Showing posts with label cotton 8. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cotton 8. Show all posts
Summer is here! If I lived by the sea I would spend every single day on the beach. With crochet of course. The music of the waves and crochet would be such a relaxing combination! “Mindless” crochet projects with minimum counting are the best choice for this. I’ve rounded up 20 designs which in my opinion would work great for lazy summer days.
*DISCLOSURE: This blog contains affiliate links (marked with *). If you purchase a (any) product via a link on my blog, I get a small percentage contribution from the store which enables me to keep providing you with free patterns. It costs you nothing extra to visit the store via my link, but ensure I get the credit for the sale. Thank you for your support!
1. Around the World blanket. This is a brand new design by me. It is finished already and I planned a pattern release for today. But unfortunately I haven’t managed to complete a photo tutorial yet, and release has been moved to the next week. But here is a sneak peek for you (and I am secretly in love with this blanket…) UPDATE: the pattern has been published already!!! Click the link to get it.
2. Windy Morning Shawlette uses very easy stitch pattern with repetitive increases. Made with light cotton or heavy wool yarn it will become a wonderful accessory for summer or winter.
3. Cozy Flowers Blanket by Cypress Textiles. Make all the two-round flower motifs at the beach, join when you get home. :)
4. Trio Blanket by Felted Button. I LOVE it! The pattern uses one simple stitch and all the magic is done by Whirl yarn*.
5. Diamond Stitch Blanket by Happy in Red. Looking for a simple baby blanket pattern? This one might be right for you. A nice stash buster.
6. Crisscross Catona Cushion by Felted Button. A simple way to make a stylish accessory for your home. First you make the stripes and then weave them together and turn into a pillow cover.
7. Forest Fog Cowl by me. Featuring my handsome husband. :) This cowl is a super fast and easy project. Variegated and solid yarns were used here.. Colors are changed in the end of every two rows, and there are no ends to weave in!
8. Endless Love Skinny Scarf by It's All In A Nutshell. You can easily adjust it to desired width and length. And make a wrap instead of a scarf.
9. Harlequin Blanket by Haak Maar Raak. Kirsten does amazing job with colors. I had a chance to see this blanket in progress, and this was the first time a touched a crocheted fabric made with Cotton 8 yarn*. So soft. And so well draping!
10. Textured Chevron Cushion by Miss Neriss. Be sure to check Nerissa’s blog for a matching blanket pattern.
11. Soft Shell Pashmina by Happy in Red. With love to mohair and alpaca. I need something like this in my life. I would choose dark blue and grey for myself. And what are your color favourites?
12. Riverstone Blanket by Jellina Creations. This blanket is made with mini skeins* of Stonewashed and Riverwashed yarns by Scheepejs, and black shade for framing.
13. Rebecca Möbius Scarf by Cypress Textiles. Such an unusual way to use gradient yarn. You will only need one cake of Whirl* (or Woolly Whirl*, or Frosted Whirl*), and will work with outside and inside tails at the same time.
14. Crochet Between the Lines Shawl by CanaDutch. Now that’s my favourite!! Read Between the Lines knitting shawl has become such a great hit. And in response to popularity Tammy designed a crochet version of it. With same yarn and same illusion effect. This pattern is for sale, but it only costs 1 euro on Ravelry.
15. Water Lilies Blanket by 50 Shades of 4-ply. This blanket reminds of a crochet art by Sophie Digard. I can’t stop looking at all beautiful color changes of Secret Garden* yarn. And I can only imagine how it feels to touch this blanket, as this yarn contains silk. Making simple squares is always relaxing, but it might be not so relaxing to join them together and weave in ends. But, hey!, it’s a part of it. And in the end you will have a luxory blanket, one of a kind.
16. Sunrise Shawl by Jellina Creations. Jellina is a true master of constructing and colouring. Jump to her blog to see more creations (and don’t miss FANTASTIC wall hangings made in Tunisian crochet).
17. Tetris Cowl by New Leaf Designs. A wonderful example of a “mindless” crochet project good for beginners. You make simple stitches, and Stardust yarn* creates a “tetris” patterning.
18. Feather & Fun Alpaca Shawl by Haak Maar Raak. Alpaca love again! If you haven’t worked with fine yarns before it might take a while before you get the feel and adjust your gauge. But then you can take it to the beach and enjoy the beauty growing (slowly) in your hands.
19. Skittles Blanket by Felted Button. A simple repetitive stitch pattern with lots of happy colors.
20. Granny Winter Shawl by Haak Maar Raak. Crochet classics for all ages. Made with fine cotton yarn this shawl will be great not only for winter.
All designs mentioned in this round-up were created by me and my Blogger friends. And I am safe to say they are top quality. For more inspiration, please, visit this page on Scheepjes website.
Subscribe to a newsletter not to miss a single post. You can also follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.
*DISCLOSURE: This blog contains affiliate links (marked with *). If you purchase a (any) product via a link on my blog, I get a small percentage contribution from the store which enables me to keep providing you with free patterns. It costs you nothing extra to visit the store via my link, but ensure I get the credit for the sale. Thank you for your support!
1. Around the World blanket. This is a brand new design by me. It is finished already and I planned a pattern release for today. But unfortunately I haven’t managed to complete a photo tutorial yet, and release has been moved to the next week. But here is a sneak peek for you (and I am secretly in love with this blanket…) UPDATE: the pattern has been published already!!! Click the link to get it.
2. Windy Morning Shawlette uses very easy stitch pattern with repetitive increases. Made with light cotton or heavy wool yarn it will become a wonderful accessory for summer or winter.
3. Cozy Flowers Blanket by Cypress Textiles. Make all the two-round flower motifs at the beach, join when you get home. :)
4. Trio Blanket by Felted Button. I LOVE it! The pattern uses one simple stitch and all the magic is done by Whirl yarn*.
5. Diamond Stitch Blanket by Happy in Red. Looking for a simple baby blanket pattern? This one might be right for you. A nice stash buster.
6. Crisscross Catona Cushion by Felted Button. A simple way to make a stylish accessory for your home. First you make the stripes and then weave them together and turn into a pillow cover.
7. Forest Fog Cowl by me. Featuring my handsome husband. :) This cowl is a super fast and easy project. Variegated and solid yarns were used here.. Colors are changed in the end of every two rows, and there are no ends to weave in!
8. Endless Love Skinny Scarf by It's All In A Nutshell. You can easily adjust it to desired width and length. And make a wrap instead of a scarf.
9. Harlequin Blanket by Haak Maar Raak. Kirsten does amazing job with colors. I had a chance to see this blanket in progress, and this was the first time a touched a crocheted fabric made with Cotton 8 yarn*. So soft. And so well draping!
10. Textured Chevron Cushion by Miss Neriss. Be sure to check Nerissa’s blog for a matching blanket pattern.
11. Soft Shell Pashmina by Happy in Red. With love to mohair and alpaca. I need something like this in my life. I would choose dark blue and grey for myself. And what are your color favourites?
12. Riverstone Blanket by Jellina Creations. This blanket is made with mini skeins* of Stonewashed and Riverwashed yarns by Scheepejs, and black shade for framing.
13. Rebecca Möbius Scarf by Cypress Textiles. Such an unusual way to use gradient yarn. You will only need one cake of Whirl* (or Woolly Whirl*, or Frosted Whirl*), and will work with outside and inside tails at the same time.
14. Crochet Between the Lines Shawl by CanaDutch. Now that’s my favourite!! Read Between the Lines knitting shawl has become such a great hit. And in response to popularity Tammy designed a crochet version of it. With same yarn and same illusion effect. This pattern is for sale, but it only costs 1 euro on Ravelry.
15. Water Lilies Blanket by 50 Shades of 4-ply. This blanket reminds of a crochet art by Sophie Digard. I can’t stop looking at all beautiful color changes of Secret Garden* yarn. And I can only imagine how it feels to touch this blanket, as this yarn contains silk. Making simple squares is always relaxing, but it might be not so relaxing to join them together and weave in ends. But, hey!, it’s a part of it. And in the end you will have a luxory blanket, one of a kind.
16. Sunrise Shawl by Jellina Creations. Jellina is a true master of constructing and colouring. Jump to her blog to see more creations (and don’t miss FANTASTIC wall hangings made in Tunisian crochet).
17. Tetris Cowl by New Leaf Designs. A wonderful example of a “mindless” crochet project good for beginners. You make simple stitches, and Stardust yarn* creates a “tetris” patterning.
18. Feather & Fun Alpaca Shawl by Haak Maar Raak. Alpaca love again! If you haven’t worked with fine yarns before it might take a while before you get the feel and adjust your gauge. But then you can take it to the beach and enjoy the beauty growing (slowly) in your hands.
19. Skittles Blanket by Felted Button. A simple repetitive stitch pattern with lots of happy colors.
20. Granny Winter Shawl by Haak Maar Raak. Crochet classics for all ages. Made with fine cotton yarn this shawl will be great not only for winter.
All designs mentioned in this round-up were created by me and my Blogger friends. And I am safe to say they are top quality. For more inspiration, please, visit this page on Scheepjes website.
Subscribe to a newsletter not to miss a single post. You can also follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.
My best friend has been working as a doctor in hospital for preemies in Minsk for many years. A while ago she suddenly asked me to crochet several octopuses for their little patients… I heard about a world Octo project before and my Facebook feed was flooded with articles about their benefits and positive influence on preemies’ health. But I didn’t know and was very surprised to hear Belarus also joined this project. And of course I was very happy to help!
An idea of giving crocheted octopuses to preemies was born in Denmark in 2013. And apparently it very quickly spread all over the world. As for today 32 countries have joined an Octo project (a complete list of countries and Facebook groups is HERE).
Why crochet octopuses are so important? The studies showed that preemies who cuddled up with these cute octopus toys in their incubators had more regular heartbeats, better breathing, and higher levels of oxygen in their blood. Not only that, but these babies were also less likely to pull out their monitors and tubes.
And that’s because the tentacles of the octopus apparently remind these babies of their mom’s umbilical cords, and the soft bodies remind them of the womb.
Last week my octopuses arrived to Belarus and after a proper wash were delivered to hospital in Minsk.
I have so many different feelings about this picture… Isn’t it precious? My octopus was gifted to this baby, and parents will take it home when she feels strong and healthy enough.
Before I started to crochet octopuses I needed to find answers to several questions.
My first question was which yarn to choose. Each country has its own requirements and there are even lists of recommended yarns (for example, HERE is the list of yarns approved in the Netherlands). Common rule is that yarn should be 100% cotton, preferably not mercerized, and with no fluff. I studied the list and chose Cotton 8 yarn* by Scheepjes for my octopuses.
Depending on yarn weight you might need a different hook size. Some patterns are written for Fingering yarn and others for Worsted. Some countries might have strict requirements on yarn, hooks and stuffing, so make sure to check them before you start making octopuses for your local hospital. Because I chose Cotton 8, I thought I would go with the smallest hook good for this yarn – 2.25mm in my case.
My next question was where to find an “official” pattern. The recommended size of the octopus is around 7-9 cm in length of the head and around 15-17 cm in head circumference. However the head’s size is not as important as the length of tentacles. Due to safety reasons they should not exceed 20cm when stretched at a maximum. So in my opinion it’s better to make them shorter.
The general rule is that octopuses should be crocheted very tight. Stuffing must not come through the crocheted fabric when the toy is a little bit stretched. Also tight fabric makes octopuses more durable. In hospitals they are washed often and at very high temperatures (up to 90C degrees).
Many patterns for Octo projects I have seen use a separate bottom part which is then sewn to the head with tentacles. In my opinion this adds more ends to weave in and I was trying to avoid this. So I made my octopus in-one-go without adding a bottom piece. In the same way as octopuses by Anastasia Popova (HERE is the pattern for worsted yarn). I also didn’t add eyes (neither crocheted, plastic safety eyes or embroidered). After many hard washes there is a risk ends can loosen and go out.
When I look at tiny hands holding my octopus, my heart is filled with happiness. And I encourage you to become a part of this wonderful project.
IMPORTANT !!! DISCLOSURE !!! If you want to join an Octo project and donate an octopus to hospital in your country, please, check THIS list of participating countries and Facebook groups, as well as exact standards for an octopus in your country.
Subscribe to a newsletter not to miss a single post. You can also follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.
An idea of giving crocheted octopuses to preemies was born in Denmark in 2013. And apparently it very quickly spread all over the world. As for today 32 countries have joined an Octo project (a complete list of countries and Facebook groups is HERE).
Why crochet octopuses are so important? The studies showed that preemies who cuddled up with these cute octopus toys in their incubators had more regular heartbeats, better breathing, and higher levels of oxygen in their blood. Not only that, but these babies were also less likely to pull out their monitors and tubes.
And that’s because the tentacles of the octopus apparently remind these babies of their mom’s umbilical cords, and the soft bodies remind them of the womb.
Last week my octopuses arrived to Belarus and after a proper wash were delivered to hospital in Minsk.
I have so many different feelings about this picture… Isn’t it precious? My octopus was gifted to this baby, and parents will take it home when she feels strong and healthy enough.
Before I started to crochet octopuses I needed to find answers to several questions.
My first question was which yarn to choose. Each country has its own requirements and there are even lists of recommended yarns (for example, HERE is the list of yarns approved in the Netherlands). Common rule is that yarn should be 100% cotton, preferably not mercerized, and with no fluff. I studied the list and chose Cotton 8 yarn* by Scheepjes for my octopuses.
Depending on yarn weight you might need a different hook size. Some patterns are written for Fingering yarn and others for Worsted. Some countries might have strict requirements on yarn, hooks and stuffing, so make sure to check them before you start making octopuses for your local hospital. Because I chose Cotton 8, I thought I would go with the smallest hook good for this yarn – 2.25mm in my case.
My next question was where to find an “official” pattern. The recommended size of the octopus is around 7-9 cm in length of the head and around 15-17 cm in head circumference. However the head’s size is not as important as the length of tentacles. Due to safety reasons they should not exceed 20cm when stretched at a maximum. So in my opinion it’s better to make them shorter.
The general rule is that octopuses should be crocheted very tight. Stuffing must not come through the crocheted fabric when the toy is a little bit stretched. Also tight fabric makes octopuses more durable. In hospitals they are washed often and at very high temperatures (up to 90C degrees).
Many patterns for Octo projects I have seen use a separate bottom part which is then sewn to the head with tentacles. In my opinion this adds more ends to weave in and I was trying to avoid this. So I made my octopus in-one-go without adding a bottom piece. In the same way as octopuses by Anastasia Popova (HERE is the pattern for worsted yarn). I also didn’t add eyes (neither crocheted, plastic safety eyes or embroidered). After many hard washes there is a risk ends can loosen and go out.
When I look at tiny hands holding my octopus, my heart is filled with happiness. And I encourage you to become a part of this wonderful project.
IMPORTANT !!! DISCLOSURE !!! If you want to join an Octo project and donate an octopus to hospital in your country, please, check THIS list of participating countries and Facebook groups, as well as exact standards for an octopus in your country.
Subscribe to a newsletter not to miss a single post. You can also follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.
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