I’m so excited……..

last few weeks I’ve really enjoyed myself, as well as being really nervous too! 

I’m taking the plunge and launching my own Crochet Monthly Subscription Box in November. 

I’m sooooo excited, as this gives me the opportunity to share the crochet love as well as great accessories from other great hand makers and designers. 

So how is going to work?

I will list the no of boxes available on Etsy 3/4 weeks before the month. Each box ordered will be delivered the 1st week of the month. 

Each box will be themed and will include a crochet project that can be completed that month along with lots of special accessories and a fab newsletter sharing the great designers and makers involved in the box. 

This is November’s hint……  
So check out and like my Facebook page to be ready for the launch …..

Www.facebook.com/stitchesfromthesofa 

Coming soon

Cat x

After the wool has settled……

Wow!!!! This weekend was 3 days of pure wooly indulgence. 

The Bristol Wool Fair had a fantastic second year in its new farm location, with its usual fantastic friendly atmosphere and amazing choice. 

Now, where to begin……?

Day one!!! My shopping day 😆

Well it was such a pleasure and i got to purchase a much wanted Yarn Bowl from the very talented Emily Cross 

   
 
And now has pride of place in my craft room , thanks Emily x

   
 The beautiful makes from Pickle Lily  one of my absolute favourites also came home with me as a start to my Christmas shopping……. How good am I ?😇
    
The fantastic Toft Alpaca Shop were there with this fantastic free pattern in the programme. Really looking forward to hooking this beauty to add to my growing collection.
  
Now it wouldn’t be a wool festival without a few wooly friends
  
  
Day two was workshop day, using my maths brain to make beautiful soap from goats milk and playing with ready made soap for homemade soap balls, great fun and more ideas for Christmas gifts. 

   
 
The afternoon was a fantastic workshop with Rosie from Rosies Moments dying my own yarn, thoroughly enjoyable and so personal. I now have Tardis Blue yarn to make socks for my son for Christmas. Thanks Rosie x

  
They was also a lovely harvest supper evening involving, good food, good music and plenty of wooly crafts.

  
And to top it off I got to endulge in my favourite  ice cream from the fabulous Shepherds ice cream………made from sheeps milk. Mmmmmmmmmmmm delicious!

   
 
Thank you to fab organisers for another fab fair. Roll on next September 2016!

  
Cat x

It’s almost here……..

In less than two days it will be the 2nd year of the fantastic Bristol Wool Fair. I had the great pleasure of being a part of the Fair at the beginning last year and am looking forward to being part of it again.

This really is a bringing together of all things wool in all its glory ( including the amazing live animals it comes from)

Below is a timetable of all the great events throughout each day which is on top of a huge array of craft stalls, workshops and great food ( I can highly recommend the Sheeps milk ice cream)

I will be there as Stitches from the Sofa running a crochet workshop to make Winter Boot Cuffs, along with many others, there are still tickets available.

On Saturday night you can join in a Harvest Supper for food, drink, talks, music and any wool project you want to sit and chill with. Tickets are still available

This is just a small portion of what the Bristol Wool Fair has to offer and plenty for a weekend ticket.

Check out the website

http://www.bristolwoolfair.co.uk

Last year I had the great honour of producing a pattern for the programme. To get you all in the mood I have attached the pattern below.

SHEEPY MUG HUG

 

You will need:
Yarn A – Debbie Bliss Rialto Chunky Merino Wool 50g – Cream Yarn B – Debbie Bliss Rialto Chunky Merino Wool 50g – Black Sheep Buttons (Milward) 1 or 2, your choice!
White Mug – 24cm around / 10cm top to bottom
Crochet Hook UK 6mm

Key:
Ch – Chain
DC – Double Crochet St – Stitch
BS – Bobble Stitch

Bobble Stitch:

Yarn over, place hook into the stitch, yarn over and pull through (3 loops on the hook). Repeat this into the same stitch 3 more times until there are 9 loops on your hook. Yarn over and pull through all 9 loops. Ta Da….. a bobble!

PATTERN

Main Body (Using Yarn A)

Ch 10
Row 1. Not counting the loop on hook, DC into 2nd Ch from hook. DC into all St until the end. Turn. (8DC)

Row 2. Ch1. DC into first St, *BS into next St, DC into next St *, REPEAT TWICE *-*. DC into last St. Turn (3BS, 5DC)

Row 3. Ch1. DC into first St, DC to the end of the row. Turn. (8DC)

REPEAT Rows 2&3 – 14 times, ending on Row 3. Fasten Off. (Measures 24cm long)

Using Yarn B

Attach Yarn B to one end of the main body. DC into every St to the first corner. 3DC into the corner St. DC into every St on the short edge to the corner. 3DC into the corner St. DC into every St along the last long edge until the end. Fasten Off.

Strap (Using Yarn A)

Ch 5
Row 1. DC into 2nd Ch from hook. DC into next 3 St. Turn. (4 DC)
Row 2. Ch1. DC into the first St. DC in all St till end of the row. Turn. (4 DC) REPEATRow2 -8times.(Row3-10)
Row 11. Ch1. DC into 1st St. Ch1, Miss a St, DC into last St. Turn. (2 DC) Row 12 – 15. REPEAT Row 2 – 4 times. Fasten Off.

Attach the strap to the main body to fit through the handle of your mug.
Sew on your button(s) to the main body to match the button hole on your strap. Attach your Mug Hug to your Mug, Enjoy!

 Cat x

Jam jar beauty

 
so, it’s another morning scrabbling around trying to find my blusher brush   time ticking away, can’t find it so go to work looking like a ghost 😳 
That evening, after cooking a lovely pasta dish, I save the jar ( I have a jar thing) with my other jars and have a light bulb moment. 💡of course!! I can put my brushes into the jar, jar next to the mirror, problem solved. 

Okay, so this is obvious and I’m sure many of you do exactly the same thing and I haven’t invented the wheel so to speak he he he😋 but it was a great opportunity to try out a simple crochet pattern and some lovely cotton yarn from DMC, Natura Just Cotton range. 

I received this yarn from a lucky dip bag from Frank and Olive, fab crochet designs, check them out! 

Thought as it was cotton it would be perfect for the bathroom, it was a pleasure to work with and has a great soft finish to it. It’s my first time using it but not my last, and I am looking forward to exploring the colour range and upcycling more jars!! 

  
This yarn would certainly make up a beautiful summer shawl or blanket along with some great summer picnic/BBQ table accessories, watch this space I think that might be the next project with the left over yarn. 

  

Day One ………… (again!)

Okay, I have had this Blog for a little while now and its been badly neglected. I had a mad social media time where I was trying it all to get my name, products and services out there and NOTHING!!!  I felt seriously rejected and to be honest I went cold on most social media.

However, it is still my dream to have a crafty life, work and at home and so I have picked myself up, dusted off, surrounded myself with creatively minded people and started again. so this is Day One …….again!

Im going back to what I feel like is the basics, designing, teaching, creating and most off all sharing and connecting with the craft community. I am a naturally social chatty person and have really enjoyed getting back into contact with other fantastic creative souls.

I have recently joined a local craft group, once a week to face to face engage, share and enjoy different crafts and continue to find great inspiration for my makes.

So this is my fresh start and I promised to no longer neglect this Blog, another addition to my crafty social life.

Stitches from the Sofa Crochet Design

Me!

All this social media……..am i getting it right?

So, I’ve been sat at this computer now for 2 hours catching up on all my social media admin…….there is loads!!!! and as much as i love meeting new people, the fab items they create and the interaction with people who have the same crafty mind, I’m questioning will all this effort turn into sales or do i need more…..or less?

 

I can’t deny my visibility on both Twitter and Etsy has grown, but not into sales and really, thats what all this is for at the end of the day.

So as it stands i have Etsy, Twitter, Facebook, WordPress and pinterest plus my own Website, is this enough or too much?

 

I think today i am feeling a little down hearted that success is a slow process.

 

Anyone else feeling this way or having the same issues?

Or, are you successful and have any great tips to share?

I would love to hear your comments

Cat x

Simple pleasures………

Found a fab pattern in one of my great Simply Crochet magazines and quickly made the first clover/flower

One evening in with this highly addictive pattern and I’m really pleased with how it’s coming along

This will become a beautiful summer shawl/blanket made from 100% cotton Rico Design Essential Cotton. This is my take on a summer strawberry theme .

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More inspirational colour…..

Walking to collect my kids from school in a small patch of ground between the supermarket and the housing estate was this amazing sight

Gorgeous and had to share xx

The lows, the holiday and inspiration!!!………………….

Well, its been awhile and I’m feeling very guilty for my neglect. I have however feel that i have been in a position many new small businesses, especially crafters have been in before………..the very slow beginnings  of sales and the low this brings with it. Anyone in the sporting world or even the everyday gym bunny will always talk about the time they “hit the wall” and that is exactly how i felt into the first few months of this year. I spent time over Christmas and New year designing my Easter range and had many fantastic comments and interest, and then it all dried up and i only made a few small sales. I started to question myself, was selling my craft a good idea, should i keep going? was what i was making good enough and different enough?

One Lonely Chick!!!!

 

To my relief my thoughts were interrupted by a fabulous family holiday to Croyde (North Devon), a week of beautiful landscapes and a touch of great British sunshine. It was the usual swimming, evening entertainment, ice-cream and many games of beach cricket. Then one day we went for a walk, one of my favourites up the cliffs to Baggy point!  It was on this walk that i suddenly felt some inspiration and a desire to begin designing again.

Striking Yellow in the Sun

 

The beautiful bright yellow flowers on the gorse bushes were all around and shining bright in the glorious sunshine. It was at this point that i realised i had not brought any yarn or hooks with me and i suddenly experienced Crochet Withdrawal……..NEVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So throughout the holiday i began to gather more and more inspiration from the environment around me, the cliffs, the beach and of course the sheep and their beautiful lambs.

 

So, home and newly inspired i share a sneaky peak at my Juicy and Coast Collections, ready for Summer!

Juicy

Juicy

Coast

Juicy

Coast

Happy Spring…………….lets bring on the Summer xxx