Crochet Now | Sugarplum Beary

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

Hello my lovelies! If you loved the charm of Sugarplum Unicorn, you’re in for another treat with her friend, Sugarplum Beary! This huggable little bear is here to add even more magic and warmth to your winter crochet line-up. Featured in Crochet Now magazine issue 114, the Sugarplum Beary is ready to be the next addition to your seasonal projects.

A cute bear dressed as a sugarplum fairy stands proudly in a festive scene. The bear wears a delicate tutu, a shimmering tiara, and tiny ballet slippers, with glittery wings adding a magical touch. Around it, twinkling fairy lights, frosted ornaments, and festive garlands create a cosy holiday atmosphere. The bear holds a tiny wand, as if ready to sprinkle some holiday magic.

For the Sugarplum Beary I used some of my favourite Ricorumi DK yarn which, if you’re not familiar with it, is a 100% cotton yarn that comes in 25g (57.5m) balls. It’s one of my absolute favourites! With 80 solid shades to choose from, it’s perfect for amigurumi, offering a fantastic range of colours.

For her colour scheme it of course was inspired by sugarplum tones so lots of purples, pinks and magenta and of course a lovely bit of sparkle!

A close-up of a bear dressed as a sugarplum fairy, visible from the waist up. The bear wears a sparkling tiara with glittery wings visible behind her. Her festive outfit is accented by delicate details, giving her a magical, whimsical charm.

I combined this with some Ricorumi Twinkly Twinkly which is a new yarn that I was excited to try. It’s like Ricorumi but with a lovely bit of metallic thread running through it – perfect for my little magical fairy bear. The only other things you will need for this project are;

a tapestry needle
a sewing needle and thread
2 x 6mm black safety eyes
1 pack of Preciosa seed beads 5/0 Violet mulberry

❤️ SAVE THE SUGARPLUM BEARY ON RAVELRY ❤️

A bear dressed as a sugarplum fairy stands in a festive setting against a blue background. She wears a sparkling tiara and shimmering wings, with delicate details adding a whimsical touch. The backdrop features a twinkling Christmas tree, and subtle holiday decorations, creating a magical, wintry atmosphere. — © Practical Publishing 2024 (Crochet Now Issue 114)

One of the best things about Sugarplum Beary is her versatility. She’s the perfect size for adding a cosy touch to your mantelpiece or shelves, making her a charming addition to your holiday setup. She’s designed to be approachable for a wide range of crochet skill levels, so whether you’re a crochet newbie or a seasoned pro, this project is the perfect way to get into the festive spirit.

If you’re eager to get started on the Sugarplum Beary, you’ll find the full pattern in Issue 114 of Crochet Now. which is available to buy from most supermarkets. Or if you miss the print version you can grab a digital version from www.craftworld.com.

Front cover of Crochet Now magazine featuring a collage of seasonal crochet projects including the Sugarplum Beary.

If you’re as excited as I am to bring Sugarplum Beary to life, don’t forget to share your creations! Use #KCACOUK and #SugarplumBeary to show off your work, and tag me so I can see all your adorable bears spreading festive joy. You can tag me on social media (facebook, twitter or instagram) or as a project on Ravelry – I love to see what you make! And finally you may wish to make sure you are signed up to blog (below) and / or my mailing list to get a reminder when new blog posts, discounts or new pattern releases are available.

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

Subscribe to the blog:

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, thank you for your support.

20Sep2024

Crochet Now | Ghoulie the Ghost Cushion

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

Are you ready for some Halloween fun? I’m thrilled to introduce a boo’tiful project for this spooky season – meet Ghoulie the Ghost Cushion from Issue 112 of Crochet Now – he’s just ‘dying’ to party! Whether you’re gearing up for the biggest Halloween party of the year or just looking to add some festive charm to your home, Ghoulie is here to bring some playful, not-so-spooky vibes to your décor.

A cute, crochet ghost cushion named Ghoulie, with a friendly, smiling face. Ghoulie has a soft white body with black eyes and a stitched mouth. The cushion is adorned with 'Boo' bunting that stretches across its top, featuring orange flags with black writing. The background is a cosy, autumn-themed setting with pumpkins and a few Halloween decorations. — © Practical Publishing 2024 (Crochet Now Issue 112)

Ghoulie is no ordinary ghost. With his tall hat and friendly grin, he’s the perfect cushion for cosy Halloween nights in. While others may think Halloween is all about scares, Ghoulie’s approach is more about fun and festivity, he’s here to be the ‘life’ (or afterlife!) of the party. He’s got a mischievous twinkle in his eye, but rest assured, he’s as soft and cuddly as can be!

This year, Ghoulie is pulling out all the stops for the big Halloween bash. He’s decked out in his very own handmade ‘Boo’ bunting – his favourite accessory! The bunting adds just the right touch of Halloween spirit without going over the top, making it perfect for anyone who enjoys a mix of spooky and sweet. Can’t you just picture him at the party, proudly hanging out on the sofa or as the centrepiece of a fun-filled living room?

A table top covered with various skeins of Yarnsmiths Create Super Chunky Yarn in a range of vibrant colours. The yarn is thick and fluffy, creating a soft, textured appearance. The colours include rich shades of orange, deep purple, black, rose pink, and warm mustard yellow. The background is a neutral, light surface that contrasts with the bold hues of the yarn.

For Ghoulie I used some Yarnsmiths Create Super Chunky, which was a new yarn to me. It’s a very squishy super chunky weight yarn that’s made from 100% Acrylic in 100g (80m) balls which helps make Ghoulie ‘hauntingly’ cute and ‘boo-tifully’ soft!

Standing at 70cm /27.5 inches tall the only other things you will need for Ghoulie are;

❤️ SAVE GHOULIE THE GHOST CUSHION ON RAVELRY ❤️

Ghoulie the Ghost crochet halloween cushion featured in the latest issue of Crochet Now magazine (issue 112). — © Practical Publishing 2024 (Crochet Now Issue 112)

Whether you’re hosting a Halloween party yourself or just want to bring a bit of the season into your home, Ghoulie makes a delightful addition. He’s more of a “friendly haunt,” making him great for family-friendly celebrations or those who prefer their Halloween with a touch of whimsy.

If you’re eager to get started on Ghoulie, you’ll find the full pattern in Issue 112 of Crochet Now. which is available to buy from most supermarkets. Or if you miss the print version you can grab a digital version from www.craftstash.co.uk/books-magazines

Front cover of Crochet Now magazine featuring a collage of seasonal crochet projects including Ghoulie the Ghost.

If you make up Ghoulie I hope you’ll share any finished photos with me on social media (facebook, twitter or instagram) or as a project on Ravelry – I love to see what you make! And finally you may wish to make sure you are signed up to blog (below) and / or my mailing list to get a reminder when new blog posts, discounts or new pattern releases are available.

Until next time folks! Happy crocheting, and here’s to a spook-tacular Halloween! 🎃👻 xx

Subscribe to the blog:

6Jul2023

I Like Crochet Magazine | Delani Diamond C2C Scarf

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

Hi there! How are you all doing? It’s been a couple of weeks since my last post; life and stuff has just been so busy that there doesn’t seem to have been much time for anything else! However, I am still beavering away on various projects behind the scenes and one of them I can finally share with you. Allow me to introduce the Delani Diamond C2C scarf which I created for the August 2023 edition of I Like Crochet magazine.

A young woman looks straight at the camera, she is wearing the colourful Delani Diamond C2C crochet scarf. — © I Like Crochet – August 2023

Although summer is in full swing before we know it we’ll be swapping iced tea for hot cider and our t-shirts and shorts for something warmer – and as crafters it’s always good to get a head start on a project!

The Delani Diamond C2C scarf is a crochet design that combines an eye-catching chequered pattern created with the engaging corner-to-corner (C2C) method. I really enjoyed making this project and I love how it turned out; those big blocky diamonds were just the look I was aiming to create.

The blue, cream, burgandy and rust Delani Diamond Crochet C2C scarf is shown on a white mannikin against a backdrop of ivy.

For my scarf I used the gorgeously soft and squishy Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Worsted which is a 100% Peruvian Highland wool. The strong fiber has an excellent balance of structure, loft, and drape that serves a wide variety of uses and works very well for a scarf. It also has excellent stitch definition which you can see with the gentle texture you get with C2C designs.

I’ve used the Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Bulky before, and really liked it, and I can say the same for the worsted (Aran weight) yarn. It’s really lovely to work with, really nice and soft and with a plied twist so it’s not splitty. I used a 5mm hook (US size H/8) which is in the range of the hook suggested (between 4mm – 5.5mm / US size G/6 – I/9) for the yarn.

Close up of a basket of Knitpicks Wool of the Andes yarn in worsted weight. The colours are cream, burgandy, blue and rust.

There are so many colours to choose from in this range but I couldn’t resist the ones I chose as they all had ‘Heather’ in the name of them – so literally made for me! I used Mink Heather the lovely creamy beige , Delft Heather a gorgeous royal blue, Persimmon Heather the fabulously rich rust colour and Rooibos Heather the beautiful rich maroon colour to make up my ‘diamonds’.

💕 SAVE THE DELANI DIAMOND C2C SCARF ON RAVELRY 💕

Full length photos of a woman looking straight to camera snuggling into the colourful Delani Diamond C2C crochet scarf. — © I Like Crochet – August 2023

This scarf is sure to turn heads and add a touch of style to your outfit. Just follow the pattern and watch the checked design come to life stitch by stitch. Whether you’re new to crochet or have some experience under your belt, this project is well within your reach.

And it was such a delight to see that the Delani Diamond C2C scarf was this months cover star! As well as my scarf pattern the August 2023 edition features loads of lovely seasonal patterns and a range of interesting articles. If you SUBSCRIBE you can get the magazine straight to your desktop or iPad as well as access to lots of other extra crochet bonus material.

Front cover of I Like Crochet Magazine - August 2023

If you haven’t heard of I Like Crochet magazine before it’s a US bi-monthly digital magazine which is published by the creators of AllFreeCrochet.com. With it being a US publication patterns are written using US crochet terminology – if you are not sure how that differs you may find my post British vs. American Crochet Terms: What’s the difference? of use.

If you hook up the Delani Diamond C2C scarf 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! And finally you may wish to make sure you are signed up to blog (below) and / or my mailing list to get a reminder when new blog posts, discounts or new pattern releases are available.

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

Subscribe to the blog

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.

21Mar2023

I Like Crochet Magazine | Countryside Pillow

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

How is it already nearing the end of march already? I can’t quite believe how fast this year is going by! I’ve not yet told you about the second design, of the three, that I created the April 2023 edition of I Like Crochet magazine. This next design is inspired by bright cheerful Spring walks; allow me to introduce the Countryside Pillow.

A textured cushion, featuring a pattern inspired by the English countryside, rests on a white chair. — © I Like Crochet – April 2023

The layered landscape of the countryside on a bright day inspired this pillow. Next weekend is one of my favourites time of the year here in the UK as our clocks go forward.

It means we’ll gain an extra hour of daylight everyday, making it so much more bright and cheerful all round. That of course means that we have longer days to crochet by – woo hoo!

Side view of the crocheted Countryside Pillow. Pattern available in the April issue of I Like Crochet magazine. — © I Like Crochet – April 2023

For my pillow I used a combination of John Arbon Textiles yarns and a 3mm (US closest size D/3). The main section of the pillow is made with 200g (250m per 100g) of Appledore yarn which is 40% Devon Closewool / 40% Romney / 20% Exmoor Blueface.

I then combined this with some of their Appledore Mini DK skeins (25g / 62m) and some Knit by Numbers Mini DK skeins, which is (at the time of writing this) is 100% Merino to create the hills and valleys on the front of the pillow.

Image of several John Arbon Textile mini Appledores in seven vibrant colours on a desk, a hand is reaching into the scene to hold up the yarn tag towards the camera.

I really enjoy crocheting with both of these yarns, each skein is dyed with a beautiful vibrancy to create a palette of shades that work together beautifully.

Crocheted using the altered berry stitch and a smattering of different yarns and colors, this pattern could also be a great stash buster to create a landscape at sunrise or sunset, fields of green or fields of wheat.

The only other things you will need to make your pillow is a tapestry needle, scissors, 14 inch (36cm) cream zip and a 16×16 inch cushion inner.

💕 SAVE THE COUNTRYSIDE PILLOW ON RAVELRY 💕

Close up of the crocheted Countryside pillow showing vibrant colours and texture. — © I Like Crochet – April 2023

As well as my flower hair accessories and countryside pillow the April 2023 edition features loads of lovely seasonal patterns and a range of interesting articles. If you SUBSCRIBE you can get the magazine straight to your desktop or iPad as well as access to lots of other extra crochet bonus material.

Front cover image of the I Like Crochet e-magazine for April 2023 — © I Like Crochet – April 2023

If you hook up the any of the designs in this issue 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! And finally you may wish to make sure you are signed up to blog (below) and / or my mailing list to get a reminder when new blog posts, discounts or new pattern releases are available.

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

Subscribe to the blog

17Dec2021

Simply Crochet Magazine | Cabled Cushion

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

Hi folks! I’m just popping on today to let you know I’ve got a brand new pattern available in the latest edition of Simply Crochet magazine. Issue 117 is out now with a range of cosy projects including a fun cabled cushion design from me.

It’s Christmas time and crochet is here to help you decorate your home with some wintery and cosy projects – like my ‘Cabled Cushion’. I wanted to create something that would hopefully compliment any style home, that you could make to match your own colour scheme – and because I love texture so much I threw some of that in too!

I’ve used linked treble crochets (US linked double crochets) to create a dense texture, amongst the cables, to create a durable cushion that should hopefully last for ages!

I made the cushion with Cygnet Chunky yarn and a 5.5mm hook, and I used six balls in total, in the lovely Willow colour (Shade 515), which is a sort of greyish-greeny sage type shade that’s just gorgeous.

The yarn is approx. £1.95 / $2.59 per 100g ball (156m) and you also need a 50 x 50cm / 20″ x 20″ cushion inner, 6 x 3cm wooden buttons and some stitch markers – so you can easily make the whole cushion for less than £25 / $33.12.

Cygnet Chunky was a new yarn for me, I’d not used it before, but I’d use it again, it’s a nice and plump chunky 100% acrylic yarn (so machine washable on a mild 40°C wash), and if I wanted to make the cushion in a different colour Cygnet Chunky is available in 36 different colours.

The six buttons are attached to the back centre of the cushion (or at the front if you like the buttoned up look, which I do) which means you can easily remove the cushion cover for washing – perfect if you have pets or kids!

So whether it’s for your bed or as an occasional pillow for your living room – I think the Cabled Cushion will instantly add a bit of style and texture – what colour will you make yours in?

❤️ SAVE THE CABLED CUSHION ON RAVELRY ❤️

Issue 117 of Simply Crochet magazine is available to buy from your local supermarket or you can grab a digital or print subscription from buysubscriptions.com.

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! And finally you may wish to make sure you are signed up to blog (below) and / or my mailing list to get a reminder when new blog posts, discounts or new pattern releases are available.

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

31Mar2021

Simply Crochet Magazine | Gamer Cushion

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

Edited: This post was originally published in 2021 and updated in March 2026. Broken links have been removed. The pattern links are available on this post.

Hi folks! I’m just popping on today to let you know I’ve got a brand new pattern available in the latest edition of Simply Crochet magazine. Issue 108 is out now with a range of amigurumi and spring projects including a fun gamer cushion design from me.

© Intermediate Publishing – Simply Crochet 108

This cushion was inspired by the old ‘space invaders’ game which was one of the earliest video games (released in 1978) and it’s viewed as the pioneer of modern gaming. The premise of the game is that a host of aliens dramatically descend on your spaceship and you have to blast them before they reach the bottom of the screen.

Although the game was created before I was born I do actually think I remember playing it with my brother on an old arcade game at a caravan park when we were younger.

Space Invaders’ pixilated alien have become icons of gaming and I thought that I could re-create the blocky look of the alien using the corner to corner (c2c) technique and I think it worked out really well.

© Intermediate Publishing | Simply Crochet Issue 108

I made the cushion with Cygnet DK Acrylic Yarn and a 4mm hook. I used four balls in total, three in Slate (1790) for the main cushion and then the bright contrasting Apple (6711) for the alien.

Cygnet DK is not actually a yarn I think I had used before but I’d describe it as a classic sort of double knit 100% acrylic and as such it’s machine washable on a mild 40°C wash (which is one of the things I love about acrylic yarn!).It’s very reasonably priced, and it comes in over 50 colours so you could potentially match your alien to your room colour for a more personalised touch.

To finish off the cushion you also need 6 x 2cm buttons for the back fastening of the cushion which makes it easy to get the 50x50cm (20×20 inch) cushion inner out so you can wash the cover if needs be.

So control your comfort and let this iconic arcade game alien invade your gaming space! I think little gamers young and old will love this cosy cushion as the ideal finishing touch for any den or bedroom – who would you make one for? This one has already been claimed by my 10 year old ‘gamer’ daughter who loves the green.

❤️ SAVE THE GAMER CUSHION ON RAVELRY ❤️

Issue 108 of Simply Crochet magazine is available to buy from your local supermarket.

If you hook up the Gamer Cushion 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 and keep calm and crochet on my friends xx

21Aug2020

Free Crochet Pattern | Perfect Puff Pillow

Posted in Crochet, Crochet Accessories, For Adult, Free Patterns, Pattern Release, Tah-Dah by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

Edited: This post was originally published in 2020 and updated in March 2026. Broken links have been removed. You can view the free pattern here.

It’s free pattern Friday – woo hoo! And in collaboration with the lovely folks from Anchor Yarns I’ve got a brand new pillow pattern to offer you. Please allow me to introduce the Perfect Puff Pillow which is available to ~~download for FREE from the Anchor website (see link below).~~ view on this blog.

I wanted to create a classic contemporary looking pillow in a solid colour with lovely texture so that crafters could match it to their own decor – though you could totally mix and match the colours of the motifs to create something totally unique!

I used Creativa Fino 4ply for this project, which comes in a fabulous range of shades for beautifully coloured homeware. It’s 100% twisted cotton which is lovely and soft and has a silky feel – and it gives stitch definition to drool over!

I used a 3.25mm hook (US size D/3) to create the pillow which measures 35 x 50cm (14 x 20 inches) making it a perfect accent pillow size. I used a cushion inner from Amazon for my centre and a 30cm zip that I had in my craft cupboard – similar to this one.

This pattern uses simple stitches throughout making it a great project for a beginner – but it has enough interest for an intermediate crocheter. Motifs make great projects to work on in between other projects when you just want to work on something quick, and they’re small enough to to enjoy when you are out and about for a project on the go. The finished cushion also has a gorgeous texture that you just want to run your fingers over.

The pattern is written in UK and US crochet terminology and I’ve linked it up on Ravelry too if you’d like to save it to your favourites on there (at the link below).

SAVE PATTERN ON RAVELRY HERE

It’s a simple modern pillow which I think would make the perfect addition to any bedroom, dorm room, or comfy couch. What colour would you make yours in?

If you hook up the Perfect Puff Pillow I hope you’ll tag @kcaco.uk on Instagram using the hashtags #kcacouk or share your projects in my Facebook group as I love to see your finished work!

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

27Feb2018

A Splash of Neon | Free Zig Zag Zing Crochet Cushion Pattern

Posted in Crochet, Designing, Free Patterns, Inspiration, Pattern Release, Yarn by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

Do not adjust your computer screens we are going bright, bright, bright!!

Lovecrochet.com often put together themes for collections and you may remember that I took part in their Coastal Adventures Anthology in June last year with my Pembroke Shawl. For their first collection for 2018 lovecrochet.com decided they wanted to go bold and bright with a Splash of Neon!

Now neon obviously works great for signs and lights in the real-world but used in yarn…hhmmm you say….I can hear you aren’t convinced…but wait, by the end of this post you’ll want to add neon to everything (possibly)!

Now I’ll confess neon is something I’ve never included in a design before and so when the call came out for neon inspired designs, using Paintbox Yarns, I knew I had to take up the challenge!

If you aren’t familiar with Paintbox Yarns they are a practical (machine washable) high quality premium acrylic and cotton yarn available in various weights. For premium yarn it’s really soft and super lovely to hook up a project with and the range comes in over 60 shades in a modern colour palette which, for any crafter, is fabulous to see. It’s also great value and lovecrochet.com often run Paintbox Yarn sales which you can keep up with by signing up to their newsletter.

You might think that neon colours would be tough to use without clashing and that they are too loud and brassy. Scary combinations for crochet right? Well when carefully implemented I’ve learnt that they can be a super fun addition to a project. Take a look at the the eight designs that make up the Splash of Neon collection for instance. Aren’t they all fab! Can you guess which is my make?

Did you guess the cushion with the pink pom-poms? Well you’re right!

I’m really excited to now reveal my new Zig Zag Zing cushion!!

Now you can express your creativity by adding the bright on-trend zing of neon to your home in a fun, not scary, way.

The Zig-Zag Zing Cushion is perfect either on its own or coordinated with other cushions and is a great way to bring a pop of colour to any living room or bedroom.

This free crochet pattern is very straightforward pattern so that it can be readily picked up by beginners. There are written instructions, a chart and I’ve also included instructions for adding a zip opening for a clean look and easy care.

So have I changed your mind a bit about neon? I hope so! I can’t wait to see your finished neon projects. Why not start with my Zig Zag Zing cushion cover which you can get a free copy of right now on Lovecrochet.com

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