Seaspray Mandala

If you haven't already gotten in on Attic 24's community mandala project for Yarndale 2014, there's still time! As far as I know Lucy will be accepting mandalas until the end of June. I participated in last year's Yarndale project and had a lot of fun.

Although she has several options available for mandala making, I decided to contribute my own free-hand mandala. No pattern this time, just random crochet fun. I can't wait to send it off to the UK in the next few days. Here's my Seaspray Mandala.

I used Martha Stewart Extra Soft Wool Blend in two colors and a 5mm hook for my mandala. I wanted to pretty it up a bit so I also attached some small pearls by running thin wire through the stitches. The pearls were leftovers from my jewelry making days and I was really happy they got some use.

Community crochet projects are so exciting! I love it when people can share their love of crochet with one another. There are two more upcoming community crochet projects that I'll be writing about soon. Stay tuned!

Sleepy Panda Baby Set

Pandas are rare and special. It's hard not to love those sweet, cuddly, beautiful animals. You know what else is special? Infancy. It's such a short time and yet so meaningful. Babies are like little sponges, absorbing information about the world around them and learning new things about their own bodies every day. Did you know that babies flail their arms and legs because their brain is working hard to cement only the strongest motor connections? All of the flailing movements slowly become more deliberate as the weak connections are dropped and the strong connections are reinforced. Amazing!

Here's a baby set sure to delight panda lovers everywhere, the Sleepy Panda Baby Set. I was originally going to put a panda applique on the blanket, but my amazing genius of a husband stopped me and said "No, the baby should be the panda." Indeed!

The Sleepy Panda Baby Set pattern can be found on Ravelry and Craftsy.

Streamwave Throw plus Giveaway Winners Announced

Just as the best writers read often, I believe it is important for crochet pattern designers to follow others' patterns on a regular basis. Not only does taking short breaks from pattern writing allow you to collect and organize your thoughts for your next pattern, it also shows you styles and ideas that are different from your own. While following someones crochet fox hat pattern you might be struck with an awesome idea for a coyote throw pillow. If you follow a poorly written pattern you can make mental notes about what not to do, and if you follow an awesome pattern you can reflect on what makes it so awesome and incorporate that awesomeness into your own designs. Since crochet designers are often trying to make a beloved hobby into a career, it's important not to burn out or lose the joy by focusing on designing to the exclusion of everything else. Plus, let's be honest, following others' patterns every now and then is fun! Finally, working up patterns that others have written helps you stay connected to the crochet community and its trends.

I recently followed Kim Guzman's Streamwave Throw pattern and I'm really proud to show you my finished product.

The blanket was a pleasure to make. It has a great rhythm to it and is a nice size. It must be noted that I rarely follow the recommended number of rows on patterns like this. I like to stop or continue on as I see fit. This throw didn't take me too long to make. I worked on it over a three month span of time, during which I worked on and completed several other objects. If I had dedicated myself to it I think I could have finished it in about two weeks.

I think this throw pattern looks like stained glass. The original calls for variegated yarn, which would probably look very nice if you found the right color. Since I'm not a huge fan of variegated yarn I opted for two solid colors to make it interesting. I used Caron Simply Soft for its glossy finish and reasonable price.

It will be a pleasure to add this project page to my Ravelry account. It's great looking back on all of the hard work I've done, especially when so many of my finished objects are sold or given as gifts. I'm sure you can relate :) As ever, my hook keeps moving. If there's a pattern you really love and you want me to check it out, you're always welcome to drop me a line via illuminatecrochet@gmail.com.

Now, for the giveaway announcement! Using a random number generator, I have selected our winners! Congratulations to Crocheter Carrie R. and Admirer Melissa S.! After I get their details I will arrange their packages and show you what they're receiving. A huge thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway. If you didn't win, stay tuned for more fun giveaways and contests.