One Skein | Keep Calm and Crochet On U.K

There’s something extra satisfying about giving a well-loved pattern a fresh new life – and today, I’m so excited to share a little crochet glow-up with you.

I know it’s completely the wrong time of year for cosy hats, especially with the UK currently feeling more like a heatwave (for some days) than hat weather, but sometimes you just have to ignore the seasons a little if you want to get a pattern out into the world!

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A woman wearing a light pink crocheted beanie with a pom-pom and floral details, smiling in front of an autumn background. Below, two more crocheted beanies are displayed: one in blue and the other in multicolored yarn, each with a pom-pom.

The Bloom and Grow Beanie is made for those special skeins you’ve been saving: that beautifully variegated, hand-dyed yarn that deserves to shine. It’s also a chance to play with something a bit different, as I tried adding embroidery onto crochet for a truly unique finish. Whether you’re diving into your stash or trying a new technique for the first time, this project is all about experimentation, creativity and colour.

This design first appeared in Crochet Now, Issue 115, as part of the Stash-Busting Style Supplement, but when the pattern rights made their way back to me, I couldn’t resist the urge to see it through fresh eyes. I’ve always believed a simple change of yarn can completely transform a project, so I set out to rework it and discover how it might ‘bloom’ into something new (see what I did there).

As it turned out, the timing couldn’t have been better. My crochet designer friend Fay (Fay DH Designs) and I were gearing up for the second round of our annual creative challenge – a tradition I’ve come to love. At the start of each year, we either choose a shared design concept or a specific yarn type, then we each put our own spin on it by creating or reimagining a pattern. It’s always such a fun way to stretch our creativity. Last year was the year of the ‘scarf’ when Fay created her stunning design, One Way or Another and I came up with the Janus keyhole scarf.

A crocheted navy scarf displayed on a mannequin to the left, and a woman wearing a multi-coloured patterned crochet scarf outdoors on the right.

This year, we began with the same starting point: a truly stunning variegated yarn from RiverKnits. Rich with shifting shades of purples, mauves, greens, rusty orange, navy, and teal, it’s one of those colourways that feels almost too beautiful to use – yet impossible to resist. Part of their Wonky Veg Autumn/Winter ’25 collection, the shade is called Best In Show – Nene DK, and it’s every bit as delightful as it sounds.

Made from 100% Blue-faced Leicester British wool (100g / 233m), and both spun and dyed in Britain, it has a beautifully high twist that makes it an absolute dream to crochet with. The stitch definition, the bounce, the way the colours play together, was just going to be perfect for my glow up purposes.

A skein of colourful hand-dyed yarn labeled 'RIVERKINIT' resting on a wooden slice surrounded by greenery.

Fay also reworked one of her designs, the Halo Cowl, which really made the variegated yarn sing, (and it looks gorgeous) and I remade my Bloom and Grow Beanie.

Bloom and Grow Beanie

The original version of this hat was made using 100g of Symfonie Yarn by KnitPro, with both the hat itself and the embroidered details worked in the same yarn. All of those original instructions, including how to create the hat and add the delicate embroidered flowers around the brim, are still included in the pattern.

A woman wearing a pink crocheted hat with a pom-pom and embroidered designs, smiling against a yellow background. The image features accessories like fingerless gloves and a crochet star with text about quick patterns for the whole family. — © Practical Publishing 2024 (Crochet Now Issue 115 – Supplement)

But I couldn’t help wondering how it might transform when reimagined in hand-dyed yarn, with all those rich, shifting colours. And I absolutely love how it turned out! I think the hat definitely shines with a heavily variegated skein, letting every twist of colour come alive, but it also works beautifully in a semi-solid yarn for a more subtle, sophisticated look.

A colourful crochet beanie hat with a fluffy navy blue pom-pom, placed on a wooden slice and surrounded by greenery.

I made one version with the Riverknits yarn and it has quickly become my new go-to winter hat. I also made another beanie as a sample to showcase at yarn shows using a beautiful variegated blue Hook&Cwtch Deluxe DK (Shade: Georg Hoffman, 225m/100g, 85% superwash merino and 15% nylon). It’s been the perfect design for using up some single DK skeins in my stash – and I’m sure I’ll make another in the future.

A stylish blue knitted beanie hat with a fluffy white pom-pom, resting on a wooden surface surrounded by greenery and a round glass with decorative bubbles.

Pattern Links

The pattern is very beginner-friendly, if you’re familiar with basic crochet stitches you should have no trouble following along and creating a hat you’ll be proud of!

❤️ SAVE BLOOM AND GROW BEANIE ON RAVELRY ❤️

The crochet Bloom and Grow Beanie pattern in now available for purchase from usual pattern platforms.

The Bloom and Grow Beanie is also available as a physical printed pattern from my Etsy shop here.

If you like the Bloom and Grow Hat you may also like these other floral themed patterns…

A close-up of a person's hand holding a gray crocheted fabric with intricate patterns, with a partially visible book and soft fabric in the background.

FREE PATTERN | PERFECT PUFF PILLOW

A crocheted sunflower pincushion with yellow petals and a brown center, adorned with colorful sewing pins, placed on a light wooden surface.

PRETTY PETAL PINCUSHION CROCHET KIT

A close-up of a hand holding a crocheted red poppy flower with a black center and green leaves, surrounded by additional crocheted poppies in the background.

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION CHARITY POPPY

I can’t wait to see how your own Bloom and Grow Beanie turns out, grab the pattern, pick your favourite yarn, and let your creativity bloom stitch by stitch!

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

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I’m so happy to share a new crochet pattern with you today, it’s taken me a bit of time to get it all finished off but it’s a crochet scarf pattern that’s designed to make the most of that special 50g skein of hand-dyed yarn you’ve been holding onto. You know the one: too gorgeous to let sit in your stash, but not quite enough for a big project, or perhaps the left overs from a big project…

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The Janus Keyhole Scarf crochet pattern featuring a model wearing the scarf outdoors, with close-up images of the scarf design. The pattern is easy for beginners and requires approximately 2 x 50g skeins of 4ply yarn and a 3 mm hook.

This scarf is part of my hand-dyed challenge, which you’ll be right in thinking I haven’t mentioned again since I posted about it in January. I might have been a little overconfident thinking I could manage something for every month (we’ll have to see how it goes). But at least I’ve finally got around to this one. The challenge is all about finally using my beautiful stash of hand-dyed yarn instead of just admiring (or hoarding!) it, and I have to say – it feels good to finally put some of it to work.

This pattern also fulfilled a fun little challenge I had with my crochet designer friend Fay at the start of the year. We set ourselves a mini goal to design a ‘scarf’ using no more than 100g of yarn. Fay, ever the organised one, absolutely smashed it and released her stunning design, One Way or Another, back in early April. True to her creative flair, she went above and beyond by designing not just one, but a versatile crochet pattern that covers two yarn weights and three different styles – scarf, necktie, and cowl. It’s a beautiful and clever design that’s well worth checking out!

A beautifully crafted Janus Keyhole Scarf featuring a mix of contrasting hand-dyed yarns, displayed alongside a mug of tea and decorative plants on a wooden surface.

The Janus Scarf

For my first project, I chose to make the Janus Scarf—a name that felt particularly fitting for this challenge. It’s named after Janus, the Roman god of beginnings, transitions, and duality, who is often depicted with two faces. Since this was my first project of the year, marking a fresh start, I decided to use two contrasting skeins of hand-dyed yarn so the the name felt just right. Plus, January itself is named after Janus, making it an even more fitting choice!

The yarns I picked had been in my stash for far too long, waiting for the right project. Working with them was a treat—the contrast between the two skeins made the stitches pop beautifully, and I loved seeing how they played together in the finished piece.

A cosy scene featuring two balls of yarn on a wooden table, with a turquoise teapot and a cup of tea in the background.

I’m using up 50g of undyed yarn left over from a blanket project (more on that later) and a 50g skein from Sable Yarns. Now sadly it doesn’t seem as if Sable Yarns are active any more (I can’t find much posted after 2022), and I’m not entirely sure where I purchased the yarn, though I’m assuming it was at a yarn show before that date. The particular colourway I’m using is called ‘Ermagerd’ which I think is supposed to be the humorous version of the phrase oh my god, that sometimes appears in memes – and I like to think of it as ‘ermagerd she’s finally using up some of her stash’!

I made a short keyhole scarflette using just the 100g of yarn, and I absolutely love how it turned out! A keyhole scarf features a slit that allows one end to be threaded through, creating a secure fit without the need for a knot. This makes it less bulky and more streamlined than traditional scarves. I designed it to be a neat, compact piece – just big enough to wrap snuggly around the neck and sit slightly across the top of the chest. It was my first time trying this style, and I really enjoyed the process of bringing my idea to life! I see more keyhole type scarves in my future!

A person wearing a colourful crochet Janus keyhole scarf, standing outdoors with greenery in the background.

The pattern is very beginner-friendly—if you’re familiar with basic crochet stitches (double crochet / US single crochet, trebles / US double crochet and decreases), you should have no trouble following along and creating a scarf you’ll be proud of! In the pattern I’ve included both the written instructions and a helpful chart to guide you through the process.

❤️ SAVE JANUS KEYHOLE SCARF ON RAVELRY ❤️

The crochet Janus Keyhole Scarf pattern in now available for purchase from usual pattern platforms.

Handdyed Challenge Progress So Far

✅ 1 project complete!
🧶 Stash dented? A little—but let’s be honest, I really need to crack on with another project!

I have to say that this challenge is already helping me be more intentional with my yarn choices, and I’ve actually been enjoying diving into my stash and finding treasures!

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