handmade – A Cottage Crafter

Update on what I’m making

Hi all, I have been working hard behind the scene to complete something that I have started!

I have quite a few on the go and I really do need to stop my head from turning into a crazy mad woman haha.

I have a hexagon cardigan that both sides have been started and I could finish it in one to two days!
I have a crochet t-shirt that I tried to get finished before the sun went down on Sunday.
I started a sock pattern that turned into a bed sock as it was far too bulky.
I started another sock pattern but it wouldn’t go round my feet and I’m really thinking it should be pulled back a bit and made into mittens (hmmm, I wonder?)
I’m on with a lovely pair of fingerless mittens that I think look absolutely fabulous but I just can’t seem to get the pattern on the thumb part to look right!
I have a sewing project of making as many heat pads as I can create and sell for a way to save water and to stop rubber hitting our landfill sites.
Another sewing project of handkerchiefs, also to help the environment from too much waste.
I have started (last night) to make a 0-3 month cardigan for my friends that have informed me that they are expecting their first baby.
For the last 4 years I have had a shawl on the go and I must finish it sometime.
And I have lots of cotton yarn that I make into dishcloths. Another great idea I have to be more eco friendly.

I seem to have many great ideas and need to focus on just the one thing really.

It’s such hard work trying to work out what I should make first, but I will eventually I will get to the finish line with some of the projects. I think I will have at least 4 completed before the end of September! What do you think?

So there you have a preview of some of the things I’m currently working on.

Please leave a comment to let me know what you think is going to be the first finished.

See you again soon blogger friends

ZJ xoxo

Latest makes

This month I am on with a few projects at the same time! I should be really but that is just how I roll. So, I will show you one of the items that I am currently enjoying and once finished will appear on my website.

This make is a jumper where I thought I could use five different colours throughout and use up a fair amount of wool in the process.

And here it is!! Doesn’t it look fabulous in it’s lovely colours.

I am hoping to get this completed before the sun goes down on Sunday, here goes nothing!

I’ll update the progress as soon as I have some to show.

Bye for now

ZJ xoxo

Handkerchiefs

Hankies used to be deemed as very unhygienic. I agree with this to a certain extent, but if you look at it in a different way then you will see what I mean!

So, you have a runny nose and go for the tissues. But when you have used those tissues, where do they go? Does it affect anyone or anything? What happens when the bins are emptied or when they’ve been flushed down the loo? Well… these are the kind of things that do go into the landfills or the sewage and then all of our germs are spread into the environment.

A handkerchief, when it has been used, can be washed with a detergent and the germs do not get exposed to the environment as much as tissues. These can be used multiple times and once they have got to a stage of extensive wear and tear they can then be put into a compost bin or food waste bin which is collected by the local council.

I think that we should go back to using handkerchiefs just to cut back on the amount of waste that we are accumulating. It probably doesn’t seem that much when it is just tissues, but when you think about how many people are disposing of said waste, it adds up to a larger scale!

I have made my very own selection of handkerchiefs to buy on my website. You can purchase them via the link below.

https://acottagecrafter.sumupstore.com/product/handkerchiefs-6-pack

13/08/25: new handkerchiefs will be added to the online shop on Sunday 17th August 2025, hope you all like the new additions!

Sock Happy

Well I’ve just finished another sock. As always, I am very pleased and happy with the outcome.

It’s a sense of achievement, a pure happiness that I’ve created this masterpiece!

It’s a delight to see. Very soon, I will be writing this pattern up and advertising it on my website.

I mean, just look at them. Just pure beauty in a sock!

There’s nothing better than a great pair of socks to keep your feet toasty and warm throughout these cold days ☺️

If you would like a copy of this pattern, then please share your interest.

Stay happy xoxo

Footy day crochet

Well, today we’re off to see Grimsby Town v Doncaster Rovers and we’re not really looking to see the Marriners win today!

Over the last couple of months the boys have not performed that well for the fans. In fact, they’ve not really played well for the league!

Today for me supporting my husband I feel quite bored. But, I came prepared! I brought my crochet with me! So during breakfast (at McDonald’s) I started making a dishcloth!

Doesn’t it look good? I think so too!

So, I was crocheting away and my husband says to me, that it’s all well and good that I’m enjoying myself doing my craft but there’s no way I’m doing it in the stadium!

How unfair!!!

I’m not at all happy he said that and nor is my crochet!

My beloved work is stuck in my bag and not able to come out! Pffft, he’s allowed his soduko book out!

I’m not counting down the hours and the minutes to when I’ll be back to crafting again…

Teaching Knitting at groups

I’ve always loved knitting from a young age and it was back then drilled into me that women needed to learn the skill along with sewing to create clothing for the family. So I learnt.

Knitting as a child was hard work. Trying to find the right time to learn from my mother or grandmother when they were busy with housework or my siblings and also preparing food. So I made it my aim to learn every Saturday if my mother wasn’t too tired from work or on Sunday after church if my grandmother wasn’t busy. But when they tried to teach me I got in a mess and couldn’t quite get the hang of it. So I picked up some patterns and dreamt of knitting and then I saw the folder with the answer, step by step pictures of how to knit. I was in my element when I saw them and borrowed some needles and a scrap ball of wool and set to work.

One I had got through all the pictures, I stood back in amazement. There, at 4 years of age, I was knitting! How proud I felt.

Since then I’ve been slowly developing my skills and knit many items for my children and other people.

Lockdown was hard for many people, but I was able to improve my knowledge of knitting and started making tricky items that I would not have wanted to do before.

I made many items, and some I sold. I’ve enjoyed knitting and have become the local sock knitter! Now, I want to teach my skills to people who want to learn.

So, very soon, I will be hosting a crafters group where I can teach people of different ages. I’m currently designing my very own beginner knitting packs that can be done together as a group or alone at home.

For anyone who is interested in joining my group, please let me know. It will be taking place in Grimsby and I will be finding the ideal place soon.

New wrist warmers

Hey there everyone! How are you all doing? I hope you are all doing okay in the topsy-turvy weather! I can’t seem to make my mind up what to wear from one day to the next!

So because of that I’ve put my thinking cap on and come up with a good way to keep warm but not get too hot and that just happens to be wrist warmers!

These great things are just the thing to keep your wrists warm through the falling temperatures.

I made a few in one week and I think they are just the cutest!

I’ve even been experimenting with different patterns and they’ve turned out great.

So if you want one, follow the link to get yours! You won’t regret it 😉 acottagecrafter