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

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

13Dec2019

New Pattern Release | Nordic Twist Gnome

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

So I promised another couple of Christmas patterns didn’t I and here is the next! Allow me to introduce the Nordic Twist Gnome!

I know that you will have seen these sort of Scandinavian Gnomes before, they are everywhere in the Christmas shops, and I LOVE them with their pulled down hats over their big noses. I love them so much that it just made me want to come up with my OWN version and so that’s what I’ve done!

The top of my gnomes hat is completely poseable for you to twist it or put it in all sorts of different shapes, all by the way of a carefully hidden pipe cleaner, that makes it a rather fun ornament to have on your shelf!

Did you know that these sorts of gnomes are a common Scandinavian Christmas decoration that have been adopted wholeheartedly by the rest of the world. The traditional word for gnomes in the Scandinavian culture is ‘Tomte’ which was apparently coined by Saint Birgitta of Sweden in the 1300s. These little guys are typically associated with the winter solstice and the Christmas season and traditionally usually don a bright red conical knitted hat.

I wanted my gnome to be a little different so I made him in a modern colour pallet of turquoises and silver. He’s made from Scheepjes Catona that I’d got in my stash, with a 2.75mm (US C/2) hook, some roving for his beard and some silver Scheepjes Lizzy thread just to add a bit of sparkle. And as Christmas to me is totally all about jingle bells I added some of those too!

My two girls love this little guy and I already know my gnome is going to come out every year for the holiday season with the rest of my Christmas makes. I love that my family will start to think of them as a part of their holidays.

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

I hope you enjoy making this little guy as much as I enjoyed designing him. And if you are looking for more seasonal patterns to hook up if you are in a festive kind of mood then check out my Christmas Crochet bundle on Ravelry which contains all my seasonal patterns available for purchase or for free.

I’ve just got two 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 next week.

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

27Nov2019

New Pattern Release | Traditional Nutcracker Doll

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

There is absolutely no question; Christmas is MY favorite time of the year. I pretty much go gaga over all things Chrismassy so when an idea of a new seasonal pattern popped in my head, it was one of those occasions where I just HAD to make it come to life. Allow me to proudly introduce my Traditional Nutcracker Doll – the perfect addition to your handmade Christmas decor.

There’s nothing like mixing new decorations with old ones to give that feeling of seasonal warmth! And this traditionally styled amigurumi will stand smartly to attention as part of a festive shelf arrangement or perhaps displayed on the mantle (which is where mine is currently standing guard).

Did you know that Nutcracker dolls, also known as Christmas nutcrackers, are most commonly made to resemble a toy soldier. This is because in German tradition, the dolls are symbols of good luck designed to defend against and frighten away malevolent spirits.

I made this little guy out of Scheepjes Catona that I’d got in my stash and some golden Scheepjes Lizzy thread – because you have to have a bit of sparkle at Christmas don’t you!

So why not add to your crochet christmas decorations and make the Nutcracker to stand guard over your festivities. I love the idea of these patterns becoming family heirlooms that come out, year after year, for generations to come. I know any Christmas patterns I’ve made previously come out every year – how about yours?

I think he’d also make the perfect addition to a Christmas Eve box for the children with the classic story of the ‘The Nutcracker‘ – which is about a toy soldier that turns into a prince. Or maybe for a ballet fan just before going to see the magical ‘Nutcracker‘ on stage somewhere near you during the holiday season.

BUY NUTCRACKER PATTERN ON RAVELRY HERE

And if you are looking to create more Christmas decorations then watch this space as I have another Xmas design coming soon! In the meantime you could always check out my Christmas Crochet bundle on Ravelry which contains all my seasonal patterns available for purchase or for free.

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

20Nov2019

New Pattern Release & Giveaway|Seasonal Dachshund Amigurumi

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

GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED: Congratulations to The Crafty Therapist whose name was drawn at random!

Remember my ‘Dachshund thru the Snow’ crochet pup that was in I Like Crochet magazine last year? Well I’ve finally got round to releasing the individual pattern today!

BUY DACHSHUND PATTERN ON RAVELRY HERE

I’m going to do a giveaway for some free copies of the pattern – do you want one?

In the comments below just tell me why you would like a copy or who you would like to make the little doggo for – I’ll then pick a winner next Tuesday on 26 November 2019.

If you are on Facebook and Instagram I’ve giving away copies there too for you AND a friend, go on over and enter for more chances of winning!

I think I said before that I happen to have a great deal of affection for this little amigurumi because once upon a time I had a real life daschund called Cabbage who was my best friend for 15 years.

Actually my (woman) best friend has claimed this ami, she fell in love with him when she saw him! The pattern makes a fun alternate gift for the holiday season or you could make him just because you love dachshunds like me!

Good luck to all those that enter the giveaways!

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

2Nov2019

I Like Crochet Magazine |Cosy Cabin Patterns

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

I’m just catching up with patterns that have been released whilst I was ill and I think there’s still enough time to tell you about the October issue of I Like Crochet. You might just be able to spy one of my new designs peeping out on the front cover…

Imagine yourself in a log cabin in the woods and you’ve got this issue in a nutshell and I came up with two designs to fit in with the theme.

Plaid seems to be quite synonymous with the outdoors and cabins doesn’t it – does it stem from lumberjacks maybe? I’m not sure? But when I started thinking about the topic that’s what came to me and I kind of knew that I wanted to make a basket…well because I just love crocheting baskets.

However I wanted to play around with the traditional buffalo plaid ‘squares’ design. I still wanted it to be recognisable as ‘plaid’ but I wanted the design to by more inspired by than directly copied. So I decided to go with repeating rectangles that I would create by colour changing as I worked.

© I Like Crochet Magazine – October 2019

The basket is worked holding two strands of Rico Design Creative Cotton Aran yarn together at a time which makes it a nice sturdy basket and is worked in continuous rounds. The only fiddly bit is working with so many different colours at a time but once you find your own rhythm it all comes together easily.

I think the Perfectly Plaid Basket would be perfect for storing washcloths on your bathroom counter, or yarn in by your crafting chair, or even pine-cones as decor.

SAVE PATTERN ON RAVELRY HERE

The next design I created for the magazine was an amigurumi inspired by a woodland creature. Meet Birch – this usually secretive woodland dweller who will come out of hiding for cuddle by the fireplace.

Worked in the traditional amigurumi style using Deramores Studio DK he stands about 29cm (11.4in) high when he’s all finished. He’s quite fond of his baby antlers and hopes to grow up to be a big strong buck one day.

This sweet little deer might be my favourite pattern I’ve made this year, and he seems like the perfect make for autumnal crafting.

SAVE PATTERN ON RAVELRY HERE

As well as my cabin inspired patterns the October issue features over 22 patterns and a range of interesting articles. SUBSCRIBE TODAY for a copy of the magazine straight to your desktop or iPad.

If you hook up the Perfectly Plaid Basket or Birch the Deer please share your photos with me on social media (facebook, twitter or instagram) – I love to see it!

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

10Jan2019

Stefan the Stegosaurus Amigurumi | New Crochet Pattern Release

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

Ten days into the New Year and I’m releasing my first pattern of 2019! In my bid to get more organised I’m trying to tick off anything outstanding for 2018 so there might be a slew of new patterns coming this way including some from magazine’s whose rights have now reverted back to me – so watch this space!

So my first pattern release of 2019 is Stefan the Baby Stegosaurus! HURRAY! I know I’ve been asked by a few people when he was going to be available so I thought I’d sort him out first.

AVAILABLE ON RAVELRY HERE. GET 20% OFF UNTIL JANUARY 31ST 2019.

You may remember that I entered him into the prehistoric Amigurumipatterns.net design contest (read about it here) and I’d like to say a big thanks to 375 people that voted for him – we didn’t win but it was fun taking part.

This cuddle sized prehistoric softie is looking for an owner to snuggle with and care for him. Stefan is the perfect addition to any dinosaur lovers soft toy collection.

With crochet eyes, rather than safety eyes, Stefan also makes a great gift for babies and toddlers.

The PDF file is 6 pages long, it’s written in both UK and US terms and includes explanations of all stitches and abbreviations. There’s also a mini photo tutorial on how to add the claws.

I made mine in Scheepjes Stone Washed Crystal Quartz and Larimar, because I adore the aged washed out look to that yarn, but my testers used some great colours – I especially love the variegated version of Stefan!

Stefan is now available to add to your favourites on Ravelry and you can get 20% discount off (no coupon required) until 31 January 2019. After that time the pattern will revert to full price.

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

Until next time folks! Happy hooking and 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

24Nov2018

Amigurumipatterns.net | Prehistoric Times Design Contest

Posted in Amigurumi, Competitions, Crochet, Designing, Tah-Dah, Works in Progress by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

I do enjoy the Amigurumipatterns.net design contests – you may remember that I entered their ‘fantasy’ competition last year (read about it here) and weirdly when I saw this years ‘theme’ I was actually making a dinosaur! Call that serendipity or fate – I dunno but I thought it definitely seemed that I should enter my project.

If you follow me on Instagram then you’ve probably seen my gradual progress of Stefan the baby Stegosaurus from my initial sketched design…

I chose some of my favourite yarns; Scheepjes Stonewashed and Scheepjes Catona to make him with and then I posted photos of the progress I made as he developed…

Until he was all put together and ready for a cuddle!

And now the voting to the competition is OPEN! If you happen to like Stefan the Baby Stegosaurus could you please spare me a few moments to go vote for him. Your vote counts, and that’s why there’s three special Voters Prizes up for grabs! By voting you take part in the raffle to win 3 x 100 colors Must-Have Minis by Yarn and Colors!

HOW TO VOTE:

Go to the voting page on Allcrochetpatterns.net
Click the heart-button of TEN of your granny squares
Enter your name and email address in the pop-up screen to submit your vote.
Please note: multiple votings by one person will be removed.

Voting will take place from November 25 until December 2 and the three designs with the highest amount of votes will be announced as the winners.

As always there are seriously so many amazing designs from inventive designers and I’ve voted for my favourites – good luck to all designers taking part!

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