The big reveal

I have mentioned that I've been working on some new designs for James C Brett and finally they are all finished and I can show them off to you.

The first are all super sized amigurumi made in the James C Brett flutterby chunky.

The first is Sunshine the giraffe

Named by my nephew Hector. I had made Sunshine to take with me to my meeting with James C Brett and he did look a bit funny sticking out of my bag on my way there.

Thats my bag full of samples. I'd only made one toy as I was asked to design more home-ware patterns.

Sunshine worked his magic and I was asked to create three more large amigurumis to go with him and two Christmas amigurumis. I was very happy about this.

So next I made Rory (also named by Hector Morrison).

 I had seen this multicoloured flutterby chunky when I'd been given a tour of the Brett factory. I knew as soon as I saw it that I was going to use it for a lions mane. It turned out just how I wanted it. Its not in my nature to have favorites but Rory has a very special place in my heart.

Well we had a lion and a giraffe so of course next we needed an elephant. Meet Elle.

 This is the simplest of these large amigurumi patterns but she's still adorable and lovely to make.

The last of the group was more difficult to decide and on the day of the meeting we couldn't decide. I thought panda, snake, turtle... Then I saw a flamingo in my head and that was that.

 This is Flo. I'm pretty in love with this design. I had so much fun making it. It is huge, nearly life size. It looks lovely standing up in this photo but if you every meet her she is a big floppy cuddle monster.

Next are the Christmas designs. I don't think its too early to mention the C-word now, we should all be get are Christmas crafts on now and these will make great presents and they are easy and fun to make.

Rudolf the reindeer.

 Jamie from James C Brett was very excited about wanting a reindeer. I wanted it to be really cute and I actually changed direction on this a few times. I was going to do the head so it was more realistic but I'm glad I when this was in the end. I think he's lovely and I hope he will be a popular design for Brett.

Last but not least is Frosty the snowman.

A simple traditional design, I'm happy with this one. This is such an easy one to make but it looks really impressive and its so soft and large. It defiantly worth a go to get you in the Christmas mood.

These patterns are available from any good yarn shops as paper pattern rather than digital downloads.
Purple Linda are stocking them all and if you follow this link it will take you straight to them.

I didn't just make toy designs as I'd been asked for home-wares.

Before I when to the meeting with James C Brett, Jamie sent me a huge bag of their yarns "to play with" :)

  I got a ball of every colour in the Noddles and this made me very happy as I was itching to "play" with this new yarn perfect for crochet.

The result of my messing around was this set of cushion designs.

This picture doesn't really show how lovely and bright the Noodles yarns are. You only need one ball of each colour and a few more of grey to make all the cushions. These feel really nice too and they won't snag or go fluffy and bobbley  so they will last and look good for a really long time.

The next set of patterns started with me wanting to make a bunny snuggle blanket.

 I loved all the colours in the Baby marble and as I was making the blanket I got the idea to make the cardigan. I've added scallop edging to each item in the set to tie it all together. Cardigan sizes from baby to 12 months and the flower can be sewn to the cardi or the hat.

Well I'd made one blanket and I was really enjoying playing with the colours of Baby marble DK so I made three more to form this set.

 The blue one is a mix of a granny square and a full square to create what I call a granny cross. The yellow is a 12 pointed star blanket. I know there are other star blankets out there but I don't think anyone has done a 12 pointed one before so I pushed the boat out. Plus you now have a reason to buy a pom pom maker. Last is a very traditional granny with a bobble edge which gives it a little twist. each of these blankets take three balls of the Baby marble DK.

 Last up is my magic monsters.

 This was designed along with the blanket to be a set. You buy the yarn for the blanket and you will have enough left to make all the toys.

 The blanket is made using pixel crochet and is made in squares that are then sewn together so its a lot simpler than it looks and is a really enjoyable long project.

So thats it. Thats what I've been up to for the last 4 months. I'm very proud of my designs, so I hope everyone else likes them and they sell well for James C Brett.

If you want to see more of my designs you can check out my etsy shop by following this link now

This weekend is Yarndale and if your going I'll be hanging out the knit and natter on and off on Saturday afternoon, so if you spot me do say hello, its always lovely to meet people who like my work :)