What's been on my wheel?

I'm absolutely in love with spinning and dyeing wool ever since I bought my spinning wheel, I love playing with different textures and different breeds of wool, my favourite so far is Blue Faced Leicester.

Here's what I've been working on recently. All hand spun and all hand dyed (using food colouring and white vinegar)

Spinning Fun!

Recently, I've taken up spinning yarn! Currently I'mjut working with a drop spindle though I recently forked out and bought an actual spinning wheel. The price definitely stings but I think it will be worth it.

I figured I'd share my work so far.

This is 100% merino wool in a lovely mint green dye, in this picture you can see a partially spun ply on my drop spindle

 And here is a little test swatch I knitted, I really like the yarn and the texture and character it has, IMO it definitely adds something to the finished piece.
                                          
This is the wheel I've purchased, It's a Kromski Prelude, I bought it from Wingham Wool Work. 
It should arrive tomorrow and I'm super excited!

         
                                           

Free Star Decoration Pattern

Here's a pattern Iwrote about two years ago that I never posted :) bear in mind it is very old so not that great but I guess it does what it says on the tin.

Today my lovelies i bring you a free pattern for the above stars.

You could use them as coasters, hang them as decoration or join them together like in the below picture and make a cute decorative blanket like I plan to :)

Materials:

2.75 mm (Size C usa) Crochet Hook

DK yarn I used robin DK

Tapestry needle (or any needle with an eye big enough for yarn)

Stitch Abbreviations:

SS - Slip Stitch

Ch - Chain

SC - Single Crochet

DC - Double Crochet

Pattern:

Create a slipknot on your hook.

Ch 6 and slip stitch into the furthest Ch from the hook.

Ch 2, 9 DC,  SS into the Ch 2.

Ch 2, work one DC into the same space as the Ch 2, *Ch 5 and SS into the third Ch from the hook Ch2 then skip one DC then work 2 DC's into the next DC* repeat from* until you finish the 5th 'Ch 5 and SS into the third Ch from the hook Ch2' then SC into the top of the starting Ch2.

SC into the first DC, SC into the next 2 Ch, SC into the gap made by the Ch3 loop. (SC Ch1, DC SC) into the two loops at th top of the Ch3 loop. Continue going round the star like this until you're finished.

Update

Just another update. It's been quite I while since my last post.

I've been taking more interest into jewellery making (as pictured below) and I've decided I want to take my crafts further than just a hobby. I'm also planning on starting to sell some crochet patterns along with jewellery. I've made some good connections which have been a great help in getting started!

I've already sold one crocheted item to somebody other than my close friends which was a great ego boost! Although I'm just getting started out and I'm taking things slowly I'm definitely heading in the right direction.

Also this is my first post via the blogger app which I'm not too sure how I feel about it. It is more convenient as the majority of the time when I use the Internet is on my iPhone or iPad where the web version isn't too compatible but the app I'm feeling Is a bit awkward.

Free Christmas Pudding Crochet Pattern

My last post has generated a lot of attention which is great! This has been my busiest month since I started my blog and we're barely into December!

This is a pattern for a christmas pudding, about a month ago a lady in my work asked me to make her a christmas pudding to decorate her desk in the office, I have since crocheted two others as so many people want them!

 

Materials:
3.5 mm/E crochet hook
2.75 mm/C crochet hook
Wide eyed needle
Brown DK yarn
White DK yarn
Small amount of red DK yarn
Small amount of green DK yarn
Stuffing

Stitch Abbreviation:
Ch - Chain stitch
Sc - single crochet
ScInc - two single crochet in one stitch
Sc2Tog - single crochet two stitches together (decrease)
Ss - slip stitch
Picot - chain three, slip stitch in the first chain loop.


The Pattern:

using your 3.5mm / E hook

In Brown

Make a magic loop
Round 1: Sc6
Round 2: ScInc in each stitch
Round 3: ScInc in the first stitch, Sc next stitch. Repeat to the end of the round
Round 4: ScInc in the first stitch, Sc 1. Repeat to the end of the round
Round 5: ScInc in the first stitch, Sc 2. Repeat to the end of the round
Round 6: ScInc in the first stitch, Sc 3. Repeat to the end of the round
Round 7: ScInc in the first stitch, Sc 4. Repeat to the end of the round
Round 8: ScInc in the first stitch, Sc 5. Repeat to the end of the round 
Round 9: ScInc in the first stitch, Sc 6. Repeat to the end of the round  
Round 10: ScInc in the first stitch, Sc 7. Repeat to the end of the round
Round 11: ScInc in the first stitch, Sc 8. Repeat to the end of the round  
Round 12: Sc in each stitch.
Round 13: Sc in each stitch.
Round 14: Sc in each stitch.
Round 15: Sc in each stitch.
Round 16: Sc in each stitch.

In white:

Round 17: Sc in each stitch. In this round I used spike stitch around in no particular order, making clusters of spikes in some areas and more sparce in other areas, not limiting to the row imediately below the current but also two rows and someties even three rows below the current.

Round 18: Sc in each stitch.
Round 19: Sc in each stitch.
Round 20: Sc2Tog, Sc 8. Repeat to the end of the round

Round 21: Sc2Tog, Sc 7. Repeat to the end of the round

Round 22: Sc2Tog, Sc 6. Repeat to the end of the round

Round 23: Sc2Tog, Sc 5. Repeat to the end of the round

Round 24: Sc2Tog, Sc 4. Repeat to the end of the round

Round 25: Sc2Tog, Sc 3. Repeat to the end of the round

Round 26: Sc2Tog, Sc 2. Repeat to the end of the round

Round 27: Sc2Tog, Sc 1. Repeat to the end of the round

Round 28: Sc2Tog to the end of the round.

Make sure your pudding is firmly stuffed and sew up :)

using your 2.75mm / C hook

Berries: (make 2)

In Red

Make a magic ring

Round 1: Sc 6 in the ring

Round 2: Sc around.

sew up and sew very close to each other near the centre of the top of the pudding

using your 2.75mm / C hook

Leaves:

Ch 12, sc in the second loop for the hook, sc 6, picot, sc2, picot, sc2, picot.

Now you'll be turning to the other side of the leaf.

Sc 2, Picot, Sc 2, Picot, Sc 6.  finish off, and sew in any loose ends.

Now once you've sewn everything together your christmas pudding is finished!

As always If you come accross any issues or errors in this pattern please let me know!

you can contact me:

Here!

www.facebook.com/kimurakraft  

www.twitter.com/markuskimura

Crocheted Poppy Appeal Update.

A few post back I mentioned I was crocheting poppies for Remembrance Day. I just wanted to let those who are interested that I raised £65. Instead of donating it to the poppy appeal charity, we decided to donate it to the Erskine Charity which has been caring for veterans since 1916.

For more information on the Erskine charity please visit www.erskine.org.uk

Free Crochet Christmas Tree Pattern.

This will be the first free pattern I've posted in a long time. I've been so excited for christmas this year, but more for getting to decorate things! I feel this pattern totally blows any pattern I've ever posted before out of the water.

I decided I wanted to put a tree on my desk in work and came up with this little cutie!

Materials: 

3.5 mm/E crochet hook
2.75 mm/C crochet hook
Red DK yarn
Black DK yarn
Brown DK yarn
Green DK yarn
Green thread
Yellow DK yarn
Various coloured beads (you'll need about 40 - 50)
Something to weight the bottom with.

Stitch translation:

BLO - Back loop only
FLO - Front Loop Only
SC - Single Crochet
SCDEC - single crochet decrease

Using your 3.5 mm hook

In red.

make a magic ring 

Round 1: sc6

Round 2: 2sc in each stitch

Round 3: 2sc in first stitch sc next, repeat to the end of the row

Round 4: 2sc in first stitch sc next 2, repeat to the end of the row

Round 5: 2sc in first stitch sc next 3, repeat to the end of the row

Round 6: sc blo around

Round 7: sc around

Round 8: sc around

Round 9: sc around

Round 10: 2sc in first stitch 14sc, 2sc next stitch, 14 sc

Round 11: sc around 

Round 12: 6sc, 2sc next stitch, 15sc, 2sc next stitch, 9 sc

Round 13: sc around

Round 14: 12sc 2,2sc next stitch, 16sc, 2sc next stitch, 4sc

Round 15: sc around FLO
At this point weigh down the pot and stuff, and stuff as you go along the pattern.

In black

Round 16: scdec 4sc, repeat to the end of the row

Round 17: scdec 3sc, repeat to the end of the row

Round 18: scdec 2sc, repeat to the end of the row

In brown

Round 19: sc around

Round 20: sc around

Round 21: sc around

In green

Round 22: 2sc in first stitch sc next 2, repeat to the end of the row

Round 23:  2sc in first stitch sc next 3, repeat to the end of the row

Round 24: 2sc in first stitch sc next 4, repeat to the end of the row

Round 25: 2sc in first stitch sc next 5, repeat to the end of the row

Round 26: 2sc in first stitch sc next 6, repeat to the end of the row

Round 27: 2sc in first stitch sc next 7, repeat to the end of the row

Round 28: 2sc first stitch, sc next 8, repeat to the end of the row

Round 29: sc around 

Round 30: BLO, scdec, sc 28, scdec, sc 28

Round 31: BLO sc 9, scdec, sc 27, scdec, sc 18. 

Round 32: BLO sc 18, scdec, sc 26, scdec, sc8.

Round 33: BLO, scdec, sc 25, scdec, sc 25.

Round 34: BLO sc 8, scdec, sc 24, scdec, sc 16.

Round 36: BLO sc 16, scdec, sc 23, scdec, sc 7.

Round 35: BLO sc around

Round 37: BLO scdec, sc 22, scdec, sc 22.

Round 38: BLO sc 7, scdec, sc 21, scdec, sc 14.

Round 39: BLO sc 14, scdec, sc 20, scdec, sc 6.

Round 40: BLO scdec, sc 19, scdec, sc 19.

Round 41: BLO sc 6, scdec, sc18, scdec, sc12.

Round 42: BLO sc12, scdec, sc17, scdec, sc5.

Round 43: BLO sc around

Round 44: BLO scdec, sc 16, scdec, sc 16.

Round 45: BLO sc 5,scdec, sc 15, scdec, sc 10.

Round 46: BLO sc 10, scdec, sc 14, scdec, sc 4.

Round 47: BLO scdec, sc 13, scdec, sc 13.

Round 48: BLO sc 4, scdec, sc 12, scdec, sc 8.

Round 49: BLO sc 8, scdec, sc 11, scdec, sc 3.

Round 50: BLO scdec, sc 10, scdec, sc 10.

Round 51: BLO sc 3, scdec, sc 9, scdec, sc 6.

Round 52: BLO sc 6, scdec, sc 8, scdec, sc 2.

Round 53: BLO scdec, sc 7, scdec, sc 7, scdec.

Round 54: BLO sc 2, scdec, sc 6, scdec, sc4.

Round 55: BLO sc 4, scdec, sc 5, scdec, sc 1.

Round 56: BLO scdec, sc 4, scdec, sc 4.

Round 57: BLO sc 1, scdec, sc 3, scdec, sc 2.

Round 58: BLO sc 2, scdec, sc 2, scdec.

Branches:
 
For the branches I threaded my beads onto the green thread and then formed a slipknot with the thread and green yarn together. I then worked slip stitches (SS) into the loops left by working in BLO in the main body of the tree, and made the branches by using a picot stitch. To work the picot stitch:

 Chain 3, and slip stitch into the third chain from the hook, to add a bead to a branch bring a bead up and work it into the second chain.


To make the star I used the smaller crochet hook and a pattern from Inner Child Crochet which can be found HERE. The pattern shows three different sizes, I used the smallest size.

Now that your'e finished crocheting, take a few minutes to sew in any loose ends and show off your new decoration with pride!

I'm still new to writing up my patterns so if you encounter any problems please let me know!