Felis Silvestris Crochet and Craft Blog

 Yarn Types: Cotton Yarn Cotton yarn is one of my favourites to work with. It is less prone to splitting and fraying, and it gives good stitch definition. It has many applications and can be dyed in any colour you like. It also comes in different weights and thicknesses, for any project. Mercerised cotton absorbs dyes better and has a bit of a sheen to it, while non-mercerised cotton is duller and more matt. What is Cotton Yarn Best for? Cotton yarn has wide applications, it is durable and can be machine washed, making it suitable for baby items, blankets and clothing. It isn't as warm as wool and acrylic, so it is useful for lighter summer clothing. It has a soft feel to it, and is comfortable on the skin and breathable. It holds water well, and works nicely for washcloths and face scrubbies, which I have a YouTube tutorial for here. I like making flowers with it, the stitch definition really makes the designs pop. Such as my free daffodil pattern, here . It also looks nice for am...

 Let's Talk Yarn - Chenille Yarn What is Chenille Yarn Chenille is a synthetic yarn,  usually made from polyester, and it is soft and fluffy. As a synthetic fibre, it can be dyed in an endless number of colours, and even some patterns like the floral one I used to make the cow above. It's essentially soft fluffy fibres attached to a thread.  Chenille yarn is great for making warm soft blankets and it is ideal for soft toys as well, as it feels so nice and squishy. It has become really popular in recent years, especially among those who like making amigurumi, like me! Pros of Chenille Yarn The texture is lovely and soft, making the finished project feel and look really nice. The yarn is smooth as well, it won't split like acrylic yarn and is fairly easy to work with.  It comes in a huge range of colours, some even have glitter through it or patterns. It is a chunky weight yarn, which means it works up quite quickly.  It is also fire resistant. In the UK, all soft...

Crochet Basics Tutorials Here's my latest tutorial where I cover the basics of decreasing stitches to shape your crochet piece. I hope you find it helpful. I cover beginning and end of row decreases, crocheting two stitches together (standard decrease) and the invisible decrease. Once you've mastered the basic stitches of crochet, learning to increase and decrease stitches is the next important step. This allows you to begin to create different shapes with your crochet, and is essential if you want to begin making toys and amigurumi projects.