Sandra's Designing Blog

This is an exclusive area of my web site where you can find out more about my knitted designs, what inspires me, how I work and what I like (and don't like) to design. 
 
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Category: Mindfulness Crafting

  1. Highlights of the Knitting & Crochet Guild Northern Regional Day

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    At the end of June, I helped arrange the Knitting & Crochet Guild Northern Regional Day here in Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire, working alongside the team to ensure everything ran smoothly. It was a fantastic event, bringing together so many talented makers and enthusiastic members (& non members).

    I’d love to share some of my highlights from the day with you.
     
    HIGHLIGHTS OF THE K & C GUILD NORTHERN REGIONAL DAY
    We were treated to some fantastic talks during the day, with our keynote speaker Kandy Diamond sharing her playful and thought-provoking approach to knitting and design starting off the day. (Find out more about Kandy's Knit & Destroy brand here)
    and Hazledene Flock giving us an insight into their rare breed sheep and beautiful yarns,
     
    One highlight was the embroidered knitting workshop, where participants explored the beauty of adding embroidery to their knitwear. We began by looking at some stunning vintage embroidered knits from the K & C Guild Collection, learning about their history and techniques, before having a go at embroidering our own knitted swatches. It was a wonderful opportunity to combine two crafts and spark new creative ideas.
    My own embroidered swatch. I absolutely loved the effect – it added such beautiful texture and colour. However, I found it really difficult to keep my stitches the same length and evenly spaced, which was frustrating.

    That’s why I’m so excited about my new Stick & Stitch products, which get around this problem completely by giving you a clear guide to follow for neat, consistent embroidery on your knits.
    * Folk Birds * Folk Cats * Folk Dogs * Folk Flowers * 
    Add a touch of Corrinne Lapierre to your favourite clothes, accessories and homewares with these easy to use self adhesive water soluble transfer sheets. 
    Simply cut out the design, peel off the backing, stick onto your choice of fabrics (yes it works on knits!). Once you have completed your embroidery, the pattern can be rinsed away in warm water leaving your beautiful embroidery behind. 

    Each pack contains a minimum of 10 designs as well as some smaller patterns to dot around or place in smaller areas AND a stitch guide. 
    Browse the Stick & Stitch Packs
    I'll share more highlights of the Northern Regional Day in my next newsletter so stay tuned. 

    Happy crafting x 

    Sandra

  2. Crocheting Mandala's

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    Crocheting Mandala's

    for the Spectrum SHOP project is just beginning to unfold for me—a journey of mindfulness, creativity, and discovery. As a beginner crocheter, I’m finding that each stitch is teaching me something new, not just about crochet but about patience, focus, and the meditative rhythm of making. The repetitive motion is calming, offering a way to be present while creating something beautiful. I'm loving this, especially now, when so much to worry about is happening in the world.
     

    I’m also exploring the deep cultural and spiritual significance of mandalas, which symbolize unity and balance across many traditions. From Tibetan sand mandalas to Indian rangoli, these circular designs hold meaning beyond their intricate patterns. While I’m still learning, I already appreciate how universal and timeless this art form is.

    The Purpose of a Tibetan Sand Mandala - Sand Mandalas: Creating A Perfectly Harmonious World

    Sand-painted Mandalas are used as tools for consecrating the earth and its inhabitants. According to Tibetan Buddhist belief, in general all Mandalas have outer, inner and secret meanings. On the outer level they represent the world in it s divine form; on the inner level they represent a map by which the ordinary human mind is transformed into an enlightened mind; and on the secret level they depict the primordially perfect balance of the subtle energies of the body and the clear light dimension of the mind. The creation of a sand painting is said to effect purification and healing on all three levels.
    Some Rangoli Design Ideas - Mandala Rangoli Design Images (Kolam Ideas)
     
    Understanding how to keep crochet circles flat has been an interesting challenge for me. I’m researching different stitch heights, increase methods, and tension control, testing out what works best. I’m also learning a lot from others—through tutorials, discussions, and shared experiences—and I plan to pass this knowledge along, linking to helpful resources.
     
    Click here to read what I've learnt so far
     
    This is one of my mandala creations where I carried on following the "flat circle" theory that I researched and tested out - read here

    I'm now at a stage where I can attach it to my wire circle (in this case it was from an old lamp shade I purchased from a local charity shop). I've stretched the circle out and attached it the circle with clips, ready for crocheting to the wire.
    And then with some strategical placed chain lengths I created flower petals for this one. At the moment it looks like there are too many petals but I'm hoping when it's stretched out and fastened to a circle it will look smashing. Watch this space......
    At the end of this project, who knows? I might even create my own free crochet pattern to share my findings! There’s still so much to explore, but that’s part of the excitement.