Emma Varnam’s blog – Knitting, nattering, crochet and craft

Favourite Stitches – Shell like

Recently I was asked by a fellow crafter what my favourite crochet and knitting stitch is. Now if you are interested, for knitting, moss stitch is thing of textural beauty. But it is a labour of love. For crochet my usual answer is .. a shell edging. I love it with a passion. You are lucky that it does not appear on every item edge. It is so pretty and so simple. (We will get into the technicalities and the uses later). However in the past year I have been designing more. The new book 10,000 Crocheted Hats has by necessity required me to be more adventurous in my stitch choice and I have begun to wonder if I actually do have some new favourites.

So I thought in the next few weeks I might share a few with you and the reasons why – what do you think? If you have a favourite crochet stitch pattern I would love to know.

But let’s return to the original favourite – the Shell edging. If you can treble stitch – you can make a shell. All you need really is multiples of 4 stitches + 1 stitch if you are doing a straight edge. But working in the round you only need multiples of four. My personal favourite technique is to miss the next 1 stitch, work 5 treble stitches into the next stitch, miss the next stitch and then slip stitch into the next stitch. What you get is a lovely fanned shell. Beautiful. Now If you are working into a slightly curved edge or round a corner then you are going to need more treble stitches. Either way it will look very pretty. In How to Crochet – I used the stitch twice – both for the fingerless mittens and the potholder. Both good patterns – which I continue to make.

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For Emily the Rabbit’s dress in Cute Crocheted Animals I used it at the hem edging and Barbara the Elephant’s little nighty in the Wild Animals book – had a pretty edge. It is such a simple stitch which adds a little feminine detail

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This morning I found a new practical use for the shell edge – solving two problems in one. In the middle of the night – a water glass returning to a hard coaster, can rather go through you. Being of that delightful age of once-woken…now permanently awake…my mind went to the distraction of crochet and the eternal challenge or reducing the left-over yarn stash.

I have just finished my latest blanket project and have a few odds and ends left over. I dug out an old pattern of mine and set to, making a couple of silent crochet coasters. The glass-to-table decibels are reduced and if there is a smallish spillage they are also delightfully absorbent. This favourite patten has a little shell edge. (Of course it does). Three were made in the early morning light.

So it is no wonder the shell edge has been my favourite crochet stitch for well-over a decade. What is yours?

Just for this week I am leaving this pattern here for you as blog readers to use for free. Please tag me if if you make any of these for yourself.

My Flower Crochet Coaster Pattern

You will need:

Your choice of dk yarn from your stash
3.5mm hook
Tapestry needle

Stitches used UK terms:

Chain stitch (ch)
Space (sp)
Slip stitch (sl st)
Double crochet (dc)
Treble crochet (tr)

PATTERN

Using 3.5 mm hook and Creamy white yarn 4ch, join with a sl st to make a ring.

Rnd 1: 3ch, work 11tr into ring, join with a sl st to ch. [12sts]. Break off yarn and fasten off.

Rnd 2: Change to next colour, and join with a sl st in any tr, 3ch, 1tr in the same st, 1ch, (2tr in next st, 1ch) to end, join with sl st to third ch. [24 sts]. Break off yarn and fasten off.

Rnd 3: Change to next colour, join with a sl st in any chain space, 3ch, 2tr in same ch sp, (miss 2tr, 3tr in next ch sp) to end, join with sl st to third ch. [12 3tr clusters]. Do not break off yarn.

Rnd 4: (miss 3tr, 6 tr between next clusters, miss 3tr, sl st between next clusters) to end. [ 6 shell sts]. Break off yarn and fasten off.

Rnd 5: Change to firs yarn, join with a sl st to any sl st, *(1dc, 1ch) 5 times, 2dc; rep 5 times. Break off yarn and fasten off and weave in ends.

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Peachy Keen

I know for a fact that the garden and colour fashion has invaded my making. I don’t know when… but probably two years ago when I fell in love with the Café au Lait dahlia. Then last year everyone in gardening was going hoopla about a new Cosmos colour – Apricotta. We didn’t grow it in our garden. But I was tempted.

Just looking it up now… and I promised I haven’t checked beforehand. Do you know what the pantone colour of 2024 is? Peach Fuzz! Now that is scary. Well there you go. We cannot avoid it. The garden and probably blush tones in fashion have been invading my little grey cells. Peachy colours with a little duck egg blue have been giving me some joy in my ‘Safe at Home’ knitted blanket.

Then my current ‘on the hook’ crochet blanket is my new ‘Tutti-Frutti’ crochet patchwork design. Zingy, joyful squares and half squares. Every block is giving me some joy. I won’t deny that there is some weaving in to do. But I’m a happy weaver. I have actually sewn the squares together, as I did with the Stargazer Blanket. I have used the mattress sewing technique and you get a nice tight and flat join.

The funny thing is that this Spring the peachy – it is a happy accident that just behind the pots on our patio, the acer emerges with a peach/apricot new leaf. The combination is such a joy. I think that my favourite have been the Narcissi – My story. So blousy and very long lasting. They will be a win again for next year. (I bought all my bulbs this year from Peter Nyssen – they have been so reliable).

So there you go, as I am getting older my tastes are predicably going to the tones of silk cami-knickers and coffee and walnut cake. Well never mind, both are a kind of luxury and if we eat with our eyes, I will be more than delighted with my Tutti-Frutti blanket.

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Garden changes

We are making a few changes in the garden, including digging a new flower bed which has extended pretty much into the centre of the lawn. Risky dramatic business – not really. But I have been thinking about this project for about 18 months.

What I have discovered – pulling up turf and digging over the soil, is my oh my how full of clay our garden is. It is no surprise that our grass lawn is pretty much a moss lawn. There is very little drainage. Nowhere for the North West wet weather to go.

Long ago I have put aside the plant desires of the warmer south-west. My folks can grow completely different plants. It is far easier to think ‘what’s good here?’ If you want to be fancy you can say that we are very much like the Lake District. Acers, rhododendrons, azaleas all do well. Plus the Magnolia’s which dot the surburban streets of our city are knock out.

So with very little outlay I have dug up and divided many plants which are already flourishing in the garden. With an unusual amount of forward thinking I asked for garden vouchers for Christmas and that enabled me to splurge on some desirable roses. These have all gone in.

In the mornings I stand at the kitchen window, coffee in hand and admire the view. At the moment I see a rather muddy scar. But I know it won’t be long before the transplanted plant babies take root and soon they will be bulking out.

Foreman Stanley is very delighted that we are outside more. He management style is quiet observation. But is very overseeing productivity in crochet as well as gardening.

So we will see how we get on. I am hopeful that the new bed will provide me with some more space for cut flowers. Last year I hardly bought any cut flowers for the house and that is a year round ambition. I would like to just cut what we have in the garden. Reading and watching videos about flowers is my hobby hobby. Yes crochet is a hobby/work, knitting is now a hobby… but gardening is the HOBBY.

The real goal is to be able to sit in the garden, amongst the flowers – with a coffee, a cat and the crochet. It is the flowers we grow which inspire so much of the making. So as I look out on a rather wet and dimpsy day I don’t think we will be in the garden. But at least I can concentrate on the crochet – the coffee and the cat will just have to be inside. Have a happy week.

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Home of Garter Stitch Joy

It all starts with left-overs. There is a nice contained discipline in thinking – what would be fun to make out of this? I know that I can’t be the only person to see the beauty of making something out of what is left. Then there is the middle of the night, crashingly early morning creative planning. Compelled by a little nugget of an idea I tiptoe towards my yarn stash and with the subtlety of a baby elephant start extracting balls of yarn and some needles or a hook, ‘to have a quick go’. These are special moments.

This time it is the left-over aran yarn I have accumulated from my last book. I love aran weight yarn, but my preference is to knit with it rather than crochet. And let’s not be snobby – a basic garter stitch with even tension and a lovely firm twist is a thing of joy.

I wanted to slash through the accumulated aran yarns of two colour schemes. To combine the warm peachy oranges which I have used for one project and match it with the blues/duck-egg and greens of another. Not in any way perfect but joyful none the less

Back in my memory and in the depths of my pinterest collection has been the Safe at Home Blanket by Margaret Holzmann. There is something so graphic, so simple about this pattern. Why do little houses bring us such joy? Is it because they are one of the first thing we draw? However simple the pattern, it is the changing colours of the windows and the doors which speaks to me. Even in real life a row of beach huts is so appealing or the joyful cottages on the dock of Tobermory. The small house sat happily, yet contrasting with its neighbour.

So in amongst a myriad of projects I should finish. I have started a new blanket. You and I both know that a knitted blanket will take me much longer than a crochet version. I could try to replicate that pattern in crochet. I haven’t looked but I am sure it has been done. But sometimes its just nice to follow a pattern and not feel the need to design. I know I will make a few tweaks to the design. I plan just to put 8 houses in a row. I also want to add a strip of plain garter stitch between each row of houses. But that is my preference.

This is going to be a long project. If I get it finished for the autumn I will be thrilled. The pattern is wonderfully simple and if you fancy making your own you can buy it as a downloadable pattern from Ravelry. The windows and doors use the intarsia technique and when I started I didn’t realise that you can put the last stitches from each house front on a holder when you work on the roof. This sets you up nicely for the next house.

Quite a few people have commented on my very first post of the houses, so I wonder if people might like to start their own Safe at Home Blanket. If you do – please tag me into the photo on Instagram.

Looking through my photos I realise that the last blanket I knitted was my Croknit blanket which combines knitted and crochet squares. There you go simple garter stitch knitting again, and in aran. It must be a particular preference. I had also forgotten that I have created many years ago a beach hut door stop. The stripes are a obvious favourite.

Well there you are simple garter stitch home making – good for the soul and excellent for the stash. Happy Weekend. x

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January traditions and updates

Whilst January is a month of new starts… new promises… new/old intensions, I like to squeeze in a few little January traditions. Firstly, catching up with good friends. Whilst Christmas can be a whirlwind, I do like to sprinkle a few ‘catching up’ with pals in the diary. Last weekend I indulged in seeing my yarny best friends for our traditional laughter-advice and wisdom session. It would not be easy to speak so consistently about yarn, knitting and crochet with many other people. Understandably some of my other good friends would reach for a telephone for distraction. But when I see my crafting besties – the conversation is in full flow and the fingers are moving just as fast as we work on our current project. By the end of our time together my creative tank is full, and I drive home with new ideas and resolve.

In the dark weekends of January, I also love to indulge in the sticky alchemy of Marmalade making. This year I have less time to squeeze in all the batches I want to make. But I did manage to make to different types. A tawny – using the whole oranges in method and a dark and thick cut, especially for my Dad. Every year the same recipe is used and yet…every year there is a different result. But that this the fun of it. Homemade marmalade on toast is surely one of the greatest delicacies. It would ideally be on a toasted white bloomer with salted butter which is melted ever so slightly. Toast is such a rib and hip sticker that I ration myself to almost just once a month indulgence. But then it does mean I can nearly eek out the marmalade to last a full year.

emma-varnam-inside-crochet-daisy-cushion

So, this weekend I will be seeing some other fab friends – and I hope to take some lovely photos. I cannot wait to have lighter days so I can take a few better photos. I know I wanted to mention to you two very exciting things. Firstly, if you read Inside Crochet magazine, my second of the monthly columns is in. This month I am talking about being inspired by fashion. If you do read it, I would love to hear what you think. This February issue is particularly good. There are some really fab garments. There is also a great Vintage Cushion supplement and one of my designs is in. A lovely cosy round cushion.

emma-varnam-cute-crocheted-food-shortlist- award

I just heard the my lovely little book Cute Crocheted Food has been shortlisted for the Creative Book Awards. I am so thrilled. This book was so much fun to create and it made me smile everyday during the design process. It is lovely to think about other people enjoying it. I will keep you updated on how we do. But honestly there are some fabulous books shortlisted so it is just a thrill to be in excellent company.

Finally My latest book arrived in the post this week: 10,000 Crocheted Hats! I know…. Really – yes really. The combination of different, brims, main hat section and crowns multiplies up toe 10,000. I started the projects in February last year and so it is amazing to see the book now. I promise to share more about the book next week, but in the meantime – thank you so much for popping into the blog and having a January catch up.

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Patch Passion

I have been inspired by patchwork for such a long time. Seriously it is the craft I would love to do – but I don’t. Why? I mean I love it so much and I understand the basics. I have even done some English piecing when I was young (you know covering little paper hexagons with fabric and sewing them together). Yet I never seem to carve out the time.

I had lovely memories of a house I used to visit as a child. The mother of a friend had made beautiful hand stitched patchwork curtains for every room. They were mesmeric. Very beautiful and such a labour of love. When we first moved to our current house I decided to make a patchwork curtain for the spare room. I really can’t believe I had the dedication. But it is rather special and has fabrics which belong to treasured clothing, pieces of embroidery from old pyjamas. It is these memory scraps which make it so beautiful. And yet that was the last time I did any patchwork.

But the patterns, the traditional blocks are so inspiring. The combination of simple shapes to create a new pattern. They really lend themselves to our crochet craft. I literally have about 5 blankets in my head that I would like to do.

The Stargazer is really popular and I love that so many people have downloaded the pattern. Currently in use in these cold days it brings so much joy. But then my next adventure has just been in a recent issue of Inside Crochet. the Hexagon Blanket is so fresh and joyful and so reminiscent of traditional granny flower patterns it is wonderful used as a bed spread. A number of years ago I designed a Scandi inspired blanket in browns, yellows and ochres. It was my first play at traditional quilt patterns. I really enjoyed the pattern, but have re-worked the colours in blues and pinks – colours which I am very fond of. I think if you remake a large pattern, you really do need a bit of space so that you can enjoy the making journey again.

I have come to the conclusion that I am not sewing patch work because crochet for me as a much quicker craft – and if I am honest it is much more mobile. So what is on the hook now? Back before Christmas I was inspired to star making a scrappy pattern. I have used the smallest squares of Bellissima and Bambino as a central pattern. The pattern was inspired by the new quilt book by ‘Quilt Alchemy’ by American artist Sara Larson Buscaglia. You can see her work on instagram as Farm and Folk.

Honestly I think I need to say that the quilt inspired designs are not always plain sailing. This design definitely has fiddly sewing-in elements. I enjoy working half-and-half Granny Squares, but they are not everyone’s jam. Finally since taking this photo I have decided that I do not like the beige colour and have switched to my faithful blue. So there has been some quite severe ripping back. That might explain why I haven’t quite finished this project yet.

So even though I can’t get into sewing Quilts…luckily one of my lovely and brilliant friends is a fabulous quilter. You can find her on Instagram here. For my birthday. She presented me with this beautiful quilted bag. Isn’t it just simply gorgeous! It even has a liberty print liner. I can’t tell you how excited I am to use it this weekend. Whilst I am not quilting I am still surrounded by clever people who are and the inspirational patterns and that I can bring to life in yarn. All I need to do is to get those 5 other pattern ideas out of my head and onto the hook.

I wonder if you have a craft you keep meaning to take up – but just don’t seem to be able to divert your time. Is it just better to admire from afar?

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Making and re-making – the little doll

If you read last week’s blog, you will know that one of the things I would like to achieve in my crafty world this year is to finally finish, write up and and publish my doll pattern. It has been a two year journey – no not a journey, because we have not been going anywhere – a two year stop-and-start.

I have made lots and lots of toys. Bunnies and bears are a joy to me, in lots of shapes and style. But a doll design has alluded me. I’m going to be honest – I have designed a pineapple last year in a morning… I mean seriously how hard can it be!

There are a number of things I like to get right before I let a design go into the world. Firstly I do think about the yarn. I think about the price point – is it reasonable? Also how easy is the yarn to get hold of? Now these things are important. I know you might make a design using your stash, and to be fair that’s the best scenario, but no one would thank me if I didn’t say what yarn I have used in the original.

Honestly I think I have made 3…perhaps even 4 versions of a doll. For most of the toy animals I make I have used a DK weight yarn, but with the doll I felt I need to finer stitch. It seems to matter more with the faces. So I have been searching for the perfect 4ply yarn – oh my we have been around the houses. I think I have experimented with 5 different types. It can get a bit expensive this trial and error. But the availability of tones has been important to me for skin colour – I think I have finally cracked it. I know if you make toys you might say – Emma …4ply that is fiddly! Yes… Yes I know but I promise you – have a go and I am sure you will get into it. Or lets be honest – used a larger hook and DK you already have – your doll will just be a bigger toy for bigger hugs!

The really….really difficult thing has been the faces. I have never been really pleased with the head size and the face shape. I have made 4 versions of the head, and looking through my notebook with all the crossings out and over writing it has been quite difficult to decipher. I was so frustrated with me lack of ‘getting it’ the lovely little girls have made as samples have been placed quite firmly in the corner – poor things. But in the New Year break I was determined to crack it – and started again.

Crochet friends of mine have said that the ability to create good faces for toys is one of my USP’s (they are kind people), so I didn’t want to get this design wrong. So I think we are there now. Ideally to help you replicate the look of the doll and for you to feel satisfied with your make I like to be specific with the placing of features – which round to place the eyes – how far apart they should be etc.

(If you are reading this and are not a crocheter…sorry this might be far too much tedious detail…but this stuff matters).

Then there is hair… thinking about it… it might be the hair that has really halted this project. For a crochet doll there are lots of different ways you can tackle the hair. You can make essentially a ‘hair-hat’ or helmet. An added piece of crochet that fits the shape of the head and that is just sewn on. You can also just take strands of wool and sew them to the head at a centre parting. I have done loads of ‘doll hair’ research. Perhaps too much. I have even used my sewing machine to sew a centre parting between two pieces of paper with professional doll hair. I mean it was fun. But it just didn’t feel like a technique that was accessible to everyone. I couldn’t solve the problem. What I have finally landed on, is a combination of two techniques. Creating a piece of crochet to sew to the head and adding some simple pompoms for bunches. I think this looks cute and is easier to recreate.

The body and the limbs haven’t changed much at at all. I have been happy with them all along, but I have thought quite a bit about the clothing. Full disclosure my preferred option would be to release this design with a pretty cotton skirt. My very first bunny design for Inside Crochet – way back in 2015 was Bonnie Bunny. She was really the prototype for what developed into Jack and Emily in Cute Crocheted Animals. But in that design, I combined some simple crocheted clothes with a pretty and simple cotton dress. I have wanted to return to this idea. So the doll design will come with two options; a simple crochet dress and instructions to make a very simple skirt made from cotton fabric. The dress is small enough that it could be hand sewn and would not need a sewing machine.

Two years ago I did ask you all what other clothes and accessories you would like me to design for the dolls. I still have that list – but I am always keen to add to the idea. So if you have a suggestion I would love to know.

So what next? Well what I need to do is to take a few instruction photos, which will much easier to follow the pattern. At the moment I am thinking I will release this pattern on my website and Etsy shop. So after I have taken all the photos I will begin writing up the pattern and then get the pattern tech-edited. This is really very important. I have a few dedicated makers who make lovely versions of my toys, so I will also ask them to have a look at the patten and make up their own version. After so much trial and error, I am finally pleased with how things are looking. I hope you like the dolls too. See what you think and please do leave a comment below. Have you got a project that took you years and years to finish?

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Making good lists

I respond well to lists – there must be some deep seated, school based reason – but lists work well for me. I am not obsessive. I can function without them. In fact most of the time I do function without them. But if I really need to get something done – a good list is ideal.

Just before going back to work after Christmas I made a very prosaic list – you know boring stuff like… put away clothes, put away Christmas decorations, clean fridge, book hair cut. How ridiculous – all these things were staring me in the face, but to really get them over the line – the physical list had to be made. I don’t know about you but there is something about a line going through the task which helps and I need to balance my tragic sense of achievement with an inner rebelliousness and procrastination. There is the nub.

This year I am not in the market for a New Years resolution – some years… Yes. Not this year. But a list seems like a good idea. But in addition to the practical ‘to-do’, I’m going to make a good list.

Laugh more
See more friends – actually do the arranging
Arrange a holiday
Hug my son – even if I have to surprise him
Hug Stanley the cat more
Go on a walk – weekly
Read more books
Design and dig the new bed in the garden

That’s enough to be going on with – those are life lists and to be fair if I managed all of these – and indeed more of these past the first few months of the year that would be excellent.

But what about the creative lists? Well yes, there will be one of those, but I am trying and aiming to not give myself too much ‘to-do’ on the old designing front. I have designed ALOT in the last year. You can see a correlation between my blogging activity and my designing/writing. When I am designing a lot then I go very quiet on this space. There is not enough time for both. But what am I thinking for the first few months? Well here is my mini-list:

Finally write up the dolls pattern (sorry Ida… I know you have been wanting it)
Work out which of the blanket designs in your head you want to do
Design 1 blanket in 2024
Actually TELL people about the books you have written
Publish some of your Christmas designs you have never published (they are stuck in a wardrobe)

So there you go that’s it – finally. We will stick to those too lists and any more is a bonus. Have you made a list this year? Or a resolution? Do you make a crafting list? I would be intrigued to find out – or do you find it annoying and does it cramp your creativity. Honestly I would like to add ‘blog more’ to my list but don’t just dare at the moment. We will just leave that there and make it a very, very secret aspiration.

Have a lovely weekend.

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Fun food – just because

There are lots of brilliant things which I enjoy about crochet. I’ll be honest, what I really like is that it allows me do indulge in my playful side. In the last week I have been binge watching a programme on Channel 4 about the Duchess of Northumberland. She has the most amazing imagination and incredible drive. A few years ago we visited her incredible garden at Alnwick and it is the most amazing vision. The television programme charts her two year journey to create a fantasy play space for children. It is obvious from the footage that she has a mind that enjoys thinking about how children play and a desire to spark their imagination. I love that about her!

Frequently when I am designing I try to access the childlike part of my brain and imagine making imaginative items that I would have enjoyed as a little girl. Over 18 months ago Stylecraft yarns asked me to make some items with their organic cotton for a celebratory tea party for the Queen’s Jubilee. I so enjoyed making cakes and biscuits that I began to go down a bit of a crochet food rabbit hole… and so that is how the creative part of my new book began.

I have forgotten to share it over the summer. Mostly due to busyness – but that is a shame because I am so excited about the patterns in this book. For a beginner or someone new to amigurumi I think small engaging projects are really motivating. The graphics which the team have done are so brilliant as well. It has a totally different look to my other books.

Once I have made 25 items…25 count them and written the patterns… I kind of go off making any project which is similar. But then if I had small people to crochet for I might make a range of the food items to add to a play kitchen or pretend garden.

Of all the items that really attract people – the burger and fries really seem to prompt a giggle. I am a fan of the avocado … because its stone tummy pops out!

So – I am glad that we have created this book, the patterns are pretty simple for the beginner and there are more complicated makes like the pineapple if you want to stretch your skill. I try with all my books to make the patterns that I know I want to make. If I start to go back to those patterns for gifts or things for our home…I know it is a success for me. See what you think and do you think there is an item of food I have forgotten?

If you would like to buy a signed copy from me – then there are just a few copies still in the shop… I will also send you a couple of very cool stickers!

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