I'm moving....

After a few slow years, I'm moving my blog over to

EmmaWilkinsonDesigns.com

It will be most likely the same kind of fun content, I've just decided to streamline my branding. I also believe a blog is like a story, and chapters must come to an end. This is the last chapter of this blog, but not my whole blogging story.


Most content will be eventually moved to the new blog. 

Thanks!

Introducing - The Starburst Square!

I've been working on this pattern for quite a while now. Since Easter, in fact! I'm very pleased that it is now ready to be released.
It is currently on ravelry (interested in seeing all my designs- click here)

The pattern will be for sale, but for my readers, until the end of July (midnight AEST) is will be free with the coupon code STARFREE
find it here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/starburst-square-3

thanking you for your support!

UPDATE: Thank you so much for all your support. My pattern is #1 on ravelry's 'hot right now' list!

Back loops and front loops!

Today I am redoing an older blog post, with a little editing! Back loops, front loops and chain spaces - where to put your hook. I will be posting some of the things that I am covering in at Crochet Club!


This is the back loop.

This is both loops. You may find that this is often the default place for the hook to go. If a pattern doesn't say anything, this is where the hook goes.

This is the front loop. 

Working in the back or front loop only creates a different drape, and allows loops to be left for surface crochet and other more advanced stitches


You don't always use the loops, you can also work into chain spaces. Granny squares for example, work through the space and not into individual loops.

We also can use the stitch post, and make front and back post stitches, they are a little more advanced, but I will cover them soon!

How to add a button to your blog

The only coding I know is what I have learnt for blogging, and this particular piece of code has helped me many times. It can add a professional touch to your blog.

I either make my own buttons, using a photo editing program, or use free downloads. I then upload them to photobucket.com. You can use any photo hosting site, I have used photobucket since the heady days of myspace, and it has not disappointed me.

You also need a sidebar, or space in your layout for the buttons to appear. They can appear within a blog post, but for handy links, make them obvious.

In blogger, you can click on the 'Design' link, next to where you sign in, Then find 'layout' and click 'add a gadget' in whatever location you want to add a button! There are many gadgets to choose from, but choose the HTML/JAVASCRIPT option.



This is my welcome button. The code looks like this:
 <a href="http://howtocrochetaheart.blogspot.com.au/p/about.html"><img src="http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s80/emmatane/welcome_zpsvqxrz58r.png" /></a>

Looks crazy! But lets break it down.  <a href="******"><img src="*****"></a>

<a href="This is where you want to click to"><img src="This is your image link"></a>

Copy and paste the link of where you want to go when the button is clicked, and paste that between the first two quotation marks. Copy the direct link, if you are using photobucket, or image URL and paste between second quotation marks.

Super simple and super effective! 

Hope you can use this on your blog. 

C2C - Corner to corner crochet

I've been making some little c2c squares (corner to corner) out of some little mini skeins. They were too cute to pass up. Although the squares are very different in construction to a granny square, they are similar in the sense that they work in clusters and can grow as big as you like, or like mine, you can make little squares and sew them together.

It has been fun making something so colourful, and fun to try out the little mini skeins. As small as they are, they do get a far amount of mileage out of them, and would be perfect for someone wanting to learn crochet, maybe make a granny square, or amigurimi! The exact yarn I used is discontinued, but I found this substitute, in case you'd like to make some yourself:

My Blogs Not Dead, it's Just Gone to Bed

For the first time in nearly a year, I feel like blogging again!

Since it's been a while, I don't expect I'll get too many hits on this post!

Why did I stop? Well, I wasn't enjoying myself, and put a lot of pressure on myself. I've missed it, and want to start again, but I've got no plans or vision at this stage :)

I'm not going to set myself up with any ambitious projects that I can't complete. I will keep all my old posts up because I am proud of them, and still get lots of traffic. I might even repost some of my old favourites, for any new readers out there!

I've just gone back and re -read some of the last few posts.. lots of excuses there, no one wants to read that! Don't worry, I'll be back in 2015 with lots of interesting crochet and craft to keep you interested!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Last Friday I participated in One Sheepish Girl's Valentine's Day Heart bomb. I've got some photos on instagram, and you can see more of the photos over on her blog (onesheepishgirl.com)

One of my heart patterns, the granny square heart,  was picked up by Mollie Makes blog, so Hi to anyone new stopping by from there!

I've become a bit of a haphazard blogger, and still adjusting to our new year routine, Will probably have it sorted by Easter!