Sweet As Honey Commission

I have a dirty secret to share... I don't really enjoy doing commissions. Part of the reason that I love being a designer is that I never have to make the same thing twice. Instead, I get to come up with brand new ideas, occasionally working up other people's patterns as well. Commissions almost always end up being something I made in the past, someone saw, and then wanted me to make again for them. I value and thank all of my previous commission customers, but it is highly unlikely that I will accept another commission unless it is extremely unique.

I love my Sweet As Honey pattern. It has brought so many people to Illuminate Crochet, and I am very thankful for that as well. It is fitting that my last official commission be based on that pattern. Alex, one of my best friends, wanted a miniature version of it to hang on his wall. I worked it up in Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light, a fingering weight yarn. Here is the finished product, along with a  few process photos. The work will eventually be framed. I am happy that it is finally complete.

Sweet As Honey Celebration!

Guess what? My Sweet As Honey baby set pattern has reached 500 favorites on Ravelry! That is so exciting!

Originally published in July of 2013, this pattern is still my most popular and a best-seller. Thanks go out to all of you who have supported me as in independent designer by blogging about, pinning, and purchasing this pattern.

Look forward to many fun patterns from me in the days to come. I hope that one day I can hit 1000 favorites!

This Honey Just Got A Bit Sweeter

Remember my Sweet As Honey Set? I have some fun news! I showed a picture of it to a very dear friend of mine. Apparently her boyfriend's father has begun to keep bees. How awesome! We need more bees and it's wonderful to hear about people who are looking into beekeeping as a hobby. She and her boyfriend commissioned me to make a scarf based on the Sweet As Honey Pattern for his birthday. Yikes! I was a bit nervous about trying to modify a pattern meant for babies into something wearable by a grown man, but I think I did a pretty good job.

If you like the look of a blanket pattern, chances are you can turn it into a scarf by shortening it and/or adding fewer rows. I really like to snoop through the projects pages of patterns on Ravelry because chances are that someone out there has come up with an ingenious secondary use. Hats become purses, shawls become ponchos, and blankets become scarves. Never be afraid of bending a pattern to your will and making it fit your needs.

By the way, I was lucky enough to receive a picture of the happy recipient and even got permission to post it here. Makes my day :) Happy Hooking!

Sweet As Honey Baby Set

As you've probably noticed by now, I really enjoy writing baby set patterns. This may or may not have something to do with my baby fever (don't get excited, no babies for a few more years!). In all seriousness, even though desiring a baby is certainly a factor, there are several things about baby blankets and baby sets that inspire me. The first is that babies are only small for a short period of time. It seems fitting that they should have bright, beautiful items that honor this special time in their lives and in the lives of those who love them. I delight in imagining families lovingly creating items from my patterns that can be passed down to the babies of successive generations.

Another thing I love about baby sets is that you can use bold colors and stitches that you might not be able to use with adults. Babies don't mind standing out in a crowd. Baby blankets are like blank canvases that I can fill with fun images and texture.

The third reason I enjoy making baby sets is that they challenge my crochet skills. Sometimes I'm brave enough to try stitches that look difficult because they will give my item the desired effect. I need to engage my math skills when selecting stitch combinations and borders for my projects. It's fun to find the balance between shape and stitch count.

I used my passion and ever evolving skills to make my most fun pattern yet, the Sweet As Honey Baby Set.

 

One of the most engaging parts of pattern development in this case was the creation of the hexagon. When you crochet in the round your stitches need to increase at regular intervals or your circle will ripple instead of lay flat. Through some experimentation I was able to balance regular increases with a stitch pattern that would form the six distinct sides necessary for a pleasing hexagon and honeycomb pattern.

This pattern has enjoyed the most sales success and positive feedback of all of the patterns I have released so far. How exciting! As a side note, I'm glad that people are thinking about bees since recent research on bees and bee populations has been so alarming.

If you are interested in my new pattern, it is available here in my Ravelry store. Now to get to work on the next one!