Making Tutorials

I love making my tutorials, like really love it. I set up my work station (a tray with a piece of white paper, camera, yarn, hook, needles, scissors) and settle myself into the Big Chair in the light of the bay window. It's cosy, happy work. It makes me feel as if I can somehow reach out to all of you who love to crochet and invite you to sit and hook along with me in my living room. I feel like I'm sitting next to you chatting away, showing you the more complex bits that don't translate well into Ordinary Pattern blurb. The bits where I need to say "look, put your hook right here", or "hold the flower just like this and bend the petals forward a bit", or "don't forget to crochet over your ends!"

Sometimes my working conditions are a little chaotic due to the spontaneity of my Chief Assistant.

He  likes to carry out unexpected Quality Control checks on my yarns. He also likes to assist with the photography. He is very big on health and safety and is obsessed with making sure my scissors are always safe. He also quite likes to help provide the essential cosy vibe by sitting right on top of me.

What can I say? It's fun. It's rewarding. And I love it.

The procedure of making a tutorial is in essence quite simple. The design has already been done, the pattern worked, re-worked, tweaked and re-tweaked. I know exactly what I am doing by this point. Yeah. Go me! Hook, stop, camera, hook, stop, camera! Easy peasy.

But making tutorials is a serious time eater. They take a surprisingly long time to create even for a simple thing like a flower. Hours and hours go into the making and the photographing, then the uploading of pics and the detailed writing (forty seven pictures! Two thousand and seventy two words!). I do it over a number of days, as and when my family commitments allow. The photography has to happen in the daytime due to needing good natural light, but most of the hard work  is done for a few hours each night once my Little Peeps are tucked up in bed.

For me though, it's a little bit of  magic when I manage to make it happen. I love to feel like I am sprinkling a little bit of colourful joy into the world.

It's my Happy Thing.

So, the tutorial for these Triple Layer Flowers is now finished and can be found HERE.

Thank you with all my heart for the heaps of enthusiasm and excitement you always share with me. Very, very much appreciated. Have fun with the pattern, let me know how you get on!

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 Edit to add :: In answer to many queries, yes, the Bower Bird tutorial is coming very soon...will be working on that over the weekend  and into next week so that you'll have it in plenty of time to make some for Christmas gifts or decorations ♥

 

 

 

Comments

[Sarah Tarrant]

Thank you for sharing Lucy, these flowers are lovely and I'm going to make them and sew to a bag. Will you be doing a tutorial for the French Bower Birds, I can't tell you how much I adore them!

[Abigail @ Rosyhill]

Your tutorials are amazing and I am so grateful to have discovered crochet through them. I love this flower so much!
Abigail x

[Lillibeth]

Thank you Lucy, I've made my first one!
It's gorgeous! A beautiful pattern and as always wonderful directions.
Enjoy a cup'a on me!! (or are you adding to your yarn stash, he he)

[Esther]

Thanks very much for you, for wonderful tutorials and nice words. Your blog is the reason because of crochet is nice and like me.
Kisses

[Myriam]

Bless you! You are so generous to gie of your time and patterns so freely. I read your blog every day and you are such an inspiration. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and bits of your life with us! I really enjoy it! And the flowers are great I will be adding them to my queue! Have a lovely day!

[Katie]

Lucy, your post couldn't have been better timed! Last week I followed one of your tutorials for the first time and my goodness is it a pleasure to crochet! One of my friends had requested a flower garland and funnily enough I knew the perfect place for a pattern... I've been busy all week making flowers and much as I'm loving making it, I can't wait to be finished so I can start on your other wonderful tutorials.
I'd been a bit nervous about trying to follow a pattern before but I'm so glad I did. You really are quite wonderful to be sharing all you wonderful ideas and happiness with us. I'm ever so grateful - thank you so much. x

[Carolyn]

Hi Lucy,
I have only recently found your blog and love, love, love it! I used to be a stay at home Mum (for 10 years) but have gone back to work, sniff - so I envy you hugely! Any hoo, do you have any handy hints on getting started with crochet (and making sense of the patterns?!) and what wool do you use - is it Rowan?

Can't wait to see your run up to Christmas...

Carolyn

[Nadine]

and......from South Africa, coming out of lurking mode (soon to be sharing my ta dah moments with you to show you that your tutorials, energy and inspiration are really and truly appreciated!) a Big thank you Lucy for all your time and trouble. You make my day super smiley!
xxxx

[Rhianne]

I've just recently got into crochet and your blog has been a huge inspiration, so thank you. I just love the colours you use and your lovely projects too, I can't wait to try out your tutorials too.

[Jirska]

Wow, respect for you! You manage to create wonderful and colorful things! Thanx for sharing!

love, Jirska

[Carolyn. N.Z.]

Lucy, I love your tutorials, I have just made a bag, halfway through a Blooming flower cushion and cant wait to try your new triple layer flower. I am new to crochet.

[Kate]

Just wanted to say a huge thankyou for your wonderful instructions, and inspiring blog. I gave myself the challenge to learn to crochet over halg term, and with You tubes help, and yours, I've done it. I am now happily crocheting snow flakes and bauble (all from you) and hope to have a delightfully decorated house for Christmas. so - thankyou, thankyou, thankyou. Now just need to find an inspiring wool shop some where near Plymouth.

[Claire]

Hi Lucy, it's a beautiful pattern. I made one today and it's now a beautiful brooch on my coat. Thank you!!! X

[Sara]

Lucy you have helped me back to sanity. Having found myself jobless I had itchy fingers and decided to try my hand at crochet...and there you were! Wow my fingers are busy now and christmas is no longer looming as a scary expensive back cloud on my horizon but a fun hand made hookey time that is about sharing. Thank you so much.

[Lyn Z... Isle of Long, NY, USA]

I for One Am so very appreciative of all of the time, words, photos, effort, and talent that goes into your tutorials!!!!!
And YES You DO sprinkle all manner of happiness and hooky talent and learning for Me!!!! Thanx ever so much from here in the US..... <3

[Dianem]

Thank you so much for all you do for all of us! Your photos are always brillant :) I have all kinds of color combos in my head for some of those gorgeous flowers. I enjoy seeing the little chubby hands of your helper as he performs his quality control checks...lol. It brings back many happy thoughts of when my now 15yo son was just a little lad too :)
Smiles, DianeM

[Sue smith]

Lovely tutorial. I really like your blog by the way :)

[Carol]

Hi Lucy, so glad you like the hats I made using your tutorial. It is such a brilliant pattern, as are all your creations. I will be giving some as Christmas presents and know there will be squeals as parcels are opened! Just going to put mine on and pop out to the shops.
Hope you are having a really lovely day.
Carol xx

[Michelle Brubacher]

Hello Lucy. Thank you so much for your ongoing inspiration. Love your work! SO much! What yarn did you use for this project please? Would really love to know. Thanks, Michelle (Australia) :) :)

[Carolyn]

You are a wonderful part of the blogosphere,Lucy. The fact that you not only create such beautiful hooky things but are then enthusiastically willing and able to create such absorbing posts, all the while looking after your little ones so lovingly is miraculous. Or perhaps you use a little of the magic you are making? :) Your tutorials are so professional and yet far more user-friendly than most, no doubt because you put so much thought and time into them. I so much hope that this always remains a joy for you.

[Laura]

do you have any suggestions for someone who has never done crochet? Any tutorials on the webs or books that can help me get started? i'm an okay yet slow knitter but i love all the flowers, blankets and such that you make and would like to try my hand. thanks!
blessings
~*~

[Carine_07]

I guess someone on Ravelry have already mentioned it about your book, but, I prefer repeating it, it would be great to have a graphical view of the patterns, even if it is only a hand-drawing one. The way Japanese present their patterns is clear, even for people who do not know any kanji.

[Dorothy]

Hi Sew and Lucy thank you Sew glad I am in good company with another 'mature' girl - I am still 19 in my head! Have a great Sunday everyonexxx :-)

[Kate]

Hi Lucy,
I just want to say a big thankyou for so many of your tutorials. I set myself the challenge of learning to crochet during half term, amd with you tube and you I have done it! I am now busily making christmas baubles and snowflakes from your tutorials, and I am really chuffed with them ..so, thankyou, thankyou, thankyou. Now I just need to find a fabulous wool shop somewhere near me in Plymouth!

[Taylor]

I can't wait to use the flowers on my next projects! They are fantastic!