Welcome to Week 4 of the One Evening Mystery make-a-long. Time flies fast, and we are on the last part of the MAL already. In the previous three weeks we made a mug wrap, a colorful bauble, a fragile snowflake. And this week we will be making a coaster in a beloved brioche crochet technique.
If you purchased the MAL listing on Ravlery, the last pattern has already landed to your library, and you can download the instructions (again, there will be 2 files available for download, with one of them containing detailed progress pictures).
And if you do not own the patterns yet, but would like to join, you can grab your copy on Ravelry HERE and newly on Etsy HERE.
And if you would like to make even more small and cute hanging ornaments, check out an e-book with 7 patterns HERE on our website.
One Evening Coaster is a compact design with a practical ridge preventing glasses and cups from sliding off the coaster. It is small, but also big enough to get a nice introduction into the brioche crochet technique, with a helpful video tutorial accompanying the pattern.
And except of learning the technique, you will also get a chance to practice making modified crochet clusters. For a better result, choose a light and dark color for the center of the coaster, with a bright accent color for the last rounds.
And make a set of several coasters by switching placement of the colors for each new motif.
Brioche has been one of my most favourite crochet techniques over the last couple of years. If you want to check more patterns in this wonderful technique, have a look at my Brioche Masterclass HERE.
To hide the back side of the coasters, you can optionally sew a piece of felt to the bottom of them. Or you can turn them into hanging double-sided ornaments by making two circles in joining them together with some stuffing inside.
And of course, the beads will add a final festive touch. I sew the beads only along the last rounds of the coaster to keep the centre flat, as I am going to use those as coasters.
Hope you enjoyed the One Evening Mystery make-a-long.
See you next year with the new adventures.
My work has been under major influence of the Scandinavian design, with simple shapes and mute colors. And if you follow me for a while, you have probably noticed that recently I have created more monochrome patterns with delicate texture. And today’s new release is not an exception. I am happy to introduce an Embossed Daisy Collection.
This collection consists of two patterns with similar floral design: a mandala and a square. Both patterns are worked in an embossed crochet technique, which is both simple and effective.
You can grab your own copy on Ravelry HERE and Etsy HERE. The patterns are available with a 20% introductory discount, which is valid through Monday, May 1. No codes are needed, as patterns have been discounted already.
In embossed crochet, only usual crochet stitches are used to create highly textured fabric. And what is even more wonderful, the back side often (if not always) looks as good as the front.
My samples were made with aran weight yarn and used as a cushion. However, these patterns give many more possibilities. The Mandala will create a wonderful textured placemat or trivet. And the square, made with finer yarn and smaller hook, will become a nice block for a blanket. Both projects will look the best with solid single color.
Being in crochet for almost my entire life (at least 35 years now), I have tried many different techniques. Tunisian crochet is still on my wish list to master, but otherwise I am not aware of any crochet method I have not tried already. In fact, it is always a combination of general stitches. Like the same notes are used to create different styles of music, and the same letters are used to write the books.
Various techniques are one direction I have been thinking about crochet. But then, we have different types of crochet, I believe. Based on the level of difficulty. And then I would categorize crochet projects as intricate, mindless… and satisfying.
I just love this word “satisfying” as it gives a feeling of what crochet is when the pattern is very easy to follow, and you get aesthetic pleasure with every new row or round.
If you have tried any of the Lilla Bjorn’s patterns, you might know that they are mostly intricate. I love to create unique designs but also aim for easy-to-follow instructions with progress pictures, and sometimes video tutorials. My designs are usually multicolored, too.
Recently, I have been thinking that it would be wonderful to create more relaxing designs. Maybe not completely mindless (we have many mindless crochet projects to choose from), but easy-to-follow and truly satisfying.
With every new pattern release, I am reflecting on how it was accepted, and which trends are dominating in the crochet world right now (and no surprise, that they are changing all the time, like what is happening in the fashion or interior design).
I also follow the trends in the knitting world and try to introduce them to my crochet work as well. With my new Embossed Daisy Collection, I have tried to bring the trends and easiness together, for a quick and satisfying result.
And just a reminder, you can grab both patterns on
Ravelry HERE
and
Etsy HERE.
Hope you enjoy!
And here is a little feedback from the testers they left on their
Ravelry project pages (I'm blown away, thank you!).
Macarena Marskell:
The intricate designs are so easy to follow, giving you a fantastic sense of achievement. Love the colour possibilities with this mandala and how you can make it totally yours.
Sarah Fabbri:
This pattern was a BLAST! . . no complicated stitches, just grows row by row into an incredible kaleidoscopic wonder. Very fun.
I think I will make one more mandala in either Metropolis or Terrazzo yarn and turn them into a pillow throw. If you wonder where to find the round pillow foam in a custom size, this post might be helpful (spoiler – you can create a pillow foam yourself).
Welcome to the first part of the Winter Scandi make-a-long. As announced, each of three patterns will use a new crochet technique, and today we will be making an Embossed Mandala. Technically, this pattern is not entirely embossed, but uses some embossed elements together with regular crochet to give you a gentle introduction into the technique.
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| Photo credit @evakobz |
If this is the first time you hear about Winter Scandi MAL, please check THIS post from the last week. To participate, you need to order instructions via Ravelry HERE and Etsy HERE, and a new pattern will be added automatically to your library weekly. If you have already purchased the patterns, then just refresh your library, and instructions for Fika Embossed Mandala should be sitting there and waiting for you.
What is embossed crochet? It’s a technique that uses a combination or front post and back post stitches with shapes inspired by nature (usually, leaves). If you make a quick search about embossed crochet online, you will see lots of floral designs. My Fika Embossed Mandala also uses curved lines, but no puffy leaves, though. And in my opinion, this technique can be much more than just vines and leaves. Front post and back post stitches can be used for great textured pieces.
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| Photo credit @evakobz |
After the announcement of the Winter Scandi MAL I have received many messages about the yarn amounts. My idea was that you use up your stash for these projects. The patterns you will receive during the MAL are versatile and can be used for a variety of projects. Depending on which type and weight of the yarn you choose, and which hook size you use.
For example, today's Embossed Mandala can make a place mat, a wall hanging, a pillow and even an area rug. I have completed two projects to show you.
Here is a place mat I made with Scheepjes Legacy 100% cotton yarn (Nr 8 and color 089) together with 3 mm hook. It turned out to be approx. 34cm/13½ in across after blocking. Just the perfect size for regular plates.
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| Photo credit @evakobz |
You can even use yarns in a new color for each mandala, to make your table setting colorful and happy. My only recommendation here is to use yarn in solid colors (or gradient yarn with long color changes, such as Scheepjes Whirl). Texture is the main player here, and you do not want to draw attention away with too many colors or variegated yarn with short repeats.
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| Photo credit @evakobz |
And another project I would like to show you is a large pillow made with Scheepjes Chunky Monkey yarn (100% Premium Acrylic with anti pilling effect) and 5 mm hook. You will need 4 skeins for one mandala. I made two in different colors and joined them together with double crochet stitches. For e reversible look.
Obviously, with finer yarn (like DK or Worsted) and smaller hook, your pillow will become smaller. And with bulky yarn you can create a nice area rug.
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| Photo credit @evakobz |
I hope all your questions have been answered now, and we can give a start to Winter Scandi MAL. For pattern support, please join our group on Facebook, where this make-a-long is officially hosted.
Happy crocheting! And see you next week!
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Add this pattern to your Ravelry Queue
It’s been long ago since I released a mandala pattern last time, and I felt a bit guilty. Recently I’ve taken another designing road and started to look more into crochet garments. And my mandala ideas seemed to be very sad, and stuck behind the closed door. No way I could leave them there alone. So I picked up one of the ideas waiting for quite long.
The idea was to crochet two cabled mandalas in one or several colors, simple but with lots of texture. And turn them into a round pillow, or poof, decorated with pompoms.
Sakura Mandala pattern is now available HERE on Ravelry and HERE on Etsy with 25% discount for pattern release. The price you see is final and no codes are needed. This offer is valid through Monday, December 17th, 2018. And then the pattern will be listed at a full price.
To my great pleasure Sakura Mandala turned out exactly how I imagined it. I chose to make it with two shades of SoftFun yarn* by Scheepjes - colors 2510, 2625, 2622 and 2530 (check your local Scheepjes store). But I bet it will look wonderful just in one color.
SoftFun yarn is DK weight and with 3.5mm hook my mandala was approx. 52cm/20.5in large across. A nice size for a trivet, or doily. And with finer yarn and smaller hook it could make a wonderful seat pillow, or stool cover. Possibilities are endless.
If you search for other ideas of how to use crochet mandalas, please check THIS blog post. Maria, one of the testers who helped me with the pattern, made a beautiful bag. You can see other finished projects HERE on Ravelry.
Predicting your questions – no, Sakura pillow is not a very difficult pattern. It’s made in classical crochet cabling technique. The stitches are simple, but sometimes it’s a bit tricky to understand where to place them. Lots of pictures are to help you. And, as always, a print friendly version of the pattern without pictures (for experienced crocheters) is available for download.
Sakura pillow can be put together in several ways. You can just crochet two mandalas together along the edge with slip stitches or single crochet stitches, and stuff it as-you-go.
However I prefer to insert zip so that pillow cover is easy to wash. I usually sew zip by hand using large yarn needle and the same yarn as for the last round of the mandala.
With Sakura Pillow I went even further – I lined it with fabric (and I am pretty proud of myself!). I had Christmas themed fabric from Ikea, which I bought back in 2015. And it looked like a nice match for Sakura pillow.
To line my pillow case I simply cut two circles of fabric in approx. the same size as blocked crocheted mandala (well, a bit bigger with some ease for the seam). Then I joined my mandalas with flat “zip” method leaving approx. 40-45cm opening for zip. And then I sewed fabric circles with the same opening (fabric circles were facing each other with the right side). Then I inserted fabric cover into a crocheted one and sewed zip into the opening by hand, placing it between fabric and crochet.
That’s it!
I couldn’t find exactly matching pillow form, so I bought one from Ikea – 65cm large. I frogged one of the seams and took almost half stuffing out, as I didn’t want my pillow to be stuffed too hard. Then I sewed pillow’s side again, reducing its size to approx. 56cm. I pulled all 4 corners inside shaping the pillow into a kind of a round, and put it into my ready Sakura pillowcase.
By the way, using a square pillow as a form was not my idea but Esther’s who was helping me to test the pattern. Isn’t her own Sakura Pillow adorable?
And here is a golden version of Sakura pillow made by Sandra.
When the pillow cover was finished I decorated it with small pompoms along the seam. In total they are 24 pompoms! And they made all the difference :)
I am very happy with my Sakura Pillow, and I think it makes a very modern a fresh accessory for my living room. Just need to buy a new sofa now, haha!
Sakura Mandala pattern is now available HERE on Ravelry and HERE on Etsy with 25% discount for pattern release. The price you see is final and no codes are needed. This offer is valid through Monday, December 17th, 2018.
See you soon!
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This pattern was scheduled for an early January, but everyone was celebrating holidays (including translating teams). And I only started to receive translations now. Not all of them are ready yet. But missing files should be added very soon.
So what was the metal ring/hoop for? I know many of you were guessing it could be a dream catcher. But it’s not. :) It’s just a small mandala wall hanging. If you have lots of yarn left, you can add some crocheted feathers, and beads. And turn your mandala into a kind of a dream catcher. That’s absolutely up to you.
Add this pattern to your Ravelry Queue
Spirit Mandala is very simple and is worked up really fast. No intricate stitches were used here, but you have a chance to practice popcorns. I recommend to use 3.25mm Amour Clover crochet hook but you may want to use a smaller one (or crochet tight) to make your mandala match the size of the hoop.
I mixed both Spirit and Catona yarns for a faded effect. And I’ve completed all three mandalas. One of them found its place in my window.
COPYRIGHT
IMPORTANT: Please, be aware that all my patterns (free or paid) are protected by copyright. You are not allowed to copy, reproduce, redistribute (online or off-line), sell and edit them in part or as a whole. You are welcome to sell your finished items made by my patterns, but you cannot use my pictures to promote them. Please, always credit me as the designer of these patterns. You are not allowed to share pdf-files created from my posts with anyone. If you would like more people to join my CAL – please, share a link to my blog with them. You can check Copyright page for more information.
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Here is a video to help you with the written pattern:
Today, when release is launched, I can finally announce that Spirits of Life CAL is officially finished. YAY! It was a long and exciting journey, and I would like to use this opportunity to thank all wonderful people who were helping me along the way:
- My wonderful testers Hilde Tindlund, Cindy Douglass, Lori Baran, Kathy Mant and Susan Cutler Cutrer, who spent lots of time searching for errors and helping to polish the pattern.
- Massiel Lago and all amazing translating teams!! I can’t name everyone but I know that more than 40 people were working to bring translations of this CAL to life!
- Nikki Willis and other admins of Official CCC Social group on Facebook who were always in touch trying to answer all the questions and help you out.
- Esther Dijkstra of It’s All In A Nutshell whi inspired me to choose yarns for this CAL and who taught me how to create and upload video’s. Thanks to Esther I have my own YouTube channel now!
- Scheepjes for sponsoring this CAL and putting together official kits (they are still available for purchase via Wool Warehouse* (UK, international shipping)
- My Scheepjes bloggers friends (Our Tribe) for support and inspiration.
And of course I would like to thank all of you who joined me for this adventure. Who didn’t give up, managed to break through jungles of crochet techniques. And who finished their Spirit of Life wraps.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
I hope you will enjoy the mandala pattern. And if you still have lots of yarn left you can probably make a matching pillow in C2C technique. Check my tutorial HERE.
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The pattern was freshly released today and is available HERE on Ravelry.
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| Andromeda Galaxy (Source: Wikipedia) |
I used Mini Nooodle* yarn by Scheepjes for this rug. As you can see from the yarn’s name, it’s not a usual T-shirt yarn. At least not the same size, but a bit smaller. It is a cotton blend (50% Polyester, 50% Cotton) which goes together with 10mm hook. This yarn is very nice in touch, really stretchy and due to high percentage of polyester it is sliding on the hook very well. I believe projects made with this yarn will last for a very long time. You can have a look at complete color chart of Mini Noodle at Wool Warehouse HERE*.
Very often I could hear that working with T-shirt yarn is very hard for hands. But this is definitely not the case of Mini Nooodle. I mean of course it takes more efforts to work with it (because of the bigger size), but the yarn itself is not scratchy and it didn’t bring any harm to my hands. No need to say the rug was growing very fast. And I made it (already knowing the pattern) in less than 10 hours.
I believe this rug will perfectly suit in a bedroom (by the bed), bathroom, in a smaller room or in a zoned living room (to mark the space in front of the chair for example). It will greatly suit childrens' room! Due to a very intensive structure, it is very nice to walk on. And it will give a nice massage to small feet.
But please, be sure to use anti-slippery material underneath to prevent your rug from being slippery, as it may be very dangerous. You can ask for a professional advice in your local carpet or craft store.
You can crochet this mandala with lighter yarns – DK, Sport or even Fingering. And it will turn into a nice doily. You can also use it as a decoration for a pillow (I would sew mandala’s onto each and every pillowcase I have!!). I believe round pillow in contrasting shade would look especially beautiful with Andromeda mandala.
The size of my rug is 88cm (35in) across, but depending on the yarn and hook you use, and also on your personal style of crochet and gauge – you may get a larger or smaller finished project. I only used one shade, but wonderful ladies, who helped me with testing, added a few more shades to make their Andromeda’s colorful.
As all my patterns, Andromeda Mandala Rug contains written instructions (with US terms) together with tons of progress pictures to help you find the right placement for every stitch. But if you prefer to only work from written text – there is a print friendly copy available. With no pictures.
The pattern is aimed to Intermediate crocheters who already know how to make front post stitches. But if you are not afraid of challenges and would like to learn something new – this pattern may be right for you.
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