Innehållsförteckning för Issue 58 från Simply Crochet

I just love the summer, don’t you? The colours and sunshine make everything brighter. We’ve gone big on all things sunny this issue, from boho festival style in our main collection on p14, to projects and colour palettes inspired by ice cream and summer fruits. And we’re digging deeper into a trend I’ve been loving – gradient yarns! They’ll inspire you to get creative with colour. Get the lowdown on p54. Whatever you decide to hook, I hope it makes you smile this month. Psst! Thinking about subscribing? Now’s a great time to do it – you’ll get an amazing TOFT amigurumi kit when you sign up (see p30 ).…

200 FUN THINGS TO CROCHET VICTORIA LYLE (£14.99, Search Press) Never be stuck for your next project with this collection of small and super-cute designs. The patterns are inspired by nature and all accompanied by clear stitch charts. Hook tiny fruit and veg, insects, flowers and sea creatures, as well as a collection of floral squares and motifs. ENCHANTED FOREST CREATURES JESSICA BOYER (£5.99, Leisure Arts) Fans of cute critters will love this book, which has patterns (in US terms) for eight amigurumi woodland dwellers. There are three magical creatures – a gnome, gnomette and fairy – plus a menagerie of adorable animals. TOP-DOWN CROCHET SWEATERS DORA OHRENSTEIN ( £13.99, Storey) If you’ve always wanted to try the top-down method of crocheting garments, here you’ll find 14 patterns for beautiful…

YOU WILL NEED • DMC Petra Cotton 3 (100% cotton, 100g/280m), 2 balls of Yellow (5742) for all sizes with fringe For a Halter Top without fringe, 1 ( 1 : 1 : 2 ) 100g balls are required • A 3.5mm (US E/4) hook • 53 ( 56 : 59 : 65 ) x 2cm (¾in) diameter gold sequins • 2 stitch markers • 4 small beads for ties (optional) For yarn stockists contact DMC 0116 275 4000 www.dmc.com TENSION 18 sts and 10 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over treble crochet using a 3.5mm hook or size needed to obtain stated tension ABBREVIATIONS 2 treble cluster (2-tr cl) (Yrh, insert hook into next stitch, pull up a loop, yrh, pull through 2 loops) twice, yrh, pull…

“It occurred to me how much I had actually been crocheting.” “I delighted in the process and repetition of stitch after stitch.” For someone who makes her living out of crochet, the following admission might seem strange, but here goes: I've spent a lot of the last six years as a crochet designer not really enjoying crocheting very much. I like the swatching and problem solving that comes with pattern development. I like the code cracking that is crochet pattern writing. I love photographing finished items to show them in their best light. Layout and charting took a while to get the hang of, but have become an aspect of the business that I really look forward to when publishing new designs comes around. For me the best part…

 BASIC TEXTURED WAVE STITCH PATTERN For the Headband, ch a multiple of 9 plus 6 (we used 24 ch for the sample). Turn the page for more creative ideas to use this pattern For the Wristbands, ch a multiple of 9 plus 2 and omit the last 4 sts of the Row 1 pattern below. Row 1 (RS) Htr in third ch from hook (skipped ch do not count as st), htr in each of next 3 ch, ss in each of next 5 ch, (4htr, 5ss) repeat to last 4 sts, htr in each of last 4 sts, turn. Work in back loops only from now on. If you are starting the row with a ss, ch1 as a turning ch. If you are starting with a htr, ch2…

VICKIE HOWELL Prolific US crafter Vickie’s a designer, author, broadcaster and more. On page 48, she’s telling us about her passion for community and an exciting new project in the pipeline. ELISABETH DAVIS DE HERRAIZ Madrid-based crocheter Elisabeth knows her way around a shawl design, that’s for sure. Flip to page 45 to hook her latest creation – it’s a fabulously fruity one! KAT GOLDIN Kat’s back! The designer and smallholder returns as our guest columnist this month. Find her over on page 38 chatting about slow making and learning to love the process. EMMA POTTER You might recognise designer Emma from her Potter & Bloom blog. This issue, she’s sharing the story behind her favourite make – a bright chevron scarf named Geoffrey. See page 98. OTHER CONTRIBUTORS Rebecca…

TO THE LETTER Keep the sentimentality to a minimum with a stylish crochet monogram and ampersand cushion set by The Letter Loft. How about including an initial for each family member? You'll find them online at www.noths.com GET HOOKNG A pair of slippers is another classic dad gift, but these have a creepy-but-cute skull twist. You can find the crochet pattern at www. glamour-4-you.com TIE BREAKER A tie for Father's Day – so what's new? Well, it's a stylish crochet tie and you can make it with one of DMC's clever kits. Find a stockist at www.dmc.com ON YER BIKE www.biscuiteers. com  have a range of themed biscuit gift sets that would be spot on for Father's Day. Our favourite…

YOU WILL NEED Quantities of yarn given are enough to complete the entire blanket. You will need both colourways as listed below. • Cascade 220 (100% Peruvian Highland wool, 100g/200m), see below for details • A 5mm (US H/8) hook For yarn stockists contact LoveCrochet 0845 544 2196 www.lovecrochet.com Colourway 1 • 1 skein of each: Yarn C Deep Lavender (8762) Yarn D Granny Smith Green (8914) Yarn E Lagoon (7812) Yarn H California Poppy (7826) Colourway 2 • 1 skein of each: Yarn G Cerise (7802) Yarn B Cyan Blue (8891) Yarn F Azure (8892) Yarn A Bright Red (8414) MEASUREMENTS Each square meas 20x20cm (8x8in) Finished blanket meas 144x94cm (56½x37in) ABBREVIATIONS For a full list, see page 92 The Pick ‘n’ Mix crochet-along blanket is made…

YOU WILL NEED • DROPS Cotton Viscose (54% cotton, 46% viscose, 50g/110m), Light Pink (28) and/or Light Grey Green (29) See table for yarn quantities and measurements • A 3.5mm (US E/4) hook • A 4mm (US 7) hook For yarn stockists contact Wool Warehouse 01926 882818 www.woolwarehouse.co.uk TENSION 18 sts and 20 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over dc pattern using a 4mm hook or size needed to obtain stated tension ABBREVIATIONS For a full list, see page 92 Pat Strong’s design is worked sideways, giving it lots of drape and stretch, and is finished with a picot edging. Decide if you want to go long or short, then choose between pale pink or pistachio green cotton yarn. Struggling to decide? The two versions look beautiful layered…

YOU WILL NEED • Wool and the Gang Shiny Happy Cotton (100% Pima cotton, 100g/142m), 4 ( 5 : 7 ) balls of Yarn A Jog Grey 1 ball of Yarn B Ivory White 2 ( 3 : 3 ) balls of Yarn C Magic Mint • For Sprinkles: Wool and the Gang Crazy Sexy Wool (100% wool, 200g/80m), small amounts of: Pink Lemonade, Hot Punk Pink, Yellow, Magic Mint & Ivory White • A 4mm (US G/6) hook • Stitch marker • Tapestry needle • 1.5 cm button or ribbon to fasten dress For yarn stockists contact Wool and the Gang 020 7241 6420 www.woolandthegang.com TENSION 16 sts and 8 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over tr using a 4mm hook or size needed to obtain stated…

“Our bloggers offer us insight into the minds of today’s crafters.” For 22 years, Scheepjeswol yarns mostly disappeared from public view, only returning to the international stage in 2010. “Although it probably seems like a hiatus, production did continue,” explains the company’s creative director Simy Somer. “We mainly focused on our home market within the Benelux – an area comprising Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg – but a little over five years ago we took a long hard look at the brand and how we wanted to move it forward.” This change is reflected in Scheepjes’ new tagline: Inspiration In Every Ball of Yarn. With a freshly defined focus of targeting a new generation of crafters and inspiring a more international audience, Simy and her team rebranded from Scheepjeswol…

YOU WILL NEED • King Cole Giza Cotton 4ply (100% cotton, 50g/158m), 1 ball of each: White (2190) Black (2201) Plum (2198) Coral (2196) Rosehip (2197) Pink (2192) • A 2.5mm (US B/1 or C/2) hook For yarn stockists, contact King Cole 01756 703670 www.kingcole.com MEASUREMENTS Finished Mandala measures 19cm (7½in) diameter (after blocking) ABBREVIATIONS Picot Ch2, ss in second ch from hook For a full list, see page 92 This design is the sixth in our series of mandalas for 2017, hooked with King Cole’s Giza Cotton 4ply yarn. The pattern matches the June illustration in your Simply Crochet calendar – now you can make the real deal. Share yours on social media using the hashtag #SCmandalas – we love to see…

YOU WILL NEED • Rico Creative Bubble (100% polyester, 50g/90m), 1 ball of each: Yarn A White (001) Yarn B Red (006) Yarn C Green (008) • A 4mm (US G/6) hook • A shower puff for stuffing For yarn stockists contact Rico www.rico-design.co.uk MEASUREMENTS 14x18cm (5›x7in) ABBREVIATIONS For a full list, see page 92 What could be more appropriate for your toilette in the summer months than a strawberry-shaped shower scrubby? This bathroom accessory is made with Rico’s Creative Bubble, a textured polyester yarn that’s been specifically designed for hooking playful sponges that gently buff the skin as you lather up. Your morning routine just got a whole lot fruitier! NOTE The scrubby is worked using the amigurumi method. Work in a continuous spiral without closing off…

YOU WILL NEED • DROPS Baby Merino (100% superwash merino, 50g/175m), 2 balls of each: Cerise (08), Lime (09) • A 4mm (US G/6) hook • Tapestry needle For yarn stockists, contact Wool Warehouse 01926 882818 www.woolwarehouse.co.uk TENSION 5 shells (2.5 patt repeats) and 9 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over shell pattern using a 4mm hook or size needed to obtain tension MEASUREMENTS 30x122cm (12x49in) ABBREVIATIONS Tr5tog (Yrh, insert hook in next stitch, yrh and pull up loop, yrh and draw through 2 loops) 5 times, yrh and draw through all loops on hook For a full list, see page 92. Two terribly tempting shades of squashy merino yarn make this project rather dreamy to hook up. Elisabeth Davis de Herraiz’s versatile accessory is worked in gorgeous…

1 To work a treble crochet, start by winding yrh and then insert the hook under the top two loops of the stitch on the previous row. 2 Wrap the yarn around the hook (yrh), and pull the yarn through the stitch only. 3 You will now have 3 loops on the hook. Yrh again, and draw the yarn through the first 2 loops on the hook. 4 You will now have 2 loops on the hook. Yrh again, and draw the yarn through the remaining 2 loops on the hook. Your treble crochet will be complete.…

Fruity DK is the newest addition to Designer Yarns’ special DY Choice range. It’s a wonderfully smooth 100% acrylic yarn with a stranded construction and an impressive sheen. These qualities make it a These qualities make it a brilliant choice for amigurumi, and the supple silkiness of Fruity DK means it will glide easily over your crochet hook and drape beautifully if worked into a shawl or garment. Choose from 10 mouth-watering solid shades, all inspired by fruit. We reckon it’s a fantastic option for vibrant summer makes - Fruity DK is affordable and machine washable. Win the yarn to make the winning project! Enter by voting for your favourite on Instagram #hooktohook Made in association with Designer Yarns. For stockists contact www.designeryarns.uk.com 01535 664222…

GRANNY CARDI @revamped vintage1 used Kate Selene hand-dyed 4ply and some yarn she found in a charity shop to stitch her lovely A Good Vintage cardi from issue 54. It’s a beauty. VERY TASTY Don’t you just love it when your snacks match your project? @ thefoxdenstudio is making Kirsten Ballering’s April Showers blanket from issue 54 and it looks good enough to eat. PICK ‘N’ MIX @hooked_on_a_ rainbow is joining in with our Pick ‘n’ Mix CAL. She says: “This year-long CAL is such a joy. I am loving the spiral square this month (just don’t mention all those ends that need to be woven in!)”…

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…