This pattern is now available to buy. It will automatically come up as half price.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sunburst-mandala-cushion

Join the group for the CAL here: http://www.ravelry.com/groups/craft-cove-crochet

One Week to go

Sunburst Mandala Cushion CAL

 one week to go

With just one week to go, you might want to make sure you have got all the items you need. But if you're ordering it, and it hasn't come in yet, don't worry, the first part is easy and quick. You'll catch up in no time.






Of course the main thing you'll need is the yarn (or wool, as we call all fibers in Australia).

The original pattern was designed with 8 ply yarn, which is DK in US.  I realize it's not easy to get this weight in America, so if you don't want to bother ordering it, you can just use Aran weight, worsted weight (10 ply), you'll have a larger cushion, but it will be lovely. You could also use a finer yarn, or even thread. I'd love to see them done this way.

I chose acrylic, because it's nice and cheap, easy to get in Australia, and it's so easy to wash and dry. It also blocks beautifully with steam. 

But if you prefer, you can use wool or cotton, or whatever your favorite fiber is.

There are 4 colors in this pattern. I originally designed it with yellows eg. white, pale yellow, medium yellow, and a deep yellow. I have also made it with white, pale grey, darker grey, and black. You can use four shades of a color, or choose any four colors you prefer.

If you're using 8 ply acrylic, you will need approximately 120 grams of the palest color, and 100 grams of each of the other colors.

You will also need a 3.25 mm crochet hook, and a 3.50 mm crochet hook.  Or larger, or smaller, depending on your yarn

You might also want to familiarize yourself with these special stitches. (But they really aren't difficult)

Special stitches used:

• Front Loop Only (FLO). Work this stitch in the front loop only, leaving back loop free.
• Back Loop only (BLO). Work this stitch in the back loop only, leaving front loop free.
• Front loop double crochet (fldc). Front loop double crochet is a dc worked in the front loop only.
• Back loop double crochet (bldc). Back loop double crochet is a dc worked in the back loop only.
• Front loop treble (fltr). Front loop treble is a tr worked in the front loop only.
• Back loop treble (bltr). Back loop treble is a tr worked in the back loop only.
• Front post double crochet (fpdc). Front Post Double Crochet is worked around the front of the post of the stitch on the previous round. Insert hook through the right front and back out the left front, yarn around hook, pull through 2 loops.
• Front post treble (fptr). Front Post Treble is worked around the front of the post of the stitch on the previous round. Yarn around hook, insert hook through the right front and back out the left front, yarn around hook, pull through 2 loops, yarn around hook, pull through last 2 loops.
• Front post double treble (fpdtr). Front Post Double Treble is worked around the front of the post of the stitch on the previous round. Yarn around hook, twice, insert hook through the right front and back out the left front, yarn around hook, pull through 2 loops, yarn around hook, pull through another 2 loops, yarn around hook, pull through last 2 loops.
• Back post double crochet (bpdc). Back Post Double Crochet is worked around the back of the post of the stitch on the previous round. Insert hook through the right back and back out the left back, yarn around hook, pull through 2 loops.
• Back post treble (bptr). Back Post Treble is worked around back of the post of the stitch on the previous round. Yarn around hook, insert hook through the right back and back out the left back, yarn around hook, pull through 2 loops, yarn around hook, pull through last 2 loops.
• Back post double treble (bpdtr). Back Post Double Treble is worked around the back of the post of the stitch on the previous round. Yarn around hook, twice, insert hook through the right back and back out the left back, yarn around hook, pull through 2 loops, yarn around hook, pull through another 2 loops, yarn around hook, pull through last 2 loops.

Don't be intimidated by these stitches, they're just basic stitches worked into different places.

And now you should be ready to start.



Get the pattern here:  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sunburst-mandala-cushion  (available 13th February)

Join in the discussion here:  http://www.ravelry.com/groups/craft-cove-crochet

Donations

Just a reminder to everyone.

Donations are always welcome, and really appreciated.

I have had free patterns downloaded over 7,000 times.  If some of you just donated a small amount for each free pattern, it would be really helpful.

Donations are very easy to do through Paypal, and you don't even have to sign up.


Updated to add: the free patterns are still always free on the blog whether you donate or not

Four Tone Spiral Mandala Pattern

My spiral mandala pattern has now been published

This pattern is made with 4 colours, or three if desired.  The spirals gradually get wider, then decrease again.

This pattern is available in US terms as well as UK/Australian terms.

Find it here:  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/four-tone-spiral-mandala

And here:  http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/product_view/CraftCove/9959663/four_tone_spiral_mandala_pattern/design/patterns/crochet/home_decor

Now on Artfire

I've decided to re-open my Artfire shop.

I'll be listing a large variety of things there.  Including beaded flowers: 

chainmail: 

3d charms: 

beadweaving: 

And much more

You can find them at: Craft Cove at Artfire

I also have the Artfire kiosk on my facebook page

With this app, you can buy directly from my facebook page without even leaving facebook, you can shop for items and checkout through ArtFire.com.  No account is needed  and you get an Encrypted Secure Checkout.

There is also a rapid cart option at the top of this blog, which works in much the same way.

There is currently a 15% discount on everything as I list them, until further notice.

New Tutorials

I am listing some new tutorials on my blog.  These are at very reasonable prices, and can be bought straight from this website and downloaded as soon as payment has been received.

Payment can be made by clicking the "buy" button, and paying through Paypal.
You will receive the patterns digitally by kiqlo, in a pdf file.  PDF files can easily be opened with a free program easily downloaded from adobe, get it here.


Find the new tutorials here. 

Let me know if you have any problems or questions by using the contact tab at the top of the page, or just comment below.

Squidoo lenses

I've created some new squidoo lenses.

http://www.squidoo.com/craftcove
http://www.squidoo.com/hair-fascinators
http://www.squidoo.com/free-star-tutorial

http://www.squidoo.com/beginners-jewellery-making-
http://www.squidoo.com/free-beaded-flower-tutorial
http://www.squidoo.com/beaded-wedding-flowers

Some people seem to like squidoo more than other places.  This is for you

Everything moved

I've finally finished moving all of Craft Cove from the freewebs site to the weebly site

So now you can find all the jewellery, gifts and ornaments at http:craftcove.weebly.com

and all the beaded flowers, and hair accessories at http://flowercove.weebly.com

Sale at Shop Handmade Store

For this month I'm having my sale at my Shop Handmade store.

There are 9 items listed and they are all 10% off. There's a bit of everything listed including, chainmail, wirework, beadweaving, and a beaded rose bud.

The sale is for all of August only.

See them here Shop Handmade

New listings in Craft Cove

white netted necklace

beaded shoe

3d beaded shoe

3d beaded schnauzer

Here are the latest listings on my website.

There's a beaded runner shoe, a beaded stiletto, a white beaded choker (great for weddings), and a 3d schnauzer.

These and many more are available at Craft Cove

25% off selected bracelets

I'm having a sale this month for a massive 25% off these selected handcrafted beaded bracelets.

beaded bracelet

stretch cuff

See my website for more information: Handcrafted jewellery from Australia

More Spirals again

So here's the Cellini spiral. I've used size 10 seed beads in olive green, then size 8 seed beads in silver-lined lime green, and gold silver-lined seed beads in size 6. The pearls are 4mm greens. I've made it gradually narrower towards the back.

And this is the other spiral rope that is basically an embellished right angle weave.

I'll be photographing the other dutch spiral soon, and I'm making a tight spiraled herringbone rope as well and then I think that will be all the spirals there are.

More spirals are listed here:  
http://craftcove.blogspot.com/2010/04/all-spirals.html

New listings on my website

Here's some of my latest work that I've just listed on my website

3d beaded teddy

3d beaded basket

3d beaded elephant

3d beade basket

beaded flower brooch

spiral rope necklace

cellini spiral

triangle weave

raw spiral bracelet