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

9Mar2020

The Spring Crochet Bundle is here!

Posted in Crochet, Inspiration, Patterns, Sale / Special Offer by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

I’m rather excited today and I shall tell you why;

1. It’s March and Spring is starting or just around the corner (hopefully!);
2. The Spring Crochet Pattern Bundle sale just opened!

Hang on, I hear you say, what IS the Spring Crochet Pattern Bundle? Well you’ve probably seen times where a group of crocheters get together to offer a limited time bundle of patterns, at a heavily subsidised price? Maybe you’ve even bought one? I know I have! Well it’s just that, and this time I’m joining in with one of my designs.

And I’m not the only one, the Spring Crochet Pattern Bundle features over 30+ designer crochet patterns hand picked for your Spring season.

There’s some really fab designs on offer in this bundle! All the designs have been carefully selected to provide you with a good range of crochet patterns from amazing designers!

This bundle has every Spring worthy pattern you could ever need – I think you’re going to love them! You can see all 40 designs available in the Spring Crochet Pattern Bundle here, and because we have all joined together they are heavily subsidised which means you guys get 90% discount off buying them all individually.

In the bundle is my Spring Blossom Wrap which you may remember appeared in the April 2016 issue of I Like Crochet Magazine. It’s an airy shawl that provides just the right amount of warmth for a chilly spring day and can add a fabulously floral feel to any outfit!

From shawls and sweaters to adorable amigurumi and toys, the Spring Crochet Pattern Bundle has every pattern you could ever need as we travel into a more temperate season or, if you are a fun seasonal project.

What’s in it for you? Well not only can you pick up 40 great patterns for next to nothing, you also get to support some indie crochet designers who potentially get a little bit of commission money if you click on and buy the bundle from their link (pick mine ‘hint, hint’ – but only if you want to xx).

40 cool crochet patterns + supporting indie designers = win, win, right!

But here’s the key bit about this bundle! The sale only lasts for FIVE days! After Friday (midnight PST on 13 March 2020), you won’t be able to grab the Spring Crochet Pattern Bundle anymore – it just won’t exist! It’s a limited only deal – so make sure you don’t miss out on snagging your copy of the Spring Crochet Pattern Bundle.

So celebrate and enjoy the Spring season with us and grab your bundle here.

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

4Dec2019

Release and Giveway| Starlight Christmas Stocking

Posted in Competitions, Crochet, Independent Design, Pattern Release, Sale / Special Offer, Tah-Dah by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

Edited: Giveaway now closed. Congratulations to the two winners are cksteffen and fierenza

Woo hooooo! I’m really excited to say that my Starlight Stocking pattern, that I designed for the Crochet Sanctuary is now finally LIVE!

Christmas stockings are a staple of Christmas and a little something handmade on the mantelpiece can go a long way – especially if it’s a bit sparkly! You’ve got to have a bit of twinkle at Christmas right!?

The great thing about this stocking is that you can personalise colours to match your own decor or make it in that special someone’s favourite colour to make Christmas morning even more magical.

The pattern is 4 pages long and it’s written, as usual, in both UK and US terms.

Pattern Links 🎉

The Starlight Stocking pattern is now available in my pattern stores on Ravelry (and I’ll be adding it to my other stores shortly)…

SAVE STOCKING PATTERN ON RAVELRY HERE

however if you’d like to be in with a chance to win a copy then keep reading…

Exclusive Giveaway 🎉

If you’d like to be entered into the giveaway to win a copy of the Starlight Stocking simply head on over to Ravelry and add it to your favourites. Please then comment below this post with either your Ravelry username or email address for your chance to win a copy.

Your Ravelry username and email address will only be used to send you your prize, if you enter the information onto a comment it is understood that you are granting me your permission for me to use your information as advised.

Bonus Entry: Re-pin any of the images above. Copy & paste the URL of your re-pin in the blog comments below.

TWO winners will be randomly chosen on Wednesday 11 December evening around 7pm GMT

Finally I hope you will share any Starlight Stocking project’s on social media or as a Ravelry project as I always love to see the versions and variations you come up with.

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

11Sep2019

Win tickets for Stitching Show at Ally Pally!

Posted in Competitions, Crochet, Outings, Sale / Special Offer, Yarn Show by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

It’s been AGGEESSS since my last giveaway hasn’t it – so I’m quickly going to rectify that now! How would you like to win FREE tickets to the Knitting and Stitching Show at the Alexandra Palace?

You’d love the chance – well awesome! Just keep on reading…

If you’ve not heard about the The Knitting & Stitching Shows before, and are wondering if you want to enter or not, they are the UK’s biggest textile art, craft and design events. Events are run in various locations usually four times per year and there are LOADS of exciting features for crochet fans!

But if you dabble in other crafts, alongside crochet, there are things for needle felting to embroidery to dressmaking – in fact pretty much covering every textile craft imaginable. And the show is great for complete beginners, experts or folks somewhere in between, as there are demo’s and workshops to try, or you can just fill your boots looking at all the crafty and yarny goodness!

In fact for this show, in The Creative Living Theatre, there are going to be free, 30-minute demonstrations to inspire future crochet projects including Tapestry Crochet: Fair Isle Techniques with Diana Bensted.

And for those visitors wanting to learn new skills, The Knitting & Stitching Show’s Learning Curve workshop programme is extensive! Offering over 250 workshops with top tutors where crocheters could have the opportunity to learn how to make seasonal snowflakes, Christmas baubles and mini amigurumi monsters or baskets, owls, scarves and fingerless mitts.

And there are over 350 specialist retailers who will be selling yarn, crochet equipment and craft supplies…swoon right!

I’ve attended different shows, and really enjoyed each visit, so I feel that I can tell you about them with experience, but if you want to read my FULL experience of the shows (you may want to get a cuppa before hand) then you can check out when I visited London Olympia earlier this year here or the time I went to the show at the Ally Pally here.

I was excited to see that Italian textile artist and contemporary crochet designer Luisa De Santi, will be showcasing her amazing work again at the Ally Pally.

I was amazed by her extraordinary exhibition when I saw it earlier this year. Magical Crochet Spells features colourful three-dimensional artworks, soft sculptures and jewellery that is just amazing and inspiring! Her work really is something to see – I also got the pleasure of meeting her in person too and she was lovely!

Unfortunately I’m not going to be able to make the show on this occasion, as I already had family plans on this date, but just because I can’t go doesn’t mean that you have to miss out because I’ve got FIVE pairs of tickets to giveaway hurray!!!

Giveaway

The tickets are for redeemable any day except Saturday 12th October for the Knitting and Stitching show at the Alexandra Palace which runs from 10th – 13th October 2019.

All you need to do to enter the giveaway is to leave a comment on the bottom of this blog post about why you’d like to go to the show.

The competition closes on Wednesday 18 September at 7pm (GMT). Winners will be contacted via the email supplied from their comment.

Special Discount

But if you want your ticket’s RIGHT NOW I’ve also got a special discount for you! Just quote KEEPCALM19 and you can save £2.50 on advance adult ticket price (£13.50 instead of £16.00 adult advance/£13.00 instead of £14.50 concessions), plus £1.95 fulfilment fee per transaction (£2.50 for posted tickets).

This discount is for advanced bookings only and can be redeemed before 23:59pm (GMT) on Wednesday 9 October. Tickets can be booked online here or by calling 0844 873 7343 and quoting the discount code. Full Terms and Conditions are available on the show website. Information is correct at the time of writing.

I’d like to say a big thank you again to the shows organisers for offering this special deal to my lovely KCACO.UK readers!

Good Luck everyone! Until next time; 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

2Feb2019

Five Years Blogiversary Giveaway!!

Posted in Competitions, Crochet, Giveaways, Sale / Special Offer by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

EDITED: GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED, congratulations to Leonie! You are the winner!

Five years ago (er…well the day before yesterday) I hit PUBLISH and my life changed! I’ve now been blogging for FIVE whole years! And because of my blog I’ve had some amazing opportunities, got to know some fabulous people and worked with some amazing companies – for which I am so very grateful!

WANT TO SEE WHERE IT ALL BEGAN? CHECK OUT MY FIRST POST!

Each blogiversary is a huge milestone and my 5th birthday is no exception. What started as a complete experiment is a large part of how I evolved into a working crochet designer, but I blog because I enjoy writing, I love to share my passion for all things crochet, and I love to hopefully inspire you.

Let the beauty of what you love be what you do – Rumi

The past five years have been full of highlights and new experiences for me. Here’s just a few (of many!):

Having a design appear on the front cover of LGC Knitting and Crochet Magazine in 2017
Being part of the Stylecraft Blog Tour in 2016
Being the guest designer for The Crochet Sanctuary in 2018 (can’t wait to go back this year!)
Designing the mascot for Yarn Shop Day 2018
Being invited as part of the press in 2017 gang to The Knitting and Stitching shows (again really looking forward to going again at the end of this month!)
Starting a yearly Crochet-Along , having Scheepjes sponsor the 2018 CAL, and seeing all your projects grow and develop!
The opportunity to interview some fab fellow designers that I admire and who definitely inspire me! Like Dedri Uys, Lucy Ravenscar, Kerry Lord, Irene Strange and Eleonora Tully (definitely want to try and do some more of these this year)
Having the whole design supplement with Granny Square designs for Simply Crochet Magazine in 2018.

And I’m so appreciative to all the awards my little blog has received over the years!

You don’t start out writing good stuff. You start out writing crap and thinking it’s good stuff, and then gradually you get better at it. ― Octavia E. Butler

I was looking at some stats about blogs in general and was really surprised to learn that almost over 80% of blogs do not make it past the first three months – so I’m going to take a little moment to say go me! I’m still here – as are so many of you!

Just in case I don’t say it enough I want to say a big THANK YOU to you all that read my ramblings! I really appreciate the time you each take to visit my blog and especially when you leave me comments and feedback. I’d also like to thank you to those of you that have shared my blog your friends and family too.

LET’S CELEBRATE MY 5TH BLOGIVERSARY WITH A GIVEAWAY!

I’ve actually got double cause to celebrate at the moment because as well as blogging for five years my Facebook page recently hit the mahoosive milestone of 15 thousand followers! Just amazing! So I’m going to do a giveaway here on the blog, a different one on Facebook and another little one on Instagram because I like hanging out there! So that’s THREE different prizes up for grabs starting with this one!

So what do I have on offer as prize here on the blog for my blogiversary? Well one winner will receive the following:

5 x Keep Calm and Crochet On UK crochet patterns of your choice
1 x Dear Ewe Monochrome Maker Mug in the ‘Yarn’ design
1 x Dear Ewe Medium Project Bag ‘Make Something Amazing’ design
1 x 100g / 225m skein of ‘Firey Sands’ 100% Suprima Hand-dyed Cotton by The Mermaid Purse Yarns (purchased by me)

Here’s how you can enter:

To enter, leave a comment at the end of this post telling me which 5 patterns you’d pick as part of the prize – to gain an extra entry maybe you might like to sign up to my newsletter.

The contest is open from RIGHT NOW until 8pm (GMT) on Wednesday 20th February 2019. The winner will be selected using a random number generator and I will need to be supplied with a full postal name and address to send out the prize. If efforts to contact the winner remain unsuccessful after a week, an alternative winner will be randomly selected.

This giveaway is open WORLDWIDE!

Thank you my loyal friends and followers for your everlasting support and encouragement! Without you, I would serve no purpose!

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

24Jan2019

Win tickets to The Spring Knitting & Stitching Show 2019

Posted in Competitions, Crochet, Days Out, Getting Crafty, Giveaways, Life, Outings, Sale / Special Offer, Yarn Show by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

EDITED: GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED, congratulations to Heidi Bradshaw, Sharon Bowles, Candida Carvalho, Cristiana Alexandra Ferreiro do Vale, Jackie Walter and Michelle Smith!

Hey folks, would you like a chance to win some FREE day tickets to the Spring Knitting and Stitching Show at London Olympia?

I’ve got FIVE pairs of tickets, most generously donated by the shows organisers, for all you lovely readers – plus they’ve also set up a nice discount on ticket prices for anyone that doesn’t win (more about that in a moment).

If you love a good craft show, which of course I do, and you aren’t familiar with the Knitting and Stitching Show then you are really missing something. These shows are the UK’s biggest textile art, craft and design events and the Spring show will open its doors to thousands of crafters for FIVE whole days at London Olympia on Thursday 28 February until Sunday 1 March 2019.

You may remember I went to one of the shows back in 2017 with my lovely mum and we had a blast (you can read about that visit here). So we are going back down to the show together again this year for more crafty fun!

Any hoo, if you want to go straight to the details on how to win tickets scroll to the bottom of this page, if you’ve got a few more minutes I just want to tell you about another couple of things that’s happening at this years Spring show…

I for one am extremely excited to see the amazing work by Italian textile artist and designer Luisa De Santi who is bringing her extraordinary knit, crochet and embroidery work to the Spring Knitting and Stitching Show. Her exhibition called Magical Crochet Spells sounds like something not to be missed out on! I’ve seen some of the photos of her work and it’s just so intriguing!

Lucia creates complex and colourful 3-D modular structures that are amazing and mind-boggling, weird and wonderful all at the same time and I can’t wait to see them in the flesh!

I’m also looking forward to seeing The Fashion and Textile Museum who are hosting a 50 Years of Fabulous. They are doing a showcase with a collection of garments from its forthcoming exhibition celebrating iconic British designer Zandra Rhodes’ 50th anniversary. Although I don’t sew I do admire those that can (and I LOVE The Great British Sewing Bee) so I bet that’s going to be a whole lot of fabulous fun to see!

dame zandra rhodes. photograph by simon emmett. copyright zandra rhodes ltd

I also can’t wait to see the stunning Enchanted Wood – an elaborate scene of
knitted and crocheted magical creatures created by the Louise Hamilton Knit and Yarn Group and Norfolk Knitters and Stitchers. It looks so amazing doesn’t it!

Ooo the more I’m writing about it, the more excited I’m getting! As well as all these exhibits there’s going to be over 150 exhibitors selling specialist craft supplies (including yummy yarn that needs to come home with me), and there’s going to be hundreds of workshops and demonstrations too. I’m still looking at the full workshop list deciding what to do as there are so many I just want to do!

Spend a day re-stocking your yarn stash, learning to knit, mastering the art of tailoring and just so much more. There has never been a better excuse to go to a show – it’s been designed for us to enjoy to the max!

Right enough enthusing from me, I think you get that I’m quite excited about going, let’s get on to how YOU can win tickets to the show…

Giveaway

I’ve got FIVE pairs of tickets to giveaway and the tickets are for redeemable any day except Saturday 2nd March. These tickets are only for the Spring Knitting and Stitching show at the Olympia London which runs from 28th February until 3rd March 2018.

All you need to do to enter the giveaway is to leave a comment on the bottom of this blog post about why you’d like to go to the show. The competition closes on Thursday January 31st 2019 at 7pm (GMT) with the winners being announced later that evening here on the blog. Good Luck Everyone!

Special Discount

But if you want your ticket’s RIGHT NOW I’ve also got a special discount for you! Just quote KCACO19 and get £2 off any advance adult ticket or £1 off any advance concessionary ticket. This means that tickets will be £12 instead of £14/£13 (please not there is a £1.75 fulfilment fee per transaction).

This discount is for advanced bookings only and can be redeemed before 23:59pm on Wednesday 27th February. Tickets can be booked online https://www.theknittingandstitchingshow.com/spring/ or by calling 0844 581 1319 and quoting the discount code.

I’d like to say a big thank you again to the shows organisers for offering this special deal to my lovely KCACO.UK readers and maybe we will catch up with some of you at the show?

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

27Sep2018

Pattern Release & Giveway| Relaxing Ralph Cat Amigurumi

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

Woo hooooo! I’m really excited to say that my Relaxing Ralph pattern, that I designed for the Crochet Sanctuary (read about that here), is now finally LIVE!

I’m chuffed to bits be able to finally release him into the wild because I really love how he turned out! I seriously just want to climb into his hammock with him and have a little snooze – don’t you?

If you have ever watched a cat sleeping you’ll know that they sleep like they don’t have a care in the world. Now you can take a leaf out of the life of a cat and relax like Ralph!

The pattern is 5 pages long and it’s written, as usual, in both UK and US terms. It was nice to see the folks at the crochet sanctuary who were both intermediate and beginners to amigurumi enjoying the pattern. Though if you are a beginner and would like to give this pattern a go you might want to familiarise yourself with working in rounds in the amigurumi style before you start.

Pattern Links 🎉

The Relaxing Ralph pattern is now available in my pattern stores on both Ravelry and on Lovecrochet.com – however if you’d like to be in with a chance to win a copy then keep reading…

Exclusive Giveaway 🎉

🚫 GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED – CONGRATULATIONS TO

Catsmom6 & CrochetRoxx 🚫

If you’d like to be entered into the giveaway to win a copy of Relaxing Ralph simply head on over to Ravelry and/or LoveCrochet.com and add it to your favourites. Please then comment below this post with either your Ravelry username or email address for your chance to win a copy.

Bonus Entry: Re-pin any of the images above. Copy & paste the URL of your re-pin in the blog comments below.

TWO winners will be randomly chosen on Tuesday 2 October 2018 evening around 7pm GMT

Finally I hope you will share any Relaxing Ralph project’s, on social media or as a Ravelry or LoveCrochet.com project, to be in with a chance to win a different pattern of mine if you are featured in my monthly newsletter.

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