PlanetJune by June Gilbank

It’s been a long time coming, but I’m so happy and proud (and a little scared) to announce that the second PlanetJune Accessories Collection is finally ready! Don’t forget to read to the end to take advantage of my launch week discount codes!

The detailed patterns include full written instructions, photos, illustrations, and large, clear charted stitch diagrams where needed, and, as always, are backed up by unlimited support by email, should you have any questions.

So now, please allow me to present the PlanetJune Accessories Fall 2011 Collection! (By the way, there are lots more pictures of each design, if you click through to the individual pattern pages.)

The Diamond Flowers Scarf/Wrap can be worn as a shoulder wrap to show off the stunning diamond flower pattern to the full, or as a lacy scarf. Take advantage of a beautiful sock yarn colourway to make yours look spectacular! I used a bamboo sock yarn for mine, so it’s beautifully silky and soft against my skin. This pattern includes two complete versions: the standard width (as pictured), and an increased width option that allows you to make a wrap of any width.

The elegant Climbing Eyelets Triangular Shawl is worked upwards in rows from the bottom tip, which means the size is infinitely customizable – from a cute and tiny child-sized version to a giant oversized shawl to snuggle into, you’ll just keep crocheting until it reaches the size you want, then add the simple border. The lace pattern has a 2-row repeat, so you’ll pick it up in no time and be able to enjoy crocheting without having to worry about a complicated pattern. I made mine long enough that it covers the gap between the bottom of my shirt and top of my pants when I’m sitting at the computer (like right now)!

The Banded Lace Wrap continues my ‘easy crocheted lace’ trend from last year’s popular Gossamer Lace Wrap. Wear it as an elegantly light and lacy shoulder wrap, or as a frothy lace scarf (the layers make it surprisingly toasty as a scarf!). It’s easy to crochet in any width you want, from a skinny scarf to a full-width rectangular shawl. Although each pair of bands uses an 8-row repeat, there are only three different stitch patterns to memorise, so you’ll be flying through it in no time.

I think the Reindeer Antlers speak for themselves! For an instant cute costume for the kids (or a costume party for adults), crochet these reindeer antlers and ears. All you need is a wide plastic headband and your crochet supplies. Make this lighthearted design and everyone will want to try on the antlers and be instantly transformed into a real-life amigurumi – how can you resist?

And finally, my Chunky Elegance Rug Trio is three crochet patterns in one! Not just resized doilies, this trio of rug patterns has been specifically designed for comfort: they are soft and cozy to sit or stand on, and there are no large holes that your foot could slip through to touch the cold floor. Each round is different, to keep your interest up as you crochet! The pattern includes coordinated designs in 20″, 30″ and 40″ (50cm, 75cm, 100cm) sizes.

There is one more pattern in the making that was intended to be part of this collection, but I didn’t want to delay the launch any longer. The ‘missing’ design will be my next donationware pattern, and it’ll be perfect to make a few as quick stocking-stuffer gifts, so remember to look out for it nearer to Christmas

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Launch Week Discounts! These discounts are valid on all my Accessories patterns, not just the new collection (excluding last year’s Scalloped Scarf pattern as it’s donationware, so you set your own price anyway).
These automatic discount codes are valid until this Sunday, October 9th.

Buy any PlanetJune Accessories pattern, save 5% with code PJAC05
Buy any 2 PlanetJune Accessories patterns, save 10% with code PJAC10
Buy any 3 PlanetJune Accessories patterns, save 15% with code PJAC15
Buy any 4 PlanetJune Accessories patterns, save 20% with code PJAC20
Buy any 5 or more PlanetJune Accessories patterns, save 25% with code PJAC25

You’ll find all the PlanetJune Accessories patterns in my shop.

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I really hope you like the new collection – I’ve worked so hard for the past couple of months to make it as good as possible. Please let me know what you think in the comments and, if you have requests for future accessories designs, ask away!

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I try to give you one free (donationware) pattern per season, and with fall approaching (for most of you; it’s spring for me!) I’ve designed a realistic, beautifully shaped amigurumi pear.

Can you spot which is the real pear?

Crochet a bowlful in greens, browns, yellows, and/or reds, to make a stylish decorative centrepiece, or add a pair of safety eyes and an embroidered smile to make a sweet toy

The perfect pear shape

I’ve also included instructions for making a delicious-looking blushed pear:

Mmm, doesn’t it look sweet and juicy?

The pears crochet pattern is free for you to use. If you’d like to thank me with a donation, you’ll get a handy printable PDF version of the pattern as a thank you

Enjoy!

Go to Amigurumi Pears pattern >>

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I usually keep my designs a secret while I work on them, in case I fail to create what I can see in my head (it happens!), but last week, I was crocheting away on my new design and I spontaneously decided to host a contest on my Facebook page, to guess what the design would be. I released one text clue every hour, and people could guess again after each clue was released. It took 5 hours and almost 100 comments before we had a winning guess of Aardvark, by which time my design was well on the way to completion. It was so much fun to have people keeping me company with their guesses as I worked, I think I might do it again some time

I don’t know why the idea to crochet an aardvark popped into my head, but, once it did, I had to drop all my other projects immediately and get to work – that’s the way my crazy brain works. The aardvark is just so cute and funny and distinctive looking, I thought it would be the perfect subject for a one-colour design, where all the magic is in the shaping.

It was easy enough to draw my aardvark sketch, but turning that 2D shape into the 3D reality involved a lot of trial and error to get it smooth and perfect and in proportion. I think I succeeded though!

I also went for a change of scale with this design: I think Aardvark is one of my largest worsted weight amigurumi, at 13.5″ long from snout to tail.

Aardvark Fun Facts

• Aardvarks are found all over Africa.
• The name “aardvark” means “earth pig” in Afrikaans.
• Aardvarks live in burrows and eat ants and termites.
• They weigh over 100lbs and their tail alone is 2 ft long.
• Aardvarks independently evolved similar features to the unrelated Anteaters (who come from South America) – isn’t nature amazing?!

I hope you like my funny little ‘earth pig’. I’m hoping he’ll be a talisman to keep the ants out of my house; he doesn’t seem to be making much difference so far, but I love him anyway

If you’d like to make an aardvark of your own, pick up the Aardvark crochet pattern from the PlanetJune shop!

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I thought it was time for a little change of pace. My PocketAmi range is simpler than my usual designs, but they have that instant gratification factor – at only 3″ tall, they are super-fast to crochet and make excellent gifts for kids, or cute little ornaments.

I’ve already made 3 seasonal PocketAmi sets (Halloween, Christmas, and Easter) and I’ve seen how much you enjoy crocheting and modifying them from the Crochet-Alongs I’ve hosted with them! My new PocketAmi Set 6: Pets designs are along the same lines, but fun at any time of year. PocketAmi Pets includes a tiny but adorable puppy, kitten and parrot, all for one price.

• PocketAmi Puppy is cute little mixed-breed, with a brown patch over one eye. The pattern also includes a simpler version that omits the eye patch, for novice crocheters who aren’t comfortable with colour changes.
• PocketAmi Kitten has calico markings (but of course you can crochet her in any cat colours if you’d prefer!) and the tiniest little kitty nose.
• PocketAmi Parrot is surprisingly detailed for an amigurumi only 3″ tall – just look at his parrot eyes and beak shape.

I hope you’ll enjoy crocheting PocketAmi Set 6: Pets as much as I enjoyed creating the mini designs!

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Before I do anything else, I want to thank you for all the comments on my amigurumi Columbo post – what an amazing reaction! I guess I’m not the only Columbo fan out there…

I was really nervous about showing him to you: I always get a bit nervous before publishing something new, but it’s so much more scary to publish an ‘art’ project that I’ve invested a huge amount of time and love into. I only have time to create one art piece per year, so I choose subjects that make me happy, and they feel very personal to me. I don’t kid myself that I’m the world’s most talented artist; there’s nothing deep and meaningful about my creations, but if my work brightens your day for just a moment, that’s good enough for me. So your lovely comments really do mean a lot to me – thank you

Okay, back to the pattern! If you like Columbo, or loveable hound dogs, you might want to crochet a Basset Hound of your own – and how could you resist those mournful eyes and long floppy ears? AmiDogs Basset Hound is the 19th breed in my AmiDogs pattern collection:

As you can see, my handpainted blue sky backdrop luckily survived the trip from Canada and is back in action, which means I’ve also finally been able to photograph AmiDogs Set 6 (Akita, Greyhound [or Whippet] and Border Collie).

(In case you’re wondering, there’s really nothing linking the three breeds of Set 6 together; they were all commissioned designs. I only make the numbered sets for my Etsy store these days – almost all of my PlanetJune customers take advantage of my AmiDogs Custom Set offer and mix and match any 3 of my AmiDogs breeds for the same price as the pre-selected sets.)

Here are the other 18 AmiDogs breeds:

So if you’d like to buy the new Basset Hound pattern, you might want to also pick up a couple more AmiDogs as a custom set of three and take advantage of the savings…

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