Monday 1 February 2016

Enchanted Forest Mandalas

crochet patterns, mandalas, doily, coasters, how to crochet,

January Blues

For some people, January is all doom and gloom.  All the festivities of Christmas and New Year are now over; there's talk of New Year resolutions and some are actually doing a dry-January. There are those who wish winter was over and wanting it to get warmer, because all those wet, windy, cold, sunless short days are driving them to depression. 


crochet patterns, how to crochet, mandalas, doily, coasters,


Whereas, for me, well I just LOVE January, it is a time of peace and quiet, a time to relax and chill out in our little cave, a time to hibernate, I love it!


crochet patterns, how to crochet, mandalas, doily, coasters,


I love the time to myself, I love the cold, wet weather which forces me to stay indoors, I can rummage to my hearts content, read as much as I like, draw, crochet, knit, nap, try out new recipes, rearrange my drawers and cupboards, discard stuff I no longer need or don't use, and basically declutter.  


crochet patterns, how to crochet, mandalas, doily, coasters,


Best of all, it is a great time to take sunrise photos (when the sun is visible) because sunrise is as late as 8am.  This is the perfect time of year for resting and recouping!  A time of reflection without distractions! Absolutely perfect!

Crochet Discoveries

I managed to sort out my stash of yarn and stack of unfinished projects, and have decided to complete some crochet items I had worked on and put aside for another day for whatever reason, and now here is the first crochet project I decided to complete.

ENCHANTED FOREST Mandalas


crochet patterns, how to crochet, mandalas, doily, coasters,

I started this creation about two (2) summers ago.  It was a WIP (work-in-progress) for so long only because I would take my time to decide what stitch pattern to do next, so I would only do it when the inspiration took me there!  I was also using up my scraps of DMC Petra 5, so it had a totally different look, in the original work I used a total of six (6) colours and even had more rows, but for the NEW look I excluded the last four (4) rows to keep it a reasonable size.  Then I chose the colours of peppermint and avocado to complement my sofa cushions, so you are quite welcome to chose any colour you prefer to complement your home decore.

Here are the PATTERN DETAILS:


DIFFICULTY:  Easy Intermediate
SIZES:  Three (3) sizes - A = small; B = medium; C = large
MEASUREMENTS:  approx. A = 13cm (5in);  B = 23cm (9in);  C = 41cm (16in)
YARN USED:  Wendy Supreme Luxury Cotton 4ply ● 100% Mercerized Cotton ● 100g/267m/292yds ● Shades: MC Peppermint (1831)  CC Avocado (1826) ● 1 ball of each
NOTIONS:  3mm hook, Yarn needle

PATTERN NOTES:  You need to know how to colour change and crochet in the round. Instructions in this pattern are for three (3) mandalas, using two (2) colours, colour changes are mentioned in the pattern. This written pattern has accompanying photographs at the end of the written instructions.

crochet patterns, how to crochet, mandalas, doily, coasters,

Deep in the Enchanted Forest a tiny little spider creates amazingly intricate, delicate and colourful spider webs. Enchanted Forest Mandalas were inspired by these spider webs, and now you too can decorate your home with vibrant coloured spider web designs.  Come along and have a play and have some fun!  




ENCHANTED FOREST Mandalas Crochet Pattern is available in USA American Crochet Terms and UK British Crochet Terms.
Please select the correct terminology when purchasing your pattern.


ENCHANTED FOREST Mandalas Crochet Pattern 
is available from my online stores:
  
CRAFTSY        RAVELRY

crochet patterns, how to crochet, mandalas, doily, coasters,


Enjoy!
Ciao, ciao!



Copyright © 2008
Barbara Summers Hand Knit and Crochet.
All rights reserved.


YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

crochet patterns, how to crochet, coasters,

crochet patterns, how to crochet, doily, coasters,


crochet patterns, how to crochet, stars, coasters, ornaments,










Friday 15 January 2016

MYSTIC Butterfly Crochet Pattern

free crochet patterns, how to crochet, butterfly, butterflies, bugs, insects,

This week I am back in the Enchanted Forest, gathering berries and watching all the wonderful insects and bugs flying here, there and everywhere, and would you believe, I have managed to capture a unique butterfly to add to my collection.  

It is the most fascinating butterfly I have seen in the Enchanted Forest, with lovely colours of magenta and teal, and then suddenly changing it's colours to teal and melon as it flutters from flower to flower.  The whole experience of watching it change its colours is quite extraordinary!

You can now have your own MYSTIC Butterfly and you can change the colours as many times as you want.  Come have some fun and play with this lovely crochet butterfly pattern, and add the butterfly motif to your collection of bugs and insects.  Mystic butterfly will look fabulous attached to a hat, scarf or bag, make it into a brooch or you can make lots and lots, and hang it as a bunting.  The choice is always yours!  Be creative!  Have some fun!



Here are the PATTERN DETAILS:

DIFFICULTY:  Easy Intermediate
MEASUREMENTS:  approx. 4in (10cm) x 2in (5cm)
SIZES:  One size
YARN USED:  Wendy Supreme Luxury Cotton 4ply or similar mercerized cotton
TENSION:  Not critical.
NOTIONS:   3mm hook, Yarn needle
PATTERN NOTES:  Butterfly is worked in the round.  Instructions in this pattern are for one (1) butterfly, using three (3) colours.  Each round is completed before changing colour.  Photographs accompany the written instructions at the end of this pattern.

This pattern is written in USA AMERICAN Crochet Terms.

free crochet patterns, how to crochet, butterfly, butterflies, bugs,


Pattern is available from my online stores



Craftsy     Ravelry


Enjoy!
Ciao, ciao!



Copyright © 2008
Barbara Summers Hand Knit and Crochet.
All rights reserved.


YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

free crochet patterns, fish, motifs, how to crochet,


crochet patterns, flowers, flora, how to crochet,


http://www.crocknit.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/2016-crochet-pattern-fantasy-butterfly.html





Friday 8 January 2016

2016 Crochet Pattern FANTASY Butterfly

happy new year

Here we are in 2016 and I do hope everyone had a wonderful 2015 year of crocheting and knitting many projects, and conquering new techniques and stitches.

christmas, canterbury cathedral,
Canterbury Cathedral - 23 December 2015

I had a quiet end to 2015 with cataract surgery in both eyes, which took a total of 4.5 months from the first surgery to finally having new lenses replaced in my glasses. As well as other issues with my health which slowed me down to the point of having to give up our long distance walks, changing my diet and forcing me to totally focus on my health and well-being. Definitely a year of change for me, it has prevented me from crocheting or knitting at my usual daily pace, to the point of no crocheting at all, even though I have many creative ideas, I have not been able to execute them.

Anyway, life is ever changing, and this too will pass one day. For now I am grateful for everything I do have and everything I can do, and the fact I am still here. Breathing and laughing and enjoying each day as it comes.


For now I would like to thank everyone who has supported my creative work during 2015 and I am looking forward to sharing my new designs in 2016, even though they may not be as frequent or there may not be as many as previous years. So I will start with a nice little pattern which I hope you will enjoy and want to try out yourselves.

Here is my first 2016 crochet pattern, FANTASY Butterfly

crochet patterns, how to crochet, butterfly, butterflies, fantasy


This little FANTASY butterfly lives in the enchanted forest, AND if you are unable to visit the forest Fantasy butterfly will come to you in your dreams. Fantasy butterfly lives forever, because in the enchanted forest everything is immortal. Life is never ending!

Fantasy butterfly can change colour whenever it wants, every day it changes it's colours, and every day the colours get more vibrant and fanciful. Just like everything else that lives in the enchanted forest, nothing stays the same colour, every single living thing is always changing colour as it pleases.

I invite you to come and play with the Fantasy Butterfly, come and make your own bright coloured Fantasy butterflies and bring some of the enchanted forest into your world.

Here are the PATTERN DETAILS:

DIFFICULTY: Easy Intermediate
MEASUREMENTS: approx. 3in (7.6cm) x 3in (7.6cm)
SIZES: One size
YARN USED: Wendy Supreme Luxury Cotton 4ply or similar mercerized cotton
TENSION: Not critical.
NOTIONS: 3mm hook, Yarn needle
PATTERN NOTES:  Butterfly is worked in the round.  Instructions in this pattern are for one (1) butterfly, using three (3) colours.  Each round is completed before changing colour.  Photographs accompany the written instructions at the end of this pattern.

This pattern is written in USA AMERICAN Crochet Terms.


crochet patterns, how to crochet, butterfly, butterflies, fantasy,


 Pattern is available from my online stores





Enjoy!
Ciao, ciao!



Copyright © 2008
Barbara Summers Hand Knit and Crochet.
All rights reserved.


YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

free crochet patterns, fish, motifs, how to crochet,


crochet patterns, flowers, flora, how to crochet,


crochet patterns, how to crochet, coasters, blossoms, flowers, placemats,