Monthly Archives: December 2022

Happy MAL day | Peppermint Pageant starts today!

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Happy MAL day folks!

I hope you are enjoying a restful festive period and are now ready for a bit of hooky time.

All the folks that ordered the exclusive Peppermint Pageant MAL kit should have already received the gorgeous Yarn Whisperer yarn (plus fab extras), and the pattern went out to everyone a few days ago (from Kitey – so maybe check your junk mail if the pattern doesn’t seem to have appeared). So we should be all ready to begin!

The exclusive colourway that Kitey has come up with this time was inspired by Christmas! It contains a 50g skein of a fabulously rich tonal minty green that you would see in peppermints and in traditional fir trees. Then alongside that skein was a 50g skein of a beautiful semi-solid rich red – the unique variations in each make them just so special to work with.

These colours have been married up with a hank of natural yarn, because it’s beautiful in it’s own right, it’s actually one of my favourite things – to see natural yarn along side a hand dyed version as the colours really pop! And the merino Aran weight yarn I think is my new yarn crush – such a delight to crochet with!

And in amongst the kit there is THE MOST FABULOUS stitch marker, wooden button and pencil from Mrs G! So a little known fact about me is that I have a thing about stationery, I actually I do all my pattern writing in pencil, so I loved the addition of the engraved pencil, what a lovely reminder of the MAL each time I use it.

I also have a thing about things made in wood, which the little Christmas button was made from, I love the fact it has the date engraved on it to mark the project date. And of course the metal disc snowflake stitch marker was a perfect match for the project and is so fab and functional as all Mrs G’s stitch markers are (I have quite the collection).

For the full information about this particular MAL you can find all the details here (or via the top menu of this blog under the tab ‘CALS AND MALS’). But generally the idea is that the MAL is a relaxed event designed to be a lovely betwixtmas project – this time round we are making a Christmas stocking.

The Make Along will run from today (Monday 26 December 2022) until Thursday 26 January 2022 giving everyone plenty of time to make the pattern during the festive season and new year. You can of course start the pattern at anytime you wish, this deadline is just there for those that like to have one.

There will be support for the pattern as usual in my Facebook group; the KCACO-UK Crochet Community Group and in Kitey’s Virtual Stitch-n-B*tch zoom sessions – see full details on Kitey’s Insta page

SHARING WITH THE #PEPPERMINTPAGEANT MAKEALONG COMMUNITY

We hope you’ll share your photos with us on social media (facebook, twitter or instagram) or as a project on Ravelry – we’d love to see what you make! We will be sharing our progress with the hashtags #peppermintpageantmal #kcacouk #yarnwhisperer. If you’re blogging, feel free to leave links to your post(s) in the comments here.

You also may wish to make sure you are signed up to blog (below) and / or my mailing list to get a reminder when new blog posts, discounts or new pattern releases are available – I’ll just say that Kitey and I have already planned projects for well into 2024!

We do hope that you enjoy this fun make-along; Kitey and I can’t wait to see your wonderful stockings come to life!

Until next time folks! Happy hooking, keep calm and crochet on my friends xx

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The Enchanted Wood Crochet Along Planning

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With about a month before The Enchanted Wood CAL begins I thought I’d share with you some more information so you can get planning; including yarn amounts and the colours that were used on both of the blankets.

I did mention some of the details in my first announcement post about the CAL (here) but I’ve got some more of the information I know you’ve been waiting for in this post. So let’s talk yarn!

Lifestyle shot of a the Enchanted Wood blanket on a chair. The Keep Calm and Crochet On UK Crochet along for 2023, in the Stylecraft Special DK Version.
The Enchanted Wood KCACOUKCAL23 – Stylecraft Special DK Version

Yarn Colours and Amounts

You will need at least 1500 / 1600g / 4425m / 4830yds for this CAL and I would suggest it works best in 8 – 10 different colours.

I mentioned before that I used Stylecraft Naturals Bamboo. + Cotton DK for my blanket which is lovely yarn to use. I used approximately the following colours in the following amounts:

Kits for both colourways have been put together by Black Sheep Wools:

Stylecraft Naturals; 60% Bamboo, 40% CottonBallsGramsMetresYds
Part 1Ecru (7128)1100250273
Part 2Seafoam (7143)1100250273
Part 3Bluestone (Shade 7164)1100250273
Part 4Natural (Shade 7146)1100250273
Pumice (Shade 7154)1100250273
Part 5Cameo (Shade 7166)1100250273
Nutmeg (Shade 7147)1100250273
Part 6Celery (Shade 7155)2200500546
Part 7Thyme (Shade 7156)2200500546
Part 8Spring Green (Shade 7126)550012001365
TOTALS16160040004368
BUY NATURALS KIT HERE
Image of a lot of Stylecraft Naturals yarn, with one of the balls held up close to camera.

Then my lovely mum created her version of the blanket in Stylecraft Special DK, she used the following colours in the following amounts (though again in some colours you may have little bits left over):

Stylecraft Special DK ColoursBallsGramsMetresYds
Part 1Cream (Shade 1005)1100295322
Part 2Parchment (Shade 1218)1100295322
Part 3Mocha (Shade 1064)1100295322
Part 4Camel (Shade 1420)1100295322
Part 5Saffron (Shade 1081)2200590644
Part 6Pistachio (Shade 1822)2200590644
Part 7Meadow (Shade 1065)2200590644
Part 8Sage (Shade 1725)550014751610
TOTALS15150044254830
BUY SPECIAL DK KIT HERE

Prices are £69.99 for Stylecraft Natural Bamboo and Cotton (16 x 100g in total) and £29.99 (15 x 100g in total) for Stylecraft Special DK. Black Sheep Wools ship from the UK to Australia, Canada, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and USA, they also offer a click and collect for those who are very local (WA3). 

Hook Size:

I used a 3.5mm (US size E/4). If you were on the look out for a simple aluminium crochet hook (the kind I learnt to crochet with) then I have some in my Yarnybobs store or I also have other hooks and useful crochet tools linked in my Amazon Store.

Finished Blanket Size:

Both blankets finished up at roughly the same size when finished and measure Both blankets finished up at roughly the same size when finished and measure 122cm (48”) wide x 137cm (54”) long. The schematic for the blanket can be seen below:

Image of a the Enchanted Wood blanket schematic for the Keep Calm and Crochet On UK Crochet along for 2023.

Skill Level:

I would suggest that this pattern is rated as easy / intermediate. There are some sections that require a bit more concentration to them, but I’ve added both the written pattern and charts which will hopefully help.

CAL Accessories:

And don’t forget those all important CAL accessories and tools for making your blanket making:

Digital Pattern:

The pattern for this crochet along will be available for free here on the blog but sometimes it’s easier to have a printable PDF to refer to. The whole pattern therefore will also be available in a printer friendly PDF version in my Ravelry store (for a one off payment). Each weekly instalment will become ready for immediate download in either UK or US terms.

PURCHASE PDF PATTERN

Shortly after the CAL has finished the PDF will also be added to my Etsy and LoveCrafts stores also.

The Schedule, Updates & Support:

If you need a reminder of the schedule then you can find the details on the CAL landing page (here) and you can keep up to date with the CAL details and get support if needed via the following links:

The Facebook group is a lovely place of support, there are crocheters there of all experiences and it’s likely that someone will be able to help you with any questions you might have. You can of course always contact me too here on the blog.

The hashtag for this years CAL is #KCACOUKCAL23 for Twitter and Instagram. Though you you can join in with any progress photos by linking your projects on your favourite social media sites: Ravelry, Facebook page or Facebook group and Pinterest.

Ooo I’m excited! We can get our hooks stuck into part 1 on Friday 20 January – so save the date!!

Until next time; keep calm and crochet on my friends xx

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Come with us to The Enchanted Wood | CAL 2023

Posted in Collaboration, Crochet, Crochet Along by

Oh my word, you wouldn’t even believe how excited I am to finally announce that a bright and beautiful new crochet-along (CAL) is on the way for 2023!!

Join me in making an enchanted style blanket with a woodland-inspired theme. The Enchanted Wood throw is a versatile piece featuring an intricate collection of textured stitches intertwined together.

Bring the great outdoors indoors using a carefully curated palette of colours and stitches in a project that has plenty of interest as each section emerges – with no sewing together!

Believe it or not I actually started working on the design for this pattern not long after we finished with our 2021 CAL; Filet Fantastic. So for over a year this pattern has been bubbling away in the background getting crafted and honed until it was really to share with you lovely folks.

Everyone seemed to really enjoy the no-sew building block construction (I used in Filet Fantastic) so I decided to utilise that method again for the latest CAL blanket. Whilst it is of similar construction this year’s CAL is focused on texture to produce something that you truly just want to keep running your hands over!

This year’s particular theme came from two places; my favourite walking spots in the woods and one of my favourite Enid Blyton books as a child”

Right then, are you sitting comfortably? Then I shall begin with some of the specifics for this years design.

CAL Specifics

The Enchanted Wood CAL will be released in 8 parts which will be available for free here on the Keep Calm and Crochet On UK Blog. The CAL will start with Part 1 on Friday 20 January 2023 and runs for 8 weeks, each Friday, ending on Friday 10 March 2023.

The landing page for the CAL is available from the CALS AND MALS drop down at the top of the page (here), where I will link all the details in one place.

The Enchanted Wood KCACOUKCAL23 – Stylecraft Naturals Bamboo and Cotton

Yarn Amounts and Kits

  • I used Stylecraft Naturals Bamboo. + Cotton DK for my blanket which is a really lovely yarn. It’s a cotton / bamboo blended yarn that uses natural fibres for a luxurious crafting experience that’s kind to sensitive skin. Yet it can still go in the washing machine and tumble dryer (on a cool cycle) which makes it perfect for a blanket for the home. It comes in a gorgeous range of naturally inspired shades, designed to mix and match beautifully, and I picked ten colours for my blanket because there were so many lovely shades I wanted to use as many as possible!
  • And my lovely mum has been back with her hooks to make a second version of the blanket. She’s created hers in Stylecraft Special DK which I would describe as a bit of a staple in the crafting world. I’ve used it for every so many projects. It’s an acrylic yarn as it’s soft yet durable (making it particularly well suited to blankets – and it also washes well). It also comes in a vast rainbow of colours making it particularly easy to choose 8 ‘natural’ sort of shades

I’m delighted to say, as with the last CAL, that Black Sheep Wools have created some exclusive kits especially for the CAL. There are two kits available, the first is in the beautiful Stylecraft Naturals Bamboo. + Cotton. It contains 16 balls and is just £69.99 per kit. The second kit is in the crocheters favourite Stylecraft Special DK, there are 15 balls in the kits and it is just £29.99.

BUY KITS HERE

If you are thinking of hooking up this design using yarn from your own stash I would suggest that you would need at least 8 – 10 different colours and at least 1500 / 1600g / 4425m / 4830yds though I’ll be going into more detail about colours and yarn amounts in my next post (Friday 23 December).

Hook Size

I used a 3.5mm (US size E/4). If you were on the look out for a simple aluminium crochet hook (the kind I learnt to crochet with) then I have some in my Yarnybobs store or I also have other hooks and useful crochet tools linked in my Amazon Store.

CAL Accessories

I’m delighted to say I have once again set up some some special collaborations for this CAL for you. CAL lovers can now buy directly from small businesses that have created something special, specifically for the crochet along, which they will be sure to love! 

SHOP DEAR EWE
SHOP SIMPLY SHADE CARDS
SHOP MRS G MAKES
The Enchanted Wood KCACOUKCAL23 – Stylecraft Special DK Version

CAL Details

  1. There is no charge to join the CAL; anyone can join in as long as they have some yarn and a hook. 
  2. Whilst the pattern will be available for free here on the blog sometimes it’s easier to have a printable PDF to refer to. The whole pattern therefore will also be available in a printer friendly PDF version in my Ravelry store (for a one off payment). Each weekly instalment will become ready for immediate download in either UK or US terms. During the duration of the CAL this pattern will be released part by part, via Ravelry updates, so as not to spoilt anyone’s fun.
  3. For those that like a deadline I will be adding new details about each section every week on a Friday – see below for full schedule. For those that want to hook when they have the time then that’s fine too; there’s no pressure to this CAL it’s all about enjoying the journey and having fun!
  4. I will be using both UK and US crochet terminology in the pattern (UK/US) so you can pick your preference. I will also always include any helpful information about each element including links about special stitches with the release of each new section.
PURCHASE PDF PATTERN ON RAVELRY

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The Schedule

Wednesday 21 December 2023CAL Details – including start date, schedule, yarn amounts and hook size
Friday 23 December 2022CAL Planning – more about the design, colours, yarn and support available
Friday 20 January 2023Part 1 – The Tree
Friday 27 January 2023Part 2 – Little Buds
Friday 3 February 2023Part 3 – Ferns
Friday 10 February 2023Part 4 – Pinecones
Friday 17 February 2023Part 5 – Acorns
Friday 24 February 2023Part 6 – Mushrooms
Friday 3 March 2023Part 7 – Bark and Branches
Friday 10 March 2023Part 8 – Leaf Border
Friday 14 April 2023Tah Dah! Your finished blankets

Updates and Support:

Keep up to date with the details via the following links:

Social Media Links:

The hashtag for this years CAL is #KCACOUKCAL23 for Twitter and Instagram. Though you you can join in with any progress photos by linking your projects on your favourite social media sites: Ravelry, Facebook page or Facebook group and Pinterest.

Until next time folks! Happy hooking, keep calm and crochet on my friends xx

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NEW Mini Crochet Kit | Reindeer Bauble Kit

Posted in Crochet, Crochet Kit, Designing, Getting Crafty, Independent Design, Pattern Release by

December is moving far too fast for my liking and I just haven’t had a chance to tell you about a crochet new kit I have in my Etsy shop! I don’t know about you but I could do with another couple of weeks until Christmas – I think I always forget how busy things get at this time of year.

But I do deerly love the holiday season and so I’m going to squeeze in telling you about a new little crochet kit that I hope you will find quite reindeering!

Okay, it might be time to rein in the puns a little….if you haven’t already guessed the kit is for a reindeer hanging ornament. Much like the mini crochet kits I released last year (see all the mini crochet kits here along with a big kit). This one was also released at the latest weekend Crochet Sanctuary where I was kindly allowed to bring a pop up shop to share with the other guests a range of my KCACOUK, Yarnybobs and Dear Ewe products.

Add a touch of festive cheer to your home with a sweet hanging reindeer ornament; it’s that happy bit of handmade hooking which will add that personalised reindeer touch to your Christmas Tree.

❤️ Add the Reindeer Bauble Crochet Kit to your favourites on Ravelry ❤️

Each kit contains 30g of Scheepjes Catona, the pattern, a length of black embroidery thread, a silver jingle bell and a length of twine all in a reusable christmas bauble! There’s also the optional tool extra of picking up a premium bamboo 3mm hook (US approx. size D/3) if you don’t have one of those to hand.

The pattern is written in UK terms, but shipping is available to anywhere. If you are not sure about UK terms then you might find my blog post British vs. American Crochet Terms: What’s the Difference? helpful.

BUY ON ETSY

These bauble crochet kits sold out when I was at the crochet sanctuary (though I’ve got some more stock now) and it’s been lovely to see some of the little reindeer that have been whipped up already from the kits.

Whether you’re super organised or more of a last-minute buyer, yule need to make a note of the following dates to ensure your pressies are (hopefully) delivered in time for the big day.

As we have had all the Royal mail strikes here in the UK I feel I’ve had no choice but to bring forward domestic Christmas posting deadlines to Friday 16 December. It’s been a fair old stressful time for small businesses with the postal issues (so please know that we do want our things to get to you as soon as possible but when it leaves us it’s out of our control). However I also want to continue to support the post office as I feel that it’s one of those that if we don’t use it, we’ll eventually lose it.

Need to send abroad? Not a problem – like Santa, I do deliver all over the world, however I cannot guarantee delivery will be in time for Christmas, but a gift of crochet is fun at any time of year right!.

Then as my children are breaking up from school also on the 16 December I’ll mainly be spending some quality time with my family until the new year – though I will be popping on, on Boxing Day as we start our Peppermint Pageant MAL.

If you make up a reindeer I hope you’ll share your WIP and finished project photos with me on social media (facebook, twitter or instagram) or as a project on Ravelry – I love to see what you make! And finally you may wish to sign up to blog (below) and / or my mailing list to get a reminder when new blog posts, discounts or new pattern releases are available.

Until next time folks! Happy hooking and keep calm and crochet on my friends xx

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NEW Mini Crochet Kit | Vintage Snowman Decoration

Posted in Crochet, Designing, Getting Crafty, Independent Design, Pattern Release by

Snow-way man! There’s a new mini crochet kit in town; snow prizes for guessing what the kit is – it’s a snowman!

You may remember that I’ve previously released some mini crochet kits (along with a big kit) because I find them really fun to design. It’s an enjoyable kind of challenge, working with a set amount of yarn and notions, to make something a workable project.

The new kit is for a Vintage Snowman decoration; inspired with a nostalgic nod to old-fashioned charm!

Create your own indoor winter wonderland with this adorable Vintage Snowman decoration. Wearing his blue top hat, matching gloves and a long textured scarf this snowman can be placed on any mantlepiece, shelf or windowsill to create a festive feel for your home. He also comes complete with a ornamental log slice for your finished project to stand on.

❤️ Add the Vintage Snowman Decoration to your favourites on Ravelry ❤️

Each kit contains 45g of Scheepjes Catona (1x 25g of white and 2 x 10g of the different blues), the pattern, enough stuffing for the snowman, some small amounts of orange and blank for his nose and buttons, and of course the log slice all wrapped up in a small reusable organza bag! There’s also the optional tool extra of picking up a premium bamboo 3mm hook (US approx. size D/3) if you don’t have one of those to hand.

The pattern is written in UK terms, but shipping is available to anywhere. If you are not sure about UK terms then you might find my blog post British vs. American Crochet Terms: What’s the Difference? helpful.

BUY ON ETSY

In snow uncertain terms this little snowman is so fun to make – freeze a jolly good fellow! Keep the magic of Christmas at home or gift to someone on your Christmas list, this cute snowman is sure to be enjoyed by all!

I hope you’ll share your WIP and finished project photos with me on social media (facebook, twitter or instagram) or as a project on Ravelry – I love to see what you make! And finally you may wish to sign up to blog (below) and / or my mailing list to get a reminder when new blog posts, discounts or new pattern releases are available.

Until next time folks! Happy hooking and keep calm and crochet on my friends xx

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