KCACO-UK CAL 2015 – Block 10

They say that variety is the spice of life! Applied to crochet I think that means we should try lots of different things because that keeps life interesting! So this next block has just the perfect name for a CAL such as this one which is ALL about variety and it introduces us to a new stitch; popcorn stitch (which are the puffy ones in the picture below).

This square is free (and has been since February 2012) on the My Blue Angels blogspot.

Although we are on block 10 there is still plenty of time to catch up – the full schedule and details about the CAL can be found here.

Click on the link in the title below to go straight to the pattern or add it to your Ravelry queue here.

Embracing Variety by Aurora Suominen

Notes:

Hook: 5 mm (US Size H)
Yarn: Aran / 10 ply / Worsted / Weight #4
Colours: I would suggest at least two
Pattern uses American crochet terms: see the following link for a printable conversion chart: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/70437470329344/

My Version:

Ta dah!! This is my version of this square using my colour palette (I blogged about this here). I was really excited about trying out all my colours on this square and love how it turned out; the popcorn stitch is definitely one of my favourite stitches.

Don’t forget to stay tuned for the next block to be released on May 27th (or 28th)

29Apr2015

KCACO-UK CAL 2015 – Block 9

Posted in Afghan Square, Crochet, Crochet-A-Long 2015 by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

So this next block is another one of those blocks that I’ve had saved for ages because it’s just so COOL looking! This nice repetitive pattern means that once you ‘get it’ you can hook the triangle construction fairly easily. This square is free (and has been since January 2010) on the Tiggerbee’s Buzz blogspot and the lovely Jacqui has now additionally added this to Ravelry for us as a download with some extra notes. Plus on Ravelry there is also a link to a chart of the block created by StabtheWool for those that like diagrams.

Although we are on block 9 there is still plenty of time to catch up – the full schedule and details about the CAL can be found here.

Click on the link in the title below to go straight to the pattern on the blog or add it to your Ravelry queue here.

On the Huh Crochet Square by Jacqui Goulbourn

Notes:

Hook: 5.5mm (US Size I)
Yarn: Aran / 10 ply / Worsted / Weight #4
Colours: I would suggest at least two
Pattern uses American crochet terms: see the following link for a printable conversion chart: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/70437470329344/

My Version:

Ta dah!! This is my version of this square using my colour palette (I blogged about this here). I think it’s unique construction produces a fabulous result don’t you! I loved how mine turned out and the sunshine was so obliging so I got a great photo; you can even see the dark purple which is the MOST difficult colour to photograph ever.

Don’t forget to stay tuned for the next block to be released on May 13th (or 14th)

15Apr2015

KCACO-UK CAL 2015 – Block 8

Posted in Afghan Square, Crochet, Crochet-A-Long 2015 by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

As you hopefully know to make this CAL a bit different from others every block, that is a multiple of 4 (e.g. 4,8,12,16,20), will be selected by YOU in a public vote. I can now reveal that the square that received the majority vote was ‘D’ which IS…. the ‘Tiptoe Through the Tulips’ Square!

Designed by another fabulous designer friend, Samantha from Silverdragon Crafts & Critters, Samantha has kindly designed this super pretty block especially for this CAL. One of the great things about it, other than how lovely it is, is that it really doesn’t need blocking when you are done!

This square is currently free on Ravelry and will be forever (yay!).

Although we are on block 8 there is still plenty of time to catch up – the full schedule and details about the CAL can be found here.

Click on the link in the title below to go straight to the pattern.

Tiptoe Through the Tulips by Samantha Bagley

Notes:

Hook: 5.5mm (US Size I)
Yarn: Aran / 10 ply / Worsted / Weight #4
Colours: Need at least 3
Pattern uses American crochet terms: see the following link for a printable conversion chart: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/70437470329344/

Specialist stitches:

3 double crochet cluster (3dcCL): Yo, insert hook into stitch indicated, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull through 2 loops (2 Loops on hook) repeat 2 more times (4 loops on hook), yo pull through all loops.
2 double crochet cluster (2dcCL): Yo, insert hook into stitch indicated, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull through 2 loops (2 Loops on hook) repeat 1 more time (3 loops on hook), yo pull through all loops.

My Version:

Ta dah!! This is my version of this square using my colour palette (I blogged about this here). I really love the 3-D’ness of this square and how the centre flower could also be used as a separate motif or as part of the square.

Don’t forget to stay tuned for the next block to be released on April 29th (or 30th).

12Apr2015

Public Vote for Block No. 8 of the CAL

Posted in Afghan Square, Crochet, Crochet-A-Long 2015 by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

So to make this CAL a little different we hold a public vote on every 8th square we make! Basically you get to choose which square YOU want to make next! We’ve posted the following photo collage with snippets of 6 different block patterns in the CAL group.

You can choose one option – A through F – as to which block you would like to work up as our next pattern! Voting will end on Tuesday, 14 April, at Midnight (GMT), and the winning design (with the most votes) will be used as our 8th pattern and announced according to the CAL schedule on Wednesday 15 or Thursday 16 April. Have fun and happy voting!

30Mar2015

KCACO-UK CAL 2015 – Block 7

Posted in Afghan Square, Crochet-A-Long 2015 by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

I have to say that I was drawn to block 7 particularly for the name; an Easter named square for Easter weekend. This is a simple square which is perfect, as the designer says, for advanced beginners and the design allows for super versatility for playing around with the colours you have chosen for your blanket.

You should have a look on the Ravelry Projects for this one if you are looking for some inspiration as there are some really lovely and unique colour combinations! Click on the link in the title below to go straight to the pattern.

This square is available for free (and has been since April 2009) on the Smooth Fox Crochet and Knit Blog

Free SmoothFox’s Easter Day Square by Donna Mason-Svara

Notes:

Hook: UK 5.5 mm / US Size I
Yarn: Aran / 10 ply / Worsted / Weight #4
Colours: As many as you like!
Pattern available in US terminology

My Version:

Ta dah!! This is my version of this square using my colour palette (I blogged about here). I really liked the cross in a circle design of this square; I always think circles inside a square are fun!

The next block will be open for the public vote again and released on April 15th (or 16th)

18Mar2015

KCACO-UK CAL 2015 – Block 6

Posted in Afghan Square, Crochet, Crochet-A-Long 2015 by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

Yay so it’s time for block 6!!! I can’t believe we are a quarter of the way finished already!

For me Moogly (aka designer Tamara Kelly) and crochet are synonymous! When I first started out re-learning crochet (and still now) this is the blog I follow for inspiration and fabulous tutorials – she is also the inspiration behind this CAL so I wanted to include one of her patterns.

Amongst her amazing designs is our next block. I’ve always been fascinated by mandalas and Tamara designed one in a square – perfect! A mandala (if you are not familiar with the term) loosely translated means “circle. Mandalas can come in many forms and, in the creation, aid meditation – and who doesn’t need a bit of inner peace now and again.

This square is available for free (and has been since July 2013) on the Moogly Blog

Magic Spike Mandala Square – 12″ by Tamara Kelly

Notes:

Hook: UK 5.5 mm / US Size I
Yarn: Aran / 10 ply / Worsted / Weight #4
Colours: Works best in at least 4 different colours
Pattern available in both US and UK terminology

Specialist stitch: Spike Stitch

Long stitches produce a spike on both sides of your work. Long stitches (or spikes) are usually stitches that you work into either the tops of stitches or spaces between stitches one or more rows below the current row, creating a vertical spike of yarn that extends over several rows of stitches.

See the fab video Moogly put together for this stitch at the following link: http://www.mooglyblog.com/spike-stitches/

My Version:

Ta dah!! This is my version of this square using my colour palette (I blogged about this here). I really enjoyed working the mandala part and definitely want to try some more in the future.

Don’t forget to stay tuned for the next block to be released on April 1st (or 2nd)

4Mar2015

KCACO-UK CAL 2015 – Block 5

Posted in Afghan Square, Crochet, Crochet-A-Long 2015, Stitches by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

I class myself as very lucky to have lots of designer friends and the lovely Michelle From Home has kindly designed this next block especially for us. Some of you may have also got to know her in the Facebook CAL Group as she is another of the fabulous Admin who helps me out there.

Michelle has used a unique variation of the ‘larksfoot stitch’ for this block which I’d never done before. I love how this CAL is adding to our growing mental stitch encyclopaedia!

This square is currently free on Ravelry and will be forever (yay!).

Click on the link in the title below to go straight to the pattern.

Larksfoot Inspired Afghan Square by Michelle Warwick

Notes:

Hook: 6mm (size J hook) For this pattern it is recommended that you check your tension and gauge as you crochet this square. After fourrows, your square should measure 4” wide. If you are off, you will need to change your hook size up or down to get to the proper size. I used a 5.5mm (US size I hook) and that worked perfectly for my 12 inches.
Yarn: Aran / 10 ply / Worsted / Weight #4
Colours: Works best in at least 3 different colours
Pattern uses American crochet terms: see the following link for a printable conversion chart: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/70437470329344/
Specialist stitches: Variation on a ‘Larksfoot Stitch’. A photo tutorial will be available in the downloadable pattern.
US Long Double Crochet (UK Long Treble): To complete a Long Double Crochet, yarn over, insert hook in theskipped stitch of previous round, draw up a loop loosely (3 loops onhook), yarn over, pull through two (2 loops on hook), yarn over, pullthrough two (1 loop on hook).
US Long Triple (UK Long Double Treble): To complete a Long Triple Crochet, yarn over twice, insert hook inthe skipped stitch from two rounds before, draw up a loop loosely (4loops on hook), yarn over, pull through two (3 loops on hook), yarnover, pull through two (2 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through two(1 loop on hook).

My Version:

Ta dah!! This is my version of this square using my colour palette (I blogged about this here). I loved trying this new stitch it’s deceptively simple and makes a beautiful block.

Don’t forget to stay tuned for the next block to be released on March 8th (or 19th).

18Feb2015

KCACO-UK CAL 2015 – Block 4

Posted in Afghan Square, Crochet, Crochet-A-Long 2015, Free Patterns by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

So we had a bit of fun with block 4, putting it out for a public vote, and I can now reveal that the square that received the majority vote was ‘F’ – the ‘Harriett’ Square! Although we are on block 4 there is still plenty of time to catch up – the full schedule and details about the CAL can be found here.

I love this fun design which plays with an octagonal shape inside a square. It’s all created with simple stitches and produces a lovely end result.

This square is currently free on Ravelry (and has been since June 2013).

Click on the link in the title below to go straight to the pattern.

Harriett Square 12″ by Carolyn Christmas

Notes:

Hook: UK 5 mm / US Size H
Yarn: Aran / 10 ply / Worsted / Weight #4
Colours: Works great with up to 5 different colours changes but I would suggest at least 2 so you can see the pattern.
Pattern available in US terminology for conversion chart please click HERE

As the designer says this block can ruffle a bit in the early rounds but the later rounds straighten it out. You can also block the square to flatten if required.

My Version:

Ta dah!! This is my version of this square using my colour palette (I blogged about this here). I love how it turned out!

Don’t forget to stay tuned for the next block to be released on March 4th (or 5th)

10Feb2015

Have your say! Vote for square 4 in the Crochet-A-Long

Posted in Crochet, Crochet-A-Long 2015 by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

So to make this CAL a little different we are holding a vote on the next square we make! We’ve posted the following photo collage with snippets of 6 different block patterns in the CAL group. unnamed

You can choose one option – A through F – as to which block you would like to work up as our next pattern! Voting will end on Monday, 16 February, at Midnight (GMT), and the winning design (with the most votes) will be used as our 4th pattern and announced according to the CAL schedule on Wednesday 18 or Thursday 19 February. Have fun and happy voting!

4Feb2015

KCACO-UK CAL 2015 – Block 3

Posted in Afghan Square, Crochet, Crochet-A-Long 2015 by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

So it’s time for block 3 already, these blocks are coming round quick!

So sometimes you just see some crocheted loveliness and think one day I am going to have to make that. For me this CAL is definitely helping me fulfil my wish list. I really feel as if I have had this next pattern saved FOREVER so it was a joy to finally make it up.

This square is free (and has been since Mar 2011) on the Crochetville site.

Yarn Clouds by Amelia Beebe

Notes:

Hook: UK 5 mm / US Size H
Yarn: Aran / 10 ply / Worsted / Weight #4
Colours: Works great in single colours or up to 5 different colours changes.
Pattern available in US terminology for conversion chart please click HERE

Specialist stitches:

Back Post Double Crochet (BPDC) – Yarn over, insert hook from back of work through side of specified stitch, going in front of stitch and then insert hook through other side of stitch going back to the back of your work, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through 2 loops, yarn over, pull through last 2 loops on hook.

Back Post Single Crochet (BPSC) – Insert hook from back of work through side of specified stitch going in front of stitch and then insert hook through other side of stitch going back to the back of your work, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, and pull through both loops on hook.

Note: As mentioned by others in the Ravelry project comments; if you crochet tightly you may wish to add an extra row to make your square up to 12 inches.