Innehållsförteckning för Issue 54 från Simply Crochet

In case you hadn’t noticed, we’re obsessed with all things unicorn this issue! Why shouldn’t we have fun with colour and hook projects that make us smile? Ilaria’s sparkly unicorn (p14) is a favourite for me, of course, but I’ve also got a soft spot for the granny treble cardi on page 32. If you’ve never crocheted a garment before, this is a brilliant one to start with. Ooh, and make sure you check out the next mandala in our series – Lucy Croft has done wonders bringing our February calendar illustration to life with love hearts (p95).…

SLIPPERS FOR THE FAMILY LEISURE ARTS (£6.99, Leisure Arts) Everyone deserves cosy toes so this fab collection is ideal for any family. There are 10 colourful, texture-filled designs to fit a variety of feet, from babies, toddlers and children to teenagers, women and men. Some patterns include six sizes so you can make matching slippers for your family! Plus, there are bonus online tutorials. RAINBOW CROCHETED BLANKETS AMANDA PERKINS (£12.99, Search Press) Bringing all her expertise with colour and dyeing yarns, Amanda Perkins has created a collection of motifs to create 10 rainbow blankets. The starting chapter includes some colour theory, followed by blanket patterns, each with a chart, diagrams and colour variation ideas. BASKETS FOR ALL VARIOUS DESIGNERS (£6.99, Annie's) Whether it’s for storage, display or as a gift,…

YOU WILL NEED • Vickie Howell for Deramores Mod Wool (100% superwash merino wool, 100g/125m), 1 ball of each: Yarn A Apollo Aran (100) Yarn B Cadillac Black (200) Yarn C Groovy Green (AM8038) • A 5.5mm (US I/9) hook • Tapestry needle For yarn stockists contact Deramores 0845 519 4573 www.deramores.com TENSION 12 htr and 11 rows to measure 10x10 cm (4x4in) over htr using a 5.5mm hook MEASUREMENTS Finished cowl meas 25cm (10in) tall and 61cm (24in) in circumference ABBREVIATIONS Front post half treble (FPhtr) Yrh, starting at the front, insert hook from front to back to front around the post of the indicated st, complete as for htr Back post half treble (BPhtr) Yrh, starting at the back, insert hook from back to front…

Any crocheter worth their salt needs to know their WIPs from their CALs and how to use them. Confused already? Fear not. Here’s our foolproof run-down of the top crochet slang and phrases you might encounter at a stitch night, online or here in Simply Crochet. Think of it as your hooky cheat sheet. You’ll be fluent in no time. CAL (ACRONYM) Crochet-along. When crafters are invited to complete the same pattern, sometimes within a specified time period, often stage by stage. It’s a good challenge and fosters fuzzy feelings of community among participants. Psst! Check our Pick ‘n’ Mix blanket CAL on p30. C2C (ABBREVIATION) Corner-to-corner – an easy-peasy diagonal crochet technique. DESTASH (VERB) Sorting your stash in order to swap, sell, donate or discard unwanted yarns. FROG (VERB)…

“We want to create a sustainable cycle of employment.” When buying yarn, our love of texture and colour often takes over, but have you thought about how your purchases could improve the lives of others? Across the world, skilled artisans, many of whom are women, depend on the income they make from yarn they card, spin and dye. We speak to the people who have sought out ways to support the livelihoods of people all around the world, while producing exceptionally beautiful yarns. GOOD INTENTIONS Susan Inglis was moved to found From The Mountain Sources (www.fromthemountain.com) after falling in love with Afghan cashmere yarns and discovering the plight faced by many families in the country. “I love the way the yarn feels. I love the colours. I love using every…

CRESCENT MOON MOTIF Ch13. ROW 1 (RS) Ss in 2nd ch from hook, 2dc in next ch, 2htr in next ch, 2tr in each of next 2ch, 3tr in each of next 2ch, 2tr in each of next 2ch, 2htr in next ch, 2dc in next ch, ss in next ch, turn. ROW 2 Skip ss, dc in each of next 4 sts, htr in each of next 3 sts, 2tr in next st, tr in each of next 6 sts, 2tr in next st, htr in each of next 3 sts, dc in each of next 4 sts, ss in ss. FASTEN OFF and weave in ends. SCHEEPJES STARDUST WEIGHT DK CONTENT 75% acrylic, 11% mohair, 11% wool, 3% metallic polyester BALL 100g/540m HOOK 3-3.5mm RRP £5.49 On paper,…

Felting is an ancient way of creating fabric and many of us discover it by accident when washing a woollen make on the wrong setting! Too hot or too vigorous a wash and a man-size jumper can shrink to child size. But as crocheters, we can harness wool’s eagerness to felt to create items such as slippers, bags and bowls, all benefitting from the dense, warm, and hard-wearing qualities of felt. Just crochet your item using 100% wool yarn, then wash it in hot water with soap and some agitation – the fibres will magically mat together into felt and the item will shrink. Want to know the science behind this? The wool fibres in your yarn have cuticles running along the length, which open up when they are placed…

BOYS AND BUNTING Creative blogging duo Matt and Dennis have stitched a showstopping starry lampshade as part of our dreamy pastel collection this issue. Flip across to page 21 to check it out. TRACY COLDWELL Tracy’s something of an amigurumi specialist and we love that her designs are packed with personality. Hop over to page 45 to find her adorable rabbit toy. Spring here we come. REBECCA ALDRIDGE Who better to turn to for a super-cute cloud make than cloud-obsessed designer Rebecca? She’s responsible for the oh-so sleepy pyjama case on page 16. It’s just perfect. VICKIE HOWELL Have you seen top US author and hookster Vickie’s gorgeous new Deramores yarns? She has designed a cosy cowl just for us using her Mod Wool. Find the pattern on page 41.…

1 IF I WAS A UNICORN For hand-dyed yarns fit for a fairy tale, The Wool Kitchen is top notch. Their aptly-named 'If I Was a Unicorn' British aran weight yarn is what we've been fantasizing about lately. Go shopping at www.thewoolkitchen.etsy.com 2 SUNNY SIDE Kate Bruning's designs all seem to have a whisper of magic about them. Find this cushion trio in issue 47. Turn to p94 for details of our back issues. 3 PUT A RING ON IT What better warden to guard your gems than a unicorn? It's the gold horn and stars that clinch it for us. Grab this ceramic ring dish from www. rigbyandmac.com 4 VERY STRIKING Pretty pastels and metallics are a winning combo whatever the weather. Be…

YOU WILL NEED King Cole Merino Blend 4ply (100% wool, 50g/180m) Silver36(see table) shades1ballof each: Mustard (1773) Stone (904) Scarlet (9) Rose Petal (1533) Fuchsia (787) Forget Me Not (1536) Fern (854), Sage (853) A 3mm (US C/2 or D/3) hook A 3.5mm (US E/4) hook Tapestry needle 7 small buttons For yarn stockists contact King Cole 01756 703670 www.kingcole.com TENSION 20tr and 11 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over patt using a 3.5mm hook or size required to obtain tension ABBREVIATIONS For a full list, see page 92 Team rainbow stripes with soft grey for a round-neck cardi with buckets of vintage charm. Fran Morgan’s treble-tastic design has playful contrasting buttons, too. NOTES Back and Front are worked bottom up in 1 section to armholes, then divided…

YOU WILL NEED • Three Bears Yarn Affection Cotton DK (100% cotton, 50g/169m), 2 balls of Yarn A Silver Grey 1 ball of Yarn B Baby Pink • A 3mm (US C/2 or D/3) hook • Two 8mm black safety eyes • Toy stuffing • Stitch markers • A 5cm (2in) white pompom (you can use yarn from your stash) For yarn stockists contact Three Bears Yarn www.threebearsyarn.co.uk MEASUREMENTS Rabbit measures approx 17cm (63/4in) tall ABBREVIATIONS Invisible decrease (Inv dec) Insert your hook into the front loop of the first st. Without putting the yarn round the hook, bring the hook to the front of the work and insert the hook into the front loop of the next st (3 loops on hook). Yrh and draw through all…

Vita Apala Latvian-born but currently living in Italy with her husband and two children, Vita believes that crochet makes the world a better place. She says “My kids are my biggest inspiration. They give me ideas about what they’d like me to make, or I try to invent something functional and more comfortable for them to wear. Yarn is another huge inspiration and sometimes it’s enough to hold a skein of yarn in my hands and I already know what I’d like to make with it!” Head to www.monpetitviolon.com  for more from Vita. Jennifer Reid British crochet designer Jennifer is a self-confessed yarn hoarder and, as a mum of two, is no stranger to designing cute things for little ones. She told us “I draw inspiration from many…

YOU WILL NEED • Bernat Softee Baby, (100% acrylic, 140g/331m), 1 ball of Soft Peach [30410] • A 2.75mm (US C/2) hook • Stitch marker For yarn stockists contact Wool Warehouse 01926 882818 www.woolwarehouse.co.uk TENSION 20 sts and 20 rows in double crochet over 10cm (4in) square using 2.75mm hook or size needed to obtain tension MEASUREMENTS Women’s Small ( Medium : Large ) Length: 20.5 ( 23 : 25.5 )cm, 8 ( 9 : 10 )in Width: 9 ( 10 : 10 )cm, 3› ( 4 : 4 )in ABBREVIATIONS For a full list, see page 92 Designer Kristi Simpson says: “These beautiful tailored socks require only basic crochet stitches. Wear them as slipper socks around the house or outside with clogs for a casual look.“ It’s…

DEER OH DEER You’re going to love this – the inventive stitcher @abluebirdonmyshoulder made removable noses in black and red for her Vanessa Mooncie reindeer trophy head from Simply Crochet issue 51. This means he can be proudly displayed all year round, not just at Christmas time. Wish we’d thought of that! PRETTY IN PINK Reader Gem Harman should be proud of the frock she made for her friend’s daughter – it’s fantastic! We like the addition of the pink corsage. Missed the pattern in issue 33? Download it from our Ravelry store at http://bit.ly/  sc54dress SHE’S SUCH A DOLL It was the playful details and delicate embroidery on our issue 44 amigurumi kokeshi dolls that really stole our hearts. French reader @lejardindeceline has definitely done…

YOU WILL NEED • Yarn from your free kit, or oddments of DK yarn in white, rainbow shades and gold • A 4mm (US G/6) hook • Safety eyes • Stitch markers • Toy stuffing MEASUREMENTS 15cm (6in) tall and 12cm (4›in) long ABBREVIATIONS For a full list, see page 92 Bring the mythical to life. This adorable amigurumi design includes a glittery horn and curly rainbow mane and tail. Dreamy. NOTES The pattern is worked using the amigurumi method. Work in a continuous spiral without closing off the round with a ss. It may help to use a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round, moving it up as you work. All the pieces are worked separately and then sewn onto the body. HEAD With white, make…

“It's astounding how many different looks you can achieve.” “I encourage you to take that next step.” When you hear the word “cables” in fibre arts, usually knitting comes to mind first of all. Cables are so intricate, elegant and luxurious, and they provide such a gorgeous texture to a piece. I was intrigued when I first discovered a few years ago that cabling could be achieved with crochet. With knitting, cabling is accomplished by moving stitches on and off a cable needle resulting in beautiful twists and turns. On the other hand, cables in crochet are achieved by the clever and strategic use and placement of front and back post treble crochets and front post double treble crochets. Working around the posts of stitches helps elevate the…

1 To start a Magic Loop, don’t make a slipknot. Instead, make a loop with the yarn, leaving a tail around 10cm long. Make sure the tail end is under the working yarn. 2 Insert your hook into the loop, from front to back. Wrap the working yarn around the hook anticlockwise and pull the yarn through the loop. 3 Make a t-ch for the sts you want to work (above, we made 1 t-ch for dc). Now work your sts into the Magic Loop, making sure you work over both the loop and the tail end (so two yarn strands). 4 Once you’ve worked the number of stitches you need, simply pull the tail end of the yarn to draw up the ring. Work a slip stitch to join…

“The Big Knit campaign couldn’t happen without the support of thousands of amazing people across the UK who take part and knit woolly hats to adorn innocent smoothies each year.”Douglas Lamont, CEO at innocent As many as 25,000 older people’s lives are at risk because of the cold. And innocent wanted to help. Back in 2003 they had an idea, asking people to knit little woolly hats. They put those hats on their smoothies, and for each one sold made a donation to Age UK. innocent has put little hand-knitted hats onto smoothie bottles for over 13 years now, and in that time donated £1.9 million to Age UK. This year, they’re aiming for an enormous, record-breaking two million hats to raise more money than ever before. KEEPING IT LOCAL…

Crochet began as a means to an end for Sarah Zimmerman after she gave birth to her second son, but she had no idea of the journey it would take her on. “Crochet hats and props for newborn photoshoots were trending around the birth of my second son,” she comments. “I’ve always been craftsy and wanted to create a few crocheted accessories for my baby boy.” Sarah set herself the task of teaching herself to crochet, and started by going to her local craft store and picking up beginner supplies. “Back at home I searched YouTube for additional tutorials and instruction. Surprisingly, I caught on quickly and in a short amount of time created my first hat!” Sarah swiftly fell in love with her new skills, which were joining a…

YOU WILL NEED • Scheepjes Stonewashed (78% cotton, 22% acrylic, 50g/130m), 8 balls of: Yarn A Moon Stone (801) 1 ball of each: Yarn B Carnelian (823) Yarn C Coral (816) Yarn D Lemon Quartz (812) Yarn E Canada Jade (806) Yarn F Green Agate (815) Yarn G Blue Apatite (805) Yarn H Deep Amethyst (811) Yarn I Corundum Ruby (808) Yarn J Rose Quartz (820) • A 4.5mm (US 7) hook For yarn stockists contact Scheepjes www.scheepjes.com TENSION 15 htr and 12 Rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over htr using a 4.5m hook Tension is not critical but will affect yarn quantities and finished measurements MEASUREMENTS Blanket measures 99x84cm (39x33in) ABBREVIATIONS Spike Group Skip next htr, *yrh, insert hook in top of st 4 rows below, draw…

1 Start by inserting the hook under the top two loops of the next stitch on the previous row. Begin to work a double crochet stitch in the usual way, working yrh and pull loop through (2 loops on hook). 2 Without finishing the first dc, begin the next dc by inserting the hook in the next stitch on the previous row. Again, work yrh and pull loop through (3 loops on hook). 3 Now complete both dc stitches together by working yrh and pull this loop through all 3 loops on the hook. 4 This is how your completed dc2tog should look. You will have neatly decreased one stitch. On subsequent rows, you can simply work a stitch into the top of the dc2tog stitch as usual.…

We’ve been double tapping on Instagram and admiring your makes. Tag us @simplycrochetmag and use the hashtag #SCtreblemaker. RIGHT ROUND Keen crocheter @squishymini_ has been busy hooking the Mega Mandala blanket from our issue 33 Bright Blankets collection. So far so good. Now we can’t wait to see how it turns out. FOR BABY This one takes us back – reader @crafting_a_ london_balcony is expecting a little one soon (huge congrats) so she’s making a pair of cute baby bootees from issue 3. BUTTON IT Speedy stitcher @dollmacable crocheted this hat from our issue 52 Winter Warmers collection not long after it came out. It looks so cosy and and she’s made good use of that jumbo wooden button.…

HOLDING THE HOOK Try these methods and see which works best. PENCIL METHOD Hold the hook like a pencil, in your right hand (if you’re right-handed), about 3-5cm from the hooked end. If your hook has a flat area, you’ll find it comfortable to hold it here. KNIFE METHOD Hold the hook between your thumb and forefinger, about 3-5cm from the hooked end, resting the end of the hook against your palm. This will give you lots of control. HOLDING THE YARN Even tension results in even stitches. METHOD ONE Pass the ball end of the yarn between the little finger and third fingers of your left hand (if you are right-handed), then behind the third and middle fingers, over your index finger. METHOD TWO Loop the ball end of…

YOU WILL NEED • King Cole Giza Cotton 4ply (100% cotton, 50g/158m), 1 ball of each: Pink (2192) Coral (2196) Rosehip (2197) Bluebell (2198) Plum (2199) Argent (2249) • A 2.5mm (US B/1 or C/2) hook For yarn stockists, contact King Cole 01756 703670 www.kingcole.com MEASUREMENTS 17.5cm (6›in) diameter ABBREVIATIONS Fivetr Yrh 5 times, insert hook into st indicated, yrh and pull up loop, (yrh and draw through 2 sts) 6 times 4-ttr cluster *yrh 3 times, insert hook in st indicated, yrh and pull up loop, (yrh and draw through 2 loops) 3 times; rep from * another 3 times, inserting hook in the same st each time, yrh and draw through all loops on hook 5-ttr cluster As above, repeating from * another 4 times. 3-dtr…