Knit Expo Exeter

So excited,

My wonderful boyfriend is sending me off to the knit expo in Exeter tomorrow. Stand by for lots of photos. I am charging my camera specially. I was thinking of taking another camera just in case but I thought that might be a bit excessive.

I was so gutted that I didn't get to go last time that I am going to make the best of it this time. I have promised myself that I will leave my cards at home as there is no way I can afford to take them with me, I'll end up buying so much stuff. I am really looking forward to showing off my tattoo as there will be so many people there to appreciate it and will get a giggle from it.

Do you like the changes? Thought I should go for something a little more modern in preparation  for the new logo. I can't wait to see it all together. Not long now :)

Anyway, i shall update again tomorrow night with how wonderful the expo was :)

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes!

Hello there,

Exciting news! I am currently working with the lovely Jen Brookman, graphic designer, to make a lovely new logo for the blog and the future crochet ninja enterprise. It's very exciting, so far the logo does feature both a ninja and crochet hooks, very freaking awesome!

This is in preparation for my new years resolution:

Get on with plan for crochet domination!
This plan can be broken down into a few steps

1. Join Etsy and start selling
2. Start writing patterns for Book
3. Start selling at Local craft fairs
4. Ridiculous amount of self promotion

I can't wait to see my logo on my business card and on the blog banner, it's the first little steps in doing what I love full time, well thats the dream anyway. Get out of the call centre and start working for myself. If only someone could give my an £18k a year salary to play with wool, that would be very nice.

Well back on to the wool ranting.

I am loving chunky yarn at the moment, so soft and quick to work up. I have improved on the Kitty hooded scarf design for Christmas, so soon there will be a beginner and and intermediate design for y'all. I am dragging my feet a little with the Crochet Christmas presents, need to get a move on as there is no way I am putting Christmas on the credit card again.

I'll get some pictures taken of the presents so far for a Christmas Craft Showcase :)

Conjoined Aliens Pattern

So this pattern has been a long time coming but I realised that in order to have crochet dominion over the world I need to put a little more effort in so I sat down with my lappy and cracked out this pattern.

Its been strange writing in the normal American format again as writing for the magazine I have to write in British terms, but I find the American terms make more sense.

I made this patter for my friends son for his birthday, I'm so glad he really liked it, though I got in trouble for giving him so many sweets for his birthday also. he was like a blur for the rest of the day.

Conjoined Aliens

You will need:
3mm hook
Stitch marker
100g of worsted weight yarn in a colour of your choice
A pair of 10mm and 5mm safety eyes
Fibre Fill
A needle to sew
Large part
R1: 6sc in ring
R2: inc in every st around (12sc)
R3: sc in first, inc in next, rep around (18sc)
R4: sc in first 2, inc in next, rep around (24sc)
R5: sc in first 3, inc in next, rep around (30sc)
R6: sc in first 4, inc in next, rep around (36sc)
R7: sc in first 5, inc in next, rep around (42sc)
R8: (ANTENNA ROUND) sc 3,* ch 6, ss in 2nd chain form hook and down the chain (5ss)(do this loosely to prevent curling) sc to join with rest of work* 5sc, rep form * the sc to end
R9-27: sc around, ss in next st, FO leave to one side.



Small Part

Rep large part until R17 DO NOT FO



Body

With a safety pin or stitch marker join a stitch from each part where you would like them to join. SC around until you reach the join then sc into the other marked stitch to join them. Sc around and rep the join on the other side. Continue to sc around for 8 rounds finishing at the right hand corner when the work is facing you, when the piece is flat.
Add eyes and embroider mouths

Feet
The number of stitches you have at this point may vary so to make the feet take the number of stitches you have and % by 3. If it is a difficult number, like I had 89, inc to 90st to make it nice and even. Place marker, sc 15, count backwards from marker 15 sts and sc into that 15th st you counted and sc around to marker.so the first foot will have 30sc.
Sc around 2 more times


Dec round for feet
R1: sc in first 3, dec in next, rep around (24sc)
R2: sc in first 2, dec in next, rep round (18sc)
R3: sc in first, dec in next, rep around (12sc)
R4, Dec until closed, FO

Stuff as you are going along
Attach yarn to st next to first foot. Sc 15, count back 15 st on other side and join as you did for the first foot, sc around 2 more times and dec the same as first foot
Last foot, sc around in the remaining stitches for 3 rounds and dec the same as the other feet.


Hands (make 3)
R1: 6sc in ring
R2: sc around inc randomly twice (8sc)
R3-5: sc around, FO leave tail to sew

Sew the arms to the body and sew up any gaps that might be between the bodies or the feet. Experiment with different facial expressions for each hear and enjoy your freaky alien.

Crochet Christmas

I know, I know some of you may be cursing me because it's way to early to be talking about Christmas, but if you are like me and making all your presents this year then now is the time to start. I'm getting very excited and inspired by colours at the moment as I always have a problem trying to pick colours to put together but I'm getting there with practice.

A few weeks ago I crocheted for a fundraiser for the Roller Derby team; The Plymouth City Roller Girls

We had an awesome time and made over £350 for the team, some people even purchased my hats!

I found a pattern on ravelry that I love so much I want to make it over and over again. This baby dress pattern is so quick to work up.

 I made it without the edging an yes that is my build a bear wearing it. Her nudity was offending me, hence the dress. My poor boyfriend was getting worried when I started crocheting baby dresses.

Currently on the hook I have a Star Afghan blanket, I'm making one for each of my two nieces, I think they will love it, especially in they lovely bright colours I have.

I am in absolute lust with this pattern but I can't seem to find any good sock yarn to make it in. Maybe I will make a huge version in worsted, hehe

Oooh Stuff!

Wow, I just discovered the stats thing on blogger. Its so cool, I can see what are the most popular page views, what times of the day get the most views and where most of my page views are coming from. Apparently there are a lot of crocheters in Canada closely followed by the UK and US. Very cool.

I was on craftster a few days ago and saw a post that had so much awesome stuff in it I had to share it with you all http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=357391.0 As you know I am all about monsters and I need an apple cozy in my life.

I went to Salisbury over the bank holiday weekend to see my lady friends. While with the ladies I decided that this time next year I will be starting to write my crochet book. I went to visit a Castle where a part of Robin Hood Prince of Thieves  was filmed and bought my boyfriend and awesome wooden sword to make up for him not being there. On the long journey home I managed to get loads of crocheting done. I am surprised at home many double takes I get if I crochet in public, or people who will just sit and stare at me. Dose that happen to you?

Anyway, lots of work to do tonight. just one week until my first published pattern is released.

Maggies got a brand new bag!

Hello.

So I got the bag done, and not being an epic sewer the lining took a while but I think it looks pretty good. I took it for a test drive in work and was very pleased.

I designed it to be the ultimate crochet kit bag and it works pretty well. I don't like taking my wooden hooks out and about after the tragic Brittany hook break of earlier this year so I treated myself to some nice metal ones from eBay and made them a nice sleeping bag to stay in. I love lining bags. it makes them look so nice and professional looking.

I'm starting the Christmas craft early this year as there is no way I'm being caught short and having to put everything on my credit card again. I'm going to do more than just crochet to, so I've been collecting loads of tutorials for gift ideas. I got my first one done last night. I made a hello kitty candle, join the Christmas Craft Club on facebook and you can see what we are up to.

And finally. Writing for the magazine, Inside Crochet is very exciting. My first published pattern will be out in the begining of September. I can't wait to see it. I just wish I could do something like that full time. At least it is a foot in the door for when I am ready to publish my own book. ou never know I might even have crochet groupies, haha!

Well i plan to be more frequent with my posts now so you should be hearing from me soon

Maggie

Hey, Long time no Blog

Hey Guys.

So I admit I have been letting the blog fall by the way side while I've been working for the magazine but it has been paying off as I now have a pattern in every issue up untill January 2011. My first pattern will be out at the begining of September, if you are in the UK you can get it from WHSmith, it's called Inside Crochet. Or if you are outside the UK you can download the magazine here.

So my first pattern the wanted hair accesories, I'm not sure what they were expecting but they were surprized when I sent them this:

And here it is on the back page of this months issue as a pre-view

Its so exciting to see my work in print and the best bit is that they send me the most awesome yarn to work with. Stuff that I could never afford to buy for myself for every project.

So lets talk about new projects. For a while I've been wanting to have the ultimate crochet bag, Somewhere to take my projects out of the house in and have a crochet hook holder in it. I was going to but a canvas satchel then I thought "what am I doing, I can make a bag!" So I am.  I took inspirartion from this crochet satchel. I've started crocheting the main body in basket weave and I have some awesome fabric to line it with. I hope to get it done really soon so I can meet the deadline for my next project submission. I'll have photos to how it off soon.

Well its been great to blog again.

It hopefully wont be as long till my next post

Maggie