Finished Object | Libraryarn Scarf by Claire Makes It

Posted in Blogging, Crochet, From the Stash, Pattern Review by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

I just realised I hadn’t yet told you about an actual finished object that I made (loud klaxon sound) – an occasion which seems to be a rather rare thing! So let me celebrate in a post all about the Libraryarn Scarf!

A cosy crocheted Libraryarn Scarf draped over a mannequin, showcasing a stunning mix of stitches and textures. The deep, rich yarn tones contrast beautifully against the lush green ivy backdrop.

In 2023 I decided to treat myself to my first ever yarn advent! And what tempted me, above all else, was Jess’s (from Hook and Cwtch) who was offering the ‘Libraryarn’ Advent, an advent that was completely influenced by books, book covers, and the stories inside. Now after crochet, my favourite thing in the world is reading (as you might be aware from my 2025 Book Blanket Challenge). My two most favourite things were going to be combined – I needed to sign up immediately!!!

Now I’m not going to talk too much about the fantastic advent (because it was), as I’m going to leave that to another post. However, it is relevant I mention it here because, as well as the yarn, we were gifted an exclusive pattern, the Libraryarn Scarf, which had been created in collaboration with Jess, by the lovely Claire of Claire’s Made It.

A close-up of the Libraryarn Scarf highlighting the interplay of raised and openwork stitches. The tactile crochet details are accentuated by soft, natural lighting and a backdrop of green ivy.

Strangely I found myself in a tricky situation. You see as soon as I’d signed up for the advent I had an idea of what I wanted to do with the yarn – and I REALLY wanted to make my design idea! But Claire’s scarf looked fab and I wanted to make that too (oh such crocheter difficulties). Luckily I have a huge stash so I just picked out some more Hook and Cwtch yarn, to remain in keeping with the ‘advent’, and looked forward to starting my new project!

I decided to use just three colours; and I ended up using approximately 100g of ‘Hedwig’, 125g of ‘Duelling Wizards’ and 200g of undyed yarn, all 4ply and all dyed by Jess for previous collections she’d released. As always her use of colours are delightful so I thoroughly enjoyed working with them.

Close-up of the Libraryarn Scarf, revealing intricate crochet stitches and textures that create a story within the fabric. The detailed pattern stands out against the blurred greenery in the background.

The Libraryarn Scarf pattern was really clever, inspired by the shape of a bookmark it combined lots of different stitch patterns for interest. There were stitches I’d used before, and ones that I’d forgotten all about so it was like a lovely discovery of textures as you worked through each section.

I find working on someone else’s pattern very relaxing because all the thinking has been done for me – it’s like giving my brain a holiday. I worked my scarf predominately over the ‘betwixtmas’ period in 2023/24, between Christmas and New Year, so my memories of it are fond ones of being snuggled up on a chair, under a blanket, watching movies with the family as I crocheted away.

A mannequin wears the Libraryarn Scarf outdoors, its beautifully textured crochet design cascading over the shoulders. The ivy-covered wall behind adds a natural, timeless feel to the scene.

I can definitely recommend this pattern, it’s a real library of stitches! Claire’s pattern is now available on Etsy, LoveCrafts and Ravelry. And although you can’t get the specific colourways I used, as Jess tends to work in limited edition colourways, she has a myriad of gorgeous colours to choose from in the Hook and Cwtch Etsy shop and she’s just released her 2025 Advent; A Night at the Ballet (and there’s a few left).

Do you have a favourite finished object that you’ve made recently? I’d love to hear about it – let me know in the comments below.

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

24Jan2024

Finished Object | Companion Wrist Warmers

Posted in Blogging, Crochet, From the Stash, Pattern Review by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

Hot off my hook is an actual finished object and a big tick off my Make 9 in 2024 list and it’s still only January! Yay me!

My eldest daughter had made a request for me to make her some rainbow wrist warmers for her upcoming birthday. Around about the same time I came across a pattern by Rosina (of Zeens and Roger) for her Companions set, which included a lovely pair of stripy wrist warmers. I showed a picture to my daughter and she said I was on the right track…

However, as a pre-teen she had some very specific ideas about what she wanted; and the wrist warmers underwent a few modifications in order to be exactly what she’d envisioned.

The original Companions wrist warmers were made from gorgeous looking Yarnadelic by John Arbon Textiles which is a plump woolly 4ply (baby weight) yarn. However my daughter has clothing sensory issues and would never have coped with a woollen yarn so I had to look for an acceptable (to her) substitute.

With her agreement I used Scheepjes Colour Crafter DK which is a very soft 100% premium acrylic that comes in 100g balls (330m). It’s classed as a double knit (light worsted) yarn, however I would say it is a thin DK, so I thought it would work for this project.

Modified version of the Zeens and Roger Companion crochet wrist warmers — Big shout out to my lovely mum for modelling these for photo purposes x

She knew she wanted long stripy ‘arms’ so I used a combination of Amsterdam (Red 1010), Vlissingen (Orange 1723), Leuven (Yellow 2008), Terneuzen (Green 1821), Knokke (Blue 2012) and Drachten (Magenta 1827) and a contrast colour of Wolvega (Grey 1099).

The pattern provides different measurements for wrist and hand circumference which was very handy *excuse the pun*. My daughter is only 12 therefore I had to make adjustments so that the finished article would fit her smaller wrist size, yet allowing for them to fit higher up on her arm. As a consequence I had to blend the smaller hand with a medium wrist size to make them fit. I think had I been making the wrist warmers for myself then the medium size would have fit my hands / wrists perfectly.

Bright and colourful rainbow and grey mitts against a blank wall.

At the last moment, my daughter asked if I could ‘add fingers’ – I tried to explain that this wasn’t part of the pattern, but she insisted that they were necessary. So, sorry Rosina, I cobbled some ‘fingers’ onto the ends of the design. They aren’t the prettiest addition, but they are functional and pleased the pre-teen. Please don’t ask me what I did to make the fingers as I don’t think it could (or should) be recreated in that way.

Anyway, Daughter is delighted with the finished modified mitts – even with the dodgy added fingers. The pattern was easy to follow and I think if I were to make them again for myself I would try the Yarnadelic yarn in a gradient of some of the pretty muted colours they offer in this range. Rosina’s pattern if you want to make some yourself is available from her pattern stores – I picked mine up on Ravelry.

A pair of grey and rainbow stripy gloves crossed in front of the body of a woman.

Do you have a favourite finished object that you’ve made recently? I’d love to hear about it – let me know in the comments below.

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

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24May2023

Finished Object | Juniper Cowl by TL Yarn Crafts

Posted in Blogging, Crochet, From the Stash, Pattern Review by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

I’ve been awfully busy recently, with some secret squirrel projects, and so I started thinking about things that I COULD share. It occurred to me that I don’t always show any of the finished objects that I’ve made. I think it’s always nice to see what folks have finished isn’t it – I’m always checking people out (in a non creepy way) if I spy a bit of a crocheted item on their person, don’t you?

My Juniper Cowl by TL Yarn Crafts was definitely a case of me seeing someone else wearing it and deciding I needed to make one too! There was a period of time, when several of us, who attended the The Crochet Sanctuary, had a bit of a craze on Juniper Cowls. Everyone was making them, everyone was wearing them, and of course I couldn’t miss out on that.

A hand is holding a crocheted work in progress on a desktop, On the desk there is a wooden yarn bowl with a multicoloured Scheepjes Whirl inside.

There was so much inspiration to be had from all the fabulous ones I’d seen, but I thought I’d try something a little different to see if it would work. So the original pattern by the fabulous designer Toni Lipsey calls for 10 different coloured mini skeins of fingering weight yarn, and don’t get me wrong I’ve seen some fabulous variations using mini skeins, but as I’m trying to do a bit better at using up what I’ve got I wondered if a Scheepjes Whirl might work as a substitute.

Made from a 60% Cotton and 40% Acrylic blend, Scheepjes Whirl’s are a favourite of mine to create accessories as they are simultaneously lightweight, breathable and have a beautiful drape.

Close up of the crocheted Juniper Cowl on a desk top made with a Scheepjes Whirl

They have a generous twist to enable speed while working the yarn and to help prevent splitting, and each colourway also has a unique twisted ply which adds to the distinctiveness of each colourway. I personally LOVE the way the colours blend together in these Whirls, it’s so subtle and the effects are usually gorgeous. The colour I used was a Woolly Whirl called Sugar Sizzle (shade 472), but any type of Whirl or colour I have no doubt would work.

Scheepjes Whirl yarn cakes are a fingering weight yarn (4ply) that are 1000 m / 215g which is more than enough for a shawl or wrap. So even though it was a bit less than the 250g of fingering weight / 4ply that the pattern calls for I thought it would work. The pattern calls for a 4mm (US size G/6) hook but as a Scheepjes Whirl is more suited to a smaller hook size I went with a 3.5mm (US size E/4) to see what would happen.

A close up of the drape of the crocheted Juniper Cowl, by TL YarnCrafts shown on a mannikin against a background of ivy.

I find working on someone else’s pattern very relaxing because all the thinking has been done for me – and that was definitely the case with this project. It was my take out and about project coming with me on car journeys, the playpark and the hairdressers! It’s also a great mindful project to tackle whilst watching TV or listening to a good audio book.

I really enjoyed making this cowl, and I love how it turned out. It’s a great pattern! I have to say it’s a finished item that I’ve used regularly since I’ve worn it. I might just have to make another at some point, though this time I think I’ll defiantly be looking at what hand dyed mini’s I’ve got because that would just be such a delicious project.