A lot of my writing energy has been put towards decluttering my head and writing in an actual paper journal with an actual proper pen, so the online world of my blog has been even more neglected than 2024 was. I do like my crochet summary blogs though; they are a great record / archive of the things I have made. And the volume of things! I keep a log on Ravelry of items, but don’t keep track of numbers on there.
This post is a LONG one. This year has been incredibly creatively productive. I am ending the year on 70 makes started, and of those only 5 unfinished. But a lot of those 70 are actually multiple items, so I think I am closer to 100 total things made / started this year. An average of maybe two per week? Not bad. Well done, me! For this years blog, I haven’t lumped similar things together, so Lemmy, Ozzy, and Freddie feature multiple times throughout. And chickens.
If you'd like to keep me busy with Lemmy, Freddie, chickens, and other things, my Etsy shop is HERE.
I have however also made no progress on my 2025 Crochet Wish
List. I make a list every year of things I want to make, techniques I want to
learn, and patterns to try. I don’t think I have looked at this years list
since I wrote it, I certainly haven’t ticked many things off despite having
made so much stuff. SO, with that in mind, 2026 will be the year of maybe
working on that. Maybe. I have an itch to learn me some tapestry crochet, so
expect some wall hanging decorative pieces this year.
Those who know me will know that my life is heavily
influenced by Instagram but generally not in good ways (good to me,
questionable to others). I have ended the year with a from me to me gift, that
I saw on insta. It is a pattern book for characters from The Muppets! Yay!!
Expect Muppets to feature heavily in the 2026 Summary Blog…
You can read my previous blogs for crochet by clicking the numbers below [should open in a new window].
2024 / 2023 / 2022 / 2021 / 2020 / 2019 / 2018
Most of the pattern links in this blog are from Ravelry, but
I do also buy a lot of patterns on Etsy. 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]
The BIG THING that happened this year was me having
some of my work on display for the summer at Wolverhampton Art Gallery, as part
of their Come As You Really Are exhibition. It was a bit peculiar in terms of
layout and I think (from a non-museum/art gallery person) there were lots of
things they could have done better & differently. However, I expect they had a
“vision” and worked towards that. A major downside was that there was no
information about anybodys work, and it was all mixed around together. My
chickens were having a tea party with someone elses little makes, my blankets
were used as backdrops to someone elses work, etc. But it was a different
experience and it’s not something I have ever done before. Interesting, but not
sure I would rush to do it again.
Anyway, lets get to it:
1. Purple Dragon
Pattern from the book Crocheted Creatures of Myth and Legend. Buy it here (Waterstones)
2. Blue top
No pattern, just rows of “lemon peel stitch” which is an
even number of stitches, alternating DC and Tr across. Made to fit me. I used
Yarnsmiths Create DK in cotton which is a very soft fibre.
3. Wonka
Pattern: By Ana Karolina Ramalho on Ravelry
4. Fireman Sam
Pattern: By Gretel Crespo on Ravelry
Started but not finished. Was going to be a leaving present for a member of my previous team but then he didn’t leave. And then it was going to be his birthday gift but I didn’t finish it, and then I left my job.
I also don't have any pictures! Not that it matters as he has since gone in the bin.
5. Garlic
Pattern: By Nicole Nettelbeck on Ravelry
I was heavily inspired by Instagram and I wanted a cuddly giant garlic clove. It didn’t quite work out. I then decided to give it a face. It also didn’t quite work out. It reminds me somewhat of the clown thing from Saw.
6. Persian Tiles blanket
Pattern: By Jane Crowfoot
I have wanted to make this blanket for AGES and just never
got around to it. This year I decided to start making the things I’ve had on my
desire list for a while, and to make the things that make me happy. This was
intended to be a lap blanket for me to have in the car during the winter.
7. Bacon Gloves
Pattern: None, I made a flat lay rectangle for each hand
with stripes, folded and joined and left a thumb hole, then added the fingers
one by one, matching the stripes. Called the bacon gloves as so named by a lady
at craft club.
100% wool!
8. Big Unicorn
Pattern: Pattern from the book Crocheted Creatures of Myth
and Legend
Cuz why not. The mane + tail used a whole ball of Stylecraft
Cabaret, and the mane is so heavy that the unicorn doesn’t balance. I had to
retrofit lollipop sticks into the legs to give it some strength to stand up. It
still doesn’t really stand up.
9. Green Dragon
Pattern from the book Crocheted Creatures of Myth and Legend
The year of the dragon. The wings are A4 paper sized
(length).
10. Mini fox keyring
Pattern: From the book Mini Amigurumi Animals Book
Made for a lady at craft club who loves foxes. Apparently I didn't take any photos?! I think I used a 1/25mm hook.
11. Ozzy
Pattern: By Ana Karolina Ramalho on Ravelry
I don’t think the pattern is available on Etsy anymore as
the doll I made was removed on my behalf for copyright infringement, and then
soon after the pattern was also taken down. Oopsie!
12. Lemmy
Pattern: Ana Karolina Ramalho on Ravelry
I also took Lemmy to see Lemmy! David took us on a little
roadtrip. Very exciting. For me, anyway.
13. Orange Dragon
Pattern from the book Crocheted Creatures of Myth and Legend
Am using a very small hook (1.25mm!). Cannot bring myself to
make any more tiny toes. Need to.
14. Pip
Pattern: From the book Crocheted Cats
Yes I made a crochet version of my cat. I used wool.
15. Cleaning Cloths
I make these every year, they’re useful and quick and
multi-purpose. No pattern, usually 24 stitches across and worked to make a
square.
16. Stress Chicken
Pattern: From the book Im-Peck-Able Crochet
I used the Bunty pattern as she is the largest chook. Two
yarns of chunky chenille held together, and a 12mm hook. And approx. 1kg of
stuffing.
I made this when I was signed off work with stress and I
think it sums up my mental state at the time pretty perfectly.
17. Land Girls
Pattern: Bought from Etsy
Made for the VE display at my local village hall. I made
three and gave them different accessories.
18. Freddie Merc
Pattern: Bought it years ago, don’t think its available
anymore. Moji Moji Design
Still a favourite to make and sell! I made my first Freddie
back in 2022.
19. Dragonscale Shawl
Pattern: None, but am doing it with dragonscale / crocodile stitch.
A proper yarn eater. Am using wool. Is taking ages. Will not
be finished by winter 2026. Bought a shawl pin to match the yarn. Am not
looking forward to blocking it.
20. ToadFrog
Pattern: From Fiber Figments. I have bought a lot of her
patterns but only made this one so far.
I made it the wrong way around so the yellow should be green
and green should be yellow. Took me sodding AGES. I carried the strands of yarn
to avoid a bazillion ends needing to be sewn in. The plan was to make five
speckled frogs and have them sitting atop a speckled log. However. HOWEVER. No.
21. Babs
Pattern: From the book Im-Peck-Able Crochet.
An Etsy sale
22. White Trilobite
Pattern: TumAnnArt. She has lots of cool stuff.
Again, highly influenced by Instagram. Errybody needs a
cuddly tribblybib!
23. Display Stands
I bought these to use at Craft Club on the inspiration
table. Decided to crochet some shelf covers to tart them up a bit. I used
Stylecraft Cabaret and hot glue gunned them into place.
24. Oompah Loompah
Pattern: By Idle Hands Make Knots
Etsy sale. Still fun to make.
25. Pink Top
Pattern: None, but loosely based on my blue top.
This was made for a shop in Ludlow who put a call out for
crocheters to make things for their window. I went and took some item samples
for them to look at and they gave me some yarn to play with. This was made with
King Cole CottonTop.
26. Blue Granny Square Jumper
Pattern: None, but same story as above. Yarn is King Cole
Prism.
27. Frazzle
Pattern from the Chicken Book.
Made for my display at Wolverhampton Art Gallery as I had
given the original Frazzle away to a lady at craft club. It just fell into her
pocket!
28. Freddie Merc
For the Art Gallery display.
29. Pink & Orange Jumper
Pattern: None, but did lemon peel stitch.
Purposely made it big so a) it had drape, and b) to factor
in shrinkage when I wash it. 100% cotton. Made to replace my fox pyjama jumper
(which I still can’t bring myself to throw away!!)
30. Small Pom Pom Blanket
Pattern: None
Loom: Made by me
Once again, heavily influenced by Instagram. Made this! Used
a lot of yarn! Fun! Doesn’t have much purpose as a finished item! Also got
blood blisters in my finger creases from tying all the knots! Fun!
31. Large Pom Pom Blanket
See above, but at least I got a good reel for Instagram out
of this one. Also, this one twisted the loom and no amount of bracing it made it
square again.
32. Blue & Orange cleaning cloth
Not sure why I gave this one its very own category? A cloth
is a cloth, innit.
33. Mandala with Lights
Pattern: Unseen Mandala
Fairy lights prob Poundlands finest.
This hangs on the wall above the bed and is v nice. Think I
used Stylecraft Cabaret.
34. Wonka
Pattern: Listed above somewhere.
35. Lemmy
As above
36. Gearstick Knob Cover
Pattern: None. Made it around a small hair elastic.
100% cotton. Why did I make this? Not sure. Poss to try and
stop the knob getting too hot during the summer so when I drove home from work
I didn’t burn my hand. Because obviously I drive with my hand on the knob.
Would perhaps remake with a circle of felt inside it as a hardwearing pad.
37. Ear Defender Cover
Pattern: None. 100% cotton.
Made because I bought my team higher rated ear defenders and
they’re all the same, so I needed (yes, needed) to make mine different.
38. Green trilobite
Pattern listed above. Made for my sister who had an almighty
need.
39. Manta Ray necklace
Patten: From the book 100 Micro Crochet Motifs
I first made these rays in 2024, but decided to put one on a
necklace in 2025. It was a good idea.
40. Ozzy
As above
41. Mini Persian Tiles Motif
Pattern as above. Made with a 1.25mm hook just because I
could. This lives in the rear windscreen of my car. A lot of people tell me how
much they love the doily. It is not a doily.
42. Lemmy
As above
43. Chainsaw Helmet Sweat Band
Pattern: None. 100% cotton. Added press studs for removal
for washing.
I usually use a triangular bandage as a sweat band in my
helmets but turns out that these aren’t made with cotton anymore, and are in
fact plastic. Which means absolutely no wicking of sweat. Which results in a
very slimy, gross, icky, forehead. Downside of the handmade cotton one though
is that it leaves an imprint of the stitches on my forehead. Swings n
roundabouts!
Also I took this out to wash and it was washed and I haven’t
seen it since…
44. Small Trilobites x4
Pattern: As above.
I decided that the niblings also needed one each.
45. Lemmy
46. Ozzy
47. Lemmy
48. Ozzy
These four dolls went to the same lady! My single biggest
sale on Etsy.
49 + 50. Mini Mandalas
Pattern: From the book 100 Micro Crochet Motifs.
In the drinks holder in my car. Not sure why though as you
can’t see them, as the drinks holders are usually in use, but I like knowing
that they are there.
51. Sparkly Pumpkins x5
Pattern: None.
Sparkly cones came from somewhere (maybe Hobbycraft, maybe
The Range, maybe a garden centre). Cinnamon sticks for stalks, and two pumpkin
spice teabags inside each for scent.
52. Crochet Hook Display Background x3
Pattern: None, lemon peel stitch. Stylecraft Cabaret.
Made for my display stands as once again I was heavily
influenced by Instagram and decided to make displays for my antique crochet
hook collection.
53. V Small Pumpkins
Pattern: None
Leaf: by Get To Hooking Crochet
I used a 1.5mm hook. Quite enjoyed making these.
54. Jingle Boobs!
Pattern: None. Titties ain’t difficult to make.
Made for a colleague of David who was leaving, and who is
also a fan of the boobies. I put bells in them so that they jingle jangle. D
didn’t think she would like them. Guess what, she loved them. They have the
lesbian pride flag on the back.
55. Small Trilobite
Pattern: As above
Made with a 1.5mm hook and mostly done on trains to London
and back. Took AGES.
56. WMSAR Hat
Pattern: None. Lemon peel stitch. Massive pompom.
57. Mr Hanky the Christmas Poo
Pattern: Bought from Etsy.
Made for a friend for his wife. Their son is not sure what
to make of it. I LOVE obscure requests for handmade poo.
58. Land Girl
Pattern: As above. Etsy sale. Made it a little basket and
put some mini veg in it.
59. WMSAR Hat
As above
60. Giant Chicken for a 60th Birthday
Pattern: From the chicken book
Honestly when I put the stress chicken on Etsy I didn’t for
one minute think that anyone would actually want one. I made it the birthday
hat as a little extra.
61. Babby Chicken
Pattern: From the chicken book
Made this as part of the above as I didn’t like the first
big one I made, so I went down to a 8mm hook. Made this and it was way too
small! So had to buy more yarn and make the big one anyway. All good fun.
62. Glove Repairs
To my driving gloves. Yes, I am that person.
63. Jumper Repairs
To my fox jumper. Bought this absolutely years ago from Joe
Browns and it is still my fave.
64. Johnny Depp Version of Wonka
Pattern: From Etsy
This went in the bin unfinished and will never be spoken of
again.
65. Star Garland
Pattern: A lady at craft club sent me screenshots of a
tutorial.
Made to demonstrate how easy it is to make crochet stars,
and then tried to teach a group of ladies how to make said stars. It didn’t end
well. No stars were made, however many laughs were had.
66. Giant Chicken for Christmas
Pattern: From the chicken book
Made as an Etsy order as a festive gift for a two year old,
however I get a strong suspicion it was more for the momma and the aunt.
Anyhoo, made it a santa hat. As ya do.
67. Mandala Woollen Hat
Pattern: Expanding Universe Mandala by Vio Vieux
Making this for me, it is taking AGES. Very fiddly and brain
intense. Will look good though when it is finally done. Am turning a flat lay
piece into a 3D object, something the pattern is very much not designed for and
I am wingin’ it, big time.
68. Glove Repairs
To my bacon gloves. Some finger tube end reinforcing. I wear
them A LOT.
69. Luigi
Pattern: From Etsy
I had a request for either a sausage dog or a Luigi, and in
the end they chose Luigi. A fun make! Started on christmas day and finished on
the 27th.
70. Lemmy
Pattern: As above
This was a christmas day Etsy sale. Woo! And it will be my first finished project of 2026. Woo!
What a way to end the year. Etsy has been a delightful
trickle of regular orders without being too overwhelming, which is what I
wanted. It’s also been great fun to spread some yarny joy and fun to other
people, especially the ladies at my local Post Office.
If you made it this far, well done. No prizes tho.
