blog love: craft and design

If you’ve been reading for a while, you’ll know that I’ve got a fair few hobbies; crafts, crochet, watching films and box-sets and rummaging through piles of old junk, to name a few. One of my favourite ways to switch off and relax, though, is to sit down and have a good read – anything from books to magazines and online publications. My blog reader is jam packed with hundreds of great blogs on subjects that vary massively; feminism to activism, crafts, design, interiors, lifestyle, fashion…. pretty much anything that pleases my eyes. I’ve been meaning to share some of my favourites for absolutely ages, so I thought I’d kick off this new little mini-series with my top five craft and design blogs – hopefully you’ll either recognise them, or you’ll discover something new and love them as much as I do.

1. Good Night Day

When I started crocheting, I was quickly sucked into the world of yarn, and ended up stumbling across some incredible blogs in this area. Good Night Day (or ‘Stay Fancy Free’ as it was back then) was the first one I ever read, and it quickly became a firm favourite. Tara-Lynn, the owner of Good Night Day, is the most incredible knitter; think chunky shawls, removable collars, intarsia hats and my long-running favourite, the welland merino sweater – check out her online shop for the full range. The Good Night Day blog also features vintage photography, snippets from her home and everyday life and ‘behind the scenes’ style posts. A must read for anyone interested in yarn, clothes or vintage.

2. Belle Fleur de Lis

I stumbled across Lotte’s blog one day when I was searching for information on lacemaking, and pretty much added it to my reader straight away. Belle Fleur de Lis is a real treat of a blog; Lotte is a crocheter and lacemaker, who combines her love of plants and flowers with an exquisite talent for yarn and cotton craft.

The beautiful photographs are light, airy and delightful, and the posts are always a joy to read – if you’re a keen crocheter, or even if you just enjoy being inspired, you’ll love Lotte’s little space on the internet.

3. Studio Meez

I actually discovered Studio Meez via the blog link page on Lotte’s blog, so finding Belle Fleur de Lis was a bit of a double win. Studio Meez is a real treat for the eyes; knitted creations, print designs, sneak peeks of her home, books and outdoor adventures – there really is something for everyone. The photography is really incredible – whether she’s writing about yarn or recent travels, you can pretty much guarantee the images are going to be breathtaking. There’s also an online shop where you can buy her stationary, prints and cosy accessories – I’ve got the mint green apple cushion firmly on my ‘want’ list.

4. Karen Barbe

Based in Chile, textile designer and photographer Karen Barbe has one heck of a great blog. Full of incredible images of anything from her inspirations to her home, her design projects to peeks inside her studio, if you’re a fan of photography or design, you’ll love this little patch of internet. An incredible textile artist, Karen weaves, embroiders and prints her materials into the most beautiful of accessories and homewares, from aprons to my personal favourite, the stunning potholders. Expect colour, light, and pattern aplenty, and don’t forget to visit the shop afterwards…

5. One Sheepish Girl

I discovered Meredith’s incredible blog, One Sheepish Girl, after reading about it in one of the earliest issues of Mollie Makes – that was a couple of years ago, and even now it’s still one of my favourites. Meredith combines her fabulous talent for knitting and crochet with quirky project ideas, stitched journal entries and some brilliant DIY tutorials, and has a knack for producing some of the most colour-popping photographs in blogland. She regularly pops up in magazines and online publications, writes for Gathered by Mollie Makes and is a champion GIF maker. You’ve probably already got her blog bookmarked, but if you haven’t – do it now!