bit excited to reveal the front cover of my new book – Cute Crocheted Animals. I have been working on this project since last summer, and it is wonderful to share with you the result of my secret hooking. In the next few weeks I’ll post more images from the book to give you a taster.

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Hey Baby! – spring inspiration for a new arrival

Whether you are a seasoned knitter or a novice with a baby bundle on the way, new born handknits never have to be old fashioned. It was the designs of Debbie Bliss that inspired me to pick up my needles over a decade ago. Debbie has always managed to combine classic lines with fresh colours to create a covetable modern vibe.

I am convinced that the high street designers have been inspired by Debbie’s work. There are two key books by Debbie that would never leave my pattern library. Firstly get hold of the original Baby Cashmerino book. Here you will find the go-to round neck baby cardigan. I must have knitted 3 or 4 version of this design for my son. They are perfect over a baby-grow for early morning play and will look super cute with a liberty print dress or dungerees in the summer.

Both Bonpoint and Boden have been attracted to Acid Yellow and Coral tones this summer. You can make your own handknit version using Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino. I think I might be tempted to look to the Baby Cashmerino Tonal Collection and make a cardigan in Storm. This soft denim look will be fabulous matched with a pure white dress and matching knickers.

My second recommendation is Baby Knits for beginners. There are loads of great designs in this book from blankets to jumpers and scarves. Every new Mum loves cute hats for her new born. So many get flung out of the buggy that you can never make enough. I feel like I have made hundreds of these cute beanies over the years. They are a quick and welcome gift that attract admiring glances on the high street. If the flavour of the baby is unknown at this stage I think that duck egg, denim and navy go down a treat for a boy or girl. Once knitted you might just attain favourite aunty or uncle status.

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Working away in secret

It is rather strange that half, no, perhaps three quarters of the making on this blog is subject to a time lapse. Apart from the little ‘me’ entertainment projects, most of what I am working on has to be under an embargo. I can’t really share the commissions and the development of ideas as they happen. Sometimes when I am really organized I take photos mid-process and at a later stage I can find these and show them later. But by then I have usually moved onto the next ‘quick, quick, quick!’ deadline.

At the moment I am working away on three blanket designs – simultaneously (phew) and editing the next book. In terms of publications this is my largest and most complex yet. I can tell you I have never been so excited. On Saturday the first proofs arrived to look through and I jumped and danced around the kitchen in delight.

A bit like a television programme, it is surprising how many people there are involved in creating books. Lots of design, editing, tech-editing, photography, illustration….my part is probably quite small in comparison. Even before I send the patterns to the publisher, my wonderful friend Sue looks over the text with her beady eye. But you know, you can never guarantee that the odd mistake won’t slip in.

During the design process, the crochet tends to follow me about. I take it with me to visit my family, I sit quietly in the corner during social occasions. The items get propped up in my home or poke out of baskets in the living room, which means that lots of my friends feel they have invested in seeing the book develop too.

As the proofs arrive, Little B takes a keen interest, he flicks through the pages; ‘Oh I like that! That is such a cute photo’, he is my ‘cute’ barometer. Plus he is savvy enough to see if he will get a mention in the text. Well he is only human. So we are probably mid-way through the development process, this is my favourite project yet, and I am so very excited. I can’t wait to share it properly with you.

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Fun Feet – a new crochet book

There are some projects which I get asked to contribute to, which really fire my imagination. When the lovely people asked me at Search Press if I would create some designs for their ‘Fun Feet’ book, my mind started whirring.

The book is full of really cute bootie designs, which look adorable on little feet. As I made each set, they made me smile. I began to line them up on our mantelpiece in the living room and they became quite a talking point when friends visited.

There are 30 designs in the book and I contributed 6 of those designs including; Alien, Monster and Beepbot Booties. I also added Adorable Ducklings, Baa Baa Booties and Playful Pandas. I can’t really say which is my favourite.

Making booties for a new born is always a quick and personal pressie and fun slippers always bring such a smile to any face out and about with the buggy.

There are a couple of booties that I fancy making from other designer. The cheeseburgers on the front cover really tickle my sense of humour and I can see that the fox design would be very popular with any new parent.

Tell me what you think and if there is any animal or character you think I should try and make into a bootie design.

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Did ya Mama never teach you?

I have never expected Little B to be interested in crochet or knitting. The poor child is surrounded by it at home. Indeed he seems far more interested in gallivanting about in the garden or making some silent Ninja surprise attack. However, at the end of our half term week we popped in to see my friends at Black Sheep Wools. There were a number of little plans to hatch and B had to come along for the ride. When Sara and Lesley met him they asked if he could knit or crochet. ‘No’, he replied confidently. What followed was some cheerful banter and teasing of his mother, who had singularly failed to pass on her skills to her son. Very quickly we settled down to our chatter and an excellent lunch with delicious cake. B was very happy.

But something must have stuck. By Saturday evening he was inquiring if he could borrow some wool and have his own crochet hook. I suggested that he picked out a colour from the enormous stash and found a 4mm hook for him. I taught him how to make a chain and how to hold the hook and yarn – he was away. Quickly he felt satisfied he had mastered the basics and wanted to add some stitches. I worked the first row of the foundation chain. (The trickiest part for any project). He then took over with double crochet on row two.

The progress was very frustrating for him. I had made the error of allowing him to pursue his first colour choice of dark blue. The stitches were hard to discern in the evening light and the yarn and hook were way too fine for a beginner.

In addition perhaps sitting at the elbow of his mother was not really how B wanted to learn. Recently I have been reflecting that in the tough job of parenting perhaps I should look at the clues which are found in us to find the keys to motivating and inspiring our child. When tackling a problem or learning a new skill. I have a preference for self-directed learning. Sitting quietly in a corner, alone, undisturbed. Give me my own space and silence and I will be much quicker and much more focused. A little lightbulb went off in my head. I reached for an excellent book by my friend Monty Knits, Claire Montgomerie, Crochet for Children. I presented B with the book and he was delighted. He headed off to bed to examine the photographs and descriptions. When we went to bed, we peeped our heads around the door, the book was found flung open amongst the Beano and the Guinness Book of Records.

Bursting with new information and skills, there was no stopping B on Sunday. By this time I had come to my senses and found a couple of chunky yarns for him to choose and a far more manageable 5mm hook. Progress was far less frustrating for him. With a lighter yarn he could see where to put the hook and made fewer mistakes. In a couple of hours a rather impressive small blanket was created for his favourite Penguin. He was insistent that the design incorportated stripes as the book had shown him how to change colour. This just amused me no end.

I was simply required for a little advice or rectifying a small mistake. ‘It is helpful to have you here Mummy, but the book is far more instructive’. Enough said.

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