Patterns – Page 32 – Emma Varnam’s blog

Inside Crochet Issue 27

The lovely people at Inside Crochet Magazine ran a blog award in the last few months, and some of you were kind enough to vote for me. I was up against some of the great Crochet Blog giants… Lucy at Attic 24 and Little Tin Bird – beautiful, inspirational sites.

But my own little site gets a bit of a look in – which is deeply nice. So thank you.

Also in the magazine is my lacy collar design. This is a detachable collar and can be worn with a cute little T-shirt, very Alexa Chung!

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Inspired By…Scrappy flags and the patchwork tablecloth

I just love the blogging world for those little seeds of inspiration which just pop into your head and then germinate when you least expect them. This week I had a group of lovely ladies visit for dinner. I wanted to do something for the table which was unashamedly girly. My little mind took me back to the wonderful blog by Alicia Paulson. She had created a wonderful birthday cake with little flag decorations made out of scraps of material and lace. I tried valiantly to find kebab sticks in the middle of the British winter. But to no avail. So I used chopsticks instead and it took about two minutes with some remnants of fabric and ribbon.

Even though I have way too many things on my ‘to do’ list, I really wanted to make a floral print table-cloth inspired by Joanna Gosling. But I didn’t have enough material in ‘stock’ to cover the kitchen table. Luckily there is an article from the current issue of Selvedge Magazine inspired me to cobble together bits and remnants to make a patchwork tablelcoth – which actually looks more girly than if I had gone with one pattern. I have to say that the ‘finishing’ was not good. I watched in embarrassed horror as a friend wound a stray thread around her finger during dinner. But the fact it is something instant and spontaneous that make me think we will use it more and not be quite so precious about this rather hotchpotch creation.

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I love you Kitten – an ode to Bernard

I do realise that I haven’t posted a free pattern for a while (see previous post!) I was thinking about it over the Christmas break and decided to get ahead of myself and make a little Valentine’s gift. So this little amigurumi is an ode to our kitten cat Bernard.

Really it is a tale of unrequited love. As Little B would say, ‘ I think Bernard does love you Mummy, just not as much as you love him!’ Cut to cat scampering away – in a effort of avoid cuddles. Obviously you don’t have to make this little kitten for a festive occasion. I sewed his little paws together and fixed a button between them, you could use a little piece of felt instead, or perhaps pop a little secret message between his arms. I just knotted a little piece of 5mm ribbon around his neck or a collar. If you had proper time you could make a collar which had a little bell on it.

Most of the work is in rounds but the ears and the tail are worked in rows. Don’t feel you have to buy safety eyes to complete this little chap. I had them to hand – but buttons would work equally well.

I am not sure what Bernard would think of this level of affection…well actually I know, he stepped over the little kitten and knocked it off the table. Here’s hoping your creation gets a better reception x The free pattern is available here.

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What have you been doing?

I realise that compared to this time last year I am showing you very few on-going crochet/knitting projects. In fact I don’t think I have been busier design wise but I can’t show you any of it! Darn. Some will appear soonish – other things will appear into the spring and I am even working on some Autumn things. But that doesn’t help the yarn enthusiasts does it.

I think I have mentioned before that I am not always sure when things will appear in print, but I am very excited that this image appeared on Knitting Magazine’s blog. This is my Mary Jane Jumper being photographed for a photo-shoot for their March issue. This is quite an honour. It will 100th issue. If you don’t often buy a Knitting Magazine this will be well worth getting, they are putting together 166 pages 100th with 50 fantastic patterns. If you pop across to their blog you can see the wonderful behind the scenes photos.

My Mary Jane jumper is a nice combination of both knitting and crochet and is wonderful soft Milla Mia yarn. It fits into the Timeless Classics theme of the magazine and is something I would definitely wear myself.

Here are the front and back on my lovely mannequin companion, Lottie. See I haven’t been idle.

And because I was feeling a bit guilty that I was neglecting my ‘free pattern friends’ I have a brand new Ami which should be available by the end of the week. So keep popping in x

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Toby Turtle

Here is Toby Turtle just before he was sent off to Inside Crochet Magazine. He came into being from a conversation that I had with Editor Claire. I think both of us might have played on the same sort of turtle floor cushion as children.

I really wanted to design something which used surface crochet and a pom pom yarn. I started off wanting to create a sophisticated floor ‘pouff’ in grey and lime. Very Living etc. But as I worked up the swatch to send to Claire I realised that the little dome I was making would make a very cute tortoise/turtle. I happened to mention this and Claire said, ‘Actually make that! So together we had a lot of fun.

Firstly it is worth mentioning that his head, limbs and body all are crocheted first in an aran yarn. It is both robust and hardwearing. The top of his shell is double crocheted in rounds through the back of each loop. Then the pom pom yarn is crocheted on top, catching the yarn between the pom pom on alternate double crochet stitches. I have done a small picture tutorial here if that helps.

I have weighed his paws down with beads. If you are afraid of making toys because of the embroidery features – don’t be. The wonder of home made toys is their individuality. What I have learned over time is that if they are made with love, children find the personality of each creature automatically.

The biggest problem with Toby was that he was just too darn cuddly. Little B loved his soft shell so much that every time I turned round he was lying on him with his face buried in the pom-poms. I quickly bundles Toby into the boot of my car and sent him to the magazine within hours of finishing him. I hope you like him too x

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Ski Sunday Hat

Hello lovelies – I do hope you are well. You know when I go quiet on you for a bit, it is because I am usually wrestling with a design. This week I have been wrestling, on many different levels. But hey there is always a silver lining. The lovely people at Inside Crochet have put two of my designs on the front cover of the next issue (pinch myself!) Anyway – if you look at the image you will also see something really funny – there is an interview with me on the inside….Ok not really sure what to say about that because it is fairly unbelievable. It has been a really great creative year and tomorrow is my blog birthday! I will sorting a few give-aways so do pop by tomorrow and leave a comment.

The Ski Sunday Hat is really inspired by two things. Firstly 60’s cool ski fashion. I remember a scene in the first Pink Panther film with Peter Sellers and David Niven. There was a brilliant musical number in a ski chalet with the most kooky dancing. In my imagination you would wear this hat arriving at this party. If you have a look at this clip – check out the knitwear and the hairdo – I tried to replicate the up-do for the School Dance last weekend – I have photos of my Mum looking very similar – it’s hysterical.

Well back to the hat, the colour and the spiral pattern were inspired by some beautiful African woven baskets in an article in Selvedge Magazine. I have one of these telephone wire baskets, it is so beautiful, so detailed with that fab accent of scarlet red. Beautiful.

So if you are feeling a little 60’s and kooky this is a quick crochet hat with impact.. At the weekend I will tell you about Toby Turtle, who is also on the front cover – if you feel like it please do vote for me on the Inside Crochet blog awards…one word for my current score – pitiful. But I vote for Attic 24 too x

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Mousie Mousie

My darling friends have the most beautiful twin girls. One is talented organizer the other is a star ballerina.(I created these Fairy Dolls for them). Bea is making her debut on the stage as a little mouse in the Nutcracker. How exciting! As a little girl I took my ballet VERY seriously and I adore watching her success and joy as she grows into talented dancer.

Her Mummy who is one of the best Mummies you can imagine. She thinks long and hard of how to encourage and inspire her girls. But it was a bit of shock to her to find out that it was a first night tradition to give little dancers a pressie to say ‘break a leg’. Did you know that? I didn’t. So an emergency text was sent to me enquire if I had a mouse ‘in stock’. Well obviously ‘Yes’ normally – but the cupboard was bare!

I found a cute little pattern by Lucinda Guy in her book, Designs for Kids and quickly little Mousie was born. Now if I had more time I might have created a little tutu etc. But the pink stripes say something along those lines and I put a few beads in the base to make sure little Mousie sits nicely in the dressing room.

Now can I think of anything to make for a little organizer….?

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Free Patterns

Hello lovelies, hope you are having a super day. I was talking to a friend yesterday who had never really found my free patterns on the blog. So sorry about that. The picture above shows a few but not all. If you look at the pattern header at the top and drop it down you can find a few categories. Over the past year I have put many of the small things I have made on the blog as a free pattern. The Russian doll keyring pattern isn’t free at the moment and is available through Etsy, but I might change this in the New Year. Anyway to all of you who have visited through to download free patterns and have just kept on visiting. Thank you x

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Garter Stitch Sloppy Beanie Hat

All around my native city I have been watching the reappearance of the woolly hat. Hurrah. This season I have seen a lot of chunky garter stitch beanies. Some might have a large woolly bobble, others have a faux fur bobble. It has taken a while for this trend to filter through to the highstreet, I think it was Burberry two winters ago who first went with that look.

I occurred to me that this would be the simplest hat to make. But with a twist… out with the fur, out with the faux fur, out indeed with the pom pom maker. This pom pom is crocheted, turned inside out, then stuffed with polyester filling. Then a very firm hand is taken to it with a pet grooming brush. You tease the fibres into a fluffy ball of fun.

I have now made two, one in navy for me…(the words mutton, dressed, lamb could be used – but I refuse to go gracefully). I made another for a very trendy friend who rocked the whole look with strong Ray-ban specs. So cool!

A really easy make with a very animal friendly bobble. If you like it please feel free to download the pattern for free here

If you are so inclined there a nominations going in for the best crafty blogs – if you feel like doing it you can nominate here

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