Instacrochet

Although I have been using Instagram for quite a while now, I don't have a public account. Or rather, I didn't - because earlier this week I switched the button from private to public. I feel this comes with an obligation to go out for an arty cappuccino more often and to spot all kinds of quirky details in the wild... Anything to feed my account, right?! *Ahem*

I guess what I'm trying to say here is that it might take me a while to get used to the fact that it's now a public account. But without joking: I'm tremendously excited about the prospect of having another creative outlet. I'm also tremendously anxious that - with one unfortunate swipe on my tablet (they happen) - I will publish an uncensored picture. ;-) In general I will - from now on - post about works in progress on Instagram where as on my blog I will focus on finished works. You'll find yarn on both!

Anyway! Here's a taste of the older pictures you will find on my Instagram. There are quite a few older pictures that you might have seen popping up on this blog before, but there are a whole bunch of new ones too. I hope you'll enjoy it.

Feel welcome to visit me  over at my Instagram account! (With a huge sense for originality called byHaafner.) I now officially declare it open for the public. *champagne*

Thanks for being here - I hope you have a most lovely day! And don't forget to...


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Smitten. The pattern.

Wow, I was blown away by your kind comments on the Smitten Blanket. Many thanks!

As promised I'd come back here soon with the pattern. Well, tadaah, it's here now - written and as a chart! Regarding the latter: *phew* it was quite a challenge to draw one that's not veeery wonky. ;-) (BTW if you have a suggestion for good software to create crochet charts, I'd love to hear about it!)

Please note that to the best of my knowledge this is a very old, vintage pattern. I re-created it from a blanket I fell in love with. However, if a original pattern is somewhere to be found, please let me know and I will of course give credit where it's due! Kudo's to the original designer of this lovely pattern.

Before you start crocheting...
♦ I made every popcorn stitch (abbreviated: pc) in this blanket with 6dc's. More common is a popcorn with 5 dc's. Using 6 dc really makes your popcorn pop, however if you're not a experienced crocheter of tend to make loose stitches I would advice to make a 5-dc pc, because otherwise the center of your square could get too heavy and could cause the last rounds to ruffle. And a 5-dc-popcorn is just as lovely. (And eats less yarn!)
♦ If you have not worked a popcorn stitch before I can recommend Youtube for some excellent tutorials.
♦ I used a 5.5 mm crochet hook. This resulted in a blocked square of 34 x 34 cm.
♦ One square eats (very) roughly about 120 mtr yarn.
♦ Please note that in round 8 you do not want to make a dc on top of the popcorn from round 7. You'll need a little gap there - it is like the top of a little gap-staircase started in round 5, if you know what I mean ;-).
♦ Instructions between * * are repeated as many times as the patterns calls for.
♦ If you're using the chart as reference: I did not mark the first stitch of a round specifically as such.

PLEASE do NOT share this pattern or chart elsewhere (like blog, facebook or instagram, snapchat, youtube, ravelry... et cetera!) but link to this page instead. And -  obviously - it's not allowed to sell it on etsy etc. Thanks for your understanding. 
























To start

chain 6, close in first chain to form a ring. Alternatively, make a magic circle.

Round 1
16 dc in ring.
(Your first dc is either made from 2 chains, or, preferably, by using a standing dc)

Round 2
*1dc, ch2*
repeat 15x (16 in total)

Round 3
*make 1pc in a ch2-space, ch3, 1 pc in next space, ch3*
repeat all the way round (16 pc's in total)
sl st in first pc of this round

Round 4
sl st in next ch3-space,
*1pc, ch3, 1pc, ch3, 1 pc, ch3, 1 pc, ch10*
repeat 3x (4 in total)
sl st in first pc of this round

Round 5
sl st in next ch3-space,
*1pc, ch3, 1pc, ch3, 1pc, ch2, [6dc + ch3 + 6dc + ch2 in ch10-space to make a corner]*

repeat 3x (4 in total)
sl st in first pc of this round

Round 6
sl st in next ch3-space,
*1pc, ch3, 1pc, ch2, 2dc in ch2-space, 1 dc in each of the next 6 dc's,[ 2dc in ch3-space + ch3 + 2 dc in same space], 1dc in each of the next 6dc's, 2dc in ch2-space, ch2*
repeat 3x (4 in total)
sl st in first pc of this round

Round 7
sl st in next ch3-space
*1pc, ch2, 2dc in ch2-space, 1 dc in each of the next 10dc's, [2dc in ch3-space + ch3 + 2 dc in same space], 1dc in each of the next 10dc's, 2dc in ch2-space, ch2*
repeat 3x (4 in total)
sl st in first pc of this round

Round 8
sl st in next ch2-space
*2 dc in this ch2-space, 1 dc in each of the next 14 dc's, [2 dc's in ch3-space + ch3 + 2dc in same space], 1 dc in each of the next 14 dc's, 2dc in ch2-space*
repeat 3x (4 in total)
Close this round with a slip stitch of by using a blunt needle.
Please note: don't make a dc in the pc of the previous round: you want a little gap there for the consistency of the pattern. (See remarks under Before you start crocheting...)

Round 9
Make a standing dc (alternatively: chain 2) in any dc of the previous round, 1 dc in each dc of the previous round. In the corners: 2dc in ch3-space, ch3, 2 dc in same space. Continue with 1 dc in each dc of the previous round. All the way round. Close the round.

Round 10
Repeat round 9.
Weave in ends!

Joining the squares
Have you made enough squares for your blanket? Congratulations! Now you can start joining them and watch the pattern fully emerge...
For my sample blanket I slipstitched the squares together. Hold the squares together (front sides facing eachother) and slipstitch through the outer loops. Easy peasy! After that, I gave my sample blanket a simple edging of two rounds of dc.

Wow - that was it, I guess. Your blanket is ready!

Please leave a comment if you detect a mistake or if something is not clear and I will do my best to help. I do hope you have as much fun with this pattern as I had. Oh, and if you are making this blanket, I'd loooove to see the result!

Thanks for your kind visit. Much appreciated!
Happy crocheting and have a lovely weekend.
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Liked this? My book Mandalas to Crochet is now available on Amazon! :-)

American edition (with American crochet terminology and published by St. Martin's Griffin):



English edition (with UK crochet terminology and published by Search Press):

Smitten

Two weeks ago I showed you a picture of a gorgeous vintage crocheted blanket in Lisbon. (The pink blanket with the popcorn stitches; this link will bring you to that post...)








I also promised that I would figure the pattern out. So that's what I did! I hereby proudly present my lapsized sample blanket. I call it my Smitten Blanket. Because that's what I am with this lovely vintage pattern. (I'm planning to make a fullsized blanket with this pattern!)

It was such a lovely project. At the moment I'm finalizing the pattern (both as a chart and in words) and I will publish it here within a couple of days.

Before I conclude this post I'd like to say a big Thank You to Vanessa from Coco Rose Diaries for the blog love. Her distinctive crochet and styling skills are simply amazing and she is a huge inspiration to me. Her post also made me realise I've got some work to do: Update my blogroll... It's been added to my todo-list. ;-)

Well... That's all for today. Do check back here if you are interested in the pattern for the Smitten Blanket. By the way, I've also got a pattern lined up that should bring a bit of spring in our houses. Because I definitely need that during these grey days...

Many thanks for your kind visit.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend and I wish you a happy week!
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Tea Break on a Stormy Saturday

In this part of the world it's rough weather right now. Strong winds and torrential rains make our little old house groan. (And leak.) It's dark, but cosy and warm inside. Barely enough light to take a few photos. Nevertheless, I did & I thought I'd pop around to share them with you.

It's the perfect weather to cuddle up inside and thoroughly enjoy your teatime. And so we just did!

Also, I'm happy to announce that I'm a contributor to Mollie Makes' Red Nose Crafternoon magazine, with lots of other crafty bloggers like Dottie Angel and Attic24. For more details please click here and I will update you about it in another post as well. Yay!

Many thanks for your kind visit. Happy weekend!
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Daisies in the Field Scarf *with pattern*

I have a confession to make. About a new love. Yes. I'm in love with my flower loom. It yields such lovely retro-esque results. And what's more, it combines very smoothly with my other love: The crochet hook. Match made in heaven.

I hope you feel the same way, because I have quite a few flower loom patterns lined up to share with you over the next months. ;-) I thought I'd start with this simple scarf. My Daisies in the Field Scarf! (Initially I wanted to call it Daisies in the Snow, but I figured that wouldn't make sense if I'd made a second one in another colour... ;-) Anyway!)

If you'd like to give it a try, here's what you'll need:
- flower loom with two diametres: of 9 cm and 5 cm / appr. 3.3 inch and 1.3 inch). I used Clover's Hana Ami flower loom
- 3 mm crochet hook
- fingering weight yarn,
- blunt needle.



Making the flowers
Of course you can make as many as you would like for your scarf. I made 45 flowers (three rows of 15 flowers)

- Make your first flower by wrapping the white (or any colour) yarn three times around twelve pins of the biggest loom. Cut the yarn, leave the flower on the loom.
- Make a smaller flower on top of the first one with the blue (or any colour) yarn, using the smallest loom. Wrap this yarn only once round every pin. Cut the yarn.
- Now use the blunt needle and the white yarn (about 15 cm / 5.3 inch) to secure the petals. Put the needle through the centre of the flower (from the back to the front) and then down between two petals, put it up again through the centre and put down between two other petals, continue like this until you've secured every petal. This will create a little white star in the middle of your flower. If you like, you can repeat this process to have a more prominent star shape in the middle.

- Leave the flower on the loom. Secure the ends of the blue and white yarn by pulling them through the centre of your flower to the backside with the needle.
- Now gently pull the flower off the loom.
- Personally I think this the best moment to crochet the square around the flower (rather then waiting till you've made all the flowers), because the petals will still be in shape and not tangled.

Creating a square
- Attach white yarn to any big (white) petal by making a slip stitch. (Remember, you've wrapped the white yarn thrice around every pin, which means that one big petal consists of three loops.)
- chain 4, slip stitch in the next petal, chain 4, sl st in the next petal. Continue around, then slip stitch in the first slip stitch.
- slip stitch in the ch4-space,
- make a standing dc or ch2 (this will count a as your first dc), 3dc in the same space, 1 dc in the sl st of the previous round, 4dc in next ch4-space, 1dc in sl st, 4dc in next ch4-space, ch2, 4dc in the same space (you've now made your first corner).
- continue like this until you've completed your square.
- close the round by a sl st in the first dc of the round of by using your darning needle for a seamless join.

Finish
- Weave in all ends.
- Block the squares. (I'd definitely recommend blocking because it will enhance the contrast between the square and the more fluffy flower.)

Joining the squares
Naturally you can use your preferred way of joining. I sewed the squared together by whipstitching through the front and back loops of the squares (front sides held together). I know some detest the idea of sewing squares together but I find it a quite meditative occupation ;-) plus I think it gives a rather neat finish. But any joining method will do just fine!

If I would have had more of the white yarn (which I had not - planning is my middle name) I would have crocheted a small edge using the crab stitch (reverse single crochet).

I will definitely make a second Daisies in the Field Scarf, using other (read: nicer + more) yarn. I think this pattern would work very well using a gold or silver coloured yarn for the inner (small) petals for a more festive look. And I'd love to make a retro style blanket with this pattern one day...

Okay! Please don't hesitate to leave a comment if you have a question about this pattern.

Also, I'd love to hear if you have worked with a flower loom, what your experiences are or if you are planning to use it some day. Thanks!

Last but not least: Thanks for participating in the little giveaway from my previous post. Frances is the lucky one to receive the crochet magazine. Could you please send your address to haafner at hotmail dot com? Thanks! There is another giveway coming up within a couple of weeks, so stay tuned. ;-) Meanwhile I'll be working on the pattern for the pink popcorn blanket from that same post...

As always it was really lovely to have you here. I wish you a most pleasant week!

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Now available on Amazon: My book Mandalas to Crochet!

American edition (with US crochet terminology and published by St. Martin's Griffin):

English edition (with UK crochet terminology and published by Search Press):

(A Lot) More Crochet in Lisbon and A Little Giveaway

Happy New Year To You and Your Loved Ones! To live up to my resolution of blogging more often, it seemed a positive start to be posting on the very first day of the year.

Let me now first explain this Granny Galore to you... I didn't make this vibrant blanket myself. (I wished!) However, when I was in Lisbon I stayed part of my time there in a lovely apartment. One where I had stayed before. It's an old, very spacious and airy apartment, flooded in light, lovingly restored by owner Joana, who is an architect and who also acts as a host together with her mother Martha. Both are the most welcoming people you can imagine. If you're planning a visit to Lisbon I can really recommend this place, you can book here via Airbnb. But I haven't told you the reason I chose this apartment. Well, in one of the pictures I saw a beautiful vintage granny square blanket, so that was that, choice made! ;-) It was this blanket...

And a great choice it was! When Martha heard I was into crochet she gifted me two lovely doilies. I still treasure them on the board above my desk. She also showed me this vintage pink popcorn blanket. It's just a quick snapshot with my phone, but isn't it a beauty...?

When I returned recently, a good 1.5 year later, she not only remembered my love for crochet, but she had a huge stack of doilies waiting for me to admire and two other beautiful blankets. What's more, she insisted I took some doilies and a blanket of my choice home with me. The kindness! I was seriously tempted to accept this generous offer, but travelling light as always, I had not enough room in my suitcase for a blanket. ;-) These are those blankets... (Pictures, again, taken with my phone.)

Aren't they amazing? Imagine the many, many hours that it must have taken to make these...

Below a compilation of the doilies, photographed against a concrete background.

You'd think that's enough crochet to make my heart sing. And it was. But even so, my crochet luck didn't end there... In one of the retrosaria's (haberdashery and yarn shops) I discovered a wobbly pile of old crochet mags, tucked away in a dark, dusty corner. I bought two. (Which I will show another time here - still have to make some decent pictures of them.) I might go back next time to buy the rest of the pile. ;-)

Which reminds me that, from a previous visit to Lisbon, I still have another magazine waiting for a little giveaway that somehow never happened. It's the one below, with classic patterns for filet crochet. You could of course tweak the patterns a bit, and give them a modern twist by using a sturdier yarn and other colours. It contains 62 patterns, mainly doilies, but also other items, like curtains. Since every pattern has a chart, you don't have to know any Portuguese.

Interested? Leave behind a comment before January 6th and I will pick a winner.

I'd like to end this post with my favourite sunset - ever. Lisbon. In pastels. Of course.

Many thanks for your kind visit and I hope we'll have many more online encounters in this new year.
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