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. 
 
Click on the arrows on the right to see my other blog posts.
 

 RSS Feed

Category: Free Pattern

  1. My latest adventure in scrap yarn designing

    Posted on

    I’ve been continuing my journey with leftover yarn – something close to many knitters’ hearts. If you saw my recent newsletter, you’ll know I shared my free Striata Cowl pattern (you can still find it here), designed to use up those odd little scraps we all keep tucked away. Leftover yarn projects aren’t just practical – they’re creative, sustainable, and often spark ideas we’d never have thought of with full skeins.
    FREE PATTERN - Striata Cowl
    A few days ago, I took this idea further by attending a designer workshop run by the talented Lisa Richardson, who happens to live in my village (and formerly worked with Rowan). The workshop theme? Designing a garment entirely from stash yarn.
    We were asked to bring two things:

    • A garment we already loved and wore often.

    • Some yarn from our stash to play with.
    I chose a favourite red A-line top as my starting point, and brought yarn in shades of blue, taupe, cream, and pink.

    The day began with swatching – not just for tension (I measured half a tension square 5cm x 5cm and then doubled) but also to explore whether we liked the fabric our oddments produced. Lisa encouraged us to try different techniques such as stripes, Fair Isle, intarsia, and slip stitch. My first experiment was striped slip stitch knitting, which I turned vertically to imagine slimming stripes on my A-line top. Clever in theory, but when I tried to add shaping with German short rows, the abrupt stops in the striping didn’t sit right with me. Time to rethink!

    Luckily, Lisa had brought along some sample garments, and I fell in love with one: a very simple design , The Fowberry, with no complicated shaping (just at the shoulders), no extra bottom or front bands, and the option to add sleeves later if I wished. It was a revelation – something achievable without too much maths (a relief in a busy workshop environment!).
    As an added bonus, I picked up plenty of insights listening to Lisa guide other designers – and was reassured that the way I calculate my own designs is indeed on the right track.
     

    Behind the scenes: my schematic + sums

    Here’s a little glimpse of the sort of rough notes I made during the day. It doesn’t look fancy – just sketches with measurements, and stitch counts. But this is the backbone of turning an idea into something wearable.

    • Garment shape: straight body with slight shoulder shaping.

    • Gauge from swatch: [24 sts x 32 rows = 10 cm].

    • Back length: [38cm] ÷ gauge = number of stitches to cast on.

    • Body width: [59cm] ÷ row gauge = rows needed across the back

    • Shoulder shaping - calculation concludes need to increase every 3 or 4 rows to middle then decrease down in the same way.

    It’s all very rough at this stage, but enough to get the knitting underway!

     

    I’m now nearly halfway across the back piece, and have already encountered a small issue that I’ll need to solve once I reach the end. I’ll share more about that (and whether I succeed!) in my next newsletter, so you can follow along with the whole process.

  2. Crocheting Circles - how easy is it! & 4 Free Crochet Mandala patterns (UK terms)

    Posted on

    Crocheting a flat circle relies on balancing the increasing circumference as you work outward. You achieve a flat circle by evenly distributing increases around the round. The idea is to add a fixed number of extra stitches with each round so that the circle grows smoothly without curving or ruffling.

    I've found that magic number!

    Click on this link to find how a simple formula works with UK trebles, Now you have the information you need to design and adapt your own mandala. 

    Want to crochet a pre-designed mandala? Here are four of the best.

    1. Fiesta Mandala Blanket by Rachele Carmona

      This vibrant mandala blanket showcases a hexagonal layout, combining intricate mandala designs into a cohesive and colorful piece. Rachele Carmona, the creative force behind CypressTextiles, offers this pattern in UK terms, guiding crafters through the process of creating a stunning, large-scale mandala blanket. View the pattern here.IMG_0255

    2. Mini Meditative Mandala by Heather Gibbs

      Designed by Heather Gibbs of Keep Calm and Crochet On UK, this mini mandala is perfect for adding a touch of tranquility to your space. The pattern is available in both UK and US terminology, making it accessible to a wide range of crocheters. This small project is ideal for using up yarn scraps and can serve as a decorative piece, coaster, or motif for larger projects.

      Access the pattern here. IMG_0256

    3. Legacy Mandala by Nerissa Muijs

      Nerissa Muijs, known as Miss Neriss, offers the Legacy Mandala, a beautiful design that combines various crochet techniques to create a stunning decorative piece. The pattern is written in UK terminology and is available for free on her blog, providing crafters with a delightful project that showcases intricate stitch work.

      Access the pattern here.IMG_0257

    4. Easy Crochet Mandala Wall Hanging by The Crochet Swirl

      This beginner-friendly mandala pattern is designed as a wall hanging, perfect for adding a handmade touch to your home decor. The Crochet Swirl provides clear instructions using UK crochet terms, making it accessible for those new to mandala projects. The simple yet elegant design allows for customization with different color choices to suit your style.

      View the pattern here. IMG_0258

    These patterns offer a variety of styles and complexities, all using UK crochet terminology, providing  opportunities to explore the art of crocheted mandalas.