Stylecraft Visit 2017 (Part 2)

Yarn... Lovely, new yarn.

All crocheters and knitters love the stuff and it's always exciting when a favourite manufacturer releases additional colours, or a new range. On my recent visit to the Stylecraft Mill as one of their Blogstars (read Part 1 here) it was with great anticipation that we watched the Autumn/Winter presentation to see the new yarns.

This has to be my favourite image from the presentation - just look at this stunning crocheted blanket and cushion, designed by the clever Annelies Baes. It's made with some of the new colours in the Life DK range and is just a beauty.

Here's some of my new faves:

First up, it's a new yarn called Tweedy. (100g / 260m) This is a really bright and cheery double-knit yarn, made from 74% premium acrylic and 26% cotton. Just four shades available at the mo - love the subtle mix of colours.

Next, there's colour additions to the already super-popular Head over Heels sock yarn, as well as a variation called Boho, which includes funky stripes of black and white.

The Batik yarns (my current yarn-crush - see below) have also enjoyed some colour additions, and also a whole new range:

 

The Batik Elements - a variagated blend of colours in the same 50g /138m 80% Acrylic /20% Wool blend as the solids.

Here's a little peek of something I'm working on with this amazing green 'Kryptonite'..

 

AND in super-exciting news, my latest CAL (crochet-a-long) design for Inside Crochet magazine uses the Batik solids, too. I chose four complemetary shades to create a gorgeously cosy shawl, which will be perfect for the Autumn. 

The Batik yarn was such a good choice for this project - it's soft and bouncy and the stitch definition is superb. I think it would work in any combination of colours you fancied.

Photo Credits to Mavric Photography / Inside Crochet Issue 92

Find the pattern for the first part of the mystery shawl in Issue 92. Sections 2 and 3 will be in the following issues of the magazine.

I'm tempted to make another version using some of the Batik Elements, or perhaps the Tweedy, but I really must get on with all my other projects, first... (more on those in my next post)

Find out more about the Stylecraft Yarns Blogstars here.

Wishing you a great week,

Sarah xx

The Very Lazy Ombré Blanket

I love a crocheted blanket.

Made with love and received with joy, they really are the loveliest gift for a friend/relative's new baby/ puppy/ house.

Number of blankets pinned/coveted/added to my 'must-make list'?

A bazillion.

Number of blankets actually made by me?

Two.

Yep. Two.

And both were projects for my books. One is actually still with the publisher for promotional stuff.

But I have great intentions.... You may remember I started the Crochet Mood Blanket; one motif a day throughout the year 2014:

Unfinished.

Or my 'Very Lazy Blanket':

Unfinished.

So without further ado, let me introduce you to my next unfinished blanket:

The Very Lazy Ombré Blanket:

Look, I haven't even joined the squares... good so far, eh?

This time, I used some great yarn I was sent by Woolly and Warmy to try. 

Again, I chose a yarn which changes colour so that I don't have to deal with all the ends. It's acrylic, so will wash and wear well and is cheap as chips, too. I've got 10 balls of 100g each, which I think will be plenty for a single bed-sized blanket for the boy. My idea is to make all the squares and then order them ombré stylee, from dark to light. I think I might join and border them with plain white, but I'll wait until I get to that stage to decide (don't hold your breath...)

To make the blanket warm, I wanted a solid-ish square motif and fancied a circle in the middle.

Here's the pattern: UK first, US below.

UK Terms

Papatya Batik in colour 10

4mm hook

At the beginning of each round, make a 3ch for your first treble. At the end of each round, join with a slip stitch to the top of your ch-3.

Round 1: 2ch, 10tr in 2nd ch from hook (10 sts)

Round 2: 2tr in each st around (20)

Round 3: 2tr in each st around (40)

Round 4: (2tr, 2ch, 2tr) in first st, *1tr, 2htr, 3dc, 2htr, 1tr, (2tr, 2ch, 2tr) in next st* repeat from * to * around.

Fasten off

US terms

Papatya Batik in colour 10

4mm hook

At the beginning of each round, make a 3ch for your first double crochet. At the end of each round, join with a slip stitch to the top of your ch-3.

Round 1: 2ch, 10dc in 2nd ch from hook (10 sts)

Round 2: 2dc in each st around (20)

Round 3: 2dc in each st around (40)

Round 4: (2dc, 2ch, 2dc) in first st, *1dc, 2hdc, 3sc, 2hdc, 1dc, (2dc, 2ch, 2dc) in next st* repeat from * to * around.

Fasten off

To join the squares, try double crocheting (US single crochet) them together.

The boy asked if his blanket would be ready for his birthday.

Oh, how I laughed....

Sarah x