Harbour Stitches

I fell off the bandwagon for a while on here, so it's been way too long since my last update!!! 

This cardigan has been one of my favourite and go-to pieces for almost any weather because it is made of a delightfully soft cotton, has some airy rows but also is warm and cozy. I designed this to be super versatile and easy to follow. I love how all the testers versions came out and I hope you enjoy it. 

To purchase an easy to print PDF please check out my Ravelry here: Ravelry: Cobblestone Cardi pattern by Clara Philibert 

I have had such a busy summer that I never finished any of my big WIPs (works in progress). Not only was I in TWO weddings but I went home to Alberta for a chunk of time. Of course I crocheted while there, and now FINALLY in september I have 2 designs that are almost done. 

One (or I should say several) thing I did finish was a variety of amigurumis. I made these for 2 markets I was in during the summer. My first foray into market sales has been very successful and fun and I really think I will continue to make these and other custom designs for people as I feel more and more comfortable selling finished items. 

If you are interested in purchasing one of these guys as a keychain or in custom work simply shoot me an email at harbourstitches@gmail.com

Another thing I debuted at the summer markets this year was this collection of bralettes. They are all adjustable and unique and allowed me to quickly and easily play with texture and design. And they sold very well this year. I hope I get the chance to make some custom pieces. 

The pattern I used as a base for these can be found here: Basic Bralette Tutorial – Morale Fiber 

I used Crochet.com shine sport for these beauties as it is a soft and silky, washable and breathable yet stable yarn perfect for against the skin. Find it here: Shine Sport Pima Cotton / Beech Wood Yarn | Crochet.com 

This pattern is a tribute to my absolute hate of seaming. There is not one seam to be found in this pattern and its open treble crochet stitches make this pullover super summer-friendly. 

The sleeves are 3/4 length and wide narrowing down to the elbow, keeping it breezy and relaxed with a wide neckhole yoke designed to be comfortable and versatile.

I used Crochet.com Cotlin for this pattern to keep with the light, summery feel. Which you can find here: CotLin Yarn in 40+ Colors | Crochet.com 

This pattern PDF can be purchased on Ravelry here: Ravelry: Veronica Pullover pattern by Clara Philibert 

This winter I was lucky enough to be gifted a bunch of yarn from my aunt. There were some beautiful colors in enough quantity that I really wanted to create a color blocked pullover for the cooler days. The colors of Red Heart Comfort I received made me feel for a sweater inspired by 80s and 90s Ski Jackets that seem to be coming back in style. 

I hope you enjoy this pattern as much as I did, it is definitely a staple of my comfy day wardrobe.

The printable PDF pattern can be purchased from Ravelry here: Ravelry: Vintage Ski Sweater pattern by Clara Philibert 

My dad is a lover of toques. A few winters ago I made him a think and heavy toque out of bulky wool yarn, and it had ear flaps for extra warmth. Since moving to New Brunswick, he has needed something lighter to wear to town and around and not for frigid Alberta winter chores. For that purpose I created the Benji Beanie. 

It uses double crochets in groups of 3 to create an airy texture that keeps your head warm without making you sweat. This uses #4 acrylic yarn and is only 88g, so it is a great stash buster. 

My dad has been wearing his non-stop since I made it and so I share the pattern with you as both a rolled brim toque and a loose beanie for all the transitional weather we seem to be having.

The printable PDF pattern can be purchased from Ravelry here: Ravelry: Benji Beanie pattern by Clara Philibert 

Since Christmas I have been making a lot of doilies. I think it is because now that we are in the 6 months to the wedding stretch, I am starting to feel the looming deadline. I have actually had quite a lot of fun making them this time, where before they had started to drag. 

I do find every once in a while I need to swap out for a larger project (which I have accomplished a lot of too recently), simply because the larger yarn works up so much faster and these doilies are so small, precise and delicate. 

Feel free to check out the charts for these on the doily chart page. I do not own these and give all credit to their creators, most of which I have found on instagram. So head over there to check out these amazing designers!!

Recently I was given a beautiful gift from my family in Quebec. They sent my a collection of yarn that my aunts had stashed away and no longer had use of. In this amazing package I found some very nice strong, cotton cord type yarn. This yarn inspired me to make some home decor pieces.

The first piece I made is this strong and sturdy plant hanger, the Honeycomb Hanger. The design is nice and strong (and tough) and has adjustable length to fit any space. The hanger holds a 3 inch pot, so just a little guy, but I may update with more sizes at a later date, this was just the guy who needed a new space.

This pattern uses very little yarn, less than 1 ball and makes a very nice quick hanger that can make a cute gift or addition to your own home decor. So please enjoy this pattern and if you want to purchase a pretty and printable PDF version, it is for sale on Ravelry here: Ravelry: Honeycomb Hanger pattern by Clara Philibert 

Does anyone else love fingering yarn? I know I do!!! I find that it makes clothing that is warm and yet thin enough to be worn more as a shirt that true sweater. 

For this pattern I wanted to experiment with other sleeve types and I really fell for the baseball or raglan design.

For this pattern I used https://www.crochet.com/ Stroll Tweed, and the colors are from the November Value pack (who doesn’t love a good deal!!). I wanted a mix of colors but this pattern could just as easily be done in a solid color or tricolor, such as a base color and edges and sleeves in an accent.

This is definitely my most complicated pattern to date, so if you find a little error, please don’t hesitate to leave a question or contact me.

I had a bunch of scrap yarn and decided to use it playing with stitches in the form of a headband. My hair is also just that length where none of the edges consistently stay in my ponytails or buns, so a headband was needed.

This headband uses https://www.crochet.com/ Chroma Twist Bulky in the color Vermont. I had this leftover from a toque I made my dad last Christmas and it’s so pretty I had to use it up. 

I actually ended up making a few more and I think I will end up selling them (I know, my first ready made good!!), so if you are interested please hit me up on Instagram (@harbourstitches) or hit me up in Contact

Here it is my first Crochet Cardigan pattern release! I wanted to create something dark but neutral for the fall, and once completed this beauty gave me such Mistress of the Dark vibes that I had to name her after one of my favourite Halloween icons (all year icon really!!). 

In my house we have been watching Elvira all fall because she adds such fun and camp to weird horror movies that it amps up the entertainment. Our all-time favourite has to be Cannibal Women from the Avocado Jungle of Death, if you haven't seen it (you probably haven't) I highly recommend you do, but only with the Elvira commentary as it really makes the film.

A printable PDF version can be found on my Ravelry store here: Ravelry: Elvira Cardigan pattern by Clara Philibert

I love how thick and full this doily turned out!! On my quest for creating doilies for centrepieces for my sisters wedding I have played around with different styles, shapes and patterns and I am loving the more full or dense look ones. 

This one was a nice departure from the fully rounded shape of others too as it has more of a square pattern and finished edge. 

For yarn I used my favourite doily yarn, We Crochet Curio#10 and for the wedding it is of course white to accent the colors my sister has chosen. 

Yarn can be found here: https://www.crochet.com/yarn/curio-10/c/5420245 

The yarn has great lustre and feel and doesn’t tangle at all on the tiny intricate details. The last order I got came with a free Clover Armour hook in 1.75mm which is what I used on this piece and I must say the grip was greatly improved over my plain, straight steel hook. Loved the little gift from we crochet!!

I posted this on Instagram right at the time of the fall equinox, which I thought was fitting, and really wanted to get this post out but felt no inspiration to write it out all of a sudden. Maybe just a little fall blues as back to school transitioned into regular routine. 

I am so happy to get this post out because this sweater is actually one of my first few and still always wear pieces. The open stitchwork makes this easy to wear in all weather and I love the look and feel of it.

Pattern: https://makeanddocrew.com/crochet-long-cardigan-pattern/

I used We Crochet Brava Sport in Fig which made this ultra-wearable and easily washable. (Found here: https://www.crochet.com/yarn/brava-sport/c/5420218) 

The only thing I did not choose to follow in the pattern was the gorgeous fringe that is just not me but definitely makes the sweater more summer!!

This was such a beginner friendly pattern that it makes an easy first or « first few » piece. 

The crossed treble stitches make for a quick work up too which is nice if you are like me and get stuck and want to move on by the time you get to sleeve number 2.

Another pattern I tested for has been released!! The beautiful Journeys Lace Top gives me farmers market chic vibes for sure.

This pattern can be purchased on Ravelry here: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/journeys-lace-top 

For yarn I used We Crochet Cotlin (watercolour value pack). It took 5 balls, which is 615 yards, and I made the size small. 

Yarn can be found here: https://www.crochet.com/yarn/cotlin/c/5420162

While this yarn is not the recommended weight for the lace I wanted a more robust, less see through pattern appearance. 

Overall the pattern is very easy to follow and not too difficult. It works up really fast only taking me about 1 week to make. The fitting was very exact for me and the gauge was easy to match. 

I also liked that I was easily able to try the piece on while I worked to ensure a good fit and that all lines fell well on my body. This pattern is made to easily adapt to different body types, which is always good!!

Overall a nice piece, even if I am not much of a crochet tank top person usually, this was really fun to make to try out a new type of garment.

For the first time I have tested a pattern!! I was really excited to be given this opportunity by Journey Chanel Designs. I tested the Romance Cardi (now available here https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/romance-cardi) and it was an amazing experience.

This summer ready Cardi is so great to wear because it has soft, open and airy feel created by a beautiful pineapple stitch pattern. 

I used We Crochet Comfy yarn which is 75% cotton and 25% acrylic (found here: https://www.crochet.com/yarn/comfy-worsted/c/5420171). I love this yarn because it is so soft, but also machine wash and dry which for me is an absolute must.

It took me 10 50g balls (109 yards per ball) but most of the last was left, so about 1000 yards total for the XS/S size. For sizing reference I am about 120lbs and 5’6” and I made the “regular length” option she has in the pattern (this pattern gives details for both a longer and shorter option!!). 

I took just under 2 weeks to make this as well as block it which is something I do not normally do but this pattern called for it to finalize the pattern look. 

I did not do a perfect job keeping my colors even across the 3 pieces that come together to make this Cardi but overall I still love it and find you do not notice when I am wearing it. 

I definitely recommend this pattern, but do make sure you read each row carefully as the intricate pineapples can be tricky or take a little practice to get used to for a beginner, but once you get going it works up nice and fast giving that progress satisfaction quickly!! 

I am working my way through doilies with a goal of 17  by next summer for my sisters wedding. Here I give you doily number 3:

This one to me looks like a snowflake in the center of a flower and was more open with the use of more chain stitches than the others I have done.

The pattern image is below, with the site reference along the side (VFL.Ru это, фотохостинг без регистрации, и быстрый хостинг изображений.). Once again I am using a pattern not created in English which is something I love about doily charts, they are universally usable and beautiful.

While I find the end result very pretty, I do think my next will be more solid as I gravitate to that for some reason. I may be drawn to the structure of the work or simply that I think doilies should protect the table they are on just a little bit, because to me everything decorative should also be useful.

If you are in love with open doilies or crochet patterns please feel free to shoot me a message and maybe I will learn to love them too!!

One of my favourite pieces to wear this summer is this pretty and airy kimono. The texture looks like little flowers and makes it showy but comfortable to wear.  

This pattern was created by Erica Fedor and can be found here: https://www.highlandhickorydesigns.com/waters-edge-kimono/

I used Brava Sport yarn in Eggplant for this piece and this can be found here: https://www.crochet.com/yarn/brava-sport/c/5420218

I use this yarn a lot because it is so economical and easy to care for, while providing a soft, stretchy and drape-able crochet. I am one of those people who absolutely needs my yarn to be machine wash and dry without the garment getting wrecked, and Brava does not disappoint in this regard. 

I did not block this piece, which would have separated the stitching and design a bit more but I liked the coverage as is, so that it is a good year round item.

I 10/10 recommend giving this pattern a try!! 

In my creation of many different doilies for my sisters wedding decor I stumbled across this pattern which I thought was super cute and quite fitting as I think it looks like a starfish and we are located on the coast. 

I have found this new learning, of a different type of pattern for crochet very interesting and exciting. I have to say that it is so cool that these patterns can be used no matter what language you speak. My only struggle is that some of the symbols seem to be pattern specific or I can’t seem to find just the right instructions (in English or French) to match the symbols. 

Found here: Вязание. Модели с текстовыми описаниями. Журналы и книги по вязанию, вышивке, шитью, рукоделию. (igmihr.ru)

One resource I use a lot is the image below (90+ Crochet Chart Symbols Made Really Simple - Knit And Crochet Daily (dailycrochet.com). This really helps because not only does it provide a name, but a little image of the work actually being done. There are a lot of symbols on this one but I still find sometimes that I have to give a best guess or make some assumptions based on the design because I am lacking whatever instructions were originally printed with the design (I seem to always just find the chart image).

So with this one there were a couple “best guess” symbols but I am overall very happy with how it turned out, just needs a little pressing/blocking and it will be perfect! 

One pattern that I started on and then finished after moving across the country is this gem. It took me longer than it should to finish because of all the crazy things that were going on in my life but was 100% worth the work and the wait once done.

 I love how easy this piece is to wear and care for and it is definitely one of my go-tos to wear with jeans or leggings (love it for at work!). If you scroll my posts you will see that I love patterns from all Stephanie/All About Ami. For this one I made a significant substitute in yarn so I had to edit a bit.

For this pattern I used We Crochet Brava Sport (found here: https://www.crochet.com/yarn/brava-sport/c/5420218) which is a far call from the Lionbrand Coboo yarn in the original pattern. This achieved a very soft, fluffy sweater which is exactly what I wanted. To make the pattern work I simply reduced the number of rows to achieve my desired length, and the width I kept the same for the ‘oversized’ look and feel.

I get so many compliments on this sweater and I definitely recommend this pattern to all skill levels as it is stunning, yet simple. So check it out here: https://www.allaboutami.com/pattern-rosewood-cardigan/

I have been wanting to make a shoe pattern for awhile so I decided that was a great spring/summer project. As someone who abhorres my own toes I find summer shoes super hard to shop for as peep-toe or sandal styles always seem to be the most common options out there. It’s always either that or a flat which I can never trust to stay on my feet and always end up looking too dressy for my summer attire of a tank and shorts or sweats. 

I have seen other shoe patterns online that are beautiful but never quite what I am looking for. Most I have seen were either closer to a flat or a sandal, which are stunning, but I want something that resembles canvas shoes, like Toms or Vans, but a little more economical and airy for my sweaty feet!

So here is my first pattern that I am putting out there (I have a couple more in progress). I really love how these turned out and my partner and I definitely both fight over wearing them!

If you want a more concise, ad-free printable PDF you can purchase one here, on my Ravelry here: Ravelry: Summer Shoe pattern by Harbour Stitches

To make these it only took a pair of flip-flops, I bought basic black ones from Ardene for $1.50 CAD when they were on sale (https://www.ardene.com/ca/en/flip-flops?srule=price-low-to-high&start=0&sz=60 ) and 1 ball of Dishie from We Crochet (https://www.crochet.com/yarn/dishie-multi/c/5420224). The first pair I did in solid Kenai which is one of my favourite colors that I have used for many dishcloths already. The second pair I opted for Black twist which created a really vibrant shoe that can go with anything. 

Something to note is that they do turn out quite tight initially, and this is intentional as they stretch out quite a bit with wear. I did not take this into account with the first pair I made, seen below, and so I ended up with a pair, very much still wearable, but more loose than I wanted. 

I hope you enjoy this pattern as much as I did making it and do wearing them all the time. I will probably end up making a few more pairs in a few more colors because they are so quick to work up and great to wear!

I decided to challenge myself with something completely new and make a doily!

My inspiration for this was my sister’s upcoming wedding and I was sure I could figure out how to make a doily that was prettier than the paper ones that you can buy. 

I found this pattern photo online (here: For those who love napkins. More than 10 simple schemes. | GALMIKA | Yandex Zen) and set to work learning how to read this type of pattern and work in such small intricate stitches.

Overall I loved the new feeling of my puzzling that came from this piece, and while it did not turn out perfect, it did turn out beautiful and my sister absolutely loved it. So, I will be making a bunch more which I am super excited for and excited to perfect my technique at something so different from garment construction.

I used  https://www.crochet.com/yarn/curio-10/c/5420245  Curio#10 crochet thread for this and it was the perfect weight and shine I was looking for.

If you have not tried using this type of pattern or making lace but love puzzles, I 10/10 recommend giving this a try. It only took me a few days to finish!

All About Ami is probably one of my fav places to go for patterns and so I absolutely had to try her Wildrose Backpack when I needed a new purse/bag.

The pattern for this can be found here: https://www.allaboutami.com/pattern-the-wildrose-backpack/ 

I found this pattern super quick to work up, only taking just over a week when casually crocheting in my evenings. It was very easy to follow and pretty simple to make. My only critique is that if you are like me, and hate seaming things together, there are a few small pieces that have to be seamed (the triangles to the diamond). 

I used Dishie in the color Ash from We Crochet which can be found here: https://www.crochet.com/yarn/dishie/c/5420207 I used this yarn because it’s sturdy and economical, and easier (and cheaper) for me to buy than the Lionbrand that she calls for. It only took about 2.5 balls for me to do the whole thing which I found amazing! 

Ultimately, a beautiful, quick and easy pattern to give you a fancy finished piece in no time!

I adore this pattern from YouTube so much that I ended up writing it down for myself and have made them 6 times already.

The pattern can be found here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=X-Jkib7lsPg It works up in 1 (L shaped) piece  that is folded and sewn together. This pattern is very easy to follow and a great quick project to get done in a day or two.

I used leftover bits of https://www.crochet.com/yarn/brava-sport/c/5420218 (We Crochet, Brava Sport) in Fig and Dublin here. I have also used Charcoal Heather and Eggplant for an awesome color combo!

The only thing I changed was taking one small piece of yarn and lacing up the front some so that they would stay on better as they stretch and move. I am a foot size 7.5 and I have very long thin feet, so the extra lacing was necessary or they would slide down on the heel. After the lacing/sewing I tied the ends of my piece of yarn together and wove in the ends. 

My partner and I both wear these pretty much constantly around the house. 

I decided I needed to try and crochet socks when Felici Fingering Yarn went on sale at https://www.knitpicks.com/ so I bought myself 2 balls and gave it a go using this pattern: https://doradoes.co.uk/portfolio/step-on-free-crochet-sock-pattern/

Overall, I love how they turned out for my first attempt at a sock! And they seem to be only getting more comfortable as they are being worn in. I must say they definitely lack a bit in stretch but they more than make up for it in warmth and coziness. 

I have started creating my own sock pattern right now just to see if I can perfect the fit and stretch I was looking for. I hope to have that pattern up soon enough, but for now these are a win and I am sure my gf will wear these to death anyway. 

I am starting to go through all the things I have made and get them posted, so bear with me...

I had a bunch of yarn leftover after my first sweater and found this super easy and cute pattern here:

https://megmadewithlove.com/blog-2/2017/9/2/free-crochet-pattern-for-the-homebody-sweater-easy-comfy-and-cute

I love her patterns because they are very true to size for me (i think we may crochet with similar tension) and easy to follow. The only changes I made were to the sleeves because I ran out of yarn so I simply cuffed them where I ran out.

The yarn used: lion brand cupcake coffee

This was a great little spring project (before the leaves or grass really started) and we both wore it all summer long as an easy throw on to go to town.