Tag Archives: handcrafted

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Happy New Year, Crochet a Mood Blanket!

Beste Wensen!

That’s me wishing you best wishes for the new year.  Usually I would be expected to do a lap of the office kissing my colleagues giving them my best wishes, but as I now work from home, consider this my virtual smooch.

2014 is already off to a great start.  I look out the window and it is glorious.  The sun is shining and the temperatures haven’t properly dropped yet, so I’ve never been in such a good mood for the middle of winter, ever!

I’m not usually one for resolutions, as I never keep them, but I decided to have a crack at a few this year.  But instead of starting them on the first of January, I kicked off early.  I started running before Christmas.  Actually, I’ve been going to the gym with a group twice a week and we were on holidays over the Christmas period, so I had to do something to keep active.  Not ever being a runner, I surprised myself by getting out there and doing it.  My husband has been coming with me and although he’s a natural athlete and is nearly walking beside me, he’s amazing.

I’ve also decided to look for more things to be grateful in my life.  I’m a pessimist by nature, so it’s easy for me to find negatives everywhere, especially during the colder months, but that’s not the person I want to be any more so I’m making a change!  Each day I’m going to share something with the world (via FB, Twitter or Instagram) that I’m grateful for.  Perhaps I’ll do a weekly round up here, but we’ll have to see how my motivation and time goes!

In the Crochet world, it’s as busy as ever!  I have orders in the queue for Owl hats, a lion doggie sweater, a pippi longstocking doll, plus slippers that I’ve designed:

I used Sheepjeswol Roma big, and they’re lovely and snuggly. Not only that, because they’re so chunky, the stitches act like a masseur. So massaged, warm feet. What more could a girl ask for?!

Aside from the orders, I’ve picked up a project for myself this year, it’s the #crochetmoodblanket2014 crochet along that I discovered on New Year’s Eve on Instagram. There are more than 1000 people taking part, it’s amazing. I’ve been looking for a community to join that is filled with like-minded souls, and I’ve found it!

This is my mood palette:

And here is my progress for the first couple of days:

And day two:

I’m making a hexagon blanket inspired by my grandmother who makes the most beautiful hexagon quilts. Here’s one she made for my daughter, it’s one of her favourite things:

I found the pattern via Baby Love Brand, it’s a paid pattern, but well worth the (very small) investment. I’m using Drops Cotton Light to make it, and the colours are a mix of my favourites.

What’s inspiring you on these first few days of 2014? If you’re looking for a wonderful project, the crochet a mood blanket group is open to all comers, experts and newbies alike!
 

 

Ravelry Giveaway, just in time for Christmas!

I’m giving away 20 copies of my Merry Mini Christmas hat for free on Ravelry to help everyone get into the Christmas spirit! Just enter MERRYMINIXMAS when checking out!

Free pattern with coupon code MERRYMINIXMAS for the first 20 customers!http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mini-santa-christmas-hat

A dog and a monkey walked into a bar…

Well, they didn’t.  But could you imagine where that might lead..?

These are two little guys that I finished last night and are ready to head off to their new homes today.

Johnny the Monkey from #Zoomigurumi on missneriss.com

 

This is Johhny the Monkey from the Zoomigurumi book, produced by amigurumipatterns.net.  It, and it’s sequel Zoomigurumi 2 are my absolute favourite pattern books.  I love the photographs and I LOVE the patterns inside.  All my favourite designers are in there!

And this one I found on Craftsy (or it could have been Ravelry or Etsy, it’s for sale there too) – Pudge the Pup.  Isn’t he just adorable?  My daughter is in love with him.  So much so that there will be arguments soon when it’s time for me to send him off to his new home.

Pudge the Pup - pattern on Craftsy.  Seen on missneriss.com #amigurumi #crochet

 

Both animals were made with wool this time.  Usually I use cotton yarn, but I wanted them to be extra snuggly and fuzzy and they look great.

Johnny the Monkey was made with Drops Merino Extra fine, and Pudge the Pup with Drops Big Merino.

My first paid pattern listing!

Several months ago I took my first steps into listing patterns that I have designed on Craftsy and Ravelry, starting with my baby Yoda hat, and they’ve been really successful, into the hundreds of downloads, so I decided that the time has come to see how a paid pattern download will go.

And here it is. My first paid pattern, the Merry Mini Christmas Hat! Right now you can find it on Craftsy and Ravelry. Now, on to world domination!

On Craftsy:

On Ravelry:

Merry Mini Christmas Santa Hat pattern

And just for fun, I’ve linked this one up with Moogly and My Merry Messy Life and Hookin’ on Hump Day

Wow! MissNeriss Featured on Hookin On Hump Day

Moogly

Imagine my surprise and delight upon waking this morning to discover that my Beautifully Stashed post from last Wednesday has been featured on Hookin On Hump Day by Moogly and My Merry Messy Life.

featured on hookin on hump day

Be sure to check out the other links:

Thanks so much for sharing the love ladies!

Now to think about what I should submit today….

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Summer beanie

Summer beanie

When my daughter Raina grew out of the first hat I made her it was the middle of summer. Because I was (am?) obsessed with crochet, I had to make her a replacement straight away. But because it was so warm – well, warm by Dutch summer standards – I had to come up with a cool alternative.

So, using cotton yarn, I whipped this together using a pattern I made up as I went along (must start writing these down) and a butterfly I found on Pinterest.  Raina is about six months old in this photo, and it fits her perfectly.

So far it has also been one of the most requested items I make, so I’m busy making more!  Want one for the warmer weather?  Just send me a message or comment below.

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May the force be with you

May the force be with you

This was a special request from a woman in my mothers’ group. Her husband is mad about Star Wars, so as a fun surprise, she asked me to make this hat as a tribute to everyone’s favourite green man, Yoda.

The design is a half double crochet hat with single crochet ear flaps and braids. The Yoda ears are two flaps I made by experimenting with shapes.

It all came together very well, I’m extremely happy with the result. I have the pattern ready to be turned into something legible, so watch this space!

Want one? Just send me a message or leave a comment for more info.

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Squishies Rule

Squishies Rule

One of my absolute favourite crochet designers is Jo from A Morning Cup of Jo Creations and recently she released this pattern for free!

Along with the adorable squishy bunny, you can get your hands on a duck, a chick and a sheep (I’m dying to get started on the sheep).

The absolute best thing about these patterns is that the possibilities are endless! I don’t have to restrict myself to making squishies from her patterns, now I want to create my own! When I can find a spare moment, I’m going to whip my daughter up a little piggy squishy, because we love snorting together (too much Peppa Pig, perhaps?).

I thoroughly recommend you check out Jo’s Facebook page and look her up on Craftsy (click the picture, it will take you straight there).

But while I have you, who’s your favourite pattern designer? It’s ok to say yourself, by the way. A bit of horn tooting never hurt anyone!

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Beautifully Stashed

Beautifully Stashed

Beautiful basket, made from Zpagetti t-shirt yarn. Whips up within an hour or so and looks fantastic, don’t you think?

I’m quite new to using chunky yarn, but am fast becoming a fan. I’m in the middle of making a cover for a particularly ugly footstool, but have run out of yarn! As if I need an excuse to buy more….

I found the pattern at Crochet in Colour (click the image for the pattern), where I find a lot of my favourite projects.

I’ve added this project to Hookin On Hump Day over at Moogly, which is one of the greatest crochet blogs around!

Moogly