FATW6 – Adventures in Mosaic Crochet – Garden Theme – Strip 12 – Afternoon Tea by Pippa Everett

The garden party festivities have begun. Have a seat and partake in these delights. Today we have strip 12, Afternoon Tea by Pippa Everett of Craft Pixie. What a special treat for us! Pippa’s bio below covers it all, so I give you her own words. Her smile says it all; she enjoys her crafts! Thank you, Pippa Everett, for this great and versatile pattern.

“Hi, I’m Pippa, and I’m a serial crafter. There .. I’ve said it! I sew, I crochet, I knit, I … the list is endless. My craft cupboard is testament to the number of crafts I’ve dabbled in over the years, but yarn and fabric have always been the stable thing in my life and provide a vent for my creativity.

I live in a place called Great Notley Garden Village, around 50 miles North East of London. It sounds quintessentially English, and despite it being purpose build around 30 years ago, I suppose it is. We have a pub on a village green where children play football and we occasionally see the odd cricket match. I count myself lucky to live here, as there are open spaces, play areas and a Country Park just across the road. I live with my husband and my two tabby cats: Rodney and Rosie. Since my daughter is in her last year at University and my son moved to the West Country a few years ago, the cats have to listen to my ideas and critique my works-in-progress!

My crochet journey

I have been crafting with fabric, yarn and paper for as long as I can remember. Like many craft addicts, I have tried many MANY things. If you need an unusual implement or craft accessory, I’ve probably got it!

When I was around seven my granny allowed me to progress from finger knitting to proper knitting. Interestingly, despite being an avid crocheter, she never taught me that technique. The only crochet things I’d seen were gaudy granny square blankets or the scratchy silver cat-suit she crocheted me for Christmas in the seventies! I had a few goes at some patterns on my own, but with no one to ask, and no internet, a young child moves on to other things. Roll on a decade or two and I had the urge to try crochet once again. I didn’t have any books, so I made it up as I went along creating the stitches from memory. It was only around 15 years ago, when I joined a local crochet group, that I finally put names to the stitches I had been making!

Craft Pixie

Around 10 years ago I decided it would be fun to set up a website and Etsy shop. Craft Pixie was born. It has been a great way of expressing myself and trying out new things and I’m ecstatic when someone likes my designs enough to purchase one. It’s an eclectic space, with crochet and sewing patterns plus games and packaging – anything I can design using a computer and offer digitally! I now have a Ravelry shop as well and hope to move on to other platforms, or even sell via my own website.

Why crochet?

So why crochet? I love the look and feel of yarn, but I also like pushing boundaries and expanding my knowledge. I find crochet quick, adaptable and relaxing. I discovered Mosaic Crochet not so long ago and I’m hooked (pun absolutely intended)! As a Data Analyst and Programmer in a previous life, it appeals to that mathematical side of me and allows me to use spreadsheets and programs once again. It’s a win-win. Now, as my situation has changed, I find myself at home trying to make a go out of being a crochet pattern designer. At the beginning of the year I plucked up the courage to submit some ideas to a magazine. I had a cushion and a scarf pattern published and have a placemat and zipper pouch due for publication in the New Year. I have decided that 2022 is the year I start a blog and get serious with my socials. Fingers crossed!

About my pattern

I am very excited to be part of this CAL and very honoured to be asked to participate. Crafting can be very solitary and the CAL has allowed me to collaborate and share ideas. I would also like to thank my testers, who have had immense patience with me (especially when I decided to change my design) and have given me excellent feedback and advice.

My pattern – “Afternoon Tea!” – is made using simple overlay mosaic crochet techniques. My aim was to show how patterns don’t need to be Greek freezes, or Mexican iconology. I also wanted to demonstrate how a design can easily move from a monochrome design to something colourful just by changing colour on some of the rows. My design has been inspired by the dream of sunny afternoons, sat in the garden with my friends, drinking tea and eating ice-cream. It encompasses everything I love. “Afternoon Tea!” is simple, effective and very adaptable. I hope it inspires you to have fun with colour while learning some basic overlay mosaic crochet techniques.”

Links

Website: www.craftpixie.co.uk

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CraftPixie

Instagram: www.instagram.com/craft_pixie

Raverly: www.ravelry.com/designers/pippa-at-thecraftpixie

Etsy: www.etsy.com/uk/shop/TheCraftPixie

Here are the samples from our Makers. If you feel adventurous enough to add another color to a row, you can certainly do so.

Here is link to pattern on Ravelry:

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/afternoon-tea-mosaic-fatw6

If you are not a member of the Facebook Group CAL – Crochet A Long, you can request to join here and then join the event. You will be able to get to the Event if you are a member. Do share your photos.

Facebook Group

Link to the Event if you are already a member of CAL – Crochet A Long.

Event

Silvana

So far for this Garden themed blanket the patterns are

Strip 1 – Flamboyance by Lana Ignjatovivc

Strip 2 – Picket Fences by Suzanne Lively Boren

Strip 3 – Falling Leaves by Carola Herbst

Strip 4 – Roselyn Motif by Carolann Tuffo

Strip 5 – Springtime in Aotearoa by Jenness Fulton

Strip 6 – British Columbia Dogwood by Lucille Schubert

Strip 7 – Friends Around the Garden by Rosina Plane