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 ...

 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. 

 Let's Talk About Acrylic Yarn Welcome back! Today we're going to talk about acrylic yarn. It's one that is quite divisive in the fibre arts community, and often looked down upon. I like it and use it a lot, for a lot of different projects. Like all yarns, acrylic has its pros and cons. It is cheap though, and I do recommend it for beginners who are just learning to knit or crochet, as it is quite forgiving compared to other yarns. So let's get into it. What is Acrylic Yarn? Acrylic yarn is a fibre made from polyacrylonitrile. It is derived from petroleum, and was first manufactured in 1941. It is an alternative to real wool and does feel a lot like it. It is lightweight, soft and makes for warm clothing. It can also be made to mimic other yarn types. It dyes really well so acrylic yarn comes in just about any colour you can think of and can be very bold and vibrant. It is a very resilient fibre. Pros of Acrylic Yarn Cost: acrylic yarn is often a lot cheaper than natura...