Finished Object | Juniper Cowl by TL Yarn Crafts

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.

The crocheted Juniper Cowl, by TL YarnCrafts made with a Scheepjes Whirl is shown on a mannikin against a background of ivy.

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

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