In the sunny days of summer it might seem strange to count down the days until autumn – but it’s always nice to get ahead for the next season (especially as crochet takes time!). In the August issue of I Like Crochet magazine they’ve included 15 First Fall patterns and I’m excited to say that my second pattern, the Briar Blanket, is included in this section.
Briar, meaning “thorny bush of wild roses” is the name of the blanket filled with textured stitches and rose-inspired hues of deep maroon and soft taupe. This chunky blanket, with its large feature tassels, would make a perfect addition to style up your bed – or to keep as a throw on your sofa getting ready for when those nights turn cooler.
I used the delectable Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Bulky for this blanket, which was a new yarn to me, and is sooo nice! Plump and squishy and available in 20 different colours, Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Bulky is a heavy weight yarn that works up quickly for thick and cushy projects.
Spun from Peruvian wool, the yarn is strong and durable with excellent stitch definition. It’s classed as a bulky (chunky weight) yarn which is 100% wool and comes in 100g hanks (137yds / 125m).
The shades I used for the blanket were Currant 28211(A, 6 balls), Gosling 28214 (B, 12 balls) and Fedora 28212 (C, 4 balls) with a 6mm (US size J/10) hook (which is amongst the suggested hook sizes).
Throws are perfect for keeping you toasty in front of the tv or reading a book in bed. Make in three muted complementary colours for a chic solution or go bold with some bright shades to update an old chair.
I would suggest this intricate blanket is an intermediate pattern, that feels sumptuous and decadent made in lux yarn, and that would make a cosy addition to your summer-to-autumn home décor.
As well as my wrap the August 2022 edition features loads of lovely seasonal patterns and a range of interesting articles. If you SUBSCRIBEyou can get the magazine straight to your desktop or iPad as well as access to lots of other extra crochet bonus material.
If you hook up the Briar Blanket, 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
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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.
The August issue of I Like Crochet magazine is here and I’m super excited to say I’ve got TWO patterns in this edition. I’m rather proud of both designs, so I thought I’d write a separate blog post about each of them so I can tell you about them properly. First up is a crocheted wrap design called the Sandstone Shawl.
The Sandstone Shawl is an accessory which utilises yarn that varies in thickness to achieve a textured and lacy look. Tassels added to the centre of the shawl add a visual interest alongside open diamond motifs – and I love, love, LOVE how it turned out!
I used King Cole Opium for this shawl which I’d not used before but which I wanted to try as it just looks different and unusual. I think it’s no secret that I’m a bit in love with slubby textured yarns at the moment, especially after working the Whispers of the Sea Wrap and the Mellow Mallow Shawl.
If you were looking for a commercial type of slub yarn then I’d suggest this yarn could come close. It’s classed as a fashion yarn which has thick and thin sections along it’s length, a bit like slub yarn. When it’s worked up it creates such a beautiful textured mixture of lace and opaque – perfect for both summer and winter projects.
I’m a huge fan of textured crochet pieces and the beauty of this yarn is that it creates the texture for you – did I say yet how much I LOVE how the yarn worked up for this design!
King Cole Opium is 54% cotton, 42% acrylic and 4% Polyamide yarn and comes in 100g balls (273yds / 250m). The shade I used for the wrap was actually called Sandstone (1085) which is partially where the name of the wrap came from. My original inspiration for this shawl came from sandstone clay formations which are full of wonderful ridges and curves – so the name and colour of the yarn shared a bit of a serendipitous moment!
King Cole Opium is actually available in 7 other different colours and I used 6 balls in total to create a nice large wrap (approx. 79″ long x 22” wide / 200cm long x 56cm wide). The suggested hook size for this yarn is a 6mm (US size J/10) though I used a 4.5mm hook (US size 7) as I wanted my lacy sections to not be too oversized.
I would suggest this is a pattern that adventurous beginners would enjoy, the Sandstone Shawl is a trendy yet practical shawl with a nice pattern repeat which is easy to follow once you get used to it.
Make in beautiful natural tones for a chic outfit solution for the season ahead, it’s a great statement piece for layering. The textured yarn is light enough to be airy and yet still feel cosy enough to snuggle into as the seasons turn colder.
As well as my wrap the August 2022 edition features loads of lovely seasonal patterns and a range of interesting articles. If you SUBSCRIBEyou can get the magazine straight to your desktop or iPad as well as access to lots of other extra crochet bonus material.
If you hook up the Sandstone Shawl, 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
Subscribe to the blog
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.
The February issue of I Like Crochetmagazine is here to help you start off your New Year with a list of patterns you’ll be excited to start crocheting. New yarns to try, new projects to freshen up your wardrobe and plenty of opportunities to get inspired.
And, as my post title handily summed up, I’ve got FOUR brand new designs in this issue – and the first one is very appropriate for the kind of weather we are experiencing at the moment!
Spruce up your winter wardrobe with the playfully Tahoe Hat, a versatile and fuss-free style that you can bring out winter, after winter. This classic style beanie has masses of texture in both it’s stitches and use of yarn, making it perfect for everyone on your hat list!
I have to admit I’m in LOVE with the texture on this hat, I love textured crochet and this one turned out better than I’d hoped, especially when combined with the tweedy Stylecraft Special Aran with Wool Nepp yarn I used.
Stylecraft Special Aran with Wool Nepp is a 100% acrylic yarn and comes in a massive 400g ball (892yds / 815m). I used Atlantic Blue (shade 3391 ) and a 5mm hook (US H/8) which is the suggested hook size for this yarn. I topped off the hat with a lovely large pom pom from Cowling Country Crafts (who I can recommend). The pom poms from Cowling Country Crafts come with a big press stud on so you can remove the pom pom when you want to wash your hat – I love that option!
Finish off your look and keep the cold away with the versatile Tahoe Hat AND Tahoe Scarf set! The textured stitches, combined with a tweed yarn, and twisted fringe ends give it a classic touch that you are sure to love.
The Tahoe Scarf has the same lovely texture as the Tahoe Hat and I would suggest is a pattern that adventurous beginners would enjoy. I also really enjoyed making the twisted fringe for the scarf, it’s such a great way to finish off that gives a lovely professional look to the finished piece I think. And it’s so easy to achieve, I’m hoping to add a blog post photo tutorial and video on how to make this fringe at some point – so watch this space!
With Valentines Day in February the magazine has also included a cupid’s pick of patterns including the next one from me, the Puppy Love Coin Purse.
Does your handbag need a new best friend? The Puppy Love Coin Purse is a playful choice for dog owners and animal lovers alike. This animal friendly purse features a lovable dog with heart shaped ears on the front and a cute 3-D nose. Perfect for stashing your pennies and your secret love notes!
I used some Ricorumi DK with a 3mm hook (Closest US size D/3) for my purse. Ricorumi DK is 100% cotton that comes in little 25g balls (57m / 62yds) which makes it perfect for making small items where you just need small amounts of yarn. The only other things you will need for your pup is a 9 x 6.3cm [3.5” x 2.4”] purse clasp, a small amount of toy stuffing, and 2 x small black shank buttons.
Finally, the last pattern I have in the February issue of I Like Crochetmagazine is the Carnation Pink Shawl; A gorgeous openwork shawl, this fringed piece is crocheted in soft shades of pink.
This stylish large wrap is perfect for everyday glamour that you can dress up or dress down. The lovely long fringe brings a refreshing take to your favourite looks of the season. Wear this shawl around your shoulders this spring or wrap around your neck in the cold months ahead.
For my Carnation Pink Shawl I used two cakes of James C Brett Northern Lights which is 95% Acrylic 5% Viscose, that comes in 150g (450m / 492yds) ball. I used shade NL8 – NL8 which is a lovely soft marled pink with flecks of white nepp, with a 3.75mm (US size F) hook, to produce a lovely drape.
As well as my hat, scarf, purse and wrap, the February 2022 edition features loads of lovely seasonal patterns and a range of interesting articles. If you SUBSCRIBEyou can get the magazine straight to your desktop or iPad as well as access to lots of other extra crochet bonus material.
If the magazine is something that interests you I Like Crochetcurrently have a special introductory for KCACOUK readers. Join the I Like Crochet Gold Club for 90% off the regular price of a one-year membership and receive a full year of the digital I Like Crochet Magazine, instant access to their pattern collections (that includes never-before-seen patterns!), and get FREE access to the I Like Crochet pattern library that includes every single issue that they have ever published! (That’s 7 years of crochet with more than 50 issues and 100’s of designer patterns… for free!) Plus, subscribers who join now will also receive a FREE special issue: Crochet Your Best Year Ever: 21 Crochet Stitches, Tips, Tricks and More.
If you hook up the Tahoe Hat, the Tahoe Scarf, the Puppy Love Purse, or the Carnation Pink 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! 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.
Although we’ve been enjoying some sunny days, we all know that sweater weather and the time of woolly goodness is not far away (yay!). The October 2021 issue of I Like Crochet magazine is out now to help you prepare, get inspired and enjoy everything the autumn weather has to offer (and to look good while doing it).
And I’ve got TWO brand new designs in this issue, allow me first to to introduce the Evie Pom Hat!
Spice up your autumn-winter wardrobe with an ultra cosy cabled hat topped with a playful pom pom! The Evie Pom Hat is a super fun design that places with texture to create something that keeps your ears nice and toasty as the days turn cooler.
Now hats aren’t a norm for me, but sometimes I really want to make something quick and satisfying and a hat project definitely ticks those boxes – combine it with a heavier yarn weight and some texture and it’s a project made in heaven!
I used Stylecraft Special Aran in Pale Rose (shade 1080), which is a 100% acrylic yarn ( 214 yards [196 meters]/100 grams), and a 5mm hook (US H/8) hook for my hat and 1 ball was more than enough for the hat, with some left over.
I used some interchangeable pom poms to make the hat really customisable, to link with project I chose a baby pink colour and a beige husky faux fur. I can defiantly recommend this Etsy shop here (called Cowling Country Crafts) – the pom poms are really lovely, well made, and come with a big press stud on so you can change the pom pom colour on your hat to update the look!
The second design in this issue is called the Cherie Plaid Wrap which is a shawl for when granny squares meet plaid! It’s a lovely modern oversized wrap that’s as cosy as if you are snuggling in a blanket.
The pattern is designed for advanced beginners who want to take their granny square skills further with a bit of colour changing. The plaid design, which screams cosy, winter-y vibes, is created with strategically placed motifs, joined together with a fringe on either end to finish it off.
The pink and grey colour palette was created with more Stylecraft Special Aran in five different shades (Pale Rose: shade 1080), Graphite: shade 1063, Silver: shade 1203, White: shade 1001 and Mushroom: shade1832) again using a 5mm hook (US H/8) hook.
Lovely and versatile the Cheri Wrap is great for getting cosy on a chilly day, just throw it over yourself like a blanket, letting it cover your shoulders and arms, you have a eye-catching look that’s a winter winner!
As well as my hat and wrap the October 2021 edition features loads of lovely seasonal patterns (I might have bookmarked the Coletta Cardigan by Nazanin Fard!) and a range of interesting articles. If you SUBSCRIBEyou can get the magazine straight to your desktop or iPad as well as access to lots of other extra crochet bonus material.
If the magazine is something that interests you I Like Crochetcurrently have a special introductory charter membership where you will receive a full year of the digitalI Like CrochetMagazine, instant access to their pattern collections (that includes never-before-seen patterns!), and get FREE access to their pattern library that includes every single issue that they have ever published! (That’s 7 years of crochet with more than 45 issues and 700+ designer patterns… for free!) Plus, subscribers who join now will also receive two FREE streaming crochet videos: Back to Basics: 11 Essential Techniques and Stitches for Every Crocheter and Crochet Secrets Revealed: 12 Tutorials by Michael Sellick.
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.
