Ah, 2024. The year I stopped blogging because I just couldn’t be arsed. But I do need to be arsed to do my annual crochet roundup because I like being able to look back on the things that I make. I am generally always amazed at myself for the things that I make, and this year is no different. This year has seen a lot of “why the fk not” makes, things I’ve done purely because they are silly and make me smile. According to the list on my phone I have started 57 items this year, but have 7 unfinished as the year closes. But still, 50 items isn’t bad, just less than one a week. Considering that most things take over a week to complete, that’s a pretty high success rate. A couple of the unfinished items should be done by the end of January, and I have lots of ideas already for more makes this coming year.
Quatt Craft Club turned a whole two years old in December! It
took me literal months to pluck up the courage to talk to Steph at the village
hall about setting up a club, over two years ago. We are going from strength to
strength and regularly get over 25 people, and fill the car park. I am amazed
every month that a) people turn up, and b) people keep coming back. I was SO
certain that there’d be maybe 5 or 6 people and we’d just need one table. Nope.
Every month we use all the tables, fill the hall, eat a lot of cake, drink a
lot of tea. THANK YOU. It is so fulfilling and humbling and grounding to be
around such a wonderful group of creatives. To be around people who truly “get”
you, people you have conversations with about trivial things to do with
crafting, people who don’t judge how much cake you eat, people who share similar
interests and who encourage you to do other things. THANK YOU. Such a good hub.
Anyway, we meet on the first Friday of every month at Quatt Village Hall, and
it is all FREE. Tell your friends. 10am!
So, lets begin the 2024 summary. As ever, links are provided
under the item, and multiples of the same thing have been lumped into one
section.
You can read my previous blogs for crochet by clicking the numbers below [should open in a new window].
2023 / 2022 / 2021 / 2020 / 2019 / 2018
And if you use Ravelry, I have been updating my project page, on there you can see most of the things I’ve ever made. There’s lots! Find me here [click]
1.
Freddie Mercury
Freddie has made up 22% of this years makes – 13 individual
dolls in total!
Pattern: https://mojimojidesign.com/2015/05/20/ready-freddie-go/
2.
Oompah Loompah
I have made 6 Oompah this year, all for Etsy sales.
Pattern: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1048137994/pattern-orange-candy-employee-amigurumi
3.
Mini Oompah
Just because I can, and because I have been learning how to
make teeny tiny things. I used a 1.25mm hook.
Pattern: As above
4.
Chicken Run
I was bought the pattern book for christmas 2023 and I promptly
set about making chickens! They live on a shelf in the lounge. I am particularly
proud of Babs; there is something very comical about a crochet chicken doing
some knitting. The knitted square was made for me by a lady at craft club and
it is just perfect.
Pattern: From the book - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chicken-Run-Im-peck-able-EGGS-traordinary-characters/dp/1800922035
5.
Praying Mantis
This was on my list to get finished this year, and I have. It
is SO GOOD. She lives on the mantel shelf. I have desires to make a giant
plushy version but I have no idea where it will live. I’ll think about that
problem later. After I’ve made a giant plushy version.
Pattern: From the book - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Crocheted-Bees-Butterflies-Vanessa-Mooncie/dp/1784946354
6.
Red Chunky Jumper
No pattern, basically a rectangle for the front and back,
and then tubes for the arms. I alternated DC and Tr stitch, I think it is
called “lemon peel” but whatever, it looks good. A nice texture. I think I’ve
only worn it out of the house once. It was going to have a hood but laziness
struck.
Pattern: None
Yarn: Yarnsmiths Create Super Chunky from Wool Warehouse
7.
Cotton Cloths
Not a year goes by when I don’t make cotton cloths. They are
so useful and can be machine washed and tumble dried, so helps to reduce
plastic use, and also reduces the amount of kitchen roll that gets thrown away.
Also v useful as washcloths for the bathroom. David has one as part of his
kayak kit to clean his glasses. I keep one in the car to clean my lights. So
useful.
Pattern: None
8.
Festive Trees
I bought the cones last christmas and finally started to use
them maybe September time this year. No pattern as I just winged it to fit the
mould, but I did random bobbly stitches.
Pattern: None
Moulds: Maybe these - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Modelling-Christmas-Decoration-polystyrene-Durability/dp/B09H4JCRDY
9.
Mini Manta Rays
My quest to learn more micro crochet with ever smaller hooks
continues. I used a 1mm hook (!) for these, I couldn’t actually see the hook
tip so mostly did it by feel.
Pattern: From the book - https://www.amazon.co.uk/100-Micro-Crochet-Motifs-creations/dp/1446308391
10.
Micro Crochet Skull
See above! I am going to make a garland of skulls in
different colours. Maybe I should add it to Etsy.
Pattern: From the above book
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11.
Fimo Hooks
No strictly crochet but came about from a random discussion
on the craft club chat group, and within the hour I had a set of Fimo hooks. I
used my antique steel hooks in small sizes, 1.5mm and smaller. I simply
softened some clay (took ages as it is old) and then made longer handles. I
used liquid poly clay as a glue but I perhaps could’ve not bothered with this.
I am going to make more fimo hooks this year as I have a lot of antique steel
hooks, but also some v small aluminium hooks that I bend when using them
because I have Death Grip™
12.
Granny Square Jumpers x3
The blue yarn I bought absolutely YEARS ago to make
something for David and then never did. So I took the yarn cakes to craft club
to sell but no one bought them, so I decided to use them. And then I bought
more yarn to make more jumpers, and now I have three!
Pattern: None
Etsy: They are available if you want to order one, see here:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/salopiancrafts/?section_id=51260609
13.
Cat Blankets
These were Etsy orders for the same lady
Pattern: None, I just made a granny square.
14.
Diamond Waffle Stitch Blanket
The beast!! I started this in April 2023 and finished it in
November 2024. I didn’t work on it during the summer as it was too hot to sit
underneath. It contains 19 balls of yarn, so weighs around 1.9kg.
Pattern: https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/diamond-crochet-stitch-tutorial-5113949
15.
Snowflake Decorations
I had a fancy. I used metal curtain rail rings and crocheted
around them, and then made the little snowflakes which are stitched in place.
Pattern: Snowflake - https://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/crochet-snowflake.html
16.
Blanket Repairs
A lovely lady at craft club asked me to fix her blanket in
return for her fixing some stuff for me. I crocheted four tiny flowers and
stitched them on to cover the holes.
Pattern: From the book - https://www.amazon.co.uk/100-Micro-Crochet-Motifs-creations/dp/1446308391
17.
Pumpkins
I make pumpkins every year, and every year I don’t like them, so no pics.
18.
Ankle Warmers
A recent addition to my wardrobe. I decided I needed
something to wear under my jeans but over my socks to prevent draughts going up
my leggies. They are SO TOASTY. Possibly the best thing I’ve ever made.
I made two pairs of these. Maybe I should put these in Etsy?
They are 100% wool.
19.
A Bauble
This was going to be this years post christmas fascination,
but I made one and decided it was too fiddly. So I shall rethink that.
Pattern: None for the cover. Attic24 snowflake (see above)
for the decoration.
Bauble mould: Maybe these - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Christmas-Baubles-Iridescent-Ornaments-Hanging/dp/B0BGHZK4P3
And there we have it, 50 things condensed into a list of 19.
I have recently been sorting out the house and decluttering, and I found a list
of things I aimed to make in 2023. I am pleased to report two years later that
from a list of 36 planned makes, I actually made 9. So I shall plan a list of
things to make in 2025, but safely in the knowledge that I may not make any of
them. Wahoo!
