Blog: Loop Tricks
Crochet Hearts
Posted on - 12/02/2013
It will soon be Valentines Day, and an opportunity to show that special person that you care, and what a better way than making them a keepsake.
As hearts are synonymous, we have put together a few Heart Crochet ideas we have sought out for inspiration, that would be perfect for that small gift.
It doesn’t even have to be for your partner, how about a best friend, sister, mum or auntie. I have plans to create for my daughters, as well, and will share some pics when all done.
As crochet is such an amazing free style art, then really I can’t say what will be created, but they will all be different that is for sure, and relevant for each person.
At the same time we have put together a ‘Bessie May Heart Collection‘, of our Bessie May pink and red shade yarns, that are just perfect for creating something special.
If you add BMHEART in the ‘Apply Coupon’ field in the cart, you will receive a 15% discount on this special collection until the end of 14 February, so you can create right up to the last minute.
Hearts from us & How To’s by some clever people:
Yarns: Bessie May Heart Collection
Small Heart Chains: at Sewing Daisies
Heart Necklace & Hanging Lace Heart: at Solo Crochet
Crochet Heart Blanket: you can always buy it: at Lili et nene
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- By Julia Crossland
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- Bee in ‘Rosie’
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- by Sewing Daisies
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- Smile in ‘Kiss’
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- by Solo Crochet
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- Smile in Berry
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- by Solo Crochet
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- Smitsy ~ Rouge
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- by Lili et nene
Happy New Year
Posted on - 07/01/2013
Just a quick hello to wish everyone a Happy New Year, and hoping you had an amazing Christmas, and holiday celebrations.
We are all back at the Bessie May Studio, and received over Christmas some lovely pictures of creations made by Michele, who is a knit and colour addict just like us.
Michele has kindling allowed us to share her sample she has made using Bessie May Smitsy, in Rhubarb and Custard Colours – so lovely. Also look at the amazing cushion – we all want one.
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- Rhubarb & Custard by Michele in Bessie May Smitsy
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- Beautiful Cushion by Michele
Christmas Count Down 2
Posted on - 19/12/2012
Ok – update on the Christmas Project Count Down at the Bessie May Studio.
Late, late, late, night last night, pushing ahead with the Heritage Flower Crochet Throw – no memory of even when the light was actually turned off.
However, all is good – design is moving forward. Three different flower types designed, but maybe going to only use two of these.
Fabric chosen and ordered, just in case it is needed – feel a fabric framing is going to be a good option, but time will tell.
Time to share a couple of pics of work in progress, and on with the creation.
Pretty Leaf Wreath
Posted on - 17/10/2012
Oh so pretty – Caroline Griffiths has created this amazingly Pretty Leaf Wreath, after visiting our stand at the Knit and Stitch Show, using Bessie May Grace, our Mohair and Silk, in the soft shade of mist.
Can you believe this is knitted – delicate leaves made with cotton and linen alternatively, blended with Bessie May Grace, as Caroline wanted to create using different yarn blends.
Thanks to Caroline for sharing her beautiful work, which she created immediately she got home from the show, which is so impressive, we hadn’t even unpacked after the show, and her lovely picture arrived.
Feel the Yarn…
Posted on - 13/07/2012
Feel the Yarn – the young designer competition displayed for all exhibitors and visitors at Pitti Filati for judging – illustrating amazing skill, ideas and true competitiveness.
Students from some of the top textile courses at institutions across the world were selected to put together up to three designs for all of those attending the show to choose their preferred designs/designer to win the honour of being top talent!
Many wonderful designs and skills displayed, but eventually after much consideration we at Bessie May chose Kyoko Tejima’s designs, because the thumbprint designs were just amazing, and the quality of the finished garments were just done with such care, creating delicate grace and the most amazing attention to detailing.
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- Feel The Yarn Design Thumb Nails
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- Feel The Yarn Kyoko Tejima Design Thumbnails
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- Feel The Yarn Kyoko Tejima Design A
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- Feel The Yarn Kyoko Tejima Designs A&B
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- Feel The Yarn Kyoko Tejima Design B Softness
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- Feel The Yarn Kyoko Tejima Design A Detailing
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- Feel The Yarn Kyoko Tejima Designs A & B
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- Feel The Yarn Kyoko Tejima Design B Top
Renaissance Wall – Pitti Filati – Yarn Techniques
Posted on - 13/07/2012
There was so much to see at the Renaissance Exhibition at Pitti Filati last week. The exhibition commenced with a wall of machine knit technique square samples created in the perfect yarns from each of the Pitti Filati exhibitors.
It was great to see the different yarns and design techniques that built up the wall display of ‘Renaissance’. Also to see all the yarn junkies touching, stroking, and cooing over all of the different samplers – likes bees to honey….!
Captured a few of the samplers for sharing, although pictures unfortunately can’t be touched, and squeezed, so you will have to use your imagination…!
ENJOY the colours, yarns and different creative techniques!
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- Pitti Filati – Renaisance Wall – White Shine Texture
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- Pitti Filati – Renaissance Wall – Green & Greys
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- Pitti Filati – Renaissance Wall – Rose Bud Jacquard
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- Pitti Filati – Renaissance Wall – Cluster
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- Pitti Filati – Renaissance Wall – Lace Weight
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- Pitti Filati – Renaissance Wall – Lace Weight
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- Pitti Filati – Renaissance Wall – Lilac
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- Pitti Filati – Renaissance Wall – Natural Collection
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- Pitti Filati – Renaissance Wall – Moss Stitch
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- Pitti Filati – Renaissance Wall – Deep Chain
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- Pitti Filati – Renaissance Wall – Yellow & Shine
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- Pitti Filati – Renaissance Wall – Weaved
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- Pitti Filati – Renaisance Wall – Hearts
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- Pitti Filati – Renaissance Wall – Paisely Tweed Deconstructed
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- Pitti Filati – Renaissance Wall – Gathered
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- Pitti Filati – Renaissance Wall – Yellow & Orange
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- Pitti Filati – Renaissance Wall – Natural Waves
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- Pitti Filati – Renaissance Wall – Leaping Lambs
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- Pitti Filati – Renaissance Wall – Pockets & Flowers
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- Pitti Filati – Renaissance Wall – Delicate Patterning
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- Pitti Filati – Renaissance Wall – Gentle See Waves
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- Pitti Filati – Renaissance Wall – Pale Soft Blue
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- Pitti Filati – Renaissance Wall – Diamond Texture
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- Pitti Filati – Renaissance Wall – Soft Structure
Texture & Lace – Spider Web Inspiration
Posted on - 27/06/2012
Designing continues at the Bessie May Studio, and currently a big hit is lace and texture, in bright green of Bessie May Lychee Shade.
Samples moving on well with emphasis on spaces being as important as stitches, as with spider webs – take a look and see what you think! Some beading included along the way…
Exciting – knitted sideways, nice lines emerge.
Texture created by blending Bessie May Smile, with Bessie May Grace – hmmm super kid mohair, silk, and extra fine merino wool – a luxury experience also…
Now design kicks in to next stage – creating a garment that brings everything together…. The best bit…..
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- Bessie May Lace & Texture – Sampler – beautiful mohair softness
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- Bessie May Lace & Texture – Samplers
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- Bessie May Grace – Super Kid Mohair & Silk in green of Lychee
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- Bessie May Lace & Texture – Sampler love the holes
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- Bessie May Smile, extra fine merino wool 100% in Lychee
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- Bessie May Lace & Texture – Sampler – beaded
Free Pocket Pattern – Bessie May Nettle Wrist Warmers
Posted on - 18/06/2012
At the Bessie May Studio we are building Pocket Patterns – which will do exactly what they are called -’fit in your pocket’, for all those knitting on the move, or wanting to experiment with as many styles of knitting as possible and built their repertoire, and at the same time create a lovely keep sake or gift!
Pop those needles in your pocket where ever you may be going, on the bus, on the train, going to work, and learn a couple of new stitch techniques, or methods, and always have something at hand to do, that you know you WILL COMPLETE!
Great idea for testing yarns, styles and learning what you really enjoy doing – whether crochet or knit. Also keep photos and stitch information and your library of ideas and inspiration will always be at hand.
Here is our first Pocket Pattern – lovely Nettle Wrist Warmers, created using just a single ball of Bessie May Nettle, so soft, natural, with the knowledge of something different, with Nettle Fibre (un dyed) and Organic Wool. Inspired by having 6 pretty recycled buttons that have been saved forever for that perfect project!
Here you will learn a couple of very useful stitch patterns:
Bramble Stitch, which again does as it says, creates little bramble berries as you build up the four rows of pattern stitch work
Cable, in a simple way, with the cable stitch worked right at the edge, you see the cables growing and framing the edge of the wrist warmer as you go.
If you are nervous of trying cable, this is a lovely project to attempt, as you will see how simple it can really be, and you will see it is worth working with three needles to get the lovely cables in your fabric.
Pattern is downloadable here:
Enjoy, let us know how you get on, and please share pictures of your lovely finished Pocket Pattern Project, so we can post it to inspire others!
Bessie May Grannie Crochet Flower Designs
Posted on - 30/04/2012
What a better way to spend time on a rainy day in the Bessie May Studio than to design some Bessie May Crochet Grannie Shapes. Opportunity to work with the beautiful spring/summer colours of Bessie May Honor, with the aim of making pretty Bessie May Grannie Shapes ‘Flower Design’ building on traditional grannie shapes.
Aim to make a very soft, almost bouncy Grannie Shape, moving away from the traditional ‘double and treble stitching’ used in most Grannie Shapes, decided to use ‘bubble stitch’ where usually you find ‘trebles’. Using green of Bessie May Honor Zing, for a green centred flower, then petals in blues, yellows, and soft sherbet pink, wrapped in a boarder of soft cream of Bessie May Honor Star.
Started with circles with a blend of ‘bubble’ and ‘treble’ stitches, but favourite has become the hexagonal, created with all ‘bubble stitch’, with a pretty ‘double stitch’ frame, with pretty loops (3 chains), so can connect with ease as you go along…!!!
Can see the finished blanket/cushion cover/etc… already – just a few more rainy days required!
Why don’t you have a go…!
Bessie May – Baby Blanket Design only 2 weeks to go…
Posted on - 21/03/2012
Bessie May Studio has a challenge to get a Baby Blanket designed and knitted up in 2 weeks, for a special delivery due in Australia… Boy or girl not known, but a special couple that like naturals and purples, so going with Bessie May Nettle, a lovely soft Aran weight yarn, with a tweedy effect created as the Nettle Fibre is natural, and the organic Wool Fibre is dyed before spinning.
This design has to have real style, and be perfect for a new born, through to a toddler who likes to have a special blanket close by. Not a frilly couple so no shawl lacing, but every baby deserves to be wrapped with a little something special, so a cozy frill it is….
The edging design is completed – creating textured waves, that look like they are crochet, but are really all knit. Not hard to do when you get into the design, although as shaping at each end, to create corners on the blanket, can send your mind wiring a bit…! But will all be worth it…
Chosen shades are Bessie May Nettle in ‘Heather‘ and ‘Nettie‘, as favourite colour of Mum to be is purple…
