• Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Logo Image for Mezzacraft.com

Free Crochet Patterns, Crochet Classes & Techniques

  • Home
  • About
  • Crochet Classes
  • Contact
  • Patterns
    • Free Crochet Patterns
    • All Patterns
  • Tips & Tutorials
  • Home
  • About
  • Crochet Classes
  • Contact
  • Patterns
    • Free Crochet Patterns
    • All Patterns
  • Tips & Tutorials

Archives for September 2019

Learn To Crochet – Private Tuition in Surrey – Gift Voucher

September 23, 2019 //  by mezza

Learn To Crochet – private tuition in Surrey. Buy a voucher – the perfect gift for a friend, family member or why not treat yourself?

What’s included in the Voucher?

The cost of the voucher includes:

  • 2 x 1.5 hour one-to-one tuition.
  • Starter kit with everything you need (crochet hook, yarn, stitch markers, needle & project bag).
  • Class notes, including photo tutorials.
  • Hot or cold drink & cake (please advise of allergies when booking).

Which crochet techniques are covered?

During the course, you’ll make circles, a traditional granny square and a solid granny square. You’ll also learn how to join motifs together.

We’ll cover most of the essential crochet techniques such as:

  • How to hold the yarn & hook.
  • Chaining.
  • The basic crochet stitches – single crochet, double crochet & slip stitch.
  • Starting & finishing rows / rounds.
  • Weaving in ends.
  • Changing colours.
  • Different ways to finish off.
  • Joining motifs, either by sewing or crocheting.

How much does it cost?

For the tuition, materials & a printable PDF voucher, the cost is £45.
For an additional £6.99 I can also gift wrap and send the starter kit and voucher to the recipient by 1st Class Recorded mail.

Why are two sessions recommended?

One session often doesn’t give enough time and practise to fully absorb the new skills you’ll learn. Two sessions, ideally spread no more than 1 week apart, gives you time to practise what you’ve learnt in the first session and build on that in the second class. Often, after you’ve gone home from the first class and had a go at crocheting independently, you’ll soon discover you need a bit of extra clarification on a few points to build your confidence and put you on the right track.

What are the times and dates of the lessons?

Generally, I am available to teach private lessons at the following days and times:

  • Mondays 7:30-10:00pm
  • Tuesdays 7:30-10:00pm
  • Fridays 9:30 – 11:00am or 7:30-10:00pm
  • Saturdays 9:30 – 11:00am
  • Sundays 9:30-11:00am

If you need half an hour here or there, I can usually accommodate. You can arrange the times and dates before you purchase the voucher or the recipient can get in touch with me afterwards to make arrangements.

How long is the voucher valid for?

The vouchers are valid for 6 months from the date of issue. This can be extended under mitigating circumstances.

Where does the private tuition take place?

I teach one to one sessions in my home studio in Hersham, Surrey. It’s a good sized room and I have lots of craft books and crochet projects to help inspire you!

Under some circumstances, I am able to teach at the students home.

What is your teaching experience?

With a background in Art & Design and I working in product development, I’m naturally attracted to all things crafty and I absolutely LOVE sharing and teaching my passion for crochet. I have taught crochet now for nearly 6 years, since December 2013. I have taught regularly at the art centre in Walton-on-Thames, the Riverhouse Barn . I have also taught for the WI Surrey & for the Kennet Valley Guild of Spinners & Weavers. Over the years, I’ve acquired a steady stream of private, one to one clients, ranging from complete beginners to more advanced students that require help with specific techniques or patterns.
I can teach all levels from complete beginners to more advanced students.

Discounts for small group bookings

Would you like to learn to crochet with a friend or relative? I can accommodate up to 4 students at one time.
1 person : £45
2 people : £37.50 each
3 people : £33 each
4 people : £30 each

Everyone is welcome!

I warmly welcome everyone, regardless of sex, race or age… although there is a caveat to age : I predominantly teach adults. I am happy to teach young adults or children that are mature enough to concentrate and are willing to learn. With private tuition, I do ask that any child under 18 is accompanied by an adult.

Buy now!

Learn to crochet – Private Crochet Lessons in Surrey.

Please provide the names and addresses of all the gift voucher and starter pack recipients. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any queries.
£ 0.00

Category: Learn to crochetTag: crochet, crochet lessons

Mesh Soap Bag – Free Crochet Pattern

September 13, 2019 //  by mezza//  Leave a Comment

This free mesh soap bag crochet pattern came about for two reasons. Firstly, I am actively trying to reduce my plastic use. One way I’ve done this is to switch from shower gels & hand wash to solid soap. I wanted a way to keep my soap in the shower yet prevent it from going soggy by hanging it away from the flow of the water. Secondly, I’d had multiple requests from students asking how to make a crocheted mesh market bag. So I decided to make a mesh soap saver as it incorporates most of the principles & design elements used in the market bags, just on a smaller scale. If you’ve never tried it before, this pattern is a good introduction to the crochet mesh stitch.

Small Steps To Environmentally Friendliness

More importantly, we can all help reduce plastic waste if we switch from plastic bottled liquid soaps, cleansers and shower gels to bar soaps. Please make this in cotton yarn as acrylic yarns can shed micro-plastics into the water supply. To be extra considerate, you may wish to check your soaps don’t contain palm oil or that the palm oil is at least grown and harvested in a sustainable fashion.

cotton crocheted mesh soap bag with soap, selection of colourful yarn and soaps and a handful of light wooden beads

The simple, cotton, mesh bag is available in two sizes & features a crocheted lucet tie-cord and a hanging loop to help your soap dry out between uses. It’s also a great way to store and use up small, leftover pieces of soap.

Size

The large soap bag is designed to fit a 6cm x 11cm x 2.5cm bar of soap & the small soap bag fits a 8cm x 5cm x 3cm however, the beauty of mesh means it’s very stretchy – either size would easily fit a smaller or even slightly larger bar of soap. Once you’ve mastered the basic principle, you can easily customise the size of the bag. In the same way, although the pattern is written for DK yarn you could easily switch to Aran or Worsted weight with an appropriate hook for a slightly larger size.

The large soap in the photos is made by Nesti Dante. The smaller, personalised soap is from Ella Wood – www.ella-wood.co.uk

three images showing empty brown crochet mesh soap bag & bar of soap, close up detail of the beaded cord and a circle of 7 crocheted bags

The pattern features written instructions as well as charts & photos. I have also made additional tutorials and YouTube videos for the picot stitch edging and the lucet cord.

Materials

You’ll need a small amount of DK cotton yarn, a 3.5mm hook and two wooden beads with large holes.

Please note, this pattern has not been tech edited. It has been tested during a mini workshop I ran in Norway. 6 students made this bag and we didn’t come across any issues. Everybody completed the pattern and ended up with a good looking soap bag!

Download Pattern

Get your free mesh soap bag crochet pattern from Ravelry – download now

Category: Free Crochet PatternTag: crochet, free crochet patterns

New 4 Week Learn To Crochet Course – 21st September 2019

September 3, 2019 //  by mezza//  Leave a Comment

Do you want to learn to crochet?


I am running a new beginner’s course at the Riverhouse Arts Centre in Walton-on-Thames starting September 2019.

This course is for you if :

  • – You have never crocheted before.
    – You have crocheted in the past but are a bit rusty or you would like to build your confidence with basic stitches.
    – You are self taught either from books and/or the internet and want to clarify areas that you are unsure of or worried that you might be doing incorrectly.

I use a specially developed small project to teach you how to make a solid granny square.
You will learn all the essential techniques that can be applied to most basic projects such as:

  • choosing the right size hook and yarn
  • how to hold your hook and yarn
  • chaining
  • slip stitch, single & double crochet
  • how to make a square
  • how to change colours
  • how to join motifs using sewing and crochet
  • how to make a cord
  • how to finish off

The course includes:
4 x 2 hour practical classes, spread over 4 weeks.
All materials, including yarn, hooks and project bag.
Detailed class notes including photos to help you practise at home.
Email support during the duration of the course.

Course dates:
Saturday 21st September 2019 – Saturday 19th October 2019, 15:30 – 17:30. Please note: there is no class on Saturday 5th October.

Week 1: Saturday 21st September 2019, 15:30 – 17:30
Week 2: Saturday 28th September 2019, 15:30 – 17:30.
Week 3: Saturday 12th October 2019, 15:30 – 17:30.
Week 4: Saturday 19th October 2019, 15:30 – 17:30.

Cost: £60 (includes all the required materials)

Booking:
Please complete the online booking form from here. Full payment of the course is required to secure your place and places are given on a “first paid” basis.

What you might want to bring:

  • Notepad & pen.
  • Scissors.
  • Drink.

This is a great way to learn a new hobby in a friendly setting where you can meet other students with similar interests as well as supporting your local arts centre!

To express an interest or for more details, please contact me.

I also list my classes on Meetup.

FAQ:

Q: I would like to attend your course but I am not able to make all the classes.
A : You can still get a lot out of the course, even if you have to skip some of the weeks, however,  Week 1 & Week 2 are mandatory. The full cost of the course also applies, even if you can only make some of the classes.

Q: I do not need the starter kit as I have my own yarn and hooks.
A: After many years of teaching crochet to beginners, I have found that the hooks and yarn used make a massive difference to how easily the student picks up the technique and how much they enjoy the experience. Students that bring unsuitable equipment invariably end up frustrated so I have made the decision to provide and include all the materials in the cost of the course.

Q: I am a knitter. I’d like to crochet but I’m worried I won’t be able to.
A: Yes, I have come across this concern many times. There still seems to be a misconception that you either knit or crochet… of course you can do both! Often those with previous experience of knitting or other types of handicrafts can find picking up a new skill relatively easy.

Q: I use a wheelchair, is there wheelchair access to the studio?
A: Yes, there is a ramp into the studio. Please get in touch when you book and I will double check with the staff at the Riverhouse that everything is set up correctly for you.

Q: The dates of this course don’t suit me, will you be running another course and if so, when?
A: I usually run my beginners classes twice a year on Saturdays in September and January. If you are not free on Saturdays, I offer one-to-one classes from my home studio. I can also teach small, private groups of up to 4 people if you have friends/family that would like to join you. Please contact me for more information.

Category: Crochet Classes SurreyTag: crochet, crochet lessons

Footer

Copyright © 2021 Mezzacraft - Sharing the Art of Crochet · All Rights Reserved · Powered by Mai Theme