Crocheting that unused yarn.

 

Some fun smaller projects that I made just to use up some unused, unloved fabric in my stash. 

I didn't use any pattern, I just kinda made them up as I went along. I think my little alien friends turned out ok.

This was the first one I made, I love his big eye! I named him Archie for the arched shaped of this legs/body.

This is the second guy I made, can you see his lil tooth in his mouth? I named him Coney for the cone shape of his body. 

These are kind of addictive and a great way to use up unused yarn in my stash. I think I'll keep going and make more! I'm not sure what I'm going to do with them though, do you think that if I donated them to charity that the kids would like them or would they freak out?

Do you like my lil aliens, did my freestyling, no pattern thing work ok? 

Would you like to see how I made this up with no pattern? If your keen, I can always do a 'how I did this' type thing on my Youtube channel.

I'd love it if you popped over to my YouTube channel & subscribed to it & even liked some of my videos. Every like, every follower, every comment is like a great big hug! 

If you need more Crafty Inspo, then check out my shoppable lists here....

I utilise affiliate (aff) links throughout my blog as a way to help me keep crafting. If you click on an aff link, I receive a very small amount from it at NO cost to you. So please help me to keep CraftyRie up and running by clicking on my aff links! Many thanks, Rie

Using not hoarding (or stashing!)

 

I've been moving a big box of yarn around the cupboard for years now but stuff it, I couldn't be bothered finding yet another space for it so I decided to pull it out for good and turn it into something useful.

Hence this gorgeous squishy mixed matchy striped cardigan was born. Also, because the yarn is kinda bulky, I finished it within months not years like normal! Yay! I love it. I added pockets to it as I'm a pocket girl. I bought the buttons from a local button collector. Any scrap yarn that I have left will not go into the cupboard, instead I'm knitting something up for my son!

Yay to making not stashing! Do you like the cardi ...or are you 'old fashioned' and don't like stripes on bigger bodies? Also, I finished it in time for our very cold autumn weather and perfect for the #memademay or even better #memademay2024

I'd love it if you popped over to my YouTube channel & subscribed to it & even liked some of my videos. Every like, every follower, every comment is like a great big hug! 

If you need more Crafty Inspo, then check out my shoppable lists here....

I utilise affiliate (aff) links throughout my blog as a way to help me keep crafting. If you click on an aff link, I receive a very small amount from it at NO cost to you. So please help me to keep CraftyRie up and running by clicking on my aff links! Many thanks, Rie

A Knitted Jacket

 

I just finished sewing on the final details of this awesome knitted jacket, it's the Penguono and ohmygosh, it's awesome!

I added pockets and reinforced the shoulder/neck edge as I didn't want it to stretch if it's hung on a chair. If you recall, I also knitted one for Joe a few years ago, check his out here...

I had to finish the back off, I orignally was just going to leave it as the gradient/ombre but after trying the jacket on, I felt it needed to be as 'jazzy' as the rest of the jacket. 
So tell me, what do you think of the sequin eye patch? Do you like it? I absolutely adore it, I think it fits the jacket perfectly. Joe is a little jealous now because his jacket hasn't got a patch on it!   

How did I do that awesome eye? Well, I used this eye patch from here... it was so easy to put on!

I used this gorgeous binding to add strength to the neckline.

This was also the perfect stash buster as you knit 2-3 strands of yarn at a time & I had lots of scraps left over from other projects, a big box of them. Well, now that box of scraps is almost empty as it's all been knitted into this jacket - perfect of Tasmanian weather!

I'd totally appreciate your support if you popped over to my YouTube channel & possibly subscribe to my channel or even liked some of my videos.

If you need more Crafty Inspo, then check out my shoppable lists here....

I utilise affiliate (aff) links throughout my blog as a way to help me keep crafting. If you click on an aff link, I receive a very small amount from it at NO cost to you. So please help me to keep CraftyRie up and running by clicking on my aff links! Many thanks, Rie

Crochet Pattern: Temperature Blanket ::: Corner Temperature Blanket

Ahh, I see you're thinking of making a Temperature Blanket! That is awesome, I'm so glad you've come here to me, to figure out how to make one! 

This blanket is called the Corner Temperature Blanket as it's worked two sides at a time, starting from a corner and working outwards, always forming/staying a square at the end of each row. #CornerTemperatureBlanket

For the first 6 months, 1 row a day = 2 sides then for the last 6 months of the year, 1 row a day = 1 side.

Size: 

If you make the blanket as stated for a full 12 months then it will be a king size blanket, at 6 months the blanket is queen size. If you use a smaller gauge yarn (like this..) then it will be a queen size for the full 12 months or if you're wanting a smaller blanket maybe for a double bed try this yarn or for a single bed, then you may like to try this yarn.

Firstly, you need to do a little bit of homework, sorry, but it makes things easier later on and it's the first step in planning your colours.

Homework: you need to determine what your average temperatures are. 

For me, here in Australia, I visited the Bureau of Meterology website to find out what the average cooler & warmer temperatures are. 

You need to find this out as these two colours will feature heavily in your blanket. 

If you look at the blanket below, you will note there is a lot of mint green & burnt orange as the (two) average temperatures use those colours.

Then you will need to come up with a guide for what your temperature ranges will be. This will vary from person to person, state to state, country to country.

We have a lot of cooler weather here, it rarely snows and the summer rarely gets too hot. So my temperature rangers were (in Celsius):

39c +

38c - 34c

33c - 29c

28c - 24c 

23c - 19c

18c - 14c  

13c - 08c

07c & under

Then you can play around with your colour choices, I browsed the site American Yarns to get a feel of the colours.

I came up with the 'temperature gauge' below.

Now is the time to order your yarn, remembering that the amounts will vary for each person as it's hard to predicate the exact amounts as we can't predicate the weather! Hook size for this yarn is a recommended 5.5mm

Here as an approximate guide for the above gauge/colours: 

Temp            Colour            # of balls needed

39c +            Dark Orchid     x 1 ball

38c - 34c      Hot Red            x 1 ball

33c - 29c      Grenadine         x 1 ball

28c - 24c      Perfect Pink      x 1 ball

23c - 19c      Coral                 x 4 balls  (second most common average temp)

18c - 14c      Mint Green        x 7 balls  (most common average temp)

13c - 08c      Light Grey         x 3 balls 

7c & under   Aran                   x 1 ball 

Tip: as you may need to top up your yarn stash throughout the year, it's best to use a commonly made yarn/colourway.

Once you have ordered & received your yarn, it's time to create your swatch reference card. Trust me, you will use this lots, so it's best to make a decent one at the start.

It's a good idea to keep a notebook or a note on your phone to record the temperature each day as you may not always get a chance to crochet the row each day!

Time to crochet:

Day 1: First row is just a granny square!

Day 1 of the Corner Temperature Blanket

Day 2: We work on two sides of the granny square only. 

Day 2 of the Corner Temperature Blanket

Day 3: Starting the row above the start of row 2. 

As you can see from the image below, I started the row where the scissors are pointing and ended the row where the crochet hook is pointing.

Day 3 of the Corner Temperature Blanket

As you can see, you just keep starting back at the start of the previous row, working only two sides at a time.

Now after 6 months, check the size of the blanket. Is it just right or getting too big? If it's getting too big, then instead of working in granny stitch on two sides per day then switch to Single Crochet (SC) and work one side per day. 

Keep on crocheting, keep enjoying the crocheting but if you feel you need to take a short break, then just keep recording the daily temperatures and come back to it when you feel up to it. 

#CornerTemperatureBlanket   

Keep me posted, I'd love to see your #CornerTemperatureBlanket or tag me @CraftyRie on social media.

Check out American Yarns for a great selection of yarn to choose from, they have a great colour range, lots of stock and friendly service.

American Yarns helped me out with this project by supplying me with this gorgeous yarn, thank you!

Crochet Cats in Sweaters

 

A couple of cute crochet kitties in sweaters!

Yes, I'm getting started early on my Christmas gifts this year so I'm super happy to actually have these started, finished and super cute ready to hide in the gift cupboard.

The cats were supposed to be a bit bigger but the fluffy yarn was just not working with the small stitches, increases & working in the round, so I did the best I could but I still think they look ok compared to the pattern - don't they? 

The crochet pattern is this one.

The gorgeous fluffy yarn is this yarn.

Have you started your present making yet? Have you finished it? Have you even thought about it yet?

Get more fab crafty inspo at this link...............

I utilise affiliate links throughout my blog as a way to help me keep crafting. If you click on an aff link, I receive a very small amount from it at NO cost to you.   So please help me to keep CraftyRie up and running by clicking on my aff links! Many thanks, Rie

Another tshirt basket

I finished a second tshirt basket, this one is bigger and it's perfect to use as a fruit basket at it's nice & wide to hold all the apples that my family goes through in a week!

I had fun making it and it looks really good sitting on my kitchen table.

Have you crocheted a tshirt basket before?

To make one, it's pretty easy : you just need a basket base and some tshirt yarn then experiment away!

Click here, to check some great crafty inspo and links to some great books to read.

I utilise affiliate links throughout my blog as a way to help me keep crafting. If you click on an aff link, I receive a very small amount from it at NO cost to you.   So please help me to keep CraftyRie up and running by clicking on my aff links! Many thanks, Rie

 

Teds for two

I finally got around to finishing the kids pressies that I made & gave them for Christmas! I started knitting these bears and outfits for them but then I had a bad sinus infection and only managed to complete the bears. I wrapped the bears up for them & gave them to them with a promise to finish a bunch of outfits for them when I was feeling better. So then I was feeling better but then Covid19 happened and well, life got a little weird. I 'slow' knitted' these things for a couple of months, a row or so a day until finally, all done!

I also sewed a couple of simple (no pattern) drawstring bags to pop the bears & their clothes in and handed them to them one day after school. They absolutely adored all the clothes, they had so much fun playing with them.

A couple of dresses and a rectangular skirt aka a kilt that Joe wanted for his doll.

I used this (easy) pattern.

Some of the gorgeous yarn I used was this yarn for the teddies and this yarn for most of the clothes - it's so gorgeous, I'll definitely be buying more of this brand.

This kids absolutely adore them!

To check out some more crafty stuff, please click here.

I utilise affiliate links throughout my blog as a way to help me keep crafting. If you click on an aff link, I receive a very small amount from it at NO cost to you.   So please help me to keep CraftyRie up and running by clicking on my aff links! Many thanks, Rie

Granny Square Basket

I just finished this very cute Granny Square Basket crocheted from random yarn in my stash and it fits my kids toy perfectly!

It was made with just five granny squares - four make up the sides and the fifth is the base. If you want to make one too then remember to make the squares the same size and you get to choose how big of a square you want to make.

I crocheted all the sides together, I first joined the sides and then I crocheted the base on and finished it with a decorative crochet trim and handles are just chain stitch.

It honestly, couldn't have been any easier! My daughter loves it and it is apparently the perfect size to carry her Beanie Boos in!

I tweaked your brain with ideas on using up some of your old stash? Are you going to make one too?

To check out some more crafty stuff, please click here.

I utilise affiliate links throughout my blog as a way to help me keep crafting. If you click on an aff link, I receive a very small amount from it at NO cost to you.   So please help me to keep CraftyRie up and running by clicking on my aff links! Many thanks, Rie

A crochet basket

I've been having fun experimenting with crafty stuff whilst I supervise the kids at home and this tshirt yarn bowl is my first of three experiments.
I used a bamboo basket base, tshirt yarn and just sat and played around with it until I got something that I liked.

I like the result, do you?
I think I need to go back and add an extra row of stitches to the base to cover up the holes but besides that, as a first attempt I'm happy!

Now on to the second base, which is bigger!

Have you ever used tshirt yarn before? It was a first for me and I'm liking it. I'll end up having some yarn left over, so I'll be testing it out to see what I can make with that too.

Click here, to check out my Amazon Page for some great crafty inspo and links to some great books to read.

I utilise affiliate links throughout my blog as a way to help me keep crafting. If you click on an aff link, I receive a very small amount from it at NO cost to you.   So please help me to keep CraftyRie up and running by clicking on my aff links! Many thanks, Rie

           

Crochet Rainbow Love

  

Oh, how I love this crochet rainbow that I just made.
Would you believe that it took under 30 minutes to make!
It took longer to choose the yarn than it did to hook up!

The pattern is this one. Grab the pattern, it's easy and the results are super stunning,
Yarn is this yarn from my stash, I love the abundance of colours.

I hung this rainbow up onto my kitchen window as I seem to spend the majority of my day there washing dishes, cooking, meal prep etc.

Next up it a rainbow for each of the kids then I might make a few to scatter around the front of my house to make the neighbours smile.

I utilise affiliate links throughout my blog as a way to help me keep crafting. If you click on an aff link, I receive a very small amount from it at NO cost to you. 

So please help me to keep CraftyRie up and running by clicking on my aff links! Many thanks, Rie

         

Temperature Blanket 2020

 

Hey there!  It's March already, the year is flying by and it's no longer summer! Phew, it feels like I'm still only a few weeks into the new year.

I decided this year to do a Temperature Blanket, have you ever done one?

I made sure to check the local meteorology site before I started to find out what the most common average temperatures were (for where I live). As those colours/temps would feature most of in the blanket, you need to chose something that you want to see a lot of. So for those two averages, I chose mint green and orange. As you can tell from what I've done so far (last image), that I'll be using those colours a lot!

The picture above shows the very first week of January and the picture below is the first 18 days of the new year.

Big thanks to the lovelies over at AmericanYarns.com.au as they were super helpful picking out my colours.

Towards the end of this year, when I will have a bigger blanket, I will putting together a pattern for a Temperature blanket with a guide on choosing colours, how much yarn is needed etc.

If you want to see a more photos of my blanket as it progresses then keep an eye on either my Instagram or Facebook as I share more over there on a daily basis.

Once again, big hugs to AmericanYarns.com.au for the supporting my efforts in my #2020TemperatureBlanket

Big love, Rie.

I utilise affiliate links throughout my blog as a way to help me keep crafting. If you click on an aff link, I receive a very small amount from it at NO cost to you. 

So please help me to keep CraftyRie up and running by clicking on my aff links! Many thanks, Rie