Podcast Episode 16

Hello and thanks for visiting! Episode 16 of the Emerald Cottage podcast is now available, you can find it here

Welcome to Emerald Cottage! My channel is all about crochet, knitting, sewing, cross-stitch, embroidery and any other crafty shenanigans! You can find me here: Blog https://emeraldcottage.co.uk Facebook jillemeraldcottage Instagram jillemeraldcottage Email jill@emeraldcottage.co.uk

Podcast Episode 15

Hello and thanks for visiting! Episode 14 of the Emerald Cottage podcast is now available, you can find it here

Welcome to Emerald Cottage! My channel is all about crochet, knitting, sewing, cross-stitch, embroidery and any other crafty shenanigans! You can find me here: Blog https://emeraldcottage.co.uk Facebook jillemeraldcottage Instagram jillemeraldcottage Email jill@emeraldcottage.co.uk ::Patterns I mention:: Baby axolotl by MadelineMaeCo on Etsy Bear by MadelineMaeCo on Etsy Fox by PlushiCoPatterns on Etsy Bee by CrochetBySilviaS2 on Etsy Flamingo/mallard by CrochetByGenna on Etsy ::Facebook group for soft toy testing:: CE and UKCA Marked Soft Toy Support Network

Podcast Episode 14

Hello and thanks for visiting! Episode 14 of the Emerald Cottage podcast is now available, you can find it here

#podcast #crochet #knitting

Welcome to Emerald Cottage! My channel is all about crochet, knitting, sewing, cross-stitch, embroidery and any other crafty shenanigans! You can find me here:

Blog https://emeraldcottage.co.uk
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/JillEmeraldCottage
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jillemeraldcottage/
Email jill@emeraldcottage.co.uk

 

::Books and patterns I mention::

Stylish Succulents to Crochet by Sarah Abbondio
Baby axolotl by MadelineMaeCo on Etsy
Baby dinosaurs by VividGiftsCanvas on Etsy
No-sew mini Octopus by OnyxStitchStudio
No-sew Axolotl by PawgysPlace on Etsy
Mabel Chicken by Oak and Marlow
Bear by MadelineMaeCo on Etsy
Fox by PlushiCoPatterns on Etsy
Bee by CrochetBySilviaS2 on Etsy
Pig Little Critter by PawgysPlace on Etsy
Cow by MadelineMaeCo on Etsy
Small turtle by CrochetBySilviaS2 on Etsy

 

Facebook group for soft toy testing: CE and UKCA Marked Soft Toy Support Network

Podcast Episode 13

 Hello and thankyou for visiting! Episode 13 of the Emerald Cottage podcast is now available, and you can find it here.

#podcast #crochet #knitting

Welcome to Emerald Cottage! My channel is all about crochet, knitting, sewing, cross-stitch, embroidery and any other crafty shenanigans!

You can find me here:

Blog           https://emeraldcottage.co.uk
Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/JillEmeraldCottage
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jillemeraldcottage/
Email            jill@emeraldcottage.co.uk

 

::LINKS AND USEFUL STUFF TO KNOW::

::Finished Objects::
Virus shawl by Julia Marquardt using Yarnsmiths Pebble Haze Prints (Saltburn)
Emotional Support Chicken by The Knitting Tree
Percy Pig – I can’t remember where this was from, using Utopia Crafts Lux Velvet
Mabel the Chicken  by Oak and Marlow, using James C Brett Flutterby
Hans Christan Andersen SAL by CloudsFactory
Stitcher’s Paradise SAL by Durene Jones as featured in World of Cross-Stitching magazine
2024 Blackwork SAL by Peppermint Purple

 

::Works-in-progress::
Magical Garden scarf by CuteCrochetMakes using yarn by Botanical Yarn

 

::Cracking The WIP::
Trillium shawl by Elisabeth Davis de Herraiz using Rico Superba Sky Wave

 

::Acquisitions::
Yarns from The Dye Shack, Sheep on Mars, BirdStreet Yarn, Attic Dye Spin, and The Yarn Artist
Rigid Heddle Basic and beyond book from Sealy MacWheelie
Candle from YorkshireBlankets

 

Virus Shawl 1

 Its 2024 and I'm very late to the party, but I've just finished my first virus shawl!

I joined in with a crochet-along, you can find it if you go on Instagram and search for #anniversaryvirusshawlcal. Its hosted by Lisa of @lisapinenotes and runs every year in April.

There are lots of different stories about the virus shawl's origins, some say its a vintage pattern, some say its called the virus shawl because it went viral a few years ago. There is a pattern on ravelry here by Julia Marquardt but I don't know if it is her original pattern or if she's just written it up? If it is then I don't know why she's not being credited for it more often??

Anyway. Its a really easy pattern, a 3 row repeat which is very rhythmic, although the groups of trebles are in 10's and counting to 10 repeatedly in a crochet pattern is quite unusual. So whilst its a great TV pattern, you do have to keep counting all the time, so prepare to not have a clue what any of the characters in your show look like!

I made mine in Yarnsmiths Pebble Haze Prints yarn, in shade Saltburn, I love how the soft pinks and yellows merge together. Isn't it so pretty ?

As I said above, this was my first virus shawl, but I don't think it will be my last!

Til next time,

Jillxxx

Marguerite Bag

Hello and thanks for visiting! Its been ages since I did a "proper" blog post - all my recent ones have just been to tell you about my podcast, but I've really missed chitty chatting so I thought I'd rectify that with a post today.

We're just back from a lovely dog walk at Greys' Court, which is a National Trust property. We didn't go into the house, or take many photos, as we had a reluctant teenager with us, and had to keep moving, but here are a couple of pics of the bluebells, which was our primary reason for choosing Grey's Court.

Back home, in making news, I have finished a beautiful bag, the Marguerite Bag. It's a pattern by Emma Wright, as featured in issue 166 of Inside Crochet magazine.

The pattern called for Wool Couture Cotton but I used Drops Muskat, which is a mercerised cotton, in colours Denim, White and Sunflower.

I blocked all the squares on my lovely wooden blocking board, by simply spraying them with water and leaving to dry. Once blocked I was able to really easily assemble them into the bag shape, which is such a clever design.

The next job was to add the straps. I went a bit off piste here - the pattern called for a chain of 64 stitches for each strap but I wanted my straps longer so I did 130 chains. Then I felt like it needed to be wider than the one in the pattern, so I added a row of trebles all around. 

Finally I chose some lovely bright fabric with which to line it.

I used the sewing machine to make a rectangle taller than the bag, then I cut down in a big zig-zag around to mirror the points and dips of the squares (diamonds ?). I ironed a seam allowance and then hand stitched the lining in place.

And here is the lovely Brenda modelling the final result...

I'm totally in love with this bag, I love how summery and bright and sunny it is. Now we just need some weather to match!

Til next time,

Jillxxx

Podcast Episode 12

Hello and thankyou for visiting! Episode 12 of the Emerald Cottage podcast is now available, and you can find it here.

::LINKS AND USEFUL STUFF TO KNOW::

::Finished Objects::
Make A Wish shawl by Sylwia Witty of @wittycraftsdesign
Marguerite Bag by Emma Wright, Inside Crochet issue 166, in Drops Muskat in Denim, White, Sunflower
Basic 4-ply sock pattern  by Christine Perry “Winwick Mum”
Book is Super Socks by Christine Perry

 

::Works-in-progress::
Virus shawl by Julia Marquardt using Yarnsmiths Pebble Haze Prints (Saltburn)
Three Springs shawl  by Deanne Ramsey, yarn  by @botanicalyarn
Emotional Support Chicken by The Knitting Tree
Simple Lace Scarf by Knit One Kits
Temperature Blanket using King Cole Pricewise DK And Stylecraft Special DK (Denim, Aspen, Spring Green, Kelly Green, Parchment)

 

::Cracking The WIP::
Trillium shawl by Elisabeth Davis de Herraiz

 

::Acquisitions::
Stylecraft Special DK in Parchment, from Wool Warehouse