Tuesday 27 March 2012

Woolly Chic beginnings



About two years ago I learnt how to crochet and fell in love with wool.  I discovered that the things you could make with wool were endless and so now, have always got two or more projects on the go, with many more ideas in my head.

The trouble was, though, that I found that it was really difficult to buy British Wool and that wool on the whole was really expensive.  I couldn't understand why this was, when the UK has so many sheep farms.  In fact, my Aunt, Uncle and Cousin are farmers in Wales and have a lovely flock of Ryland and Dorset sheep.

This planted the seed of an idea in my mind - Could I get my own wool made using the fleece from my family's sheep and set up a business selling British Wool?  After some research, Woolly Chic - "make something chic and unique with British Wool" was created.

Nineteen lambs were shorn in January, their fleece sent to the Natural Fibre Company in Cornwall and washed, processed and dyed and made into 360 balls of wool in three colours - Natural, Raspberry and Purple.  The wool arrived today!

There is still loads to do, mainly finishing the web site www.woollychicdesigns.co.uk in order to sell the wool online.  I also would like to write some crochet patterns and sell some crochet kits using the Woolly Chic wool.

I would like to thank my family, my Mum for showing me how to crochet and knit, my Aunt, Uncle and Cousin for having such lovely sheep and my friends for supporting this woolly venture (especially Sam, who helped design the Woolly Chic logo).
 

Monday 5 March 2012

Launch of Woolly Chic Blog

To celebrate the Launch of my new blog I would like to share with you a pattern I designed for some lovely hanging hearts:

Crocheted Heart Pattern



Materials
Any wool

If using a fine 4ply wool then use a 2.5mm crochet hook
If using a DK wool then use a 3.5mm crochet hook

Fibrefill stuffing

Abbreviations (UK)
ch        chain
dc        double crochet
dc2tog  insert hook into next st, draw a loop through, insert hook into next st, draw a loop through, pull through all 3 sts.
st(s)    stich(es)
ss         slip stitch

Finished measurement
height of heart approximately 8 cm

Tension
Tension is not critical on this project

Method
Place st marker at beginning of each round
Start with a slip knot and a long tail of yarn to add a bead to at the end.

To make the bottom of the heart
Round 1 2ch, 4dc into second ch from hook, ss
Round 2 *1dc in next st, 2dc, repeat from * to end (6 sts)
Round 3 *1dc in next st, 2dc, repeat from * to end  (9 sts)
Round 4 1dc in each st.(9 sts)
Round 5 *1dc in next 2 sts, 2dc, repeat from * to end  (12 sts)
Round 6 *1dc in next st, 2dc, repeat from * to end  (18 sts)
Round 7 1 dc in each st. (18 sts)
Round 8 *1dc in next st, 2dc, repeat from * to end (27 sts)
Round 9 *1 dc in next 3 sts, 2 dc, repeat from * to end (36 sts)
Round 10 1 dc in each st (36 sts)

  
To make the top of the heart make each half separately
First Half
dc in 18th st and continue in rounds
Round 1 1 dc in each st (18)
Round 2 1 dc in each st (18)
Round 3 * 1 dc in next 8 sts, dc2tog, repeat from * to end (16 sts)
Round 4 * 1 dc in next 3 sts, dctog, repeat from* to end (12 sts )
Round 5 * 1 dc in next st, dc2tog, repeat from * to end (6 sts)
Round 6 dc2tog around until hole closes.
Fasten off leaving a long tail

Stuff this half with the stuffing


Second Half
Start by adding a loop into the stitch nearest the middle of the heart, once again with a long tail of yarn.
Round 1 1 dc in each st (18)
Round 2 1 dc in each st (18)
Round 3 * 1 dc in next 8 sts, dc2tog, repeat from * to end (16 sts)
Round 4 * 1 dc in next 3 sts, dctog, repeat from* to end (12 sts )
Fill with stuffing
Round 5 * 1 dc in next st, dc2tog, repeat from * to end (6 sts)
Round 6 dc2tog around until hole closes.
Fasten off leaving a long tail

To make up
To finish the hearts, thread each of the tails at the top of the hearts onto a yarn sewing needle and thread through the heart to the bottom of the heart.
The tail in the middle, thread onto a needle and make a loop, knot and then thread through to the bottom of the heart.
Thread a bead onto all three tails and cut to the required length (about 3 – 5 cms)