Blog – Jenny King Designs

18 Jan

Just the Cutest little Bag!!

Posted by Jenny King

Thank you, my wonderful pattern tester, for this bag!

I love your yellow one better than my original one in Lina. It looks sturdy durable and yet gorgeous.

I saw and interesting shaped bag that was knitted about 5 years ago on the internet and both my Mum and I have been using that shape to make wonderful striped bags.

While I was playing with another design, that is being tested at the moment, the striped bags morphed into a top, and the as things do at my place they morphed into a dress as well.

The first bag pattern has not been released yet, as I tend to be more creative than organized, but I think you know that about me.

You will see the resemblance as the subsequent designs all roll out. Here is not really the first chronologically but I think it is really lovely and hope you agree. 2023 will see lots more patterns from me, I have a new tech editor, more testers and the patterns are moving closer to the computer. I am excited!

I do have stocks of Lina, but I realised that they need to be added to the site. I’m on the job, if I don’t get distracted by the other yarns……….

28 Dec

Events

A bundle of patterns Just for you!

Posted by Jenny King

I missed the opportunity to wish you all a wonderful holiday season before it actually happened so now it is time for me to redeem myself by offering you a gift bundle of amazing crochet patterns.

You have given your time and talent to everyone else and now it is time for you to celebrate you and spoil yourself, to chill out, relax and recharge the batteries after all the holiday madness. The time is NOW for the treat you deserve. You are worth it.

And who doesn’t love a bargain? 35 patterns for $19USD, that is about 55 cents each

When I was asked to join these amazing designers from all over the world, I thought go big or go home so I have selected what I believe are my very best patterns for 2022.

My first one is Lily the Pink cardigan, which may keep you busy for a good while but is so worth the effort. I LOVE wearing Lily. It can be self-striping as in Noro or worked in 3 separate colours.

The second design is Naomi. This bias draped camisole is the perfect top for summer fun or for layering. It is size inclusive, and the bias drape ensures a perfect fit for everybody. The construction is really interesting and the stitch is simple, relaxing crochet.

The third design is a real quickie feather and fan cowl just for you to try out a antique variation of a ripple stitch. This is the tiny little gift from you to you using that luscious ball of yarn you have hidden in your stash for a special occasion. You know the one I am talking about. So go and hunt it out and start. You only live once.

There is a knit bundle too but hey, you know me and knitting,

“I love the look

but I’m better with a hook”

Adding the knit bundle as well is a better bargain if you are good at both.

Get your bundle now while you can. This offer is only available until New Year’s Eve New York time. This offer will not be repeated EVER or for Aussies E, V, A ,H from Kath and Kim

https://formebundles.thrivecart.com/crochet-for-me-head-2022/?affiliate=jennykingdesigns

19 Jul

Events

Who thinks that crocheting a Waratah is a good idea?

Posted by Jenny King
Australian natives, botanically correct, Gum leaves, Presencia

After seeing a couple of crocheted flower books being promoted on the web I realised that there are probably many of you who don’t know that I dedicated myself to crocheting botanically correct flowers 20 years ago including some amazingly beautiful Australian natives, published in 2003.

After 25 attempts to get it right and the lounge room covered in bits of red and maroon wool crocheted into spikes, the Waratah was born, the Gum nut took 7 attempts, and the pansy took 2 years of attempts to get it looking like the pansies that actually grew in my garden. With 3 gardening reference books later and I had self published a flower book. Published with both British and USA terms, international symbols all hand drawn initially.

Crocheted flowers can be put on anything.

My friend Geraldine puts a fuchsia on the corners of her shawls to decorate them and they certainly get some attention.

WARNING these are addictive!

Authentic native Australian flowers to crochet. They can be made to scale or made to order.

Or make some gardener’s favourites like Fuchsia , Daisy, Gerbera or a Pansy.

Or what about a Daffodil?

You will want to make them all.

29 Jun

Events

Tartan Blankets Never Die

Posted by Jenny King
Beginner, Clans, Scottish, Tartans

While tiding up my office I found and old Craft magazine. I was drawn to it because of the bold colours and the flowers on the cover and then I got the giggles. That wasn’t all that was on the cover. On the left hand side was my Crocheted Tartan Rug. I had completely forgotten about it as it was published 20 years ago.

Most people crochet story starts out with a lovely thing like “My mother taught me, my granny showed me how to crochet” etc. BUT in my case my mother demanded I teach her when she first discovered a tartan rug. Her words were,

” well now you will have to teach me how to crochet. I’ve seen a blanket I love , come with me and I’ll show you”.

So we traipsed off to this lady’s house to see the blanket. To be truthful I actually didn’t think the blanket was even crocheted at all. I hadn’t seen anything like it, but I was positive it was NOT crocheted. So I told Mum she had it wrong. Ok it was me who was Wrong! and you wont hear me say that again in a while.

Since that time my Mother has taught over 100 people how to crochet Tartan Blankets and she doesn’t know what the stitches are called. Yet it works. They are that simple.

The funny part about this story and the reason I’m telling it now is that the original Tartan rug book may no longer be in print. I think I sold the very last one today. The very day that I found the magazine with my tartan on the cover. So after 23 years and I don’t know how many reprints, I have had to make it into a downloadable E-Book. This will work for you, you don’t have to pay for postage and you will get it immediately. Just in case your family’s tartan is not in that book I have written another 100 tartans since. Your family’s clan may be on my list here on the website.

And if you can keep a secret I may just be doing a tartan blanket sometime soon as a crochet along(CAL). Shall I let you know when that is happening?

Tartan blankets are interesting enough for an experienced crocheter as you still just want to see what the next colour looks like, but if you are an absolute beginner and never held a hook in your hand before this is the project for you.

And I still believe that they are the classiest crocheted Blankets ever!!!

06 Jun

Events

You know the old saying you don’t know what you’ve got until its gone”?

Posted by Jenny King

My Faithful Companion project bag, the simple Dilly Bag, is no more so I am remaking her in some of the same yarns but this time I’m adding Noro Kureyon. She was made in pure hand wash only wool and fulled (felted in the washing machine). This made her sturdy and hardwearing and stretchy when needed. Oh so stretchy!

She had given me over 15 years of continuous use. I’ve been making do with other bags since and every time I put them down they fall over, and then the yarn falls out all over the floor. This never happened before with my Dilly bag. Everything fitted in as well, and when you went somewhere she sat there looking lovely and stayed put. She was so pretty you had to smile just looking at her colours. I think the narrow neck held things in place and my Yazzii hook holder & Yazzii utility holder never fell out.

I actually have fitted 3 full 10xball packs each in there so that my husband would not see what I had bought. Was that wrong?

This time she will have a purple base, so that if the floor is dirty you won’t see it and using the Noro means that the colours will be even more exotic. I cant wait to see her finished and put her to use. I just hadn’t realised that she had been so perfect and so functional.

Felted Dilly Bag – Jenny King Designs

21 Apr

Events

Sale Sale Sale!!!

Posted by Jenny King

I’m just not sure if anyone actually reads what I write so this is a test. I have renamed the Paris Miss top, as suggested thank you, to the Hugs and Kisses shrug. If you order the pattern and the yarn to make it before May 21, 2022 as soon as I see the order I will refund the pattern amount!!! I love people who like 3 exclamation marks. I hope you do too.

So in fact you will be getting the pattern free and the yarn on sale . Yes it will cost you $24. And it is such a pretty little design I think. This is limited only for Aussie customers so sorry.

I have been learning how to do Facebook and Instagram but I’m a better crocheter and designer than I am social media student. When I get better at it I won’t have to try these tests out on you. I’ll just blast you on there instead.

I’ve had my bout with the virus so I’m not feeling super chipper yet but I’m getting there. I hope you are all well and this little blog post makes you smile.

Enjoy

Jenny

17 Jan

Events

Slow Fashion

Posted by Jenny King
cotton, retro, slow fashion, stonewash, summer

I designed this halter top in 1981. 41 years ago. I know because it was my first year of teaching high school in Moree, NSW. Some other dates in my life are not so easy to identify.

I don’t have the photo of the models wearing it then, it was before the digital age. I reworked this design for A Summer Collection book published in 1998. 24 years ago. The model in the 1st photo here just had her 30th Birthday. Happy Birthday Biddy!

Her Mum was on the front cover, My Mum was in there too.

The Summer Collection book could never have been done without the help of Diane Bailie. Here are her daugher’s Azticia and Jacinta with my daughter Anthea modelling in this design from 1998. ( middle photo) Azticia’s back view shows the interesting back and backpack & hat too.

5 years ago Jacqui modelled it in 2017. I remade in my new Stonewash( well it was new then). This design has just been published in Simply Crochet magazine in 2021.

I think that there will always be pretty girls wanting to wear something cool in Summer to highlight their lovely figures. I renamed this as the Jacqui Halter now because Jacqui was so kind as to model it for me. Thank you for being so Gorgeous!

And 40 years later it is an actually pattern you can make yourself. #slow fashion

Too funny right ?40 years really is Slow Fashion.

Jacqui Halter Top – Jenny King Designs

14 Jan

Events

First in , best dressed!

Posted by Jenny King
colour explosion, wool

There are really no words needed for this Post. I went to see Biggan at her studio in Brisbane yesterday and we had the time of our lives selecting 10 wonderful and unique colour palettes for the Colour Explosion Jacket workshop to be held next Saturday the 22nd January at Studio 61 , 61 Clarendon Rd, Perigian Springs, Qld. The second all day class for this Jacket will be held on the 13th February 2022. If one of these colour combinations speaks to you then email me immediately so that I can put your name on it . Hit the link below to secure your place.

Colour Explosion Jacket Class and Kit – Jenny King Designs

In this case it really will be first in Best Dressed

If you are anything like me you will want to try them all.

I know I Do

1 has a base colour of Grey,

2 has a base colour of Lime,

3 has a base colour of Aubergine,

4 has a base colour of Aqua,

5 has a base colour of Hot Pink,

6 has a base colour of Light Periwinkle,

7 has a base colour of Deep Coral,

8 has a base colour of Red,

9 has a base colour of Aqua,

10 has a base colour of Deep Periwinkle.

12 Jan

Crochet

Baby Snuggle wrap re-discovered

Posted by Jenny King
baby, cosy, cotton

Many years ago I saw a knitted baby wrap in an Ashford magazine. It was perfect for little “wee” babies to keep their arms wrapped up and cozy warm. I used to sell my crocheted version of that pattern in my first yarn store near Buderim at least 12 years ago.

I finally had a chance to see if the design actually worked with our first little grandbaby who was conveniently born before winter this year, and it did. Since I made the first couple of Snuggle Wraps I had made one in Noro Taiyo. It had been hiding in “THAT PILE” and it was just a waiting for the buttons to be sewn on. You may know “THAT PILE” ;the please finish me and don’t start something new yet, until I’m finished pile.

It is finished now and I went to add the new photos to update the old pattern onto my web site only to realise that the Baby Snuggle Wrap has never been an online pattern and none of you would have ever seen it.Baby Snuggle Wrap – Jenny King Designs

Our first little darling is too big for this one in Noro now that the buttons are finally on, but there may be more coming later???? Fingers crossed.

So, if you have a little precious due in Winter then you may like to make one for them. Noro – Taiyo yarn – at KnittingFever.com

This discovery does make me wonder how many patterns have been hiding like this one and will reveal themselves to me over time. Perhaps we will discover this together. I promise I’ll show you.

Here is our first beautiful grandbaby sound asleep in her Snuggle Wrap.

06 Jan

Crochet, Events

I Can’t Resist Making My Own

Posted by Jenny King
class, colour, companionship, fun, pure wool

When I first saw these jackets made in Bosnia and Herzegovina I went bananas. I just love the colour combinations. They made my heart sing. Every single one I saw I wanted. I loved each one more than the last one. Please go buy one from this lady if you love them like I do. I realised that I wanted a jacket for next winter that is as bright and gorgeous and as bold as these are. It will certainly chase off the winter chills. Being that I live in Tropical Queensland the need for a jacket is not that imperative so I think I just wanted to create in the colours. Here is the link to purchase a jacket subrosa123 | Etsy

I grabbed out the Biggan 4 ply that I couldn’t resist buying at the conference and I’ve designed 2 squares. One in mesh and one using 8 shades. These are not the same as the ones from Bulgaria but they are bold, colourful, brave and exotic. So, I am over the moon excited. I WILL make a jacket.

To me it was obvious that the yarn needed to do this should be Biggan designs 4 ply. She is the only one that has the colours I crave. And I’ve used her yarn before and it washes and wears like a dream. I just did Lily the Pink in her 4 ply and I was reminded how much of a pleasure it was to have in my hands.

Now if any of you would like to join me, diving head first into colour, I will hold a 2-day workshop at Studio 61 (near Noosa) beginning this month. These will be 2 full day classes 3-4 weeks apart. The kits will be provided and I will visit Biggan next week to pack them for you. Each kit will be unique. No 2 will be the same.

If this sounds like something you can’t possibly resist then please book online. I called it the Colour Explosion Jacket

You will be working small squares and Studio 61 is airconditioned.

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