Happily Hooked Magazine | Beelinda the Bee Fairy

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

Can you be ‘fairy’ certain that bees are not fairies in disguise? After all appearances can bee deceiving! With that intriguing thought I’d like to introduce you to Beelinda the Bee Fairy – the un-bee-lievably cute little fairy doll that’s sure to bring a smile to your face!

When she’s not off frolicking in the flowers she’ll be ready to enchant anyone who sees her. And her pattern is available now in the June 2022 edition of Happily Hooked Magazine.

Beelinda is most definitely the bee’s knees when it comes to imaginative play, or as a decorative addition to your home, and she’s sure to become a firm favourite with anyone that wants to sprinkle some of their very own floral fairy magic around.

For my version of Beelinda I used Ricorumi DK with a 3mm hook (closest US size D/3). If you are not not familiar with the yarn it is 100% Cotton which comes in 25g [57.5 meters] balls. I used six colours in total; just 1 ball of Nude (023), Saffron (063), Black (060), White (001), Nougat (056) and Fuchsia (014). I love Ricorumi DK for amigurumi as it comes in the cute little balls in loads of different colours so I can usually find the shades that I’m looking for.

It retails for about £1.25 per ball (approx. $1.67) so it’s perfect for when you need just a small amount of a colour – though it’s hard not to just want all 80 shades!

The only other materials you would need are 2 x 8mm black safety eyes, toy stuffing, black sewing thread, a yarn needle and some blusher (optional, but it’s just normal makeup).

If you love bees or fairies then you need to add this cute crochet fairy doll to your collection! Beelinda is just waiting to share her magic with you.

💗 SAVE BEELINDA THE BEE FAIRY ON RAVELRY 💗

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.

With it being a US publication patterns are written using US crochet terminology – if you are not sure how that differs you may find my post British vs. American Crochet Terms: What’s the difference? of use.

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.

21May2022

Happily Hooked Magazine | Pastel Pop Shawl

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

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 Hooked Magazine.

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!

💗 SAVE PASTEL POP WRAP ON RAVELRY 💗

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

7Mar2022

Happily Hooked Magazine | Colour Wheel Cowl

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

I’ve got a lovely bright new pattern to share with you today! A stylish and easy cowl, made in a range of lively colours will definitely banish any lingering winter blues.

Allow me to introduce The Colour Wheel Cowl (aka The Color Wheel Cowl for my American friends) which is out now in the latest issue of Happily Hooked magazine.

Using a minimum of 12 colours The Colour Wheel Cowl has been designed with mini balls of yarn in mind; such as small skein yarn advents, or it would also make a great stash buster project with each colour using (approximately) only 20g / 56m for each section.

For my cowl I used Scheepjes Softfun it’s a 60% cotton, 40% acrylic blend which usually comes in 50g / 140m balls in a whopping 89 different shades. It’s a yarn I’ve used before specifically for The Stitch Story CAL and for my Unicorn Booties, and if you’re not familiar with it, it’s as soft as it’s name implies!

Not too long ago Scheepjes released some Softfun Mini Colour Packs and I knew I needed to try one! Available in five different colourways; Pastel, Jewel, Cloud, Rainbow & Rich they all looked lovely, but it was the Rainbow tones I went for in the end.

Did you know that studies show that rainbow colours are high in saturation and contrast, which creates an energising effect for humans! The brighter and lighter the colours, the more happy and optimistic it will make you feel! Maybe that’s why I have a bit of a rainbow obsession! Again and again I find myself drawn to the vibrant colours of a rainbow because they are just so cheerful, and give me such a boost when I’m working with them.

The cowl is a sort of sampler of stitches for the 12 sections, 7 different stitch patterns are used in total, with the 7th repeated 6 times to tie the cowl together. It would be a fab project for a beginner to learn new stitches, or for a more established crocheter as a lovely mindful project.

I’ve used a 4.5mm hook (US size 7) to help give the cowl a nice drape, and I would suggest that a couple of stitch markers are useful to add to the start and end of each row to help you keep track of stitches.

Although the pattern is for one size (which should fit most adults) at 75cm long x 23cm wide (29.5” Width 9”) it’s large enough to double over to keep your neck extra snuggly.

The resulting cowl is a lovely bold and bright textured cowl that will cheer you up in the gloomiest weather!

🌈 SAVE COLOUR WHEEL COWL ON RAVELRY 🌈

Issue 96 of Happily Hooked magazine is a fab collection of Stashbuster patterns for all those leftover bits of yarn that you are longing to use up. 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 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

5Jan2022

Happily Hooked Magazine | Chevron Spectrum Wrap

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

Happy New Year folks!! Hope you got to have a bit of a restmas during the holiday period filled with yarn and crochet! I’m bringing in the Hooky New Year with a brand new pattern, the Chevron Spectrum Wrap, which is available now in Happily Hooked Magazine (Issue 94).

I have to confess to being a bit of a sucker for a rainbow in yarn! I’ve been itching to use the Scheepjes Whirl, called Jumping Jelly (shade 759), for ages because it’s such a such a beautiful rainbow gradient cake!

Whirls are one of my favourite yarns, because the transition on the colours is just awesome, but if you aren’t familiar with them, they are a 60% Cotton, 40% Acrylic 4ply (fingering weight) yarn that comes in a 220g (1000 metres) cake.

Scheepjes Whirl come in 39 scrumptious colour ways and is made from a beautifully soft cotton-acrylic blend which are perfect for lightweight projects such as shawls. I’ve made about 4 or 5 wraps and shawls using a whirl, in the past, and there will certainly be more in the future!

I’ve found that a 3.25mm hook (US size D/3) works best with this yarn and then the only other thing you might find useful are a couple of stitch markers to add to the start and end of each row to help you keep track of stitches.

I teamed up the Jumping Jelly Whirl with a with a Scheepjes Whirlette in Chewy (shade 865). Whirlette are 100g (455m) solid colour balls designed to compliment Whirl colours, but as they are the same 4ply (fingering weight) yarn, they are perfect for extending Whirl designs, or mixing and matching as I have with the contrast grey.

The resulting Chevron Spectrum Wrap is a lovely bold and bright wrap that will cheer you up in the gloomiest weather! This delightful chevron wrap is perfect for combining solid and gradient yarn for an overall fun zig zag ombre effect. The finished wrap is definitely one of my favourite recent makes – and I’m excited to see what colour combinations you come up with!

🌈 SAVE CHEVRON SPECTRUM WRAP ON RAVELRY 🌈

Rather excitingly you can see Chilly Billy on the front cover of issue 94 (Bold and Bright). 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.

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

28Dec2021

Happily Hooked Magazine | Chilly Billy Bear

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

Wow time is moving fast it seems and I’ve not even had chance to tell you about the December 2021 issue of Happily Hooked Magazine (Issue 93) yet! As you may have gathered, it’s out now with lots of winter themed crochet projects for you to enjoy – and I’ve got a brand new design in this issue, allow me to introduce the Chilly Billy Bear!

There are lots of things that inspire my designs usually and Billy Bear actually came about from when I was buying some more amigurumi eyes from Etsy (CelloExpressBags). I happened to see they sold some little amigurumi / doll glasses . I obviously needed them in my life, even though I didn’t have a particular project to use them for at the time, but they were so cute I just couldn’t resist!

Then when I saw that Happily Hooked Magazine were putting together a winter themed issue the idea for Chilly Billy Bear came about – and he seemed the perfect character to be wearing my little glasses.

Chilly Billy is the paw-fect companion for any winter adventures! Dressed up warm with his cute bobble hat and his detachable scarf and coat – he’s easily customisable to match any winter pals.

I used some of my favourite Ricorumi DK (100% Cotton); [57.5 meters] / 25 grams); in Nougat (2 x 056), Red (2 x 028), Blue (1 x 032), White (1 x 001) and Saffron (1 x 063). I love Ricorumi DK for amigurumi as it comes in the cute little balls in loads of different colours so I can usually find the shades that I’m looking for.

🐻 SAVE CHILLY BILLY BEAR ON RAVELRY 🐻

Rather excitingly you can see Chilly Billy on the front cover of issue 93 (It’s Cold Outside). 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.

© Happily Hooked Magazine – December 2021

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

10Nov2021

Happily Hooked Magazine | Elektra Scarf

Posted in Crochet, Magazine, Pattern Release by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

Does this scenario sound familiar to you…you see some gorgeous yarn that you fall completely in love with so you have to take it home with you. You didn’t have a plan when you bought it and now you don’t know what to make with just one skein. It sits on your shelf, waiting for it’s moment, you take it down and pet it now and again, but you just haven’t found the right project.

This is totally me! Which is why I’m trying to develop a catalogue of one skein projects for you (and me) to use up our precious solitary skeins that deserve to be used! And that brings me neatly to the latest issue of Happily Hooked Magazine where there is a new collection of one skein projects – including one from me; allow me to introduce the Elektra Scarf.

For the Elektra Scarf I used a gorgeous hank of yarn from my stash by indie yarn dyer Mothy and the Squid. I’m a bit embarrassed to say that I’ve had it for awhile, but I always knew what I wanted it to be, it’s just I didn’t have the time until now!

The yarn I used was called Lungwort and it was in a 100g skein (400m) which I used with a US Size D/3 (3.25mm) crochet hook (and I’d also recommend having some stitch markers handy for the start and finish of each row).

It was lovely yarn to work with as it was a beautiful blend of 75% superwash merino, 20% nylon and 5% stellina (which is like fine glittery thread) which gave it a gorgeous bit of sparkle.

That hint of sparkle thread in the yarn is what gave me the ‘spark’ of inspiration to create a sort of lightening bolt shaped scarf. It took a bit of calculating but I really love how it turned out; I love that it’s an unusual shape for a scarf but that it’s still practical. I’m hoping that if you were to combine this design with some beautiful yarn of your own it will make a scarf that everyone is sure to admire whenever you wear it.

The name of the scarf I already had in my head as it stems from my love of mythology; Elektra is a Greek goddess of storm clouds and it’s from her name that we get the word electricity which all seemed to fit.

Rather weirdly, as I did a mini photo shoot for this scarf, what was a lovely sunny day turned into a thunderstorm, I like to think that Elektra approves of the design, rather than it bring the rain! I have worn the scarf since with no inclement weather changes so I think you’ll be safe!

Issue 92 ‘One-derful Tonight’ is out now and you can find out more details about the magazine on the Happily Hooked Magazine website. Happily Hooked & Pattern Pack Pro Are TWO monthly US digital magazine assembled by makers for makers.

If you make up the Elektra scarf 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!

You may also 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.

Subscribe to the blog:

2May2018

Happily Hooked Magazine | Gazania Clutch Bag

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

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, when you make a purchase through these links I do receive a small commission – thank you so much for supporting my blog! 💗

This month Happily Hooked magazine is celebrating it’s 50th issue (congratulations guys!) and I’m very excited to have a exclusive design appear in this special edition. Let me introduce to you my new Gazania Clutch Bag.

You know me, I do so love a motif but I wanted to try something a little different and play around with three dimensions rather than two. My inspiration came from nature, as it often does, as I was actually looking at some flower pictures for our garden when I came across this image of a Gazania flower. I loved how the centre of the flower was framed by the outer petals but I didn’t want to create a crochet flower as such, so I thought if I stylised it a bit it could work really well as a fun 3-D motif – and I think it does.

I think my Gazania clutch bag would make a wonderful companion for a Spring or Summer wedding 🌼

The ‘motif’ edition of Happily Hooked magazine is filled with articles and interviews and the rest of the magazine shows you some amazing motif patterns in different styles, shapes, and stitches.

Check out the Happily Hooked Magazine website for more details about the magazine and how you can subscribe and I do hope you’ll add the Gazania clutch bag pattern to your 💗Favourites and Ravelry Queue here.

As always I hope you will share your finished clutch bag on your favourite social media sites: Ravelry, LoveCrochet.com, Facebook page or Facebook group, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram as I love to see your finished work! And if you are featured in my newsletter, as the customer spotlight, you could win a pattern of your choice!

Well until next time, happy hooking and keep calm and crochet on my friends xx

5Apr2018

Leafy Boughs Shawl CAL| All Finished!

Posted in Crochet, crochet-along, Inspiration, Magazine, Pattern Release, Sale / Special Offer, Tah-Dah by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

All good things come to an end at some point and so it happens that with the arrival of April that the March Happily Hooked Magazine crochet-along, with my Leafy Boughs Shawl, is now OVER. I have been left completely flabbergasted all the shawls that have been made, the amazing colourways, the fact that people made more than one in the time frame – just amazing!

So we couldn’t come to the end of an amazing CAL without having a little showcase of some of the amazing shawls that have been made – get ready for a feast of inspiration for your eyeballs!

All of them were amazing but I did have a couple of favourites; this one by Corrie really drew my eye because it’s just so gorgeous. She used Scheepjes Whirl in Tasty Nom Nom, a colourway which I adore, and I think the pattern works so well in the mixture of rich pinks and purples.

This one by Laura, using some indie dyed yarn from Etsy, also came out beautifully – move over pastels! I love these rich spring colours.

This version of the Leafy Bough’s shawl by HHM editor Emily is so lovely, I love the variegated blues and greens and I also love that the staff of HHM join in the crochet-alongs with their members – how wonderful is that!

And this one by Lee, Assistant Editor of HHM, is just stunning too isn’t it!! Lee used Katia Spring rainbow which is a yarn I’ve never tried before but one I’m certainly going to look out for.

And finally how amazing is this backdrop! Spring in the Yucatan apparently and wow what a place to be crocheting! And Lynne’s shawl is a perfect compliment to the backdrop, her shawl in variegated blues and purples is just stunning too.

And here is a little collage of some more of the wonderful shawls people have made, thanks so much to; Amy, Ann, Anne-Mary, Carole, Charlene, Christena, Coco-Lee, Corrie, Debra, Emily, Geneva, Jackie, Karen, Kim, Laura, Linda, Lynne, Missy, Naomi, Nicki, Nora, Pamela, Patrice and Sara for sharing your finished works with me.

Happily Hooked magazine run a new CAL every new issue of the magazine. If that’s something you think you might be interested in you can SAVE over 50% on your first year when you start a digital subscription through my link:yearly subscription. Or if you aren’t quite ready for a yearly subscription why not try the monthly subscription.

Well until next time, happy hooking and keep calm and crochet on my friends xx

1Mar2018

Leafy Boughs Shawl | Fancy joining us for a CAL?

Posted in Crochet, crochet-along, Magazine, Pattern Release, Sale / Special Offer, Tah-Dah by Keep Calm and Crochet On UK

So you guys have heard me talk about the monthly online US Happily Hooked Magazine before right? Well I’m extremely excited to announce that I’ve been published in the latest issue AND my brand new shawl design has been chosen as the magazine’s crochet-along for March! Can you see the green shawl on the front cover, well I’m very proud to say that it’s mine – please allow me to introduce the ‘Leafy Boughs’ Shawl.

The Leafy Boughs shawl is a light and airy shawl which is a perfect accessory for your spring / summer wardrobe.

And through some leafy boughs that made a green screen above his head, he saw a bonnet, and a shawl, and fluttering ribands’

Inspired by a passage from the romantic novel, The Commissioner by G. P. R. James, this pattern is a breeze to hook, once you get used to the row repeats, and worked in pretty gradient spring greens you’ll just want to keep it for yourself!

The crochet-along starts today 1 March until 31 March with members of HHM all crocheting this design (squeek – it’s so exciting!!).

I made mine with a trusty 3.25mm hook (US size D) in the most delicious Scheejpes Whirl (4ply) in the shade Pistachi Oh So Nice.

It was my first time using a Scheejpes whirl and I have to say I’m in love and now NEED to try all the colourways. The shawl pattern however is not at all gauge critical, so really anything from 4ply (fingering) to aran (worsted weight) would be just perfect to use!

You can join and find out more about the CAL here. You can also join in the discussion in the fantastic CAL communities on Facebook and Ravelry! Where you’ll be able to interact with me, share photos of your work in progress, and receive and give encouragement to other community members. And I do hope you’ll add the shawl pattern to your 💗Favourites by clicking on the little heart button and adding it to your Ravelry Queue here too.

Because the CAL pattern is in the current issue, you can either subscribe, or you can purchase the individual issue. You can SAVE over 50% on your first year when you start a digital subscription through my link: yearly subscription. Or if you aren’t quite ready for a yearly subscription why not try the monthly subscription.

I do hope you will join us in the crochet-along, I seriously can’t wait to see what colours you choose and your finished projects! I’ll definitely be looking to hold a showcase at the end of the month.

Well until next time, happy hooking and keep calm and crochet on my friends xx

3Dec2017

Beaded Bauble | Pattern Pack Pro

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

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, when you make a purchase through these links I do receive a small commission – thank you so much for supporting my blog! 💗

Have you heard of the Pattern Pack Pro (PPP)? Well the lovely people behind Happily Hooked magazine created the PPP, back in 2014, as a collation of themed patterns for crochet enthusiasts.

The December issue of PPP is all about ornaments. You know I have a plan to one day just have a Christmas tree full of crocheted ornaments and there’s some real beauties in this round up.

And I’ve got a brand new pattern as part of the collection! Christmas is definitely my favourite time of the year and I love setting up my tree. I wanted to create a bauble which would really set off any Christmas tree and with it’s beaded detail I think these baubles certainly do.

Why not let these strikingly Christmas baubles transform your decorations this season with a bit of bling (because who doesn’t like a bit of sparkle right?!).

You could create lots of them for a truly eye catching look!

I love how they look when hung up on the tree – with twinkly lights the beads really sparkle!

Each bauble is made from 15g of Scheepjes Catona using a 2.75mm (US size C) crochet hook so if you were using the larger 50g balls then you could make two! And the pattern comes will full instructions on how to crochet using beads.

I’m a little obsessed with making these little beaded baubles – no guessing what everyone is getting from me for Christmas! And although I’ve stuck with the traditional green and red there are so many different variations that you can come up with – my next one is going to be gold with gold beads!

As well as my new pattern the Ornament Issue also features the following patterns:

Nordmann Tree Stockings by Debbie Richardson
Santa Cube Ornament by Maxine Velasco
Ornament Trio by Sweet N’ Cute Creations
Snowman Ornament by Diana Moore
Upcycling Christmas Ball by Eléna Leprêtre
Celtic Weave Ornaments by Alexandra Richards ELK

If you fancy subscribing to the Pattern Pack Pro then just hop on over to the Happily Hooked Magazine website where you can also get the current issue of the Pattern Pack Pro for December 2017! You can also add the PPP to your 💗 Favourites and Ravelry Queue here or my bauble here.

As always I hope you will share your finished robot’s on your favourite social media sites: Ravelry, LoveCrochet.com, Facebook page or Facebook group, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram as I love to see your finished work! And if you are featured in my newsletter, as the customer spotlight, you could win a pattern of your choice!

Well until next time, happy hooking and keep calm and crochet on my friends xx