Author: Rachele Carmona

My Latest WIP: The Learner Bag

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Hello, lovely! Today I want to share something I have been working on lately. Remember when I was gifted some new Scheepjes Mighty yarn to test out? I got started right away making a bag, and luckily before it was all over, I took some snapshots to show you the progression. Scheepjes Mighty Yarn This yarn is called Mighty for a reason! It is perfect for any project where you will need strong, durable material, just like this crochet bag I am creating. Shop this yarn at the links below, or read more about it at my official review. My review of Mighty Yarn Shop Mighty at WoolWarehouse (Use this affiliate link to purchase and I’ll receive a small commission to help keep CypressTextiles running – all at no additional cost to you!) Color Combinations Scheepjes Mighty has a limited color range at this moment. There are six neutral and earthy unicolours, three two-tone twisted blends, and two indigo shades. Here is the color combination that I used for this sample bag. I was sent …

NEW FO: The Dimensions Blanket, Featuring Andrea Grimaldi

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Hello, lovely! Today I wanted to introduce you to something I have had in the vault for some time. Ever since I had a weird idea to make a few blankets from tessellations. Two years ago, in January 2018, I started sketching out ideas for a few tessellation blankets. One of them became the Dimensions Blanket! Made using beautiful and popular Scheepjes Stone Washed.* Dimensions Blanket Pattern The Dimensions Blanket pattern is already available on Etsy and Ravelry, if you’d like to check it out! Or it also will be available to everyone next week! Social Media: Use hashtags #DimensionsBlanket and of course #CypressTextiles The lovely sample blanket and all blanket photography is by the talented Andrea Grimaldi. Designing Dimensions Here is the actual inspiration tessellation image I used to create this design. I love the illusion that appears because of the four different shades, but it would still look cute in any colors. The first scraps of designy bits! This is when I was just beginning to see how I would create the shapes, …

New Project, New Yarn! Scheepjes Mighty: The Jute & Cotton Blend Powerhouse

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Hey, you! There’s a new project on my hook, as I’ve been gifted Scheepjes Mighty – a brand new yarn for me to work with and try out. I have been on a roll this year with the projects. You may know I took a lot of breaks last year, but when 2020 hit I made a big list of all the things I want to finish this year and wouldn’t you know, there were 20 of them! So here’s to finishing 20 in 2020! I can cross off one of them when this quick little project is complete. Let me tell you a bit about Mighty – available at WoolWarehouse*, and then I’ll show you a sneak peek of my new WIP. Introducing Scheepjes Mighty! Today I’m sharing with you the Jute and Cotton blend powerhouse of the century. Seriously this yarn is perfect for any rugged project that must be made in strong and durable yarn. You could make baskets, macrame, stuffed toys, trivets, place-mats, shopping bags, and more. Available here!* So what …

Free Crochet Pattern: Skyfall Shawlette

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Hello, lovely! Yesterday, I showed off my newly finished Skyfall Shawlette, and now I am proud to present the free crochet pattern. Relevant Links Scroll down for the free pattern! This shawlette uses 2 hanks of Scheepjes SKIES, one each of Light and Heavy – more info below. [Etsy / Ravelry] Find this pattern in an easy to print, ad-free, convenient PDF file for a small fee. My SKIES yarn funsies Progress Pics Finished Object Reveal! Shop SKIES Yarn These are all affiliate links, which means that if you shop through them, I get a small commission to keep things running – at no additional cost to you! SKIES Light WoolWarehouse Deramores – also available in a 5-Hank Value Pack Knotty House Black Sheep Wools Amazon SKIES Heavy WoolWarehouse Deramores – also available in a 5-Hank Value Pack Knotty House Black Sheep Wools Amazon Or find a Scheepjes retailer near you! Social Media Join the other crafters who have made the Skyfall Shawlette! Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Ravelry, Etsy, Pinterest: CypressTextiles Hashtags: #SkyfallShawlette #CypressTextiles Notions & Sizing US Size 5mm …

Finished! Skyfall Shawlette, Scheepjes SKIES Heavy and Light

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Remember this WIP from December? I have been working on this shawlette for a little while and have really enjoyed making something that’s quasi-blanketarian, but a smaller and faster project. It’s like a small half blanket and just as engaging and lovely. I mentioned this once or thrice, but expect more shawl patterns in my future! This cute little linen stitch WIP in Scheepjes SKIES Heavy* is lounging in a glorious yarn bowl*. Scheepjes SKIES (Light and Heavy) Links marked with an asterisk and links in the shopping info sections are all affiliate links, and shopping through them will help support my work – at no additional cost to you! How cool is that?! Description of this yarn from the Scheepjes Website. Made from an all-natural 100% Premium Blend cotton, the Scheepjes SKIES yarns are so soft you’d think you were holding a cloud. Dyed using beautiful shades of Indigo; a textile dye dating back to 4000BC, these yarns feature subtle colour contrasts and a hand dyed appearance. Ranging from the pale blue of a …

Free Crochet Pattern: Namaste Hula Hoop Mandala (DK Wt.)

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Hello, you! Remember a few posts ago when I share an epic crochet hula hoop mandala free pattern – made with Scheepjes Chunky Monkey*?? Well, back then I promised you a DK weight version, and now it’s ready for you! Introducing, the Namaste Hula Hoop Mandala in DK weight Colour Crafter. Ain’t she purdy? Information Scroll down for the free pattern – the first 20 or so rounds are the same as the Chunky Monkey aran weight version, but written without all of the color changes. Then some additional rounds are added here to account for the gauge difference of the yarns, and the fact that we are still using a 36in hula hoop. Yarn: Colour Crafter – 2 balls any color Shop this yarn at your favorite shops (affiliate links) Black Sheep Wools Deramores Wool Warehouse Find a Scheepjes retailer close to you! Social Media Join the other crafters who have made the Namaste Mandala. Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest: CypressTextiles Hashtags: #NamasteMandala #CypressTextiles Related Links (ETSY / RAVELRY) Find this pattern in a convenient condensed PDF …

Using the KISS Method to Design My First Shawlette!

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Hello, beautiful crafter! Hope you’ve managed to find some moments of peace during the holiday season. We were still reeling from Christmas festivities when the New Year knocked us on our bums.. But now I have had a breath of fresh air and had a nice long think about how I want my first shawlette to look. A Look Back at Preparations Actually, this thing doesn’t even have a name yet! Okay, I’ll have to sleep on that one… For now, you remember the yarn I am using for this project, Scheepjes Skies – both Heavy * and Light * weights. Here are the 2 hanks with the swift I used to wind them up. And here are the yarn balls, all ready to go. I even decided to use a yarn bowl! You an find this beautiful yarn bowl at WoolWarehouse.* Scheepjes Skies By some modern miracle, I’ve worked through most of the ball of yarn in my little yarn bowl. Here you can see the fruits of my labor, a dinky half-pint ball. …

Scheepjes Skies for My First Shawlette Pattern

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Hello! Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah! Hope you are well, and are able to squeeze a bit of hooky in during the busy holiday. I am going to make time to unwind and craft! Lucky me, I have a lovely yarny package to share – it’s two hanks of Scheepjes Skies*, one Light and one Heavy. And guess what! Since I just wrapped up my first ever Mandala design, I decided to go for it on another non-blanket make, and so this yarn will be turned into a Shawlette. Yes! Blanket-obsessed me is making some progress on branching out! Okay, a mandala and a shawlette are still 2-D shapes – a circle and a triangle – but still! Hey maybe one day I will venture out into the 3-D realm and make a hat or a stuffed animal… One step at a time though as just the thought brings my heart rate up lol… I’m super comfy with 2 dimensions. But anyway!! Enough about me, and more about this yarn! There are lots of yummy …

Free Crochet Pattern: Namaste Hula Hoop Mandala (Aran Wt.)

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Hey, you! Thanks so much for stopping in. Today I want to share another project that I have in the works: My own hula hoop mandala! First, let’s look back at my inspiration: The Trinity Mandalas. Remembering the Trinity Mandala MAL If you remember my recent post regarding hula hoop mandalas, I am completely obsessed. It all started with the Trinity Mandala MAL hosted by Scheepjes – genius pattern by Esther of It’s All in a Nutshell. I made six hula hoops with that mandala pattern. The original pattern called for Catona* which is a thin cotton, but I resized the pattern by using 3 strands of Colour Crafter* (check out how I get 3 strands from just 1 ball of yarn). I basically worked the mandala pattern until it reached the size I needed to stretch it over my hula hoop. New Yarn Arrival! Okay, so needless to say, after making Esther’s mandala into a hula hoop decoration, I knew I had to make a pattern of my own for this purpose. Enter Scheepjes …

Work in Progress: Gloria Blanket

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Hello, you! A couple of weeks ago I told you about a blanket that did not yet have a name, that I was working up using the Scheepjes Metropolis cutie pie colour pack. Well the blanket now has a name – and a few progress pics too. I’m super excited to show you, so read on! Also you should know I am sat in an airport for the next three hours (more on that later!), so this will be an excessively chatty post.. you’ve been warned lol Gloria Blanket I mentioned it in the yarn arrival post, but it bears repeating that this design has been knocking around in my mind for a few years now, and it is also one of my most requested patterns – that is, many many folks have messaged me asking when I will get a move on with this one! Side note: Another very heavily requested pattern is my upcoming Botanica Blanket CAL (#botanicablanket), and I will make an official info post on Tuesday, November 26 – or maybe …

NEW Scheepjes Metropolis Cutie Pie Colour Pack

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I already can’t wait to show you all what I’ve designed for this pack. Hint: it’s a simple yet engaging, beautiful project. but first, let me spoil you with pics of the Metropolis Colour Pack by Scheepjes. This Colour Pack is destined to become the prototype for a design that you all have been asking me for for years! Do the words floor tile project mean anything to you? Well, maybe not… but I promise this is one of my most requested patterns based on sneak peeks that I have given here and there since February 2016. Before I reveal a sneak peek, check out the Metropolis Colour Pack! Information (All the deets!) When you receive this awesome pack, it has a double window with a “side A” and a “side B” as you can see in the photos above. It looks kind of like a briefcase. But a lot more fun… Squeeeee at all that color! Here is how the pack looks when you open the sides and lay it out flat. Shop the …

Scheepjes YARN Bookazine, Issue 8: TEA ROOM

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Hello, lovely! Today I wanted to pop in and tell you all about the new Scheepjes YARN Bookazine that was released last week. Twice a year, Scheepjes comes out with a new issue of YARN, and it just blows me away each time. I have had a design in every issue since the third one, and it seems like I make my humble offering, and send it off to The Netherlands, where the creative geniuses at Scheepjes make absolute magic with it. I love how each issue has a theme, and a general color vibe and mood to it. This issue’s theme is TEA ROOM, and here is the gorgeous cover. Related Links Shop this issue through Wool Warehouse or find a Scheepjes retailer near you! Ravelry page for this issue Browse previous issues of YARN Bookazine Beautifully Warm Designs This issue features stunning designs – something for everyone, ranging from elegant to playful – mixed in with delightful articles all centered on the tea room theme – including a selection of ten glorious tea …

Virtual Blankets and Granny Square Day Highlights

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Hello, there! Whew! What an exhausting day yesterday, releasing a fresh new crochet motif pattern, promoting a giveaway, and all the while wanting to just scroll endlessly through all the beautiful Granny Square Day posts on Instagram. #vvcalGSD2019 Highlights In case you missed it, I ran a giveaway on IG to celebrate Granny Square Day 2019 – all of the entries are under hashtag #vvcalgsd2019, and I’ve pulled some highlights! Check them out: Magnolia Square Birch Square Plumeria Square Crystal Square Ponderosa Square Beautiful squares by beautiful folks Virtual Blankets I pulled together a bunch of cool GSD-related stuffs to load into this post, so hope you’re enjoying this whole handful of gorgeous pics! All of the squares that you’ll see here are made from the free square patterns in my 2016 and 2018 VVCALs. I made a few Virtual Blankets with some color palettes – all pulled from the #vvcalGSD2019 hashtag, and keep in mind these are made by folks worldwide. Talk about SYNERGY! Love our community! Neutrals + Mustard Blue + Green Red …

Merryweather Square Free Pattern – A Granny Square Day Gift

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Hello, friend! It was a phenomenal Granny Square Day today, and I can tell you I spent way too much time on Instagram watching everyone post. Hashtag worth it!! Granny Square Giveaway Update I had over 260 people enter my giveaway celebrating Granny Square Day, and I will announce the 3 winners tomorrow. Look out for a blog post shortly with all the highlights and the fun giveaway info. I will be making virtual blankets with the squares that folks entered as well! Head to #vvcalGSD2019 to see the entries! Merryweather Square As a thank you to everyone who participated in the giveaway, and to all of the folks that shared the love by talking about it in their stories and IG / Facebook feeds, as well as just a HUGE thank you to everyone who follows this site, I decided to release a brand new free pattern today. I named her Merryweather after the blue fairy on Sleeping Beauty, and I think it is just so fitting. Here, you can see my full Merryweather …

Crochet Tip: Hold Cotton Thread Triple to Add Elegant Texture (Simple Trick) – Feat. VVCAL Squares

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Helloooo, gorgeous crafter! Today I want to share a small WIP that I have been working on here and there over the past month. And, I also include a super nice tip that I learned from two crafters years ago to make three strands of yarn from one skein/ball. Very useful!! So here we go! I have an entire shelf of beautiful cotton thread Scheepjes || Maxi Sweet Treat – I have a full set of them, which is a total of 109 colors. Definitely swoon-worthy, but also kind of sad – they are very pretty to look at, but I don’t much work with thread very often, and I am not one to let yarn fester in a stash.. I like to USE it!! Sweet VVCAL Blanket in Progress So with a tip that I remembered in the back files somewhere in the recesses of my brain, I made the decision to create a cute little VVCAL blanket, just making a square here and there over time. Eep, just posting these photos is making …