Mini Crochet Advent Caravans!

 I just wanted to remind you of this project I made for Christmas last year. This is one of my favourite patterns ever and I am so looking forward to filling them up with goodies for our tree again. You can find the pattern here.

Lots of love,
Kate. xxx

'Let's Go Camping! Crochet Your Own Adventure' - a look inside the book!!!!!

Now that pre-orders of 'Let's Go Camping! Crochet Your Own Adventure' are turning up in mailboxes around the world, I thought it was time to show some more photos from the book.

I can't believe that this project began mid January and now it is in my hands. 

One of the things I enjoyed most about writing this book was the little anecdotes I share at the beginning of each chapter. All of the projects come from different elements of my life - the cabin above was based upon a holiday house we had when I was tiny, the colours of it though, coming from my granny's house.

 The photography by Keiko Owikawa still takes my breath away each time I look at it. And as for the styling, I still can't believe how lucky I am that Christine Leech joined the team.

 So here are a few more photos for you to look at - I hope you like them!

We were also very fortnuate that Playmobil came on board and gave us permission to use my vintage Playmobil toys in photos - they bring such magic and scale to the projects. As I look at this photo I can't help thinking how funny it is to see the tiny binoculars that Mum gave to me at Christmas - neither of us knew they were going to be starring in a book this year. Goodness me.

Having received a copy a few weeks ago, I have been crocheting my way through the book to quadruple check each pattern. To my chagrin (a word I never get to use - it almost makes it worthwhile), there were some small mistakes that I have remedied with a printable errata page found at the top left hand side of the blog.  

I've also changed my commenting system I will now be able to reply to your questions!

A book! Yippe Yay! Whoot!

Lots of love,

Kate. xxx

A Crochet Teepee (from Let's Go Camping! Crochet Your Own Adventure)

 Here is a photo taken of the teepee for Let's Go Camping! Crochet Your Own Adventure before everything was parcelled up and sent off to England for the photo shoot.

How much would you love to snuggle up with a book and read in there.....

Lots of love,
Kate. xxooxx

A Sneak Peek at Let's Go Camping! Crochet Your Own Adventure

 Now that the release date is rapidly drawing near (24th September - Jonno's birthday), I thought I should show you a little bit of what I have been up to over the past few months. 

Many of you have seen the crochet caravan which will of course feature in the book, but did you know that there are all sorts of other patterns for things like narrow boats, ice cream trucks, lake cabins, tents, teepees, etc, etc (my fingers will drop off if I write down everything and you have to have a few surprises left when you open the book).

 One of the projects I adored making was this narrow boat. Here it is undergoing construction on the kitchen table. It was such a joy to make.

 At first it was a little cold so I made a wood burner for it. What a difference, the bed only needed one blanket after that otherwise it would just be too hot to sleep. I do spend a lot of time on my own it may be worth pointing out here.

 Cruising along the kitchen table on a paper river.

The wood burner is of course crochet and doesn't make a difference to room temperature.

If you are wanting to pre-order a copy, check out your favourite online bookstore or try here
Lots and lots of love,
Kate. xxooxx

Caravan Progress...

 I am making very slow progress with this new caravan. I think it might be because the boys have only just gone back to school and and the week has been inundated with school excursions and 12 year old boys staying over, basketball, etc. This week is going to be the week of furiously happy crochet. It has been decided.

Have a happy Sunday!
Love Kate. xx

Caravanning...

 I love this stage when I am making a caravan - so many possibilities.

Lots of love,
Kate. xxooxx.

Crochet Caravan Pattern News!

Thank you so much for all of your queries on the caravan pattern! Your comments have been so lovely and I am very happy to say that I have a book coming out in September which contains not only a pattern for the caravan, but also things like ice cream trucks, lakeside cabins, tents, teepees and canal boats! I have been lucky enough to have Kyle Books publish the book and at this stage it is provisionally called, "Camp Crochet: From Cabins to Caravans, Create Your Own Camping Scenes in Crochet".

 It is all very exciting but also exhausting. Yesterday was my deadline and wahoo, I made it!!!!!!

I was given the green light mid January so as you can imagine, crocheting and writing took place all hours of the day and night to get it finished. I have to admit that whenever anybody offered me any sympathy, I did have to say that it was secretly the most wonderful thing ever as it meant that I had to crochet my heart out. Things like dirty dishes and socks could slide into the periphery!

I can't wait to show you a few more sneaky peeks!

Lots of love,

Kate. xxooxx.
p.s. These photos are not official photos from the book - just ones I took from home before sending them off to the UK.

How to Crochet an Advent Christmas Caravan!

 Welcome to the caravan park where things aren't quite as they seem......

Thank you so much to Black Sheep Wools for sponsoring this project with yarn and offering a discount on the yarns used to all Greedy for Colour readers (the code will be at the end). I've loved developing this pattern but it has involved a lot of work and time so I thank you for your patience! Still, there's plenty of weeks until Christmas so get your hooks out.

Who needs a new advent calendar when these Airstream caravans can hang from your Christmas tree? This is such an appropriate Christmas decoration in the southern hemisphere as our summer break happens during the festive season. The roads are choked with people tootling off to their holiday destinations towing campers, camper vans and caravans.

These caravans can also be filled to the brim with goodies. Up for it? Let's go.

Materials

1 x DMC Natura Just Cotton Bleu Layette 05

1 x DMC Natura Just Cotton Noir 11

1 x Twilley's Goldfingering Silver 5
2.5mm hook
1 small back bead
stuffing
1 button

1 x ice-cream container lid or similar flat plastic

Abbreviations
For this tutorial, all terms are U.K.
ch = chain
ss = slip stitch
dc = double crochet (single crochet in U.S. terms)
st/sts = stitch/stitches
yarn a = Bleu Layette
yarn b = Silver

yarn c = Noir

For the body

Make 2. 

Refer to the photos above.

This section is worked from side to side.

Row 1. Using yarn a, ch 2 then work 3dc into the 2nd ch from the hook (top left photo). Ch1, turn. (3)

Row 2. 2dc into each of the next 3sts. Ch1, turn. (6)

Row 3. *1dc into the first st then 2dc into the next st*. Repeat ** twice. Ch1, turn. (9)

Row 4. *1dc into each of the next 2sts then 2dc into the following st*. Repeat** twice. Ch1, turn. (12)

Row 5. *1dc into each of the next 3sts then 2dc into the following st*. Repeat** twice. Ch1, turn. (15)

Row 6. *1dc into each of the next 4sts then 2dc into the following st*. Repeat** twice. Ch1 but don’t turn. (18)

Row 7. Work 12dc across the semi-circle’s flat base. Ch1, turn (right photo). (12)

Rows 8-9. 1dc into every st until the end of the row. Ch1, turn. (12)

Row 10. 1dc into the first st, skip the next stitch. 1dc into each of the following 8sts then skip the next st. 1dc into the last st. Ch1, turn. (10)

Rows 11-12. 1dc into every st until the end of the row. Ch1, turn. (10)

Row 13. 1dc into the first st, skip the next stitch. 1dc into each of the following 6sts then skip the next st. 1dc into the last st. Ch1, but do not turn. (8)

Row 14. Work 30dc around the sides and arch (top photo). Do not include the flat base. Ch1, turn (middle left photo).

Rows 15-30 (16 rows). 1dc into every st until the end of the row. Ch1, turn.

Cut off yarn. 

Row 31. Count 7sts along the previous row worked. Reattach yarn and pull through the 7th st. Ch1, 1dc back into the same st (middle right photo). Work 1dc into each of the next 4sts then skip the following st. 1dc into each of the next 5 sts, then skip the 6th st. 1dc into each of the next 4sts then skip the following st. 1dc into the next st. Ch1, turn. (15)

Row 32. *1dc into each of the next 4sts then skip the following st*. Repeat** once more then 1dc into each of the following 3 sts. Skip the next st then 1dc into the following st. Ch1, turn. (12)

Row 33. *1dc into each of the next 3sts then skip the following st*. Repeat** once more then 1dc into each of the following 2 sts. Skip the next st then 1dc into the following st. Ch1, turn. (9)

Row 34. *1dc into each of the next 2sts then skip the following st*. Repeat** once more then 1dc into the next st. Skip the following st then 1dc into the following st. Ch1, turn. (6)

Row 35. *Skip the first st, then 1dc into the following st*. Repeat** twice. Ch1, turn. (3)

Row 36. Ss into the last st. 

Cut yarn. 

Row 37. Return to the first st of the last row and reattach yarn. Ch1 and work 1dc back into the same st (bottom right photo). Work 11dc across the base of the semi-circle. Ch1, turn. (12)

Rows 38-39. 1dc into every st until the end of the row. Ch1, turn. (12)

Row 40. Work 1dc into the first st, skip the next stitch. 1dc into each of the following 8sts then skip the next st. 1dc into the last st. Ch1, turn. (10)

Rows 41-42. 1dc into every st until the end of the row. Ch1, turn. (10)

Row 43. Work 1dc into the first st, skip the next stitch. 1dc into each of the following 6sts then skip the next st. 1dc into the last st.  (8)

 Cut yarn leaving a long tail to stitch down the 2 sides.

For the Door
The door is worked from side to side until the final round.
Row 1. Using yarn a, ch 2 then work 3dc into the 2nd ch from the hook. Ch1, turn. (3)
Row 2. Work 2dc into each of the next 3sts. Ch1, but do not turn. (6)
Row 3. Work 4dc across the semi-circle’s flat base (top right photo). Ch1, turn. (4)
Rows 4-6 (3rows). 1dc into every st until the end of the row. Ch 1, turn. (4)
Row 7. 1dc into every st until the end of the row. Bind off. (4)
Round 1. Using yarn b and starting at the bottom right hand corner of the flat base, ch1 then 1dc back into the same st (top right photo). Work 1dc into each of the next 2sts then 1dc into the corner st. Ch1 then work 1dc back into the same st. Work 4dc up the side until the arch is reached. *1dc into the next st, then 2dc into the following st*. Repeat** twice. Work 4dc down the side then 1dc into the corner. Ch1, then ss back into the first dc of the round.
Bind off.
Stitch a small black bead on for a door handle (bottom left photo).

For the Window

Using yarn b, ch2 then work 3dc into the 2nd ch form the hook. Continuing to work into the 2nd ch, ch1, then 3dc, ch1 then 3dc, ch1 then another 3dc (top left photo). Ch1 then ss back into the first dc made (bottom left photo). Cut yarn. Pull on the tail leftover from the primary ch to tighten the central hole (top right photo). Tie the 2 tails together then snip one very short, leaving the other to stitch the window to the caravan.

For the Wheels

Make 3. 

The wheels are made in continuous, spiraling rounds.

Round 1. Using yarn b, ch2 then work 4dc into the 2nd ch from the hook. Ss back into the first dc. (4) Cut yarn

Round 2. Change to yarn c. Ch1 then 1dc into the same st. 2dc into the next 4sts then ss back into the first dc. (9)

Bind off.

To Assemble

Stuff one of the bodies to give the caravan a temporary shape. Pin on the window, door and wheels then un-stuff and stitch on. 

For the Numbers

Cut a 60cm length of yarn c and then gently separate out 3 strands to crochet with. Leaving a 22cm tail, ch15 then bind off. Pin to the caravan in the number's shape and stitch on. n.b. Some numbers such as '1' may need less then 15ch.

To Assemble

Carefully insert the inner body into the outer body so that they line up and then pin. This stage requires a bit of jiggling and stretching (think of a pair jeans one size too small), stay strong - they will come together. Stitch around the base of the two bodies.

For the Base
The base is worked in continuous, spiraling rounds.
Round 1. Using yarn a, ch 2 then work 6dc into the 2nd ch from the hook. Ss back into the first dc. (6)
Round 2. 2dc into every st until the end of the round. (12)
Round 3. *1dc into the first st, then 2dc into the next st*. Repeat ** until the end of the round. (18)
Rounds 4-18 (15 rounds). 1dc into every st until the end of the round. (18)

Pressing the base flat, trace around the shape made onto a piece of paper. 2 more rounds will be crocheted on the base so flip it around on your template to mirror the shape on the other end. Cut out the paper template shaving off an approximate 2-3mm so that it will fit inside the base. Place paper on plastic and cut out the plastic base Insert the plastic base into the crochet base then complete the following two rounds.

Round 19. *1dc into each of the next 2sts then skip the following st*. Repeat ** until the end of the round. (12)
Round 20. *1dc into the first st then skip the next st*. Repeat ** until the end of the round. (6). 
Bind off.

To Assemble

Stuff the body then insert the base making sure it rests just below the lip of the body (top photo). Pin into place then sew one side of the base and the body together (bottom photo). 

For the Button Loop

Using yarn a, ch14. Bind off leaving a decent tail at either end and stitch it to the open edge of the body. With a pin, mark out the best spot for a button (left photo) and then stitch the button on. 

For the Draw Bar

Using yarn a, ch10. Bind off leaving a decent tail at either end and stitch it to the front of the caravan (bottom right photo).

Thread a 15cm loop of yarn c through both layers of the roof. 

Fill with stuffing, spray liberally and leave in a warm place to dry overnight. 

Fill with the most wonderful goodies and dot them about the tree to be found each day throughout Advent.

 The boys are quite keen on this project..... hmmmmm.

Or you could make an apartment building of caravans. Imagine the tiny ladders reaching up to the top story. Even more fun than a caravan park!

I hope you are braver than me and begin with a caravan marked '1'. I'm making mine backwards this year so I know that there will be something on Christmas morning!

Black Sheep Wools have been amazing as they gave me carte blanche to choose my materials. I have an absolute passion for DMC Natura Just Cotton and Twilley's Goldfingering, so it was an absolute joy to discover that they stocked them. The cotton gives a natural stiffness to the project and comes in the most wonderful colours and the Twilley's Goldfingering has long been a favourite since I first used it for making the Christmas bauble pattern. 

Here are some other colours I used in this project: 

Twilley's Goldfingering Antique Gold 4

DM Naura Just Cotton in the following colours -

Geranium 52

Aguamarina 25

Golden Lemon 43

Thank you so much Black Sheep Wools, it has been so much fun to work with you and an especially big thank you to Lesley whose idea it was to embroider numbers onto the caravans' side.

And now for the code!!! Type GREEDY14 at Black Sheep Wool's check out and it will give you a 10% discount on all shades of DMC Natura Just Cotton and Twilley's Goldfingering from today until the 24th November. 

Have fun, love Kate xxooxx.

How to Crochet a Mini Vintage Caravan!!!

 Here it is - How to Crochet a Mini Vintage Caravan!!!

Materials.
1 x ball cotton dk cream
1 x ball cotton dk duck egg blue (or a nice vintagey caravan colour)
1 x pale blue cotton 4ply
1 x black cotton 4ply
1 x silver metallic 4ply yarn (I use Twilley’s Washable Goldfingering)
1 x 3.5mm crochet hook
1 x 2.5mm crochet hook
1 x black bead 
Stuffing

Abbreviations.
ch = chain
st/s = stitch/stitches
ss = slip stitch
sc = single crochet (double crochet in U.K. terms)
yarn a = dk pink cotton
yarn b = dk cream cotton
yarn c = 4ply pale blue cotton
yarn d = 4ply silver metallic yarn

yarn e = black

For the Front and Back.

Make 2.

This section is worked from side to side.

Row 1. Using yarn a and a 3.5 mm crochet hook, ch19. Turn, 1sc into the 2nd ch from the hook. Work 1sc into each of the next 17ch. Ch1, turn. (18) 

Row 2. 1sc into every st until the end of the row. Ch1, turn. (18)

Row 3. 1sc into the first st then 2sc into the next st. Work 1sc into each of the next 14sts then 2sc into the following st. 1sc into the last st. Ch1, turn. (20)

Row 4. 1sc into every st until the end of the row. Ch1, turn. (20)

Row 5. 1sc into the first st then 2sc into the next st. Work 1sc into each of the next 16sts then 2sc into the following st. 1sc into the last st. Ch1, turn. (22)

Row 6. 1sc into every st until the end of the row. Ch1, turn. (22)

Row 7. 1sc into the first st then 2sc into the next st. Work 1sc into each of the next 18sts then 2sc into the following st. 1sc into the last st. Ch1, turn. (24)

Row 8. 1sc into the first st then 2sc into the next st. Work 1sc into each of the next 20sts then 2sc into the following st. 1sc into the last st. Ch1, turn. (26)

Row 9. 1sc into the first st then 2sc into the next st. Work 1sc into each of the next 22sts then 2sc into the following st. 1sc into the last st. Ch1, turn. (28)

Change to yarn b.

Rows 10 - 14. 1sc into every st until the end of the row. Ch1, turn. (28)

Row 15. 1sc into the first st then skip the next st. 1sc into each of the following 24sts then skip the next st. 1sc into the final st. Ch1, turn. (26)

Row 16. 1sc into the first st, skip the next st, 1sc into the next st then skip the following st. 1sc into each of the next 18sts then skip the following st. 1sc into the next st, skip the following st then 1sc into the final st. (22)

Row 17. 1sc into the first st then skip the next st. 1sc into each of the following 18sts then skip the next st. 1sc into the final st. Ch1, turn. (20)

Row 18. 1sc into the first st then skip the next st. 1sc into each of the following 16sts then skip the next st. 1sc into the final st. Ch1, turn. (18)

Row 19. 1sc into the first st then skip the next st. 1sc into each of the following 14sts then skip the next st. 1sc into the final st. Ch1, turn. (16)

Row 20. 1sc into the first st then skip the next st. 1sc into each of the following 12sts then skip the next st. 1sc into the final st. Ch1, turn. (14)

Row 21. 1sc into the first st then skip the next st. 1sc into each of the following 10sts then skip the next st. 1sc into the final st. Ch1, turn. (12)

Bind off.

Lightly press.

For the Door.

Make 1.

The door is worked from side to side.

Row 1.  Using yarn a and a 3.5 mm hook, ch 8. 1sc into the 2nd ch from the hook. Work 1sc into each of the next 6sts. Ch1, turn. (7)

Rows 2 - 5. 1sc into every st until the end of the row. Ch1, turn. (7)

Change to yarn b.

Rows 5 - 12. Work 1sc into each of the next 6sts. Ch1, turn. (7)

Bind off.

Change to yarn d and a 2.5mm hook.

Round 1. Leaving a 30 cm tail, ch7 then work 1sc into the left hand side of the door where the colour change between yarn a and b occurred. The chained section will be stitched across this colour change at the end. As with the windows, work 1sc into every st down the side until reaching the corner. Into the corner st, work 1sc, ch1 then 1sc back into the same st. Continue to work this way up each side and every corner until reaching the first sc worked. Ss back into the first sc. 

Bind off leaving a long tail then stitch the 7ch tail across the colour change on the door. Stitch on bead for a door handle and bind off the tail.

Use the 30cm tail to stitch the door onto the caravan’s front.

For the Windows.

Make 3.

The windows are worked from side to side until otherwise specified.

Row 1. Using yarn c and a 2.5 mm hook, ch 8. 1sc into 2nd ch from the hook. Work 1sc into each of the next 6sts. Ch1, turn. (7)

Rows 2 - 5. 1sc into every st until the end of the row. Ch1, turn. (7)

This section is now worked in the round. 

Round 1. 1sc into every st until reaching the corner, 1sc into the corner st, ch1 then sc back into the same st. Repeat on every side, 1sc into every st until reaching the corners and then work the 1sc, ch1, 1sc into the corner st.

Round 2. Change to yarn d and repeat Round 1.

Sew one window onto  both the front and back sides of the caravan

For the Wheels. 

Make 3.

The wheels are worked in continuous rounds.

Round 1. Using yarn d and a 2.5mm hook, ch 2. Work 6 sc into the 2nd ch from the hook. Ss back into the first sc. (6)

Round 2. 2sc into every st until the end of the round. (12)

Round 3. Change to yarn e. *1sc into the first st then 2sc into the next st. *Repeat until the end of the round. (18)

Round 4. *1sc into each of the next 2sts then 2sc into the next st. *Repeat until the end of the round. (24)

Round 5. 1sc into every st until the end of the round.

Round 6. *1sc into each of the next 3sts then skip the following st. *Repeat until the end of the round. (18)

Round 7. *1sc into each of the next 2sts then skip the following st. *Repeat until the end of the round. (12)

Round 8. 1sc into every 2nd st until the end of the round. (6).

Bind off leaving a long tail for sewing the wheel onto the caravan.

For the Middle Band.

The caravan’s middle (the long strip that will form the roof, floor and sides) is worked from side to side.

Using yarn a and a 3.5mm hook, ch 9. 1sc into the 2nd ch from the hook. Work 1sc into each of the next 7sts. Ch1, turn. (8)

Next row. 1sc into every st until the end of the row. Ch1, turn. Continue on like this until 36 rows of yarn a have been made. 

Change to yarn b and continue on as before until 46 rows have been worked.

p.s. please ignore the pink yarn replacing yarn a in the following 2 photos - I had to retrospectively photograph this step and am currently working on a pink one.

Caravan Construction.

(This step makes sewing on the middle band much neater).

Once the windows and doors have been attached, take the font side of the caravan beginning with yarn a and a 3.5mm hook,  work 1sc into every st around the edge. Swap to yarn b when you reach the colour change between yarn a and b. Repeat with the back side. It is difficult to say an exact number of stitches to work around the front and back as the amount of single crochet’s worked each time can vary with your tension. On my caravan, I worked 33 sts around the blue section and 35 sts around the cream section.  Whatever you end up with will be fine. 

Stitch the back side and the middle band together with wrong sides facing. 

 The middle band will have to be slightly gathered for its curves to match up with the front and backs' oval shape.

Sew on the back window.

Sew the font side and the middle band together. Leave a gap and stuff firmly. Stitch up the gap.

For the Pin Striping (that's what Jonno calls it anyway - I say 'the nice-silver-definition-lines'.) 

Using yarn d, chain a length of silver long enough to wrap around the caravan from the right and side of the door all the way along the colour change line between yarn a and b, to the left hand side of the door. 

p.s. please ignore the wheels already attached to the caravan in the photographs below - it is much easier to add them at the end.... I found this out the hard way.

 Pin on.

 And stitch!

Repeat this around the seams where the middle band was stitched to the front and back sides of the caravan.

Once the pin striping has been stitched on (I had to include the photo above because it was so funny with the pins - like a caravan in love), attach the wheels to both sides.

 Don't forget the spare wheel. Very important..... it only takes one flat tyre to ruin a holiday!

I will do another tutorial over the next week on how to embroider a little name for your caravan. I find the little spot next to the back window is perfect for that.

Et voila! You are now ready to go camping.

Leave any questions in the comment section below and I will reply underneath.

I hope it all makes sense. Keep an eye out because I am going to make a Christmas decoration version soon.

Lots of love,

Kate. xxooxx.
p.s. If you would like some more small and magical little projects, click here to see my book!