Here’s the link to my Ravelry and Etsy stores where you are able to purchase the pattern for this shawl. And here’s the story behind my design…
Back in May I took a photo of the ‘Sea Thrift’ flowers on our local clifftops and published it to my Instagram with the following comment…
‘Sea Thrift… I love these beautiful little coastal flowers. We saw this gorgeous display yesterday. I’m not sure what is making the spring flowers in the South East of England particularly spectacular this year! I haven’t seen the Sea Thrift look this good in years…’
The photo then provided Sheena from The Mermaids Purse Handmade with some inspiration…
“Wow. I was looking for some colour inspiration and then saw this. Perfect!”
Sheena dyed some of her gorgeous yarn inspired by these colours… ‘Sea Thrift is inspired by a stunning photo by @coastalcrochet’ …and of course I couldn’t resist buying some!
I so love it when nature provides the perfect inspiration and we are able to share this across the world through our online connections…
Another fellow Instagram user used another of my photos as inspiration for her needle felt artwork. Melissa from Yarn of a Tail produced this stunning needle felt wool painting (on the left) based on one of my photographs (on the right)…
Flowers by the Sea is complete! Thank you @coastalcrochet for the beautiful reference photo!
Melissa doesn’t live anywhere near the sea…isn’t it amazing that she captured my local clifftop flowers so well! 🙂 🙂
Back to my Sea Thrift shawl…well, now that I had 100g of beautiful 4ply cotton I needed something to crochet and a shawl seemed the perfect thing. So I designed my ‘Sea Thrift Shawl’ – a small, light and airy shawl, perfect to wrap around your neck on a summers evening coastal walk past the Sea Thrift flowers…
My daughter has yet again proved to be a fabulous model for my crochet creations!
The shawl is finished with a little charm to the point and I used the free stitch marker that Sheena sends out with all her yarns…
…isn’t that mermaid gorgeous!? 🙂 🙂
So there you have it – a little background to my ‘Sea Thrift Shawl’. This is the first pattern that I am charging for. I know that many people don’t like to buy patterns and why would they when there are 1000’s available online for free!? But I spend a lot of time writing my patterns and work so hard to get them right. It is very time consuming and although I do it because I so love crochet, I also dream of being able to make an income from this craft I love. So unless I start charging how will that ever happen?
It’s also about valuing ourselves and the craft of crochet. I don’t think anyone would ever dream of asking a songwriter to write them a song for free or expect an author to write a book for free or a wedding photographer to take wedding photos for free! Why should a crochet designer write crochet patterns for free…
I hope that you will understand… 🙂
As ever, Happy Crocheting Everyone… 🙂 🙂
Great story and beautiful yarn. I agree that when a pattern is written professionally a fee should be expected. No need to apologize, keep writing and promoting!
Oh thank you so much Brenna… I really appreciate that! 😊😊😊❤❤
Beautiful. I totally understand about charging for your patterns – it’s your time and your intellectual property. Why should you give it away for free? And I hate to say it, but I myself have (and I know many others writers have also) been asked to write books or articles for free! Absolutely no need to apologise for valuing yourself and your work.
Awww, thanks so much for that Bekki! Oh I’ve done lots for free too- there’s a balance to be found somewhere! 😊😊❤❤❤
Absolutely. In fact I thought as I read it was the first time you’ve charged for a pattern. Am I right? I agree there is a place for free, but a good well written pattern should be paid for.
Yes you’re right Bekki- first paid for pattern!! There’s more free stuff coming but we have to start somewhere with the business head on! 😉😊😊xx
Absolutely. And, as I cheer you on, I remind myself that it’s always easier to champion others for their worth than to believe in our own worth – so will heed the comments I’m making to you in relation to my own self belief 🙂
Here Here, absolutely!! ❤❤😊😊
What a brilliant post, Eleonora! I love this shawl and can’t wait to have a go at it even if I haven’t got such lovely indie yarn! You’re quite right – patterns cannot be free when you are spending so much time working them out and testing them. I really hope that crochet can become a profitable hobby for you. Love your blog, your projects and super pics. That needle felt wool painting is gorgeous, isn’t it?
If ever a blog succeeded in inspiring a student to go on to Part 2 of the IDC it is yours …. because of the amazing creativity you have shown since you began the second part of the course. The last of my work has been sent off and I await my final assessment! I am going to a two-day workshop at Crochet Design in September and hope to get the certificate. Fingers crossed!
I hope you get lots of orders for your patterns. Well done too on the bonfire project for Hobbycraft.
Have a great summer,
Jenny x 🌸🌸
Hi Jenny, thank you so much! That’s so lovely of you to say… and well done on completing part 1. I’m sure you’ll have a great weekend at Crochet Design! Part 2 certainly gave me the boost I needed- it’s been brilliant but I haven’t actually submitted anything for a few months now as I’ve been busy with these other designs…Must get back to it soon! 😊😊😊❤
I’m so glad you’ve published your pattern, I’ve got a skein I immediately thought of when I saw your shawl. Happy to buy it because I know that the standard of your work is very high and you’ve been very generous with your patterns.
That’s so lovely of you to say Alida.. .I really appreciate your kind words and encouragement! 😊😊😊❤❤
Pattern bought and started! My skein is wool but it will be perfect for the transition between the warmer and cooler seasons. I’ve already discovered some cotton in my stash to make one for the summer. The pattern is very clear and easy to follow, thank you!
You’re welcome Alida…thanks so much for giving it a go! I can’t wait to see it! 😊😊❤
How lovely to kow that you are inspiring others. Don’t justify charging for a pattern; you have worked hard and deserve some reward!
Thank you so much Kay…that’s so kind of you to say! 😊😊❤
It’s a gorgeous design and the story behind it is lovely too. I wholeheartedly agree with your stance on charging for patterns. I’m here reading this whilst avoiding writing up one of my own!!
Yay Rosina, thanks so much! 😊😊❤❤
Eleonora, what a lovely shawl, I don’t think you should ever apologise for charging! You’ve taken the time to write the pattern. It’s beautiful, definitely on my to do list, I think the stitch marker is perfect!
Thank you so much…that’s so kind of you to say and I really appreciate it! 😊😊❤
Lovely post and don’t apologise! Like you said, you’ve worked hard on this and when I go to our local yarn fair on Saturday I’ll be looking for a skein with this in mind!! Congratulations honey! 😊
That’s so kind of you to say…thankyou for all your support! 😊😊❤
It looks lovely, and I think you’ve done the right thing charging for it.
Thank you so much…I really appreciate your kind words…😊😊❤
What beautiful colours for a beautiful shawl! Of course you should charge for your patterns, our time is even more valuable than any goodies we produce 🙂
Thank you Hannah- I really appreciate that! Yes, our time is pretty invaluable really… 🙂 🙂
Reblogged this on Yarnsage and commented:
Omg! I love the mermaid charm! Who would have thought to put a charm on the corner of a finished shawl! ❤️
Awww, thanks so much for the lovely compliment and reblog! 🙂 🙂 xx
An inspiration loop! Cool that you inspired someone else who in turn inspired you! Hope your sales do well. 🙂
Yes, an inspiration loop is exactly what it was- that’s a nice way to describe it! Thank you… 🙂 🙂
Beautiful Eleonora! It is a lovely design and a lot of work to create the written pattern so you shouldn’t feel bad at all about charging for it. 😀
Awww, thank you so much Tami- I really appreciate that… 🙂 🙂
It’s super lovely Eleonora! I’ve just subscribed to a yarn club, I think that this pattern might be perfect to use some of that up 🙂
Thanks Emma…so glad you like it! 🙂 🙂
It’s added to my queue on ravelry! I was actually looking at my stash too and I have a yarn that’s called sea foam, now I think it might be perfect for this shawl 😊
Wow…’Sea Foam’ sounds great! 😊😊😊
Just recently discovered your website Eleonora and love you’re work, and totally agree with other comments re charging for patterns. I found your work through the Seaside Stash Busting Blanket which I am just starting, however saw this shawl pattern which I love, so have just purchased it and plan to start this today….nothing like having a few projects on the go at the same time.
I have a quick question in regards to 4ply Cotton….. .I have a 4ply fingering Cotton yarn (which I haven’t used before) which would make up beautifully into this shawl however unsure if “fingering yarn” would be the same as normal 4ply, if not would you recommend any changes e.g. going up or down a size in hook. Thank you. 🌷
Hello Gayle… lovely to hear from you! Wonderful to hear you’re enjoying my designs… as for the shawl, it depends on your tension but I think a 4mm will still work well with the yarn you have. You would usually use a 3 – 3.5 mm hook but going up to a 4 gives a nice drape to the shawl.. test a little piece out to check your tension! Good luck 😊❤️
Hi Eleonora,
Re: Sea thrift shawl pattern, I was just a bit confused about your pattern I purchased. I have made a start on it and there is no resemblance to your design on the photo. Can You please help me out with this matter?
Hello Grace… The Sea Thrift Shawl pattern is what I used for the shawl pictured here… it was made using a yarn with a variegated colourway so it may look different using other yarns. It is made from the central point of the long straight edge so remember to turn at the end of each row and go back along the stitches just made (as opposed to going in the round). The shawl pictured was wet blocked at the end to help open up those stitches… I hope that helps! 😊💙
Hi Eleonora, I got it!! Thank you so much and my apologies, I just couldn’t see it looking remotely like your beautiful shawl, but it is now working for me thanks again. I have never wet blocked, but I will try it when I finish my shawl and will send you pictures if it turns out ok.
Thanks again👍🏼⭐️
That’s great to hear! Thank you Grace… I would love to see pictures when you’re finished! Enjoy… 😊💙