What’s the challenge all about?

The Crochet Stitch Challenge Game is YOUR chance to make US jump through design hoops!

All you have to do is upload and vote on your favourite stitch patterns.  When voting closes, we will have just 4 weeks to use the winning stitch in a pattern we design!

Taking part are Tammy from Thomasina Cummings Designs (that’s me), Samantha from Silver Dragon Crafts and Critters and Crystal from Crystalized Designs.

Samantha has an awesome selection of handmade items in her Etsy Shop, with everything from crocheted toys, blankets and accessories to wire wrapped, chainmaille and hand-stamped jewellery.  She may be better known for her jewellery than her crochet designs but if her Herky bird is anything to go by, she’ll ‘fly’ this challenge – yes, you have permission to groan at that pun ;)

Crystal designs and writes the most gorgeous crochet patterns full of colour, texture and style.  She has a fantastic array of patterns in her Ravelry Store, including hats, baby props and accessories.  Her soon-to-be-released Radiant Tee places her firmly into the category of amazing adult clothing designer too.

Everyone who uploads a stitch to the gallery and votes will receive a copy of the pattern(s) via email, when fully tested and released, of course.

So, we’re up for the crochet challenge…are you ready to challenge us?!?

Add your links and place your votes below.  PS Make sure the link goes to the right page and that your email is correct so we can send you your pattern(s).

Link up opens 27th June 2014.
Voting opens 29th June 2014.

We’ll announce when you place your votes on Facebook so keep an eye on our pages.

Winning stitches will be announced on the 1st July 2014.

I’ve set myself a crochet challenge this month.  I’m joining in with my own crochet-along (CAL) to make a scarf for my daughter (since I didn’t feel the first one was summery enough).

The pattern is for a crochet Summer Scarf with Lace Pattern and the repeat is just 8 rows so nice an easy to keep up with.  The pattern includes UK and US terms, along with a chart for those who prefer a visual way of working.

Here’s a close up of the detail.

Information about the crochet-along and the FREE pattern code can be found here, in the group I share with Bowtykes.

The first one was worked in black 4 ply yarn but I’ve chosen an aqua thread for the new one. Here’s my progress so far :)

Details of how to work the pattern repeat to any width are also included in the pattern so, if a scarf doesn’t appeal, how about a wrap, a table cloth, a lacy layering blanket…the possibilities are endless :)  One of the ladies who joined in has even modified the stitch pattern to make a pair of socks.  I challenge you to beat that for ingenuity!

Do come and join in ♥ We’d love to see you.

I hope you enjoy seeing the selection of dresses I chose for my Etsy treasury. Some are available in pattern form, some as custom made items and others ready to ship. I hope you see something you like ♥

Frills and flounces – tutus and tulle,
When it comes to dresses there is no rule,
But, make it frilly, make it shine,
Make it twirly and make it mine!

Christening gown 6 – 12month… srcorcoran $68	Arabian Nights Hand Crochete… simplythursday $35	Baby Girl Crochet Full Skirt… sisterscraftco… $60	Crochet Tutu Dress and Headb… TCDesignsUK $2.5
Crochet Dress 0-3 Months wit… camdencrochet $35	Crochet Baby Tutu Dress – Tu… palomapch $4.99	Crochet 1 – 3 year wave tutu… TactileDarling… $64.99	Crochet Pattern for Baby Gir… ThePatternPara… $6.99
Girls Tutu Dress grammabeans $35	Crochet Purple Ballerina Tut… PinkSnailBouti… $25	Crochet Baby Tutu Dress, Cro… TwoBrothersBla… $30	Vintage Dress & Diaper Cover thehodge $5.5
Crochet Newborn Angel Wing D… creativehatsan… $32	Ballerina Ruffle Skirt CROC… Bowtykes $4.5	Crochet Pattern: “Chasi… ACrochetedSimp… $5

It has been an incredibly busy week at Chez Cummings.  The week began with the ‘baby’ of the family starting school.  He was so excited to get dressed up in a uniform just like his big brother.  So, excited, I couldn’t actually get him to stay still for his photograph.  Although, to be honest, bouncing around is probably a more accurate way to remember the moment!

What this means for me is a few extra hours in the day in which to crochet – YAY.  So, in my newly-extended crochet world, I’ve been getting my latest patterns tested for release.  The first is a lacy shawl with matching fingerless gloves.  My testers had to work especially hard on the crochet gloves. For some reason, my usual attention to detail went on holiday – I ended up with one cuff completely facing the opposite direction to the other (and not in a good, symmetrical way)…oops :O

Things seem to be back on track with them now though and, with a bit of luck, these will be ready for release, in my Ravelry store, by the end of the week.

Sticking with the theme of fingerless gloves, I’m also trialing a new shaping method. These gloves are crocheted in one piece, with the thumb first, and the hand section shaped around it.  First trials are going well and really hopeful that the style will be popular once the sizing is perfected – they are ever so comfortable :)

While my testers were busy hooking and checking, I took a little break from my own patterns and went on the hunt for something else to crochet.  I didn’t have to hunt very hard – my Facebook feed practically screamed at me when Mandy’s Craft Tales posted the link to this vintage crochet bedspread block.  I couldn’t resist giving it a go and I love how it turned out ♥

Finally, I remembered two days before the end of the month that we didn’t have a dc2tog crochet-along (CAL) planned for May.  Digging through my old notes and inspiration files, I came across a picture of a cabled owl – you’ve probably the seen type of thing I mean, they were really popular last year; appearing on hats, ear warmers, mittens and gloves.  Anyway, here’s my take on the design.

It’s an advanced pattern so I’ve put together a full picture tutorial to encourage the intermediate crocheter to give it a go.  Full details of the CAL and how to get the FREE pattern throughout the month of May are here.  I hope you’ll join us and give it a go.

Fingerless gloves!  Just a little something to go with the crochet shawl I just finished (well, I had to use up the leftovers didn’t I?!?!)

Both patterns will be available soon.

It appears I have paper on the brain at the moment.  Not satisfied with paper-cutting, I’ve taken to re-creating paper in crochet form.

This crochet paper boat hat pattern includes instructions to make a range of sizes for the daintiest newborn photo prop through to a full-of-fun adult size.

The paper boat hat is worked seamlessly from front to back with turn-ups to create the shape. While it is suggested you use white or cream as newspaper colours, some variegated yarns can produce nice print effects so don’t be afraid to experiment.

YOU WILL NEED up to 200 m (218 yds) Aran/WW yarn in main colour, a 5.00 mm hook, a needle for neatening ends and a stitch marker.

An optional life preserver trim is provided and will require oddments of red, white and brown yarn.

Pattern is written in UK terms with a table of US equivalents provided as applicable.

Pattern is fully tested.

While this hat was designed to look like a paper boat, it also makes a great pirate dressing up hat when worked in black. So, to make this an option, I have included a BONUS skull applique in the download section for you to use. The skull applique pattern can also be purchased separately here.

This month I took part in a secret handmade gift exchange with the Mad Mad Makers.  No matter how much I stalked my giftee, I was still really nervous about whether she’d like it or not.  I was convinced I’d pick up on the wrong signs as I trawled her Facebook, Pinterest, etc for clues :O

Today I woke to the happy news that she had not only received it, (a minor miracle in itself if you knew how close to the weight/size limit I’d got), but that she liked it ♥

Phew, I’m one happy gift sender :)

My giftee (the awesome Cassie from Scarlet’s Corner) was in the US so I wanted to send a little bit of Wales/UK in the parcel – this came in the form of English and Welsh Tea (yup, they do make it), chocolate, jelly babies, sweets and a Welsh love-spoon.

But, my main gifts were to be handmade.  I dithered about this for such a long time – I mean, what do you make for the lady who has the talent to make it all herself?!?  One-by-one I eliminated all forms of clothing, jewellery and scents and finally settled on something for the home.

The first was a little owl hanging, stiffened using cornstarch which was a first for me –  this info from Heritage Heartcraft was great for guiding me through this process.  I decided against using my microwave as it’s a monster of a machine.  But, even on the hob, it only took minutes to prepare.  I later added some tassels to the bottom of the owl but, since I forgot to take piccies, here he is sans feathers ;)

My second gift was actually quite simple but I love how it turned out.  I took a plain shadow box frame and a sheet of modern floral paper.  To make it a little more special, I crocheted some flowers to match those in the design, overlaid them to create a 3D image (which extended out of the aperture into the surround) and finished it all off with a little bit of bling!

I’m so glad she liked it but, indirectly, I may have got more out of this than my giftee did ;)  I enjoyed making the picture so much, (and I have since had so many ideas for filling the frame), that I think I may have found myself another hobby to keep me out of mischief ;)

Bring a touch of the seaside to your home with these highly textured 3D conch shells.

Fun, unusual and a great way to use up oddments of cotton yarn.

YOU WILL NEED 100% smooth cotton or similar, an appropriate sized hook and a needle for neatening ends.

You will need around 11 yds (10 m) for the small shell and 33 yds (30 m) for the large.

Thread, 4ply, fingering, DK and worsted weights are recommended (with thicker yarns reserved for larger shell).

When worked in DK (at gauge), the small shell measures approximately 7.5 cm (3”) and the large shell approximately 15 cm (6”). Size will, of course, vary depending on yarn selection.

Items may be stiffened after working, if desired. However, a good stiff cotton should hold its shape well without.

This pattern is available for download in both US and UK terms.
Both versions are fully tested.