Elimee Designs Blog

Mastering the Art of Blocking
Crochet Advice Nichola Griffiths Crochet Advice Nichola Griffiths

Mastering the Art of Blocking

Welcome to our crochet corner! Today, we're diving into the fascinating world of blocking crochet projects. If you've ever wondered how to transform your finished pieces into stunning, professional-looking creations, then blocking is the secret ingredient you've been missing. In this blog post, we'll explore what blocking is, its benefits, when it's necessary, essential equipment, and step-by-step instructions to achieve flawless results. So, grab your favorite crochet project and let's get started!

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The Many Roles of a Crochet Pattern Designer
Crochet Business Nichola Griffiths Crochet Business Nichola Griffiths

The Many Roles of a Crochet Pattern Designer

I never imagined how many ‘roles’ I would have to fill when opening my own crochet pattern designing business, and that I would have to learn how to do them all myself - eek. As a crochet pattern designer, I can tell you that the role involves so much more than just designing a pattern and selling it. While the design process is undoubtedly an essential part of the job, there are many other tasks that a pattern designer must undertake to create a successful business. In fact, there are a myriad of roles that a crochet pattern designer must fulfil to make their business thrive, from accounting to marketing and everything in between.

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How To Design A Crochet Pattern
Crochet Business Nichola Griffiths Crochet Business Nichola Griffiths

How To Design A Crochet Pattern

Today, as per the request of my newsletter subscribers, I’d like to share my process for designing a crochet pattern with you. Before we get started, I want to make it clear that this is my personal process, and that other designers may have different approaches that work better for them. That said, I've found this process to be effective for me, and I hope that you'll find it helpful as well.

As a crochet enthusiast, one of the things I love most about creating my own patterns is the sense of pride and accomplishment that comes from finishing a project and knowing that I made it from scratch. There's nothing quite like the feeling of holding a finished item in your hands and knowing that every stitch was designed and crocheted by your own two hands.

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Crochet Hacks for Mums: Tips and Tricks to Make the Most of Your Time
Crochet Advice Nichola Griffiths Crochet Advice Nichola Griffiths

Crochet Hacks for Mums: Tips and Tricks to Make the Most of Your Time

As a busy mum, finding the time to crochet can often feel impossible (I’m only managing it right now courtesy of maternity leave). But imagine if you had just a few extra minutes each day to work on your current project. You could finally finish that cosy blanket for your little bundle of joy, or create a beautiful scarf to keep you warm during the colder months. With just a little bit of extra time, the possibilities for your crochet creations are endless… time for some crochet hacks 😀.

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Top 10 Tips - How To Photograph Your Crochet Projects
Crochet Advice Nichola Griffiths Crochet Advice Nichola Griffiths

Top 10 Tips - How To Photograph Your Crochet Projects

Many crafters like to share photos of their work. Be it a WIP or a finished project, we all want our work to look it’s best. Taking high quality photos need not be down to luck or chance, but can be reliably achieved by employing a number of proven techniques. Check out our top ten tips below to help you make the most of your photoshoots, and show the world just how amazing your crocheted items are! Your hard work deserves to be admired.

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7 Handy Uses For Stitch Markers
Crochet Advice Nichola Griffiths Crochet Advice Nichola Griffiths

7 Handy Uses For Stitch Markers

Anyone who knows me, from a crocheting perspective, knows that I am a huge fan of stitch markers. I have used stitch markers since the day that I started learning to crochet, and still use them every day (albeit for slightly different purposes). Recently my love affair with stitch markers reached new heights when my friends and family were kind enough to buy me some beautiful stitch markers for my birthday and at Christmas (as you will have seen within the Elimee Designs video blog).

Stitch markers can be helpful in a multitude of ways when crocheting (and knitting), which I will discuss below. There are also many different types of stitch markers, and alternatives to stitch markers - check out our blog post ‘20 ways to make crocheting more affordable’.

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9 Ways To Join Crocheted Squares
Crochet Tutorials Nichola Griffiths Crochet Tutorials Nichola Griffiths

9 Ways To Join Crocheted Squares

Many stunning crochet patterns require you to join elements together - they may use squares, hexagons, long strips etc. There are also many different ways in which you can join the pieces together. Some methods leave a visible join, others not, and the seam can either be raised or flat once completed. In this blog post I have collected nine different joining methods together to share with you, so that you can select whichever method you think will look best for your project 😀.

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10 Crochet Patterns for Mother’s Day Gifts
Crochet Pattern Round-Up Nichola Griffiths Crochet Pattern Round-Up Nichola Griffiths

10 Crochet Patterns for Mother’s Day Gifts

Not long now until Mother’s Day - 19th March 2023. Are you planning to crochet something for your mother this year? I designed the Aphrodite Cushion Cover last year to give to my mother on Mother’s Day. As you might already know, she didn’t actually receive it… my daughters decided that they couldn’t do without it lol.

This year I am making amends! I gifted my daughter a pink version of the cushion for Christmas; when my mum saw it she asked for one in grey for Mother’s Day. It seems that she was destined to eventually get her own Aphrodite Cushion lol. She picked out her own colours and the yarn has now been ordered - check out my video blog over the next few episodes if you’d like to see how it goes :)

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