As 2017 draws to a close, allow me a little time to reflect on 2017 achievements.  This was the year I wrote my first printed book of patterns – Cowling Around.  This took up more time than I anticipated and meant I didn’t produce quite as many designs as in prevoous years.  However, I was pleasantly surprised to see how much I did publish!

Here’s a summary of the majority of my 2017 designs:

My plans for 2018 are not yet firm, other than planning a blanket CAL which will start towards the end of January.  This is a design using 7 different squares – my double knit blanket prototype is now finished and my sock yarn scraps blanket is well advanced – here’s a sneak peek of the DK version (using Stylecraft Special DK):

Wishing you a Happy New Year, and I hope it brings you lots of yarny goodness and good health.

Happy crocheting xxx

Have you been following the Christmas Mandala CAL?   There are some lovely photos on the Ravelry group.

For those who haven’t joined in, here’s the finished design:

The full pattern is available on Ravelry if you want to have a go.

I love doing Mandala CALs over Christmas, it fills the days with gorgeous colour which is just what we need in the northern hemisphere at this time of year!

Happy crocheting  xxx

Now that all the parts of the Advent CAL have been published (and photos of completed projects have started to pop up on Ravelry) I can share details of the next CAL.

The time between Christmas and New Year gives many people the opportunity to take holidays and have an extended break (up to 10 days this year) and others have no choice by having enforced holidays as businesses close for the season.  As a result many people have more leisure time than usual – so I think this is a good time to do a quick CAL, something that takes a little time each day and brightens up the winter days (which are rather grey in the UK right now!).    That means a Christmas Mandala CAL!

I have designed a colourful mandala which I will release in 4 parts, one each day from 27th to 30th December.  The mandala has 15 rounds and each day between 3 and 5 rounds of the pattern will be released.

If you want to join in you can find the pattern here.  It’s just the introduction part for now, but it does include the materials required and the stitches used.   And there is a discussion group on Ravelry here.    And if you buy the pattern before midnight (GMT) on 26th December, you can get 50% discount by using the coupon code XMAS

Want a sneaky peek?

Ok – this doesn’t give much of a clue, but it shows how colourful it is!

Happy crocheting xxx

 

The bonus pattern for the Snowstorm Table runner advent CAL has just been published a little bit earlier than planned – I hope this hasn’t surprised you too much!.  You can find the pattern here.  This completes the pattern and you should be able to make your table very snowy and festive!

What is the bonus?  Well, you all know I love snowflakes so what better way to complete the table decoration than a flurry of snowflake table confetti?   The bonus includes 2 small patterns for teeny and tiny snowflakes, you can use up your remaining yarn and scatter them on your table.  Or why not make tree or window decorations with them?

Happy crocheting xxxx

 

Part 3 of the Snowstorm Table Runner was published today – you can find the pattern here.

Part 3 completes the table runner pattern but there is a part 4 due out next week as a bonus!  Some people have already started to post photos of progress on the Ravelry discussion thread here.   But I have now opened up a new Ravelry thread (no chatting) for photos of finished Snowstorms.    If you post a photo of your finished table runner on this thread by the end of 31st December you will be eligible for the prize draw.  The draw takes place on 1st January by random number generator and the prize is an ebook copy of Cowling Around, my book of 9 crochet cowl designs.

I’m looking forward to seeing a flurry of Snowstorms!

Happy crocheting xx

 

Part 1 of the Advent CAL has just been published.  Everyone who has purchased the pattern should now have an email advising of the update and you should be able to find it in your Ravelry library.

Part 1 is the main motif centres.   These are made in the central colours and you can have fun playing around with your colour combinations.  Here’s what mine look like:

I’m doing the medium size, which needs 24 motif centres – so using my 4 colours I made 2 of each possible colour combination.

If you haven’t joined the CAL yet, you can find part 1 here.

Part 2 will be released on Thursday 7th December.  Until then……

Happy crocheting xx