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  • November 14, 2024

    Crafty Llama Granny Square Pattern

    Crafty Llama Granny Square Pattern

    This pattern uses US abbreviations.

     

    Please be advised that if you are making this pattern into a cushion or blanket to decorate a baby or toddler's room, it is NOT a toy and should be kept out of reach. Safety eyes can be dislodged by little fingers!

     

    Materials needed:

     

    Scrap cream or brown-coloured yarn for the face and outer ears.

     

    Scrap grey, brown or pink yarn for the nose and inner ears. I used Lanas Stop Spray 'Stone'.

     

    Thread or yarn to sew on the mouth.

     

    Safety eyes and nose.

     

    Scrap multicolour yarn for the background square.

     
     
     
     

    Abbreviations:

     

    sl-st = slip stitch

     

    sts = stitches

     

    sc = single crochet

     

    dc = double crochet

     

    dec = decrease by crocheting the next 2 stitches together

     

    inc = increase by crocheting twice into the next stitch

     

    2dc inc = increase using 2 dc

     
     

    Pattern:

     

    Square

     

    Using the same size yarn as for the llama, make a granny square of 25 sts x 30 rows.

     

    Face

     

    Use cream or brown-coloured yarn.

     

    Round 1: Create a magic ring of 12 stitches: do the first stitch as a ch of 3, then do 2dc, 3sc, 3dc, 3sc.

     

    Begin each round with a chain of either 3 or 2 sts depending on if the first st is a dc or a sc.

     

    Round 2: 2dc inc x 3, 3dc, 2dc inc x 3, 3dc (18 sts)

     

    Round 3: 2dc inc x 6, 3dc, 2dc inc x 6, 3dc (30 sts)

     

    Round 4: (2sc, 2hc inc) x10 (40 sts)

     

    Nose

     

    Using your grey, brown or pink yarn, follow the first 2 rounds of the Face.

     

    Outer Ear

     

    Using the same yarn colour as for the Face, make a chain of 6. The final one will be used as a turning chain. Include 1 turning chain at the end of each row.

     

    Rounds 1-4: sc x 5 (5 sts)

     

    Round 6: sc, dec, sc x 2 (4 sts)

     

    Round 7: sc, dec, sc (3 sts)

     

    Round 8: sc, dec (2 sts)

     

    Round 9: dec (1 st)

     

    Bind off the final stitch.

     

    Inner Ear

     

    Using the same colour as for the Nose, make a chain of 4. The final one will be used as a turning chain. Include 1 turning chain at the end of each row.

     

    Rounds 1-2: sc x 3 (s sts)

     

    Round 4: sc, dec (2 sts)

     

    Round 5: dec (1 st)

     

    Bind off the final stitch. Sew the inner ear onto the outer ear, then sew both onto the head as shown in the picture.

     

    Finishing touches

     

    Sew the nose onto the face. Add the safety eyes and safety nose. Using brown thread or yarn, sew a mouth as shown in the picture. Sew the llama onto the square.

     

    Send us a picture or tag us on Instagram @craftyllamauk with your finished granny squares!

     

    Don't forget to shop crafty-llama.com and dare to create!

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  • November 14, 2024

    10 Eggscellent Easter Patterns for Knitters and Crocheters!

    10 Eggscellent Easter Patterns for Knitters and Crocheters!

    Easter is just around the corner, and if you're on the hunt for some fabulous Easter Egg patterns then look no further!

     

    These Egg designs are so fun, and are an environmentally friendly way to celebrate Easter with friends and family.

    Eggkins by Chris de Longpré

    These little friends are so so sweet, and even better, this pattern is free on Ravelry! I just love the little frog - which one is your favourite?

     

     

    The perfect granny square for Easter - I wonder what it would look like made into a bag or a baby blanket? This would definitely be my go-to pattern for an adorable Easter gift.

     

     

    Here's a designer who is really out to make a difference in the world - Frankie has raised over £26, 000 for the Children’s Liver Disease Foundation through publishing patterns. If you love these Egg Bunnies as much as we do make sure you hop over to download the pattern, and make your donation at www.justgiving.com/frankiesknittedstuff.

    Crochet Easter Bee Egg by MeriCraftShop

    An absolutely bee-utiful addition to any Easter gift, or to adorn a table setting!

     

     

    This a top pattern for some Easter scrap-busting! How cute would these look made up into a little garland? Or hidden around the house for a Easter Egg hunt that's sure to be remembered!

     

     

     

    Not just a pattern, but a 2023 Craft-Along as well! Grab your needles, choose your colours, and join in the fun. The CAL is running until 10th of April, but the pattern is available all year round for enthusiastic knitters. What colour scheme are you going to use?

    Check out @theknittingtutor on Instagram for more details, and to see other patterns available for the CAL!

     

     

    The design on these eggs would suit a range of yarn options, and I just love the red, pink and orange colours that Sybilra has used. They look nice enough to eat! (Please don't eat them though - strictly decoration only!)

     

     

     

    Pokeball, go!! What Pokemon do you think would emerge from this adorable Easter egg? Buneary would be the ultimate Easter pokemon in my opinion, with Torchic a close second.

     

     

    It really does look like a little sunny meadow! These little eggs contain all of the joys of Spring!

     

    Putting the 'chic' into 'chick', these Easter eggs sport a Nordic design that would make the perfect centrepiece to an Easter dining table.

     

     

    Which project are you most excited to have a go at? Make sure you tag us on Instagram using @craftyllamauk to share what you are working on! And have a look round crafty-llama.com to get all of the items you need to get started, here's what we recommended:

     

    HiyaHiya crochet hooks in aluminium, or nickel plated

     
     

     

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  • November 14, 2024

    The biggest obstacle that stops newbie knitters and crocheters from becoming experts

    The biggest obstacle that stops newbie knitters and crocheters from becoming experts

    It’s easy to pick up your needles and hooks for the first time and get started learning to knit or crochet – but what divides those who continue on to create beautiful handmade masterpieces from those who walk away from unfinished first attempts?

     

    Contrary to what you might be telling yourself, it’s not laziness that’s stopping you from filling your wardrobe with gorgeous knitwear or crocheting a little army of amigurumi pals.

     

    Here’s what we think stops beginner knitters and crocheters in their tracks before they’ve completed their first project – they’re not having fun! Learning a new hobby should be exciting, but these all too common habits of newbie crafters may be getting in the way of your ability to make the most of your newfound skill.

     

     

    Not knowing what you are going to make

     

    This may be a controversial take but I’m going to be brave and say it – I don’t like practice yarn or practice projects, and I actively discourage new crafters from both.

     

    Knitting and crocheting for the first time can be a frustrating and slow process. It’s even less fun when you are making an endless scarf, or a project that you are not looking forward to finishing. In order to get over the hurdle of picking up a difficult new skill, it’s really helpful to find reasons to be enthusiastic about what you are making in order to push through when the process still feels awkward and difficult to master.

     

    The solution: Find a project that you are really excited to see come to life! Make sure it is beginner friendly and that it won’t take too long to complete – that way you get the dopamine hit of having a finished project instead of the endless task of ‘practising’.

     

     

    Using materials that you don't like

     

    We don’t expect artists to paint with a colour palette that they don’t love, but it’s all too common for newbie knitters and crocheters to end up using a yarn that is dull, scratchy or difficult to handle. One of the most beautiful things about the technique of knitting and crocheting is that it’s a slow and careful process, and that is something that is especially true of a first project. You are going to have to be staring at your project for a good few hours, so it’s worth choosing materials that you will enjoy looking at and feeling!

     

    The solution: It’s completely understandable that you aren’t going to want to buy a luxury yarn for a hobby that you are trying out for the first time. However, there are a lot of ways to find a good value yarn that you love. Cotton yarn is wonderful to work with and holds its shape well. Alternatively, a chunky-sized yarn of any fibre content is a great idea for anyone who finds the stitches hard to see. Even polyester or acrylic yarn can be great for a first project because there are some fantastic colours out there to choose from! It's also worth looking in second-hand shops to see if local yarn shops are having a sale of old stock, in order to snag a bargain.

     

    Equipment is another important consideration, so here are our recommendations for products which are stylish and sturdy, and won’t break the bank:

     

    1. KnitPro Symphonie Straight Needles individually or as a set

     
     

    1. Clover Pom-Pom Maker – making your own pom-poms can be the perfect finishing touch to a project!

     

    Learning on your own

    The internet is a great resource to learn from, but even the best-explained tutorial may leave you with a few questions. There are a lot of new terminologies to wade through, and that’s before you start trying to read written patterns! It can get very confusing very quickly to learn on your own, especially if you are someone who thrives in social situations.

    The solution: Find a knitting or crocheting group to join! There are a ton of fantastic and friendly groups out there in person and online. Some of the best ways to find them are via social media, or by enquiring in local yarn and hobby shops.

    If you have a project that needs a bit of troubleshooting it can be really helpful to have a group of fellow enthusiasts on hand to help. Not to mention, it's a great way to make friends who are passionate about the same hobby as you!

    Perfectionism

    Your first project might not look like you imagined – and it’s easy to get put off if your tension isn’t quite right straight away. It’s perfectly normal for your first piece of knitting or crochet to be very imperfect and that can put some people off from pursuing it any further. Here’s my advice as a knitter and crocheter of many years:

    The solution: Celebrate what you have achieved, and don’t worry too much about reaching a certain standard! There are plenty of future projects that you can spend hours fine-tuning, but your first project is a success for different reasons. It’s always a challenge to learn something new, and your misshapen, wonky project is proof that you are learning and doing really well! It’s well worth keeping your first projects instead of unravelling them straight away – you might not be happy with them right now but after you have been crafting for a while it can be very nostalgic to look back on the project that you first started with. It’s a really nice way to show yourself how far your skills have come.

     

    Do you love or hate these tips? We’d love to know what your knitting and crocheting opinions are, and what your best advice for newbies would be!

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  • November 14, 2024

    There's still time to make this free Valentine's Amigurumi!

    There's still time to make this free Valentine's Amigurumi!

    What would a 'Valentine' look like if it came to life? This is what we think it would be - tiny, adorable, and a super easy project to use up all that scrap yarn! You'll definitely be able to get it done in time for the 14th and surprise your loved ones with this unique little gift. Why not use one to decorate the top of a larger present, or add one hiding in a bunch of flowers for your nearest and dearest?

    Make sure you tag us @craftyllamauk on Instagram or DM us for any crafting questions!

     

    Valentine’s amigurumi pattern (US terms)

    What I used

     

    Scrap yarn

    Amigurumi safety eyes

    Stuffing

    Cardboard

     

    Abbreviations

    St/sts = stitch/stitches

    ch = chain

    sl-st = slip stitch

    sc = single crochet

    inc = crochet twice into the same stitch

    dec = crochet two stitches together

    dc = double crochet

     

    Bottom of hat

    1. Magic ring of 6 sc

    2. inc in every stitch {12 sts}

    3. (sc, inc) x 6 {18 sts}

    4. sc, inc, (sc x 2, inc) x 6 {24 sts}

    5. (sc x 3, inc) x 6 {30 sts}

     

    Top of hat

    1. Magic ring of 6 sc

    2. inc in every stitch {12 sts}

    3. (sc, inc) x 6 {18 sts}

    4. sc x 18, in the back loop of each stitch

    5. rows 5-8, sc x 18

     

    Add a cardboard circle to the top of the hat to keep it flat. Stuff this piece and sew it to the bottom of the hat.

     

    Body

    1. Magic ring of 6 sc

    2. inc in every stitch {12 sts}

    3. (sc, inc) x 6 {18 sts}

    4. sc, inc, (sc x 2, inc) x 6 {24 sts}

    5-8. sc x 24 {24 sts}

    9. (sc x 6, dec) x 3 {21 sts}

    10. (sc x 5, dec) x 3 {18 sts}

    11. (sc x 4, dec) x 3 {15 sts}

    12. (sc x 3, dec) x 3 {12 sts}

     

    Stuff, add safety eyes, and sew to the brim of the hat.

     

    Heart

    1. Ch 2 (the second chain is a turning chain. Include a turning chain for each row)

    2. inc {2 sts}

    3. inc x 2 {4 sts}

    4. dc, sl-st, sl-st, dc {4 sts}

    Sew to body

     

    Arms/legs (make 4)

     

    1. Ch 5

    2. sc x 4 {4 sts}

    Sew arms to the body so that it looks like they are holding the heart. Fold the legs in half and sew to the bottom of the body.

    Don't forget to tag us @craftyllamauk on Instagram or DM us for any crafting questions!

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