Autumnal Crochet

Tis very Autumnal indeed here in the Attic right now, I just can't get enough of these gorgeous, seasonal colours. Even the browns are singing their cosy, inspirational song to me this year which has never happened before and I am still getting over the shock of it. I'm enjoying Brown Yarn, multiple shades of brown yarn even!! Who'd have thought it?!

 

My weekend was a slow, cosy stay-home affair, and much happy hooky took place which is always a Good Thing. I set myself up at the dining table, surrounded myself with scrummy merino yarn, and got stuck into crocheting Autumn. I really love using merino yarn, it is a pleasure on every level. The cosy look of those squidgy balls, the intense colours, the softness of it running through my fingers, and the way the stitches look so neat and precise when it's worked up. I always used to favour cotton yarn for making crochet decorations, but I think merino is now my favourite. The above collection of yarn all comes from my studio stash and is a mixture of brands and weights. There are leftover scraps of Rico Essentials merino DK, a few scraps of Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino, some Drops Extra fine merino DK, and Drops baby merino 4ply ( the brown shades).

I find that when I'm wreath making, there is a need to frequently hop around between ideas. If I tried to crochet a hundred leaves all in one go, I know I would go demented with boredom. Wreath making is a lengthy, labour intensive process, and the way I cope with it is by switching around and allowing myself to explore new ideas and get excited as much as possible. So although I've got a load more leaves still to make (they will form the backbone of the decoration), I just couldn't resist the lure of more cutesome things.....namely acorns.

After a quick search on t'internet I found a good many acorn patterns, and the one I settled on was this one. That's it on the far left. It was a little hit bigger than I thought it would be, so I adapted the pattern to make a similar shape only smaller.

I also found that with the smaller size I didn't need to use any stuffing as I simply used a length of yarn to stuff inside the shape instead. Just remember to leave about 40cm of yarn before making your starting slip knot (that's when you make the acorn nut, not the weeny cup bit).

Five little acorns flew off my hook, and then as you can see I was immediately  on to another idea....

.....baby toadstools!! Awwwwww! When I searched for a pattern, I couldn't find anything miniature enough, so I just set to with hook and yarn and conjured up my own.

I think my pattern still needs a bit of tweaking to make it neater, but oh, I do SO love these little itty bitty things! They only measure 3cm high and are a little bit fiddly to make, but yup, I did love making them very much.

It's been a lot of fun searching for Autumnal hooky inspiration I have to say. The new issue of Simply Crochet magazine came out last week (issue 11), can you see what caught my eye on the front cover? (and no, it wasn't the 'tache)

Oh look, a wonderful little Hedgehog family! This is most definitely on my have-a-go list, how can I resist? Even though the thought of following a lengthy written pattern (in shades of BrOwN) makes me want to go and stick my head under a pillow, I am psyching myself up to give it a go. I've even ordered some beady black safety eyes which definitely means a hedgehog (or two) is officially on my extensive Wreath Making Component list.

Back to leaves again now. See, I told you I like to hop about with my ideas. I've been browsing through a few books looking for different leaf shapes to try. I can highly recommend this book [100 Flowers to Knit and Crochet], it is a real gem and I've used it a lot in the time that I've owned it.

In the beginning section there are pages illustrating the flower patterns, and it is very beautifully set out in that the flowers all appear in rainbow colour order. Oh, I really LOVE that! Then there is a separate section (shown above) illustrating all the leaf patterns.

Despite my best efforts and the most intense levels of concentration, I still really struggle reading patterns. I try soooooooo hard, but invariably end up improvising and making it up a bit as I go along.

But I am pleased with my first results (especially the oak leaf) and will be adding many more to this leafy collection over the coming days and weeks.

I thought it would be good to make a little gathering of my favourite Autumn crochet patterns, in case you might wish to hook up a little seasonal decoration of your own. And I apologise to those of you in the Southern Hemisphere, for invading your Springtime with all things Autumn/Fall.

Top row, from left to right ::

Acorns (free pattern from Dutch blog Son's Popkes, written in English) 

Little maple leaf (free pattern from Mrs Micawber blog)

Toadstools (free pattern from Annaboo's house blog)

Bottom row, from left to right ::

Pine cones (patten to buy from Planet June)

Teeny tiny pumpkin (free pattern from Repeat Crafter Me)

Maple leaves (pattern to buy from GoldenLucyCrafts on Etsy)

I like this crocheted Fall Wreath (featuring the teeny tiny pumpkin pattern mentioned above), although of course my own creation will be nothing like this at all. I'm going for my usual More Is More approach to wreath making....

.....so far so good.

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Comments

[SHARITA]

Love the way you mix colours in every season, Lucy!!! (PS. Me too, I have that wonderful book... but no time to crochet right now! Ah! And congratulations for your BEST BLOG award! x x x)

[Jacqueline]

I think that wreath is just so beautiful and eye catching!

[fivegoblogging]

I Love your wreaths and wondered when an Autumnal version would be on its way ;-)

[Jo]

The little toadstools are so cute. Gorgeous autumn colours, the wreath is going to be wonderful.

[Lisa Pratt]

For those of us in Australia at the moment it feels more like late Summer than Spring but you posting now gives us inspiration to be ready for Autumn! Stunning work as usual.

[Jen]

Hi Lucy

Do you knit as well as crochet? Only asking because Julie of Little Cotton rabbits has a very similar looking hedgie pattern (albeit knitted)on her etsy shop

(http://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/62653073/knitting-pattern-for-a-little-oddment?ref=shop_home_active)

....I have made it, and it's easy!

Jen x

[Julia]

I love this! Especially the mushrooms/toadstools (I also like the name "toadstool", btw).

This is gonna be so awesome! The trees here are so colourful right now as well, it's absolutely lovely ... I'm really lookin forward to seeing this one finished! :)

[Winwick Mum]

It's looking good! Isn't it exciting what patterns you can find when you look - it makes you wonder how you never spotted them before, but of course you didn't need them then! xx

[Heather]

Lovely as always Lucy! Although it was great reading all about yarn dale (and I so wish I could have attended but living in kent with two children under 4 made that a bit of a mission impossible) I did so miss your lovely crochet creations. I can't wait to see the next work in progress pictures! I wonder - have you thought about adding a little owl as well? The ones made by bunny mummy are lovely but may be a bit too large (unless ... its a hanging-inside-the-wreath-kind-of-owl???).... Anyhow, I know that however you decide to decorate the wreath, it will be beautiful and just right.

Heather

[vanessa]

LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! Maybe there's something in the water Lucy as i'm going for colours this Autumn I thought I would NEVER like in a million years! I'm still not over the shock yet either!!!!!

Bet this wreath will be a complete stunner......xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Rae]

Love your Toadstools! We call them "Disney Toadstools" not their real name. Have you noticed how many of them there are around this year? We walk our dog in woods almost everyday and they are almost outnumbering many of the more common ones. Not good for eating though! ..Can't wait to see the finished wreath x

[Emma]

Lucy, I would like to lie on a woodland floor made entirely from crocheted leaves, acorns and mushrooms *deep sigh*

[manuela]

thank you
thank you
thank you !!!

[Tina]

LOVE IT! I think I love it even more than your other wreaths, probably because I adore Autumn colours more than bright ones. It's lovely seeing the various elements taking shape! Those weeny toadstool! The hedgehog family! The acorns! Arghhh, it's all too adorable! :) xxx

[Nanita]

Oh my, I absolutely LOVE this! All those Autumn shades together are gorgeous. Hmmm, I do have that book, maybe I should try something out as well?... xxxx

[Anita]

Thanks for all the great links, love what you've done so far :)

[Bíró Szilvia]

Hi Lucy these pictures are very inspiring, and the hedgehog family soo cute.My little hedgehog is done but she is a bit lonley.I should make a mate for her. I love autum!!

[Sonia Petitpoint]

What an amazing project !

[ukcitycrafter]

This is going to look gorgeous, can't wait!

[CJ]

It's looking wonderful so far. The acorns and the little toadstools are so sweet. Oh it's going to be lovely Lucy.

[Inge]

Beautiful!
The baby toadstools are very lovely!

[Thomasina Tittlemouse]

Love your gradually assembling collection of hooky autumn bits and pieces - I made an autumn tea cosy on similar lines - such fun to hook up all the little berries and fruits. I've got my eye on those hedgehogs too - even though they are brown! Really looking forward to seeing the finished wreath - it will be glorious! Enjoy every moment of the making! E x

[Janette Surtees]

So inspirational reading your blogs. Creativity is just oozing out of you, and passed on to the rest of us. It's is lovely just lovely your Autumn wreath creation so far. J

[Jacqui Galloway (livingwithethel)]

It's going to be beautiful.

[silvia carrera]

desde perú> me gusta mucho su página.