Welcome to the Mira Cowl. This was a challenge I set myself to use only one skein of beautiful indie yarn, a 4ply from Fruitful Fusion, to create something wearable. The cowl is made up of individual squares that are then stitched together, fastened with a single button. I happened to be going to York, and so I was able to visit the wonderful Duttons for Buttons to find exactly the shade and size of button that I needed. I loved making this cowl, and it drapes so well. I think it’s the most elegant thing I’ve made to date.

Cascade Yarns were kind enough to supply me with some of their beautiful 220 Superwash Wave wool, and I designed the Solar Flare Wrap. This is the first time I’ve designed a triangular wrap and, if I’m honest, there was some head-scratching over the maths involved to keep all the edges straight. I’m delighted with how it turned out – the wrap drapes beautifully and is very cosy. I shall be wearing it all winter.

This was a ‘between projects project’ if you know what I mean. I’m in the middle of two big makes, using lots of yarn, and really just wanted a small, quick make for a bit of light relief. I had a skein of beautiful indie yarn in my stash, just waiting for the right project to come along. I’m moving, slowly, into embracing technology more than I used to, which involves using my phone a lot more. I always have it with me, and I don’t always need anything else, so I thought I’d make a simple cross-body bag in which to store my phone when I go out, leaving my hands free for important things like feeling yarn, reading or drinking coffee. Whilst looking for a suitable cord for the bag, I learned how to crochet a Romanian cord. I’ve included a photo tutorial in the pattern, and a link to a short YouTube video to show how I did it. Introducing the Lia Mobile Phone Bag – so quick to make I made 2, one with a tie fastening and one with a button fastening. The button I used had been in my button box for years and came from Duttons for Buttons in York. Just goes to show, never throw buttons away. Pattern is available in all of my shops, including Ravelry

Introducing my latest pattern – a slouch hat in dk yarn with lots of texture and whimsical tails. I’m currently working on some big projects, so this was a pleasure to make as a change from those. It seems to have come at the right time too, just as the weather here definitely shifts towards autumn. Pattern is in LoveCrafts and on Etsy, and find it in Ravelry

This is the bag I designed for Simply Crochet Magazine Issue 132, and I’m so pleased to finally be able to add it to my stores. It uses one skein of beautiful indie yarn from Fiona at Kosy Kitchen Fibres . This design uses her 4ply Merino Nylon, which was lovely to work with. Fiona worked the pattern up for herself, and is taking the bag on tour with her as she exhibits at the following shows: Kernow YAFF, Royal Cornwall Showground, Wadebridge- Sunday 17th September ICHF Creative Craft Show, Westpoint, Exeter – 21st to 23rd September The Knitting & Stitching Show – Alexander Palace, London – 5th to 8th October Craft for Crafters, Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet – 12th to 14th October Stitchfest, Newton Abbot – 4th & 5th November. Make sure you look her up if you get the opportunity to visit any of these.

My pattern for the All Squares Bag is available in Etsy, LoveCrafts and on Ravelry

It’s been a productive summer this year – I’ve finished lots of projects and started many more. Two companies have given my yarn support, which makes a huge difference to what I can design and make, so my thanks to King Cole Yarn and Cascade Yarns. I rarely design ‘in advance’ of a season or theme – don’t look to me for creating anything in July for a Christmas gift, for example. However, this year, I have been working with aran yarn to create some really warm projects – nothing quite like working with a large wool aran draped over your knees on the hottest day of the year so far. It does mean that, for the first time, I can release a ‘winter’ project in September. Introducing the Ivelisse Ruana, a Tunisian crochet pattern, now available in Etsy, LoveCrafts and in Ravelry

I published my very first design in December 2020, so now seems a good time to revisit some of those early projects. The Aspatria Slouch Hat was the first hat pattern that I published. This month I followed my own pattern in a different colour, and realised a few things. Firstly, the texture in the pattern is great, and the variegated yarn specified works really well. I’m as pleased with the pattern now as I was all those years ago. Secondly, the formatting I use now looks much more professional than the one I used when I started out, so I’ve refreshed that in this new version (and ironed out a couple of small typos from the original). Finally, the photos I took in 2020 were terrible! I’ve learned as I’ve gone along about photographing my work. There is still a lot to learn, but I’ve definitely improved, so I’ve updated all the images in my shops. The updated pattern can be found in Etsy, LoveCrafts and on Ravelry where it is currently included in the Autumn sale of hats, scarves and cowls.

New Pattern Release: this is my first written pattern for an inset mosaic crochet throw. I was inspired by the coleus leaves on the plants in my garden last year. This one has taken a lot of sampling, unravelling and testing. Charting and making the design once I’d settled on the layout of the leaves was very straight-forward. Writing the pattern out row by row was less of a pleasure, if I’m honest, and there were times when I consigned the whole project to the naughty step. However, I’m thrilled with the final result. The pattern is available on Etsy, LoveCrafts and Ravelry

As you know, currently I’m obsessed with working in the round. I had a lonely Scheepjes Whirl at the back of my cupboard – it was Frosted, and I had been waiting for inspiration. Inspired by my recent cowls, I decided to use this Whirl and a standard crochet hook. It needed to be a large enough cowl to show off the colour changes, and when the weather turns colder to be able to wrap it around to keep cosy. I’m really pleased with how it turned out. Available on Etsy, Ravelry and LoveCrafts, introducing the Hadlee Cowl.

I’ve been busy with cowls for a while now. I know it’s too early to mention Christmas, but I do like to give cowls as gifts in the winter months – a bit like giving a virtual hug. This latest pattern release uses Tunisian crochet to create a mosaic pattern. I used up one of those lovely skeins of hand-dyed yarn that I bought on impulse because I loved the colours. Pattern is available on Etsy, LoveCrafts and on Ravelry https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/harlyn-cowl