The most wonderful time of the year…Christmas at The Crochet Sanctuary

Posted in Crochet, Days Out, Dear Ewe, Designing, Inspiration, Life, Outings, Yarn by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

When I was asked if I might like to do another workshop at The Crochet Sanctuary, and this time the Christmas one, I may have squealed a little bit in my head! Christmas is my MOSTEST favourite time of the year and I was delighted to be given the opportunity to come up with a fun festive design.

If you’ve not heard about The Crochet Sanctuary before it’s a crochet retreat set in the beautiful Cranage Hall in Crewe. The hosts of the sanctuary, Lisa and Lynda-Rose, always plan an amazing weekend for their guests and it’s usually extra special at Christmas – and this time it was no different!

On this occasion we were a nice cosy group of about 20 weekenders (to be joined by roughly 5 more day guests on the Saturday). The room we were in, as always, was arranged with a circle of comfy chairs covered in crochet blankets and cushions to make ourselves at home.

Excitingly this weekend myself, with my Dear Ewe hat on, and fellow small business owner Mrs G Makes had a pop up shop in the room, and Amanda from Craftopia had a pop up shop in her van!

It was really nice for me to let people see the Dear Ewe products up close as I think it’s a totally different experience from seeing them just on your computer screen. And it gave me a chance to try out my new stall display format as Dear Ewe is hopefully going on the road in 2020 to some yarn shows near you….

We started off the afternoon with a really fun ice-breaker to get to know each other with us having to confess a time when we’d been naughty. Santa presided over us and checked his list to see if he agreed that we’d been naughty or nice! Apparently I was naughty – I’m sure that can’t be right!? And then we were all given a present…if you are Instagram you need to check out this video to see our reactions!

Inside the parcel was our very own Scheepjes Whirligig which was just unbelievable! I’ve been drooling (like so many others I’m sure) over these since they were released earlier this year. These decadent gigantic yarn cakes (1000m / 450g) are a super soft blend of alpaca and virgin wool and have gorgeous long repeats. Mine is the pink to plum version which is a pale pink that transitions to rich plums and deep purples. It was definitely love at first sight!

We were given two patterns to choose from, either the Scheepjes Valyria Shawl by Johanna Lindahl or the new Nolkag Wrap pattern designed especially for the weekend. I chose the Nolkag Wrap which is just a deliciously mindful pattern with a pretty cabled texture. I enjoyed working on the pattern, and with the yarn which just glides through your fingers, so much that I found it really hard to put it down the whole weekend!

But a gal’s got to eat so we hooked until 7pm then it was time for a three course meal in the restaurant (which was delicious) and then we went back up to the room for more crochet and chatting.

I was a bit more sensible this time and was in bed for 11pm (not the usual wee hours of the morning) and before I knew it it was time for a buffet style breakfast then back up to the room for our next project which was completely awesome! We were given everything we needed to make giant baubles! I still need to finish mine so I’ll have to share a photo when I’m finished.

Next it was Christmas dinner for lunch and with all of us feeling full and maybe a tad sleepy it was time for me to do my workshop! Lisa and Lynda had let me decide what I was going to do for my workshop, and when I’d suggested a stocking design they thought that was great – I think everyone was thinking it was going to be another amigurumi!

I came up with the Starlight Stocking design which I think would make a great addition to those handmade decorations you bring out year after year.

My chosen yarn for the stocking was the new Scheepjes Chunky Monkey yarn, which is becoming a fast new favourite of mine, so soft, combined with Scheepjes Catona and Scheepjes Lizzy (for a bit of bling). You can just see them hanging in situ below on one of the gorgeous Cranage Estate fireplaces!

As always it was great fun watching everyone get stuck into making the stockings (I don’t usually get to see that part!), we had a break for the evening meal until 7pm-ish (when the day people left us) for another scrumptious three course meal in the restaurant, then it was back up to the room again to continue with the stockings.

As always much belly laughter was had (you pinocchio nose people know who you are!)…then it was time for bed again, the weekend really does seem to just fly by so quickly!

Sunday until 3pm (when the Sanctuary finishes) is normally when we have time to finished off our projects but Lynda and Lisa had another fun project in store! We got to have a go at making our own custom shawl kilt pin and I got to use a glue gun for the first time. I now kind of want to glue aallll the things because I REALLY enjoyed using the gun. I chose some festive felt balls and bells to adorn my kilt pin to match my Nolkag Wrap.

After that it was wonderful to see that nearly everyone wanted to finish off their stockings…and some did get them finished or nearly finished over the weekend. Everyone did such an amazing job with them!

And some more stockings modelled with the gorgeously decorated fireplace!

I’m a bit addicted to attending The Crochet Sanctuary days / weekends they have throughout the year. It’s always such fun and I get to just talk crochet till I’m fit to burst which is especially refreshing because no one’s eyes start to glaze over – they are just as enthused as me!

It was a thoroughly wonderful weekend, which I knew it would be, that I was lucky enough to share with the most wonderful group of people! Just a lovely occasion to catch up with old friends and make some new ones!

If you are looking for a weekend of yarn, crochet, relaxation and just pure wonderfulness then the The Crochet Sanctuary is definitely the place for you. As testament the weekend dates for 2020 have already completely sold out – but you can still book the remaining few day dates that are left here.

I’m going back for a day visit again in February as a guest which I’m already looking forward to! How many more sleeps is that….

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

4Nov2019

New for Ewe! Yarny Stationery Range

Posted in Crochet, Dear Ewe, Getting Crafty, Inspiration, Yarn by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

I don’t think it’s a secret that I’m a complete yarn addict but what you may not know about me is that I also love stationery. Like a brand new ball of yarn I find there is something quite special about a new notebook that makes me feel that almost anything can be achieved.

So when I was thinking about what products to develop next for Dear Ewe I knew I needed to combine my two loves together to create some fun stationery that everyone could enjoy.

I do enjoy thinking of things that could come next for Dear Ewe that I think people will like and of course I make sure that I like them too! I knew without doubt that there had to be a notebook in the new products.

When I’m designing patterns I write everything I do, in pencil, in a notebook, and I personally like notebooks that have a fastening or elastic around them as I sometimes stick in bits of paper or other notes that I don’t want to lose.

Each Yarn Whisperer notebook is made from soft touch PVC covered recycled cardboard and has a ribbon page marker and elastic closure. It’s A7 size means it fits easily into a handbag (for yarn shopping notes) or your project bag.

Keeping with the yarny theme there’s also a range of Yarn Lovers Die Cut Vinyl stickers which will allow you to add your own personal woolly touch to almost anything! As a kid I loved stickers and I realised I never grew out of that love!

Give people a little idea of who you are and what you love by sticking these yarny vinyl stickers to your notebooks, your laptop, your luggage or anything that you like! Available as a pack of four stickers or individually – I’m going to be sticking them everywhere!!

And finally the perfect stationery addition to help organise all of your yarny projects! The Work in Progress (WIP) Crochet / Knit Project Cards are here to help you organise your WIP projects, because I’m assuming like me that you might find something like this a handy tool?!

Invented partly because I have a personal issue with so many WIPs scattered in various places in the house, (15 or so – that’s not bad right?), and I thought I can’t be the only one that would find the postcard size memo’s a handy thing to have around.

Each pack contains eight (8) individual WIP cards for your different projects and they will mean no more forgetting what that project was all about or what yarn you were using! You just write down the necessary details on the card, pop it in your project bag, (you can even add a yarn sample in the holes provided), then when you next go to that project (in few days, weeks, months or years) you’ll have everything you need, to know what to do next.

It’s getting to that time of year now when folks are starting to think about Christmas and all the stationery range are priced to make excellent stocking fillers for yarn lovers, crochet addicts, knitting fanatics and fiber artists. So if you’re thinking of presents for a crafty friend or as a treat for yourself I hope you’ll take a look at the new range of Dear Ewe stationery.

So what do you think? Like them? Love em? Already bought some? I’d love to know.

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

14Jul2019

Dear Ewe | 1 Year Birthday SALE and Giveaway!

Posted in Crochet, Dear Ewe, Inspiration, Life, Sale / Special Offer by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

Dear Ewe 1st Birthday Sale! 30% Discount to all items in store.

Exciting news! Dear Ewe my little fledgling business has turned ONE!! And we are doing a big ole sale to celebrate it! It’s often said that more than half of new businesses fail during the first year but we’ve made it and that’s another reason to celebrate too I think!

Dear Ewe Being Creative Tote Bag for crocheters and knitters

This year, we’ve had some truly epic experiences! From actually starting our business in the first place and then welcoming our first stockist, to having our products featured in some amazing magazines and had the pleasure of collaborating on some exciting products.

It’s super scary trying something new – fear, uncertainty and self-doubt all the way! And that step into the unknown was a BIG step, especially for me, but I’m proud of the fact that I took a step out of my comfort zone to try something new. And thankfully you all seem to love our mugs, bags, prints, photo prop cards, greetings cards, patterns and kits – for which we are so very thankful and grateful!

Dear Ewe creative prop cards - home is where the yarn is!

So we wanted to say a big thank you for all the support that everyone out there has given Dear Ewe in it’s first year! Which meant we had to line up some treats!

There’s a 30% discount running on all items sitewide – so if you’re thinking of presents for a crafty friend or as a treat for yourself now is the time to grab them – but get them whilst you can, offer ends 21 July 2019.

And if you pop on over to either the Dear Ewe Instagram Page or our Facebook page you could enter our giveaway to win 5 of our fun greetings cards.

Hurry for that one as it finishes on 17 July!

There’s also a free crochet pattern coming up on the Dear Ewe blog too that’s birthday themed so you might want to look out for that one.

Well that’s it from me! Until next time folks! 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

21Oct2018

Sincerely Pam and Dear Ewe | Win Triangle Chart Mug

Posted in Competitions, Crochet, Dear Ewe, Giveaways, Product Review by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

So regular readers of my blog know that, as well as doing crochet design work, this year I set up the company for creative folk called Dear Ewe. Well I felt that I just wanted to share our first product review by the lovely Canadian crochet designer and blogger Pam (aka Sincerely Pam).

We know that people like to hear about products from actual people, so we are very excited to have received such a lovely review from Pam. As a new business it obviously means the world to us that people like our products!

You can read Pam’s full product review post here – and excitingly you could enter her prize draw to win your very own Triangle Chart mug. Entries for the giveaway are direct through Pam’s blog – winner will be selected on October 24, 2018.

We were also delighted to be part of her Makers Maven series with an interview where we shared a bit more about us and how Dear Ewe got started.

You can read the full interview here and learn how gin was an integral part of the beginning of Dear Ewe and how Becky and I work together as a team as well as being friends.

To keep up with more Dear Ewe news you can follow us on the Dear Ewe BLOG, FACEBOOK, or INSTAGRAM.

PLUS make sure you check out the blog post about the ‘Sheep on a Shelf’ Crochet Competition which will run from December 1st-12th 2018 and is going to be so much fun!

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

20Sep2018

Another fabulous weekend at The Crochet Sanctuary…

Posted in Crochet, Days Out, Dear Ewe, Designing, Inspiration, Life, Outings, Yarn by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

What an amazing weekend I’ve just had at The Crochet Sanctuary!! It’s going to be hard to try and explain what a refreshing, relaxing and just downright fun time I had, but I’ll give it a go!

You may remember that in February Mr. KCACO-UK bought me a day pass to The Crochet Sanctuary at the beautiful Cranage Hall in Crewe (which you can read about here). It was whilst I was there that the lovely Lisa and Lynda-Rose did me the very great honour of asking me if I’d like to host a workshop. I was delighted to be asked and of course I said YES please!

I think I’ve mentioned before that I don’t really have many crocheting friends that live close to me – or they are more dabblers in crochet rather than a self proclaimed addict like me. The majority of my crochet buddies I’ve only met virtually via social media so the opportunity to meet up with other creative folks that share my passion for crochet – and love to talk about it as much as I do is absolutely wonderful!

I would describe myself as a bit of an introverted extrovert if there is such a thing. There are times where I feel a little awkward in social situations, but I also really love to chat once I get to know people. I love how the crochet sanctuary always makes me feel so welcome and straight away they seem to put everyone at there ease.

On this occasion we were a nice cosy group of about 15 people and our room was a circle of comfy chairs covered in crochet blankets and cushions where we could make ourselves at home. There was also a spinning wheel of sweets (yes really!), prosecco, water, tea/coffee or locally produced cordial to drink, snacks galore and of course lots and lots of lovely yarn!

We started off with a really fun ice-breaker to get to know each other which included being sorted by a talking Harry Potteresque sorting hat (I was Ravenclaw!). And waiting for us on our seats was a giant goodie bag full of our first project.

We were given a complete Mabel the giant amigurumi Bunny by Wool Couture which I was very excited about. This was my first time making an mega large ami and the pure merino yarn was just soooooo squishy! The colour chosen for us was ‘mink’ which is what the original Mabel was made of and away we started hooking…

We hooked until 7pm then it was time for a three course meal down in the restaurant (which was delicious) and then we went back up to the room for more crochet and chatting…and I may have just stayed up until 1am!! Time seriously just flew by! But everyone could have a lie in the next day until 9am (which when you think I usually get up at 6am – or earlier with my two early-bird girls was heavenly).

After a scrummy buffet style breakfast it was back up to the room for our next project and we were joined by some more people that had a day pass. This time our Lisa and Lynda had designed hot-water bottle covers for us to make. There were two different applique designs to choose from, either butterflies or stars, and we were also given a hot-water bottle and all the yarn we would need. I was pleased to see the Scheepjes Softfun Denim (which you may remember I used for the Stitch Story CAL) and some Scheepjes Catona (which is some of my favourite yarn to use) and by lunchtime I’d hooked up one completed panel of my hot-water bottle. Then it was off for another delicious two course lunch (we were so well fed the whole weekend!)

Then it was time to get ready for my workshop…squeak!!! I was rather nervous but I’d taken along some of my favourite designs to talk about including the Leafy Boughs Shawl (on top) some crochet blankets I’d made for Simply Crochet magazine, the Stitch Story CAL blankets and various amigurumi…

I also chatted a bit about Dear Ewe and our products which had it’s up close and personal debut that weekend with folks attending the sanctuary…

And then I introduced the design we were going to be working on for the rest of the afternoon. Lisa and Lynda let me decide what I was going to do for my workshop, though they did suggest they’d maybe like to see an amigurumi. I thought long and hard about what I was going to do when I happened upon this photo…it was a serendipitous moment where the photo just seemed to encapsulate perfectly what I wanted for The Crochet Sanctuary. Something fun and something to convey how the sanctuary made me feel – just completely relaxed!

From that inspiration I came up with the design for Relaxing Ralph (pattern release coming soon), complete with optional hammock (and stand made by my lovely Dad).

My chosen yarn for Ralph was Scheepjes Stonewashed XL combined with normal Stonewashed DK and some trusty Catona. It was super fun to watch everyone begin their cats – and a relatively new experience for me to be present when someone actually makes one of my patterns.

The rest of the afternoon until 6pm-ish (when the day people left us_ was taken up with making our kitties, then we all had a little rest before meeting for another scrumptious three course meal in the restaurant at 7pm.

Then for those that wanted to we all went back up to the room to do some more crocheting, and there was wine and gin (and soft drinks) shared around and oh my word just such belly laughter! Such a fabulous evening where something will just never be referred to in the same way ever again! Then before I knew it, it was 11.30pm and I really needed to sleep!

Sunday until 3pm (when the Sanctuary finishes) was given over for time to finished off our projects (and of course another delicious breakfast and lunch). It was wonderful that nearly everyone wanted to finish off their cats and before I knew it Ralph was joined by Regina Phalangi, Hilda, Jasper, Cinnamon, Heather, Reba, Gary, Julian and Gordon! We couldn’t resist a little photo shoot with all the cats…

Everyone did such an AMAZING job with their cats! And before I knew it the cats were getting up to all sorts of mischief! Sliding down banisters…

and checking out the cat local population!

And then there was just time for a fabulous group photo on the steps before packing up our belongs to go home (with some many goodies in our bags!).

All in all a thoroughly wonderful weekend which I was lucky enough to share with the most wonderful group of people!

If you are looking for a weekend of yarn, crochet, relaxation and just pure wonderfulness then the The Crochet Sanctuary is definitely the place for you. As testament to that the dates for 2018 are all now sold out and the dates for 2019 are selling out fast – but you can book on the remaining dates here.

I have to say I’m totally getting addicted to these weekends and may have just booked on a few more myself for this year – I’m looking forward to my next day visit in November.

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

5Sep2018

LGC Knitting & Crochet Magazine | Novelty Garland & Free Robin Pattern

Posted in Amigurumi, Crochet, Dear Ewe, For Child, Magazine, Pattern Release, Sale / Special Offer, Tah-Dah by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

Issue 104 of LGC Knitting & Crochet Magazine is out in shops now and I’ve got two exclusive patterns in this issue which is a crafting for Christmas special – I know it’s only September but we crafters gotta start early am I right?!When the red, red robin, comes bob, bob, bobbing along….along!!! Today’s earworm is bought to you courtesy of me (sorry!). Robins are such a familiar site on Christmas cards aren’t they. So often pictured in the snow it’s because Britain’s favourite hardy little bird doesn’t migrate from the UK in the Winter it sticks around like we do (probably also muttering to itself about the weather).

Now you can make your own little crochet versions, Robert and Richard, to perch on your mantel during the festive season.

Made using three simple stitches, these little feathered friends are the perfect project for a crochet newbie – and right now these little birds are available for FREE from topcrochetpatterns.com

Sometimes I get asked to do things that seem rather bizarre – like my second make for this months edition. The brief was for a novelty brussel sprout garland with some party hats, but when I got to thinking about it, you don’t actually get more Christmassy than that do you! Even if you hate the vegetable (and who is it that really likes them?) this garland is so fun (and quick) to make – though you might feel as if someone is watching you whilst you are making it!

The magazine comes with a six blitzen yarns which are lovely and bright and the yellow has sparkly gold running through it too. You also get;

3.5mm hook & 3.5mm knitting needles
50 exclusive patterns
Plus… your 68 page magazine

LGC Knitting & Crochet Magazine is available in major supermarkets and newsagents across the UK. If you hook up either Richard and Robert Robin or make the fun Novelty Garland please share your photos with me on social media (facebook, twitter or instagram) – I love to see what you make!

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

24Aug2018

Make it Today Magazine | Snails and Unicorns and another Dear Ewe Competition

Posted in Amigurumi, Crochet, Dear Ewe, For Child, Magazine, Pattern Release, Sale / Special Offer, Tah-Dah by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

Crochet Mag ‘n’ Makes, the special edition of Make It Today magazine, is on sale now and I’ve got two new fun designs inside AND (as we wanted to launch with a bang) there’s another feature and crochet related giveaway from Dear Ewe in this issue!

You can just see on the front cover a couple of my makes – peeking out in the top right hand corner there’s a snail and at the bottom left you might just be able to make out a Stripes the Unicorn!

I’ve always wanted to design a unicorn so was excited to give one a go for the magazine and he turned out to be really fun to make. And I always think of rainbows when I think of unicorns but I wanted to give this make a little twist, so instead of giving him a stripy rainbow mane (which you always see), I decided to give him a stripy body.

I had to hide him a little whilst I was making him as my 7 year old is unicorn mad and would have run off with him given the chance!

In this issue I also made a colorful shellection of snails! Just forget about annoying garden pests and make up some gorgeous gastrapods to brighten up your day instead.

I nicknamed them Shelly and Sheldon (of course!) and opted for a traditional swirly pattern on their shells. But you could experiment with designs to create something completely unique to you.

I adore how the magazines have styled them as well with the bulb box and the flowers!

The mags and makes issue comes with the eight yarns I used for the patterns plus;

3mm hook & 4.5mm crochet hooks
55 exclusive patterns
Plus a 66 page magazine

You may also spy on page 6 in their news section that Dear Ewe had a lovely little feature…Little Ewe felt quite famous!

Dear Ewe have teamed up with Make It Today magazine to offer a fab ultimate crochet bundle! Worth over £129 one winner will receive a crochet chart mug, crochet chart tote bag, crochet chart large project bag, 8 x creative greeting cards, 4 x photo prop card packs and two pattern downloads in either UK or US terminology.

Click here to enter the giveaway

Entries must be received by 6 September 2018.

Make It Today magazine is available in major supermarkets and newsagents across the UK. If you hook up either Stripes the Unicorn or the Snail Duo please share your photos with me on social media (facebook, twitter or instagram) – I love to see what you make!

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

14Aug2018

LGC Knitting & Crochet Magazine | Goldilocks Pattern and Dear Ewe Competition

Posted in Amigurumi, Crochet, Dear Ewe, For Child, Magazine, Pattern Release, Sale / Special Offer, Tah-Dah by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

Issue 103 of LGC Knitting & Crochet Magazine is out in shops now and I’ve got a new fun design for the heritage toy special edition AND there’s some exciting things from Dear Ewe in this issue!

Once upon a time there were three bears who lived in a house in the forest. While they were out, a little girl called Goldilocks came through the trees and found their house and their porridge! We all know the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears don’t we, it’s something we just seem to grow up with so I was delighted to have the opportunity to recreate such well known characters is yarn.

Goldilocks, to my mind, has golden curls so I knew I was going to have to include that in my design…

And I really enjoyed creating the three bear characters. They were such fun to make and just perfect for little hands to accompany the much loved tale!

Issue 103 comes with a six sundaze yarns which are lovely bright colours. There are also some mini pink pom poms included in the pack as well as;

3.75mm hook & 3.75mm knitting needles
45 exclusive patterns
Plus a 68 page magazine

If you’ve already picked up the latest edition of LGC Knitting & Crochet Magazine you may also have seen that Dear Ewe had an exciting little feature in the news section.

Dear Ewe have teamed up with Let’s Get Crafting Knitting and Crochet Magazine to offer four winners the ultimate crochet bundle!

Included in your prize, worth over £70, is a chart mug, a large granny square themed project bag, a full set of Dear Ewe character greeting cards, each of the photo prop cards sets and two adorable crochet pattern downloads in either UK or US terminology. Sounds pretty great, right?

Enter the giveaway at:
https://www.topcrochetpatterns.com/giveaways/ultimate-crochet-bundle

Entries must be received by 31st August 2018.

LGC Knitting & Crochet Magazine is available in major supermarkets and newsagents across the UK. If you hook up Goldilocks and the Three Bears please share your photos with me on social media (facebook, twitter or instagram) – I love to see what you make!

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

30May2018

Pattern Release & Sale | Little Ewe Amigurumi

Posted in Amigurumi, Crochet, Dear Ewe, For Adult, For Baby, For Child, Independent Design, Pattern Release, Sale / Special Offer, Tah-Dah by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

So launching DearEwe.com has all been extremely exciting and part of the set up has included me designing some brand new exclusive designs for the store.

When we started discussing what we were going to call our new online shop for some reason we kept coming back to ‘sheep’. And why not! Sheep are wonderful! They give us wool and lambs are super cute…which leads me quite nicely into the oh so cuddly Little Ewe amigurumi pattern (ta-dah!).

Based on our lovable Dear Ewe illustrated character, that features on some of our products, Little Ewe is in the makers part of the website where crafters can choose to ‘make’ a variety of patterns from different designers using a diverse range of yarns.

For our first range of patterns we have used Scheepjes Stone Washed which is a cotton yarn with a tough name but a soft, woolly feel. And I really loved the aged washed out look of the yarn – it was exactly what I was looking for to create my little lamb.

Little Ewe is a sweet little lamb who loves the quiet life. She likes to spend her time in the country exploring the hills and dales. Spring is her favorite season, when the grass becomes green, when their are many butterflies and bees over the flowers and even with quiet April rainfall our Little Ewe just sits and waits for the rainbows.

As with the majority of my amigurumi crochet patterns Little Ewe is aimed at intermediate crocheters although I think advanced beginners could also probably handle it without problems. There are no tricky stitches are used in the pattern just a UK double crochet / US single crochets and a Puff stitch; but you will find full written instructions for both of these at the start of the pattern.

Little Ewe is made with a 3mm crochet hook (US D/3 will do) or any other size which allows you to obtain desired gauge. Gauge itself is not critical for this pattern but it is a pattern you want to crochet fairly tightly so that stuffing can not seen through the stitches.

It’s an exciting time for me as a designer and a partner of Dear Ewe! As well as a range of quality products for crafters were are in the process of developing a pattern house so crafters can choose to ‘make’ a variety of patterns from different designers using a diverse range of yarns. All our patterns (and products) are carefully designed and made with our crafting customers in mind and our designs will include homeware, fashion led-accessory items, amigurumi and other patterns in both crochet and knit – so watch this space.

Pattern Links 🎉

All of the Dear Ewe patterns are now available to add to your favourites on Ravelry and you can get 10% discount off the pattern price on the website (with coupon code: KCACOUK4EWE) until 30 June 2018 after that time the pattern will revert to full price.

Remember to share any Little Ewe project’s to be in with a chance to win a free pattern if you are featured in my monthly newsletter.

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