I’m really excited to share with you a brand new pattern release today, this design has a bit of a history about it, so bear with me as I introduce to you the Festival Fade Shawl.
The Festival Fade shawl is a unique asymmetric triangular shawl which means that each side of the ‘triangle’ is a different length giving the finished piece a unique look.
Asymmetrical shawls seem to be increasing popular and I wanted to have a go at creating an unusual eye-catching shape.
The shawl came into creation partly due to a conversation I had with the lovely Jess from Hook and Cwtch who I happened to be sitting next to when attending a Crochet Sanctuary weekend in April.
There had been chat, amongst our crochet friends, about attending the Carry on Crafting Festival in July. I hadn’t agreed that I was going, but by the end of the weekend I’d not only checked the dates with my husband for childcare, I’d been offered a lift to get there, and on the Monday I’d booked an Airbnb room and bought my ticket! Sometimes these things happen fast!
What also happened fast was the conversation that continued with Jess…As we both got over excited about going to the Festival (as she’d already booked) we started talking about crochet projects. This then developed into an idea of doing a collaboration between myself, Jess and Amanda from Mrs G Makes (who was also at the Sanctuary that weekend, and who had already booked the Festival).
We wondered about creating an exclusive Carry on Crafting Kit for all the yarny friends we knew that were going to the festival so we could all work on the same project whilst we were there. The kit would include beautiful hand-dyed yarn by Jess, a brand new pattern designed by me and some wonderful goodies from Amanda – and yes I know I’m so lucky to have these wonderful creatives in my life!
We put forward the suggestion to our friends and a resounding YES, DO IT, came back so we started planning and the idea for the pattern and it’s kit was born.
In my last post about my visit to Carry on Crafting I did mention the kit and share a few photos but to recap Jess had outdone herself with her gorgeous colourways and Amanda created an exclusive tote bag, a caravan themed yarn cosy (which perfectly holds the 100g / 800m cake of yarn you are working with), and ultra cute caravan stitch marker.
Jess’s stunning colour palette was made up of 100g (400m) of Retro Camper which was such a pretty mix of pastel pinks and peaches. The 4ply (fingering weight) yarn was a blend of 85% Superwash Extrafine Merino (19.5 micro) and 15% Nylon Yarn.
Then there were five gorgeous sparkly minis (Cadillac Pink, Perfect Pin Up, Vintage Tea Party, Mellow Mint and Cute Camper) which were a blend of 75% Superwash Extrafine Merino (19.5 micro) 15% Nylon Yarn and 10% Silver Stellina Yarn. I so do love a bit of sparkle! To make my shawl I used a 3mm hook (closest US size D/3).
I wanted to create a pretty yet easy shaped shawl where the the yarn would do the talking and Jess had mentioned, as we were chatting, that she liked an asymmetric shape. Added to that triangle I included a wee bit of texture with a mini puff stitch, because I think it’s nice to have a bit of something to run your fingers over.
I used only three other simple stitches which makes it a perfect shawl for beginners once you get used to the pattern repeats. It’s also easy enough to make bigger if you want to by just using the same increase to enlarge.
We had a blast at Carry on Crafting , and it was so wonderful to work on the same project all at the same time – I finished my second version in the new colour way Jess made for me. It had the same mini’s but a different 100g / 800m base and I love how it turned out with the varigated blues and cream to begin with!
And I thought I’d share a photo of one my mum made, she used 2 x 100g of solid colours (so no minis) and she chose not to add the fade but when the textured portion of the pattern started she colour blocked her shades instead. I wouldn’t have necessarily considered using the colours in this way but I love how hers turned out, and I think it’s nice to see other options that different people have used.
The Festival Fade crochet shawl in now available for purchase from usual pattern platforms.
If you were looking to purchase the same yarn as I used Jess has the recipe for the original colours (not my blue version) and is taking pre-orders that would be available at the end of August. Pre-orders open from tomorrow – just drop her a message over at her Etsy shop.
If you loved the yarn cosy or the caravan stitch marker then Mrs G has similar available – take a look at what she has in her Etsy shop.
I can’t wait to see your versions of your Festival Fade Shawls. I hope you’ll share your photos with me on social media (facebook, twitter or instagram) or as a project on Ravelry – I love to see what you make!
Until next time folks! Happy hooking, keep calm and crochet on my friends xx
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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!
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
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 25th 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 31st July to 15th 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’.
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.
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.
Ahhh May! It’s a month of UK bank holidays and getting that summer feeling as the weather (hopefully) gets sunnier! I don’t know about you but the months seem to be zooming by, and I’ve not even had chance to tell you yet about my new design called the ‘Pastel Pop Shawl’ which is available in Issue 98 of Happily HookedMagazine.
Pastels are the perfect hues to compliment summer neutrals, and are classic enough to wear year after year, now you can claim your pastel powers with the Pastel Pop wrap. Both in-style and with beautiful drape, the bright and summery pastel shades are combined with interesting texture to create a beautiful modern wrap.
The Pastel Pop wrap is a fun one to make, it’s a large rectangular wrap featuring interspersed panels of popcorn stitch, so it’s got some lovely texture, and then I’ve combined it with some crossed stitches, and with the colour changing in too it makes for a rhythmic pattern with enough to keep you interested.
Now I wouldn’t call myself much of a pastel kind of person, I do so love a bright rainbow, that said, every now and then, I do get a bit of a hankering for some softer tones. I’d recently used some King Cole Cotton Soft DK in a project and as I was impressed with how soft and flexible it was for cotton. They have a nice range of pastels colours and it made me wonder how it would work if it was used for a wrap.
If you’re not familiar with King Cole Cotton Soft it’s a 100% cotton DK (8ply / Light Worsted) yarn that comes in 100g balls (210m / 229yds). It’s available in 21 different colours which include a lot of pastels, with a few bright shades, and it’s often used for baby makes and summer clothes. The recommended hook size for the yarn is a 4mm and that’s what I used for my wrap.
The finished wrap is heavier than a acrylic shawl might be, but there is that wonderful drape and the stitch definition is just marvellous (it always seems to be with cotton!).
Pastels are certainly optimistic colours I think, these bring pastels are sure to lift your mood all year round! But I do also wonder how this wrap might look in other colour combinations; think dark greys or black with neon’s, or a neutral maybe with hand dyed popcorn sections – oooo, the possibilities!
The pattern is available now! Happily Hooked & Pattern Pack Pro Are TWO monthly US digital magazine assembled by makers for makers and you can find out more details about it on the Happily Hooked Magazine website.
I hope you’ll share your WIP or finished project 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
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.
If you’ve been following me for a while, then you’ll know that I have a bit of a thing about filet crochet – I just think it’s such a fun crochet technique, and it just so happens I’ve got a brand new filet crochet wrap design in the latest issue of Crochet Now magazine.
The Flora Filet wrap is a one ball shawl that creates a wearable bouquet! Worked in the filet crochet technique the wrap features create a large stylised flower pattern in a long light shawl that is easy to style.
With regards to filet crochet I love to try and think of designs that are perhaps a bit different from the idea that filet crochet is great for doily’s or mats with tiny thread and a tiny hook. For this latest wrap I wanted to go big and bold with a vibrant oversized flower motif – and I love how it turned out.
For this wrap I used a Scheepjes Whirl in Pink to Wink (Shade 552) with a 3.25mm (US D/3) hook. I used pretty much all of the 215g (1000m) of the yarn cake, which is a 4ply (Fingering / Sock Weight) yarn with a blend of 60% Cotton, 40% Acrylic, to make this lovely lightweight wrap.
It’s a perfect pattern to use with your favourite gradient yarn cake; for this version, though you could of course make it with any 4ply (or light DK / sport weight yarn).
The Flora Filet wrap would make a lovely addition to your spring / summer wardrobe to lift any outfit and make you the pick of the bunch!
If you are new to filet, you might find my post Top Tips for Filet Crochet useful to look at first, but this wrap has a lovely repetition of easy stitches that any level of crocheter could tackle.
This month’s 84 page issue of Crochet Now gives you plenty of tips, tricks, ideas and inspiration from loads of fab designers like Bella Coco Crochet, TOFT’s Kerry Lord, Esther Dijkstra from It’s All in A Nutshell Crochet, amongst others. This particular issue also comes with an exclusive Bright Spark 6mm Tunisian Crochet Hook and Tunisian Crochet – Step up your Skills A4 pattern book.
If you make up the Flora Filet Wrap 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 hooking and 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.
I’m super excited to tell you about the latest issue of Crochet Now magazine as it’s rather a special issue for me! Get set for a purr-fect Christmas with eight new festive Pusheen the Cat patterns in an exclusive 36 page supplement available with Issue 74.
You may remember in December last year Crochet Now magazine featured a little Pusheen I’d designed in a wee Christmas hat. I was delighted to be given the opportunity to create some more of her iconic looks in crochet.
There’s eight new patterns altogether; Pusheen in a scarf and Christmas hat with her friend Sloth, and there’s also a large cookie for Pusheen to hold, a festive wreath, candy cane, large mitten and present, and a Christmas Hat (that fits Sloth) to help create your own Pusheen Xmas scene.
For Pusheen I used some of the same Ricorumi DK yarn ‘Pusheen’ shades I used before, bringing in some more colours like Candy Pink, Turquoise, Caramel and Chocolate, all with a 3mm hook, for a lovely wintery palette.
If you are not familiar with Ricorumi DK yarn I can definitely recommend. It’s some of my favourite yarn to work with and it comes in the cutest 25g (57.5m) balls which is perfect for making these little multicoloured amigurumi characters.
I’ve actually got another pattern in this issue, you may remember Alina the Ballerina from an issue of the January issue of Your Crochet and Knitting magazine. Well in Issue 74 there’s another chance to make your hooks dance to make up this cute dancing doll.
This elegant doll is dressed to perform in her ballet slippers and tutu and is ready to twirl away to the music! This Alina has been made with Cascade 220 Superwash yarn, which is a DK yarn available in 101 different colours with a 3.5mm hook. She would make the perfect gift for any little girl who loves to dance!
If you make up any of the Pusheen patterns, or Alina the Ballerina, 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 hooking and 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.
Edited: Correction made to row 119 (7 October 2021)
Can you believe it’s nearly the end of August? I suppose the summer can be a busy time which makes the weeks fly by, and it means it’s time for Week 3 of the Lammas Day Crochet-Along.
If you are brand new to the CAL 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. If you want to join in the CAL using the same yarn I did I have put together a list of stockists on a previous post.
During the duration of the CAL this pattern will be released part by part here on the blog, after the full CAL has finished there will be a FREE PDF ebooklet available on the Anchor Crafts website (link to follow).
I hope you are ready to start Part 3 where we will continue our triangular shape as we plough another field and start to watch our spikes of wheat become heavy with their ears of grain.
Lammas Day CAL: Part 3 – Bringing in the Wheat
Yarn: Anchor Organic Cotton (4ply)
The amount listed below is the amount required to make the whole Lammas Day Shawl
5 x 50g / 125 m Organic Cotton: 00105 (Natural) – YARN A
1 x 50g / 125 m Organic Cotton: 00178 (Sunflower) – YARN B
2 x 50g / 125 m Organic Cotton: 00103 (Rocky Orange) – YARN C
2 x 50g / 125 m Organic Cotton: 00338 (Red Dunes) – YARN D
1 x 50g / 125 m Organic Cotton: 00038 (Earthy Brown) – YARN E
Hook: You will need a 3.75mm (US size F/5) for this shawl. I have hooks, and other useful crochet tools, linked in my Amazon Store if this is something you need.
Gauge: 5htr = 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 shawl and will possibly use more or less yarn than quoted as a consequence. 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:
If you need a reminder of the shawl schematic you can find it on the CAL Planning post.
The pattern below is in UK Terms:
ABBREVIATIONS
RS Right Side
cm Centimetre
ch Chain
sp Space
st(s) Stitch(es)
STITCH GUIDANCE
Half Treble (htr): Yarn over, insert hook in indicated st and pull up a loop (three loops on hook), yarn over, pull through all three loops on hook.
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.
Spike Stitch(SPtr): A Spike treble st is a treble in the stitch directly in the row below; yarn over, insert hook in top of the stitch 1 row below, yarn over, pull to height of working row, (three loops on hook), complete treble stitch as normal (e.g. yarn over, pull through 2 loops, yarn over, pull through two loops).
Grain St (Grst): [1 puff st, ch3, 1 puff st] in the same stitch
Puff St: Yarn over and insert your hook into the specified stitch/space. Yarn over again and pull up a long loop. (Yarn over and insert your hook into the same stitch/space. Yarn over again and pull up a long loop) once more. Yarn over and pull through all 7 loops on your hook. Ch 1 to close the Puff Stitch (the ch1 does not count in the st count).
PATTERN NOTES
This pattern is for a triangular shawl that will now decrease with each row; decreases are made on one side only.
Add a stitch marker on the decrease side, moving it onto the row as you work to help mark decrease side.
You may also find it useful to add a stitch marker in the first stitch and the last stitch of each row.
Check st counts at the end of each row to keep on track
Keep any turning ch’s on the start of each row fairly loose so it doesn’t pull your work too tightly
CHART STITCH LEGEND
PATTERN – PART 3
Attach YARN A to the top of the firstst of row 97 worked of part 2;
Notes:
The ch1 at the start of each row does not count as a st.
Work the SPtr’s into the middle tr of the 3tr’s of the previous row;
Row 98: (RS): Ch1, 1htr in the same st, htr2tog, 1htr in the next 2sts, SPtr in the next st, (1htr in 3sts, SPtr in the next st), repeat twenty-one times across the row, 1htr in the last 2sts, turn. 95sts
Row 99: Ch1, 1htr in each st until the last 3sts, htr2tog, 1htr in the last st, turn. 94sts
Row 100: Ch1, 1htr in the first st, htr2tog, 1htr in each st across, turn. 93sts
Fasten off YARN A and weave in ends; attach YARN D to the top of the last st worked;
Row 101: Ch1, 1htr in the next 4st, SPtr in the next st, (1htr in 3sts, SPtr in the next st), repeat twenty times across the row, 1htr in the next st, htr2tog, 1htr in the last st, turn. 92sts
Fasten off YARN D and weave in ends. Attach YARN A to the top of the last st worked;
Row 104: Ch1, 1htr in the next st, htr2tog, SPtr in the next st, (1htr in 3sts, SPtr in the next st), repeat twenty times across the row, 1htr in the last 2sts, turn. 89sts
Fasten off YARN A and weave in ends. Attach YARN D to the top of the last st worked;
Row 107: Ch1, 1htr in the next 4st, SPtr in the next st, (1htr in 3sts, SPtr in the next st), repeat eighteen times across the row, 1htr in the next 3sts, htr2tog, 1htr in the last st, turn. 86sts
Fasten off YARN D and weave in ends. Attach YARN A to the top of the last st worked;
Row 110: Ch1, 1htr in the next st, htr2tog, 1htr in the next 2sts, SPtr in the next st, (1htr in 3sts, SPtr in the next st), repeat eighteen times across the row, 1htr in the last 2sts, turn. 83sts
Fasten off YARN A and weave in ends. Attach YARN D to the top of the last st worked;
Row 113: Ch1, 1htr in the next 4st, SPtr in the next st, (1htr in 3sts, SPtr in the next st), repeat sixteen times across the row, 1htr in the next 5sts, htr2tog, 1htr in the last st, turn. 80sts
Fasten off YARN D and weave in ends. Attach YARN A to the top of the last st worked;
Row 116: Ch1, 1htr in the first st, htr2tog, SPtr in the next st, (1htr in 3sts, SPtr in the next st), repeat seventeen times across the row, 1htr in the last 2sts, turn. 77sts
Please note in the chart below there are more repeats than shown:
Attach YARN D to the top of the last st worked;
The next panel of the shawl will be worked in a repeating five row stitch pattern;
Note: In the pattern where it says to work into the next ch3-sp, this is the space in the middle of the Grst
Row 119 (WS): Ch1, 1tr in the next 2sts, (miss 2sts, Grst, miss 2sts, 1tr in the next 3sts) repeat seven more times across the row, Grst once more, 1tr in the next st, tr2tog, 1tr in the last st, turn. (9 Grsts, 29tr)
Row 120: Ch1, 1tr in the next st, tr2tog, (Grst in the ch3-sp, 1tr on top of the 3tr’s of the previous row) repeat seven more times across the row, Grst in the ch3-sp once more, 1tr in the last 2sts, turn. (9 Grsts, 28tr)
Row 121: Ch1, 1tr in the next 2sts, (Grst in the ch3-sp, 1tr on top of the 3tr’s of the previous row) repeat seven more times across the row, Grst in the ch3-sp once more, tr2tog, turn. (9 Grsts, 27tr)
Row 122: Ch1, tr2tog, 4tr on top of the next ch3-sp, 1tr on top of the 3tr’s of the previous row, (5tr on top of the next ch3-sp, 1tr on top of the 3tr’s of the previous row) repeat six more times across the row, 5tr on top of the next ch3-sp, 1tr on top of the last 2tr’s of the previous row, turn. 71sts
Row 123: Ch1, 1tr in each st along until the last 3sts, tr2tog, 1tr in the last st, turn. 70sts
Row 124: Ch1, 1tr in the next st, tr2tog, 1tr in the next 4sts, (Grst, 1tr in the next 3sts) repeat six more times across the row, Grst once more, 1tr in the last 2sts, turn. (8 Grsts, 29tr)
Row 125: Ch1, 1tr in the next 2sts, (Grst in the ch3-sp, 1tr on top of the 3tr’s of the previous row) repeat seven more times across the row, tr2tog,1tr in the last st, turn. (8 Grsts, 28tr)
Row 126: Ch1, 1tr in the next st, tr2tog, 1tr in the next 2sts, (Grst, 1tr on top of the 3tr’s of the previous row) repeat six more times across the row, Grst once more, 1tr in the last 2sts, turn. (8 Grsts, 27tr)
Row 127: Ch1, 1tr in the next 2sts, (5tr on top of the next ch3-sp, 1tr on top of the 3tr’s of the previous row) repeat six more times across the row, 5tr on top of the next ch3-sp, 1tr on top of the next 1tr’s of the previous row, tr2tog. 1tr in the last st, turn. 66sts
Row 128: Ch1, 1tr in the next st, tr2tog, 1tr in each st across the row, turn. 65sts
Row 129: Ch1, 1tr in the next 2sts, (miss 2sts, Grst, miss 2sts, 1tr in the next 3sts) repeat six more times across the row, 1tr in the next 4sts, tr2tog, 1tr in the last st, turn. (7 Grsts, 29tr)
Row 130: Ch1, 1tr in the next st, tr2tog, 1tr in the next 6sts, (Grst, 1tr on top of the 3tr’s of the previous row) repeat five more times across the row, Grst once more, 1tr in the last 2sts, turn. (7 Grsts, 28tr)
Row 131: Ch1, 1tr in the next 2sts, (Grst in the ch3-sp, 1tr on top of the 3tr’s of the previous row) repeat six more times across the row,1tr in the next 2sts, tr2tog,1tr in the last st, turn. (6 Grsts, 27tr)
Row 132: Ch1, 1tr in the next st, tr2tog, 1tr in the next 4sts, (5tr on top of the next ch3-sp, 1tr on top of the 3tr’s of the previous row) repeat five more times across the row, 5tr on top of the next ch3-sp, 1tr on top of the last 2tr’s of the previous row, turn. 61sts
Row 133: Ch1, 1tr in each st along until the last 3sts, tr2tog, 1tr in the last st, turn. 60sts. Fasten off and weave in ends.
Please note in the chart below there are more repeats than shown:
Video Tutorial:
Click on the image below to be taken to a helpful video tutorial for this section …
And that’s it! Part 3 completed! We will be continuing with our decreases next week to finish off our shawl.
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:
The hashtags for this CAL are #LammasDayCAL #proud2craft #anchorcrafting and #kcacouk for Twitter and Instagram. We would also love it if you can tag KCACO.UK and AnchorCrafting on Instagram so we don’t miss your posts!
You can also join in with any progress photos by linking your projects on your favourite social media sites: Ravelry, Facebook page or Facebook group and Pinterest; re-pin from this board here.
Until next time; 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. You can read more about my affiliate links here.
Happy Lammas Day to you! The wheel of the year is turning once more with the beginning of, hopefully, sunny days of August. Farmers, thoughts will be turning to gathering up the first harvests of grain, wheat, oats and more – and so ours thoughts are turning to our mini-crochet-along where, over the course of 4 weeks, we will crochet a seasonal shawl together that celebrates this time of year.
As promised I’m going to share with you some more information so you can get planning your Lammas Day Shawl including yarn amounts, hook size, the colours I used on the wrap – and even a little sneaky peep of the finished shawl for anyone that wanted to know what it looked like!
I did mention some of the details in my first announcement about the CAL (here) but this post will have all the information you need to get ready to start on 13 August 2021.
Yarn Colours and Amounts:
I’ve crocheted the wrap using five earthy, harvest themed shades of Anchor Organic Cotton; Natural, Sunflower, Rocky Orange, Earthy Brown and Red Dunes – such a lovely autumnal pallet!
Anchor Organic Cotton is an un-mercerised 100% cotton 4-ply yarn resulting in a natural soft touch and matt finish.
The amounts I used for my shawl are below;
Anchor Organic Cotton
Balls
Grams
Metres
Natural (00105)
5
250g
623m
Sunflower
1
50g
125m
Rocky Orange
2
70g
150m
Red Dunes
2
60g
137.5m
Earthy Brown
1
50g
125m
Yarn Stockists:
The following stockists in the U.K have the yarn available to buy;
These next retailers also stock the yarn in UK, but it does not appear on their websites, so would need to be a phone call or in store visit for those who live nearby:
You will need a 3.75mm (US size F/5) for this shawl. I have hooks, and other useful crochet tools, linked in my Amazon Store if this is something you need.
Finished Shawl Size:
The finished shawl finishes up at roughly 165cm / 65″ long by 54cm / 21″ wide (at the widest point) using the yarn specified and at my gauge. Obtaining the correct gauge is not critical to this project but if your gauge does not match the gauge stated then your finished item may be a different size and potentially use more yarn than stated.
The schematic for the shawl can be seen below.
Pattern:
The pattern will be available for free here on the blog and, after the CAL has finished, as a free PDF, sponsored by Anchor Crafts, on their website. As well as the written pattern and charts of each section there will also be helpful video tutorials. Links to each part will be given on the relevant section of the shawl as per the schedule.
The Schedule,Updates and Support:
If you need a reminder of the schedule then you can find all the details on the CAL landing page (here) and you can keep up to date with the details via the following links:
The Facebook group is a lovely place of support, there are crocheters there of all experiences and it’s likely that someone will be able to help you with any questions you might have. You can of course always contact me too here on the blog.
And finally the moment many of you have been waiting for – a photo of what we will be making!
Links:
The hashtag for this CAL is are #LammasDayCAL #proud2craft #anchorcrafting and #kcacouk 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.
Part 1 will be released on 13 August – I can’t wait to start working on a beautiful wrap together.
Until next time; keep calm and crochet on my friends xx
I’m delighted to announce a free mini summer crochet along, sponsored by the lovely people from Anchor Crafts, for a brand new design called the ‘Lammas Day Shawl’
Lammas is a festival, which falls on August 1, that traditionally celebrates the start of the harvest. Inspired by this festival, and to celebrate the launch of Anchor Crafts newest yarn; Anchor Organic Cotton, I’ve worked on a design with a head full of the images of ploughed fields, ripened grain, growth and the coming together to harvest the crops.
Over the space of a four week period we will crochet a triangular shawl which will be a perfect wrap for autumn evenings – I’m hoping you’ll picture warm late-summer sunsets over wheat fields every time you see it!
I’ve crocheted the wrap using five earthy, harvest themed shades of Anchor Organic Cotton; Natural, Sunflower, Rocky Orange, Earthy Brown and Red Dunes – aren’t they lovely! Yellow shades of the sun and harvest; orange and reds as things ripen, and a rich brown for for prosperity and gathering.
Anchor Organic Cotton is spun into an un-mercerised 4-ply yarn resulting a natural soft touch and matt finish. The colours are inspired by nature and created with vegetable bases dyes from 100% cotton GOTS certified fibres, created for conscious crafters who care for the environment. I’ve loved having the opportunity to create something special for you with this yarn.
CAL Details:
There is no charge to join the CAL; anyone can join in as long as they have some yarn and a hook.
You can favourite / add this project to your Ravelry library here.
All featured pattern elements in the CAL will be FREE of charge pattern on this blog and a FREE PDF sponsored by Anchor Yarns will be available on their website.
As I release a new part of the pattern each week I will show you exactly how to tackle every stage of the design. The crochet along is supported by video tutorials, as well as step by step written instructions and charts.
There are four parts in total to this wrap; one section will be released each week. For those that like a deadline I will be adding new details every week on a Friday – see below for the dates of the 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 having fun!
The pattern will be available in UK Crochet terminology (a handy conversion chart is available here). I will also always include any helpful information about each element including links about special stitches with the release of each new section.
The Schedule:
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 but you can also see the dates for the CAL below;
Lammas Day 1 August 2021
CAL Planning – Yarn amounts and hook size and details on support for the CAL
13 August 2021
Part 1 – Ploughing and Sprigs
20 August 2021
Part 2 – Shoots and Growth
27 August 2021
Part 3 – Bringing in the Wheat
3 September 2021
Part 4 – Abundance and Heritage
If you’ve never joined a CAL, but fancied giving it a go, this four part pattern might be the perfect time to try. CALs are a great way to learn new skills and techniques as well as enjoying creating a beautiful finished piece alongside other crafters.
Updates and Support:
Keep up to date with the details via the following links:
The hashtag for this CAL is are #LammasDayCAL #proud2craft #anchorcrafting and #kcacouk 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.
Lammas is a great time of year to work on honing your own talents, to learn a new craft, or get better at an old one! So set August 1 as the day we’ll start working on a beautiful wrap together.
I can’t wait to share this new crochet along with you!
Until next time; keep calm and crochet on my friends xx
Time seems to be zooming by at the moment, we are already in May! It was only January last weekend I swear it! I realised I haven’t had chance to tell you yet about the new pattern that’s available in the latest issue of Crochet Now magazine.
Issue 68 is out now with a range of Parisian and Spring themed projects including cute cardigan’s, a chic beret and a new wrap design from me called ‘The Parisian Plait Wrap’.
The idea for the Parisian Plait Wrap was to create an easy mindful one ball project, where you could use your favourite gradient yarn cake to make a textured wrap inspired by French plaits.
For this pattern I used Hobbii Cotton Kings Twirl and a 3.25mm hook (US D/3) to create a light and airy pattern with a nice drape and chevroned edges. Hobbii Cotton Kings was a completely new yarn to me so I was quite excited to give it a try. If you aren’t familiar with it, it’s a cake-yarn that’s 100% cotton made up of 4 thin cotton threads (for a 4ply / Sport weight) with long colour changes.
Peach Danburite, the shade I used, almost has a dip dye effect as it runs from a peachy colour to a sort of sky blue – not necessarily colours I would have thought to put together but I loved how it looked in the finished wrap.
I would say don’t let the fact that there are 4 thin cotton threads put you off this yarn; if you just ignore them and crochet how you usually would, you soon forget how the yarn is made up.
There was a great tip though that I saw on the website, that works for this type of yarn, and that is to run all the threads through a small bead before you start crocheting to help the threads stay together throughout the project – brilliant idea!
The elegant wrap looks great teamed up a summer dress but it could also be worn as a scarf. It would be a great project to take with you on holiday as all you would need is a yarn cake, a hook and the pattern.
It was a great mindful project to work on, and I enjoyed designing it and creating it, and as it only uses simple stitches and chains this wrap would be a perfect pattern for beginners.
Issue 68 of Crochet Now magazine is packed with 53 patterns in this issue and also includes two supplements; a Hook Nook pattern collection and Rowan Yarns Summer Crochet Collection, so even more patterns for your money!
If you hook up the Parisian Plait Wrap 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
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.
You may remember that in December last year I teamed up with the wonderful Kitey aka the Yarn Whisperer for a fun make-along (MAL) for a wrap design which we called ‘Solstice Garden’.
I did promise that the wrap pattern would be available after the MAL had finished – but because of life things going on in the background it’s taken me a bit longer than planned to get this out to you (sorry about that). The good news is that the pattern is now available, from all my usual pattern stores, for you to make your own keepsake shawl.
This lightweight shawl features airy lace beaded motifs combined with rows and rounds to create something really special – in fact I think it would make a wonderful wedding wrap (with that something blue already added) or party wrap!
I used 200g / 800m of 4ply / Fingering Weight; 100g / 400m Corridale 80% Wool / 20% Nylon in the exclusive Yarn Whisperer ‘Solstice Garden’ colourway with a 3.5mm (US size E/4) hook.
Other than the yarn the only other things you need to make the wrap are a yarn needle, stitch markers and 21 crystal type beads (though they could be optional if you wanted a plainer shawl).
If you do love the Yarn Whisperer colourway I used for this shawl in you can still pick up the custom dyed colourway directly from The Yarn Whisperer here but please note the extra special MAL kit ‘freebies’ are no longer available, they were just exclusively for MAL members.
If you love this wrap and you are one of my newsletter subscribers make sure you check your mail box this Friday for an exclusive discount code! And if you’re not a subscriber yet you’ve got a bit of time to sign up, it’s where I share details of blog posts and exclusive offers especially for my lovely subscribers.
And if you enjoyed the MAL, or wished you’d taken part last time, then make sure you watch this space! Kitey and I enjoyed ourselves so much that we’re planning a rather special summer MAL planned that you’re not going to want to miss. I can’t share much yet accept the yarn I’m using and the colours that have been put together for the brand new design are AMAZING!
Make sure you are signed up to the blog (or my newsletter) and / or 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
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.
