Simply Crochet Magazine 145 | Cubist Wall Hanging

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

Hey lovelies, I’ve got a new design to share with you today that you can find inside the latest issue of Simply Crochet magazine. Splash your walls with a new sense of style with the ‘About Face’ Cubist Wall Hanging.

Close up of a crochet abstract face wall hanging against a white brick wall. — Our Media 2024 – Simply Crochet 145

Inspired by the Cubist movement, characterised by the breaking down of forms into geometric shapes, this modern abstract wall art will definitely provide an interesting talking point in your home.

I created the wall hanging from West Yorkshire Spinners Colour Lab DK (light worsted), It’s made from 100% British wool and comes in a range of bright solids and self-striping shades.

A desk top view of a basket of West Yorkshire Spinners colour lab yarn, a hand holds a cream coloured ball towards the camera.

I used 1 ball each of the following colours with a 3.5mm hook (US E/4);

Natural Cream (0010)
Citrus Yellow (0229)
Crimson Red (0556)
Zesty Orange (0476)
Electric Blue (0364)
Bottle Green (0363)
Phantom Black (0099)

However the colours are easily adaptable so the wall hanging could be made to suit every taste of décor, and it could also be a great stash buster. If you are really a bit unsure about selecting colour combinations for your wall hanging then I can certainly recommend the Design Seeds website for inspiration for beautiful colour palettes.

The only other thing you will need for this project are some a yarn needle, and two 30cm wooden dowel or sticks, and maybe a a project bag to store everything in. It’s the perfect way to add your own striking creative masterpiece to your bare walls – or wherever you want to add a pop of colour!

A striking cubist wall decoration, by Heather C Gibbs, available in issue 145 of Simply Crochet magazine. — Our Media 2024 – Simply Crochet 145

I’d suggest it’s a relatively quick and easy project – making it a great project for beginner crocheters. I’ve been thinking I should add a post on the blog on how to do surface crochet (which is how I did the ‘face’ on the wall hanging), but there is a note about the technique included in the magazine if you’ve not tried that method before.

❤️ SAVE THE CUBIST WALL HANGING ON RAVELRY ❤️

With over 20 patterns in each issue, there’s plenty to inspire you in Simply Crochet. Everything from fun fashion ideas, garments, designs for the home to baby projects, cute amigurumi makes and gifts for all occasions. Simply Crochet magazine, Issue 145, is available to buy from most supermarkets, It is also available to o rder online or download as a digital issue.

Front cover of issue 145 of Simply Crochet magazine. — © Our Media 2024 – Simply Crochet 145

I’d love to hear about any decorative crochet you might have made in the past or that you’d perhaps like to make in the future – drop me a comment below.

If you make up any of the Cubist Wall Hanging 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! 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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10Jan2024

Simply Crochet Magazine | Block Buddies

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

Hey lovelies, welcome to a little blog post about a trio of designs I have in the latest issue of Simply Crochet magazine (issue 144). It was a nice surprise to spy them on the front cover … yay! 😃

Front cover image of Simply Crochet Magazine issue 144 — © *Intermediate* Publishing 2024 (Simply Crochet 144)

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! I’ve designed three cuddly friends which are ideal early toys for babies thanks to their their soft granny square bodies, simple construction and child-safe embroidered faces.

Meet Toulouse the Tiger, Lowry the Lion and Beal the Bear. These little guys are built on a central solid ‘granny square’ motif making them perfect for beginners learning the art of crochet.

Crochet Block Buddies available in Issue 144 of Simply Crochet Magazine. — © *Intermediate* Publishing 2024 (Simply Crochet 144)

I created all of the animals from Scheepjes Colour Crafter, a yarn I’ve used many times before for different projects. Colour Crafter is a DK (light worsted) premium 100% acrylic yarn which is beautifully soft and has a nice smooth texture. It is also hypoallergenic which is great for crocheted toys.

There are so many colours to choose from, all named after towns through the Netherlands and Belgium. I used 1 ball each of Weert (1001), Gouda (1081), Burum (1709), Veenendaal (1064), Gent (2002), Rotterdam (1063) and Ede (1002) with a 3mm hook (closest US size D/3).

Six different coloured balls of Scheepjes Colour Crafter on a desk in a basket with a crochet hook ready to make the crochet Block Buddies.

The only other thing you will need for this project are some pins, a yarn needle, some stuffing and maybe a a project bag to store everything in.

❤️ SAVE THE BLOCK BUDDIES ON RAVELRY ❤️

With over 20 patterns in each issue, there’s plenty to inspire you in Simply Crochet. Everything from fun fashion ideas, garments, designs for the home to baby projects, cute amigurumi makes and gifts for all occasions. Simply Crochet magazine is available to buy from most supermarkets, to find your local Stockist or download the digital edition, Click here: https://buff.ly/47G1AxE

Lions, Tigers and Bears, oh my! Crochet patterns by Heather C Gibbs in issue 144 of Simply Crochet

If you make up any of the Block Buddies 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! 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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4Jul2022

Simply Crochet | Mix It Up Purse

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

With Kate Bush in the charts again and Top Gun at the cinema, not to mention the latest season of Stranger Things, it seems appropriate that there’s a nostalgia for everything 1980’s at the moment. If you are looking for a fun 80’s pattern look no further, turn up the volume for the Mix It Up Purse, out now in issue 124 of Simply Crochet magazine.

Made to look like an old school cassette mix tape this purse is a fun way to try tapestry crochet, whilst being the perfect size for keeping your cards, coins or ear phones.

For my version of the Mix it Up Purse I used Scheepjes Catona with a 3mm hook (closest US size C/2). If you are not not familiar with the yarn it is 100% Cotton which comes in 10g [25 metre] balls.

I used seven colours in total; 2 balls of Jet Black (110) and English Tea (404), then 1 ball of Snow White (106), Cornflower (106), Poppy Red (390), Kiwi (205) and Yellow Gold (208).

I love the little mini balls of Scheepjes Catona for colourwork as it’s means you don’t get into so much of a tangle like you might with using big balls (though you could always wind off small amounts on bobbins if that is all you have).

The only other materials you would need are a 12cm zip, a yarn needle, I also lined my purse with material just to finish it off, though the technique used for the purse creates such a sturdy dense fabric you could get away with not lining it.

I recently saw some brilliant colourful music print cotton fabric, which I wish I’d thought about, it would be a fun way of lining the purse in keeping with the theme.

This purse is such a fun way to relieve the enjoyment of making a mix tape to keep yourself or gift to someone you love! If your embroidery skills are good, you could also personalise your purse by saying who’s mix tape it is, or by adding a favourite song or band name!

So turn up the volume with this unique cassette-tape change purse that’ll have everyone singing along! Issue 124 of Simply Crochet magazine is available to buy from your local supermarket or you can grab a digital or print subscription from buysubscriptions.com.

🎵 SAVE MIX IT UP PURSE ON RAVELRY 🎵

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

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17Dec2021

Simply Crochet Magazine | Cabled Cushion

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

Hi folks! I’m just popping on today to let you know I’ve got a brand new pattern available in the latest edition of Simply Crochet magazine. Issue 117 is out now with a range of cosy projects including a fun cabled cushion design from me.

It’s Christmas time and crochet is here to help you decorate your home with some wintery and cosy projects – like my ‘Cabled Cushion’. I wanted to create something that would hopefully compliment any style home, that you could make to match your own colour scheme – and because I love texture so much I threw some of that in too!

I’ve used linked treble crochets (US linked double crochets) to create a dense texture, amongst the cables, to create a durable cushion that should hopefully last for ages!

I made the cushion with Cygnet Chunky yarn and a 5.5mm hook, and I used six balls in total, in the lovely Willow colour (Shade 515), which is a sort of greyish-greeny sage type shade that’s just gorgeous.

The yarn is approx. £1.95 / $2.59 per 100g ball (156m) and you also need a 50 x 50cm / 20″ x 20″ cushion inner, 6 x 3cm wooden buttons and some stitch markers – so you can easily make the whole cushion for less than £25 / $33.12.

Cygnet Chunky was a new yarn for me, I’d not used it before, but I’d use it again, it’s a nice and plump chunky 100% acrylic yarn (so machine washable on a mild 40°C wash), and if I wanted to make the cushion in a different colour Cygnet Chunky is available in 36 different colours.

The six buttons are attached to the back centre of the cushion (or at the front if you like the buttoned up look, which I do) which means you can easily remove the cushion cover for washing – perfect if you have pets or kids!

So whether it’s for your bed or as an occasional pillow for your living room – I think the Cabled Cushion will instantly add a bit of style and texture – what colour will you make yours in?

❤️ SAVE THE CABLED CUSHION ON RAVELRY ❤️

Issue 117 of Simply Crochet magazine is available to buy from your local supermarket or you can grab a digital or print subscription from buysubscriptions.com.

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

31Mar2021

Simply Crochet Magazine | Gamer Cushion

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

Edited: This post was originally published in 2021 and updated in March 2026. Broken links have been removed. The pattern links are available on this post.

Hi folks! I’m just popping on today to let you know I’ve got a brand new pattern available in the latest edition of Simply Crochet magazine. Issue 108 is out now with a range of amigurumi and spring projects including a fun gamer cushion design from me.

© Intermediate Publishing – Simply Crochet 108

This cushion was inspired by the old ‘space invaders’ game which was one of the earliest video games (released in 1978) and it’s viewed as the pioneer of modern gaming. The premise of the game is that a host of aliens dramatically descend on your spaceship and you have to blast them before they reach the bottom of the screen.

Although the game was created before I was born I do actually think I remember playing it with my brother on an old arcade game at a caravan park when we were younger.

Space Invaders’ pixilated alien have become icons of gaming and I thought that I could re-create the blocky look of the alien using the corner to corner (c2c) technique and I think it worked out really well.

© Intermediate Publishing | Simply Crochet Issue 108

I made the cushion with Cygnet DK Acrylic Yarn and a 4mm hook. I used four balls in total, three in Slate (1790) for the main cushion and then the bright contrasting Apple (6711) for the alien.

Cygnet DK is not actually a yarn I think I had used before but I’d describe it as a classic sort of double knit 100% acrylic and as such it’s machine washable on a mild 40°C wash (which is one of the things I love about acrylic yarn!).It’s very reasonably priced, and it comes in over 50 colours so you could potentially match your alien to your room colour for a more personalised touch.

To finish off the cushion you also need 6 x 2cm buttons for the back fastening of the cushion which makes it easy to get the 50x50cm (20×20 inch) cushion inner out so you can wash the cover if needs be.

So control your comfort and let this iconic arcade game alien invade your gaming space! I think little gamers young and old will love this cosy cushion as the ideal finishing touch for any den or bedroom – who would you make one for? This one has already been claimed by my 10 year old ‘gamer’ daughter who loves the green.

❤️ SAVE THE GAMER CUSHION ON RAVELRY ❤️

Issue 108 of Simply Crochet magazine is available to buy from your local supermarket.

If you hook up the Gamer Cushion 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!

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