Brick Stitch Peppermint Pattern

When I was approached by Sarah from SoCraftastic to collab again, I couldn't refuse! I also had a request to make a video on this pendant, so I though I would combine the two. These were one of the first things that I made when I learnt how to do brick stitch, so they truly are perfect for beginners :D

Here is the pattern, so you can follow along with the pattern as you follow the tutorial!

Happy New Year and About Crochet Mood Blanket 2014!

I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year! I'm so sorry for the lack of blog posts but I was travelling across the country, visiting family etc, so I didn't really have time to write an update for you all!

I also hope that Father Christmas/Santa was good to you all and gave you lots of craft-related gifts! I received crochet hooks and a case from my uncle and auntie! You may wonder why I need more crochet hooks, but these are in a lovely variety of sizes and have handles! So useful and very comfortable to use. The case is so pretty too so I can now travel with my hooks with pride!

My mum was thrilled to bits with the earrings that I made for her (and if you don't know what I'm talking about, refer to this blog post here!) and has told me that next year I will be receiving an order from her as presents due to the number of compliments she's received! Always lovely to hear :)

So my sister was browsing Instagram, as one does, and came across a crochet project. Mummy_Stacey on IG had the great idea to make a blanket through 2014! The basic idea is to assign colours to specific emotions or moods and to crochet or knit one square/stripe a day/week using the colour that reflects your mood! I thought it was a brilliant idea and knew that I had to make one! There was a lot of chat about a Facebook group for this project so I offered to make one. The group was set up the morning of New Year's Eve and at the moment, there are over 1,700 members! I can't believe how many blankets there are going to be by 2015! Some people are even dedicating to more than one blanket. If you search #crochetmoodblanket2014 on Instagram, you will find many many posts about this wonderful idea!

Several members of the group have decided to do different types of squares. I have some lovely examples here from the Facebook group!

These gorgeous squares are by Janet Stone on Facebook. She explains that the flowers are constant and stands for faith and hope, and the colours will show her dominant mood for the day. The pattern is her own creation! Amazing talent :)

These lovely solid squares are by the very-talented Faye Walsh, also known as Little Dove Crochet. These squares will really make an impact! She is aiming for a colourful patchwork and isn't assigning a colour to a mood, just crocheting what takes her fancy each day!

These wonderful squares have been made by Cara Mia. She has decided not to go for the classic square and took inspiration from the Crochet Motifs book you can see in the photo above. She was originally going to do a different style square each week but now she's not sure because this square works up so quickly!!

I've chosen just to do a basic granny square for my pattern of choice because I knew I'd stick to it then :) I also haven't selected specific colours to moods. My mission for this blanket is to stash-bust so I will just be using colours that take my fancy each day, but it will also be reflecting my mood! Here are days one, two, three and four:

I felt creative on this day, hence the variegated wool!

Brown for boredom because I had a 4 hour train journey back to Nottingham!

Blue for day three because it was cold and raining outside!

I chose light yellow and mint green today because I had a relaxing day :)

Each of my squares will have a white border as a joining colour and I will be joining as I go, using Attic24's tutorial. This means I will actually end up with a blanket instead of a collection of squares!!

Stacey has been kind enough to thank me on her IG for making the group and I have since doubled the amount of followers! I cannot believe it but I am also very thankful. I think that I will make a lot of friends through this project :)

I will dedicate one post a week to #crochetmoodblanket2014 and show you all my 7 squares from the week and why I chose the colours I did.

Come and join the fun on both Instagram and Facebook!!

Pattern Herd: Last-Minute Crochet Christmas Decorations!

So your house may be decorated by now. If it's not, you'd better get a move on! There's less than a week to go until the big day!

If you received a surprise gift from someone and don't know what to give back, these decorations won't take long for you to whip up for panic-presents or even labels for presents!!

These little gingerbread houses are gorgeous and will look at home on most Christmas trees! They don't require a lot of difficult stitches so you'll be able to make them without too much concentration. The free pattern by Ursula Markgraf can be found here.

I made these for one of my friends who lives abroad because they're so lightweight. I managed to get it down to making one in 10 minutes. The pattern uses basic stitches and also doesn't require a lot of concentration. Perfect to do while watching a Christmas film! The free pattern by Marianna can be found here :)

Look at how cute these little sockies are! These could be hung on the tree with little chocolate in for your guests. The stockings are easy to make, but they will require a little more concentration to make the first one than the other patterns I have written about! They are very easily customisable by adding different embellishments. The free pattern by Le Monde de Sucrette can be found here.

These's little bells are adorable! They'll make any tree look that little bit more Christmassy! There is both an English and a Spanish pattern for these bells. If you keep scrolling down, you'll get to the English version! Free pattern by "Crafteando, que es gerundio" can be found here.

This little guy will take a little more time and dedication than the other patterns I have posted. It's worth it though; look at his little face!! He looks so snuggly and warm with his stripey scarf too. The free pattern by All About Ami can be found here.

I know I've already done a pattern-herd of snowmen, but we're just going to have a slight overlap! This happy bunch can be made in no time and you can give each one its own personality. Perfectly customisable for your recipient! Living The Craft Life provides this free pattern.

These bundles of deliciousness are the creation of Twinkie Chan, who is renowned for making food-based crochet items! Using a polestyrene ball, these crocheted sweets are oh-so easy to make! They consist of a square, which you then shape into the sweet. This free pattern, complete with video tutorial, can be found on Twinkie Chan's blog, here.

Well I can't exactly write about Christmas decs without Father Christmas (or whatever name he is known by in your family)! This cute FC will stil proudly on any Christmas tree! The free pattern, which isn't too difficult, is by Pebie and can be found here.

I hope that this post has given you some last-minute decoration ideas! Let me know what your go-to pattern is for an unexpected present!

Christmas Earrings!

I am very new to making jewellery and I am the first to admit how bad I am at it. I have recently started a new job that sells beads and the bits and bobs you need to make jewellery. Since starting at this shop, I have learnt so much!

I decided to make a pair of Christmas tree earrings for my mum for her birthday present!

I'm not very good at photographing something that's so small! These earrings were made using Swarovski crystals. First, you will need to slide a 4mm cube bead (I used a siam-coloured bead) onto your head pin. Then thread on the sew on flowers in 10mm, then 8mm and finally 6mm in Emerald green, or whatever colour you decide to use. The final bead you will need to thread on is a 3mm Xilion bead. I decided to use a Golden Shadow bead to represent the star on top of the tree and I think it goes nicely with the gold plated fishhooks and headpins I used!

After you have threaded all your beads on, you will need to make a loop above the Xilion bead. There are many ways to do this so check out some YouTube videos (and once I improve, maybe I will make a tutorial!) Finally, attach your trees onto the fishhooks and ta-dah!! You have Christmas earrings!

I hope that you enjoyed this post. Let me know what you'd like to see in future posts on this blog :)

Christmas in The Corner of Craft House pt. 1!

It turns out that the people who live in TCOC's house are quite crafty! Our decorations aren't too extravagant but they're festive enough to get us in the Christmas mood :)

Let's start with the tree!

Here is our little tree :) My boyfriend won the battle and bought a real tree! It's not massive, but it's lovely! We have the standard lights, as there really needs to be lights on the tree! I don't think we can say that we went for a colour scheme! We used paper chains from Wilkinson's to bulk out the tree and baubles from Asda.

My housemate is South African and was deeply affected by Nelson Mandela's passing earlier this month. We thought it only fitting that he was the star on top of our tree! My housemate was the artist behind this masterpiece! He used yellow and orange paper and cut out two star shapes. He made a tube from card and decorated it with washi tape from Paperchase. Ta-dah! 

Some of you will be fans of The Big Bang Theory and will know that Christmas Day is also Sir Isaac Newton's birthday! My housemate, the creator of the star, saw that it was only fitting that we had a decoration dedicated to the birthday boy! Once again, decorated with festive washi tape!

My boyfriend is a big fan of lego! We have so many Lego mini-figures in our house and Star Wars characters! We used thread left over from the baubles to make some little Lego tree decorations! 

Our tree is such a jumble of themes and colours but I love it! It makes the decorations seem more authentic and homely :) I personally don't like to have a tree that looks like it belongs in a catalogue!

Stay tuned for part two of our festive decorations!

Exploring Etsy - Christmas Ideas Under £10!

I've decided to include a new segment to The Corner of Craft's blog in which I explore Etsy and find pieces that I enjoy and share them with you all!

This gorgeous necklace from ArtemisBridalJewelry is a lovely addition to any jewellery box! It only costs £6.27 so will make the perfect stocking filler. Available here :)

What better present than dinosaur crayons!? Perfect for children and those big kids that we all know :) These amazing crayons are from IvyLaneDesigns and cost just £5.61. Available here

This is a nail varnish ring! A ring that's been painted with nail varnish to give it this sparkly, magical colour! Such a brilliant idea by xSparklesMakeMeHappy and only costs £6.90! Available here

You can make your own Christmas minion for a loved one with this downloadable pattern by JAMigurumi. The pattern only costs £2.28 and is available here.

This necklace by FourSeasonFair is perfect for any Harry Potter fan! In a gorgeous antique gold colour, this necklace only costs £1.18 and is available here :)

No Christmas tree is complete without bacon! These delightful tree ornaments are by OlechkaDesigns. They're only £4.39 each and are available here :)

Gingerbread man soap! These will smell amazing and also look adorable in your bathroom. These soaps are by SymbolicImports and costs only £3.31. They are available here.

This is just perfect for any Christmas hairstyle! These clips are also perfect for children and toddlers, not just for adults! These are by the very talented Avabowtiquee and only cost £2.35. They are available here

These mugs of hot chocolate are absolutely gorgeous! They would look perfect on a necklace and just look at their little faces :) These are handmade by CheekyCharmz and only cost £3.13 each. They are available here.

Nativity finger puppets! They're so cute and look at those moustaches :) These creations are by dolllady237 and are £7.52. They are available here.

I hope that you liked this first "exploring Etsy" and please let me know if there are any improvements I can make! Also let me know if you'd like to be featured :)

Pattern-herd: Snowmen!

You are going to sense a theme with the pattern herds in the run up to Christmas... I am a big fan of the holidays and I have been in a Christmassy mood since October! Oh the curse of being in a choir and practising Christmas songs!

There are so many cute snowman patterns on the internet! It's another great and simple way to decorate your house and lovely presents for people that will be loved and kept for years :) This pattern herd will feature more knitting patterns than last week's.

1) Snowman in Grandma's Favourite Dishcloth by Miriam Giles

This dishcloth is so gorgeous and creative! I wish that I'd thought of this. I think this dishcloth will add a lovely wintery touch to any kitchen. This knitting pattern (with a crocheted border!) is available for free

2) Snowman Jar Cozy by Doni Speigle

Look at this jar cozy! It's so cute and will make any jar (hopefully full of sweets) look adorable. You could also make it in orange and have a jack-o-lantern jar cozy instead for halloween. This fun crochet pattern is available for free on Whiskers and Wool blog.

3) Snowman Stocking by Bernat Design Studio

This knitting pattern will require a lot of patience and counting but it will be completely worth it! A perfect present for a special someone and is guaranteed to become an heirloom and tradition. This pattern is available for free on Yarnspirations.

4) Snowman Ornament by Audra Brown

Ah they're so cute! Look at their little bobble hats :D These little guys will look great on any Christmas tree and make a lovely gift. This crochet pattern is available for free as a free Ravelry download.

5) Cabled Snowman Mittens by Jean Gifford

These knitted mittens are so adorable and look so warm! I want a pair in every colour so will have to send the pattern to my mum and talk to her nicely. This pattern is available as a free Ravelry download.

6) Snowman Mug Hug by Michele Wilcox

This mug hug will make anyone smile :) A lovely accompaniment to a hot chocolate or a cup of christmassy tea :) This crochet pattern is available for free on Red Heart.

7) Socks with Christmas Pattern by Drops Design

I'm wishing that I was more talented with knitting. I just don't have as much patience with it as crochet! I'd knit Christmas socks all year so I could have a different pair for each day in Advent. This knitting pattern is available for free on Drops Design.

8) Melting Snowman by Renske de Busschere

It's such a sad thing to make but his happy little face makes him irresistible. Maybe this little guy will be good to make after Christmas :) This pattern is available for free as a Ravelry download. 

9) Crochet Snowman Hat by Sarah Zimmerman

I'm definitely going to be making some of these hats when my orders are all caught up! I think they're gorgeous and look adorable on children. This pattern (in sizes from newborn-adult!) is available for free on Repeat Crafter Me. 

10) The Abominable Snowman (Yeti) by Elin Tjerngren

Time for something a little bit different to round off this pattern-herd!  The abominable snowman may not be the ideal symbol of Christmas, but this guy just looks a bit sad, lost and confused! This pattern is available for free on CraftCravings on Tumblr.

I hope that you enjoyed this pattern-herd! If you have any ideas of any patterns that you'd like to be "herded" or you'd like your pattern to be featured, don't be afraid to get in touch!

Pattern-herd: Christmas Garlands!

The Coca-Cola advert has been on TV here in England. That can only mean one thing: the holidays are coming! If you're organised, then this post will probably be too late for you. For those of you who like the thrill and adrenaline of being last minute, then this post is for you!

Christmas garlands! They're a perfect way to quickly decorate any room in your house or string it around the tree instead of tinsel for a personal-touch :)

1) Christmas Light Advent Calendar by Laura Campbell

A brilliant way to count down to the big day! Put chocolate or other little presents into the lights and you could embroider a number of each of the lights! Available as a free download from Ravelry.

2) Crochet Snowflake Garland by Mary Jane Protus

These gorgeous snowflakes would brighten up any Christmas tree! The snowflakes individually would look great as appliqués on jumpers or accessories :) Pattern available for free on Red Heart.

3) Jolly Festive Bunting by Lucy of Attic24

Those socks are amazing! Anyway... This bunting by Lucy is so bright and colourful! It's a great way to liven up and make any house look fun and ready for the holidays :) This pattern is available for free on Lucy's blog, Attic 24.

4) Crocheted Paper Chains by Steph Giddens

You won't need to make paper chains any more once you've crocheted this! A very easy pattern that's perfect for beginners, just getting in to the world of crochet! Pattern available on Lovestitches blog for free!

5) "Popcorn" Christmas Garland by Natalie Clegg

That tree is such a fantastic colour! A slightly alternative way to adorn your tree with a funky "popcorn" garland. This pattern is a free Ravelry download.

6) Garland of Pinwheels by Mary Jane Protus

This is a slightly more advanced pattern than others that I've posted today, but it's worth the time and concentration! Completed with little bells for the essential Christmas "jingle". This pattern is available for free from Red Heart.

7) Christmas Stars by Barbara Wilder

This pattern is in German, but there is a crochet diagram at the bottom of the blog post for those who can read them. This garland is perfect for not only Christmas, but also decorating children's rooms all year around! This is a free pattern available on Barbara Wilder's blog.

8) Snowflake Garland by Nancy Anderson

Another snowflake garland with gorgeously crochet snowflakes! Guaranteed to get anyone in a christmassy mood :) Another amazing, free pattern that's available on Red Heart.

9) Smitten (a Holiday Garland) by Emily Ivey

A knitting pattern this time! Another countdown-calendar, so you'd better get a wriggle on if you're making it! These gorgeous little mittens will become an heirloom and a tradition for your family each year :) Fill with little presents, sweets or anything else you'd like to make the countdown to Christmas even more exciting!! This pattern is available for free on KnitPicks.

10) Amigurumi Holiday Lights by Jill Watt

Time for a cute garland now! Look at their adorable little faces :) These holiday lights would even make Ebenezer Scrooge and the Grinch smile! This pattern is a free Ravelry download.

I hope that you like this first pattern-herd! I will try and make it a weekly-affair, every Thursday, and bring you some brilliant patterns from the world of Ravelry!