Tag Archives: Crochet Along

Come with us to The Enchanted Wood | CAL 2023

Posted in Collaboration, Crochet, Crochet Along by

Oh my word, you wouldn’t even believe how excited I am to finally announce that a bright and beautiful new crochet-along (CAL) is on the way for 2023!!

Join me in making an enchanted style blanket with a woodland-inspired theme. The Enchanted Wood throw is a versatile piece featuring an intricate collection of textured stitches intertwined together.

Bring the great outdoors indoors using a carefully curated palette of colours and stitches in a project that has plenty of interest as each section emerges – with no sewing together!

Believe it or not I actually started working on the design for this pattern not long after we finished with our 2021 CAL; Filet Fantastic. So for over a year this pattern has been bubbling away in the background getting crafted and honed until it was really to share with you lovely folks.

Everyone seemed to really enjoy the no-sew building block construction (I used in Filet Fantastic) so I decided to utilise that method again for the latest CAL blanket. Whilst it is of similar construction this year’s CAL is focused on texture to produce something that you truly just want to keep running your hands over!

This year’s particular theme came from two places; my favourite walking spots in the woods and one of my favourite Enid Blyton books as a child”

Right then, are you sitting comfortably? Then I shall begin with some of the specifics for this years design.

CAL Specifics

The Enchanted Wood CAL will be released in 8 parts which will be available for free here on the Keep Calm and Crochet On UK Blog. The CAL will start with Part 1 on Friday 20 January 2023 and runs for 8 weeks, each Friday, ending on Friday 10 March 2023.

The landing page for the CAL is available from the CALS AND MALS drop down at the top of the page (here), where I will link all the details in one place.

The Enchanted Wood KCACOUKCAL23 – Stylecraft Naturals Bamboo and Cotton

Yarn Amounts and Kits

  • I used Stylecraft Naturals Bamboo. + Cotton DK for my blanket which is a really lovely yarn. It’s a cotton / bamboo blended yarn that uses natural fibres for a luxurious crafting experience that’s kind to sensitive skin. Yet it can still go in the washing machine and tumble dryer (on a cool cycle) which makes it perfect for a blanket for the home. It comes in a gorgeous range of naturally inspired shades, designed to mix and match beautifully, and I picked ten colours for my blanket because there were so many lovely shades I wanted to use as many as possible!
  • And my lovely mum has been back with her hooks to make a second version of the blanket. She’s created hers in Stylecraft Special DK which I would describe as a bit of a staple in the crafting world. I’ve used it for every so many projects. It’s an acrylic yarn as it’s soft yet durable (making it particularly well suited to blankets – and it also washes well). It also comes in a vast rainbow of colours making it particularly easy to choose 8 ‘natural’ sort of shades

I’m delighted to say, as with the last CAL, that Black Sheep Wools have created some exclusive kits especially for the CAL. There are two kits available, the first is in the beautiful Stylecraft Naturals Bamboo. + Cotton. It contains 16 balls and is just £69.99 per kit. The second kit is in the crocheters favourite Stylecraft Special DK, there are 15 balls in the kits and it is just £29.99.

BUY KITS HERE

If you are thinking of hooking up this design using yarn from your own stash I would suggest that you would need at least 8 – 10 different colours and at least 1500 / 1600g / 4425m / 4830yds though I’ll be going into more detail about colours and yarn amounts in my next post (Friday 23 December).

Hook Size

I used a 3.5mm (US size E/4). If you were on the look out for a simple aluminium crochet hook (the kind I learnt to crochet with) then I have some in my Yarnybobs store or I also have other hooks and useful crochet tools linked in my Amazon Store.

CAL Accessories

I’m delighted to say I have once again set up some some special collaborations for this CAL for you. CAL lovers can now buy directly from small businesses that have created something special, specifically for the crochet along, which they will be sure to love! 

SHOP DEAR EWE
SHOP SIMPLY SHADE CARDS
SHOP MRS G MAKES
The Enchanted Wood KCACOUKCAL23 – Stylecraft Special DK Version

CAL Details

  1. There is no charge to join the CAL; anyone can join in as long as they have some yarn and a hook. 
  2. Whilst the pattern will be available for free here on the blog sometimes it’s easier to have a printable PDF to refer to. The whole pattern therefore will also be available in a printer friendly PDF version in my Ravelry store (for a one off payment). Each weekly instalment will become ready for immediate download in either UK or US terms. During the duration of the CAL this pattern will be released part by part, via Ravelry updates, so as not to spoilt anyone’s fun.
  3. For those that like a deadline I will be adding new details about each section every week on a Friday – see below for full schedule. For those that want to hook when they have the time then that’s fine too; there’s no pressure to this CAL it’s all about enjoying the journey and having fun!
  4. I will be using both UK and US crochet terminology in the pattern (UK/US) so you can pick your preference. I will also always include any helpful information about each element including links about special stitches with the release of each new section.
PURCHASE PDF PATTERN ON RAVELRY

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The Schedule

Wednesday 21 December 2023CAL Details – including start date, schedule, yarn amounts and hook size
Friday 23 December 2022CAL Planning – more about the design, colours, yarn and support available
Friday 20 January 2023Part 1 – The Tree
Friday 27 January 2023Part 2 – Little Buds
Friday 3 February 2023Part 3 – Ferns
Friday 10 February 2023Part 4 – Pinecones
Friday 17 February 2023Part 5 – Acorns
Friday 24 February 2023Part 6 – Mushrooms
Friday 3 March 2023Part 7 – Bark and Branches
Friday 10 March 2023Part 8 – Leaf Border
Friday 14 April 2023Tah Dah! Your finished blankets

Updates and Support:

Keep up to date with the details via the following links:

Social Media Links:

The hashtag for this years CAL is #KCACOUKCAL23 for Twitter and Instagram. Though you you can join in with any progress photos by linking your projects on your favourite social media sites: Ravelry, Facebook page or Facebook group and Pinterest.

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

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Filet Fantastic: Part 8 – Dashes

Posted in Crochet, Free Patterns by

It’s Friday, which means it’s CAL day, and I’m here with part 8 of the Filet Fantastic Crochet Along, I hope you are ready to get your hooks into this next section of our blanket which is growing ever bigger! This week we are going to be adding some nice, easy repetitive dashes to bring us back to a square shape.

But before we get to part 8 I’m going to share a few of the finished 7’s that have been shared on Ravelry, in the Facebook group and Instagram because I really like that part – it’s just such a lovely thing to have everyone crocheting along together and see each other’s progress isn’t it.

If you want to link your photos the hashtag for this years CAL is #KCACOUKCAL21 for Twitter and Instagram. Though you you can also join in with any progress photos by linking your projects on your favourite social media sites: Ravelry, my Facebook page or Facebook group and Pinterest.

If you are brand new to the CAL there’s is still plenty of time to join in with us. You can find all the information you need on the CAL landing page, where I’ll link all the CAL posts in one place as I add them here to the blog. Yarn packs are still available from the lovely folks at Black Sheep Wools and there are a number of CAL accessories that are also available from some fabulous small businesses (that I talked a little more about here).

❤️🧡💛 Purchase Yarn Kit from Black Sheep Wools 💚💙💜

During the duration of the CAL this pattern will be released part by part here on the blog and also via Ravelry updates in the form of a printer friendly PDF ebooklet that is available for purchase. Please note you will only have to purchase the pattern once, updates will be automatically added so your pattern is updated each week and at the end of the 12 weeks you will have the full pattern to keep. As with any purchase you make of my patterns your support of me and my crochet endeavours is very much appreciated – thank you for supporting my work!

❤️🧡💛 Purchase the CAL eBooklet on Ravelry 💚💙💜

If you are new to filet crochet you might find my blog post about ‘Top Tips for Filet Crochet’ useful on how to read filet crochet charts with some specific tips on the technique.

Filet Fantastic: Part 8 – Dashes

Yarn: 140g / 364m  or 3 balls of of Scheepjes Riverwashed Amazon (Shade  951) or 140g / 420m or 2 balls of Scheepjes Colour Crafter in Middlesburg (1003).

Hook: 3.5 mm (US size E/4)

You will also need: Scissors, A yarn needle

Gauge: 5tr = 2.5cm (1inch). Gauge is not critical for this design, with each part I will provide the size of my work. If your gauge does not meet mine it will just mean you will end up with a bigger or smaller blanket. If you wish to match my gauge you might try going up a hook size if your tension is quite tight, or going down a hook size if your tension is looser.

Finished Size:  Part 8 – 115 x 115 cm (45 x 45 inches)

The pattern below is in UK Terms, scroll down for US Terms:

BASIC FILET STITCHES

  • Beginning open block (beg open block): Ch4 (counts as first tr + ch-1), miss next st or ch, tr in the next st.
  • Open block: Ch1, miss next st, 1tr in the next st.
  • Beginning solid block (beg solid block): Ch3 (counts as first tr), tr in the next 2sts.
  • Block (Bl): 1tr in the next 2sts.

OTHER STITCH GUIDANCE

  • Slip Stitch (sl st): Insert hook in st indicated, yarn over and draw through all loops.
  • Treble (tr): Yarn over, insert hook in  indicated st and pull up a loop (three loops on hook), yarn over, pull through two loops, yarn over, pull through remaining two loops on hook.

PATTERN – PART 8

You will build part 8 onto the right side of the CAL;

To set up making Part 8 you will be working on Parts 6 and 7.

We will be adding rows, working from the bottom upwards,  where there isn’t a st you will use post of the extra tr’s on Part 7 to add sts.

IMPORTANT PATTERN NOTE:

You will have an extra tr on the end of each row that is not shown on the chart. These stitches are important as they will help link future sections of the CAL.

Row 1: Attach yarn with a sl st around the post of the last row of Part 7; Ch3 (Counts as first tr here and throughout, then working on the same post, 1tr. Continue to work tr’s along the row working 1tr in each st and 2tr around each post tr of Part 7   until end, turn (215sts)

Row 2: Ch3 (Counts as first tr here and throughout),  Bl, [ (Open Block) x 3, (Bl) x 3 ], Repeat from [ sixteen times, (Open Block) x 3, Bl, turn


Row 3: Ch3, Bl, [(Bl) x 3, (Open Block) x 3] Repeat from [ sixteen times, (Bl) x 3, Bl, turn

Row 4: Repeat row 2

 
Row 5: Repeat row 3

Row 6: Repeat row 2


Row 7: Repeat row 3


Row 8: Repeat row 2


Row 9: Repeat row 3


Row 10: Repeat row 2


Row 11: Ch3, 1 tr in each st and sp along until end. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Rows 12 – 22: Reattach yarn on the opposite side and repeat rows 1—11 of the pattern.

Chart for section of Part 8 below * There are more repeats than shown

Please see important pattern note regarding the end stitch count.

Pattern in US Terms:

BASIC FILET STITCHES

  • Beginning open block (beg open block): Ch4 (counts as first dc + ch-1), miss next st or ch, dc in the next st.
  • Open block: Ch1, miss next st, 1dc in the next st.
  • Beginning solid block (beg solid block): Ch3 (counts as first dc), dc in the next 2 sts.
  • Block (Bl): 1dc in the next 2 sts. Where base sts are dc, work 1dc in each st; where base sts are ch1 and dc, work your dc over the ch1 (into the space) and  next dc into the dc.

OTHER STITCH GUIDANCE

  • Slip Stitch (sl st): Insert hook in st indicated, yarn over and draw through all loops.
  • Double Crochet (dc): Yarn over, insert hook in  indicated st and pull up a loop (three loops on hook), yarn over, pull through two loops, yarn over, pull through remaining two loops on hook.

PATTERN – PART 8

You will build part 8 onto the right side of the CAL;

To set up making Part 8 you will be working on Parts 6 and 7

We will be adding rows, working from the bottom upwards,  where there isn’t a st you will use post of the extra dc’s on Part 7 to add sts.

IMPORTANT PATTERN NOTE:

You will have an extra dc on the end of each row that is not shown on the chart. These stitches are important as they will help link future sections of the CAL.

IMPORTANT PATTERN NOTE:

You will have an extra dc on the end of each row that is not shown on the chart. These stitches are important as they will help link future sections of the CAL.

Row 1: Attach yarn with a sl st around the post of the last row of Part 7; Ch3 (Counts as first dc here and throughout, then working on the same post, 1dc. Continue to work dc’s along the row working 1dc in each st and 2dc around each post dc of Part 7 until end, turn (215sts)


Row 2: Ch3 (Counts as first dc here and throughout), Bl, [ (Open Block) x 3, (Bl) x 3 ], Repeat from [ sixteen times, (Open Block) x 3, Bl, turn


Row 3: Ch3, Bl, [(Bl) x 3, (Open Block) x 3] Repeat from [ sixteen times, (Bl) x 3, Bl, turn


Row 4: Repeat row 2

 
Row 5: Repeat row 3

Row 6: Repeat row 2


Row 7: Repeat row 3


Row 8: Repeat row 2


Row 9: Repeat row 3


Row 10: Repeat row 2


Row 11: Ch3, 1 dc in each st and sp along until end. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Rows 12 – 22: Reattach yarn on the opposite side and repeat rows 1—11 of the pattern.

See chart above for reference

And that’s it! We are slowly getting bigger (and have to have more creative when photographing our piece – I think I was standing on a chair at this point!). Only five more sections after this to go until you have your own special and unique blanket to snuggle under.

The Schedule, Updates & Support:

As always if you need a reminder of the schedule then you can find the details on the CAL landing page (here) and you can keep up to date with the CAL details and get support if needed via the following links:

As I may have mentioned before the Facebook group is a lovely place of support, there are crocheters in there of all experiences, with new crocheters joining all the time! It’s likely that someone will be able to help you with any questions you might have though of course you can always contact me too here on the blog if you need any help.

Thank you for crocheting along with me, it’s such a special thing to be crocheting along a pattern together.

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

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