Crochet – Page 3 – Ila Quinn Designs

Posted on December 2, 2021 by Ila Quinn — Leave a comment

December Make Along: Interview with Leah Gordon @iplaywithfiber

All the links in this post will go directly to the content of the person I am interviewing! Please explore their content and follow along through their various sites, shops, and emails for more amazing patterns!

If you click any of the photos it will take you directly to that pattern or product!

When did you start crocheting/knitting, and why?

“Started at 12, kicked it to the curb until 27 as a means to mend a strained relationship between myself and my stepmom.”

What are your favorite items to create and why?

“My favorite items to create are cozy hats and scarves because they’re wearable hugs in fashion statement form!”

Tell us about a design you are particularly proud of, and what sets it apart from the crowd?

“The Regina Blanket Scarf, because it’s dedicated to my mom for teaching me how to crochet and always believing I was destined for creative pursuits.“

Will you show us your contribution to the December MAL?

Leah Gordon of I Play With Fiber in her Levi scarf.

Tell us a few features of this design and what you love about it?

“Filet crochet with intentional slip stitches create a fun, breezy, and seasonally transitional accessory!“

(Side note: I made this scarf, and my favorite feature is that it can be tied in knots and worn a million different ways! It is SO fun to make!)

Do you make other things besides yarn art? What are your hobbies or other products in your business?

“I’m all about yarn, but I do have stickers and enamel pins reflective of my work in my shop.”

Tell me something that you want other people to know, or that you wish more people understood?

“I wish more people understood that crafting can be life-changing, and everything about who we are as individuals is reflected through our work.”

Will you show us a few of the things you have designed or made?

Huge thank you to Leah for participating in this MAL and for letting us get to know her a bit and see her amazing pieces!

Follow Leah on IG for her Realness, and her Reelsness!

Are you inspired to make a statement piece now?!?

I’m adding a Regina to my closet ASAP!

Go check out Leah’s collection of patterns, and then come back and tell me which one is your favorite!!!

Posted on October 11, 2021 by Ila Quinn — 1 Comment

The Baby Unicorn: Crochet Costume!

It’s Halloween season again, and you just KNOW I’m over here doing the most for costumes!

Quick disclosure! There are affiliate links in the post below! This means if you choose to purchase a product from my link I will get a small kickback at no additional cost to you! I only link to products I love and use from brands I trust! Thank you for supporting my business!

Listen. Mythical creatures are kinda my thing when it comes to costumes. What is the phrase? “Be you, unless you can be a Unicorn, and then be a Unicorn!”

It should come as no surprise that my children feel the same way I do! Each year a request is made for something outlandish to be crocheted!

And I mean. I can’t exactly say no…

Specs:

This project is made in Bernat Blanket which is a Level 6 super bulky fleece yarn.

For all sizes you will need 2 skeins of the Whipped Cream color, a partial skein of “Dark Grey” for the hooves and horn, and a partial skein of “Ocean Shades” for the mane and tail! But there are a ton of shades to try! All of them would make amazing costumes!

You will also need a 9mm hook or so.

A tiny bit of stuffing

A zipper

And the usual bits and bobs!

This costume is stitches flat and then seamed together. You can use any method you like, but I like to use a simple Whip Stitch to get it done quick, and it creates a pretty ridge along the edges!

I don’t know if I’m the first to use the method I use for making the mane and tail, but I couldn’t find anything about it when I was searching around. So I created a 21 photo step by step tutorial walking through each movement to accomplish it! This method can be used in so many ways in different patterns, so I hope you have fun playing around with it after you get the hang of it!

Before I’m done I wanted to offer some insights into other yarns that can be used for this pattern.
When I was first starting to read patterns I never could figure out the yarn weights and what was the same as another or different! So I will list a few yarns I think would be gorgeous in this pattern!

You know I love me some Lion Brand. And Hometown USA is a great Super Bulky yarn!

Like a wool blend? Of COURSE Woolease is in!

PaintBox yarns has an amazing number of beautiful colors that would work perfectly in this costume!!!

Stylecraft has some gorgeous shades!!!

Alright. Last look at my sweet little one in the costume!

And go get started! There is plenty of time!

Posted on December 12, 2020February 4, 2021 by Ila Quinn — 2 Comments

The Starburst Ball Crochet Toy

Crochet toy pattern Crochet ball pattern Crochet science toy Crochet block Crochet cube crochet toy pattern with photo tutorial

(This post contains affiliate links which means if you choose to purchase an item I have linked I will receive a small commission at no cost to you! I only link items I love and use from companies I shop with, work with, and love.)

Do you ever have those ideas that wander around in your mind for ages? They might be there for years and you get so used to them being there that they become part of the furniture in your mind? Each of the three toys I have designed were that way for me. They have been with me since I was a kid myself. Oh, but it has been so refreshing to bring them to life and share them!

First the specs!

The “Starburst Toy” is created with 24 individual spikes that are sewn together in a cube. This is really exciting to me because the toy is a ball, but it is constructed like a cube! Which makes it the perfect addition to my cube-shaped toy collection!

My very favorite feature is the BOUNCE. Did you know a crochet toy can be a bouncy ball? Because it can!!! I designed this toy to be crochet tightly and stuffed well. With these two features that bounce is on point. The spikes make it unpredictable on the post bounce direction which will keep kids entertained for hours! Adding a little bell into the center makes it a mild jingle which adds to the fun factor too!

Naming this toy was a little tricky. I had so many ideas in my head and I just couldn’t decide which one fit best. As is often the case it came organically from my tester Leah. I told her I was struggling with the name and listed only a few of the names I had floating around in my brain. She told me she thought they were good ideas, but she had been calling it “Starburst” in her head. And just like that the toy named it’s self!

A starburst is a pattern of rays that radiate from a central object like a star!

Crochet ball crochet toy crochet cube crochet block crochet toy pattern PDF Crochet gift ideas Crochet babyshower gifts Crochet toys for kids Crochet bouncy ball Crochet Science toy Crochet Star toy — Look at those rays of sunshine!

Isn’t that the perfect name!

Now that the name and design are perfect I’m ready to send it out into the world!

You can find the link for the easy to read PDF that features photo tutorials, written instructions, and schematics to aid in the construction! This pattern is good for the intermediate crocheter or for a beginner level crocheter that is looking to expand their skill set! With nearly 20 photos to go along with written instructions, the pattern is very user friendly and approachable!

The spikes themselves are quick to assemble with easy repeats which makes this great for working on in the evenings while you are watching a show!

Crochet spike toy pattern PDF ball block cube baby toy gift ideas handmade gift toy pattern beginner crochet intermediate crochet pattern — These little spikes work up quickly and area great for evening crochet while you watch a show and drink hot cocoa since its to late for coffee!

These toys are fun for kids of all ages. And I do mean all ages. Because I showed my grown adult sister the toy a couple weeks ago and she squealed and bounced it around just like my little ones do! It is one of those toys you will want to make for everyone in your life with a little or a big who likes to play!

Check out my Ravelry, Etsy, or LoveCrafts to find the PDF and get going on those Christmas gifts! And while you are there see my Intermediate pattern Not a Square and my Beginner friendly pattern Solve for X!

Crochet toy crochet cube crochet block toy pattern PDF crochet toys for babies crochet Christmas gift ideas baby shower gift ideas — These crochet blocks are great as rattles, pillows, and quiet toys! The ridges are easy for baby to grab and can be kicked and bounced around!

Lastly, I wanted to offer some yarn options! I know yarn weights can be confusing so I thought I would compile a list of yarns you might like to use for this project that are available for sale through LoveCrafts.com

Paint Box Yarns Simply Aran

StyleCraft Special Aran

Lion Brand Vanna’s Palettes

Lion Brand Vanna’s Style

Tell me in the comments who you think would love this. I am seriously thinking about making some for a couple adults I know who are kids at heart. And I kind of wish my Grandpa was still on earth because I think he would have gotten a kick out of it!