December 2022
Hi there! Welcome to my blog
I’m Hayley and I like to make cool warm things!
I make crochet blanket patterns on hookedwithhayley.com and sell the blankets locally. I’m a mum of 5 (4 boys and 1 girl) and have been crocheting and knitting for years.
I’m starting this blog to share my personal and work projects (and hopefully a little inspiration as well).
I’ll start with my works in progress! I’ve only got 6 on the go at the moment (I think). My first are the blankets I've been working on that I’m trying to record videos with.
Recording videos is a first for me, so there's been lots of technology issues (mostly me not knowing how to use it). The first day I spent a whole hour trying to figure out the best way to adjust the tripod before giving up and just taping it to a chair! I’ve been working on them for about a week and a half now and almost have them all recorded. My next learning curve is editing videos. If only everything was as easy as crochet!
My next wip (work in progress) is a cardigan. I found a really cool pattern on youtube and have modified it to work with a 4mm hook and DK weight yarn. I had made a hexagon cardigan but decided I didn't like the puffy sleeves. So I frogged the entire thing and started again. This pattern uses a herringbone double crochet which I’ve never used before and has really nice pockets. I love the fact that the yarn changes colour and helps break up the monotony of working a stitch back and forth. I bought it and the buttons from a local shop but I’m sure you could get something similar online. Its King Cole SuperBall DK in the shade Butterscotch. I've got the back done so far and have just started the sleeves. I’ll share the pattern once I’ve made a little bit more progress.
Onto my last wip. I know I said I had 6 but one is work and one is a modification of a finished item and one is a Christmas order, so I’ll leave them out on this blog. This is the longest wip I think I’ve ever had. If it wasn’t for the boiler needing serviced and needing to empty the cupboard I’m pretty sure this project would still be on the ‘do you remember that thing I was making ages ago’ list.
So, around 6 years ago I started knitting this jumper for my husband. Its been so long that I’m pretty sure the yarn company doesn’t even exist anymore! Let’s hope I bought enough yarn to get it finished!
I’m using Robin Aran weight wool and acrylic mix yarn and a pattern from Marriner Yarns. I was super surprised that I’ve got the sleeves done up to the armpits and a good chunk of the body (which I seem to be working in the round, even though that’s not how the pattern is written). The finished jumper will have a shawl collar, which is something I’ve never really managed to pull off well before, so hopefully I can manage and he’ll like it and wear it.
Finished Objects
My first finished object is a shawl/scarf I made for my friend for her birthday. It was my first time using an ombre yarn cake and it was really fun watching the colours change.
The pattern was from GarnStudio (Marians Garden) and was just a chart, so not really that easy to follow. I started out trying to use the chart but ended up writing out the pattern so it was easier to follow. The turning chain changed after a few rows too, which didn’t help my confusion so definitely watch out for that if you use this pattern. The yarn is the same as the one in my New Things but a different colour.
When I showed my husband the photo of the shawl pinned to the notice board he said it looked like a giant pair of pants. *facepalm*
My daughter saw this and decided it was for her, so to avoid disappointment (and a tantrum) I’m making a second one for her, but smaller and hoping to join it at the back to make a triangle shaped cowl so its easier for her to put on and take off
My other 2 finished items are blankets that I made for Christmas orders. The first one is Hulk. The pattern is available on my website. It was one of the quickest blankets I've ever made and I think it looks really cool (but I would say that because Hulk is my favourite)
And the second is a CocoMelon inspired blanket (pattern also available in the shop). I like making squares and joining them because you can take a square out with you and work on it much easier than a big all-in-one blanket.
New Things
This is the first ombre yarn cake I bought (also for a shawl/scarf) but haven’t got round to using it yet. I’m not sure which pattern I should use. I’m thinking maybe the Lost Souls Shawl pattern because I love how it looks but I’m not sure about using it with this colour of yarn. Which is your favourite shawl pattern? I’m definitely looking for some suggestions here. I also wondered about making a corner to corner triangle and experimenting with how I’d finish the last row to make an actual triangle instead of a jagged edge (if that makes sense) but maybe that would be too plain?
I also bought a pack of King Cole plastic glitter hooks. They range from 5mm to 10mm. I’m hoping to use the 10mm for some larger projects with multiple strands of yarn. I’ve done this before with 3 strands of DK weight yarn and a 5.5mm hook and its worked really well. It would be a great stash busting project!
I still have some projects to finish before I can get started on my Christmas makes for the family. And of course the yearly hat making frenzy that for some strange reason I always leave until the last minute! I also have some plans to make bags for the kids to try to be more organised. Hopefully I’ll have some progress to show you the next time. What things have you still got on your make-to-do list?
Well, my hook is getting cold and my to do list is definitely not getting any shorter, so until next time, Happy Hooking and thanks for taking the time to read my blog.