2023 – A Year In Crochet

I try to write an annual summary of all the things that I have made during the year. You can read 2022 HERE [click] and that blog post also contains links to the previous years.

I changed jobs in 2022 and I changed jobs again in 2023. I hope to not change jobs in 2024, but I did start the Quatt Craft Group in Dec 2022 (we’ve just had our first birthday wooo) and I also wanted 2023 to be a good making year.

It has been a good making year.

A VERY good making year.

In the 2019 blog post I wrote “I need to finish the Willendorf Venus I started in 2018”. Guess what I sorted out just last week to finish (and haven’t actually picked up yet??) – maybe 2024 will be the year I finish her.

I will try and list everything with links to the patterns also.

You can follow my crochet fun on instagram HERE and also see my etsy shop HERE 

Here goes..! It’s a long list this year, which I’m quite proud of.

1.       Flower Puddles Mandala

Pattern: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/flower-puddles-blanket

I gave this to a lady I used to speak to on Twitter

 

2.       Cleaning Cloths

Pattern: none

These went to my boss at my old job

 

3.       Dragonscale Cowl

Pattern: dragonscale stitch as a flatlay, and then sewed up to make a tube

This was a present for a lady at my old job who was lusting after mine 

4.       Woollen Socks

Pattern: none

These were for me 

5.       Hat

Pattern: none

For my other boss at my previous job 

6.       Cleaning Cloths

Pattern: none

I think I sold these? 

7.       WMSAR hats

Pattern: none

Sold to members of West Mercia Search and Rescue 

8.       Bunting

Pattern: none

I was going to embroider letters for Quatt Craft Group but I hate sewing so still haven’t done it 

9.       Socks for David

Pattern: none

For the husbeast 

10.   Socks for me

Pattern: none

It’s been a sock makin’ year 

11.   Hat for a lady on twitter

Pattern: none

I used a 100% recycled yarn made from plastic bottles and it was ever so SOFT 

12.   Jellyfish

Pattern: none

For another lady on Twitter 

13.   Bunting

Pattern: none

For my niece 

14.   Wristwarmers

Pattern: none but I got all fancy with star stitch

For my boss at my previous job to match her hat 

15.   Evo Kid

Pattern: none, somehow I freehanded this entire thing!

A custom order from a friend for another friend 

16.   Wristwarmers

Pattern: none

It’s been a hand-sock makin’ kinda year 

17.   Robot

Pattern: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pixie-the-robot

For a friends son 

18.   Balls

Pattern: none

For the cat, they have bells in 

19.   Crocodile

Pattern: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/all-in-one-crocodile-alligator

For a lady on Twitter to cheer her up 

20.   Wristwarmers

Pattern: none

I’ve been trying to sell these but I might just have to give in and keep them for myself 

21.   Bunting

Pattern: none

For a lady on twitter for her allotment 

22.   Photo backdrop plain piece

Pattern: none

For me to use as a backdrop for photos. Unsurprisingly hard to photograph, so here it is in use 

23.   Wristwarmers

Pattern: none

For a WMSAR giveaway 

24.   Wristwarmers

Pattern: none

A leaving present for one of my trainees in my previous job 

25.   Wristwarmers

Pattern: none

A birthday present for my previous boss 

26.   Little mice

Pattern: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1209199087/camping-mouse-crochet-pattern-tent-kayak

I was intending to make the full set but the mouse was so cute that I just had to make a second one. I need to go back and finish all the accessories. 

27.   Granny square jumper

Pattern: none

For me! I need to cut the cuffs off and remake them 

28.   Chunky tray

Pattern: Can’t find it now

This was a pattern test for someone on Instagram 

29.   Donut earrings

Pattern: who knows, I made them ages ago

I made these donuts YEARS ago and then had an idea to turn them into earrings. They’re now on the christmas tree as baubles. 

30.   Floral wreath

Pattern: none

I was given the wreath base a few years ago, found the flowers in a box, and glue-gunned them on. 

31.   Cow

Pattern: none. I should’ve used one though because it sure is a weird looking cow

A leaving present for a trainee at my previous job 

32.   Wristwarmers

Pattern: none

For a colleagues housemate 

33.   Wristwarmers

Pattern: none

For the above colleague

 

34.   Platypus

Pattern: from a calendar from a magazine https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/simply-crochet-issue-117-endangered-animals-2022-calendar-supplement/patterns

A leaving present for my third trainee 

35.   Coloured cloths

Pattern: none

My first Etsy sale! 

36.   Baby blanket

Pattern: none

For a lady I went to university with 

37.   F*** Uterus

Pattern: I’m sure I used one but I can’t find it now

A custom order via Twitter 

38.   Head blobs

Pattern: none

I thought blobs with eyes would be cute. I was wrong. 

39.   Bride & Groom Mice

Pattern: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1209199087/camping-mouse-crochet-pattern-tent-kayak

For a colleague at my previous job. I used the mouse pattern and then freehanded all of the accessories 

40.   Mandala

Pattern: Attic24 https://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/attic24-mandala-wheel.html

For my table for a vase to sit on 

41.   Glasses Strap

Pattern: none

For a colleague at my previous job 

42.   WMSAR Doll

Pattern: a combination of patterns, but also a lot of freehand

To be used at fundraising events for West Mercia Search and Rescue 

43.   Pig in a Blanket

Pattern: AGoodRightHook https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pig-in-a-granny-square-blanket

Reason? Why not.

 

44.   Oompah Loompah

Pattern: IdleHandsMakeKnots https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1048137994/pattern-orange-candy-employee-amigurumi

I saw the trailer for the Wonka movie and within 2 days I had my own cuddly oompah loompah 

45.   Fan stitch cowl

Pattern: Spruce Crafts https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/how-to-crochet-a-shell-stitch-979096

To get photos for my Etsy shop 

46.   Wave Stitch cowl

Pattern: Who knows

To get photos 

47.   Bobble Stitch cowl

Pattern: Spruce Crafts https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/popcorn-crochet-stitch-tutorial-4688588

To get photos for my Esty shop but it’s so time consuming I may never make one ever again. 

48.   Tulip Stitch cowl

Pattern: I think a Bella Coco Crochet pattern but I can’t find it

I had an idea and it looked great in my head, but I don’t think it looks so great out of it. 

49.   Blue Whale

Pattern: from the Zoomigurumi book https://www.amazon.co.uk/Zoomigurumi-Endangered-Animals-Amigurumi-Threatened/dp/9491643452

Why not? 

50.   Manta Ray

Pattern: from the Zoomigurumi book

See above 

51.   Tree Frog

Pattern: from the Zoomigurumi book

I was going to make a frog this year, and so I have. 

52.   Hat for David

Pattern: none

WMSAR colours 

53.   Socks for David

Pattern: none

WMSAR colours, with a thin orange line

 

54.   Doll

Pattern: none

I utterly hate this so the photo is of the incomplete item because it is SO bad 

55.   Freddie Mercury

Pattern: https://mojimojidesign.com/2015/05/20/ready-freddie-go/

Etsy sale! 

56.   Oogie Boogie man

Pattern: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/oogie-boogie

Etsy! 

57.   Gloves

Pattern: none

For me! The first I’ve made with finger tubes. They are SO cosy.

 

58.   Freddie Mercury number two

Pattern: as above

Etsy sale 

59.   Dragonfly

Pattern: from the Crocheted Bees, Bugs & Butterflies book by Vanessa Moonchie https://www.amazon.co.uk/Crocheted-Bees-Butterflies-Vanessa-Mooncie/dp/1784946354

For my momma. This is the second attempt and it measures 28cm across 

60.   Freddie Mercury number three

Pattern: as above

Etsy sale wahooo 

61.   Oompah Loompah number two

Pattern: as above

Etsy sale 

62.   Socks

Pattern: none

For moi 

63.   Tiny microcrochet snowflakes

Pattern: Attic24 https://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/crochet-snowflake.html

Reason: why not? 

64.   Tiny microcrochet holly leaves

Pattern: Attic24 https://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/holly-leaves.html

Reason as above. I have made them into a brooch. 

65.   Tiny microcrochet santa hat

Pattern: none

Reason: IT SO DANG CUTE 

I have also darned my socks, his socks, my jumper, and my gloves several times this year. And remade pompoms for multiple hats.

And now for the list of things I started but haven’t yet finished!! These are things that I will hopefully/likely finish in 2024

1.       Pink ombre diamond waffle stitch blanket

2.       Kayak for adventure mouse

3.       Pigs in blankets. Always an ongoing project

4.       Hoopoe

5.       Big dolly

6.       Microcrochet praying mantis

 

And the list of things I intended to start but haven’t yet but need to:

1.       Goats. Lots and lots of goats. I have ten so far that I need to make.

 

 

I ended the 2022 Summary blog with a list of things I wanted to make in 2023 and I still have the same list on my phone. I have ticked off…. 3 out of 21! Such an over achiever. I have made 65 finished items this year and have six active projects, so I’d say that’s not bad going. Especially given that I changed jobs and went back to full time work.

Next year I want to learn mosaic crochet, I wanted to do it this year but didn’t have enough brain time to commit to it. 2024 will be the year of mosaic crochet. And finishing things from 2023 (or 2018).

I think this has officially been my most prolific crocheting year yet since records began (in 2015)!