Festive Light Decoration… and some crochet updates!

It’s only two weeks until Christmas Day… how did that creep up on us so quickly?! It will be a different kind of Christmas for many people after what has been a year like no other… stay safe and stay healthy dear followers! ❤️

And here I have designed a super simple, easy and quick crocheted ‘Festive Light’ hanging decoration. Scroll down for the free pattern… 🙂

We put our decorations up extra early this year. It just somehow felt the right time and I’ve been enjoying them very much! Here’s the view from my sofa with a crackling fire courtesy of YouTube! Not quite the same as a real open fire or wood burner but the next best thing as recommended by one of my boys! 🙂

I’ve also enjoyed some crochet related advent calendars which have been a joy to open every morning… 🙂

There’s a stitch marker calendar from Mrs G Makes… www.etsy.com/uk/shop/MrsGMakes

And a beautiful themed yarn box from Miss Moffat Yarns. www.etsy.com/uk/shop/MissMoffatYarns

Titled ‘A Winter Walk’, I feel like I’m actually being taken on a winter walk as each day a new inspired mini skein is opened! This has 12 mini skeins in total and I’m really looking forward to crocheting something with these…

I’ve discovered that advent calendars make amazing gifts so that’s a good tip for you all for next year! I was gifted the stitch marker calendar and I love it so much – a gift that keeps delivering and keeps surprising. And I gave a beauty advent calendar and a tea calendar to loved ones too as presents and they’re going down well.

Last Thursday I hosted a Christmas workshop at the wonderful Made and Making. www.madeandmaking.co.uk

I’ve only managed to host a handful of workshops this year due to the pandemic so it was a true pleasure for me. Made and Making has a spacious, airy and comfortable studio space with plenty of ventilation so it feels very Covid safe and is in a fantastic location. Do check out their website for all kinds of crafty workshops in 2021….

Having done my Christmas decorations workshop last year, some people didn’t finish the decorations so I designed the ‘Festive Light’ decoration as a bonus pattern which is made in only 4 simple rounds. It would guarantee that everyone at the workshop would have at least one thing finished by the end of the session.

But I needn’t have worried… the lovely ladies all persevered with the more detailed decorations and plenty got finished… yay! 🙂

Becca made a perfect little Gingerbread Man and used some yarn by Italian yarn company Adrifil which was the perfect colour, had gorgeous sparkles and also just enough fluff! It really was a great yarn choice for our Gingerbread Man!

Earlier in the week I shared a photo of my ‘Seaside Stash Busting Blanket‘ together with the following information over on my Instagram and Facebook. What a lovely response I got which I’m really very grateful for…

Morning lovely people… 🥰💙

A little update from me… apologies for being a little distant from social media these past few weeks or for simply sharing old photos 😆 (today we have the beginnings of my Seaside Stash Busting Blanket – I can’t quite believe it’s nearly 3 years ago this was on my hooks)!! 🥰😍

But… my hooks have been keeping me super busy behind the scenes and I’m so happy to let you all know that the design for my 2021 CAL blanket is now finished!! 😄😍 I’ll be revealing more over the next couple of weeks and full details in January. I’m hoping for a launch date of end February but I’m just waiting on a couple of things before I can definitely confirm that. I’m really happy with the design and the theme… I’m hoping it will be a CAL that’s all about community and togetherness… much more than just a blanket as we crochet along together in 2021! 😄🥰💖

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Thank you so much for being patient with me… I’ve mentioned before that it’s always a fine balancing act between sharing crochet content here on social media and then actually doing the crochet design work!! I’m not sure I always get that balance right, especially when I’m working on designs that I can’t share yet! But both are really important to me… so apologies if I haven’t responded to your comments or messages like I used to! I read every comment and I’m always so touched and grateful for people taking the time to reach out – I appreciate every word written so thank you!! 🥰🥰💖

Do stay tuned… more about the CAL will be revealed before Christmas so very soon….😄🥰💙🌊🌊🌊

And finally, here’s my Festive Light Decoration pattern for you all… enjoy!

Festive Light Decoration

This simple hanging Crocheted Christmas Decoration is very simple to make in just 4 rounds. Perfect for using odd bits of yarn, mix and match the colours for a festive display! 

You Will Need:

Any yarn can be used for these decorations and only a small quantity is needed for each decoration. Experiment with different yarns for endless possibilities and use a hook size to match your chosen yarn and tension. For the decorations pictured I used 3 different colours of ‘Durable Cosy Fine’ DK weight yarn (58% cotton / 42% polyacrylic) with a 4.5mm hook.

Tension: Tension is not critical, but you don’t want the tension to be too loose. The decorations need some firmness so that they hang well.

Abbreviations:     UK Crochet Terminology is used

ch: chain, RS: right side, ss: slip stitch, st(s): stitch(es), tr: treble, RtrB: raised treble back (see below)

Raised treble Back: complete a treble st as normal but insert hook around the stem of the st inserting hook from right to left going from the back to the front and then round to the back again.

US translations:

tr = dc (double crochet)

RtrB = BPdc (Back Post double crochet)

To Work:

The decoration is made with the right side (RS) facing at all times.

Using Yarn A, make 4ch, ss to first ch to join into a ring.

Round 1 (RS) 3ch (counts as first tr here and throughout), 11tr into the ring, ss to top of first 3 ch to join. [12 sts]

Round 2 3ch, 1tr into same st at base of 3 ch, 2tr in each st to end, ss to top of first 3 ch, fasten off. [24 sts]

Round 3 Join Yarn B to any st, 3ch, 1tr in same st, 1tr in next st, (2tr in next st, 1tr in next st) to end, ss to top of first 3 ch, fasten off. [36 sts]

Round 4 Join Yarn C around the stem of any st inserting hook from right to left going from the back to the front and then round to the back again, 3ch, 1RtrB around same st, 1RtrB around each of next 2 sts, (2RtrB around next st, 1RtrB around each of next 2 sts) to end, ss to top of first 3 ch, do not fasten off. [48 sts]

Hanging loop Continue with Yarn C, make 20 ch, ss to st at base of 20 ch, fasten off and weave in ends.

…and enjoy!

Happy Crocheting Everyone and I wish you all a peaceful, healthy and warm festive season… ❤️ 🙂