Felis Silvestris Crochet and Craft Blog

 My Pattern Design Process Part 2 So, the pattern draft is done and I'm happy with it. What next? Well, I like to make at least a couple for photos and for safety testing. I finalise the written pattern and ensure the photos are included. I use Canva for creating my digital patterns. It's really easy to use and I can even use it on my phone. It's free to use with a selection of royalty free graphics and images. You get more with the premium membership. They also print documents for a decent price, things such as business cards and my care sheets for my items.  The next important step is to look for some pattern testers. As a rule, most designers will recruit crocheters on social media. For me, I have found Instagram and TikTok to be the best places. Why do this? Well, when you write something down, it'll make sense to you but it might not be as clear to other people. So testing ensures that the pattern works and makes sense for other people as well. It's easy to mis...

 How I Design My Crochet Patterns Want to know how I design my crochet patterns? I'm still relatively new to designing patterns, although I have been crocheting for a good few years. Everyone has different methods for designing, and I'd like to take you through the process that I follow.  Inspiration and Ideas I find it hard to describe where I get ideas from, but often an idea will just appear in my brain. I do most of my thinking in the shower and when I'm lying in bed trying to sleep. I always write them down to make sure I remember them for when I am able to start putting them into action.  My first pattern, Barry the Bat was a whim. I just started making something and it turned into that. I think it was because I had treated a bat at work not too long before. The little guy was quite tired and weak, but when I picked him up to check him over and give him some water, he was so mad and yelled at me. I like bats, I think they are cute, but I know they're often seen as...

 Let's Talk Yarn: Wool Welcome back to my series on yarn types. Today we're looking at wool. I'm sure you know where wool comes from, sheep. Sheep are one of the oldest domesticated animals, as they are a good all-in-one farm animal. Sheep produce a woolly coat, as well as being bred for milk and meat production. Sheep farming is also one of the most eco-friendly as they can cope with a variety of climates and spend most of the year grazing outside.  Some people will insist that it is cruel and unethical to shear sheep for their wool. That's not the case, as sheep are not harmed in the process of shearing. It's actually more cruel not to shear them, as the wool gets matted and tangled, and if not sheared every summer, they can overheat or get skin infections. These can lead to fly strike and eventually death. There are hundreds of breeds of sheep, with different types of wool. Merino wool is a popular example.  Properties of Wool Fibre Wool is a natural fibre shorn ...