Graceful Gull MAL | The Reveal & Pattern Release

Posted in Collaboration, Crochet, Crochet Accessories, Crochet Kit, Independent Design, Pattern Release by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

Well wowzers, September is flying by! It’s probably the right time to say good-bye to the summer and time to finish off the last bits and bobs of our summer Graceful Gull make-along.

The Graceful Gull shawlette draped over a stick on a beach in front of the ocean

The 15th of September was the last ‘official’ day of the latest make along that has been hosted by The Yarn Whisperer and myself. From the 31 July until now we have enjoyed a relaxed summer make along project with lovely fellow crocheters. And now I get the opportunity to share my finished Graceful Gull Shawlette, and it’s pattern, with you!

Close up of the Graceful Gull Shawlette pinned with a shell shawl pin draped on a mannikin in front of a lake.

Inspired by the swoop of a graceful gull this pattern features textured stitches on two curving wings to create a unique and lightweight shawlette.

As always it’s been an absolute delight to work with Kitey and his gorgeously coloured yarn, I love these collabs we do – it always provides me with an opportunity to work with gorgeous yarn which in turn makes the design process super enjoyable. And this years colourways were such a lovely summery palette, I really enjoyed working with them.

Close up of a basket with the Graceful Gull makealong hand-dyed yarn inside.

If this is the first you’ve heard about the Graceful Gull MAL you can read more about it here but in a nutshell it’s the result of a wonderful collaboration between myself and Kitey, aka The Yarn Whisperer, of a unique crocheted shawlette designed with a special hand dyed yarn in mind.

It’s made us both incredibly happy to see the photos of folks sharing their progress with us on social media, and I hope you will continue to do so as you finish your shawlettes’ if you haven’t had chance to make it yet.

Collation of Graceful Gull works in progress made by others as part of the summer make along.

Although the official end date of the MAL has come to an end DO NOT feel any panic or worry that you didn’t keep up or haven’t even started yet. The deadline was there just for those people that like a deadline, for everyone else, enjoy it when you have the time to use the yarn and / or make the shawlette – there is no rush to this crochet makealong! And sometime in the future you will have a beautiful finished object that you can gift for someone special or to enjoy yourself.

❤️ SAVE GRACEFUL GULL SHAWLETTE ON RAVELRY ❤️

The crocheted Graceful Gull Shawlette; a light and airy shawlette is wrapped around a mannikin in front of a lake.

Now that the MAL is over, I have listed the pattern in my usual pattern stores for you to make your own version of the Graceful Gull Shawlette.

I would suggest four different colours work best; 100g of white, 2 x 50g of different greys and 20g of orange with a 3mm (Closest US size D/3) hook.

The pattern has a written version, a chart and comes with a bonus pattern to make your own Sea Stone Paperweight – Kitey and I always like to add a little extra something for those scraps of leftover yarn if you have any! The pattern comes with all explanation of stitches used and is available in either UK or US terminology.

Close up of the crocheted Sea Stone Paperweight - bonus pattern with the Graceful Gull Shawlette.

We do hope that you’ve enjoyed this fun make-along, I know Kitey and I have thoroughly enjoyed it.

Important MAL update

After six make-alongs, for the last three years, Kitey and I have decided to give ourselves a bit of a break for the remainder of 2023 (as it’s been a busy year so far for both of us). So this is your forewarned notice that there will be no new winter make-along for 2023.

But don’t you worry, this isn’t the end! In fact we are just shaking things up a little and are coming back with a new schedule for 2024 and TWO new make-alongs to look forward to (we’ve already got them planned). The first one we will be looking to release in the Spring with details coming out in Jan / Feb 2024 – so watch this space!

Collage of Keep Calm and Crochet On UK and Yarn Whisperer Collabs featuring Solstice Garden, Whispers of the Sea, Mellow Mallow, Dragonfly River, Peppermint Pageant and Graceful Gull.

Peppermint Pageant (and previous MALs)

And if you are looking for a new WIP Kitey has created some brand new Peppermint Pageant kit colourways especially for 2023 – check out the new colourways in his shop. There’s some gorgeous teals and blues to place with, and the Aran yarn is just joyous to crochet with.

AND all the patterns for our previous make-alongs (Solstice Garden, Whispers of the Sea, Mellow Mallow, Dragonfly River and Peppermint Pageant) are available from my pattern shops if you want to hook something up from your own stash – if you are a newsletter subscriber make sure you check out your exclusive discount code!

Make sure you are signed up to the blog (or my newsletter) and The Yarn Whisperer’s newsletter to be the first to know when the new collaboration project is revealed!

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Pinterest of the Graceful Gull Shawlette crochet pattern by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

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

Please note that some of the links in my blog are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you purchase via these links, but the price you pay is not affected, thank you for your support.

31Jul2023

Happy MAL day | Graceful Gull starts today!

Posted in Crochet by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

Image of a seagull perched on a wooden pole against a cloudy blue sky.

The Yarn Whisperer and Keep Calm and Crochet On UK logos are in the top right hand corner.

Text reads Graceful Gull Crochet Make-Along, 31 July-15 September 2023. www.keepcalmandcrochetonuk.com

Happy MAL day folks!

I hope you are ready for our Graceful Gull shawlette make-along – today is the official start day (though of course you can start whenever you like). I’ve designed our shawlette to be a unique lightweight accessory which I hope you’ll enjoy as a crafty summer project.

All the folks that ordered the exclusive Graceful Gull MAL kit should have already received the gorgeous Yarn Whisperer yarn (plus fab extras), and the pattern went out to everyone a few days ago (from Kitey – so maybe check your junk mail if the pattern doesn’t seem to have appeared).

Image of 4 skeins of hand dyed yarn on top of shells and drift wood, there is a wooden crochet hook alongside the yarn.

The exclusive colourway that Kitey has come up with for this summer is so pretty! It contains a 100g (425m) skein of a natural ice-cream colour alongside two 50g (212m) skeins of beautiful gull greys; one lighter and one darker. Then we have a wonderful pop of colour with a 20g (85m) mini skein of feet and beak tonal orange.

Kitey has also outdone himself with the packaging this year – all the Graceful Gull kits were packed in fish and chip boxes, how fun is that, I love it!

Image of a 'traditional fish and chips' box which was used to pack the Graceful Gull crochet make along kit. This is sitting on a bed of sea shells and drift wood.

And in amongst the kit there are the cutest crochet accessories from the fabulous Mrs G Makes. Continuing the seaside theme she has created the most adorable little chips and ice-cream stitch markers – a cute and prefect addition to the kit!

Close up of two silver stitch markers on top of a piece of drift wood. The stitch markers are of a packet of fries and an ice-cream.

I’ve loved working with the Graceful Gull colour palette this year. The cool tones of the greys really felt wonderfully summery, but I equally enjoyed the modern edginess of the inclusion of the pop of orange colour! I can’t wait to share the finished shawlette with you, but I’m going to keep it a secret still for now until everyone has started their projects.

For the full information about this particular make along (MAL) you can find all the details here (or via the top menu of this blog under the tab ‘CALS AND MALS’). But generally the idea is that the MAL is a relaxed event designed to be made during the summer months.

Image of a cardboard fish and chip box resting on a collection of shells and driftwood. It has been open to reveal skeins of yarn wrapped in tissue paper, there is a yarn whisperer sticker holding the tissue paper together.

The MAL will run from today (Monday 31 July 2023) until Friday 15 September 2023 giving everyone plenty of time to make the pattern. You can of course start the pattern at anytime you wish, this deadline is just there for those that like to have one.

There will be support for the pattern as usual in my Facebook group; the KCACO-UK Crochet Community Group and in Kitey’s Virtual Stitch-n-B*tch zoom sessions. This years he’s also holding MAL start ‘hook on’ Instagram Live parties at 10am and 6.30pm – see full details on Kitey’s Insta page.

SHARING WITH THE #GRACEFULGULLMAL COMMUNITY

We hope you’ll share your photos with us on social media (facebook, twitter or instagram) or as a project on Ravelry – we’d love to see what you make! We will be sharing our progress with the hashtags #gracefulgullmal #kcacouk #yarnwhisperer #mrsgmakes. If you’re blogging, feel free to leave links to your post(s) in the comments here.

You also 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 – I’ll just say that Kitey and I have already planned projects for well into 2024!

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Pinterest collage for the Graceful Gull Summer 2023 Crochet Makealong from Keep Calm and Crochet On UK, The Yarn Whisperer and Mrs G Makes.

We do hope that you enjoy this fun make-along; Kitey and I can’t wait to see your wonderful Graceful Gull shawlette’s come to life!

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

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19May2023

Graceful Gull MAL Announcement

Posted in Crochet by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

I’m super excited to be joining forces again with the lovely and talented yarn dyer Kitey, aka The Yarn Whisperer, to bring you a brand new summer make-along.

This is our SIXTH collaboration in our make-along series (you can see a round up of all CALs and MALs here) and as always offers a chance to use some wonderful hand-dyed yarn combined with a fun summery crochet project.

Imagine you are sitting on a deck chair at the beach; you are feeling that joyous light-hearted feeling of a being on holiday; no work, just time to recline and relax. The waves are crashing against the shore and you can hear the sounds of chatter and laughter in the distance as the sun softly warms your face.

You are enjoying the anticipation of someone bringing you your favourite ice-cream but while you wait you decide to open up your project bag to start that new WIP. There is a light breeze that gently moves your yarn as you take out the ball and your hook and you hear the call of a seagull as it flies by overhead…

Join us as we take part in the Graceful Gull Make Along!

Moodboard collage for the Graceful Gull Crochet Makealong; 4 skeins of yarn sit on a bed of shells, a close up of a seagull, a seagull feather sticking upright in the sand.

If you are not sure what a MAL is, you can read more on the MAL landing page here, but Kitey and I have actually had this planned since last years Christmas collab (and we may have already planned more projects into 2024 – we do get a bit over excited when we start talking!)

This time around we are going to be making a shawlette, which I’m not going to show you yet, and I’m not going to give away too much about the project, but what I will say is that I really, really love everything about it and can’t wait to share it with you!

An exclusive pattern and kit are being created for this extra special MAL. Each kit will include the following super washed merino 4ply (Sock weight) yarn;

1x 100g / 425m skein of natural
2x 50g / 212m skeins of two exclusive hand-dyed colourways
1 x 20g / 85m of another exclusive hand-dyed colourway
A digital copy of the pattern
A few extra treats, including an EXCLUSIVE @mrsgmakes stitch marker, just for good measure!

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Pinterest collage including; Image of a seagull perched on a wooden pole against a cloudy blue sky. Some skeins of yarn rest on some shells, a seagull feather is stood up in some sand.

Text reads Graceful Gull Crochet Summer 2023 Crochet Make Along. www.keepcalmandcrochetonuk.com

Pre-ordered kits will be available for £45 + postage, and can be made on The Yarn Whisperer website from 10 am on 9th May and if you order in the first 24 hours you can enjoy a 10% Early Bird discount.

AND if you order your kit in the first 24 hours you can enjoy a 10% Early Bird discount.

Kits will be dyed to order over the coming weeks, with generally a 1 week turn-around from order to shipping. But get in quick to ensure you get yours in plenty of time to crochet along with us!

Last International orders will be shipped by 25^th June if ordered by the end of May. UK orders will continue to be shipped after this date but ordering early ensures your kit arrives in plenty of time to join us on 31st July.

The Make Along will run from 31^st July to 15^th September for a nice relaxed project with plenty of time for you to make the pattern. You can of course start the pattern at anytime you wish, this deadline is just there for those that like to have one.

I’ve put together all the details for this particular MAL on a landing page which you can find here, or find via the top menu of this blog under the tab ‘CALS AND MALS’.

Social post for #GracefulGullMAL, Crochet MakeAlong, 31 July - 15 September 2023 By @the_yarnwhisperer and @kcaco.uk

There will be support for the pattern as usual in my Facebook group; the KCACO-UK Crochet Community Group. You can also pop in and join in with the Virtual Stitch-n-B*tch sessions hosted by Kitey on Tuesday’s evenings from 5.20pm GMT (see full details on Kitey’s Insta page). These sessions are a bit like going to a virtual knit and natter group, and everyone there is really lovely and helpful.

We look forward to you sharing your WIPs with us and we will be using hashtags #GracefulGullMAL #kcacouk and #yarnwhisperer if you want to tag us on socials – we love to see what you make.

You can also save the project as a favourite on Ravelry here.

We do hope that you will join both Kitey and I for this fun make-along – we can’t wait to see your wonderful new projects come to life!

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

P.S. You may wish to sign up to the blog (or my newsletter) if you haven’t already, and The Yarn Whisperer newsletter so you’ll be the first to know any new collab updates!

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2Feb2023

Peppermint Pageant MAL | The Reveal & Pattern Release

Posted in Collaboration, Crochet, Crochet Accessories, Crochet Kit, Independent Design, Pattern Release by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

Howdy, how are you all today? I’m just popping on today to tell you of my first pattern release of 2023!

The 26th of January was the last ‘official’ day of the latest make along that has been hosted by The Yarn Whisperer and myself. From the 26 December 2022 until now, over a month later, we have enjoyed our winter make along project with a bunch of lovely mal’ers. And now I get the opportunity to share my finished Peppermint Pageant Stocking, and it’s pattern, with you!

Image of a green, white and red Peppermint Pageant crochet tapestry Christmas stocking

Inspired by Christmas colours of red, white and green and by hand made Scandinavian fairisle type patterns I really enjoyed coming up with my own tapestry crochet version of a tradition stocking.

The Aran yarn in this case was such a beautiful yarn to crochet with and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the slight variations of the semi solid colours come through as I worked each stitch.

Image of a work in progress Peppermint Pageant crochet tapestry Christmas stocking

If this is the first you’ve heard about the The Peppermint Pageant MAL you can read more about it here but in a nutshell it’s the result of a wonderful collaboration between myself and Kitey, aka The Yarn Whisperer, of a unique crocheted stocking designed with a special hand dyed yarn in mind.

It’s made us both incredibly happy to see the photos of folks sharing their progress with us on social media and I hope you will continue to do so as you finish your stockings if you haven’t had chance to make it yet.

Images of various works in progress and finished Peppermint Pageant crochet tapestry Christmas stockings

Although the official end date of the MAL has come to an end DO NOT feel any panic or worry that you didn’t keep up or haven’t even started yet. The deadline was there just for those people that like a deadline, for everyone else, enjoy it when you have the time to use the yarn and / or make the stocking – there is no rush to this crochet makealong! And sometime in the future you will have a beautiful finished object that you can gift for someone special or to enjoy yourself.

Image of the crocheted Peppermint Pageant stocking hanging up on a fireplace.

Now that the MAL is over, I have listed the pattern in my usual pattern stores for you to make your own version of the The Peppermint Pageant Stocking.

I would suggest three different colours work best, I used 100g / 166m of a main colour (e.g. White) and 50g / 83m in contract colours (e.g. Green and Red) and a 5mm (US size H/8) hook.

If you’d like to pick up this specific kit colourway then you can pick it up from Kitey and EXCITEDLY the Peppermint Pageant kits are getting an upgrade for 2023. This design and yarn combo are going to be the first make-along kit that will keep going this year. Kitey is coming up with some exciting new colourways as we speak that I can’t wait to see come together (I’m looking at you teal and silver – oooo!)

The pattern has a written version, a chart and comes with a bonus pattern to make your own mini hanging stocking decorations – Kitey and I always like to add a little extra something for those scraps of leftover yarn! The pattern comes with all explanation of stitches used and is available in either UK or US terminology.

We do hope that you’ve enjoyed this fun make-along, I know Kitey and I have thoroughly enjoyed it – in fact we’ve already got our plans in the works for our annual summer make-along! I’m already excited about it – we will be looking to release, as before, in July but details will be sent out before that to give folks plenty of time to sign up if they want to.

Make sure you are signed up to the blog (or my newsletter) and The Yarn Whisperer newsletter to make sure you are the first to know when the new collaboration project is revealed!

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

26Dec2022

Happy MAL day | Peppermint Pageant starts today!

Posted in Crochet by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

Happy MAL day folks!

I hope you are enjoying a restful festive period and are now ready for a bit of hooky time.

All the folks that ordered the exclusive Peppermint Pageant MAL kit should have already received the gorgeous Yarn Whisperer yarn (plus fab extras), and the pattern went out to everyone a few days ago (from Kitey – so maybe check your junk mail if the pattern doesn’t seem to have appeared). So we should be all ready to begin!

The exclusive colourway that Kitey has come up with this time was inspired by Christmas! It contains a 50g skein of a fabulously rich tonal minty green that you would see in peppermints and in traditional fir trees. Then alongside that skein was a 50g skein of a beautiful semi-solid rich red – the unique variations in each make them just so special to work with.

These colours have been married up with a hank of natural yarn, because it’s beautiful in it’s own right, it’s actually one of my favourite things – to see natural yarn along side a hand dyed version as the colours really pop! And the merino Aran weight yarn I think is my new yarn crush – such a delight to crochet with!

And in amongst the kit there is THE MOST FABULOUS stitch marker, wooden button and pencil from Mrs G! So a little known fact about me is that I have a thing about stationery, I actually I do all my pattern writing in pencil, so I loved the addition of the engraved pencil, what a lovely reminder of the MAL each time I use it.

I also have a thing about things made in wood, which the little Christmas button was made from, I love the fact it has the date engraved on it to mark the project date. And of course the metal disc snowflake stitch marker was a perfect match for the project and is so fab and functional as all Mrs G’s stitch markers are (I have quite the collection).

For the full information about this particular MAL you can find all the details here (or via the top menu of this blog under the tab ‘CALS AND MALS’). But generally the idea is that the MAL is a relaxed event designed to be a lovely betwixtmas project – this time round we are making a Christmas stocking.

The Make Along will run from today (Monday 26 December 2022) until Thursday 26 January 2022 giving everyone plenty of time to make the pattern during the festive season and new year. You can of course start the pattern at anytime you wish, this deadline is just there for those that like to have one.

There will be support for the pattern as usual in my Facebook group; the KCACO-UK Crochet Community Group and in Kitey’s Virtual Stitch-n-B*tch zoom sessions – see full details on Kitey’s Insta page

SHARING WITH THE #PEPPERMINTPAGEANT MAKEALONG COMMUNITY

We hope you’ll share your photos with us on social media (facebook, twitter or instagram) or as a project on Ravelry – we’d love to see what you make! We will be sharing our progress with the hashtags #peppermintpageantmal #kcacouk #yarnwhisperer. If you’re blogging, feel free to leave links to your post(s) in the comments here.

We do hope that you enjoy this fun make-along; Kitey and I can’t wait to see your wonderful stockings come to life!

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

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21Dec2022

Come with us to The Enchanted Wood | CAL 2023

Posted in Collaboration, Crochet, Crochet Along by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

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!

You can get 10% discount off any Dear Ewe stationery (WIP project cards and CAL yarn sample cards etc) and Dear Ewe project bags on the website with coupon code: ENCHANTED to assist with all your CAL endeavours!
Beautiful bespoke CAL cards have also been created by Simply Shade Cards with the list of the all the yarns used, for Stylecraft Naturals and Stylecraft Special DK, as a perfect way to keep track of colours for the project.
Exclusive stitch markers have been designed for the CAL by the wonderful MrsGMakes.

SHOP DEAR EWE

SHOP SIMPLY SHADE CARDS

SHOP MRS G MAKES

The Enchanted Wood KCACOUKCAL23 – Stylecraft Special DK Version

CAL Details

There is no charge to join the CAL; anyone can join in as long as they have some yarn and a hook.
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.
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!
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 2023	CAL Details – including start date, schedule, yarn amounts and hook size
Friday 23 December 2022	CAL Planning – more about the design, colours, yarn and support available
Friday 20 January 2023	Part 1 – The Tree
Friday 27 January 2023	Part 2 – Little Buds
Friday 3 February 2023	Part 3 – Ferns
Friday 10 February 2023	Part 4 – Pinecones
Friday 17 February 2023	Part 5 – Acorns
Friday 24 February 2023	Part 6 – Mushrooms
Friday 3 March 2023	Part 7 – Bark and Branches
Friday 10 March 2023	Part 8 – Leaf Border
Friday 14 April 2023	Tah 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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1Nov2022

Peppermint Pageant MAL Announcement

Posted in Collaboration, Crochet by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

I’m super excited to be joining forces again with lovely and talented yarn dyer Kitey, aka The Yarn Whisperer, for our fifth collaboration, to bring you a brand new winter make-along.

Imagine, it’s the betwixmas period, you’re not quite sure what day it might be but you feel a sense of calm in the air after the wonderful madness of Christmas. Now it’s time to schedule a few moments just for YOU! It’s a time to indulge in those Christmas treats, to not get dressed if you don’t want to, to find the best trashy TV you can or put on your favourite movie – and of course settle in with a brand new crochet project with some lovely handyed yarn.

Join us in creating magical memories as we saunter into the Peppermint Pageant MAL. Together we will fashion a lovely seasonal heirloom ready to gift or to bring out each year and enjoy in your own home.

If you are not sure what a MAL is, you can read more on the MAL landing page here, but Kitey and I have actually had this planned since for a while (and we may have already planned more projects right into 2024 – we do get a bit over excited when we start talking!)

This time around we are going to be making a stocking, which I’m not going to show you yet, and I’m not going to give away too much about the project, but what I will say is that I so pleased with how it’s turned out and can’t wait to share it with you!

An exclusive pattern and kit have been created for this extra special MAL. Kitey has worked his magic, as usual, to put together an amazingly special colourway and each kit will include:

1x 100g / 166m skein of 100% Superwash Merino Aran
2 x 50g / 83m of 100% Superwash Merino Aran yarn, in TWO exclusive hand-dyed colourways
A digital copy of the pattern (which will be sent to you 22^nd – 23rd December)
And a few extra, exclusive treats, just for good measure!

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Pre-ordered kits will be available for £44 + postage, and can be made on The Yarn Whisperer website from 10 am on Tuesday 1st November 2022.

AND if you order your kit in the first 24 hours you can enjoy a 10% Early Bird discount.

Kits will be dyed to order over the coming weeks, with generally a 1 week turn-around from order to shipping. But get in quick to ensure you get yours in plenty of time to crochet along with us!

Last International orders will be shipped by 18 November if ordered by 10 November. UK orders will continue to be shipped after this date, but ordering early ensures yours arrives in plenty of time to join us on 26 December 2022.

I’ve put together all the details for this particular MAL on a landing page which you can find here, or find via the top menu of this blog under the tab ‘CALS AND MALS’.

❤️ Add pattern to favourites on Ravelry ❤️

There will be support for the pattern as usual in my Facebook group; the KCACO-UK Crochet Community Group.

You can also pop in and join the Virtual Stitch-n-B*tch sessions hosted by Kitey – Wednesday evenings from 7pm, Friday’s from 5.20pm and Sunday’s from 5pm (see full details on Kitey’s Insta page). These sessions are a bit like going to a virtual knit and natter group, and everyone there is really lovely and helpful.

We look forward to you sharing your WIPs with us and we will be using hashtags #PeppermintPageantMAL #kcacouk and #yarnwhisperer if you want to tag us on socials – we love to see what you make.

We do hope that you will join both Kitey and I for this fun make-along – we can’t wait to see your wonderful new projects come to life!

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

P.S. You may wish to sign up to the blog (or my newsletter) if you haven’t already, and The Yarn Whisperer newsletter so you’ll be the first to know any new collab updates!

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20Sep2022

Dragonfly River MAL | The Reveal & Pattern Release

Posted in Collaboration, Crochet, Crochet Accessories, Crochet Kit, Independent Design, Pattern Release by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

The 15th of September was the last ‘official’ day of the latest make along that has been hosted by The Yarn Whisperer and myself. From the 31 July until now, over a month later, we have enjoyed a relaxed summer make along project with lovely fellow crocheters. And now I get the opportunity to share my finished Dragonfly River Cowl with you in all it’s glory with you!

As always it’s been an absolute delight to work with Kitey and his gorgeously coloured yarn, I love these collabs we do – it always provides me with an opportunity to work with gorgeous yarn which in turn makes the design process enjoyable too (slightly obsessed by the sparkle yarn this time round)!

If this is the first you’ve heard about the Dragonfly River MAL you can read more about it here but in a nutshell it’s the result of a wonderful collaboration between myself and Kitey, aka The Yarn Whisperer, of a unique crocheted cowl designed with a special hand dyed yarn in mind.

It’s made us both incredibly happy to see the photos of folks sharing their progress with us on social media and I hope you will continue to do so as you finish your cowls if you haven’t had chance to make it yet.

I’m really pleased with how the design for this cowl turned out and working with the yarn was such a delight! I’m a big fan of slub yarn, because I love the texture it automatically creates, and the lovely dragonfly colourway, with that sparkle, was just wonderful! I think I kept being slightly annoying to my husband as I kept asking him to look at it twinkling in various situations, and it really was a delight to see those beautiful tonal green and blue colours coming through in the stitches.

Although the official end date of the MAL has come to an end DO NOT feel any panic or worry that you didn’t keep up, haven’t got it done, didn’t start it or whatever! The deadline was there just for those people that like a deadline, for everyone else, enjoy it when you have the time to use the yarn and / or make the cowl – there is no rush to this crochet make along! And sometime in the future you will have a beautiful finished object that you can gift for someone special or to enjoy wearing yourself.

Now that the MAL is over, I have listed the pattern in my usual pattern stores for you to make your own version of the The Dragonfly River Cowl.

Use two of your favourite skeins of handdyed yarn with a 3.5mm (US size E/4) hook – I can’t wait to see what colourways you use for your own unique projects. Or if you’d like to pick up this specific kit colourway, although the original version was sold out, it will be available again from Kitey from November as a dye to order.

The pattern has a written version, a chart and comes with a bonus pattern to make your own Dragonfly brooch – Kitey and I always like to add a little extra something for those scraps of leftover yarn! The pattern comes with all explanation of stitches used and is available in either UK or US terminology.

We do hope that you’ve enjoyed this fun make-along, I know Kitey and I have thoroughly enjoyed it – in fact we’ve already made our plans for our Christmas-time make-along! All I’m going to say is that I’m already excited for it, it’s something completely different and it’s going to be a blast!

Make sure you are signed up to the blog (or my newsletter) and The Yarn Whisperer newsletter to make sure you are the first to know when the new collaboration project is revealed!

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

31Jul2022

The Dragonfly River Make-Along is Here!

Posted in Crochet by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

Happy MAL day folks!

It’s the 31 July which means it’s the official start of the Dragonfly River Make Along in collaboration with the lovely Kitey (aka the Yarn Whisperer). We are super excited to share this summer’s project with you!

All the folks that ordered the exclusive Dragonfly River MAL kit should have already received the gorgeous Yarn Whisperer yarn (plus fab extras), and the pattern went out to everyone a few days ago (from Kitey – so maybe check your junk mail if the pattern doesn’t seem to have appeared). So we should be all ready to begin!

The exclusive colourway that Kitey has come up with this summer was inspired by sparkling rivers and the iridescent beauty of dragonflies. It contains fabulously rich greens and teals combined with beautiful tonal soft blue shades – plus that little bit of stelina sparkle (I LOVE IT). This has been married up with a hank of natural slub yarn because that’s beautiful in it’s own right – especially along side the hand dyed version as the colours really pop! And the slub yarn has the most fantastic texture – it’s my new yarn crush!

And in amongst the kit there is THE MOST FABULOUS stitch marker from Mrs G! It’s the cutest teeny tiny (river) stones alongside a beautiful silver dragonfly! I know I say it every time, but these are my new favourites – and they are just the perfect compliment to the yarn and the design for our cowl.

For the full information about this particular MAL you can find all the details here (or find via the top menu of this blog under the tab ‘CALS AND MALS’). But generally the idea is that the MAL is a relaxed event designed to be a lovely summer project – this time round we are making a cowl.

The Make Along will run from today (Sunday 31 July 2022) until Thursday 15 September 2022 giving everyone plenty of time, during busy summer holiday season, for you to make the pattern. You can of course start the pattern at anytime you wish, this deadline is just there for those that like to have one.

SHARING WITH THE #DRAGONFLYRIVERMAL MAKEALONG COMMUNITY

We hope you’ll share your photos with us on social media (facebook, twitter or instagram) or as a project on Ravelry – we’d love to see what you make! We will be sharing our progress with the hashtags #dragonflyrivermal #kcacouk #yarnwhisperer. If you’re blogging, feel free to leave links to your post(s) in the comments here.

We do hope that you enjoy this fun make-along; Kitey and I can’t wait to see your wonderful new cowls come to life!

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

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7May2022

Dragonfly River MAL Announcement

Posted in Crochet by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

Banner image featuring the details for the Dragonfly River summer crochet makealong, running from 31 July until 15 September 2022.

I’m super excited to be joining forces again this winter with talented yarn dyer Kitey, aka The Yarn Whisperer, to bring you a brand new seasonal make-along.

Imagine, you are on a day out; it’s a fine sunny day and you have taken a delicious picnic, and of course a brand new crochet project, to enjoy in the relative peace and quiet of the countryside.

It’s nice and warm and you are feeling lovely and relaxed! The river is flowing gracefully by your side, there’s a hint of a refreshing breeze, birds are singing in the trees and there are blue skies and fluffy clouds above you. It’s then that you hear the zip of a dragonfly flying past, and your eyes follow the iridescent glimmer of its body, as it goes on a hunt on the sparkling rippling river.

Join us on its journey as we take part in the Dragonfly River Make Along!

Collage of images featuring a river bank, a dragonfly and an image of the exclusive colourway for the Dragonfly River MAL

If you are not sure what a MAL is, you can read more on the MAL landing page here, but Kitey and I have actually had this planned since last years Christmas collab (and we may have already planned more projects into 2024 – we do get a bit over excited when we start talking!)

This time around we are going to be making a cowl, which I’m not going to show you yet, and I’m not going to giveaway too much about the project, but what I will say is that I really, really love everything about it and can’t wait to share it with you!

An exclusive pattern and kit have been created for this extra special MAL. Kitey has worked his magic, as usual, to put together an amazingly special colourway and each kit will include:

1x 100g / 400m skein of Sparkle Sock yarn, in an exclusive hand-dyed colourway
1x 100g / 400m skein of natural 4ply Slub Yarn yarn
A digital copy of the exclusive MAL pattern
a few extra treats, including some EXCLUSIVE @mrsgmakes stitch markers, just for good measure!

Pin this project for later:

Pinterest image featuring a river bank, a dragonfly sitting on a hand, and an image of the exclusive colourway for the Dragonfly River MAL

Pre-ordered kits will be available for £44 + postage, and can be ordered on The Yarn Whisperer website from 10 am on 9th May.

AND if you order your kit in the first 24 hours you can enjoy a 10% Early Bird discount.

Kits will be dyed to order over the coming weeks, with generally a 1 week turn-around from order to shipping. But get in quick to ensure you get yours in plenty of time to crochet along with us!

I’ve put together all the details for this particular MAL on a landing page which you can find here, or find via the top menu of this blog under the tab ‘CALS AND MALS’.

There will be support for the pattern as usual in my Facebook group; the KCACO-UK Crochet Community Group. And you can also pop in and join in with the Virtual Stitch-n-B*tch sessions hosted by Kitey – Tuesday’s from 1-3 pm, Friday’s from 5.20pm (see full details on Kitey’s Insta page). These sessions are a bit like going to a virtual knit and natter group, and everyone there is really lovely and helpful.

If you want to share your yarn arrivals and WIP shots on socials we will be using hashtags #DragonflyRiverMAL #kcacouk and #yarnwhisperer. We hope you will tag us as we absolutely seeing your photos.

We do hope that you will join both Kitey and I for this fun make-along – we can’t wait to see your wonderful new projects come to life!

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

P.S. You may wish to sign up to the blog (or my newsletter) if you haven’t already, and The Yarn Whisperer newsletter so you’ll be the first to know any new collab updates!

Subscribe to the blog: