New Pattern Release | Fluorite Filet 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

Ready, Steady, Autumn! Are you ready for the changing of the seasons? Autumn in the Northern Hemisphere is supposed to begin on 22 September and weirdly, here we are a couple of days later and, I swear it’s got colder and darker in the evenings already!

So to cheer us up, with the imminent onset of cooler weather, I’ve got a lovely new pattern for you. Designed to give you some instant colour gratification (if you want to go there), and nice and quick to work up to ward off the first seasonal chills, allow me to introduce the Flourite Filet Cowl.

❤️ SAVE FLOURITE FILET COWL ON RAVELRY ❤️

If you aren’t familiar with filet crochet this would be a great starting project. Filet crochet is an easy technique that can make some wonderful patterns using simple stitches (chains and US double / UK treble crochet).

Inspired by Flourite quartz crystals, which are beautiful colourful minerals that crystalise in cubic form, I’ve put together a cowl which features a repeating filet ‘cube’ or diamond shape.

Worked in the round and in three colours, to represent the ombre effect of the crystals, this is a quick and easy project to work up. I wanted a smallish cowl but you could make it taller by increasing the rows, or wider, as I’ve also included in the pattern how you would adjust the starting stitches to make it bigger.

I used Scheepjes River Washed yarn, which is 4ply ,78% Cotton / 22% Acrylic and comes in 50g balls. I made mine in Danube (948), Yarra (949) and Steenbras (942) to match the colours I picked up from the crystals, but I think the cowl would look equally pretty worked in a solid colour or even in a skein of hand dyed yarn.

Rainbow flourite crystals, in spiritual healing, are supposed to promote creative thinking, mental clarity and focus and most of all help clear the mind from negative energies – all things a crocheter can enjoy whilst working up this cowl.

In fact I enjoyed making this cowl so much that I made a second one. I still using Scheepjes River Washed yarn but I wanted to see what it would look like using different colours so I used a variety of pinks, in this case I used Mekong (943), Eisack (957) and Steenbras (942).

❤️ SAVE FLOURITE FILET COWL ON ETSY ❤️

❤️ SAVE FLOURITE FILET COWL ON LOVECRAFTS ❤️

This pattern is perfect for advanced beginners as it only uses easy stitches, or as a versatile update to an accessory collection for an intermediate crocheter! It’s also perfect for any last minute gifts you need to make! The pattern is now available for purchase from my Ravelry, LoveCrafts or Etsy stores but hang on a moment…

This pattern is also being featured as part of the E’Claire Makery Fall Fashion Blog Hop on Friday 25th September 2020. Find out how to grab a FREE printable PDF copy of the cowl below.

From September 1 to September 30 a new crochet designer will be featured each day on , and they will share a crochet pattern available as a free pdf download. The PDF will be available as a FREE PDF download on Ravelry for 24 hours.

Blog Hop Instructions:

1: Click on the button below to go to the Flourite Filet Cowl on Ravelry.

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

If you are reading this after the promotion has passed you can purchase the bag from either my Ravelry, Etsy or LoveCrafts store – but there is also ANOTHER way to get this pattern – and more patterns besides!

I’ve enjoyed taking part in Claire’s blog hops before but for the Fall Fashion blog hop she’s offering something new. All the designers involved are offering a crochet bundle! This bundle includes all 32 of the crochet patterns that will be released for this event. The bundle includes all of the patterns in one place, with a table of contents to easily take you to each pattern. Plus, you won’t have to worry if this is the first you are hearing about the blog hop and you’ve missed the other days to download the patterns. You’ll already have all of them!

Just take a look at some of the gorgeous designs that are included below:

One of the best parts of the crochet pattern bundle is that it’s over 90% off of the usual price of all of these patterns separately! For just £11.45 ($15), you can get all of them! And there’s actually two patterns from me included; the Fluorite Filet Cowl and another cowl pattern exclusive to Dear Ewe coming soon!

If you want to make sure you get notifications about special events like this blog hop or tutorials, news and pattern releases then please sign up for my newsletter below.

I can’t wait to see your versions of the Flourite Filet Cowl and what colours you will chose to make it in! 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

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.

18Sep2020

20% Discount | Pattern Release: Pretty Pastel Pandas

Posted in Amigurumi, Crochet, Independent Design, Pattern Release by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

Recently my godmother contacted me to see if I could make her a couple of amigurumis for twin grandbabies due in November. She specified that she’d like one blue and one pink but that everything else would be up to me. So I started thinking about twins, and what animals quite commonly have twins, and that led me to pandas…

Meet the pretty pastel panda twins Ping and Pei, a cute pair of cuddly keepsakes that are sure to be a firm favourite with children and grown-ups.

I wanted these pandas to be a little different from the traditional black and white versions which is why I made them in pastel colours. I thought the colour scheme would work well with pink and blue, and lent themselves to a wee baby nursery colour scheme.

❤️ SAVE PRETTY PASTEL PANDAS ON RAVELRY ❤️

Of course the pattern would work in other colours too, you could substitute the pink and blue for yellow or mint maybe if you were looking for more unisex colours, or if a baby’s gender was going to be a surprise. Of course the pattern would also work with some lovely primary brights too – I’d like to see that!

❤️ SAVE PRETTY PASTEL PANDAS ON LOVECRAFTS ❤️

I used Paintbox Cotton DK, which is 100% cotton that is available in a huge palette of 56 colours. I used 1 ball of Champagne White (403), 1 ball of Blush Pink (454) and 1 ball of , 1 ball of Slate Grey (406). You can use 1 ball of the white for both pandas and the grey you only need for the features so there’s loads left over.

It was my first time using Paintbox Cotton DK, and I really liked it as a cotton for amigurumi’s. It’s very affordable at £2.50 ($3.22) per ball; that’s for 50g, and the fact it comes in so many colours is a huge plus. Of course the other thing about making things in cotton is that it’s durable, but its not stiff like other cottons I’ve used, it’s quite soft and pliable.

❤️ SAVE PRETTY PASTEL PANDAS ON ETSY ❤️

Ping and Pei are fun amigurumi to make, with just a few simple techniques you can easily bring these pretty pastel pals to life.

Do you fancy 20% off the pattern price? Just enter the coupon code: PANDA on either Ravelry or Etsy until the 30th September 2020 to save.

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

26Aug2020

20% Discount | Pattern Release: Back to School Bear

Posted in Amigurumi, Crochet, Independent Design, Pattern Release by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

As you know, one of the things I’ve pledged myself to work on this year is to get more organised with the release of some of the patterns that I can now offer as ‘independent patterns’.

I talked a bit about what this refers to in this post here, but basically it means me sorting out the patterns, that were once only available in magazines, and make them available for you to enjoy via your favourite pattern download sites.

It’s a big ole list that I’m trying to work through, but I actually had an occasion to re-make one of my old patterns recently. So it was a bit of a serendipitous moment for which pattern I was going to sort out this month.

❤️ SAVE BACK TO SCHOOL BEAR ON RAVELRY ❤️

You may remember that Back to School Bear appeared in Happily Hooked Magazine way way back in August 2017, I can’t believe it was 3 years ago! But there we have it, it really was about time this little guy was made available! And it’s that time of year that many of us are thinking about the start of a new school term – I know I’ve been sorting out school uniforms today.

❤️ SAVE BACK TO SCHOOL BEAR ON LOVECRAFTS ❤️

On the original version of Back to School Bear I used Stylecraft Special Double Knit, but for the remake I used stash yarn. I used Ricorumi DK in Silver Grey (058), White (001), Black (060), Red (028), Blue (032), Saffron (063) and Pistachio (047). You need 2 balls of the main bear colour and just 1 ball for all the primary colours and the bears snout.

I actually really enjoyed remaking this little guy. It’s my youngest daughter’s last day at her Nursery school this week, and it’s also the end of an era as it’s the nursery her sister attended, and I’ve no more children now that will be going to that nursery.

I wanted to make a little keepsake gift that she could give as a gift on her last day, and this little bear just seemed like a cute idea, as he’ll be gifted with a little wooden sign I’d bought saying how fun Nursery was.

❤️ SAVE BACK TO SCHOOL BEAR ON ETSY ❤️

I think Back to School Bear would make a great keepsake gift to get kids excited about their grand return to the classroom. Or even as a mascot for college or university students. He could also be a fun end of term teacher gift too!

Do you fancy 20% off the pattern price? Just enter the coupon code: SCHOOL on either Ravelry or Etsy until the 15 September to save.

As I mentioned before, there’s still quite a few patterns I need to work through, but I’m not going to do them in any particular order – so just watch this space for new releases!

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

1Jul2020

20% Discount | Pattern Release: Angelica Mouse

Posted in Amigurumi, Crochet, Independent Design, Pattern Release by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

One of the things on my to do list, which I’ve been trying to work through, is to organise the release of some of the patterns that I can now offer as an ‘independent pattern’.

With some magazines there is a contract which you enter into, when you take on the commission, to give the pattern exclusively to the magazine for a set period of time. When that time is over the rights of the pattern come back to you as the original designer so that you can release them independently yourself.

Formating the patterns into PDF downloads and converting the terminology to US and UK has been one of those jobs that I started off trying to do when the relevant time period elapsed – but for some reason I just haven’t got round to sorting them all out and now there’s a bit of a stack of them! So in a bid to get organised I’ve now set myself a reminder so I can start making some of these available for you.

❤️ SAVE ANGELICA THE MOUSE ON RAVELRY ❤️

The first pattern I’m releasing today is because someone asked if it was now available (and so set me on my making patterns available quest!) – and that pattern is little Angelica Mouse!

You may remember that Angelica the Mouse appeared in Crochet Now, Issue 37 which was released back in January 2019, though I actually made Angelica back in July 2018 – so almost two years ago! It’s so crazy how fast time goes with these things.

❤️ SAVE ANGELICA THE MOUSE ON LOVECRAFTS ❤️

For Angelica, incase you were wondering, I used 1 ball of Scheepjes Stone Washed in Moon Stone (801), Lilac Quartz (818), Rose Quartz (820) and Larimar (828). Although I only made one mouse I think you might probably get two mice out of the 4 x 50g / 130m balls.

Angelica is one of those designs that I remembered feeling really proud of when she was finished. I’d had a picture in my head of how I wanted her to be and she pretty much turned out exactly how I wanted her too. And now she’s already for other’s to make – I can’t wait to see your Angelica projects!

❤️ SAVE ANGELICA THE MOUSE ON ETSY ❤️

Do you fancy 20% off the pattern price? Just enter the coupon code: MOUSE on either Ravelry or Etsy until the 31 July to save.

There’s quite a few patterns I need to work through, but I’m not going to do them in any particular order – so just watch this space for new releases!

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

8May2020

Crochet Pattern Release & Discount Code| Timmy the Tribal Cactus

Posted in Amigurumi, Crochet, Holidays, Independent Design, Pattern Release by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

Hey folks, hope you are all doing okay out there and enjoying some bank holidays sunshine. Perhaps I find you today looking for a new crochet project? Well I’ll get straight to the ‘point’ of my post today – meet Timmy the Tribal Cactus!

Now I’m a bit obsessed with cacti and succulents, I’ve always had them around my home, and I think I’m currently numbering around 7 or 8 different varieties around the house. I love house plants in general, but what I love about cacti in particular is the easy maintenance, they are so effortless to look after, they don’t need a lot of water (so it doesn’t matter if you forget sometimes) and they are just so interesting to look at.

Timmy the Tribal Cactus is actually a pattern that’s been floating around for a while. I have a sketchbook that I scribble ideas or sketches into; sometimes I’ll have a look over these notes again and what I haven’t made yet then becomes something I really want to make now – totally the case with this design.

Timmy is made from Ricorumi DK that I’d got in my stash. I really like Ricorumi to work with; it’s specifically designed for amigurumi creations so it works really well with any designs I’ve used it for.

If it’s something you’ve not tried before, and you are reading this in real time, I did notice it’s on sale from Deramores at the moment for 0.87p for the 25g (57.5m) balls (in fact there a 20% discount sale on all yarn from Deramores for the Bank Holiday weekend).

If Timmy prickles your fancy you can pick up the pattern now from my Ravelry, LoveCrafts (when it’s approved) or my brand new Etsy store (which I’m finally getting round to populating!). The 4 page Timmy the Tribal Cactus pattern is available in UK and US terms.

SAVE TIMMY THE TRIBAL CACTUS ON RAVELRY

Speaking of which Timmy the Tribal Cactus pattern has an exclusive Ravelry discount code of 40% off this weekend, just use code: ‘TIMMY’ at the checkout. There is also 40% off the pattern on Etsy, no code required.

FAVOURITE TIMMY THE TRIBAL CACTUS ON ETSY

Just out of curiosity I’d love to know where would you say your favourite place is to buy your patterns from? Personally I’ve bought from all sites but I’d say mine are usually purchased mainly on Ravelry.

I hope you’ll tag @kcaco.uk on Instagram or share your projects on Ravelry or my Facebook page as I love to see your finished work! Happy Crocheting!

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

27Mar2020

Crochet Pattern Release & Discount Code| Battenburg Bunny

Posted in Amigurumi, Crochet, Holidays, Independent Design, Pattern Release by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

Hey folks, how you all doing out there? Today has felt like a looooonnnggg day! So in an aim to focus on more positive things, I’ve got a brand new pattern release for you today! Meet the Batternburg Bunny, she’s as sweet as marzipan and some’bunny’ you should really get to know better!

Do you like Battenburg cake? It’s one of my eldest girls favourites, but I think marzipan in a bit like marmite isn’t it, you either love it or loathe it!

This is one of those designs that I had around at least a year ago which popped up into my head again, and then I couldn’t shake it, I really wanted to try and combine some tapestry crochet and amigurumi to make something new!

She’s a fun project to make, and really not too tricky once you get into the flow of things.

I was actually going to call this bunny the Patchwork bunny until one of my friends suggested it looked like a Battenburg cake and then it just had to be the name!

My bunny is made from Scheepjes Catona that I’d got in my stash (I have a lot of Catona in my stash! You may have noticed it’s one of my favourite yarns to use for amigurumi), but the pattern will work with other yarns.

The 6 page Battenburg Bunny pattern is now on sale over on Ravelry (available in UK and US terms).

SAVE BATTENBURG BUNNY ON RAVELRY

In fact if you are looking for something to do I’ve put ALL my patterns on sale in my Ravelry store until 3 April 2020. Just enter code: LOCKDOWN for a discount off all patterns you add to your basket.

I hope you’ll tag @kcaco.uk on Instagram or share your projects on Ravelry or my Facebook page as I love to see your finished work! Happy Crocheting!

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

24Mar2020

New Pattern Release | Bramble Saddle Bag

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

In light of what’s happening in the world at the moment and in a bid to focus on something positive I’ve got a brand new crochet pattern to share with you today.

I’ve had in mind to design a bag, specifically a saddle style bag, for awhile now, but it wasn’t until I came across some Gorgeous Knits yarn in my stash that I began to develop the idea a little more.

The yarn, described on the label as ‘Aran Wool and Alpaca Blend Knitting Wool’, is what I would call proper woolly wool, that sort of hard-wearing wool best suited for non-clothing items – just perfect for a bag! I’d got 350g in total and I pretty much used up every scrap working this pattern double stranded.

I’m in love with the texture of this bag, it’s the type that just makes you want to run your fingers over it (or is it just me that does that?).

The memorable stitch pattern makes a dense, sturdy fabric which is just perfect for a bag, I don’t think you’d even have to line it, though I probably line mine at some point just to give it that completely finished off feel.

This pattern is perfect for advanced beginners that would like to learn a new stitch, or as a versatile update to an accessory collection for an intermediate crocheter! And it’s now available for purchase from my Ravelry or LoveCrafts store.

❤️ SAVE BRAMBLE SADDLE BAG ON RAVELRY ❤️

All the fittings and fixtures for the bag I purchased from Amazon – I’ve linked them up in my new KCACOUK Amazon storefront under Haberdashery if you want to use the same ones.

This pattern will be available for FREE until 3 April (US Pacific Time) as part of the E’Claire Makery March Spring Fashion Blog Hop.

Blog Hop Instructions:

1: Visit E’Claire Makery and get the coupon code.

2: Click on the button below to go to the Bramble Saddle Bag 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 bag from either my Ravelry or LoveCrafts store.

I can’t wait to see your versions of the Bramble Saddle bag and what colours you will chose to make them! 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

19Mar2020

Pattern Release & Giveaway | Waverley Kisses Scarf

Posted in Competitions, Crochet, Crochet Accessories, Designing, From the Stash, Independent Design, Inspiration, Tah-Dah, Yarn, Yarn Show by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

Well what a time we are having folks! Covid 19 or coronavirus has many of us feeling anxious I’m sure. It has already impacted on every aspect of our lives and we’re left feeling worried about loved ones. Although crafting isn’t the answer to everything it can provide us with something positive and practical to focus on can’t it!

So in the hope that I can momentarily distract you or keep you occupied during lock down I was going to tell you that I’ve had my Waverley Kisses Scarf back from the Unravel Festival.

It’s now available for purchase on Ravelry but I thought I’d spread a little cheer by having a giveaway! So I’m giving away a couple copies of the Waverley Kisses Scarf pattern here on the blog, a couple on Facebook and a couple on my Instagram (so if you don’t have one method of entering you might have another).

❤️ WAVERLEY KISSES SCARF ON RAVELRY ❤️

This lovely and organically shaped wave scarf includes a fun crossed stitch in the design which creates a lovely subtle texture that you just want to run your hands over. Combine that with some beautiful yarn to make a winning combination scarf!

🎉 GIVEAWAY 🎉

How to enter simply tell me what colour you’d make your scarf in and be sure to let your friends know about this giveaway too!

Bonus Entry: Re-pin any of the pictures on this post and copy & paste the URL of your re-pin in the comments below.

Winners will be randomly chosen on Friday 27 March 2020

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

9Jan2020

Crochet Pattern Release & Discount Code| Reginald the Royal Rat

Posted in Amigurumi, Crochet, Holidays, Independent Design, Pattern Release by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

According to the Chinese Horoscope the year 2020 is the year of the Metal Rat! So I decided my first design for this year would be a little rat made in ‘metal’ grey yarn. Allow me to introduce Reginald the Royal Rat!

Reginald, as befitting someone born in the year of the rat, is an industrious, thrifty, diligent and positive wee fellow. He can accommodate himself to different circumstances quickly and get clear about his surroundings – which makes him perfect as an ornament to have on your shelf or desk at work.

Did you know that the Rat is the first of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar. According to one myth, the Jade Emperor said the order would be decided by the order in which they arrived to his party. I personally thing Reginald is dressed fit for any occasion he might find himself in – what do you think?

Reginald is made from Scheepjes Catona that I’d got in my stash and some gold Scheepjes Lizzy thread for his crown – my inner magpie is still not ready to put away the sparkle yet after Christmas!

The Year of the Rat is going to bring us creative energy where everyone will show determination regarding their goals, aspirations, and hobbies! So why not harness your amigurumi making abilities to hook up this regal little project.

PURCHASE REGINALD THE ROYAL RAT ON RAVELRY HERE

This would make a fun little gift for anyone born in the year of the rat, or for a rat or royalty lover! The 5 page PDF pattern is available in either UK or US terms and includes explanations of all stitches and abbreviations.

To celebrate the new release I’m offering 40% discount from today until 22 January 2020 on Ravelry. Just use coupon code: RAT40

I hope you’ll tag @kcaco.uk on Instagram or share your projects on my Facebook page as I love to see your finished work! Happy Crocheting!

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

16Dec2019

New Pattern Release | Gino the Gingerbread Baker

Posted in Amigurumi, Crochet, Holidays, Independent Design, Pattern Release by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

Here’s the next Christmas pattern as promised! Allow me to introduce Gino the Gingerbread Baker!

I have a notebook where I jot and doodle down any ideas I might get for a pattern. Sometimes they sit there for awhile and then get made (my Nordic Twist gnome for instance I thought of last year) other times the idea just won’t leave me. I’ll keep thinking about it and I just have to get it made – that was the case with Gino the Gingerbread Baker; he really wanted to come to life!

“Stir a bowl of gingerbread, Smooth and spicy brown. Roll it with a rolling pin, Up and up and down. With a cookie cutter, Make some little men. Put them in the oven, Till half past ten.”

With a removable hat and apron Gino is a fun ornament for your christmas kitchen – or remove the holly from the hat and he’s a fun gift for anyone who loves baking at anytime of the year!

Did you know that gingerbread men date from around the 16th century and the first documented figure-shaped “gyngerbrede” biscuits were baked at the court of Elizabeth 1 of England.

Fascinatingly, in history, Gingerbread men were taken up by witches who used them like voodoo dolls. They would bake effigies of their enemies and eat them! I’m now a bit concerned about my 3 year old who finds it especially funny to the legs bite off gingerbread men and cry ‘help, help, my legs!!’ Joking aside people took the witchcraft voodoo gingerbread men so seriously that in 1607 the magistrates of Delft in the Netherlands made it illegal to either bake or eat the biscuits!

My gingerbread man is made from Scheepjes Catona, that I’d got in my stash and the mini gingerbread men props were from the seasonal section of my local COOP and were delicious!

My two girls both love to eat gingerbread men and we often decorate gingerbread men together this time of year. This pattern would be a great reminder of a family cooking session or as a fun prop for the Gingerbread Man fairy tale.

The pattern is now available, from all my usual pattern stores, for you to make your own little baker.

And as there’s still a few days until Christmas and you are looking for more seasonal patterns to hook up then check out my Christmas Crochet bundle on Ravelry. It contains all my seasonal patterns available for purchase or for free.

I’ve just got just one more Christmas patterns left that I’m releasing this year then I promise I’m all Xmas patterned out so keep a look out for those coming to this blog real soon!

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