The pattern for this little guy is published in the October 2010 issue of Crochet World magazine… which is currently on sale.

I’m always super excited to have a pattern published in a magazine… and this time is no different. Even more so, when I discovered that Lisa Gentry and Mary Beth Temple have patterns published in the same issue.

If you’ve been following my blog for a while now, then you will have heard me talk about Lisa Gentry. She is a popular crochet designer, with incredibly well written patterns. In addition to that, she holds the world record for the fastest crocheter in the world! I’ve long admired Lisa’s work – so it’s pretty mind-blowing to appear in print alongside her!!!

Mary Beth Temple is not someone I’ve talked about here before. To date I haven’t worked any of her patterns, or listened to her podcast – getting loopy – although I keep meaning to… it’s on my ‘things to do one day’ list.

Actually, I haven’t EVER listened to any podcasts… do you??? Which is your favourite craft one? Give me somewhere to start exploring the pod-world…

Back to Mary Beth for a moment…

A little while back, I did an online course which she was teaching, on ‘designing for print media’… and as a result of that, I gained an understanding of the workings of print media, and how to go about being published. So, basically, in this issue I have been published alongside my teacher, which is an absolute thrill.

Thought you might be interested to see my original Little Hootie:

The original is my favourite, but I had to re-work him for publication. The changes included getting rid of the buttons as well as the felted wings, and making him in a readily available yarn. I think he has more character in his original format… I can’t resist those felted wings with blanket stitch edging!

SO…

Keep an eye out for Little Hootie, and let me know if you use my pattern to make one of your own.

And don’t forget to let me know about any crafty podcasts you like to listen to.

Already finished a beanie from Lisa’s new crochet booklet…

Supposed to be worked on a 5.0mm hook – but I couldn’t find one, so I just got stuck into it with a 4.0mm… my tension tends to be loose anyway, so it’s turned out just fine.

This one is for my brother… so the colours are fairly subdued – I had to choose something that I thought he would actually wear!

Really loving the textured stripes in this piece… they’re way more striking in real life than you expect from the pattern booklet.

I blogged about the booklet here, if you’re looking for pattern details

And here’s the obligatory celebrity shot…

Look what arrived in the mail for me this week…

Two new booklets from my friend, designer Lisa Gentry!

Both are titled Celebrity Slouchy Beanies, and feature a variety of popular beanie patterns for the whole family.

One booklet contains knit beanies, and the other one is crochet.

I’ve been flipping through both of them, and trying to decide where to start…

I think I might crochet the Granny Square one, or maybe knit the Cabled Classic instead. Decisions, decisions…

Either way, I know that Lisa is a fabulous designer, and I’m sure to wind up making more than one of each anyway!

There’s more information about the boklets here, they’re incredibly cheap and if you live in the US there is free shipping until 30/6/2010

Now to choose my yarns…

I love the idea of a curlique scarf…

Only problem is, that because you are generally increasing in every stitch… each row is longer and longer than the last. By the time you reach that final row… it seems to go on for an eternity!

I’ve made this one using a 4.0mm bamboo hook, and some reclaimed wool. The wool came from a top which had belonged to my mum… so the scarf now has sentimental value to me. I like to wrap it around my neck a couple of times, and it feels like a great big warm, reassuring hug.

This spiral scarf is a Lisa Gentry design, you can click here to buy the pattern. I did make a slight modification to the final round. I wanted a more ‘picotty’ edging, so instead of working 4sc, I worked (2sc, 3ch, 2sc) into each space.

I started this scarf in winter… but it’s now almost summer here! In fact, we have had quite the heat wave – so I don’t think I’ll be wearing it any time soon…

]]> http://laughingpurplegoldfish.com/2009/11/20/spirally-scarf/feed/ 0 http://laughingpurplegoldfish.com/2009/07/20/sissy-pooh/ http://laughingpurplegoldfish.com/2009/07/20/sissy-pooh/#comments Sun, 19 Jul 2009 22:00:00 +0000 Sharon Maher http://laughingpurplegoldfish.com/2009/07/20/sissy-pooh/

pattern used -

• The Sissy Pooh by Lisa Gentry
• pattern available for sale – click here for details

yarn used -

• 8 ply/DK recycled wool

hook size -

• 4.5mm bamboo hook

comments -

• the pattern is designed to make a summery cotton dress… but since we are in the thick of winter here… I made a much warmer version, using wool… which can be worn over a long-sleeved top and pants
• I made the largest size, but it is should probably have made the next size down
• would love to make a summer version, too
• made a huge mistake with this dress… I MADE IT BLUE!!!!!
• Little Miss Five has been refusing to wear it… because I really don’t prefer that colour mummy… I only like pink!
• I’ve added a felted heart, to show her it really IS a girl’s dress, despite the fact that it is blue!
• she is still not convinced… check out the sulking in the photo
• the bandana she is wearing, is this one here

pattern used -

• Dare To Be Square by Lisa Gentry
• found in Hooked For 30 Days e-book

yarn used -

• mostly 8ply recycled yarns

hook used -

• 4.0mm bamboo hook

comments -

• I need ten of these squares, which will be joined together to make a jacket
• working each round in a different colour, to create a totally random effect
• my plan is that each time I use a yarn for a different project, I will stop and add another round to one of these squares
• so it will be an ongoing project
• if it doesn’t look any good as a jacket… I’ll make a throw or a wrap instead

pattern used -

• Beadiful Accent by Lisa Gentry
• found in Hooked For 30 Days e-book

yarn used -

• 5ply/sports weight recycled wool

hook used -

• 4.0mm bamboo hook

comments -

• I made five of the motif flowers, joined in the last round of each, according to the pattern
• the pattern calls for the last flower to be beaded with about 60 small pearl beads… but I quite like it without the beads
• I also left off the buttons, and used my Grandmother’s old brooch to pin the scarf

pattern used -

• Needle Guard by Lisa Gentry
• found in Hooked For 30 Days e-book

yarn used -

• 8ply/DK recycled wools

hook used -

• 3.5mm aluminium

comments -

• these pansies are actually very cute and very simple
• also finding it very handy for storing my wool and tapestry needles when not in use… they’re usually too blunt and too thick to push into a regular pin cushion… so this needle guard works perfectly

pattern used -

• Key Chain Little Kitty by Lisa Gentry
• found in Hooked For 30 Days e-book

yarn used -

• 8ply/DK cotton

hook used -

• 3.5mm aluminium hook

comments -

• super quick and easy to make
• this pattern comes with instructions to turn the kitty into a key chain… but my daughter loves it just the way it is
• if you made a few, they would be just the right size for a cute mobile… or pram rattle… each cat could be done in a different colour, and embellished differently
• I’ll keep the mobile/pram rattle idea in mind for future gifts

pattern used -

• Kitty’s Treasure by Lisa Gentry
• found in Hooked For 30 Days e-book

yarn used -

• 8ply/DK acrylic

hook used -

• 3.5mm aluminium hook

comments -

• this is a really easy pattern… and very simple to embellish
• my daughter ADORES it, even though she is not a huge fan of ‘Hello Kitty’
• I pretty much stuck with the pattern as written… although I did use a larger hook for the flower, and added the button at the centre
• around the opening of the bag, I used a contrast colour for the sc… but that was only because I had misplaced the white yarn, and was too lazy to look for it!