Sunday, 10 February 2019

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Chubby Cactus - free pattern and video tutorial!



Free crochet cactus pattern


Chubby Cactus Pattern


*Disclosure: some of the links posted below are affiliate links which means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. This helps me to keep my content free :-)  Thank you! *


(USA Stitch Terms)

Materials needed:

           Cygnet Chunky yarn in “Kiwi” - available from Snufflebean Yarn
           Cygnet Chunky yarn in “Chocolate” - available from Snufflebean Yarn
           A scrap of black and pink yarn
           4mm hook - I use Clover Amour hooks available from Snufflebean Yarn or Amazon
           10mm safety eyes - I buy mine from CelloExpress
           Stuffing
           Pom Pom - from Amazon (optional: alternative crochet flower – please see details below)
           Terracotta Plant Pot (5cm tall, 6cm across) - I buy mine from Amazon
           Stitch Marker (optional)
           Needle
           Scissors

Stitches used:

Magic ring / circle
Sc (single crochet)
Inc (increase = 2sc in same stitch)
Dec (decrease = 1sc over 2 stitches)
Slip Stitch (ss)
BLO (Back Loop Only)


Video Tutorial:




Written Pattern:

Cactus body

Using Kiwi yarn, leave a long tail (approximately 12”) for sewing

Chain 13

1.         Sc in 2nd ch from hook, then sc in next 11ch. Ch1, tur             [12]

2.         BLO sc across, ch1, turn.                                                                [12]


Repeat Row 2 until you have 22 rows in total

Ch1, ss12 to join ends together, ch1

Cut yarn leaving a long tail (approximately 12” long) for sewing

Form a running stitch around the top of your cactus using one of your long tails of yarn. (see video)

Pull yarn to gather the top of your cactus and knot tightly on the inside.

Attach safety eyes (see video) and stuff.

Form a running stitch around the base of your cactus and gather loosely.

DO NOT CUT YOUR YARN.

You will use your remaining yarn tail to sew your cactus to his soil.


Video Tutorial:



Written Pattern:


Soil  

working in continuous rounds 
– repeat the pattern between the asterisks *  * X number of times

Using Chocolate yarn

Into MR, 6sc                                     [6]

*inc* x 6                                             [12]

*1sc, inc* x 6                                     [18]

*2sc, inc* x 6                                     [24]

*3sc, inc* x 6                                     [30]

BLO sc in each stitch around         [30]

*3sc, dec* x 6                                    [24]

Sc in each stitch around                 [24]

Sew cactus to soil - see video

*2sc, dec* x 6                                    [18]

Sc in each stitch around                 [18]

Stuff your soil – see video

*1sc, dec* x 6                                     [12]

Sc in each stitch around                 [12]

*dec* x 6                                            [6]


Finish stuffing soil, cut yarn, form running stitch around outside loops of last 6 stitches and gather. 

Weave in your end and plant your new cactus buddy into his pot :D


Alternative to Pom Pom – Crochet Flower

*flower will be added on Thursday 14th Feb 2019! Make sure to check back*


Continue reading Chubby Cactus - free pattern and video tutorial!

Tuesday, 5 February 2019

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I'm no longer selling patterns and this is why....

If you follow me on social media you will have already seen my announcement that I will no longer be selling my crochet patterns.

This is because I discovered my patterns had been pirated and were available on some unscrupulous websites for free. This both saddened and annoyed me in equal measure.

When I first released my purrmaid it did exceptionally well and was picked up and shared by a couple of large crochet pages, alongside a crochet “celebrity”.

Now this crochet celeb did not contact me in advance (so it came as a HUGE shock to me to have my phone lit up like a Christmas tree with notifications) and simply set up an affiliation link to my Etsy pattern page and got a percentage of the pattern sale money for the entire month. 

This didn’t cost me as the designer anything, it didn’t cut into my sale money or anything along those lines and is a totally legitimate way for large profile people to make some extra pennies – I have zero problem with this as I benefited MASSIVELY from the exposure. 

Win win. 

It was a huge confidence boost to me and I was extremely excited and flattered to have had MY pattern chosen. Little old nobody me! It was amazing!




The down side to this was that unfortunately, it drew the attention of those who I didn’t want. The people who file share, post online for free for the traffic etc …. Not great when I was attempting to launch a pattern “career” so to speak. I had a massive kick start thanks to going a teeny tiny bit viral but then immediately had it stolen. What is the point? Meh.  I really love designing patterns and selling them was a great way to fund my passion but hey ho – there are always a few rotten apples ‘n all that.

The upside for you guys is that I thought well sod it, if some are getting it for free, why not everyone? 

Sooooooooooo I have removed my patterns from sale and will be working on filming tutorials for them over on my YouTube channel where I hope you will join me! I will also release the written patterns here on my blog so stick around, I’m not going anywhere, just slightly changing my direction and hopefully, long term, it will be for the better :D




When I announced this over the weekend, many people asked if they could donate and I have had a huge influx of people asking if they can buy a pattern so, after initially politely declining the very kind offers, I caved and have set up a “buy me a coffee” page on the off chance anyone felt the urge to buy me a virtual coffee and help support my designing!

Buy me a coffeeBuy me a coffee


See you all soon for some more patterns and video content!

Robin x
Continue reading I'm no longer selling patterns and this is why....