What a week!  I can’t believe my feet are still on this planet – I feel like I’ve reached the moon!  Thank you so much for the love of my Thistle Block, the first design of over 40 in the FATW5 CAL.  I said this is the best CAL in the world, and you have all confirmed this 🙂  There are so many fantastic designers lined up for the following squares, maybe we’ll all get to the sun and back!

Talking of the sun, we are at week 2, and my second pattern is now released.  If you love Thistle then I hope you love Highland Sunburst.  When asked to design 2 squares Thistle came into my head straightaway, but it was a while later before Highland Sunburst did.  However, I fell completely in love with it when I was only halfway through crocheting my prototype.  It just flew off my hook and didn’t need a tweak!   I love it so much – and I really hope you do too.

It is ‘framed’ with the same last few rounds of Thistle, so they work well together.

The pattern is on Ravelry here, with UK and US crochet terms and the first of many translations which are provided by the fabulous CAL team.  Join me in giving them huge thanks for all their work on this.

A reminder (in case you need one!) – the CAL – crochet a long facebook page is here and the CAL requirements can be found here.

Just a quick word about the yarn I used – Cascade 220 worsted. Here in the UK we don’t use worsted often – DK or aran are the norm.  So when I was asked to use worsted I had to do a yarn search.  I prefer natural yarns so it took me a while to find something available that I liked.  I did have quite a lengthy discussion with one of the admin team about what sort of yarn to use and wpi (wraps per inch) but I think I got a bit too technical!   Anyway, after much thought I decided to go for Cascade 220 which is 100% wool.  I had used it before so knew how it worked up and I think it is quite affordable for a quality wool yarn.  I bought several skeins as I plan to use it again and it’s always good to have a stash of yarn, isn’t it?  Especially at the moment when we need our yarn craft more than ever.  We are living in very strange times, ours lives aren’t what they were last year and may not return to normal for some time.  But our love of crochet is something that I know will keep us together (in more ways than one!) and the CAL community will help support us through the challenges.

Stay strong, stay safe and happy crocheting xxx

Up until now, there have been 2 Friends Around the World CALs over the last few years.  The first started in 2016 and the second started in 2018.  These are amazing CALs organised by the CAL – crochet-a-long group on Facebook, and bringing together afghan square designs by a huge number of exceptional designers from around the world. I was so pleased to be part of both of them and designed 2 squares for each.  If you need any help remembering here are 4 blog posts: Octoghan,  Flower Compass, Noughts and Crosses.

If you are reading this you probably already know that there is a new Friends Around the World CAL – the 5th Anniversary CAL – and I am absolutely delighted to announce that I have once again designed 2 squares for it.  This is another fantastic collaboration of over 30 designers from around the globe and promises to be another showstopping CAL.  No crocheter will want to miss this.  These CALs are, in my view, the biggest and best CALs in the world and take a humungous amount of organisation by the admin and volunteers.  Once again I give them my heartfelt thanks for all their work.

The first square for FATW5 is published today and it is one of mine!   Oh my goodness, it is such an honour to kick off the CAL with the first square.  I do hope you like this one, I call it Thistle

I designed it in 2 colours, but you could use more if you like.  I was inspired by all things Scottish when I designed this (I’m a big fan of Outlander!) so this incorporates a thistle stitch, which I have used before because I love the texture of it and it looks so like a Scottish thistle!

The pattern is available here on Ravelry.  There are currently 2 versions, one in UK crochet terms and one in US crochet terms, both also have a chart.  In due course these will be translated into other languages by the CAL team.

I can’t wait to see the first thistles of the CAL!

Details of the CAL requirements can be found here.  I will be following the CAL closely, and I am so excited to see all the squares as they are published!

I do hope you join in the fun!

Happy crocheting xxx

As well as celebrating International Crochet Month with 4 new designs, I am pleased to be a featured designer in the NatCroMo celebrations organised by Crochetville!

Have a look at Crochetville on the facebook page here.  There are crochet designers, tutors and hobbyists featured each day during March and offers galore.  You will find crocheters and designs you have never seen before, learn new things and generally immerse yourself in all things crochet!    And let’s face it, we are living in unusual times so we need the warmth and support of our crafting network more than ever.

As a special offer for NatCroMo my Kitty Shawl is available free on Ravelry if you use coupon code NATCROMO on checkout, valid until midnight GMT tomorrow 31st March.

This is a versatile design in 4ply/fingering yarn with several variations in colour combinations and edging.  It is written in UK crochet terms only, but has US terms for reference and has a chart.

Even if you don’t want to make this shawl straightaway, grab it and pop it in your queue and when you have that perfect yarn you can indulge yourself 🙂

Happy crocheting xxx

 

This is my 4th and last design published to celebrate International Crochet Month 2020 – One Es Es shawl.

One Es Es is designed to be made from one 100g skein of sock/fingering/4 ply yarn. It is a sideways triangular shawl design which increases in width until you have used half your yarn then reduces. The edge is made as you work and once you crochet the last row you are finished! You will need weighing scales that weigh in small amounts (1g or smaller would be good) because you weigh your yarn to start with then again at regular intervals until you have used just under half, at this point the pattern changes.

I used a 100g skein of yarn that was 400m long and made a shawl approximately 200cm by 60cm once blocked. It is perfect in a single colour or in variegated yarn. You could use more than one skein to make a larger shawl if you like.

The pattern is written in UK and US terms on separate pages and has a chart.

Until midnight GMT 23rd March 2020, purchase this pattern on Ravelry at a 75% discount if you use coupon MARCHFOUR on checkout.

Happy crocheting xx

We’re almost halfway through March already!  What have you been crocheting?  I’ve been working on a throw using the Scheepjes Catona minis colour pack – I’ll share a photo next week when it is finished.

Here is my third design to celebrate this special crochet month – this is Flatter Bag

This is a quick make in t-shirt yarn and very sturdy.  The pattern is available on Ravelry at £2 but at a 75% discount until midnight GMT on 16th March 2020 – use coupon code MARCHTHREE on checkout.

Happy crocheting xxx

 

 

I can’t believe this is week 7 and the last part of the Honeycomb Blanket CAL pattern has been added to Ravelry.   The time has flown by for me.

This finale is the edging of the blanket:

I wanted something simple that included all the colours and also a little bit of texture to reflect the web in the motifs; and it frames the honeycomb web just as I imagined.

There are nine rounds in the border, so quite a lot of work but I found it quite rhythmic so I hope you enjoy it.

I know there will not be many people who are close to finishing the blanket as there are so many motifs as well as the border but I can’t wait to see some finished blankets!  Who will be first?

Keep sharing progress on Facebook and Ravelry.

Happy crocheting xxx

PS tomorrow I will publish the third design to celebrate International Crochet Month – so watch out for the blog post!

I hope you are enjoying International Crochet Month, there are plenty of websites and designers sharing great things during this month.  Just do a search on Ravelry or  Facebook and you’ll find lots to keep you occupied!

Meanwhile I guess you’re here because you want to see what the next design is that I am publishing to celebrate this month!   So here it is – Boxie Shawl:

This is a warm triangular shawl worked from the back of the neck downwards.  I used almost 2 skeins of 4ply/fingering weight yarn (I recommend at least 700m of yarn).  The pattern is written in UK and US crochet terms and has a couple of charts (for those who like them!). The pattern is available on Ravelry at £4, but if you are quick there is a massive 75% discount available until midnight GMT on Monday 9th March – use coupon code MARCHTWO on checkout.

Happy crocheting xxx

It’s Saturday and Part 6 of Honeycomb Web Blanket CAL has been added to the pattern on Ravelry!

This is the last motif for the blanket and it is a half motif.  This is a little different as it is worked in rows, so the post stitches need to be worked on front or back depending on which row you are on and therefore it needs concentration.  However, you do not need to make many of these, so take it slowly.

Next week is the final part – the border.   I can’t believe we are so close to the end.  This has been a fabulous CAL for me, I have seen many beautiful blankets growing and I am a little proud that I created something that so many people love.

Keep sharing progress on Facebook and Ravelry!

Tomorrow I will publish my second pattern in my 2020 International Crochet Month celebration series – it’s a shawl!

Until then, happy crocheting xxxx

 

 

Happy International Crochet Month!  I hope your hooks are warm as this is the month to use them!

My celebration of this month is to publish 4 new designs over the first 4 weeks, each at a discount for a while.

This is week 1, so the design I have just published is Mini Mix Mandalas.  This is a set of 4 small mandalas, each starting with the same 4 rounds and having between 6 and 8 rounds in total.  They are perfect for quick makes, decorations (I can see garlands!) and playing with colour.  It is such fun to play with colour, so this is a perfect start to this special March celebration 🙂

The pattern costs £2 but until midnight GMT tomorrow (2nd March) you can get a whooping 75% discount on Ravelry, just use coupon code MARCHONE on checkout.  Find the pattern on Ravelry here.

The pattern is written in UK and US terms.

Until next week, happy crocheting xxxx

 

 

 

It’s week 5 of the Honeycomb Web Blanket CAL, so Motif E has been added to the pattern on Ravelry.

This is it:

This is the style of motif that inspired the blanket.  I designed a cushion using a very similar pattern a few years ago and that design lingered in my head until the honeycomb joined it to become this blanket!

There are quite a few of these to make in the blanket so, like last week, either you will be deeply engrossed with your crochet or way behind.  But don’t worry, next week’s motif will require very few to be made so you can have a bit of a catch up then.

Please keep sharing progress on Ravelry and Facebook.

Tomorrow is the start of International Crochet Month, so look out for my blog post for a new design and a discount!

Happy crocheting xxx