I can’t say I am sorry that 2020 is ending, it has been a difficult year around the world. However, there were some good things that emerged during the year and one was the reconnection with crafts, many more people have enjoyed the process of making.

When I look at my designs of 2020 I can’t say it was my most productive year, but this was because I took more pleasure in following other people’s designs, enjoying the ebb and flow of following something rather than developing something. Even so what I did publish in 2020 included some of my all time my favourites from simple coasters to my favourite blanket so far, Honeycomb Web. It also demonstrated that I love the colour blue!

All these designs will not be possible without an army of testers and some great tech editors and I thank them all for their support. And thank you to everyone who has supported me by purchasing, downloading and sharing their progress.

2021 will be just as challenging as 2020 for most of us but I can see light at the end of the tunnel so I am starting the year with plenty of positive thoughts.

Wherever you are in the world and whatever you plan for 2021 I wish you the best and happiest new year.

Happy crocheting xxx

Wow! This Twixmas has flown. I hope the CAL has kept you occupied and brought some colour into your Twixmas. The last part has now been added to the pattern and purchasers will have had a message from Ravelry notifying them.

Here is the spoiler from Part 5 yesterday

Would you like to see the final mandala? As it is the last day I think I am allowed a final spoiler!

These 2 are so different because of the different colour schemes, which just demonstrates what I love about mandalas 🙂

The pattern can be found here.

I hope you have enjoyed this CAL, there will be another starting at the end of January – my annual blanket CAL which is also a wrap CAL this year! More about that in a few days.

Happy crocheting xxx

It’s 30th December today, only one day left of the Twixmas CAL! Part 5 has now been added to the pattern library and Ravelry will have sent messages to purchasers to let them know. Only one day, or 2 rounds, to the finish!

Here are the spoilers from yesterday, Part 4:

The pattern can be found here.

Until tomorrow, happy crocheting xxx

Day 4 of Twixmas means Part 4 of the Twixmas Mandala CAL has been published. Purchasers will have had a message from Ravelry and the new part will be in your library.

I have seen some lovely Part 3s so far, the varying colour schemes make the mandalas look so different!

Here are my spoilers for Part 3

Only 2 more days to go!

The pattern can be found here.

Until tomorrow, happy crocheting xxx

Part 3 of the Twixmas Mandala CAL has been added to the Ravelry pattern library. If you have purchased the pattern then Ravelry will have sent you an email notifying you and adding it to your library. Don’t forget there are 2 versions, make sure you open the correct version for your preferred crochet terms (UK or US).

Here’s the spoiler for Part 2; I made 2 versions – the one on the left is the 4 ply version and the one on the right is the double knit version.

I love how mandalas change as new rounds are added!

The pattern can be found here.

Until tomorrow, happy crocheting xxx

Part 2 of the Twixmas Mandala CAL has been added to the Ravelry pattern library. If you have purchased the pattern then Ravelry will have sent you an email notifying you and adding it to your library. Don’t forget there are 2 versions, make sure you open the correct version for your preferred crochet terms (UK or US).

Here’s the spoiler for Part 1. I prefer my mandalas to have a flat centre so they can have something placed on them without wobbling! So this one is flat:

The one on the left is made in 4 ply cotton the one on the right in double knit cotton.

I used all the colours from my design in this centre which made the slow transition of each round more interesting.

Part 3 will be published tomorrow and the spoiler for Part 2 will be here on the blog.

Don’t forget the pattern is here, and projects can be shared on Ravelry or Facebook.

Happy crocheting xxx

I hope you all had a lovely day yesterday, whether you celebrate the occasion or not. I love the opportunity for a good roast dinner!

Twixmas, the days between 25th December and the start of the New Year, has begun and that means the Twixmas Mandala CAL has started! Part 1 has been uploaded to the Ravelry pattern library and if you purchased it you will have had a message from Ravelry that it is now in your library. If you haven’t yet purchased it you can find it here.

Part 1 is the first few rounds but it gives you a lovely dose of colour as it uses all 7 colours! It’s a very grey day here in the UK so the colour is a welcome boost for me. Don’t forget there are 2 versions, one in UK crochet terms and one in US crochet terms, so make sure you use the correct one.

No spoilers from me today, but I will share some tomorrow. Meanwhile, feel free to add photos of your progress on Ravelry and Facebook.

Happy crocheting xxx

The fun begins!

Although the Twixmas Mandala CAL 2020 starts on 26th December when Part 1 is published, the introduction to the pattern is available now here.

The introduction provides information on yarns I used and the stitches used in the pattern, plus some useful hints and tips. Until midnight GMT on 24th December you can get a discount of 75% off the pattern, no coupon code required.

The CAL is for fun, a few bright rows of crochet each day during the holidays, starting on 26th December and finishing on 31st December.  The best fun is choosing your colours!   The pattern includes the colours of yarn that I chose but that is a guide, the beauty of mandalas is how they can look completely different in other colours.

Join in the CAL on Ravelry. And have fun choosing colours!

Happy crocheting xx

2020 has been quite a year, not at all what anyone was expecting. But it is drawing to a close. Christmas is less than 2 weeks away and that is the signal for me to finalise the Twixmas Mandala CAL. The testing elves have been busy and have helped me to refine the pattern ready for you, the final pre-Twixmas checks are in full swing and next week I will publish the introduction to the pattern.

Running a CAL between Christmas and New Year, or Twixmas, has become a tradition for me. It started in 2014, so this year is my 7th Twixmas CAL and it is now established as a Mandala (yes, I did do a blanket one year – this!).

This is not a difficult CAL, in fact this year it uses mostly normal crochet stitches with the only complicated stitch being the popcorn stitch. It is designed to be fun, something to pick up each day and add a few rounds of new colour. Colour is the main benefit for me – it brightens up my winter days having some colourful crochet to hand.

The pattern introduction will be available next Saturday and will be at a discount of 75% until midnight (GMT) on 24th December. The CAL starts on 26th December when Part 1 is published. There will be 2 versions – one written in UK crochet terms and one written in US crochet terms. There isn’t a chart for the CAL but each new round has a photograph to help you. A new part will be added each day up to 31st December when the last part is published.

Usually I make my mandalas in DK cotton but this year I made 2 – one in DK and one in 4ply. I find that the 4ply version is crisper because the yarn is finer, but I confess my reason for doing 2 was simply to play with colour – one is definitely brighter than the other! Of course you can use any weight of yarn you like, just use a suitable crochet hook.

To remind you of previous years here are the last 3 Twixmases:

These are Twixmas 2019, 2018 and 2017 and are available on Ravelry. To whet your appetite I have them on sale on Ravelry until next Saturday (midnight GMT on 19th December) at 50% discount if you use coupon code TWIXMAS.

Until next week….

Happy crocheting xxx