Monday, June 15, 2020

Carroway Crochet has a New Website.

Hi there everyone.
I thought I should come on here and let you know that this blog is no longer active.
I have a new website and blog that I started at the end of January 2020. Please visit me over at Carroway Crochet for free crochet patterns and lots of crochet news and info.

Thank you to all who have supported me here in the past and I look forward to seeing you at the new and improved site.
Pam

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

Messy Bun Hats for All

First of all I want to apologize for neglecting my blog. I am not sure if you know, but I am building a cob house. It is a natural home and you can see pics of its progress at Pam's Cob House on facebook.  While building I have had no time to think about blogging.

Winter has struck here with a vengence and no more building until spring.


This post was originally written last fall, 2917, lol, but I really wanted to share my process here with you.


So on to the messy bun hats saga.

While on facebook I came across my first image of a messy bun hat and thought I would like to have a try with that. I checked out several patterns, but didn't like the rib on some of them, and came up with my own design, which is similar in some ways to other hats, but feels my own.

First of all I did the simple SC finish.

Then I decided I preferred it with the fpdc, bpdc ribbing as it is so sumptuous and squishy.




I was crocheting like a thing possessed filling my Christmas orders and could not believe how popular these hats are.

I also designed a chunky verion.

I finally decided to write up the Chunky Messy Bun Hat pattern and make it a two in one pattern, which I uploaded my  to my Etsy Shop.

There is also my Sweet and Simple Messy Bun hat pattern as well. It is made with a worsted weight (4) yarn.

Good luck with your crochet project and join me on facebook if you like.We are building a loving crochet community on my Facebook group, Carroway Crochet Group, and you will find a link to it on my business page. :-)

Freedom Beanie Becomes a Best Seller

The Freedom Beanie


 

My latest hat design, the Freedom Beanie, has evolved from a super slouchy beanie, into a medium slouch beanie, with a shorter fitted version as another option.

Here is how the first ones looked.  They were longer and had a yarn pom pom. These can still be purchased as a custom order.

  
As time went by and I got feedback from customers I realized there was more demand for a shorter version. Then I learnt that lots of folks like the pom pom to sit tight on the top of their head, so version number three was born.

Now I make the shorter slouchy version, and the fitted version.

The crowning glory of this chunky crochet beanie is the super luxurious, giant faux fur pom pom. I just love these poms that I purchase from fellow Canadian Cynthia, of Diakitch Knits in Ontario.





The Freedom Beanie is being snapped up every Saturday at the local Farmer's Market here on Mayne Island. They are made with Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick yarn, which is a 20% wool and 80% acrylic blend, making it super soft and squishy.

Another happy customer

I have yet to list these in my shop but hope to do so shortly. Keep an eye on the updates.

End of a Busy Summer of Bralettes and Shorts.

 If you are here looking for carrowaycrochet.com I invite you to visit me at my new website and blog. Here I have free crochet patterns for some of these bralette and links to video tutorials as well, Thank you.


What a stellar summer it has been. I made my debut at designing garments and the feedback has been amazing.
When I did my vision board on New Years Day I stumbled upon this image and the words Runway Show. "Oh, what at great idea," I thought to myself. Up to now I had focused on hats and scarves etc, accessories really.

So when the spring came I was inspired to create some of the fun bralettes that are so popular right now. Here are some I came up with.
The Earth Mother Bralette

The Ivory Lace Bralette

The Sammy Bralette Top
The Festival Fringe Bralette

The Feel the Love Bralette
The Boho Festival Top
The Pretty Picot Bralette
 I created PDF patterns for most of these tops and they are available on my Carroway Crochet Etsy Shop. 

Next I moved on to figuring out some shorts patterns and these were so much fun to do.
Crochet shorts are very popular and the patterns for my Bella B Shorts and the Shell Shorts are actually my best selling patterns.

Shell Shorts pattern.

Bella B Shorts Pattern
  I also made some Hippy Shorts and I am currently working on the pattern for these fun shorts. I love the colour combos that can be used to make these fun shorts.
Hippy Shorts.
I will share the various tops and skirts I designed over the summer in a future blog post.

If you have any comments or questions about my new designs, I would love to hear from you.

Happy crocheting everyone.

Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Dreamer Beanies

The Dreamer Beanie. 


I am so proud of this collection of slouchy hats in a rainbow of colours.
Dreamer Beanies are slouchy beanies, hand made by myself.
They are created with a choice of tag, either an ultra suede  'DREAM IT, DO IT,' tag or the wooden 'Carroway' tag.

Here is the cafe latte slouchy beanie hat. It is such a soft and warm, fashionable beanie hat.
This hat goes with practically any outfit you desire. A great accessory for Fall, Winter or even the cool days and nights of Spring. Chic and cozy.
 

Why call this The Dreamer Beanie?
As I look around at the women in my life and community I see so many strong women who dare to dream and take action to manifest a better life for themselves and those around them.

As I thought about who would be wearing the precious items that I make I thought of these women and how I want my company to reflect the values and hopes of these women.

I spoke to some of the inspiring women I know and they agreed to let me share their stories.
Hopefully these stories inspire others to believe that they too can bring change into their lives, by dreaming and taking action; by doing what it takes to transform their inner and outer worlds, their dreams into reality.

Dreamer Beanies are available in my Etsy Shop. You can also purchase the Dreamer Beanie crochet pattern and make your very own.

They come in lots of lovely colours.

Saturday, June 9, 2018

How to Crochet a Circle in A Square Mug Rug Coaster.

Things have been really happening with Carroway Crochet and I am so happy to be back to my blog sharing a video I created for my new Carroway Crochet YouTube channel

The Circle in A Square Mug Rug/Coaster
I just love colour and having something small to make is sometimes a good thing, something that you can make quickly and get the pleasure of seeing a finished item right away. 

SO I had all these lovely colours in bulky yarn and I thought this would be a fun idea.


 I just love the colour pops and must admit I got a bit addicted to making them. I have taken some to the market and they are proving very popular.

 Here I have them with this beautiful mug I got when I was visiting my daughter when she spent a year living in Dublin in Ireland. The colours go perfectly.
These are so bright and modern and perfect for gifts and home decor.

There is a free PDF pattern download available in my crochet group on facebook. Just join Carroway Crochet Group and you can grab the free PDF pattern and also be part of a growing community of crochet lovers. 

I used super bulky weight yarn (6) and a K hook, 6.5mm to make these mug rugs.

 Here is what you need.


Yarn: One skein of super bulky weight (6) yarn in white and one skein in the contrast colour of your choice.  This is a great stash buster.

Hook:: US K 10.5/6.5mm

Notions: Scissors , tapestry needle.


Abbreviations (uses US conventions)

·       Ch = chain

·       st = stitch

·       sl st=slip stitch

·       sc = Single crochet

·       hdc =Half double crochet

·       dc= Double crochet
 
Instructions:

Start with the bright colour of your choice.

Ch 4 join to make a loop,



Round 1: Ch 3, this is the first dc, dc 11 times into the centre of the loop

You end up with 12 stitches



 

Round 2: Ch 3 and dc into the same stitch space as ch 3, 2 dc into next stitch and every stitch around (24 stitches)



Cut off yarn and finish off.

                   Join the white to any stitch.                  



 
Round 3: Ch3 and dc into the same stitch.


Then  * dc in next st, hdc into the next st, sc into next stitch, hdc into next stitch, dc into next st, 2dc into next stitch, ch 1, 2dc into same st, (this forms the corner) *, repeat between * and *2 times, then dc into next st, hdc into the next st, sc the next stitch, hdc into next stitch, dc into next st, 2dc into next stitch, ch 1 and join with a sl st to the top of the ch 3.







You now have your completed Mug Rug.



Make as many colours as you like.



So here we have the video tutorial. I hope you enjoy it and subscribe to my channel.


 How to make a Circle in A Square Mug Rug Coaster with Carroway Crochet


You are more than welcome to sell items made from my pattern. Please do share my blog link  and tag #carrowaycrochet and help promote it on social media. Thank you.


Find other patterns by Carroway Crochet at:


This design, written work and images are a copyright of
©Carroway Crochet and may not be copied or reproduced in any way.
You have permission to sell finished products made from this pattern, but please leave a link to my website, www.carrowaycrochet.blogspot.com in your product listing specifying that I am the designer of this pattern. Thank you.



If you have any questions or need help with the pattern, please email me at carrowaycrochet@outlook.com, IΚΌll be glad to help you. Thank you for trying my pattern, I hope you enjoy it!

Sunday, September 24, 2017

Custom Orders are so Satisfjying.

Recently I have been getting requests for custom orders and it is great to be able to bring someone's ideas into reality.

I just sent some custom colour spa cloths off to Seattle. Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures of them before I shipped them off.

Right now I am working on a super long super scarf for a customer in Toronto. He had the idea to make a striped twelve foot scarf inspired by the stripes used by the Hudson's Bay Company. This is made with Bernat Softee ChunkyYarn for the red, yellow and blue stripes, and double strands of Paddy Green from Red Heart.  I purchased the yarn from Yarn Canada as they offer free shipping on orders over $45 and also deliver really promptly to me here on Mayne Island.

I used a half double crochet in this design and love the colour combos.


Here it is getting a little longer.

It is growing quickly and I should be shipping it out on Monday.

Be sure to visit my etsy shop if you are interested in customizing any of my items offered there.
Also feel free to email me at carrowaycrochet@outlook.com for product information.