Solstice Garden MAL 2020 | The Reveal

Posted in Collaboration, Crochet, Crochet Accessories, Crochet Kit by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

Happy Solstice everyone! Today is the last day of the make along that has been hosted by The Yarn Whisperer and myself – though I know there are still plenty of people around the world who are just starting, or are continuing to make the Solstice Garden Wrap.

If this is the first you’ve heard about the Solstice Garden MAL you can read more about it here, but it’s the result of a wonderful collaboration between myself and Kitey, aka The Yarn Whisperer, on a unique crocheted wrap design called Solstice Garden.

It’s made us both incredibly happy to see the photos of folks sharing their progress with us on social media and I hope you will continue to do so as you finish your shawls.

I thought I’d just share some photos of my finished shawl so you can see the final design if you haven’t already. I’m really pleased with how this wrap turned out, it is one of those designs where the yarn really knew what it wanted to be.

I think I mentioned that for this design I looked into some of the traditions of solstice time. The wrap features circles, which the pagan’s used to represent the year and stylised wreaths or blooms to symbolise the turning of the seasons. There are also symbols of protection, unity and balance with enclosing borders and repeating stitch patterns.

With everything that has happened this year this MAL and design has definitely been a highlight, and as always a lovely part of any MAL, (or CAL), has been the wonderful joining of the crafty community, the taking part, chatting about the design and making friends!

In fact there’s a Solstice Zoom catch up TONIGHT at 8pm for a final MAL meet up – doesn’t matter if you are just starting or finishing off it would just be lovely to see you. You can find the full details over on the Yarn Whisperers instagram grid.

Although there is an end date to the make along, it doesn’t really end because you can still make the pattern later. Kitey is currently taking a short break for the holidays though he’ll be re-opening on 26th December (for stock items). His dyed to order yarn, like the Solstice Garden colourway kits will be available again from January 4th 2021. The bead kits to go along with the yarn will still be included but the extra special kit exclusive ‘freebies’ will no longer be available. Kits cost £37 + postage.

If you’d prefer to use yarn from your stash then you can do the pattern alone will be available from my usual stores from 1st February 2021 onwards.

We do hope that you’ve enjoyed this fun make-along, I know Kitey and I have thoroughly enjoyed it – in fact we might just have some secret plans to work together again in the future! All I’m going to say is that I might just have in my possession THE MOST BEAUTIFUL yarn for a summer design that you are not going to want to miss out on! Make sure you are signed up to the blog (or my newsletter) and / or The Yarn Whisperer newsletter to make sure you are the first to know when the new collaboration project is revealed!

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

14Dec2020

KCACOUKDesigns Crochet Kits

Posted in Crochet, Crochet Accessories, Crochet Kit, Independent Design by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

Who likes crochet kits? I personally love a good crochet kit, it’s so nice to have everything you need altogether in one place for a project. This is why I’ve had a plan for a while to turn some of my patterns into crochet kits – and I’m excited to say that the first one is ready!

For my first crochet kit I have chosen the Leafy Boughs Wrap which you may remember made it’s debut in Happily Hooked Magazine back in 2018 (Issue 48), it was then later chosen as a crochet along for Happily Hooked members.

It’s been one of my most popular shawl designs and is personally one of my favourites, I still love how the design turned out. The Leafy Bough‘s Wrap is a light and airy shawl that’s easy and relaxing to make as it only uses simple stitches – it’s a breeze to hook up once you get used to the row repeats.

The crochet kit includes everything you need for your project; from a gorgeously soft Scheepjes Whirl (in shade Pistachi Oh So Nice), a fully tech edited pattern booklet all contained in a handy drawstring cotton project bag to keep everything together. The kit comes with the option to purchase with or without tools for those that prefer to use their own hooks.

I must just show you a close up of the drawstring bags which are exclusively just for the KCACOUKDesign kits, I love the hooky hands, they came out just how I wanted, and once you’ve finished your shawl the project bag would make a great place for yarn storage or for other WIPs.

I think the shawl would make a great gift – whether as a project or a finished item or as an excellent gifts for crafty friends and family (or maybe as a well deserved treat for yourself!).

To celebrate the launch of this kit I’m offering 10% discount in the whole of my KCACOUKDesign Etsy store. This discount includes the kit and any of the patterns in the store; just use code KCACOUK10 before the 18 December 2020 to save!

SHOP NOW

Although there aren’t many kits and patterns in the store yet my plan is to change that in 2021 – if you want to be kept in the loop about any new pattern releases or kits then make sure you are signed up to my newsletter (link below).

Until next time, happy hooking, keep calm and crochet on my friends xx

6Dec2018

Sheep on the Shelf Competition and New Crochet Kits

Posted in Amigurumi, Crochet, Crochet Kit, Dear Ewe, For Adult, For Baby, For Child, Tah-Dah by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

I just had to pop on here and tell you about a couple of crochet things that are happening with Dear Ewe. Now you may remember that I designed the Little Ewe amigurumi pattern as our mascot for Dear Ewe. She’s proven to be quite popular with lovely crocheters out in the world so this year, for a bit of fun, we decided to hold the inaugural Sheep on the Shelf Competition.

You can read all about the competition rules on the Dear Ewe blog but in a nutshell for anyone that sends in a festive photo of Little Ewe they will be added to a prize draw to win their choice of a Dear Ewe character mug worth £16!

The competition runs from 1st until 12th December so you have plenty of time to hook up a Little Ewe if you want to join in. Entry’s will then be put up for a public vote with a winner drawn on Sunday 16th December. The winner gets to pick their choice from one of our Dear Ewe character mugs featuring Crafty Ewe.

You can also pick up a free Little Ewe accessory pattern on the blog get EWE in an elvish mood! I think it also makes a cute little ornament even if you didn’t make Little Ewe.

The other very exciting news is that Little Ewe is now available in a complete crochet kit! The kits include everything EWE need for your project, from gorgeously soft Scheepjes yarn, a premium Addi bamboo hook (optional if you’d prefer to use your own tools) all in a handy drawstring cotton project bag.

I hope that some of you will join in the Sheep on the Shelf fun – can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with!

Until next time! Keep calm and crochet on my friends xx

6Sep2018

Bluestar Crochet | Autumn Accessories Kit Review

Posted in Crochet, Crochet Kit, Getting Crafty, Life, Pattern Review, Product Review, Tah-Dah, Yarn by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

Disclaimer: I received a free sample of this kit however I have not been financially compensated by the supplier to write this review. All opinions expressed are my own and based on my own experiences of using the yarn and kit.

I have to say I really love a good crochet kit, over the years I’ve had several bought for me and I’ve even had the pleasure of designing a couple myself. I love the fact that it’s a whole project that you can just get on with as soon as you like – no fuss, no bother, just away you go! Personally working from a kit is an enjoyable escape for me from crochet designing. I’m following someone else’s pattern, the decisions have all been made for me, it’s all extremely relaxing! So I was delighted to be asked to review the new crochet kit by The Blue Star Crochet Company, by the lovely Veronika.

You maybe familiar with Veronika’s work; as the designer behind the The Blue Star Crochet Company she’s had many designs feature in different UK magazines. In March this year she teamed up with The Mermaid Purse Yarns and released the Sea Shawl Crochet Kit, and now they’ve teamed up again with yarn and patterns for a an Autumn Accessories collection. Instead of offering just one pattern Veronika has teamed up with two other designers this time round to offer three different accessories. There’s a pattern by the lovely Eleonora Tully from Coastal Crochet (who you may remember I interviewed – check it out here) and Alison Holloway from Petals Crafts and Me – but more about all the designs in a moment, let’s first have a look at the kit…

The kit contains everything you will need to complete the project aside from the tools, so you will need your own crochet hooks, scissors and yarn needle etc. Each kit comes with:

100g hank of hand dyed yarn
pattern leaflet containing three designs
teabag and sweet treat
2 x wooden buttons
exclusive discount code for Dear Ewe online store

You will get all 3 patterns and one skein of yarn inside each kit and there is an upgrade option available to choose additional skeins of yarn to be able to make all 3 patterns as a set if you want to.

So what are the designs? Well I’m glad you asked!

The first is a fabulous Fall in Line hat designed by Veronika. The hat is worked in short rows and is customisable to get the perfect fit. Then there’s a pair of gorgeous shell stitch Autumn Seas wrist warmers by Eleonora and finally the showstopping Fleur Amore flower motif bandana scarf by Alison. I loved all the designs but I settled on making myself the pair of wrist warmers because I really wanted the them for me! But first I need to mention the yarn…can you say OOoooooo!

The hand-dyed yarn by in the kit is 100% super-wash fine merino in a double knit weight (225m / 100g) and is such a unique colourway! It’s hard to describe all the subtle colour variants that have been included in the autumnal mix but I could recognise hints of grape, aubergine, lilac and flashes of dusky pink and a pop of russet! So gorgeous, and as I worked my wrist warmers the colours pooled beautifully. So without further ado let’s say hello to my lovely new wrist warmers…

These wrist warmers were an ABSOLUTE joy to make! They were a great quick project, which I loved and found extremely satisfying – my pair was easily completed in a day. An awesome design for last minute gifts or craft fairs – I’m sure I’ll make some more! I also only used 54g of yarn in total for both wrist warmers so I’ve got a little bit of yarn left to use for something else.

I was really pleased with how they turned out so I had a mini hand photo shoot – quickly learning it’s incredibly hard to take photos of your own hands! Luckily Mr. KCACOUK came to the rescue and helped me out and luckily I just happened to be drinking a cuppa in a Dear Ewe mug which made a very handy photo prop 😘

I very much enjoyed this kit and I’m sure you might to! The pre-order for these fabulous kits is open NOW, but it’s only open for 3 weeks! Use coupon BSCCBLOG10 for 10% off your pre-order from the from Blue Star Crochet Company Etsy shop. All kits will be dispatched from 24th September 2018.

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

8Dec2017

CraftStore UK | Noel & Nutmeg the Elves Crochet Kit Special Offer

Posted in Amigurumi, Crochet, Crochet Kit, Sale / Special Offer, Tah-Dah by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

So do you remember me telling you about how I’d had one of my patterns, Stanley the Snowman, turned into a crochet kit. Well guess what! I’ve got another Christmas kit pattern for you which is available exclusively now from CraftStore UK!

Have yours-elf a merry little Christmas with Noel and Nutmeg the colourful Christmas elves.

The kit comes with all the yarn (600g in total) that you need to make these easy to make dolls which are the perfect addition to any home during the festive season. Fun for you or a great gift idea for a craft loving friend.

If you fancy hooking up Noel and Nutmeg then you can use the special offer that the lovely people over at CraftstoreUK.com have for KCACO.UK readers. Just enter code NUTMEG25 in the shopping cart on this link for Noel and Nutmeg and it will deduct 25% off the price! Taking them from £24.99 to £18.74! (This code will expire on the 31 December).

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

5Nov2017

CraftStore UK | Stanley the Snowman Crochet Kit Special Offer

Posted in Amigurumi, Crochet, Crochet Kit, Pattern Release, Sale / Special Offer, Tah-Dah by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

Oooo I’ve got some very exciting news to share with you all! One of my patterns is being turned into a crochet kit which will be available exclusively from CraftStore UK!

If you haven’t heard of CraftStore UK before they are an online store that offer supplies for many different crafts across the UK. Categories include yarn kits, pattern downloads, papercrafts, craft boxes, craft magazines and crafting books! And now my Stanley the Snowman is joining the happy band of other knitted and crocheted characters available.

Lovable and huggable Stanley the Snowman is easy to make and fall in love with. With his cute face, complete with carrot nose, bobble hat and gloves this colourful snowman makes a lovely Christmas gift.

And the great thing about the kit is that you get the pattern and the yarn delivered straight to your door!

And guess what else! The most lovely people at CraftStore UK have got a special offer just for you lovely KCACO.UK readers. Just enter code 25ELVES in the shopping cart on this link for Stanley the Snowman and it will deduct 25% off the price! Taking him from £19.99 to £14.99! (This code will expire on the 5th of December).

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