August Gnome: Cherries

*Radio crackle and static* We interrupt your Ocean baby blanket series to return to your previously scheduled series: A Year of Monthly Gnomes! (I am totally funny, right?)

August is a busy month in my household. We have a lot of birthdays! We will celebrate my husband’s birthday! 🥳 Then a few days later my baby girl turns two! 🥳 A week later is my first daughter’s 7th birthday! 🥳

And birthdays mean cake. And cake means ice cream. And ice cream should have cherries on top!

Plus, cherries scream SUMMER to me! August means hot, summer days around here.

I was worried this design isn’t busy enough. It is definitely less busy than last month’s design. But I hope you like the simplicity of it.

Each monthly gnome on Ravelry and all of the mosaic files in the eBook have been updated now to include a chart with X’s. If you purchased any of my patterns (not just these gnomes) on Etsy and would like an updated X-marked chart please send me an email!

This listing comes with two files: an interlocking crochet pattern and chart, and an overlay mosaic crochet pattern and X-marked chart.

“August Gnome” on Ravelry
“A Year of Gnomes” on Ravelry
“August Gnome” on Etsy
“A Year of Gnomes” on Etsy
Overlay Mosaic sample crocheted by CarolinevdB

Here’s our master list of Gnomes so far:

We are still continuing the Friends Around the World 6th Anniversary CAL: Adventure in Mosaic Crochet and I love seeing everyone’s projects! Even if you start late you can still join in! Make sure you join the Facebook group and event for all the new FATW6 releases every Monday and Thursday: https://www.facebook.com/calcrochetalong

When I finish with this Baby Ocean series I am hoping to have a new Crochet-A-Long as well! The “Summer Direction CAL” will have video walk thru’s for both techniques! I just finished the interlocking technique and I have only one more video to do for the mosaic one. And then I have to get my webpages set up for it all. And make sure my written pattern is ready. But first, in a few days, I will have the final pattern in the Baby Ocean and Others eBook – and it’s a special one for me, so keep your eyes peeled!

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Blooming Owl Wall Hanging

My musical husband has a guitar strap on his classical wooden guitar with these floral motifs. Everytime I see it I think of an owl.

Obviously I couldn’t just draw it as it is, but I think I captured the idea of a flowery owl in my newest wall hanging: Blooming Owl.

My husband loves it!

I used fingering weight yarn. This is also called 4-ply or 8/4 depending on where you live. Craft Council lists it as a weight 1 – super fine and states it can also be called sock yarn.

The black yarn is “110 Jet Black” Scheepjes Catona. It is 100% mercerized cotton. The small balls are only 50 grams and have 125 metres of yarn. Scheepjes suggests a 2.5 – 3.5 mm needle (I believe that specifically refers to knitting needles). I used a 2.5 mm crochet hook.

I used a full 2 balls. There was barely anything left over (see photo below). So, make sure you match my gauge or grab an extra skein. If you’re going to grab an extra one you might as well grab two! 😉

The gold yarn is actually called “Copper” (oops, it is called “Ginger”). It is from SweetGeorgia Yarns’ Tough Love Sock Yarn line. We looked online at YarnCanada.ca and I gave Mitch a few options. He said this color was “it” and he didn’t care that it was also the most expensive.

It comes in a twisted hank of 115 grams which gives you 425 yards of soft, silky wool. I only used half the skein.

It cost me $3.65 CAD per ball of Catona, so $7.30 total (but I did buy a 3rd ball just in case). The Tough Love Sock yarn was $33.95 but I only used half, so it cost me about $17 for this project. It felt really expensive to buy the fancy color Mitch wanted but it was so worth it because this is just beautiful to look at.

It was my first time using my fancy yarn swift! It is fun having toys! This is one of the more expensive things I own (related to yarn crafts). I don’t usually buy yarn that comes twisted because it just gets all tangled up. This was easy to set up and I turned the hank into a cake in a few short minutes!

The “Tough Love Sock Yarn” is 80% merino wool with 20% polyamide. Because it is a hand-dyed yarn it gives my finished piece a sort of mottled look where the dying process created slightly different shades in the yarn.

Like all of my patterns, this pattern is written for my two favorite techniques: interlocking crochet and overlay mosaic crochet. You can choose to use your favorite method or you can try something new!

I used the mosaic method because I wanted the fringe on the bottom and I wanted to use the strings at the top to attach the wooden dowel. I created a short YouTube tutorial with some tricks for attaching the dowel.

YouTube tutorial: Adding a Dowel

If you use interlocking crochet for your project you can add fringe to the bottom and whipstitch the dowel to the top. Instructions are included in the PDF pattern.

Both techniques work the design starting at the top-right corner going down to the bottom-right corner. I designed it to sideways because of the mosaic fringe.

The PDF includes written line-by-line instructions for both techniques and two charts; one is marked with x’s for overlay mosaic crochet. I haven’t created a YouTube video on how to use the x-marked charts yet. I have only just started updating my patterns to include a marked chart.

The other chart can be used for both techniques and I have tutorials on YouTube for that!

YouTube: Read Interlocking Crochet Chart
YouTube: Read Chart Without X’s for Mosaic Crochet

Grab your copy of my “Blooming Owl Wall Hanging” on Etsy or Ravelry and get 15% off your entire cart*!

Etsy
Ravelry

*no code needed, offer ends 11:59 pm, CST, July 13, 2021.

Pin this! https://pin.it/6jorpDe

ashleebrotzell

Hobby Stencil Blanket

Not too long ago, I published a square called “Hobby Stencil 40“. This large square was like a puzzle piece. I made 4 of the squares and then joined them together to create a blanket with a full circle motif (although, there are definitely more ways to join them: you could even mix-and-match with other squares of that size.

I used interlocking crochet because the tails and envelope border with overlay mosaic crochet can get annoying. I like how I can get more colors into a blanket this way. I like colors!!

But, I really wanted this cool circle pattern to be more accessible. I know that a LOT of my fans prefer to use the overlay mosaic crochet technique.

So, this blanket is the full circle motif!

It is also handy for people who crochet with the interlocking technique and don’t want to join squares.

But, wait! There’s more!

If you’re familiar with my patterns, you know they always have the written instructions for interlocking crochet, a one-page chart, and then the written instructions for overlay mosaic crochet.

This pattern ALSO has a bonus file: the chart has X’s!!!

Natalie Caruso, a fellow designer, has generously offered to help me add X’s to my charts! I have a lot of patterns, so I’m not sure how long it will take me to update everything. I know you will all be patient while I work 😉

If you’ve already purchased the square you will get an automatic discount on your purchase of this blanket pattern (applies to Ravelry only). Or, you can add both of them to your cart right now to see the discount (buy the blanket and get the square free!).

Hobby Stencil Blanket on Ravelry
Hobby Stencil 40 on Ravelry
HObby Stencil Bundle on Ravelry

On Etsy, to help keep the fees down, I’ve bundled the Hobby Stencil square and blanket permanently.

Hobby Stencil Bundle on Etsy

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Une Autre Fleur

This is a 3rd companion to my Eiffel Tower Wall Hanging and my Fleur-De-Lis Wall Hanging. A friend found a beautiful design in her pillow and I tried to capture a piece of it here. She helped me name it too! If you don’t speak french, I will tell you it means “Another Flower”. The Fleur-De-Lis is a classic french image and although the image is a bit abstract the translation is a lily flower so this new wall hanging is simply another flower.

You may remember, my Eiffel Tower pattern has been published in Crochet Now! magazine. The rights will revert back to me in a few months and I will publish it to Ravelry and Etsy at that point. The sample in the image below was crocheted using the interlocking technique and only uses two colors (the original in the magazine is overlay mosaic and has 7 colors!).

The Eiffel Tower Wall Hanging – with just two colors

I have created an eBook Bundle for these three Parisian Wall Hangings. You can purchase the bundle now and it will be updated to include the Eiffel Tower at the end of August 2021. Updating is easier on Ravelry but if you don’t use Ravelry I have made it available on Etsy as well.

You can see in this image below that my tester used 2 wooden dowels for each wall hanging – you can do the same, or you can just put one at the top. I love seeing creativity and I always think of my patterns as guidelines or suggestions rather than strict rules. Make your project your own!

Bundle of 3 wall hangings: Eiffel Tower, Fleur-De-Lis, and Une Autre Fleur

On Ravelry: if you already purchased the Fleur-De-Lis Wall Hanging you will receive a retroactive discount on the eBook bundle – it happens automatically.

On Etsy: I have already contacted the individuals who purchased the Fleur-De-Lis

Une Autre Fleur on Etsy
Une Autre Fleur on Ravelry
Parisian Bundle on Etsy
Parisian Bundle on Ravelry

For “Une Autre Fleur Wall Hanging”:

You will receive one file containing:

  • the interlocking pattern (including instructions for adding fringe and attaching a dowel)
  • a one-page chart (101 x 109)
  • the overlay mosaic pattern (including instructions for an optional envelope border and attaching a dowel)

The Locked Filet Mesh (LFM) interlocking crochet method uses only chain spaces and double crochets to create a mesh; two colors are worked alternately which creates the pattern.

Mosaic crochet uses single crochet and double crochet stitches. The double crochet stitches cover some of the other color’s single crochet stitches to create the design. My patterns instruct you to cut your yarn at the end of each row. The back is striped but often gives a faint impression of the pattern on the front (sort of like illusion knitting). See an example here.

I have YouTube tutorials available for both crochet methods! Follow this link to get to my YouTube channel and find my other social links.

Important Details

  • Fingering Weight Yarn (500-520 yards)
  • Main Color (MC) – 250 yards (plus 20 yards for optional SC border when done in interlocking crochet)
  • Accent Color (AC) – 250 yards
  • Plus, extra for fringe
  • Crochet hook: 3 mm (C/2)
  • Stitch marker
  • Finishing Needle
  • Wooden Dowel: 1/2″ diameter, 21″ length
  • Interlocking Gauge: 13 dc stitches x 26 rows in one color = 4” square
  • Mosaic Gauge: 26 sc stitches x 26 rows = 4″ square
This sample shows a dowel on both the top and bottom of the piece – you can also use a single dowel for just the top if you prefer.

©️ 2021 Ashlee Brotzell.
All rights reserved. This publication is protected under federal copyright laws. Reproduction or distribution, in whole or in part, in any medium, is strictly prohibited.

What does this mean?
This is an original pattern by Ashlee Brotzell. You may not copy, reproduce, sell, or share any part of it whether for profit or not. This includes, but is not limited to, the written pattern, the chart, and the photos. No translations or video tutorials are allowed.

Sales of your finished items are, of course, unrestricted (and I wish you all the best!). I appreciate credit given to the designer when possible but it is not a requirement. You may tag me @AshleesLint or direct people to my website http://www.ashleeslint.com

ashleebrotzell

Hobby Stencil: Large Square, best for interlocking crochet

Update on July 6, 2021: I have created a one-piece blanket! https://ashleeslint.com/2021/07/06/hobby-stencil-blanket/

I did my first YouTube LIVE this morning! It was very fun and I feel a little bit famous now – you can watch it here: https://youtu.be/qaH8xu_s-L4

I did mention in that video that I was hoping to publish this pattern today – and here it is!

Skip the babble, I want the pattern

When I started designing I only created patterns for interlocking crochet. I was told that my charts would work for overlay mosaic crochet as well, so since it didn’t require me to change anything I added those instructions to all my patterns as well.

But, even though you CAN do both techniques for all my patterns, sometimes one technique just works better than the other.

For example, my Eiffel Tower pattern has horizontal stripes through the whole thing. This is very easy when doing the mosaic technique but it is a bit annoying when doing it in interlocking crochet.

My squares, of all sizes, do seem easier to do in interlocking because there are no tails to worry about. You can add an envelope border to your mosaic pieces but it is an extra step that I don’t really like doing because I want to move on to the next big thing. And, for this new pattern an envelope border might detract from the design a little.

This “Hobby Stencil” square was designed to be added to more squares to create a bigger design. It is small enough to work on in the summer heat (as opposed to a blanket which can get too warm).

You can also join it to other squares if you’re not concerned about breaking up the flow of the pattern.

Where To Get the Pattern

I sell my patterns on Etsy and Ravelry. Not all of them are on Etsy, but this one is!

You can get 10% off your cart with a minimum purchase of $10 CAD until June 30, 2021. Use code “HOBBY” (valid for Etsy and Ravelry).

View “Hobby Stencil” on Etsy
View “Hobby Stencil” on Ravelry
Buy “Hobby Stencil” Now on Ravelry
I haven’t joined these squares together yet but this is the way I am going to arrange them

June 24, 2021 Update: I just sent an email that included an announcement about this pattern: https://mailchi.mp/8202b396674b/youtube-live-and-new-pattern

ashleebrotzell

Fleur De Lis Wall Hanging

I consider this a companion to my Eiffel Tower Wall Hanging. A friend requested the Fleur De Lis to go with the Eiffel Tower and I was happy to oblige. I’ve had a few asking about when and how they can get the Eiffel Tower pattern; at the end of August the rights will revert to me and I will publish on Etsy and Ravelry. Until then, it is only available in Issue 68 of Crochet Now! magazine.

You can get your copy on Etsy or Ravelry. It is 20% off for the first few days! *no code needed, offer expires 11:59 pm CST, June 10, 2021.

“Fleur De Lis” on Ravelry
“Fleur De Lis” on Etsy

Wall Hanging

I have included instructions for turning this rectangle into a wall hanging as such: cut a piece of MC yarn about 4x the length of your dowel. Whip stitch around the dowel into each stitch across the top. Tie another piece of yarn to each end of the dowel to use when hanging on the wall.

But, of course, you are free to do whatever you like with your piece! My tester, @raki_crochet did these beautiful single crochet (sc – US terminology) tabs. Each tab is 7 stitches wide and 17 rows tall. There are 11 stitches between each tab.

I am sure you can find a few options on YouTube – I don’t have a video on adding the dowel for a wall hanging yet, but maybe someday I will add my voice!

Fringe

Created naturally with the overlay mosaic technique. An optional addition when done in interlocking crochet.

The fringe on the sides is a by-product of cutting your yarn for each row when using the mosaic crochet technique. You can add an envelope border to hide them but I think they look good as a design attribute.

If you work this pattern using the interlocking technique there is no fringe. But, because it looks so good, I would add fringe to the bottom or to the two sides like the mosaic version.

These instructions are included in the interlocking part of the pattern: cut 1 piece each of both the MC and AC yarn for each window you will add fringe to. Length can be whatever you choose, I suggest 8-10” each which gives you about a 4” tassel.

Holding one strand of each color, fold in half and pull the loop from the front to the back (go through each window along the bottom edge).

Drop the ends inside the loop and pull tight.

You can see that my photos are using a different pattern (the MusicCAL, to be specific), but you can add tassels to anything!

Yarn weight and hook size can easily be adjusted, just keep in mind your finished project will use a different amount of yarn and be a different finished size. A gauge swatch can help with that.

Watch my YouTube tutorials! I also have a free photo tutorial in PDF form on this technique available in my Facebook group (Ashlee Brotzell Designs) and on Ravelry. All my social media links are here: https://linktr.ee/LFMandMosaic

If you share your works on Instagram, tag me: @AshleesLint

Important Details

  • US crochet terminology
  • Chart is 77 x 87
  • Finished measurements approximately 13” x 14.5”
  • 3 mm hook (C/2)
  • Wooden Dowel: 1/2” diameter, 16” length
  • Finishing needle
  • Scheepjes Organicon (Or any fingering weight yarn to meet gauge) (260 yards total)
    • Main color (MC) – 120 yards (plus 20 for optional sc border when done with interlocking)
    • Accent color (AC) – 120 yards
    • Yarn estimates do not include fringe! If you make long fringe you will need more yarn.
  • Interlocking Gauge: 13 dc x 26 rows = 4”
  • Mosaic Gauge: 26 sc x 26 rows = 4”

You may have noticed that this pattern is SO CLOSE to being the same size as my 40-windows squares (chart 81 x 81). I originally tried drawing it up to be the same but the dimensions just weren’t working. I do like it when one pattern can be used for more than one thing, but in this case I just had to make it it’s own wall hanging without being easily added to the large afghan squares.

I know that yarn weight can also be a confusing thing. We have so many different terms for the same thing. Yarnsub.com can give you some options, or you can check out what the Yarn Council has to say about yarn weights.

A final note: most of my patterns are written up with only two colors (main color and accent/contrast color). A few have included extra colors and I want to make sure everyone knows that I am not the type of designer to get bent out of shape when people take my patterns and create their own beautiful works of art. So, add some color, mix and match with other patterns, make your project your own. Just don’t sell my pattern as your own.

https://ravel.me/fleur-de-lis-wall-hanging

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Tropical Tree: Colorful Square in both techniques

I crocheted this palm tree square with a colorful background in both of my favorite techniques: interlocking crochet and overlay mosaic crochet.

One of the things I love about interlocking crochet is that you get a fabulous image without using bobbins or tying and weaving in ends. I did a single crochet graphgan once (see it here), and although it is definitely beautiful to look at, the amount of work involved made it stressful at times.

The simplicity of a two-toned image without tangled yarn balls and 10 more hours of work after you’re “done” is one of the main benefits of my Locked Filet Mesh patterns (LFM = interlocking crochet).

But, I also love how colorful the mosaic patterns can be! Since you are cutting the yarn at the end and joining at the beginning of each row it is really easy to simply grab another color.

The biggest challenge is just to make sure the main color and accent color (or contrasting color) are not too similar. If the colors blend together too much you won’t see the image your yarn is trying to create.

All that being said, this pattern includes instructions on changing colors every few rows. It creates the beachy feel and I think it is worth the effort of weaving in tails (with interlocking crochet). The mosaic version can just use a nice envelope border like usual.

Tropical Tree on Ravelry

You can grab Tropical Tree on Ravelry. It is just a 20-window square and will join nicely with other 10-inch squares, like my flamingo! See my list of other patterns of this size here: www.ashleeslint.com/patterns#medium

As usual, the back looks striped when done with the overlay mosaic technique and has an almost reverse image when done using interlocking.

I don’t usually change colors with my interlocking patterns so I included a short explanation in the pattern.

I cut and tied off the first color and then joined my new color with a slip knot. More specifically, I put a slip knot on my hook, put it into the stitch I was just working with and pulled a loop up and through the slip knot to make its own slip stitch.

I kept my instagram feed up to date with my progress while crocheting 😉 check it out: instagram.com/ashleeslint

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Flamingo Pattern and Locking-in Mosaic Crochet Stitches

I hope you can feel the tropical vibes when you look at this pattern!

I think the colors I used in my overlay mosaic version are a bit more tropical than my interlocking crochet sample.

~Two techniques with the same pattern~

I was using up scrap yarn when I did the mosaic square so it isn’t exactly how I originally imagined it to be but I am pleased nonetheless. And I used some leftover bulky yarn for the Locked Filet Mesh (LFM / interlocking) sample but without another item for size reference you can’t actually tell in the photos above.

I did submit this pattern to a magazine but I didn’t even get a rejection letter 🙃 I guess they had enough patterns from other amazing designers. It was supposed to be done using fingering weight (8/4, 2 – fine, 4-ply, etc) and be a coaster.

You can get your copy of my Flamingo on ravelry! I may put together a bundle of squares for Etsy later.

The chart is 41 x 41, which means this is a 20-window square when done using the interlocking crochet technique. You can find other squares of this size here and join them together for a custom blanket!

~Interlocking crochet, wrong side~

I used grey as my Main Color (MC) for the interlocking sample because I wanted the pink to be more visible. If you’d rather see a pink flamingo then you need to start with pink!

You may also notice, when comparing the two techniques, that the mosaic flamingo is solid (unlike the background which has “dots” all over the place). I have only attached one chart to this pattern, it has a solid flamingo; when you read the chart for interlocking crochet you skip every other square so your finished flamingo will look like my sample.

The “dots” are created naturally when doing interlocking crochet and I like that they lock in the stitches and use less yarn when doing mosaic crochet. My solid flamingo creates small flaps on the wrong side.

~Upside down, and wrong side, to show the flaps~

I don’t particularly like the small flaps.

I have included the following instructions in the mosaic pattern:

Optional “Locked Double Crochet”

To prevent the small flaps on the back of your work, consider locking-in your stitch.

Begin like a dropped double crochet: skip the next stitch, and work into the Front Loop of the stitch in the row below; yarn over, insert hook into front loop below (see first image below), pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through two loops, insert hook into back loop of skipped stitch (see second image below), yarn over and pull through all three loops on your hook.

~Yarn over, insert hook into front loop 2 rows down (then yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through 2 loops)~
~After completing first half of the double crochet (US), insert hook into back loop of stitch usually skipped, yarn over and pull through all 3 loops.~

This extra step is optional but I like how the back stays smooth. You can lock in every other stitch if you prefer.

I can’t wait to see your color combinations! I have included the color for each row in the mosaic version but you, of course, can treat that information as a suggestion and not a hard-and-fast rule.

Flamingo 20 Ravelry Listing

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March Gnome

Gnomes are totally in right now! I was overwhelmed with the responses to my ebook, “A Year of Gnomes”.

You can grab the ebook on Etsy or Ravelry; you also have the option of buying the individual monthly gnomes. March Gnome is the newest addition.

March Gnome: Interlocking and mosaic crochet patterns

March Gnome is another oversized afghan square (20″ or 40-window foundation when using the interlocking crochet technique). I have quite a few squares of this size that you can mix-and-match to create your own blanket!

I have already emailed this pattern to everyone who purchased the ebook on Etsy. And if you bought it on Ravelry you will see an “update available”.

I have always liked the celebrations on March 17 (in school we would celebrate St. Patrick’s day).

  • It is exactly 6 months away from my birthday.
  • Everything is green (and usually emerald green, which is my favorite).
  • Plus, you get to color pictures of magical rainbows and pots of gold.
  • Oh, and McDonald’s comes out with a shamrock shake ☘ which is minty delicious!
  • Sometimes the weather gives you a reprieve from winter with a spring-like sneak peak lol
  • And, as an adult, I also get to celebrate my son’s birthday!

This will be his 4th birthday so I am going to put all my patterns on sale in honor of him! Get 40% off anything in my Etsy shop or Ravelry store until March 4th!

Happy birthday, Remington! 🥰

By the way, our Master List of Gnomes is here:

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Mesmur Avenue

I don’t think anyone enjoys the process of moving. The only thing I like is that it means we are no longer living in that apartment! (And I can get back to pattern making; new pattern details at the end of this post!)

We were very thankful to have a warm place to live these last 5 months but I really did not enjoy that place.

I like people who are real and honest without being overly dramatic. So, that is about all I want to say about that tiny apartment, with a terrible kitchen, loud and scary upstairs neighbors, moody and rude administration, with a cockroaches and bed bugs scare (thankfully, we found neither in our apartment).

We are now renting my brother-in-law’s house! They built a new one and we are happy to be in their old place.

My 3 kids, enjoying our first meal in the new place: pizza!

My kids are amazing, as always, and they are handling the chaos well. Plus, they really like the ability to get some space away from each other. Three floors to explore compared to the tiny basement suite!

I have definitely missed my yarn and hooks. I went at least 4 days without touching my crafts! The other night I grabbed my tunisian hooks and some cotton yarn and started making a washcloth. A new house needs a new cloth set.

The tunisian cable is about 10 times too long but a normal hook is about 2 inches too short lol

And a new house needs a new pattern! I present to you, Mesmur Avenue.

The wrong side will be striped when done using the overlay mosaic technique, and it will have this pattern (the 2nd picture) when done using the interlocking crochet technique.

I drew this pattern up right before we moved and finished the pattern-writing in the new house.

As usual, grab it on Etsy or Ravelry. Get an automatic 30% discount until 11:59 pm, February 27, 2021.

I prefer Ravelry (thank you to those who have asked!) but I publish on Etsy too because I have a wide customer base and I want it to be accessible to everyone.

And, to answer another frequently asked question: my patterns include written instructions for both the interlocking and overlay mosaic crochet techniques, plus a chart that can be used for both techniques. The charts do not have x’s to denote the dropped stitches for the mosaic, but ai do have a tutorial on YouTube that explains how to read my charts.

These tutorials, and more, are available on YouTube:

Thank you for allowing me to share my art with you all!

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