Knitwear Designer and Mentor – Frenchie of Aroha Knits

Frenchie is a great mentor and fellow POC knitwear designer of amazing accessory and women's patterns. Read more about her and find links to her patterns!

Frenchie is a fellow POC maker and knitwear designer and has published some amazing women’s knitting patterns that are a reflection of her Maori heritage. She is also a mentor and founder of the Swatch Studio Circle – a program that helps budding designers enhance their knowledge and skills around knitwear design.

I have had the privilege of learning a lot of new skills through Frenchie’s Swatch Studio Circle! I am still working through the framework and hope to apply all the new information and skills to enhance my pattern designing process. Read on to get to know her or skip to the bottom if you would like to watch our recorded Live!

Frenchie is a great mentor and fellow POC knitwear designer of amazing accessory and women's patterns. Read more about her and find links to her patterns!

Pin this interview and read later!

Tell me a little bit about yourself and your business.

I am a Māori knitwear designer and design coach behind Aroha Knits. I aim to empower fiber muses to transform their yarn so they can manifest more Aroha in their lives. My designs draw heavy influence from my cultural heritage.

How many years have you been knitting for? How long have you been a knitwear designer for?

I have been knitting for 5 years, designing for 4 1/2 years.

What are your current WIPs?

I have two secret designs for publications, and one for self-publishing. That design I can talk about: it will be a colorwork tubular cowl inspired by the movie Aquaman, haha.

As a knitwear designer, what is your favorite thing to design and why?

Shawls! They are so versitle and the possibilities for designs are endless.

What are your goals for this year?

My main goal this year is to scale my business. I’ve spent the past few years growing my business, which required a lot of hands-on work. Now I’m shifting into automating a lot of my processes so I can focus more on designing and teaching. My other goal, which is happening (!), is to go to New Zealand to connect with my family. I’m going in October: first to a female Maori entrepreneur conference and then to spend time with my mother and granddad.

How do you balance being a mentor and knitwear designer?

I don’t really believe in “balance”. It’s more about intentional trade-offs. There are times when I have to really focus on a design, and other times when I have to focus on mentorship/coaching. But I always aim to remember to keep things simple and focus on my strengths, and try not to do everything. I take a look at my “What’s Now” and “What’s Next” tasks and ask myself which are the top 3 most important things to do.

One piece of advice for fellow POC makers?

If there is no space at the table, carve out your own. When I was first starting out, I was so frustrated by getting rejected by publications and magazines, that I decided I was going to work to become so big, they couldn’t ignore me and would start asking me to design for them. So far, this strategy has worked for me, as I’m now the one turning down designing gigs.

Here is one of Frenchie’s latest beautiful shawl patterns, the Taha Moana shawl.

Frenchie is a great mentor and fellow POC knitwear designer of amazing accessory and women's patterns. Read more about her and find links to her patterns!

A little bit about this knitwear design:

Can you smell the sea breeze?

When we think of shawls, we often think of warm wraps to cover ourselves with during the cold winter seasons. While this shawl can definitely serve that purpose (just use a wool-based fiber!), I created the Taha Moana (Te Reo Maori for “Seashore”) shawl to be a warm-weather accessory. This majestic and flowing shawl, conjures images of moonlight moments by the seaside or quiet reposes under the shade of palm trees overlooking sandy beaches.

The 3/4 shawl shape makes it easy to wear over the shoulders – much more wearable than a triangular shawl sometimes – but if you would prefer to knit a triangular version, instructions are included to make the modification! 4 colors were used in the original sample, but if you wish to make a 3 color or a 2 color version, instructions are included on how to do that as well.

This pattern is available for purchase in her Ravelry shop here.

Frenchie is currently running a FREE 5-day knitwear design challenge where she will take you through all the steps you need to start designing patterns! I participated in this challenge last year and it was exactly the push I needed to get comfortable with designing. I would highly recommend this challenge if you have been thinking about writing your own patterns but feel intimidated. The challenge starts on Aug. 5th, you can sign up over here.

You can reach Frenchie on Instagram and her blog and browse her patterns in her Ravelry shop.

You can find a recording of the Live that I did with Frenchie here!

If you are a mama designer and/or a POC designer and would like to be featured, you can fill out the form here.

Crochet Hat Pattern – Inspired by Hat Not Hate

Looking for a free crochet hat pattern? Here's a unique design I've created in honor of the Hat Not Hate campaign by Lion Brand in child to adult sizes.

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Looking for a free crochet hat pattern? Here's a unique design I've created in honor of the Hat Not Hate campaign by Lion Brand in child to adult sizes.

Are you looking for a fun free crochet hat pattern? I created this super cool design for hat not hate! There are still a couple of weeks left to send in your blue hats to support the anti-bullying campaign by Lion Brand! You can head to the Ravelry download link by clicking the button above!

This post contains affiliate links for which I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you.

I experienced bullying in various forms while I was growing up. Sometimes it was hurtful words and other times I remember being hurt physically. I used to be shamed for the way I looked and for being the only South Asian kid in the class. That’s why this initiative means a lot to me. This initiative is relevant to the backlash POC makers are currently experiencing for speaking out against injustice.

This design comes from a place of unity. It’s important to “put yourself in another person’s shoes” so you can see the world from their perspective. Similarly, we have to “try each other’s hats on” to truly understand one another. This is the only way we can show each other compassion and move forward.

Looking for a free crochet hat pattern? Here's a unique design I've created in honor of the Hat Not Hate campaign by Lion Brand in child to adult sizes.

Pin it Now and Make it Later

Get the Inexpensive Ad-Free PDF on Ravelry

Looking for a free crochet hat pattern? Here's a unique design I've created in honor of the Hat Not Hate campaign by Lion Brand in child to adult sizes.

Get the Inexpensive Ad-Free PDF on Etsy

Free Crochet Hat Pattern –

Disclaimer: This pattern has not been tested so please let me know if you find any errors! I’ll fix them right away!

The way the pattern is written, the colorwork will be on the front of the hat and there is no shaping involved. It is a tubular/cat-ear type hat as modeled by me! Bub’s hat is the first prototype. That’s why the heart is made with both contrasting colors which were difficult to crochet. As a result, I decided to use one color to make the heart!

Notes:

This pattern uses a few Tunisian crochet techniques. Use the following video tutorials as needed:

  • Pattern rows are Forward pass instructions.
  • The following instruction are implied:
    • The loop already on the hook at the beginning of the row counts as the first st.
    • Always TSS in the last st of the row, being sure to work under both loops of the st.
  • Return Pass: Follow the foundation row and each row with the Return Pass in the same color.
    • Return Pass Instructions: Ch 1, *yarn over, pull through two loops; repeat from * until 1 loop remains on the hook

Materials:

Yarn:

I used Lion Brand Yarn for this project. You could use any worsted weight size 4 yarn.

Pound of Love in Denim – approximately 200 yards
Jeans in Top Stitch – approximately 70 yards
Jeans in Faded or Vanna’s Choice in Light Blue – approximately 90 yards

Notions:

Yarn Needle
Scissors
Tape Measure

Hook:

5.5 mm Tunisian crochet hook with a 24 or 32 in. cord

Gauge is 18 st. by 14 rows in Tunisian Simple Stitch

Abbreviations:

TSS– Tunisian Simple Stitch – Video Tutorial here
TPS– Tunisian Purl Stitch – Video Tutorial here
How to do Tunisian Crochet colorwork – Video Tutorial here

Pound of Love in DenimCol A – Color A

Jeans in Top StitchCol B – Color B

Jeans in Faded or Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice in Light BlueCol C – Color C

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Get the Inexpensive Ad-Free PDF on Ravelry

Get the Inexpensive Ad-Free PDF on Etsy

Free Crochet Hat Pattern for Child Size (fits head circumference of 20 in.)

Using 5.5 mm Tunisian crochet hook with 24 in. cord, chain 90 and complete a foundation row (video tutorial here).

Note: Complete a standard return pass for each row. Stitch count should be 90 before each return pass is worked.

Rows 1 to 6: TPS, TSS with Col A (This is the ribbing)
Row 7: TSS across with Col A
Row 8: TSS 17 with Col A, TSS 2 with Col B, TSS 5 with Col A, TSS 1 with Col C, TSS 5 with Col A, TSS 2 with Col C, TSS 57 with Col A
Row 9: TSS 16 with Col A, TSS 4 with Col B, TSS 3 with Col A, TSS 3 with Col C, TSS 3 with Col A, TSS 4 with Col C, TSS 56 with Col A
Row 10: TSS 16 with Col A, TSS 4 with Col B, TSS 2 with Col A, TSS 5 with Col C, TSS 2 with Col A, TSS 4 with Col C, TSS 56 with Col A
Row 11: TSS 16 with Col A, TSS 4 with Col B, TSS 1 with Col A, TSS 7 with Col C, TSS 1 with Col A, TSS 4 with Col C, TSS 56 with Col A
Row 12: TSS 14 with Col A, TSS 6 with Col C, TSS 1 with Col A, TSS 7 with Col C, TSS 1 with Col A, TSS 6 with Col B, TSS 54 with Col A
Row 13: TSS 16 with Col A, TSS 4 with Col C, TSS 1 with Col A, TSS 7 with Col C, TSS 1 with Col A, TSS 4 with Col B, TSS 56 with Col A
Row 14: TSS 16 with Col A, TSS 4 with Col C, TSS 2 with Col A, TSS 2 with Col C, TSS 1 with Col A, TSS 2 with Col C, TSS 2 with Col A, TSS 4 with Col B, TSS 56 with Col A
Row 15: TSS 16 with Col A, TSS 4 with Col C, TSS 9 with Col A, TSS 4 with Col B, TSS 56 with Col A
Rows 16 to 25: TSS across with Col A
Row 26: Bind off

Weave in loose ends and fold your finished piece in half with the wrong side facing you. Whipstitch along the side or use your preferred method to seam up the hat! Don’t forget to share it with me if you make it by using #onelovehat and tagging me @noorsknits on Instagram.

Free Crochet Hat Pattern for Teen/Adult Size (fits head circumference of 22 in.)

Using 5.5 mm Tunisian crochet hook with 24 in. to 32 in. cord, chain 99

Note: Complete a standard return pass for each row. Stitch count should be 99 before each return pass is worked.

Rows 1 to 6: TPS, TSS with Col A
Row 7: TSS across with Col A
Row 8: TSS 17 with Col A, TSS 2 with Col B, TSS 5 with Col A, TSS 1 with Col C, TSS 5 with Col A, TSS 2 with Col C, TSS 66 with Col A
Row 9: TSS 16 with Col A, TSS 4 with Col B, TSS 3 with Col A, TSS 3 with Col C, TSS 3 with Col A, TSS 4 with Col C, TSS 65 with Col A
Row 10: TSS 16 with Col A, TSS 4 with Col B, TSS 2 with Col A, TSS 5 with Col C, TSS 2 with Col A, TSS 4 with Col C, TSS 65 with Col A
Row 11: TSS 16 with Col A, TSS 4 with Col B, TSS 1 with Col A, TSS 7 with Col C, TSS 1 with Col A, TSS 4 with Col C, TSS 65 with Col A
Row 12: TSS 14 with Col A, TSS 6 with Col C, TSS 1 with Col A, TSS 7 with Col C, TSS 1 with Col A, TSS 6 with Col B, TSS 63 with Col A
Row 13: TSS 16 with Col A, TSS 4 with Col C, TSS 1 with Col A, TSS 7 with Col C, TSS 1 with Col A, TSS 4 with Col B, TSS 65 with Col A
Row 14: TSS 16 with Col A, TSS 4 with Col C, TSS 2 with Col A, TSS 2 with Col C, TSS 1 with Col A, TSS 2 with Col C, TSS 2 with Col A, TSS 4 with Col B, TSS 63 with Col A
Row 15: TSS 16 with Col A, TSS 4 with Col C, TSS 9 with Col A, TSS 4 with Col B, TSS 65 with Col A
Rows 16 to 32: TSS across with Col A
Row 33: Bind off

Weave in loose ends and fold in half with the wrong side facing you and seam up the side with a whipstitch or using your preferred method of seaming. Don’t forget to share it with me if you make it by using #onelovehat and tagging me @noorsknits on Instagram.

Find Out More About Hat Not Hate

You can read more about my experience with bullying and the Hat Not Hate campaign here. I have included ways to be proactive in preventing and dealing with the consequences of bullying. You can find more information about how to participate in the Hat Not Hate Campaign here.

If you are looking for another fun Tunisian crochet colorwork project, the Creamsicle Crochet Baby Blanket is a fun and versatile pattern.

Baby Knitting Patterns – Silver Lining Bonnet

Looking for baby knitting patterns? Here is a luxurious baby bonnet knitting pattern perfect for a boy or girl! Check out this velvet Silver Lining Bonnet!

Baby knitting patterns are my favorite type of patterns as of late. Recently, while working with Lion Brand Vel-luxe yarn I decided to create something that is soft, luxurious, and perfect for babies. That’s when my head literally went into the clouds! The Silver Lining Bonnet comes from the inspiration of puffy clouds with a silver lining against a backdrop of velvety luxe yarn. Then you finish it off with a big pom and some cords with tassels to tie the bonnet! I am so happy with the way it looks, it is a sweet bonnet with a vintage style.

Where to find this baby knitting pattern:

Pin it now and make it later

Buy the Silver Lining Bonnet Pattern on Ravelry

Buy the Silver Lining Bonnet Pattern on Etsy

Looking for baby knitting patterns? Here is a luxurious baby bonnet knitting pattern perfect for a boy or girl! Check out this velvet Silver Lining Bonnet!

Pattern Details

If you are looking for super easy beginner-friendly baby knitting patterns, you’ve come to the right place! I have video tutorials included along the way for how to make the puffy clouds and how to do the bind-off without having to seam! The pattern is for sizes newborn, 0 to 3 months, 3 to 6 months, 6 to 12 months, and 1 to 3 years! You can make the Silver Lining Bonnet for a boy or girl by switching up the colors! It would make for a great baby shower gift or as a newborn baby photo prop!

I am so grateful for all of my testers wonderful versions (see below). Most of all I love their color selections. From bright marigold to soft neutrals and everything in between! The best part is that you can make this pattern with any combination of colors! If you have some velvet yarn lying around along with some chunky yarn in white or another similar color, you can make this cute bonnet!

Pin it now and make it later!

Buy the pattern PDF on Ravelry

Buy the pattern PDF on Etsy

If you’re looking for more fun baby knitting patterns you can check out my Cute as a Button Newborn Wrap pattern or my Butterflies Fluttering By Ear Warmer pattern!

Prime Day 2019 – Shop my Knit and Crochet Prime Faves

Prime Day 2019 is here! I'm sharing my Prime faves today! Come shop some great deals for knitting and crochet tools and accessories!

This post may contain Amazon Affiliate links for which I may get a commission at no extra cost to you. Amazon Prime Day 2019 is here! I am sharing my Prime faves today!

Don’t forget to Pin if you want to browse later!

Follow me on Pinterest for more great knitting and crochet content!

Sign up for Prime and start shopping and saving on Prime Day 2021

If you have an EBT or Medicaid card, you can save 50% on Prime membership by signing up here

Here I’ve compiled some of my fave knitting and crochet tools just in time for Amazon Prime Day! Amazon Prime Day runs from June 21st to 22nd. Keep scrolling to find all my faves or head to my store to shop my favorite.

Shop my knitting and crochet faves on Amazon Prime

Don’t miss out on Prime Day 2021 deals, shop all the best deals here

Blocking Tools

This is by far the best steamer I have used to date, it heats up super fast and actually makes blocking enjoyable!

These gridded blocking mats are super sturdy and even come with 100 stainless steel T-pins and a 60 in. retractable measuring tape.

Knitter’s Pride Knit Blockers are also durable and great for blocking large/heavy projects.

Crochet Hook and Knitting Needle Interchangeable Sets

The Denise Interchangeable Crochet Hook Set and Knitting Needle Set are both great practical and affordable sets to have. You can check out my short video review here.

If you love the feel of wood/bamboo. You could invest in one of the following sets: Clover Takumi, Lykke Driftwood, Knit Picks, Addi, or Knitter’s Pride.

Clover Takumi

Knit Picks

Lykke Driftwood (Knitting Needles Set)

Addi

Knitter’s Pride

Electronics

A selfie ring light and phone holder are great for recording high quality clear and bright videos! A must-have if you record regular video tutorials for YouTube or do regular Live streams on Instagram!

Up to 50% off Neewer Ring ight Flashes and Studio Accessories

MicroSD card for extra storage on your phone (who doesn’t need that?!) This 400 GB Sandisk Ultra MicroSD card is part of the Prime Deals!

You can also never have enough memory cards for your camera! This extreme 256 GB Sandisk memory card is one of the Prime day deals!

A portable hard drive is a must-have if you are blogging as you will end up taking lots of photos from different angles to get the perfect shot! You need a place to store all of those pictures!

Set of 2 Fast USB charging cables for Android devices.

Books

The Vogue Ultimate Knitting Book is full of useful information, diagrams, charts, and explanations. Everything you could possibly need to know about knitting/designing knitwear!

The Tunisian Crochet Workshop is such a useful book. Not only is this book colorful and fun to look at, but it is also the perfect resource for learning how to do Tunisian crochet. There are also some great simple projects for practicing the skills learned!

Packaging

If you have an online small business, one of the most important things to get customers to come back is having beautiful and reliable packaging. This doesn’t mean you have to spend lots of money. You can add a simple touch like a hand-written note and gift tags!

Next, it’s good to have poly-mailers in various sizes and adhesive labels ready to go! Don’t forget, you’ll need lots of packaging tape!

Don’t forget to Pin this post so you can browse later

Sign up for Prime and start shopping and saving on Prime Day 2021

If you have an EBT or Medicaid card, you can save 50% on Prime membership by signing up here

Here I’ve compiled some of my fave knitting and crochet tools just in time for Amazon Prime Day! Amazon Prime Day runs from Oct. 13th to 14th. Keep scrolling to find all my faves or head to my store to shop my favorite.

Shop my knitting and crochet faves on Amazon Prime

Yarns

Amazon has a great selection of yarns that are eligible for Prime 2-day shipping. This is especially helpful when experiencing “yarn chicken” and you don’t have time to run to the store or wait for delivery. Direct delivery from the store/company usually takes 3 to 5 business days or more! Avoid the delay and shop these Prime eligible yarns!

Lion Brand

Comfy Cotton Blend

Pound of Love

Wool-Ease Thick and Quick Bonus Bundle

24/7 Cotton Yarn

Feels Like Butta

Red Heart Yarn

Soft Yarn

Super Saver Yarn

Other Yarns

Bernat Blanket Bright Yarn

Caron Simply Soft Yarn

Yarn Accessories

Yarn Storage

Knit Picks Ball Winder

Knit Picks Yarn Swift

Designing Essentials

Next up are my fave designing essentials. I have to always have a notebook with me because I never know when inspiration will strike! These medium-sized dot grid notebooks and friction erasable pens are my go-to when designing! If I make a mistake in laying out the design I can simply erase and start over!

Also, a weighing scale is so important to have. It helps when you need to weigh yarn to get an idea of how much you’ve used. This is so important when designing or testing a pattern!

Non-Yarn Related Finds

This 8 Quart Instant Pot Pressure Cooker is a must-have because it makes life so much easier by cutting cooking time in half. It is such a versatile appliance and can be used to make so many different recipes!

The Echo Dot is also a great addition to our house, I love being able to just ask Alexa what time it is or how the weather is outside. Most importantly, I love listening to music as I cook! It is currently one of the Prime Day deals right now!

These magnetic tiles are my number one go-to gift for little kids. I got them for my son last year when he turned 2 and he still enjoys playing with them daily!

If you’ve been following me you know how much I love this bird feeder because It is so simple to install and a great way to teach your kids about different types of birds in your local area. It has been great for my mental health too, seeing the birds every day is so uplifting!

Don’t forget to Pin this post if you want to browse later

Sign up for Prime and start shopping and saving on Prime Day 2021

If you have an EBT or Medicaid card, you can save 50% on Prime membership by signing up here

Here I’ve compiled some of my fave knitting and crochet tools just in time for Amazon Prime Day! Amazon Prime Day runs from June 21st to 22nd. Keep scrolling to find all my faves or head to my store to shop my favorite.

Shop my knitting and crochet faves on Amazon Prime

I hope you found this post useful and I hope you are able to snag some of these awesome tools on Prime Day 2021! If you aren’t a Prime member yet, you can sign up for a free 30-day trial by clicking the blue box below! If you already have these tools and want to get started on a fun project you can check out my Chunky Tunisian Pumpkin free Tunisian crochet pattern, my Tunisian Giving Scarf Pattern or my Cute As A Button Wrap free knitting pattern!

Follow me on Pinterest for more great knitting and crochet content!

Crochet Bow Pattern – Free Tunisian Crochet Bow-Tie

Free crochet bow pattern - make this cute crochet bow-tie in Tunisian crochet or in normal crochet - both patterns are available here!

I came up with this super easy free crochet bow pattern recently as I was thinking of ways to use up my scrap yarn. It can be intimidating to try a new craft so I want to make it easy for you. I would like you to try this super simple pattern to get used to and fall in love with Tunisian crochet! Similarly, I have a normal crochet version of the bow below if you prefer the simple crochet stitches! This bow can be attached to anything. For example, you can attach it to a hair-tie, headband, or a bow-tie. I decided to turn it into an adjustable bow-tie for Bubs! The double crochet belt makes it easy to adjust to any size!

This post may contain affiliate links for which I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

This adjustable bow-tie pattern is a great beginner project and can easily be made with a straight 4 mm crochet hook. Make it in a solid color or as a striped version! I’ve decided to include this pattern as a Free PDF just for 24 hours as part of the Easy Tunisian Crochet Blog Hop. Head over to the Easy TC Main Blog Post to grab the code, come back and click below to get your free PDF just for today!

Pin it now and make later!

Grab the ad-free PDF on Etsy
Grab the ad-free PDF on Ravelry

Materials:

Yarn

11 yards of Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton in Navy
5 yards of Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton in Red
12 yards of Big Twist Yarn in White or Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton in White
8 yards of Aunt Lydia’s Metallic Crochet Thread in Silver

Hooks

4.0 mm Tunisian Crochet Hook or 4.0 mm straight crochet hook
4.5 mm Crochet hook

Notions

Scissors
Yarn Needle
Measuring Tape
Thread
Sewing Needle
3/4 in. button (need 2)

Abbreviations:

TSS – Tunisian Simple Stitch
HDC – Half Double Crochet
Sl St – Slip Stitch
St(s) – Stitch(es)
Sc – Single Crochet
Ch – Chain

Tunisian Crochet Bow Pattern:

Free crochet bow pattern - make this cute crochet bow-tie in Tunisian crochet or in normal crochet - both patterns are available here!

Using a 4 mm Tunisian crochet hook, with white yarn chain 20 – make foundation row.

Row 2: TSS across with red. Normal return pass.

Row 3: Pick up white yarn and TSS across. Normal return pass.

Repeat rows 2 and 3 till you have completed 11 rows.

Bind off with white yarn.

Using metallic crochet thread with the right side of the finished piece facing you, sl. st into the first st along the long edge (20 st.), and sc around. Each time you get to a corner, ch 1, and continue sc around along short edge (12 st.). When you’ve reached the start, join with the first st by doing a sl st. Similarly, repeat one more round of sc.

Weave in all loose ends.

Bow Tie – Adjustable Band

Free crochet bow pattern - make this cute crochet bow-tie in Tunisian crochet or in normal crochet - both patterns are available here!

With navy blue, Chain 55

Row 1: Ch 2 and DC into each st for the next 54 sts.

Leaving a 6 in. tail, cut yarn.

Assemble the Bow-Tie

Take a 38 in. piece of blue yarn and cinch center of bow and sew in place.

With the adjustable band placed behind the cinched bow (right side facing you), Wrap the 38 in. piece of yarn around the bow and belt multiple times. After that, when there are about five inches of yarn remaining, stop wrapping and weave in the remaining yarn tail into the back of the bow.

Sew one 3/4 in. button onto the end of the adjustable belt (the end with yarn tails/starting point). Sew the second 3/4 in. button 2 inches from the first button.

Adjust the bow-tie to fit a range of baby to adult sizes by placing the buttons through the spaces between the double crochets.

Grab the ad-free PDF on Etsy
Grab the ad-free PDF on Ravelry

Normal Crochet Bow:

Using 4.5 mm crochet hook, chain 20. Follow rows 1 to 4 as outlined below:

  1. Firstly, Ch 1, HDC across with white and turn work.
  2. Secondly, join red yarn and sl st., ch 1, HDC over and around the white yarn while carrying the white yarn in the back and HDC across till the end of the row, turn work.
  3. Thirdly, with white yarn, work HDC over and around the red yarn while carrying the red yarn in the back and HDC across till the end of the row, turn work.

Finally, continue steps 2 and 3 while alternating colors and holding the non-working yarn in the back. Complete a total of seven rows.

With the right side facing you, sc around with metallic crochet thread as mentioned above. Make an adjustable band and cinch and sew bow and strap together as mentioned above.

Grab the ad-free PDF on Etsy
Grab the ad-free PDF on Ravelry

If you liked this free crochet bow pattern, give my Tunisian Sweetheart Scarf pattern a try! You can check out some great knitting and crochet video tutorials over on my YouTube channel!

Crochet Cozy and More – Meet Hannah of Lalele Fibre Arts

Crochet cozy patterns, maker motivation, and so much more. Come and meet the designer Hannah of Lalele Fibre Arts and check out all of her patterns!

This is Hannah, the amazing artist behind Lalele Fibre Arts. I came across her profile when I was browsing the hashtag for crochet home decor. Instantly, I fell in love with her Walk Along the Shore Mat. I couldn’t stop browsing her feed because along with great patterns such as her crochet cozy patterns, she had some great reminders regarding self-care and mental health!

Tell me a little bit about yourself.

I’m Hannah. I’m a married mother of three children (8, 4, and 1 years old). I was born in the UK and lived there until we moved to Romania just over two years ago.

Being a maker can be lonely sometimes. I don’t know anyone in ‘real’ life who knits and crochets and where I live handcrafts are not that popular so there aren’t little yarn shops and knit nights. I miss being able to go into a shop to squish ALL the yarn! The online community is where I connect with other makers and I have ‘met’ some amazing and supportive people online.

Tell me a little about your business.

I started my business while I worked full time. After my second baby was born, I became a stay at home mother and sold finished items, mainly baby items, blankets, hats, and scarves online. We moved to Romania and I needed a new direction. My business didn’t feel like it represented who I was and I wasn’t enjoying making all the finished items needed to stock an Etsy shop. Modifying patterns that I was using was something I really enjoyed doing. I would think of a way to change things so that I liked the finished result more or so that the garment fit better. I started writing my first pattern and that was it, I was hooked!

Last year, I released that pattern, a crochet design, and then took the end of the year off to focus on self-care and better business planning. At the beginning of 2019, I re-branded my business. It finally felt like my brand was true to who I am and the journey that I am on. Lalele Fibre Arts is a values-led business with accessibility and inclusivity at its’ core. For this reason, you will find that my patterns have a ‘Pay What Works’ structure to allow for financial flexibility, while still valuing the work that goes into the designs. Feedback has been good so far.

I set myself a loose target of releasing 5 patterns by the end of the year. As it stands, I have released 4 more patterns, some of which are crochet cozy patterns, and have plenty more in the pipeline. I have upped the target to 8-10 patterns! Juggling motherhood, a house and small business can be really hard sometimes so I don’t set my targets in stone! If I do, I pressure myself too hard to meet those targets and that is no good for my health. I’ve learned that one the hard way!

How many years have you been knitting/crocheting for?

Twenty-plus for both. It’s a bit scary putting that on paper. I can’t believe it’s been so long. My late grandmother taught me the knitting basics. She was an incredible knitter. She was one of those people who could adapt patterns including lace patterns in her head, on the needles without the need for paper and a pen. As a child, I didn’t realize how skilled she was and didn’t appreciate all of the time that she put into knitting us the endless supply of knitted sweaters. I bet she never could have imagined that those hours I sat on her bed with some plastic knitting needles would set me on the path to becoming a knit and crochet designer. I like to think that she would be proud of the legacy that she left behind.

What are your current WIPs?

At the minute I have a couple of WIPs. A new knit cowl design which I am hoping to have finished very soon and also the Breeze Racerback pattern from Jessie Mae Martinson. I am also searching for the right yarn for a sweater for my husband. He is LONG overdue this sweater. I told him I would have one finished for last winter and somehow it never happened. Since then, I have frogged the sweater and used the yarn in a pattern test (oops!). The Marshland Sweater by Tin Can Knits is what I finally settled on since I want to make him something special. I can’t wait to start another WIP. I really am not a one-WIP kind of person!

What is your favorite thing to design and why?

I go backward and forwards on this one. Designing bits for the home like the crochet cozy patterns I have in my store has been really great, but I have also loved designing my shawl and the cowl that I am currently working on. I have a whole mix of designs dotted down in my notebook. What I work on next really does depend upon how I’m feeling at the time.

What are your goals for this year?

I would like to continue to learn and grow. I will focus on self-care, making sure that my mental health is in a good place. Without this, I can’t do anything! This year I will be releasing more patterns. My long term target is to start designing garments. I am learning as much as I can about sizing and grading at the moment so that I can put out beautiful, size inclusive designs. I have made a good start on this goal already. By the end of 2019, I would like to have a clearer understanding of sizing and grading (no one should feel excluded from making patterns because they stop at an M or L!)

I also started the SWATCH Studio Course by Francoise of Aroha Knits this year. By the end of the year, I would like to have finished the main parts of this course by the end of the year. I already had a lot of the skills, but hearing them set out as a good way to do things, has really increased my confidence and I have picked up some great time-saving tips so far.

How do you balance mom-life and making?

This is a hard one! I mainly work at night so that I can be present and be a mum during the day. Looking after them and managing the house is a full-time job in itself. Children are only small for a short amount of time and I don’t want to miss that! It means a lot of late nights but little fingers playing with your yarn is no help at all and untangling those knots takes FOREVER!

It can be hard knowing how much faster patterns and makes could be completed if I was working on them full time. I constantly have to remind myself that this is my journey, at my own pace and not to compare myself to any of the other designers or makers I see online.

Hannah’s mental health journey as a mama maker.

At the end of last year, I was really struggling with my mental health. I couldn’t focus to create and that was a hard place to be in. I didn’t feel like my husband or children were getting the best from me. After I talked to my husband about it, I had to take a step back to refocus and take time to take care of ‘me’ without feeling pressured to carry on as normal online.

Hannah’s reflections and resources for maintaining positive mental health.

I have started bullet journaling. This has helped me more than I could ever have imagined. Setting up the months is relaxing for me. I enjoy doing some drawing and coloring. I’m not an artist but that doesn’t matter! I make a basic plan for the month ahead and every evening I complete my journal and fill in the tasks for the next day.

I have never really been consistent with standard diaries. They always felt too rigid and didn’t have space to properly track the things that I needed. Bullet journaling is great because it is so flexible. You can use it for whatever YOU need. I track my personal and work life, as well as self-care. Planning pages and business tracker are things I use daily. I track my moods and my health. A monthly habit tracker is also something I use to track my daily routine, self-care, cleaning plan, water intake, etc. I don’t feel overwhelmed anymore. Everything is written down in small tasks which I can tick off as I do them. It keeps me focused.

This year I started a cleaning plan called ‘The Organised Mum Method’. I used to spend far too long cleaning and this has helped me to break it down. Every day has a different room to focus on It with the end goal of everything being cleaner, all the time because you are focusing on one room at a time rather than trying to do everything at once and missing bits. It really works!. Cleaning doesn’t feel like an effort anymore and I don’t feel anxious about it. I have a clean house, spend less time cleaning and more time with the children and I like that!

One piece of advice for fellow mama makers?

I posted about my mental health on Instagram. People seemed to appreciate the openness and honesty. I will continue to share more about this on my online platform. I think it is important to be ‘human’ and to get away from only showing the perfect side of everything. You look online and all the photos are perfect, edited beautifully, the wording is happy and everyone is smiling. That is great but isn’t a reflection of real life. By being open about our struggles, our feelings, and experiences, we and others feel less alone. We are real people with real emotions and real lives. It does not make you less of a person to share those. I want other people to know they are not alone and it is ok, not to be ok sometimes.

Don’t be too hard on yourself and remember to look after yourself and your mental health. Although it is hard, do not compare yourself to others that you see online. Your journey is your journey. It is ok to take time off to rest and regroup. If you are not feeling yourself everything is harder.

Hannah’s crochet cozy patterns and more

Crochet cozy patterns, maker motivation, and so much more. Come and meet the designer Hannah of Lalele Fibre Arts and check out all of her patterns!

I released ‘The Explore Collection’ which is a collection of three crochet cozy patterns. These crochet cozy patterns were inspired by nature and the sea: Pebbles, a boardwalk and little stones. The crochet cozy patterns have been designed to complement one another as a set or to shine as stand-alone pieces. For this reason, I made these crochet cozy patterns available to purchase as single patterns. My own covered cans sit on my desk and I use them every day!

You can find all of Hannah’s patterns over on Ravelry and you can get all of her updates as well as great maker motivation over on her Instagram.

You can check out the full recorded Live video conversation over on my YouTube Channel here.

If you are a POC and/or mom knit or crochet designer and would like to be featured, check out this blog post and fill out the form! Get to know some other great makers here.

Free Knitting Pattern – Cute as a Button Newborn Wrap!

This free knitting pattern is for a newborn wrap that is knitted flat with bobbles along one side and a velvety texture along the top.

Free knitting pattern – pin it now and make it later!

Newborn photography requires delicate pieces which take longer to make but look so cute! This project taught me to slow down and to have patience and trust the process. It’s a good project when you want to slow down. This free knitting pattern is for a newborn wrap that is knitted flat with bobbles along one side and a velvety texture along the top.

This post contains affiliate links.

For this project, I was able to collaborate with a talented photographer who’s also my friend. Anjum from Once Upon A Lens Photography has gone above and beyond in styling and capturing the detail of the wrap!

Materials

Abbreviations:

  • K: Knit
  • P: Purl
  • MkB– make bobble: k3 with velluxe, turn work and purl 3, turn work and k2tog, k1, pass 1st st over 2nd stitch.

The ad-free PDF file includes video tutorial links for all stitches and techniques.

Buy the inexpensive ad-free pdf on Etsy.

Buy the inexpensive ad-free pdf on Ravelry.

Cute As A Button Wrap Pattern

Cast on 225 st. With Feels Like Butta in White using US 7 32 in. circular needles. Place stitch marker at the beginning of the row.

Row 1: Knit

Row 2: Purl

Repeat rows 1 and 2 for 2 in.

Row 3: Knit 5, (mkb, knit 4)* rep * to end of row.

Rows 4 and 6: Purl across

Rows 5 and 7: knit across

Repeat rows 3 to 7 till wrap measures 14.5 in. Pick up Vel-Luxe yarn and *knit 1 row, purl 1 row* rep * for 3.5 in. Or till piece measures 18 in. From cast on edge.

This free knitting pattern is for a newborn wrap that is knitted flat with bobbles along one side and a velvety texture along the top.

You are done, now just bundle it up and tie a bow for the perfect baby shower gift or wrap your mini in it and snap a picture.

If you make the wrap, don’t forget to snap a pic and tag me @noorsknits and use the hashtag #cuteasabuttonwrap on Instagram.

I am also currently in search for testers for the super cute Silver Lining Bonnet Pattern pictured here. If you are looking for a super quick and cute baby make head over here to fill out the form.

Looking to try a new craft? Have you tried Tunisian crochet? Trust me, it’s addictive! You can give my creamsicle crochet baby blanket pattern a try over here.

Kids Ramadan DIY Craft – Shooting Star Wall Hanging

Enjoy a free kids Ramadan DIY activity for children 7 years and above - a free video tutorial for how to make a star fringe wall-hanging!

Keywords:

Crochet projects for kids, Ramadan DIY craft for kids, Ramadan crafts for kids, Ramadan DIY project ideas, Ramadan decor, Ramadan decorations, learn to crochet, crochet star tutorial


If you are looking for a fun kids Ramadan activity to do during the day, I’ve got you covered.

This post contains affiliate links.

This is a cute Ramadan craft for children ages 7 and above. It involves a little bit of crochet and some fringe! After finishing this project, you’ll have a cute addition to your Ramadan decor. The great thing is you can make it in many different colors and add it to your kids’ room beyond Ramadan!

SIGN UP FOR EXCLUSIVE DEALS ON MY HANDMADE KUFI HATS, THE PRIVATE SALE WILL BE STARTING SOON! CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP!

Kids Ramadan DIY – Materials

You can even go to a local craft store to purchase these materials. Joann, Michaels, or Hobby Lobby may have everything you’re looking for. This craft is inspired by Purple Ramadan which is why I used the purple and gold. You can let your little one choose the colors they would like to use. The only suggestion I have is that the yarn for making the star should be a size 5 bulky yarn. This is the type of yarn recommended for crochet beginners.

Kids Ramadan DIY – Full Video Tutorial

Enjoy a free kids Ramadan DIY activity for children 7 years and above - a free video tutorial for how to make a star fringe wall-hanging!

If you have any questions, you can send me an e-mail at [email protected].

Don’t forget to share your beautiful creations with me on social media. Tag me on Instagram @noorsknits and use the hashtag #noorsramadandiy. I can’t wait to see everyone’s different versions.

If you’d like to try learning some more crochet, you can check out my YouTube channel. If you’re looking for some Eid gifts, you can check out my Ramadan/Eid Products roundup over here.

SIGN UP FOR EXCLUSIVE DEALS ON MY HANDMADE KUFI HATS, THE PRIVATE SALE WILL BE STARTING SOON! CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP!

Ramadan Kids Calendar – Ramadan Thirty – Day 11 Activity

Ramadan Thirty is the perfect Ramadan kids calendar. A one of a kind online interactive digital Ramadan Calendar featuring 30 days of learning and activity!

Having a Ramadan kids calendar is a great way to help our little ones spiritually connect during Ramadan. Especially if you are finding it difficult to get your little ones involved. It can be hard since they may not be able to pray or fast yet. That is why it’s important to give our children tangible activities. Activities that will teach important concepts about Ramadan in fun and relatable ways. Read on to see how easy it is to get your kids engaged!

If you are looking for the perfect Ramadan kids calendar, this is the one! Ramadan Thirty is a one of a kind online interactive digital Ramadan Calendar featuring 30 days of Ayahs and Hadith, fun activities, crafts, printables, and journal pages!

Ramadan Kids Calendar – Ramadan Thirty Day 11 Craft

I’ve teamed up with some of my favorite crafty ladies – Eva and Asiyah from Handmade Beginnings to bring you a craft for Day 11 of their Ramadan Thirty online interactive calendar. For this day, I will be showing you how to make a simple crochet bookmark with a tassel. This is a good craft for children ages 7 and above. There is a full video tutorial as well as a pdf file with written instructions included.

Ramadan Thirty is the perfect Ramadan kids calendar. A one of a kind online interactive digital Ramadan Calendar featuring 30 days of learning and activity!

If you would like your child to have this Ramadan kids calendar and participate in this activity, make sure to go sign up here.

Make sure you follow Eva and Asiyah’s crafty journey on their blog, Instagram, and YouTube channel. Although they are on a break right now, you can also favorite their shop and buy some great products for your kids when they re-open.

If you would like to try another Ramadan themed craft soon, make sure to sign up for my mailing list here to get notified when I release my free DIY Ramadan project. If you’re looking for some Eid gifts, you can check out my Ramadan/Eid Products roundup over here.

Ramadan 2019 Product Line Up for Kids and Moms!

Come shop some exclusive handmade products for Ramadan 2019! Great selection for kids and moms! Free US shipping and other great deals.

Ramadan 2019 is almost here and I have some great products lined up!

Here you can find all of my products together with a brief description and a link to purchase!

If you are looking for decor to go with the purple Ramadan theme or in your Ramadan kid’s corner, I have made these simple crescent moon wall hangings. The smaller one is 8.5 by 6.5 in. and the bigger one us 16 x 9.5 in. including fringe. They each come ready to hang with a wooden dowel. You can purchase these here!

Come shop some exclusive handmade products for Ramadan 2019! Great selection for kids and moms! Free US shipping and other great deals.

My favorite of my Ramadan 2019 products is this traditional looking colorful vest along with a matching kufi prayer hat with gold trimming. The vest is available in a 2-3 year size and the kufi hats are available in 2 to 4 year and 5 to 7 year sizes. They are both made with a cotton and polyester blend yarn which makes them soft and breathable. You can purchase the kufi hats here and the vest here. It can also be purchased as a set for under $40, just enter the code KUFIANDVEST at checkout.

Come shop some exclusive handmade products for Ramadan 2019! Great selection for kids and moms! Free US shipping and other great deals.
Come shop some exclusive handmade products this year! Great selection for kids and moms! Free US shipping and other great deals.
Come shop some exclusive handmade products! Great selection for kids and moms! Free US shipping and other great deals.
Come shop some exclusive handmade products for Ramadan 2019! Great selection for kids and moms! Free US shipping and other great deals.

I also have 100% cotton kufi hats as part of my Ramadan 2019 line up. These are super soft and breathable. They also come in 2 to 4 year and 5 to 7 year sizes. I have limited quantities in this style! You can purchase these here.

Come shop some exclusive handmade products for Ramadan 2019! Great selection for kids and moms! Free US shipping and other great deals.

If you are looking for a small but meaningful gift, I also have bookmarks available with beautiful tassels for holding your place while doing spiritual readings. The crochet bookmark can be made in various colors! You can purchase these here.

Come shop some exclusive handmade products for Ramadan 2019! Great selection for kids and moms! Free US shipping and other great deals.

Jewelry for Ramadan 2019 and Eid Parties for Moms!

I also have a couple of Eid products for ladies. If you’re looking for simple Eid jewelry you can get these mini tassel hoops (buy here) or long tassel earrings (buy here) for $12.00 per pair. If you purchase two pairs, you can get them for $10.20 each over here.

Come shop some exclusive handmade products this year! Great selection for kids and moms! Free US shipping and other great deals.
Come shop some exclusive handmade products for Ramadan 2019! Great selection for kids and moms! Free US shipping and other great deals.

Currently I have some great discounts on these products as well as free US shipping and a local Mississauga pick-up option until April 17th! You can shop all items over in my Etsy shop.

Read more about me and my shop here.