Episode 7

Episode 7 is here!
https://youtu.be/Nf16IrcQxIE
See my progress in joining my Crozy Memories Blanket Squares, including a special new-to-me joining method.
I have a more spur-of-the-moment, freestyle crochet Hoodie wip that I talk about, as well as a new design-in-the-making!

I am on Instagram @lorrainepughdesigns
You can find me on ravelry as lorrainepugh
There is also a group on ravelry, linked here:
http://www.ravelry.com/groups/lorrainepughdesigns
And a Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/lorrainepughdesigns/
Plus, a Facebook Group where you can share your makes and chatter with like-minded makers:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1707181802870447/

My Crozy Memories Blanket Square Pattern
If you make this square (or more, a blanket would make my year!) and you're on Instagram, then please hashtag it so I can see! #crozymemoriesblanket
Link to free pattern on blog:
http://lorrainepughdesigns.blogspot.com.cy/2016/09/crozy-memories-blanket-square-free.html
Link to print-friendly PDF via ravelry:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/crozy-memories-blanket-square
I am using the following yarns for my Crozy Memories Blanket:
Yarnfair Stripes Double Knitting in colour way 'Red Grey Brown'
Sirdar Crofter DK in colour ways 'Thatcher' and 'Seagrass'
Joining the squares with Sirdar Snuggly in a brown colour way which I can't be sure of, but possibly 'Soft Brown' 428.

The anti-tilt Zipper join can be found via 2 ways;
1. By joining the Facebook Group 'Scheeples CAL - International', then searching for 'Margaret Evans tilt'. The first search result is Margaret's mini-tutorial on her 'Joining Tweak' which includes a lovely infographic.
OR
2. Clicking this link to my blog post where (with Margaret's permission) I have shared her guide: http://lorrainepughdesigns.blogspot.com.cy/2016/10/the-anti-tilt-zipper-join-by-margaret.html

Freestyle Sweater/Hoodie Crochet WIP
Yarns used are:
'Squid On The Beach' 100% Merino DK by My Mama Knits (shop owner is Sunshine) on etsy - www.etsy.com/shop/mymamaknits
Sunshine is also on Instagram: @sunshine_stewart
Yarn used is 'Rainbow In The Puddle' 100% Merino DK by Monika from Comeragh Yarns (formerly known as 'Red Heart Knits') on etsy -
www.etsy.com/shop/ComeraghYarns
Monika is also on Instagram: @comeraghgirl
Other Yarn (in multiple colours) is James.C.Brett Pure Merino DK

Crochet Design-In-Progress that I'm a bit vague about:
1st WIP:
Yarns used are 'Kelpie' and 'Burke & Hare', both 100% Merino Sock Yarn by my Mama Knits as linked above
'Black Hole' Fingering weight Merino/Silk by Dye For Wool, link here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Dyeforwool
2nd WIP:
Yarns used are 'Colour Theory' Yak Sock, by Hand Dyed by Kate, link here: http://www.handdyedbykate.com/
'Tanzanite' Merino Nylon Gold Stellina Sock by Lanitium Ex Machina, link here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/lanitiumexmachina

Crochet Podcasters Mentioned:

Lisa of Lisa's Pine Notes on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_AGhDDT1tEJqa6uzSaVqkQ
Lisa is also on Instagram as @lisapinenotes

Ali of Little Drops of Wonderful podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXWQfl7WmeumzOYfKZwhT0g
She is also on Instagram as @starryeyesali

Amber from the Yarn Junkie Podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/user/crochetjunkie6

Knitting Podcasters Mentioned:

Mina Phillip of The Knitting Expat Podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx__O_6VbDNlrHB1hmfCVhw

Jaclyn Salem of The Brooklyn Knitfolk Podcast:
https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCl_o_ptXlmrnhUR4J0f2aWQ

Knitting WIP info:

Jaclyn Salem of the Brooklyn Knitfolk podcast, as linked above,
Hosting the #elementalong
She is @jaclynsalem on Instagram
Check out the group chat on ravelry:
http://www.ravelry.com/groups/brooklyn-knitfolk
As part of this KAL I am making the:
'Authenticity Shawl' by 'Softsweater Knits' a paid pattern available on ravelry:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/authenticity
Yarn used for Authenticity shawl is Merino Twin base in fingering weight, 250g, and is the colour way 'Curry and Saffron' by Wollelfe (shop owner Katrin) on etsy - www.etsy.com/shop/wollelfe
Katrin is also on Instagram: @wollelfe.yarn

Stitch Markers are from Deb's etsy shop, 'Crafty Cat Knitty Bits', linked here:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/CraftyCatKnittyBits

The 'Anti-Tilt' Zipper Join by Margaret Evans

During the Scheepjes 'The Last Dance on The Beach' CAL - in memory of Wink - some people found their stitches 'tilted' to one side when they made the Zipper Join method. A lovely girl called Margaret Evans came up with an innovative way to avoid this 'tilting'. She described it best, so I will share her words and infographic below, but before I do, I would also like to let you all know that Esther who is mentioned by Margaret has a lovely blog where you can find a lot more information regarding The Last Dance On The Beach CAL and I will link her site at the end of this blog post. Now then, here is Margaret's 'Anti-Tilt' Zipper Joining 'Tweak':

"A few people have asked if I would mind putting up some photos of how I tweaked my join. Here they are. The steps are as follows:
1) Watch Esther's video. She is amazing and the zipper join is such a cool, classy join. So many people followed her steps and got perfect flat joins. If that's you - fantastic. Move along, you don't need to read further 😄.
However, if like me, following it perfectly still left your join with a little 'tilt' which showed some of the colour underneath AND you are unhappy with that, then read on 😊
A. Same as Esther - Make sure your working yarn is behind your work 
B. Different to Esther. In the 1st square instead of putting your hook in the inner loop from the front to the back, do it the other way around. Put your hook from the back to the front (so your hook pokes up through the centre of the stitch)
C. Same as Esther - put your hook through the inner loop of the 2nd square from front to back. 
D. Same as Esther - yarn over and pull through the 3 loops on your hook in a slip stitch.
For me, this resulted in a perfectly flat join with no tilt and no visible colour underneath. I personally was unhappy with my original join and for some reason I thought I would try this and it worked!! Surprised the heck out of me but I am so happy as this now looks how I imagined it would.
I am no designer, I am just a CAL participant who is happy to share. As has been explained loads of times, we all have different tensions and hold our hooks differently so this can sometimes affect the result. No-one has to do this but it might be handy to know. I appreciate all the work the designers have put into this and do not wish to take away from that at all <3. I am on my horizontal joins now. Have to get my focus on so I am done before Wednesday's border pattern is released. Happy hooking all x" - Margaret Evans

picture courtesy of Margaret Evans

Although she says she is not a crochet designer, I think she should be, don't you agree?! Thank you Margaret, you really helped me and so many others!

Linked below is Esther's Blog:

https://itsallinanutshell.com/2016/07/13/joining-last-dance-on-the-beach-squares/

Episode 6

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jivHUNhDSm0

In this episode I show my latest wips and as I learned how to edit video there is a mini-tutorial in here too, lol you'll see what I mean. I also show you where I live. Enjoy everyone! Xx

I am on Instagram @lorrainepughdesigns
You can find me on ravelry as lorrainepugh
There is also a group on ravelry, linked here:
http://www.ravelry.com/groups/lorrainepughdesigns
And a Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/lorrainepughdesigns/
Plus, a Facebook Group where you can share your makes and chatter with like-minded makers:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1707181802870447/

Birdie Decoration, Pattern by Lucy of attic24:
http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/birdie-decoration.html
Granny Sweet Heart, Pattern by Nancy Drew, link to pattern on her blog: http://www.nancydrewdesigns.net/2014/01/granny-sweet-heart-pattern.html
Link to her pattern via ravelry:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/granny-sweet-heart
In both decorations I am using 100% cotton 'Filati Cervinia - Sicilia' although I don't have specific colour ways, I am using a muted green, dark green, red and cream.

My Crozy Memories Blanket Square Pattern
If you make this square (or more, a blanket would make my year!) and you're on Instagram, then please hashtag it so I can see! #crozymemoriesblanket
Link to free pattern on blog:
http://lorrainepughdesigns.blogspot.com.cy/2016/09/crozy-memories-blanket-square-free.html
Link to print-friendly PDF via ravelry:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/crozy-memories-blanket-square
I am using the following yarns for my Crozy Memories Blanket:
Yarnfair Stripes Double Knitting in colour way 'Red Grey Brown'
Sirdar Crofter DK in colour ways 'Thatcher' and 'Seagrass'
Thinking to join the squares with Sirdar Snuggly in a brown colour way which I can't be sure of, but possibly 'Soft Brown' 428.

In my stack of autumnal knits/wovens etc:

Starlight Women's Slippers, pattern link:
http://www.myhobbyiscrochet.com/2014/11/starlight-women-slippers-free-crochet.html
I made mine using James. C. Brett Rustic, an aran weight yarn, composed of acrylic, wool and viscose in shade 'DAT16' a dark red colour way.

Flame 'thing' which will become an infinity scarf was made using the hand-drawn chart in the following link:
http://www.knittingparadise.com/t-183657-1.html
I made mine using Stranded Dyeworks 'Bonfire Night' and 'Glowing Embers'on Amy's 'Paradise' MCN base, and I also showed her 'Russet' colour way. Her shop is linked here:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/StrandedDyeworks
Amy is also on Instagram as @amyflorence
She has a podcast, 'Stranded Podcast'

Valentines Day Heart Pattern by Miss Dolkapots Krafties, linked here:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/valentines-day-heart
I made mine using leftover yarn, Stranded Dyework's 'Bonfire Night' on Amy's Paradise MCN base.

Knitting WIP info:

Jaclyn Salem of the Brooklyn Knitfolk podcast, link here:
https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCl_o_ptXlmrnhUR4J0f2aWQ
Hosting the #elementalong
She is @jaclynsalem on Instagram
Check out the group chat on ravelry:
http://www.ravelry.com/groups/brooklyn-knitfolk
As part of this KAL I am making the:
'Authenticity Shawl' by 'Softsweater Knits' a paid pattern available on ravelry:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/authenticity
Yarn used for Authenticity shawl is Merino Twin base in fingering weight, 250g, and is the colour way 'Curry and Saffron' by Wollelfe (shop owner Katrin) on etsy - www.etsy.com/shop/wollelfe
Katrin is also on Instagram: @wollelfe.yarn

Stitch Markers are from Deb's etsy shop, 'Crafty Cat Knitty Bits', linked here:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/CraftyCatKnittyBits

Petrie Knitting WIP
Yarn used is 'Rainbow In The Puddle' by Monika from Comeragh Yarns (formerly known as 'Red Heart Knits') on etsy -
www.etsy.com/shop/ComeraghYarns
Monika is also on Instagram: @comeraghgirl
Pattern is called 'Petrie' by Beatia Dew, free on ravelry -
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/petrie

Crochet Podcasters

Jan of Urban Gypsy Crochet on Facebook and YouTube!:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCunw2bpCg2TJqrxIL1z3mSg

Lisa of Lisa's Pine Notes on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_AGhDDT1tEJqa6uzSaVqkQ
Lisa is also on Instagram as @lisapinenotes

Ali of Little Drops of Wonderful podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXWQfl7WmeumzOYfKZwhT0g
She is also on Instagram as @starryeyesali

Emma of 'Potter & Bloom' podcast, linked below:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_N9czUb0fkmOuVt7-PMXFw
She is on Instagram, too: @potterandbloom

Knitting Podcaster mentioned is:
Eva, host of 'The Charm Of It':
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZJXOCyN9wFz1mGaCMXpgWw
Also on Instagram: @thecharmofit