What I am crocheting – Part 1!

Do I have time to crochet?! Not really. Inbetween taking care of Harrison, working, housework and preparing for another baby, I don’t really have a ton of leisure time. But, I do love crochet, I love crafts in general, and I’ve come to realise that when I have the right pattern and yarn, it’s just a really relaxing (or even challenging depending on the pattern!) activity to do for half an hour.

What do I mean but the right pattern? Well, I’m always on the look out for new cute patterns, but not every one is that easy to follow, especially as I buy a lot of individual designers from Etsy, and some things are just plain annoying to make! Same goes for yarn – some are are just annoying to work with, but some just work really well with a certain pattern.

Anyway….here is my ambitious current ‘to-do’ list. None of these projects are currently finished, but they are on the To-Do list. As you can see with a baby on the way, most of my projects are

1. Soft Toys

This gorgeous soft toy crochet book, ‘Edward’s Menagerie’ from Toft Alpaca Shop is just what I wanted – not as intricate or painstaking or delicate as some Amigurumi (Japanese toy crochet, if you like) these finished soft toys look like something you’d pay a small fortune for in The White Company.

The plan is to start off making Bridget the Elephant (yes, they all have names) in small and extra large for little H and the new Baby Candy too (there’s instructions for different sizing).

The book has patterns for different levels…I want to work through it from easy to advanced (if I have the time). I can’t wait to get started on this one and I will review the book fully once I’ve attempted a toy.

Yarn choice: ICE YARNS Baby Antibacterial in Cotton (DK) and ICE YARNS Alpaca Chunky – the Toft yarns look AMAZING but are a little pricey, so I have bought ICE yarn which tend to comes in bags of 8 balls, and I’ll see how it goes from there. Total balls bought – 8 in the cotton and 16 in the chunky (the thicker the yarn, the more you will need for the same pattern as you will have less ‘yardage’).

2. Baby Cardigan

I’ve been dying to make a little garment in Mohair, but finding the right yarn is hard because i have found Mohair tangles easily, and some is just too fine for me to work happily with. I absolutely LOVE the patterns by MonPetitVioln (she is on Etsy) – they are really lovely, they aren’t the usual basic patterns either, and they are easy to follow.

I am making this Cardigan in a soft grey which I think is Unisex enough, in newborn size.

Yarn Choice: Adiafil Soffio Plus – Oh my god, I love this yarn. It is 50% acrylic, 40% mohair and 10% wool – it is (in my opinion) easier to work with because of the blend, I have tried using pure mohair before and it tangled so easily. Total balls bought – 3 – should be enough for a newborn size.

3. Trapper Hat for H and Mittens

As soon as I saw this in September’s edition of Simply Crochet I knew I had to make it – I love how it is lined with a furry yarn (attached via crochet too, which is quite clever! This won’t take me too long once I get started. Also – there’s a real lack of toddler crochet patterns for boys in magazines, it’s always girls or newborns.

H doesn’t like wearing a hat or mittens, but once it gets cold, even he will give in to warm stuff!

Yarn Choice: I generally try to follow yarn recommendations unless the one they are recommending is crazy expensive. In this case the yarn is reasonable and is Lang Yarns Merino in DK and DouDou for the furry lining (about £5 a ball). Buy the magazine if you want the pattern! I really do look forward to getting my subscription copy each month because the patterns are unique.

4. Baby Socks

I think baby socks are so cute, although my newborn will spend most of it’s early months in an all-in-one! After those first months I will get into socks and they’re quick and cathartic to make.

Sock yarn is quite fine, but has a natural stretch to it which makes it ideal for socks!

I bought this pattern because I like the variations it gives you with the pattern (different cuffs for example).

Yarn Choice: I just think this Regia Zoofari sock yarn is so cute! I bought it in 3 colour combinations and basically you end up with animal striped socks! I bought 1 ball in each colour combo I liked – sock yarn goes quite far.

5. Baby Blanket

This pattern is from Purlbee, such a stunning keep-forever blanket. I am using a fine Alpaca yarn which is quite soft and fuzzy, and hope to have enough squares for a medium sized blanket (not necessarily such a gigantic bed spread sized one).

The blanket I made when H was born is a traditional granny square made with Debbie Bliss Cashmerino – at the time I was buying so many balls I couldn’t believe how much it adds up, BUT now I realise it is so worth getting good yarn for your projects – it will last longer. Anyway, the traditional granny square is great but is by nature ‘hole-y’ but since this is a winter baby too, I want something ‘denser’ to trap heat like this one.

Each square takes a while to make (7 rounds if you include the border!!!) and I still have to check I am doing the right thing (it gets much easier if you can memorise a pattern eventually). I hope I finish his before the baby is born!

Yarn Choice: Drops Alpaca Fine. I picked a selection of brights and 3 balls of off white for the edging. I hope the baby isn’t allergic to Alpaca!

6. Turkey Hats!

Finally – as I am having a Christmas baby, what could be more appropriate than a Turkey hat!?

I do love making hats and they never take me long – this turkey hat is just so sweet, and I have the pattern for all sizes. I will make a newborn and toddler size for the kiddies for day to day wear or their first photoshoot together.

I purchased this pattern which has all sizes included.

Yarn Choice: I spent ages trying to find the right brown – I wanted something deeper than the one in the photo, more of a golden turkey brown so I went for Cascade 220 wool (100% wool) in AMBER which is the colour of a perfectly crisped turkey! I also quite like Cascade yarns even though the 220 comes in skeins (argh!) which means i have to hand wind them into balls.

In Part 2, I will show you all my finished products (hopefully) all ready before Baby 2 arrives!

What are you making at the moment?

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