A market bag

I have been meaning to make a market bag for a while now... But there are so many patterns out there that I just didn't know where to start. So I thought the best way around was to try some patterns and see what I like/don't like and then maybe try to make my own...

So as my first choice of bag I gave the Edda Bag from We Are Knitters a try, and it didn't disappoint!

What I loved about this pattern:

- It comes in many languages! That is always a yey for me as I have many readers that English is not the language they learned to crochet in... and this works fab!

- It is worked flat and then shaped by adding the border and handles. I found this method super quick, not need for stitch markers and counting rounds... a great project for a holiday or while watching tv or chatting with friends!

-  It is roomy but not overly big, but of course it will stretch and enlarge when filled.

- The pattern only breaks the yarn twice in the whole bag, this makes the bag more sturdy and it also makes for less ends to hide at the end, this is a super plus for me!

What I would change about the pattern:

- I would make it slightly bigger for a second bag... which I am planning to make. As I generally buy rhubarb when going to the market I think I will need a longer bag.

- I used more yarn than described in the pattern. That could just have been me, as I used a 4.5 hook, so may need to try in a smaller hook again... but just in case make sure you have some extra cotton to hand.

- Nothing else! apart from these two minor comments the bag is ace and the pattern is written beautifully, short and easy to follow!

So if you are planning on making a market bag I think this one is great... and if I make it again I will be surely to let you know the amendments I made to the patter for you to follow!

New classes - Announcement

I thought to make a quick blog post to update everyone of the new and upcoming classes before the school holiday begins... If you have been thinking of learning to crochet and would like to get started before the holidays, why not join us?

Last classes before the school holidays:

- Monday 25th June at 9.00: Heart Banner.
- Wednesday 27th June at 11.00: Basic crochet squares and technique.
- Monday 2nd July at 9.00: Seamless stripe basket with handles.
- Wednesday 11th July at 11.00: Crochet shawl and/or bring your own project.
- Wednesday 18th July at 11.00: Bring your own project/last class recap.

Hope to see you there, just email natilittlethings@gmail.com for more details.

Skimming stones Mystery Crochet Along, are you joining the fun?

I am super exited I am joining the Skimming Stones Mystery Crochet Along (MCAL) starting from the 20th June. It was created by The Crochet Project (here).

Joining these sort of events are great for encouraging new projects while having the support of a lovely group of people that get as exited by this sort of things as we do. And it is specially great for sharing knowledge, and meeting (virtually or physically) lots of like minded people.

And a mystery crochet along is great as we know very little of what we are making, so it adds to the excitement!

There are already over 750 people joined in the Facebook group.

I decided to deviate from the suggested yarn choice as I had been craving some lovely hand dyed yarn by Vicki Brown (here). I am still waiting for the yarn to arrive, but look at the gorgeous loveliness in this picture that Vicki sent me while she was helping me choose my colours (awesome customer service and I got to buy some yarn that she hadn't released in the shop yet, how cool is that?).

I will make sure to keep you well updated on how I get on,

DIY Reusable make up pads

So my cotton pads run out last week, and I decided that I was done with them... I didn't want any more cotton pads going to landfill from my house. So I made myself some really pretty reusable cotton pads and I thought I'd share them with you all, cause that just what I do...

What you will need?

- A fat quarter (or scraps) of fleece and cotton jersey;
- Scissors;
- A jar or any round object to mark your template;
- A sewing machine - I used an overlocker but it will also work with a normal sewing machine.

Get making!

1. Create your template by drawing a circle of your desired size on a card paper or cardboard. Cut your template.

2. Mark your template in both the fleece and cotton. And cut all your pieces.
If you are working with an overlocker you don't need to cut your pieces perfectly as the machine will do that for you when sewing. See the pen marks on the picture above? That will be my sewing line with the overlocker.

3. Lay your pieces back to back and pint together to make sure they stay aligned during sewing. I used roughly three to four pins in each.

4. Sew your pieces together being carful that neither fabric is being stretches as you are going through the round edge.
If using an overlocker, use the cut function as you go to make sure your edges are nicely trimmed. If using a normal sewing machine, I recommend sewing with a straight stitch around half a centimetre off the edge and then zig-zag stitch to make sure there is no fraying on the edge.

And voila, you should have a lovely set of reusable pads! Remember to wash them in a washbag so they don't get lost in your laundry bag!

Work in progress wednesday

I generally post pictures of what I am up to on my Facebook and Instagram pages, but I like to do a round up... as much as to share with my blog readers, as to remind myself that I need to finish some stuff before I start anything new. 

Who am I kidding right? We love a WIP and can't have enough... there's always new and exiting ready to be made (or half made, oh well).

So in no particular order here they go...

A new cotton blanket, made with this lovely squarish flower that I join as I go along. I teach this as a proper square in my Crochet Basics class, but I always love the way it looks without the border to make a blanket as you go... maybe a new class on the horizon but I will definitely be writing the pattern when I am finished as it is a lovely blanket, and I found the perfect cotton for it!

Did you see this picture on Instagram last week? Well I seem to have run out of project bags so I had to keep this one in a plastic bag... oh shame. It is the softest but trickiest yarn to work with. I was given it at Christmas and it is becoming a lovely and simple just knit scarf...

And then I started this other blanket. It all began as the backing of a cushion for a sample in my class, but it was too pretty to be at the back of something. So I just decided to keep using my DK stash and make rounds of pretty colours. They don't got too well together but I love it! It is supposed to be finished, but I still have more DK in my stash... so as I haven't weaved the ends in and I may keep growing it at some point it is still a WIP.

What I love about this stitch is that I won't need to work a border round... easy lazy finishes are ideal for the impatient me! The stitch is called Beautiful Shells. There are many tutorials for this stitch out but I used this one (here), Of course I made a few tweaks to the pattern and changed colours, and promise I will share them all when I am done.

And now my shameful WIPs:

You may have seen this pic a while back, well I am still to finish the other curtain, at the moment we have one short and one long side...

And the start of this blanket, well I haven't even bothered to frog it yet, but it has been replaced by the lovely cotton one above... it just wasn't quite right...

And finally this shawl, love it so much... the yarn is gorgeous, but I didn't have enough of it, I thought I would give it a go, and now it is only waiting to go back to being a yarn ball... oh well lucky I enjoy the process even as much as the final product, right?

Hope the sun is shining wherever you are and you get to make (or at least start) something beautiful with your own hands today!