PlanetJune Craft Blog

Latest news and updates from June

July update

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve started some purely recreational craft projects to keep my hands busy in the evenings and weekends so I don’t accidentally start doing work again all the time. I’ve decided to try designing a couple of cardigans for myself. As I have no interest in becoming a professional knit/crochet-wear designer (I can’t do everything!), I don’t have to worry about taking notes or keeping my designs easy to follow, and I can hopefully tailor them to fit me, not the mythical average-sized woman.

To keep things interesting, I’m designing one in crochet (using some lovely Lion Brand Cotton Bamboo yarn that I’ve been hoarding for well over a year) and designing a knitted one too (and yes, this really will be my second knitting project ever, and my first attempt at purling!) – I’ll teach myself the other knitting techniques I’ll need as I go!

WIP cardigans - knit and crocheted - by planetjune
My WIPs: knitted and crocheted cardigans. I think I can do this!

Making any kind of fitted clothing is all very new to me, but I thrive on challenge and don’t like following other people’s patterns, so these are actually perfect relaxation projects for me. I can try them on as I go and adjust things if I need to. I really hope that my years of designing 3D shaping and beautiful stitch patterns will let me create clothing that doesn’t look embarrassingly home-made or ill-fitting, but that remains to be seen…

I’ll post photos and more details of each when I’ve finished them! I attached the first arm to the crocheted one last night, so that should be finished soon, but the knit cardigan is obviously going to be a very long-term project, assuming I can ever finish it. And that’s just fine – no rush, no stress, no deadlines; I’m just enjoying the process.

And now for some other news:

Vacation Shipping

As I’ll be visiting my parents later this month, I won’t be able to ship any orders while I’m away. So, please, if you need any crochet tools (Amigurumi Essentials Kits, Detail Stuffing Tools, Stitch Markers), order them by July 12th so I can mail them to you before I leave! Any orders received after this date will be shipped on my return, on July 30th.

Note: only the Crochet Tools category of my shop will be affected by my vacation – all patterns are instantly downloadable, as always 🙂

Review and Win contest

June’s ‘Review and Win’ winner is Haley B, with her Chunky Elegance Rug Trio review:

PlanetJune Accessories Chunky Elegance Rug Trio crochet pattern

This is a wonderful pattern and easily customizable! I made mine with only one strand of bulky weight yarn and it is still very large – I also used two colors and it looks beautiful like that as well. With only one strand, I used about three and a half balls of yarn. I highly recomend this pattern; don’t be intimidated by how intricate it looks because the instructions are very clear!

Congrats Haley – I’ll email you to find out which pattern you’d like as your prize 🙂

To be entered into this month’s draw for a free pattern of your choice, just write a review of any product in my shop – thank you!

4 Comments »

  1. I love how you’re unafraid to challenge yourself, that’s a really admirable quality in a person and not one you find all the time.

  2. Congratulations Haley B on your review!

    Congratulations June!!! I’m glad you’ve been able to relax while crocheting and knitting!!! I’ve found when I try to knit I really need an extra hand 😉

    Have FUN on Holiday!!! Take Care! and Relax! 😀

  3. Johanna said

    Wow, you’re designing a knitted garment after just learning? You’ve got guts!! That’s amazing!

    • June said

      It’s really just to keep my interest while I learn. If it does work (and I’m not at all sure it will) it’ll be a very basic cardigan, probably be a ‘wear-at-home-only’ piece 😉

      At least by the end of the process I’ll know how to purl, increase, decrease, make ribs, join pieces together, add some sort of fasteners, etc, so I’ll be in a good position to make something better next time around if this is a disaster!

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