Granny Squares

Love them or hate them there is no denying that you cannot beat them for a quick, easy and effective blanket. So with this lockdown nightmare continuing, combined with having a clear out, I came across some yarn I brought from a pound-shop on a lodge holiday last year. I loved the colours but was unsure what to make so as with the rest of my stash to the back of the shelf they went.

Out it came a couple of weeks ago and a square was formed and grew. I only had 6 balls of it so had no idea how big it would get, so using a larger than recommended hook, I just kept going until I knew I wouldn’t have enough yarn to go around anymore. I also found a ball of the same yarn in a nice bright orange colour which would be excellent for a border.

It has made a decent enough size at 35inch square so would be great for a pram / pushchair / cot or Childs lap blanket. The colours are amazing you get that warm summer to autumn feel from it, and it washed beautifully soft. Planning a stash buster one to get rid of all the odd pieces of yarn, who knows how that will turn out or how big ;-).

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Whilst I was making this blanket a close friend was stating to learn to crochet. Great to see lockdown and furlough going to some good use. She didn’t just attempt to learn she went all in and decided to try her own granny square blanket, Look at what she achieved in a week for her first crochet project.

Just amazing, having passed my Crochet Diploma recently I felt like a proud tutor, mentor, mum, big sis and best friend all rolled into one. Not only did she make this blanket she also made her very own stitch markers and sent me a couple as well. Love them Millie well done and keep going I cannot wait to see what you produce next.

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Hope you’re all being productive in these uncertain times.

Thanks for reading, stay safe, stay home and take care

Love Marie @ Cosy Crochet

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Charity Crochet

On the final module of my Diploma there was a section dedicated to Charity Crochet, places to donate your knitted or crocheted items which will help raise money for different charities. Now I knew of one of them as the promotion comes around every year from a well know drinks company but the others I wasn’t aware of.

The Mother Bear Project

Provides children suffering with HIV/AIDS comfort from a hand knitted / crocheted bears. Each bear has a tag / message signed by the maker to the child sending them love.

I think this is just beautiful, I will definitely be following them on Facebook and sending some bears in the not too distant future. Click on the header above to go to their website.

Oxfam

Contact Oxfam and see what they want from you, I never realised they welcome so many handmade items as a donation. Especially blankets, they take these to festivals and raise quite a bit of money from them. What a great idea, so if you have a stash laying around that you were thinking of clearing out, contact Oxfam I’m sure they will be delighted to take them off your hands.

Knit for Peace UK

This is one that I didn’t know about, click in the header and take a look at all the ways that you can donate or help different causes, from abused women to jumpers for Africa. I’ve just signed up to their mailing list so I can get involved when this current crisis has passed.

The Big Knit

Now I think we’ve all come across this one, due to it being in association with innocent smoothie drinks, so their advertising brings this to the forefront of all knitters / crocheters. Raising money for Age UK by making tiny hats which sit onto of their smoothie bottles which normally appear in shops aroundNovember time. The amount of tiny hats they receive is just fabulous and I can only imagine seeing them all in their millions waiting to be placed on top of a bottle.

If you click the link (header) it will take you to their page which has free patterns for you to download and make, there is a deadline for each year though so keep your eye on it.

Loving Hands

What a lovely site, well worth clicking and reading what they do and the charities they help support. A lovely feel to their website and a place where you can chat and share and help communities raise monies for people in need. I have bookmarked all of these websites and I’m sure I have plenty of things stashed away that I can donate. Time for a clear out I think.

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Have a lovely Wednesday, Stay home and safe, make the most of this beautiful spring day in your gardens.

Thanks you for reading, I hope you will take a look at some of the sites and help if you are able.

Take Care, Marie @ Cosy Crochet

Crochet Diploma Modules 15, 16 and 17

Well that’s it I’ve completed it, these last 3 modules covered starting your own business. Venues (craft fairs, farmers markets, car boots) and Advertising, Online marketing, Social Media, Opening your own shop and monitoring each of these so that you know what’s working best for you.

It covered financing and budgeting from incomings v outgoings to pricing of items (always an issue for crafters) to gaining financial backing to start your own business.

Taxes / VAT and HMRC registering, and how to keep a record to make submitting taxes easier. Anyone registered with the HMRC for their craft? I tried to years ago but because I never actually make a profit to not bother registering till I make a profit of £1000, that is never going to happen so have never revisited it, anyone know if this has changed? I am always in the negative profit as I cannot resist that yarn or new book or new pattern and never charge what I should Ha Ha.

The module also covered how to write up a business plan, which is crucial if you intend to start your own business and require financial backing. This section was very informative and gave you simplistic breakdowns of each section and how to approach it.

So overall, even though I don’t plan to open a shop, or run a stall etc, I found these last three modules very interesting. So if you are planning to start your own business then it’s really useful.

Thanks for reading, stay safe, stay home

Take Care, Marie @ Cosy Crochet

Crochet Diploma – Module 14

First Steps

Hi again, we are now into the business side of things, after this one I may group the final 3 together, I’m not planning to run Cosy Crochet as I business as I don’t want it to take the fun away from what I enjoy.

The module takes you through all the types of Crochet businesses and I definitely fall into the bespoke category and will make something if requested, otherwise I make what my heart wants to make and if someone wants it then brilliant.

• Bespoke
• Retail
• Pattern Sales
• Crochet Lessons

These are your four categories and I would like to do lessons one day, I think, I know how hard I found it when I first started so would like to pass onto others how easily it can click in place. Something for the future maybe?

The module did go into the value of finding your target audience and how you can narrow this down by giving you an extensive series of questions to ask to aide this. So if you are planing to make a business from your craft these are really useful.

It also covered Copy-write Do’s and Dont’s which was really good and you can find all the information you need on the Gov.uk website if you are unsure. It can be a really tricky nightmare for a crafter to know if they are allowed to sell items made from a pattern or not so it would be good to refer to this if you are unsure. The link above will take you direct to the page you need, if not search for Knitting & Sewing patterns in their search bar and it should come up ay the top.

I’m happy as I am at the moment, I enjoy what I do and don’t want any added business pressure to ruin that. I would NOT encourage others not to go for it though, if you can make a business from something you love then you should go for it, Why not?

Love to you all, bye for now,

Marie @ Cosy Crochet

Crochet Diploma – Module 13

Happy Monday, Hope you are all well?

Jumpers

This module was all about jumpers, not something I can confess to ever doing, and always avoided if I’m honest. The thought of working out all the schematics to get it to fit right terrifies me. I think I will always be a follower where jumpers are concerned and probably never design my own. Never say Never though right?

The module covered all different types of Jumpers

• Freeform
• Granny squares
• Openwork
• Drop Shoulder
• Dolman
• Raglan
• Set in Sleeve
• Yoke

Yeh you thought a jumper was just a jumper like me didn’t you?

It covered Yarns, Yarn Amounts and Tension required for each type, and gave you a handy little chart on the amount of yarn per standard size S-M-L for adult and Child.

The module took you through Designing and where to start and get your inspiration from, how to do your swatch, preparation and actually starting. Hints to write your pattern up, and a pattern for a drop shoulder jumper which apparently is the simplest to do, I’ll take their word for it on that one I think.

I am slightly worried that I hit submit answers and my final one didn’t register though, we had a wifi crash and when it came back it stated submitted so I may have failed this one, will have to wait and see. Onto the next one I go….

Stay Home, Stay Safe

Take Care, Marie @Cosy Crochet

Crochet Diploma – Module 12

Its in the bag

Morning all, how are you all doing today?

I decided to continue with my diploma course today as I only have a few more modules to go, so it’s the perfect time right now isn’t it?

This module was all about making bags, all the different type of bags, methods, stitches, tensions, yarn etc. It covered some neat tips and tricks for sturdiness of bags also, which has made me want to use up some my yarn stash and have another go.

I have made a few bags previously but now after doing this module you realise where you went wrong with them and how I can make them more durable.

There is a nice pattern to follow at then end of the module which I have printed off and will make so wait and watch this space for a blog to follow I’m sure it won’t be long with all this free time.

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A couple I made a long time ago now

Have a lovely day, stay safe, stay busy, stay sane.

Love Marie @ Cosy Crochet

Crochet Diploma – Module 11

My favourite module so far because it was all about Amigurumi, Ami, That one no one can say ha ha, errrrr Making Toys? yay there you go. The art of making 3D toys / collectable pieces from yarn.

Love, Love, Love it, the module took you through all the different principles of stitch types, practice, safety, face formation, shape formation, as well as covering all the different types pf yarn, yarn amounts and tension.

As before there is a full step by step guide on how to start creating your own design, making, and writing your own pattern and with Ami the opportunities on what to make are endless.

Well I have loved this module and surprised myself by learning a few little tips and tricks to help me along in my work going forward. I love making toys it is my favourite thing to make, even though they can sometimes be very frustrating but they are all worth it in the end.

What is your favourite thing to make and why?

My favourite of all I have made so far has to be Scooter the Turtle, I tried so many times to master this cool dude but I persevered in the end and he’s amazing I love him so much. Not sure I’d attempt another one though.

And finally there was a pattern for you to have a go at making a post box, which I won’t be adding to my ever growing “MAKE LIST” as cute as it was I’ll pass on the post box.

Show me your latest Ami make or your favourite of 2019.

Take care

Marie (Cosy Crochet)

Crochet Diploma – Module 10

Well I’m not doing as well as I’d hoped from my last diploma blog, in fact I have been very lazy this Christmas, like very lazy, Anyone else?

I did module 10 and its all about Afghans (blankets to you and I), who has a favourite blanket? Why is it your favourite? My favourite is my Changing Tides Cal Blanket I completed this year, Love it so much.

It covered all the different types of afghans, a size guide for each and the best yarns to use for each, which was really useful as we all tend to opt for our favourite yarn to work with and that’s not always the best, depending on the type of blanket.

Types of Blanket

• Afghan / Throw
• Beadspread
• Baby Blanket
• Lapghan
• Graphgan
• Scrapgan (who knew lol)

And there you thought a blanket was just a blanket right, how wrong a statement that is lol.

The module covered the types of construction, back and forth in rows, motifs, join as you go, Pictures and guided you through your own design process from how to start out to get the right dimensions (UGH Maths) through to construction and writing up your own design.

I really should adopt the calculation method more when starting my blankets, I tend to just pick up a hook and my favourite yarn and away I go and tend to gauge it by sight rather than actuals, anyone else do this? I’m not alone on this surely?

The final part of this module was a pattern for a lapghan for you to make up yourself, this has been added to my ever growing “I MUST MAKE LIST”

Will I ever get through them all? who knows maybe one day.

Have a lovely day, remember to share your favourite blankey with me would love to see them.

Take Care

Marie (Cosy Crochet)

Crochet Diploma – Module 9

Good evening all, the big man arrives very soon now are you all ready? I think by the amount of traffic in town this afternoon everyone is panic buying still.

I thought I had better do some more of my diploma as it’s been a while, I am hoping to complete it over the Christmas break, what do you think my chances are (ha ha)?

Module 9 was all about Scarves and Shawls and what a great time of year to cover these. Who doesn’t love snuggling into a nice warm scarf on these cold winter days?

The module covered all the different types of scarves / shawls that you can make and all the basic lengths, widths, yarns to use for each.

• Neckerchief
• Summer Scarf
• Full length / Winter scarf
• Triangle Shawl
• Rectangle Shawl
• Infinity Scarf
• Unique Construction, Wait, What? (basically go wild with your own crazy mosaic design).

The module guided you how to design your own scarf pattern and all the steps you need to cover before writing it up.

The course had a basic scarf pattern to make up, as well as a build your own motif design to create your own unique designer scarf.

I have to admit that I haven’t yet had chance to make either of these designs but I will at some point. I will add them to my ever growing list of “To Makes” We all need that time to just sit and crochet mindlessly don’t we?

Anyway I’ll stop rambling now and let you have a lovely evening of Santa preparations. Please do share your scarf / shawl makes with me I would love to see them all.

Merry Christmas from Cosy Crochet

Marie x

Crochet Diploma – Module 8

Wow – this one certainly got the brain working, I am not the best at maths, I’ll be the first to admit it and when it comes to x = y well…………..

This module was all about starting your journey as a designer, it opens with the following paragraph “Crocheters seem to fall into 2 groups, Those the will jump straight in and those that are hesitant” After covering this module I think I am more of a hesitant one now.

It covered inspiration and looking at everything around you with yarn eyes, take a minute have a look around you and focus on something. What yarn would you use to make it, what stitch / texture would best suit I, could it actually be make, or what would you use that design for, what could you turn it into. The world is full of inspiration it is all around us we just need to be open to looking at everything differently right?

It discussed carrying a journal with you, a design notebook if you like so that if you see something you can note it, draw diagrams, note colours and textures so that when you get back home you don’t forget that moment. Also good practice to keep a bank of ideas to draw on when you have one of those “what shall I do now?” moments, we all have them don’t we?

The module covered Draping and how to swatch for garments to find the best yarn to use for the desired result. Sizing and working with ease to get the best from your garments fit. Providing some handy guide charts so save for the future, all great so far loving it, Then……….

The Maths (shocked face)

The module moved onto shaping your garment and the calculations required to get the desired fit through increasing and decreasing, mind blown at this point and I put myself straight into the hesitant category of I’ll follow patterns for garments for the rest of my life, Ha Ha.

I won’t go into too much detail and scare you all off doing this course but I mean look

• Stitches per 2.5cm(tension) = t
• Desired circumference or width/2.5 = c
• Stitch Count at the start of inc = n
• Total inc = x
• In short t(c)-n=x

Got it? No? Me either not yet, I have more work to do I think. It doesn’t stop there as this is only the start from this you then go onto height which is whole new bunch of letters added to these already created. Hmmmmmmmm Help??????

It will click won’t it? Onto Module 9 it is then.

A very confused Marie (Cosy Crochet)

Have a great Sunday