Some of my inspirations!

I adore colour and since I am a rubbish artist this is probably why I love crochet as I can indulge this love into my form of artwork. I would have to say I find the majority of my colour inspiration from flowers. I adore flowers, I am always buying myself bunches for the house (note to husband!). They can have the most amazing colour combinations and just seeing them makes me want to hook some crochet. Most recently I have made these flower coasters which I wanted to make in the colour combinations of my favourite flowers.

From the top in this picture we have marigold, forget me not, daisy, aster, poppy, sweet pea and pansy. I will probably start making some more once the spring and then summer flowers are all in force, I might not be able to stop!

 

These coasters were hooked using Stylecraft Classique Cotton DK an are really quick and easy to make, Being cotton too makes them washable which is perfect for the inevitable tea stains! I have shared the pattern for free here on my blog, if anyone fancies hooking them maybe you could try you own colour combinations and share them with me on my facebook page www.facebook.com/lovedottycrochet
Happy hooking!
Kelly@Lovedotty

Pattern - Flower Coasters

Pattern in UK Terminology

Hook - 3.5mm

Yarn - Cotton DK Weight (I used Stylecraft Cotton DK Classique)

Three different colour yarns, we will refer to those as yarn A, B and C.

With yarn A make a magic ring and work first round into ring (alternatively you can make 2 chains and then work into the 2nd chain)

Round 1 - Ch3 (counts as 1tr st throughout ), 13tr, join with a ss into third ch of first st (14 sts)

Round 2 - Ch3, 1tr into same st, 2tr in each st to end, join with a ss in third ch of first st (28 sts)

Change to yarn B

Round 3 - Ch1 (do not count as a st throughout), 1dc in same place, *ch2, skip 1 st, 1dc in next st*, repeat from * 12 times, ch2, join with ss into top of first dc (14 sts, 14 sps)

Fasten off yarn B and join yarn C in any ch2 sp.

Round 4 - Ch3, 2tr in same sp, *ch1, 3tr in next ch-2 sp, repeat from * 12 times, ch1, ss in 3rd ch of first st (42 sts, 14 sps)

Round 5 - Ss into next st (2nd tr of first 3 st cluster of previous round), ch1, *1dc, 5tr into next ch-1 sp*, repeat from * 13 times, ss into first dc (84 sts)

Fasten off and weave in ends

You can chose to block the finished coaster, however they should be fine without.

You can have so much fun finding different colour combinations for this pattern. Please see my blog for some of my flower themes ideas. I would love to see your combo's, please tag me on Instagram @lovedottycrochet

Happy Hooking!

Kelly @lovedotty

© All images belong to Kelly of lovedotty unless otherwise stated. Please link to pictures, content or DIY's if used on your own website. Crochet patterns are written by Kelly of lovedotty unless otherwise stated, please link to original post if used on your own website. Feel free to sell the finished product that has been created from the pattern, if sold via a website, please link to lovedotty blogspot. However please do not publish patterns in full or as your own, unless agreed by Kelly.

For Sale!

I am so excited to announce that my crochet pieces are now being sold in a shop in Norwich!

I have my very own little shelf in the Norwich Gift Emporium which, for anyone who would like to pop along is in Lower Goat Lane (next to Beaujangles).
I have always wanted to sell my pieces commercially but always something I held back from, after all it is pretty scary putting your designs out there. But then I thought 'what the heck' and I have already sold some stuff!
Items for sale will be my lovely coasters which I have documented on here before (designs by myself, using cotton DK yarn - pattern for the cupcake coasters still available for free here on my blog)

Next I whipped up some of these lovely daisy pin cushions (pattern by Nikki Trench, using cotton DK yarn)

As we have just had Easter, I also added these little egg cosies (pattern by Nikki Trench, using Stylecraft Special DK)

I also had these lovely strawberry necklaces on a long chain (pattern for strawberry by Maki Oomachi, using Sirdir Calico DK and design by lovedotty) which you will see in the main picture (didn't take a separate picture, doh!)

I probably haven't mentioned this but before lovedotty, I had spent 10 years making and selling jewellery at craft fairs under the guise Butterfly Blue! I did and do still love designing and making jewellery but there is so many jewellery makers out there it got harder and harder to stand out from the crowd.
I have never been one for simplicity so was always striving for something unique that I could say I have designed myself. This is why I love crochet so much, give me a hook, yarn and an idea and you can create something so unique and 'yours'.
Anyway there are still a few jewellery pieces in my collection that I had designed that I was so proud of and hadn't seen anywhere else and these were my picture rings, bangles an necklaces, so I have added these to my shelf always. Kinda looking forward now to digging my jewellery tools out to make some more!

 

 

I hope you wish me luck with this new venture!
Happy hooking
Kelly @ lovedotty

Shop Opened

Hiya, I'm really excited to have 'finally' stocked my shop on Etsy with some of my crochet goods. On there at the moment are my crochet coasters which I have mentioned before. Made in lovely 100% cotton so they are machine washable (see I've thought of everything!)

You will find the pattern for the cupcake coaster for free here on my blog.

More items to follow, watch this space for updates!

Happy hooking!

Kelly@lovedotty

Crochet Coaster Crazy

Hiya, one of my new years resolutions was to display at more craft fairs this year so with this in mind I have been thinking of crochet goods I could make and sell. They would need to be fairly easy and quick to hook, practical and look fabulous! This brought me to coasters!
I made a few batches of coasters for Christmas presents last year in a lovely leaf design which I found in Inside Crochet magazine. 

They were really enjoyable to make so I have whipped up some more batches for my stock. I thought a cotton yarn would be best to use as it is washable and looks so neat and tidy. I plumped for Stylecraft Cotton DK Classique (my new addiction)

Whilst crocheting these I had loads of ideas whizzing around in my brain as to what I could design myself, an occupational hazard of a crafter! Being a bit girly and loving all things vintage, I adapted some of the stitches I used in the leaf coaster to make a round, vintage doily type coaster. Just the right size to fit a teacup and saucer on for afternoon tea! 

I used Stylecraft cotton again, I love the feel of this yarn when I crochet!

Next up was something more fun, I thought what goes lovely with a cup of tea? Cupcakes of course, so I designed these lovely pastelly cupcake coasters, again using Stylecraft cotton. 

I absolutely love them, so much so I thought I would share the pattern here on my blog!

All coasters will be available to buy from any craft fairs I attend (although I haven't booked any yet!) and hopefully via Etsy in the Spring.

Happy hooking!
Kelly@lovedotty

Pattern - Cupcake Coasters

Pattern in UK Terminology

Hook - 3.5mm

Yarn - Cotton DK Weight 
(I used Stylecraft Cotton DK Classique)

(Note - slip stiches do not count as a stitch)









Using a bright colour make 20 chain
Row 1 - 1 tr in 4th ch from hook and in each ch till end, turn (17 sts)

Row 2 - 3 ch (counted as 1 tr throughout pattern), 1 tr into first st and each st till end, turn (18 sts)

Rows 3 to 5 - Repeat row 2 (21 sts)

Change to cream coloured yarn

Row 6 - 1 ch (does not count as st), 1 dc each st till end, turn (21 sts)

Row 7 - sl st in first st, *skip 1 st, 5 tr in next st, skip 1 st, 1 dc in next st, repeat from * to * 3 times, skip 1 st, 5 tr in next st, skip 1 st, sl st in last st, turn (29 sts)

Row 8 - sl st in first 3 sts (first 3 sts of previous 5 tr), skip next 2 sts, 5 tr in next st (dc of previous round), *skip 2 sts, 1 dc in next st, skip 2 sts, 5 tr in next st* repeat from * to * 2 times, skip 2 sts, sl st in next st, turn (23 sts)

Row 9 - sl st in first 3 sts, skip next 2 sts, 5 tr in next st, *skip 2 sts, 1 dc in next st, skip 2 sts, 5 tr in next st* repeat from * to * 1 more time, skip 2 sts, sl st in next st, turn (17 sts)

Row 10 - sl st in first 3 sts, skip next 2 sts, 5 tr in next st, skip 2 sts, 1 dc in next st, skip 2 sts, 5 tr in next st, skip 2 sts, sl st in next st, (11 sts)

Fasten off yarn and turn

Join red yarn in top of the 4th tr in the first 5 tr cluster

Row 11 - 2 ch, work a tr6tog (see definition below if required) as follows - 1 in same st as 2 ch, 1 in next st, 2 in next st (dc from previous round), 1 in next st and 1 in next st (should be 2nd tr of second 5 tr cluster from previous round), 3 ch and join with a sl at in same st, turn

Row 12 - 8 tr into top of tr6tog from previous round, sl st into 8th st from round 10 (2nd tr of 2nd 5 tr cluster) (8 sts)

Fasten off and weave in ends

Stitch definition - tr6tog - Treble  6 Together (working 6 tr sts together to make 1 st)
Yarn over hook, hook into stitch, yarn over hook, draw hook back through the stitch (3 loops on hook), yarn over hook, pull yarn through first 2 loops, yarn over hook, hook into next stitch, yarn over hook, draw hook back through the stitch (4 loops on hook), pull yarn through first 2 loops, repeat a further 4 times,  pull yarn through remaining 7 loops on hook

© All images belong to Kelly of lovedotty unless otherwise stated. Please link to pictures, content or DIY's if used on your own website. Crochet patterns are written by Kelly of lovedotty unless otherwise stated, please link to original post if used on your own website. Feel free to sell the finished product that has been created from the pattern, if sold via a website, please link to lovedotty.blogspot.co.uk. Please do not publish patterns in full or as your own, unless agreed by Kelly.

New Year Projects

Now Christmas and all the projects that go with it is over, I am able to choose new projects to get stuck into in the new year. I have spent the last 2 months itching to get started on these, but knew I had to finish the Christmas decorations and presents that I had planned.

I seem to have several projects on the go at once, which is something I usually like to try and avoid! First up is my attempt at a large filet crochet project. I love trying new styles and I think the effect of filet crochet looks amazing. I had only made coasters before so I decided to do a table runner. I found a great pattern in Inside Crochet magazine and chose DMC Petra in yellow as my yarn. I really enjoyed this project, sometimes it is great following a pattern and I found this one flowed quite nicely. I am pleased with the outcome, I just need to press it and then decide where in my house to put it!

 

Next up is a 'work in progress' still, I have decided to make myself a cardigan. I haven't made many clothes before and new year means trying new things. I plumped for DROPS Eskimo yarn, again in yellow (I love yellow!). This is a lovely thick and affordable yarn which comes in many striking colours, perfect for my cardigan.

I will keep you posted on how this comes along, I get a feeling it may take me a while!!

Lastly I made some lovely leaf coasters as Christmas presents, again the pattern was from Inside Crochet. I was really pleased with how easy they were to hook and lovely the finished project looked I have decided to make a load more as potential sale items for either my Etsy page or for a craft fair. I used Stylecraft cotton DK weight yarn for these and I have to admit cotton is my favourite yarn to crochet with at the moment, I am a little obsessed with it!

Hopefully I will continue and finish these projects, however knowing me I will probably start something else new!

Christmas Crafting

Christmas is coming and I always love this time of year as it is a great excuse to dig my hooks out and make some decorations and presents. To be honest I haven't crocheted much Christmas themed goodies but the last couple of years, I have really got the bug. Some past makes are as follows: -

Snowflake bunting, Christmas Stocking, Table cloth

This year I want to hook something that I have been itching to make for a while and that is a garland. With a polystyrene hoop as the base and some fab sparkly wool, I put it together and here it is!-

I love it, I think it looks fab. I'm thinking of making one for all seasons so I always have a lovely garland on my wall. Tip to remember though, don't wait to buy the hoop until December, they all go pretty quickly!
Because I love this garland so much I will be sharing the pattern on my blog in due course!

As well as decs I have been making a few Christmas presents although I cannot share those just yet as I don't want to spoil the surprise. However like always, I have left it all until the last minute so I better get back to my hooking. Happy Sunday everyone!

Nursery Fun!

As mentioned before I have a gorgeous 6 month old baby boy and these last few weeks we have been getting his nursery ready for him to move into. To distract myself from the fact that my little baby is growing up, I am (of course) having fun planning crochet projects to decorate his room, which to be honest is something I thought of way before I even got pregnant!
As my husband is a bit of a geek and likes dinosaurs, he was kinda hoping our boy will follow suit so we have planned a dino theme! With this is mind, along with the obligatory toys, I wanted to create some sort of dino decoration and stumbled across this lovely dinosaur bunting in issue 56 of Inside Crochet magazine

Benjamin Bunting from Inside Crochet Magazine - look so cute!

It was quick and easy and a lot of fun to make, I may even make some more to put on a cushion cover!

The next project was something I had always had in the back of mind to create and that is my baby letter blocks. Bright and colourful they will look lovely displayed in the nursery and then as a toy when my boy gets older.

My letter blocks - very kindly arranged by my son above (ahem!)

I absolutely love the finished product and had so much fun making them. I picked out the brightest colours I could find from my yarn stash (this project is a great stash buster) and got to work. Firstly I got some foam cubes which I sourced from a local market and ended up costing less than a fiver for ten cubes. Next I needed to work out the pattern starting with the sizes to fit the cubes.I did a few tester squares first using different sized hooks to see which gave the best effect, I wanted the tension to be quite tight with no holey bits. Once I had designed the patters for the 26 letters of the alphabet I could get to work.

 

I am really happy with the finished project and think they look really effective. I have some cubes left over so may make a couple of dice. I was also thinking the letters all sewn together would make a fab blanket / wall rug to help little ones learn their alphabet.
I really hope to publish the letter patterns on my blog at some point, if anyone would be interested?
So onto the next projects, I have a few more dino toys to make, then I was thinking of a sign for his door, then maybe another blanket for his cot (he already has six I have made), a rug, more bunting........................

Addicted to Crochet

My first post should be about where my passion for crochet started. My mum taught me to crochet (along with knitting) when I was about 10 years old. I have always had a penchant for making things and being creative, so much so I remember crying at first school when I wasn't picked to join the knitting group which is what prompted my mum, being faced with this inconsolable child to dig out her needles, hooks and yarn and give me my first lesson in knitting and then crochet.
My mum is a fantastic knitter and crocheter so I was very lucky to have her as my teacher. They say you are either a crocheter or knitter, and crochet definitely became my craft. My first project was a giant granny square blanket which upon completion was promptly pinched by my brother to adorn his bed. After that many more blankets followed through my teens and then I kinda put my hooks away for several years, only making the odd appearance when there was a new baby in the family to make a blanket for.

A small selection of my blankets!

Then a few years ago I stumbled upon some patterns for amigurumi and was hooked once more, along with blankets I would make toys, scarves and items for the house. I also developed an obsession with crochet magazines and books, dreaming of my next projects everytime I flick through one. I started to go everywhere with a project in my bag and it was soon the norm for me to fish out some crocheting whilst catching up with a cuppa with friends and relatives. I remember one time forgetting my basket of wool for a trip to my parents for dinner and my husband refusing to turn the car around to go get it, that was a long few hours!
A few months ago I was blessed with the birth of my beautiful son, then crochet took a whole new turn. I love making things for him, blankets, toys and decorations for his bedroom. I cannot wait to teach him also when he is older, who says boys can't crochet!
Well there we go, my name is Kelly and I am a crochet addict!!!