Graceful Gull MAL | The Reveal & Pattern Release

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

Well wowzers, September is flying by! It’s probably the right time to say good-bye to the summer and time to finish off the last bits and bobs of our summer Graceful Gull make-along.

The Graceful Gull shawlette draped over a stick on a beach in front of the ocean

The 15th of September was the last ‘official’ day of the latest make along that has been hosted by The Yarn Whisperer and myself. From the 31 July until now we have enjoyed a relaxed summer make along project with lovely fellow crocheters. And now I get the opportunity to share my finished Graceful Gull Shawlette, and it’s pattern, with you!

Close up of the Graceful Gull Shawlette pinned with a shell shawl pin draped on a mannikin in front of a lake.

Inspired by the swoop of a graceful gull this pattern features textured stitches on two curving wings to create a unique and lightweight shawlette.

As always it’s been an absolute delight to work with Kitey and his gorgeously coloured yarn, I love these collabs we do – it always provides me with an opportunity to work with gorgeous yarn which in turn makes the design process super enjoyable. And this years colourways were such a lovely summery palette, I really enjoyed working with them.

Close up of a basket with the Graceful Gull makealong hand-dyed yarn inside.

If this is the first you’ve heard about the Graceful Gull MAL you can read more about it here but in a nutshell it’s the result of a wonderful collaboration between myself and Kitey, aka The Yarn Whisperer, of a unique crocheted shawlette designed with a special hand dyed yarn in mind.

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 shawlettes’ if you haven’t had chance to make it yet.

Collation of Graceful Gull works in progress made by others as part of the summer make along.

Although the official end date of the MAL has come to an end DO NOT feel any panic or worry that you didn’t keep up or haven’t even started yet. The deadline was there just for those people that like a deadline, for everyone else, enjoy it when you have the time to use the yarn and / or make the shawlette – there is no rush to this crochet makealong! And sometime in the future you will have a beautiful finished object that you can gift for someone special or to enjoy yourself.

❤️ SAVE GRACEFUL GULL SHAWLETTE ON RAVELRY ❤️

The crocheted Graceful Gull Shawlette; a light and airy shawlette is wrapped around a mannikin in front of a lake.

Now that the MAL is over, I have listed the pattern in my usual pattern stores for you to make your own version of the Graceful Gull Shawlette.

I would suggest four different colours work best; 100g of white, 2 x 50g of different greys and 20g of orange with a 3mm (Closest US size D/3) hook.

The pattern has a written version, a chart and comes with a bonus pattern to make your own Sea Stone Paperweight – Kitey and I always like to add a little extra something for those scraps of leftover yarn if you have any! The pattern comes with all explanation of stitches used and is available in either UK or US terminology.

Close up of the crocheted Sea Stone Paperweight - bonus pattern with the Graceful Gull Shawlette.

We do hope that you’ve enjoyed this fun make-along, I know Kitey and I have thoroughly enjoyed it.

Important MAL update

After six make-alongs, for the last three years, Kitey and I have decided to give ourselves a bit of a break for the remainder of 2023 (as it’s been a busy year so far for both of us). So this is your forewarned notice that there will be no new winter make-along for 2023.

But don’t you worry, this isn’t the end! In fact we are just shaking things up a little and are coming back with a new schedule for 2024 and TWO new make-alongs to look forward to (we’ve already got them planned). The first one we will be looking to release in the Spring with details coming out in Jan / Feb 2024 – so watch this space!

Collage of Keep Calm and Crochet On UK and Yarn Whisperer Collabs featuring Solstice Garden, Whispers of the Sea, Mellow Mallow, Dragonfly River, Peppermint Pageant and Graceful Gull.

Peppermint Pageant (and previous MALs)

And if you are looking for a new WIP Kitey has created some brand new Peppermint Pageant kit colourways especially for 2023 – check out the new colourways in his shop. There’s some gorgeous teals and blues to place with, and the Aran yarn is just joyous to crochet with.

AND all the patterns for our previous make-alongs (Solstice Garden, Whispers of the Sea, Mellow Mallow, Dragonfly River and Peppermint Pageant) are available from my pattern shops if you want to hook something up from your own stash – if you are a newsletter subscriber make sure you check out your exclusive discount code!

Make sure you are signed up to the blog (or my newsletter) and The Yarn Whisperer’s newsletter to be the first to know when the new collaboration project is revealed!

Pin it for later:

Pinterest of the Graceful Gull Shawlette crochet pattern by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

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

Please note that some of the links in my blog are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you purchase via these links, but the price you pay is not affected, thank you for your support.

19Sep2023

New Pattern Release | Cat Bells Men’s Cowl

Posted in Crochet, Crochet Accessories, Designing, From the Stash, Independent Design, Pattern Release, Sale / Special Offer, Stitches, Tah-Dah by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

Finding men’s crochet patterns is not as easy as finding crochet designs for women or children. Dads, granddads, husbands, sons and friends – there’s potentially a lot of folks out there that would love something you specifically crocheted for them. That’s where my new design, the Cat Bells Cowl, comes in…

Close up of the head and neck of a man who is standing next to a old stone building alongside trees and a country path. They are wearing the royal blue crocheted Cat Bells textured cowl around their neck.

I actually designed this cowl for my husband; he’s a keen hiker and one of his most favourite places in the world is The Lake District in Cumbria. It’s a place we go as a family at least once a year, and a place he frequents, whenever he gets the opportunity, to go hiking or cycling.

The name of the ‘Cat Bells’ Cowl is actually taken from one of the most popular fells in the area by the same name. Cat Bells is a short, sharp, steep climb richly rewarded by spectacular views that my husband has completed a couple of times. I wanted to create something sharp, steep and with texture to compliment the place that he loves.

Close up of the head and neck of a man who is standing in the countryside on a sunny day. They are wearing the royal blue crocheted Cat Bells textured cowl around their neck.

Snood, buff, neck-warmer or cowl (the descriptions are pretty interchangeable) are great for men (and women) as they keep the neck and ears warm without the gappiness of a scarf! Designed to keep you cosy and warm cowls can add a stylish, yet minimalist, finish to your winter look.

Although I designed the cowl for a man, the pattern is fairly unisex so you could use different colours to crochet cowls for all your family members!

Image of a hand holding a skein of handyed bluey-teal solid yarn by Rosie's Moments.

The yarn I used for this cowl was from my stash; and was actually a gift from my lovely mum for Christmas 2022. It’s a gorgeous deep teal-to-blues blended yarn called Royal Robe and it was hand-dyed by Rosie’s Moments. I only had one skein so I thought a lovely lightweight cowl would be the perfect way to go.

I would recommend a semi-solid colourway for this design so that you can see the stitch definition. Variegated yarns are wonderful; but they often don’t work well with textured patterns as the colours can hide the effect of the stitches.

Close up of a half ball of handdyed yarn, a crochet hook and a textured work in progress piece of crochet.

The yarn blend I used was sock weight (4ply) 75% Superwashed Merino, 25% nylon; the natural properties of merino will mean that skin should remain cool and dry, and heat will be diverted into the upper and lower body during wear.

The cowl is the perfect accessory to pull up to protect the face from the winter chill, and simple enough to wear around the neck for warmth and wind protection. Ideal for cycling, hiking or any outdoor sport (or just to compliment your winter wardrobe).

I’m in love with the texture on this cowl, in fact I’ve kind of envisioned three ‘kindred cowls’ working with similar textures and stitches for three different looks – I’m pretty much finished with the second cowl so watch this space!

Close up of the slanted textured Cat Bells cowl held up to the camera with a background of an old stone building.

❤️ SAVE CATBELLS COWL ON RAVELRY ❤️

I designed the cowl specifically as a single 4ply (fingering weight) 100g skein project which I combined with a with a 3.25mm hook. It’s important to note though that not all single 100g skeins are the same length. For this cowl you need a skein that is 425m or more – anything smaller and you might not have enough yarn to finish the project (and that would just be annoying!).

The Cat Bells Cowl pattern can easily be adjusted, to make it smaller or larger, (with more yarn) and the pattern will work in other yarn weights – I can’t wait to see what variations you come up with!

Close up of the slanted textured Cat Bells cowl on the neck of a man standing next to Lake Windermere

This pattern is perfect for adventurous crocheter that loves a mindful pattern with gorgeous texture. It’s a fairly easy pattern to master, once you get the hang of the stitch repeats and is a great project to take out and about with it only being a single skein of yarn.

The pattern now available for purchase, in both UK and US terms, from my usual pattern platforms – but scroll down to see limited special offer!

This pattern will be available for FREE from 12pm GMT (8am EST) on 20 September 2023 for 24hrs as part of the Just for Men Blog Hop by Two Brothers Blankets and Sunflower Cottage Crochet.

Blog Hop Instructions:

1: Visit Sunflower Cottage Crochet and get the coupon code.

2: Click on the button below to go to the Cat Bells Cowl on Ravelry.

3: Click “buy it now,” click “use a coupon code,” enter code, click apply and the pattern will be yours for free!

4: If you are reading this after the promotion has passed you can purchase the cowl from any of the links to my patterns stores (links above)

Button image to get free pattern PDF from Ravelry

All the patterns from Just for Men Blog Hop are available in a limited edition bundle which is a fabulous collection of menswear accessories like hats, pillows, cowls, scarfs and more. Go straight to the bundle via the link below:

Button image to buy all the patterns from the Just for Him Event

It includes all 21 designs featured in the blog hop in one bundle that you can download to your favourite device. You’ll then be able to print out individual patterns as your convenience. This pattern bundle of crochet men’s accessories won’t last for long. It will only be available until Friday, 22 September 2023.

Pin for Later:

Collage of the crocheted Cat Bells Unisex Cowl for Pinterest

I can’t wait to see your versions of the Cat Bells Cowl. I hope you’ll share your photos with me on social media (facebook, twitter or instagram) or as a project on Ravelry – I love to see what you make!

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

Subscribe to the blog:

12Sep2023

Woolbox | Free Blue Rhino Pattern

Posted in Amigurumi, Crochet, Designing, Free Patterns, Pattern Release, Tah-Dah by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

I’m delighted to share with you today a brand new FREE crochet patterns that I’ve designed in collaboration with Woolbox. Fresh from a recent romp in the Serengeti, it’s a cute and cuddly blue rhino!

Introducing the crocheted Blue Rhino amigurumi pattern and kit available now from Woolbox — © Woolbox 2023

If you’ve not heard about Woolbox before they are a new online yarn company with a wealth of knitting and crochet knowledge. With the help of different designers they are beginning to develop some FREE patterns of their own using their own brand of yarn – and I’m delighted to be helping them out with that.

You may remember that back in May this year I created a British Bulldog and now we’ve got a new cuddly companion perfect for any wildlife lover. I let you into a little secret too; there just might be a few more ‘Jungle Friends’ patterns from me coming to join this little guy.

❤️ SAVE THE PATTERN ON RAVELRY ❤️

Blue Rhino crocheted amigurumi made with Woolbox Imagine DK in three different shades — © Woolbox 2023

For my the Rhino I used Woolbox Imagine Classic DK. If you aren’t familiar with this yarn it’s a smoothly spun 100% anti–pilling acrylic that comes in an array of beautiful shades. Anti-pilling, in a nutshell, just means that any project you make with this yarn, like an amigurumi should not go bobbly over time.

Collage of the Blue Rhino crocheted amigurumi made with Woolbox Imagine DK in three different shades — © Woolbox 2023

Woolbox Imagine Classic DK is available in 20 different colours, and I just used three different colours for my Rhino; Mediterranean Blue, Deep Ocean Blue, and Pure White with a 3.5mm (US size E/4) hook.

The pattern is available for FREE from the Woolbox as just the digital download or as a kit – I’ve added the links below.

GET THE FREE PATTERN

PURCHASE THE YARN KIT

Crocheted Blue Rhino pattern by Keep Calm and Crochet on UK available from the Woolbox website

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.

If you make up the Woolbox Blue Rhino I hope you will share your 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

1Sep2023

Just for Him Event | September Blog Hop 2023

Posted in Blogging, Crochet by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

I’m excited to say I’m going to be taking part in a new crochet blog hop! From 1 – 21 September I’m one of many designers taking part in the the ‘Just for Men’ event.

A collage graphic of many of the designs available in the Just for Him Event blog hop running from 1 - 21 September 2023.

If you’re not sure what a blog hop is it’s basically an online networking event hosted by folks, in this case, in the crochet blogging community. You can think of it as a virtual scavenger hunt, where you will find new designers to follow and get free patterns while you’re at it! You’ll “hop” to each designers blog to get the free pattern details. By doing this you help the us as designers grow our businesses (thank you!), all while receiving a free crochet pattern for yourself (yay!)

This particular event is being run by Two Brothers Blankets and Sunflower Cottage Crochet and will feature 21 fabulous crochet designs for all the dads, granddads, husbands, sons and men friends out there!

Each day beginning TODAY, Friday 1 September, at 11am UK time (6am EST) a brand new pattern will be shared and there are loads of fabulous designers and designers taking part.

Full graphic list of the designers taking part in in the Just for Him Event blog hop running from 1 - 21 September 2023.

AND you lovely crocheters will be able to get each pattern as a free PDF download for 24 hrs with the coupon code that will be provided!

In this Just for Men blog hop, you’ll find crochet men’s and unisex accessories for all your needs. You might want something that:

Adds a dash of colour to a favourite outfit,
Is a modern and stylish men’s garment,
Or features more masculine or unisex stitch patterns,

There are some really fabulous designs on offer in this event and something for everyone!

Another collage graphic of many of the designs available in the Just for Him Event blog hop running from 1 - 21 September 2023.

And of course I have a brand new pattern to share with you – and I’m in love with the texture of this one! I’m going to leave it as a surprise as to which day of September is my day, and what my design is, but I can say it’s a brand NEW cowl design. So watch this space, and don’t forget to keep an eye out on social media for the links to the coupon codes to get that days free pattern.

How the event works:

Go to the main roundup post and scroll to today’s date.
Follow the instructions to get today’s blog post link and / or coupon code.
Click the link and scroll down the designer’s post until you see the download button.
Download the pattern to your device or library!

Button graphic to visit the round-up page for the Just for Men Blog Hop pattern bundle of 21 patterns

Patterns will only be available for 24 hours from 1pm to 1pm GMT (8am to 8am EST) the next day.

If you can’t wait for everyday in September, because you want all the things now, then there is also an option to purchase the exclusive pattern bundle for ALL the patterns from the blog hop for just £11.82 ($14.99) – a saving of around £60 ($75)!

Just for Him Event. 21 Crochet Patterns Especially chosen for the men in your life. 19 Fabulous designers. 1 fantastic event. Free PDF Pattern each Day. Bundle available.

This pattern bundle of crochet men’s accessories won’t last for long. It will only be available until Thursday, 21 September 2023.

It includes all 21 designs featured in the event bundle that you can download to your favourite device. You’ll then be able to print out individual patterns as your convenience.

Button graphic to purchase the Just for Men Blog Hop pattern bundle of 21 patterns

And that’s it! A lovely new free PDF pattern to get crocheting for yourself or a fabulous bundle of patterns from 19 fabulous designers. Be sure to give my fellow designers some love as they share their work on each of the blog hop days.

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

Please note that some of the links in my blog are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you purchase via these links, but the price you pay is not affected.

30Aug2023

Your Crochet and Knitting Magazine | Bears and Gnomes

Posted in Crochet, Magazine, Pattern Release, Tah-Dah, Yarn by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

Will you be mad with me if I tell you that there’s only 117 days till Christmas…that’s about 17 weeks…or 4 months, it’s gonna be here before we know it! As crafters it’s always nice to get a little head start on things and that’s just what you’ll get with the latest issue of Your Crochet and Knitting magazine.

Everyone needs a Festive Ted! This Christmas mascot is sure to become a family favourite with his colourful stripy shirt and a Santa hat.

Festive Ted stands on a desk between a stone and a plant. He's a lovely pop of colour on this plain background.

He’s was a really fun character to make, and I would say is perfect for adventurous crochet beginners that are looking to extend their amigurumi skills.

❤️ SAVE THE FESTIVE TED ON RAVELRY ❤️

Meet Magnus the Gnome! Inject some Scandi fun to Christmas with this cheery colourful chappie. You can style his fluffy beard in lots of different ways – how would you style yours?

Magnus the Gnome crochet pattern is available in Your Crochet and Knitting magazine issue 35.

Another enjoyable character to make, and I would say is perfect for crochet beginners who are looking to make their first amigurumi.

❤️ SAVE THE MAGNUS THE GNOME ON RAVELRY ❤️

Your Crochet and Knitting magazine. comes complete with an exclusive 4.5mm crochet hook, 4.5mm knitting needles, and 6 balls of yarn and is packed full of simple and fun festive makes and seasonal toys to knit and crochet.

Issue 35 is available to buy from your local supermarket or you can grab a digital version from www.craftstash.co.uk/books-magazines

Front cover of Your Crochet & Knitting magazine issue 35 — © Practical Publishing 2023 (Crochet Now Issue 97)

If you make up either the Festive Ted or Magnus the Gnome I hope you’ll share any finished 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 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.

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

Subscribe to the blog:

15Aug2023

Simply Crochet Magazine | Granny Square Day 2023

Posted in Afghan Square, Crochet, Magazine, Pattern Release, Yarn by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

Get your hooks ready, it’s granny square day! It’s time to share your square with the crochet community and be part of the biggest online crochet event of the year!

Our favourite crochet holiday returns with Granny Square Day 2023 on 15th August! — © Simply Crochet magazine 2023

If you’ve not heard about Granny Square day before it’s an international online celebration on instagram which this year falls on Tuesday 15 August 2023. Granny Square Day was started several years ago by US crocheter Susan Regalia, who recognised that Instagram’s grid format could be used to replicate the block arrangement of a classic granny square blanket online. Others soon joined in the fun and Granny Square Day was born! Simply Crochet magazine then took over the reins of Granny Square day in 2018.

Simply Crochet is thrilled to be celebrating another granny square day on Instagram and they want everyone to join in! All you have to do is hook, snap and share using the hashtag #grannysquareday2023 resulting in the BIGGEST VIRTUAL CROCHET BLANKET IN THE WORLD!

Image of the front cover of Simply Crochet magazine along siede the free gift and the granny square day supplement. — © Simply Crochet magazine – Issue 139

As previous years Simply Crochet the latest issue of the magazine (Issue 139) comes with two supplements to get your hooks sunk into – A colour theory booklet to help level up your crochet skills and a book full of 52 granny squares to celebrate Granny Square Day with one square a week for a whole year!

And I’m really excited to say that I’ve designed two brand new granny square for this supplement – excitingly you can actually spy one of them on the front cover!

The first design is what I would say is a granny square for purists as it features the granny square stitch (UK 3 treble cluster / US 3 double crochet cluster), it’s called ‘Bobble Burst’ and a lovely bit of texture in a colourful square. It’s been classed as an easy peasy design – perfect for beginners.

I really like how this block turned out, it feels quite appropriate for a Spring / Summer project and would look great combined to make a blanket or even a bag.

❤️ SAVE THE ‘BOBBLE BURST’ SQUARE ON RAVELRY ❤️

Granny Square 'Bobble Burst' alongside some Ricorumi DK yarn.

In the supplement the blocks range in skill level; from the more simple to getting a bit more involved and my second design has been grouped in the slightly more tricky range – but I’d say it’s still an easy enough square for advanced beginners. It’s called ‘Flower Fiesta’ and I’d describe it as a fun bit of beginners tapestry crochet.

❤️ SAVE THE ‘FLOWER FIESTA’ SQUARE ON RAVELRY ❤️

I used Rico Ricorumi for these blocks, with a 3.5mm hook (US E/4) which is a DK (Light Worsted) weight 100% cotton yarn that I had in my stash, but the designs would work equally well in any DK yarn or in fact with other fibres and yarn weights to make bigger or smaller blocks.

Granny Square 'Flower Fiesta' alongside some Ricorumi DK yarn.

I know they aren’t for everyone but I’m a granny square fan, to me they are nothing to do with ‘grannys’ – they are just a super fun way to show how fun and versatile crochet can be! There’s something for everyone in the Simply Crochet A year of Granny Squares supplement from more traditional looking squares to modern contemporary designs.

Simply Crochet issue 139 is out now and is available in most supermarkets and newsagents and digitally at www.pocketmags.com.

Desktop scene with lots of small Ricorumi yarn balls and some colourful crochet squares.

My Squares:

Hit the button below for more block fun! Free squares will link directly to my blog or, where relevant, to a PDF of the pattern.

KCACOUK Crochet Square Patterns

If you hook up any of the squares I hope you’ll share your photos with me on social media (facebook, twitter or instagram) or as a project on Ravelry – I love to see what you make!

I hope you enjoy this day of crafty celebration that brings together our fabulous hooky community!

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

Join 14.5K other subscribers

8Aug2023

Crochet Now Magazine | Jardin de Fleur Blanket

Posted in Crochet, Magazine, Pattern Release, Tah-Dah, Yarn by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

Inspired by the iconic artist Frida Kahlo I’ve got a brand new blanket pattern to share with you today.

A bright and colourful indoor scene with lots of plants and bright ceramics. On a chair is draped the Jardin de Fleur crochet blanket. — © Practical Publishing 2023 (Crochet Now Issue 97)

Allow me to introduce the Jardin de Fleur blanket which is available in Issue 97 of Crochet Now magazine. It’s a design I’m hoping might infuse your living space with a bit of Frida Kahlo’s creative spirit!

Mexican artist Frida Kahlo is remembered for her self-portraits and use of bold vibrant colours, and she’s become a recognisable historical figure partly because of her characteristic style and image.

A large crochet motif blanket made up of geometric shapes and bold 3D flowers in draped across a bed. — © Practical Publishing 2023 (Crochet Now Issue 97)

Kahlo often embraced representations of flowers in her work, alongside geometry, to suggest that even if things look opposite, and shouldn’t seemly go together, we are never separate from nature. As a crochet designer I find that nature is a never-ending source of inspiration for me and so guided by Kahlo’s ideas I knew I wanted to use a flower motif combined with something else to create a unique look.

In the end I combined bold 3-D flowers with geometric diamond shapes in lovely bold colours to create a distinctive work of art for your home. The finished blanket is made up of four different motifs and is approx. 143 x 109 cm (56 x 43 inches) in size making it a great to cuddle up with on the sofa.

A bright and colourful indoor scene with lots of plants and bright home accessories. On a chair is draped the Jardin de Fleur crochet blanket. — © Practical Publishing 2023 (Crochet Now Issue 97)

For my blanket I used Stylecraft Special DK with a 4mm hook in 4 different colours; White (1001), Dandelion (1856), Lipstick (1246) and Lobelia (1825). I think many of us have a Stylecraft stash of yarn for various projects, though if you’re not familiar with it, it’s a versatile 100% acrylic yarn that I’ve used many many times for various crochet projects. It’s available in a large selection of shades, and it’s a soft, durable yarn which is machine washable – making it great for blankets.

❤️ SAVE THE JARDIN DE FLEUR BLANKET ON RAVELRY ❤️

Issue 97 is available to buy from your local supermarket or you can grab a digital version from www.craftstash.co.uk/books-magazines

Front cover of Crochet Now magazine issue 97 — © Practical Publishing 2023 (Crochet Now Issue 97)

If you make up the the Jardin de Fleur Blanket I hope you’ll share any finished 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 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.

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

Subscribe to the blog:

31Jul2023

Happy MAL day | Graceful Gull starts today!

Posted in Crochet by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

Image of a seagull perched on a wooden pole against a cloudy blue sky.

The Yarn Whisperer and Keep Calm and Crochet On UK logos are in the top right hand corner.

Text reads Graceful Gull Crochet Make-Along, 31 July-15 September 2023. www.keepcalmandcrochetonuk.com

Happy MAL day folks!

I hope you are ready for our Graceful Gull shawlette make-along – today is the official start day (though of course you can start whenever you like). I’ve designed our shawlette to be a unique lightweight accessory which I hope you’ll enjoy as a crafty summer project.

All the folks that ordered the exclusive Graceful Gull 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).

Image of 4 skeins of hand dyed yarn on top of shells and drift wood, there is a wooden crochet hook alongside the yarn.

The exclusive colourway that Kitey has come up with for this summer is so pretty! It contains a 100g (425m) skein of a natural ice-cream colour alongside two 50g (212m) skeins of beautiful gull greys; one lighter and one darker. Then we have a wonderful pop of colour with a 20g (85m) mini skein of feet and beak tonal orange.

Kitey has also outdone himself with the packaging this year – all the Graceful Gull kits were packed in fish and chip boxes, how fun is that, I love it!

Image of a 'traditional fish and chips' box which was used to pack the Graceful Gull crochet make along kit. This is sitting on a bed of sea shells and drift wood.

And in amongst the kit there are the cutest crochet accessories from the fabulous Mrs G Makes. Continuing the seaside theme she has created the most adorable little chips and ice-cream stitch markers – a cute and prefect addition to the kit!

Close up of two silver stitch markers on top of a piece of drift wood. The stitch markers are of a packet of fries and an ice-cream.

I’ve loved working with the Graceful Gull colour palette this year. The cool tones of the greys really felt wonderfully summery, but I equally enjoyed the modern edginess of the inclusion of the pop of orange colour! I can’t wait to share the finished shawlette with you, but I’m going to keep it a secret still for now until everyone has started their projects.

For the full information about this particular make along (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 made during the summer months.

Image of a cardboard fish and chip box resting on a collection of shells and driftwood. It has been open to reveal skeins of yarn wrapped in tissue paper, there is a yarn whisperer sticker holding the tissue paper together.

The MAL will run from today (Monday 31 July 2023) until Friday 15 September 2023 giving everyone plenty of time to make the pattern. 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. This years he’s also holding MAL start ‘hook on’ Instagram Live parties at 10am and 6.30pm – see full details on Kitey’s Insta page.

SHARING WITH THE #GRACEFULGULLMAL 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 #gracefulgullmal #kcacouk #yarnwhisperer #mrsgmakes. 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!

Pin this project:

Pinterest collage for the Graceful Gull Summer 2023 Crochet Makealong from Keep Calm and Crochet On UK, The Yarn Whisperer and Mrs G Makes.

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

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

Subscribe to blog:

20Jul2023

New Crochet Pattern Release | Festival Fade Shawl

Posted in Crochet, Crochet Accessories, Designing, From the Stash, Independent Design, Pattern Release, Sale / Special Offer, Stitches, Tah-Dah by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

I’m really excited to share with you a brand new pattern release today, this design has a bit of a history about it, so bear with me as I introduce to you the Festival Fade Shawl.

Image of the colourful asymmetric crochet Festival Fade Shawl made from Hook and Cwtch hand dyed yarn.

The Festival Fade shawl is a unique asymmetric triangular shawl which means that each side of the ‘triangle’ is a different length giving the finished piece a unique look.

Asymmetrical shawls seem to be increasing popular and I wanted to have a go at creating an unusual eye-catching shape.

Image of the crocheted Festival Fade shawl laid out on a wooden floor.

The shawl came into creation partly due to a conversation I had with the lovely Jess from Hook and Cwtch who I happened to be sitting next to when attending a Crochet Sanctuary weekend in April.

There had been chat, amongst our crochet friends, about attending the Carry on Crafting Festival in July. I hadn’t agreed that I was going, but by the end of the weekend I’d not only checked the dates with my husband for childcare, I’d been offered a lift to get there, and on the Monday I’d booked an Airbnb room and bought my ticket! Sometimes these things happen fast!

What also happened fast was the conversation that continued with Jess…As we both got over excited about going to the Festival (as she’d already booked) we started talking about crochet projects. This then developed into an idea of doing a collaboration between myself, Jess and Amanda from Mrs G Makes (who was also at the Sanctuary that weekend, and who had already booked the Festival).

Image of the colourful asymmetric crochet Festival Fade Shawl wrapped around the neck of a white mannikin against a back drop of ivy.

We wondered about creating an exclusive Carry on Crafting Kit for all the yarny friends we knew that were going to the festival so we could all work on the same project whilst we were there. The kit would include beautiful hand-dyed yarn by Jess, a brand new pattern designed by me and some wonderful goodies from Amanda – and yes I know I’m so lucky to have these wonderful creatives in my life!

We put forward the suggestion to our friends and a resounding YES, DO IT, came back so we started planning and the idea for the pattern and it’s kit was born.

In my last post about my visit to Carry on Crafting I did mention the kit and share a few photos but to recap Jess had outdone herself with her gorgeous colourways and Amanda created an exclusive tote bag, a caravan themed yarn cosy (which perfectly holds the 100g / 800m cake of yarn you are working with), and ultra cute caravan stitch marker.

Hookers on Tour Festival Fade collab kit; a tote bag, a yarn cosy, to create a crochet shawl in 100g skein of varigated blues and greens and five 20g sparkle minis ranging from blues to pinks.

Jess’s stunning colour palette was made up of 100g (400m) of Retro Camper which was such a pretty mix of pastel pinks and peaches. The 4ply (fingering weight) yarn was a blend of 85% Superwash Extrafine Merino (19.5 micro) and 15% Nylon Yarn.

Then there were five gorgeous sparkly minis (Cadillac Pink, Perfect Pin Up, Vintage Tea Party, Mellow Mint and Cute Camper) which were a blend of 75% Superwash Extrafine Merino (19.5 micro) 15% Nylon Yarn and 10% Silver Stellina Yarn. I so do love a bit of sparkle! To make my shawl I used a 3mm hook (closest US size D/3).

Close up of the Festival Fade hand dyed yarn; 6 different colours are shown on a desk top along side a crochet hook and a Dear Ewe mug with a yarn ball pattern on it.

I wanted to create a pretty yet easy shaped shawl where the the yarn would do the talking and Jess had mentioned, as we were chatting, that she liked an asymmetric shape. Added to that triangle I included a wee bit of texture with a mini puff stitch, because I think it’s nice to have a bit of something to run your fingers over.

I used only three other simple stitches which makes it a perfect shawl for beginners once you get used to the pattern repeats. It’s also easy enough to make bigger if you want to by just using the same increase to enlarge.

❤️ SAVE FESTIVAL FADE SHAWL ON RAVELRY ❤️

Image of the asymmetric crochet Festival Fade Shawl, in a different colourway, wrapped around the neck of a white mannikin against a back drop of a woodland.

We had a blast at Carry on Crafting , and it was so wonderful to work on the same project all at the same time – I finished my second version in the new colour way Jess made for me. It had the same mini’s but a different 100g / 800m base and I love how it turned out with the varigated blues and cream to begin with!

And I thought I’d share a photo of one my mum made, she used 2 x 100g of solid colours (so no minis) and she chose not to add the fade but when the textured portion of the pattern started she colour blocked her shades instead. I wouldn’t have necessarily considered using the colours in this way but I love how hers turned out, and I think it’s nice to see other options that different people have used.

Image of the asymmetric crochet Festival Fade Shawl colour blocked in purple and grey wrapped around the neck of a white mannikin against a back drop of a woodland.

The Festival Fade crochet shawl in now available for purchase from usual pattern platforms.

Pin for Later:

If you were looking to purchase the same yarn as I used Jess has the recipe for the original colours (not my blue version) and is taking pre-orders that would be available at the end of August. Pre-orders open from tomorrow – just drop her a message over at her Etsy shop.

If you loved the yarn cosy or the caravan stitch marker then Mrs G has similar available – take a look at what she has in her Etsy shop.

I can’t wait to see your versions of your Festival Fade Shawls. I hope you’ll share your photos with me on social media (facebook, twitter or instagram) or as a project on Ravelry – I love to see what you make!

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

Subscribe to the blog:

Please note that some of the links in my blog are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you purchase via these links, but the price you pay is not affected. You can read more about my affiliate links here.

11Jul2023

Carry on Crafting Festival 2023

Posted in Blogging, Crochet, Days Out by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

Last weekend I attended the Carry on Crafting Festival at the South of England Showground in Ardingly, West Sussex. It was a wonderful event and I thought I’d write a post all about the crafty days I spent there.

The Carry on Crafting Festival is new to me and I always like to attend a show that I’ve not been to before to see what it’s like. It is a two day festival, this year on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 July and it’s held about 200 miles away from where I live.

However a superstar friend offered to drive us both down there so I booked a room to stay in locally and we headed off Friday morning so we would be ready for the show start at 9.30am the next day.

Image of the stalls in a field at Carry on Crafting

Yarn shows and craft festivals always seem to be such great events. A chance to gather with fellow creatives and admire stalls from independent sellers. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to catch up with friends and see some familiar faces!

In fact I bumped into the lovely Eleonora from Coastal Crochet (you can read the designer interview I did with her here) who it was great to catch up with (as you can see I look a bit overexcited!).

Photo of me standing next to the lovely Eleonora from Coastal Crochet.

I also got to have a quick chat with the lovely Kitey otherwise known as The Yarn Whisperer (my MAL partner in crime) which is always a blast – though we do have a tendency to talk ten to the the dozen and get a bit over excited about things (we may have been chatting about future MAL plans!).

There were loads of many wonderful stands and I did buy a few bits and bobs. As you would expect at a ‘crafting’ festival it wasn’t just yarn (though there were a couple including Kitey’s (The Yarn Whisperer) and Bex (The Pigeon’s Nest).

I will confess to buying some yarn and stitch markers (I can’t help myself!) from Kitey from his tarot collection (to go with some I already have) and some pencils (which I love!) and a fun yarn related sticker from Bex.

Image of the outside of Kitey and Bex's tent, featuring a lovely array of colourful crochet and yarn. There are people inside and outside perusing the items for sale.

I was excited to see in the flesh some of the new kits that Kitey had put together for the Peppermint Pageant. This is the first time a new colourway for one of our MALs has been put together after the MAL has finished. The new colourway is so pretty and I believe will be available in his shop soon once his end of show stock take is done.

Close up of the Yarn Whisperers stall where you can see the Peppermint Pageant stocking hanging from the ceiling and new packs of colourways on a shelf alongside other rows of colourful yarns.

The only other bits I ended up buying whilst I was there were some lovely stickers and keyrings to give to my kids and of course the food.

There were several food stands to choose from, prices were reasonable and I would say the sort of prices you would expect at a show. Options ranged from chips, burgers, Mexican food, jacket potatoes and crepes.

Image of a hand holding a crepe next to a blackboard sign advertising crepes.

The timing of the show was brilliant, being at the start of July meant it didn’t interfere with the school holidays. We were also quite fortunate with the weather; all the stalls for the show are outside and it was nice to have a walk around in the sunshine.

We did have a few showers but it didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits it just seemed to add more fun to the experience.

The South of England Showground is huge and there were plenty of spaces set up with seating where you could stop for a bite to eat or just sit, chill and crochet. It’s so nice to see folks able to get back together again in a relaxed way – something we definitely missed during COVID times.

Many of my friends were camping so we all sat together for most of the time, gathered around their tents, crocheting and laughing so much that my ribs were sore afterwards (what a tonic!). I also couldn’t resist getting a souvenir Carry on Crafting glass – used as a refillable option from the bar. I loved that eco friendly offering instead of plastic glasses.

Close up of a cute half pint glass that says Carry on Crafting Festival.

As there was a large group of hooky friends attending the lovely Jess (Hook and Cwtch) and Amanda (Mrs G Makes) and I decided to put together a special collab. It meant we could sit around working on the same project which is always a special thing to do.

The pattern I created is called the Festival Fade Shawl (which I will be releasing soon) for which Jess dyed up a gorgeous 100g skein to go with five 20g sparkly minis.

Close up of the Festival Fade colour palette created by Hook and Cwtch.

This was then combined with a fabulous tote bag, yarn cosy and cute caravan stitch marker from Amanda.

Although I’d already completed my Festival Fade Shawl in the original colours Jess, being the sweetheart she is, dyed me up a new special colourway which meant I could join in crocheting the project too. Such a kind thing to do and I really enjoyed working on it again without having to do the thinking part!

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the show, and although it was a LONG way to travel to it was most certainly worth the trip. I think I’ll definitely be back to Carry on Crafting Festival next year – who knows I might see you there?!