Everything I Crocheted This May 🌸

May always feels like a gentle exhale. The cold finally lets go, the sun lingers a little longer each evening, and everything starts to bloom again—including my creativity. This month was full of yarn, dirt under my fingernails, and quiet porch mornings with a cup of tea and my kitty next to me.

My husband and I built a new patio in our backyard — a little corner space with gravel and a wood trellis and just enough charm to feel like it came out of a magazine (except it’s all ours!). We just planted our garden, too - peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, and a couple of first time crops for us this year: strawberries and cantaloupe. We’ll see how that pans out! 

The patio is officially my new favorite place to crochet. We’ve had a lot of rain in Colorado but any day that the weather allows, I bring out my project basket and some tea and finish a few stitches before I have to chase the cats in the yard!

It’s been such a refreshing month for both making and being. Here’s everything I crocheted this May:

🐱 Daisy Cat Sweater

‍Pattern: My original design - pattern available on Etsy!

Yarn: Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/6 in Oatmilk, Pink Berry Smoothie & Nougat

Hook: D (3.25 mm)

This floral sweater might be my favorite cat sweater I’ve made yet. I designed it with spring in mind—something light and breathable but still cozy, with little daisy motifs stitched together in a soft color palette that makes me think of berry yogurt and wildflowers.

The Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/6 yarn was perfect for this. I come back to this yarn time and time again, I swear I have a skein in almost every color! It has that ideal matte cotton feel—sturdy enough for structure, but still soft against the skin (or fur, in this case). The sweater is lightweight for the sunny but chilly mornings we’ve been having, yet perfectly cozy for the cats to curl up in an afternoon nap, too!

I originally made the sweater for Stevie, but Jack seems to have taken to it even more than she has… we even had a catnip tea party together a couple of times! 😹The colors complement his orange fur perfectly and he must know it. 

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🧶 Simple Tank Top

Pattern: by KnitCroAddict
Yarn: Hobbii Rainbow Bamboo in Powder Rose – 2 skeins
Hook: F (3.75 mm)

I had a whole plan outlined of all the summer clothes I planned to make - and then this pattern was uploaded to youtube as a surprise free pattern and of course I had to make it! It worked up so quickly though, I think it only took me a single weekend. 

I’d had the Rainbow Bamboo yarn in powder rose sitting around for awhile, I can’t recall why I bought it. I must have just loved the color but I had no project in mind for it, so when I saw the video I immediately knew it would be the perfect match! The color is so soft and romantic without being overly pink, and the bamboo and cotton blend feels like silk on the skin. 

This project also reminded me how rewarding simple pieces can be. It didn’t require complicated shaping or endless math—just thoughtful construction and lovely yarn. It was a great impromptu make, and I’m planning on wearing it over my swimsuit on many kayaking days this summer once the rain clears up!

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🌿 Mosaic Plant Hanger

Pattern: My original design - pattern here on etsy!  

Yarn: Lion Brand Basic Stitch in Gold Heather, Pomegranate & Olive

Hook: F (3.75 mm)

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I’ve been wanting to make a plant hanger pattern for awhile and all that work out in the backyard with the plants finally inspired me! It’s no secret I love the african flower motif - I’ve used it in both my hexagon curtain ties and mosaic throw blanket patterns. I can’t help being obsessed with the Moroccan style, and I really enjoy working each individual round, which isn’t always the case for granny squares. 

For the plant hanger, I turned the motif into triangles instead of my usual hexagons. It was the first time writing a pattern that I felt actually impressed by myself and my abilities - I figured out the counting on the first try and had a perfect triangle. How about that?! On top of that, the entire thing was done in only a couple of days. This project really lives up to the name “simple dreams”  - only 4 triangles come together to make something super unique and special. 

I used leftover Lion Brand Basic Stitch yarn in some warm earthy colors I had from previous projects, and the combo turned out beautifully rustic. The Gold Heather is so cozy and rich, and when paired with Pomegranate and Olive, it gave off exactly the retro-natural vibe I was after.

Despite all the patterns I’ve made for curtain ties, we hardly have any curtains in our house - just curtain rods with lots of hanging plants and suncatchers, but our office window has been empty until now. The colors I chose perfectly complement my husband’s decorative style of dark woods and lots of green. 

🌤️ Lightweight Cardigan

Pattern: by KnitCroAddict
Yarn: Rainbow Cotton Deluxe in Olive – 8 skeins
Hook: G (4.0 mm)

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This one took the most time, but I loved every stitch. The structure is simple - largely a two row repeat  - but that’s what makes it the kind of cardigan I’ll actually reach for again and again. I’ve used Hobbii’s Rainbow Bamboo and Friends Cotton many times, but never the Rainbow Cotton until now! I was so drawn to the olive color and it turned out to be the perfect choice for wearables because it holds its shape while still feeling natural and breathable.

The Olive color is so grounding. It’s the kind of green that works year-round, not too vibrant and not too earthy—just right. Most of my clothes tend to be purples, pinks and oranges, so I thought this lovely olive green would pair well with my wardrobe and I was right! A cardigan like this reminds me why I love making clothes: the fit is custom, the yarn is thoughtful, and there’s a story stitched into every inch of it.

I’m officially obsessed with KitCroAddict’s patterns - this is the third I’ve made and they are so well written. She also has youtube videos linked for all the ones I’ve tried which is very helpful for those times when you get stuck. I love trying out other designers' patterns and soaking up their creativity, I don’t think I’ll ever stop being inspired by all the talented fiber artists out there!

🌞 Spring Reflections

This month, I really leaned into the idea of slow making. Not rushing through projects just to finish and drop a new pattern, but actually enjoying the rhythm of it. Listening to birds. Letting the light guide when I work. Taking breaks to sip something warm or go check on the garden.

Crochet has always been about more than just yarn for me—it’s a way to reconnect to the part of myself that isn’t trying to hustle or prove anything. Just make. And this May, surrounded by fresh air and fresh starts, I got to do a lot of that.

I also noticed how making things I’ll actually use makes the whole process more meaningful. Every time I wear the tank, or walk by that plant hanger, or pull the daisy sweater over Jack's head for a chilly morning on the porch, I get a little spark of “I made that.” I always think of these lines in the Kacey Musgraves song “Dinner with Friends” - 

The face that somebody makes when you give 'em a gift

Every once in a while when I wake up early without tryin' and catch a sunrise

The feelin' you feel when you're looking at something you made

Somehow these three lines perfectly capture my relationship with crochet, especially in the springtime. 🌱 

On the Hook for June

I’ve already got a few projects planned for next month, including another plant hanger design, some more summery clothes, and maybe another botanical tapestry. 🤞

If you’ve been thinking about getting back into crochet or starting something new, consider this your sign. Let the light in. Sit outside. Start something soft and simple and just see where it goes.

Until next time—happy stitching from the patio. 🪴

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