Innehållsförteckning för Issue 63 från Simply Crochet

Can you believe Christmas is on the way around again already? We’re preparing for the big day in the best way we know how – with a LOT of colourful crochet. This issue, it’s all about the fun of getting crafty at Christmas. Have a go at making amazing solid 3D lace with balloons and bit of PVA glue (oh yes, p20), hook not one but two jazzy Christmas jumpers, and there’s festive amigurumi, too. We’ve all fallen totally in love with the sparkly llama here at Simply Crochet HQ I can’t wait to see your versions of him. Enjoy!…

STEP INTO CROCHET ROHN STRONG (£16.99, Interweave) Wanna learn how to whip up the perfect pair of socks? From how to hook socks that fit, to choosing the right yarn, tackling construction and heels, toes and cuffs, all is revealed in this new book from Rohn Strong. There are 18 beautifully presented projects. Try simple cuff-down socks, then challenge yourself to texture and cables, colourwork and lace. A GRANNY SQUARE CHRISTMAS LISA GENTRY (£6.99, Annie’s Crochet) Need Christmas inspo? Lisa Gentry has you covered with this collection of 15 cheerful designs. With plenty to tempt beginners, her book is split into three sections – decorations, home makes and gifts. Think cushions, blankets, accessories, stockings and more – great gift ideas, all hooked in easy granny trebles. SPORTACULAR AFGHANS KAREN BARNES…

YOU WILL NEED • DK yarn from llama kit (kit will make one llama) or your stash, 1 ball of each: Blue, Red, Yellow, Grey, Gold • A 3mm (US C/2 or D3) hook • Polyester toy stuffing • Stitch markers • Gold sequins • Tapestry and embroidery needles TENSION Tension is not critical for this project. You can use any yarn to make this amigurumi. If you use a larger hook and a suitable yarn, the amigurumi will be larger while maintaining the same proportions. MEASUREMENTS Approx 14cm (5¾in) tall ABBREVIATIONS For a full list, see page 92 Dull Christmas tree? No prob-llama! This fun mini amigurumi project is super-cute and has plenty of glitzy details to stitch. It’s a fab little gift to make for all your llama-loving…

“Flowers and small mandalas can easily become garlands.” Usually by the end of the year my cupboards begin to groan with the weight of pattern samples, practice pieces and small makings that I’ve forgotten about – often toys, brooches and discarded limbs (the crochet kind, of course). Sometimes there’s a build up of projects that I made obsessively for a while, such as mittens or flowers and small mandalas, that need only ten minutes of threading to become a garland. When this happens, I look for a small corner of time towards the end of November in which to hold a studio sale. I love having a studio sale – it’s my very favourite way to sell my makings and by far the most fun. Some years they’ve been huge,…

YOU WILL NEED • Scheepjes Catona (100% cotton, 25g/62.5m) 1 ball of Yarn A Linen (505) • Scheepjes Stone Washed (78% cotton, 22% acrylic, 50g/130m), 1 ball of each: Yarn B Yellow Jasper (809) Yarn C Moon Stone (801) • Scheepjes Lizzy (80% viscose, 20% polyester, 25g/101m) 1 ball of Yarn D Gold (03) • A 2.5mm (US B/1 or C/2) hook • 1 pair of 8mm safety eyes • White tulle fabric (optional) • Pipe cleaner (optional) • Gold star sequins • White sewing thread • Tapestry needle • Stitch markers • Polyester toy stuffing • Safety pin For yarn stockists contact King Cole 01756 703670 www.kingcole.com MEASUREMENTS 24cm (9½in) tall ABBREVIATIONS pm place marker For a full list, see page 92 This celestial sweetheart, stitched with…

Pat Strong Knit and crochet designer Pat Strong also owns a yarn shop in Glasgow. She told us that festive candy canes influenced her playful hat project for this month's designer challenge: “The inspiration came from the three yarn colours – I thought of candy stripes. The stitch was a simple double crochet to make it workable for all, and everyone likes a pompom!" For the latest yarn shop gossip and a peek at Pat's creative blog, head to www.craicnyarn.com . You'll also find her as @craicnyarn on Instagram. Sharon Murphy Tea and gin loving Sharon (our kinda girl) is a crochet designer and blogger. When we asked her what inspired this cosy Hook to Hook make, she told us: “This yarn is incredibly soft, just like…

YOU WILL NEED • Paintbox Yarns Cotton DK (100% cotton, 50g/125m), 10 balls of: Yarn A Candyfloss Pink (450) 1 ball of each: Yarn B Light Caramel (409) Yarn C Paper White (401) Yarn D Bubblegum Pink (451) Yarn E Coffee Bean (411) • A 4mm (US G/6) hook For yarn stockists contact LoveCrochet 0845 544 2196 www.lovecrochet.com TENSION 17 sts and 14 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over htr using a 4mm hook MEASUREMENTS Each Square measures 21x21.5cm (8¼x8½in) Blanket measures approx 66cm x 90cm (26x35½in) ABBREVIATIONS For a full list, see page 92 Just like those little music box ballerinas, this dancer has a touchy-feely tutu skirt – so cute. It’s also a great project for stashbusting, and if this level of girliness is a step…

This autumn sees two major UK craft events spring up in Birmingham and London – paradise for anyone keen on a bit of creativity or for newbies to discover the mindful benefits of crafting. We’ve teamed up with the organisers of Stitching, Sewing & Hobbycrafts and Simply Christmas to offer you a 2 for 1 ticket deal to these exciting shows (NEC, Birmingham, 2-5 November and ExCel, London, 16-18 November). Expect stands glittering with crafting goodies from fabric, to papercraft. Enjoy free workshops (book early to grab a place) and demos, too. Your ticket also gets you into Simply Christmas (and the world-famous Cake International at Birmingham if you go from the Friday). Simply Christmas is your one-stop shop for handmade Christmas gifts that you won’t find on the high…

MICHELLE ROBINSON Poppy and Bliss designer Michelle might be master of all things Tunisian crochet, but her current favourite project is something a little different. Turn to p98 for the big reveal. KATE BRUNING Kate’s an author and designer you might know better as Greedy for Colour. In her column this issue, she’s getting ready for her annual festive studio sale. Read all about it on p38. ERINNA LEE You might recognise Erinna’s pastel makes from her @littleaquagirl Instagram account. This month, she designed the impossibly cute and quirky festive llama for us on p26. RUBY AND CUSTARD Millie is the crochet designer behind Ruby and Custard. She’s been busy creating some very cute ballet-themed projects. Check out her tutus on p42 and baby blanket on p72. OTHER CONTRIBUTORS Ilaria…

YOU WILL NEED • Rico Essentials Cotton DK (100% cotton, 50g/130m), 2 balls of Yarn A Rose (01) 1 ball of Yarn B Fuchsia (14) • A 4mm (US G/6) hook • A 6mm (US J/10) hook • Rico Design Tutu size 2-6 years (92-116) • Three 1cm wide pink buttons • 2m of 1cm wide pink ribbon For yarn stockists contact Rico www.rico-design.co.uk TENSION 4 Shells and 11 rows to measure 12x12cm (4›x4›in) MEASUREMENTS Tutu Dress to fit ages 2-6. Bodice measures 48cm circumference and 22cm length with lots of stretch in both directions. ABBREVIATIONS For a full list, see page 92 We’re getting serious Sugar Plum Fairy vibes from this sparkly tutu project. It’s easier than you might think to turn a tulle skirt into a…

PSST Mix up the numbers for more of a puzzle! YOU WILL NEED • Scheepjes Stone Washed (78% cotton 22% acrylic, 50g/130m), 1 ball of each: Amazonite (813) Blue Apatite (805) Lemon Quartz (812) Moon Stone (801) Rose Quartz (820) Smokey Quartz (802) Tourmaline (836) • A 3.5mm (US E/4) hook • 24 wooden star buttons 1.2cm (½in) diameter • Felt Advent calendar numbers 1-24 approx 1.2cm (½in) high • 2 pieces of canvas/thick cotton 64x50cm (25x20in) • 4 pieces of canvas/thick cotton fabric 7x12cm (2¾x4¾in) • 75cm (30in) length of copper pipe 15mm diameter • 2m (78in) ribbon to hang calendar (optional) • Fabric glue • Needle and thread For yarn stockists contact Scheepjes www.scheepjes.com MEASUREMENTS Each blocked square to measure 9x9cm (3½x3½in) Main Advent calendar to…

Turn the page for more creative ideas to use this pattern BASIC TULIP STITCH PATTERN Chain a multiple of 4 sts plus 1 (we used 21 sts for the sample). Row 1 (RS) 3tr in 5th ch from hook, *skip 3 ch, (dc, ch3, 3tr) in next ch; repeat from * across to last 4 ch, skip 3 ch, dc in last ch, turn. Row 2 (WS) Ch4, 3tr in 4th ch from hook, skip next 3 tr, *(dc, ch3, 3tr) in next ch-3 sp, skip next dc and 3 tr; repeat from * across to end, dc in ch-4 sp at end, turn. Repeat Row 2 as many times as stated in the pattern. Final row *Ch6, skip next 3 tr, dc in next ch-3 sp, skip next dc…

STAR MOTIF Ch5, ss to first ch to join into a ring. ROUND 1 Ch1, (dc, tr) into the ring, ch1, ss to top of tr, dc into ring, *(ss, dc, tr) into ring, ch1, ss to top of tr, dc into ring; rep from * 3 more times, ss to first stitch. FASTEN OFF and weave in ends. Block to form star shape. STYLECRAFT LIFE SUPER CHUNKY WEIGHT Super-chunky CONTENT 75% premium acrylic, 25% wool BALL 100g/ 80m HOOK 10mm RRP £3.60 For last-minute festive hooking, Stylecraft’s Life Super Chunky will not disappoint. This mix of hard-wearing acrylic and luxurious wool works up into a huggable yet lightweight fabric that’s machine washable, making it a real winner for cosy kids’ accessories and home projects, too. Plus, as it’s so…

1 To make a half treble crochet stitch, work to where you want the htr and then wind the yarn round the hook (yrh). 2 Insert the hook under the top two loops of the next stitch in the previous row. Wrap yarn around the hook again (yrh). 3 Pull the yarn through the stitch only (3 loops on hook). 4 Yarn round hook again, pull the yarn through all 3 loops. You’ve made a half treble crochet. Continue working htr into next and following sts to the end of the row.…

PSST No baking skills required! YOU WILL NEED • Stylecraft Special DK (100% acrylic, 100g/295m) Yarn A Khaki (1027) See table for yarn quantities and measurements 1 ball of each: Yarn B Lipstick (1247) Yarn C Camel (1420) Yarn D White (1001) • Oddments of black thread/yarn • A 4mm (US G/6) hook • 3 small buttons For yarn stockists contact Stylecraft 01535 609798 www.stylecraft-yarns.co.uk TENSION 18 sts and 22 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over dc using a 4mm hook or size needed to obtain tension ABBREVIATIONS For a full list, see page 92 Christmas jumpers needn’t be naff. This up-to-date cropped version has bright contrasting details, a cute gingerbread man motif and polka dots to keep things fresh. And it’s hooked in easy dc stitches. BACK…

YOU WILL NEED • Rico Creative Cotton Aran (100% cotton, 50g/85m), 1 ball of each: Yarn A Sky Blue (37) Yarn B Violet (16) Yarn C Tangerine (76) Yarn D Candy Pink (64) Yarn E Natural (60) • Rico Fashion Cotton Metallise (53% cotton, 35% acrylic, 12% metallic, 50g/130m), 1 ball of Yarn F Gold (003) • A 4mm (US G/6) hook For yarn stockists contact www.rico-design.co.uk MEASUREMENTS Each Bauble measures approx 9x14cm (3›x5›in) Baubles are spaced approx 11cm (4›in) apart ABBREVIATIONS Picot Ch3, ss into third ch from hook For a full list, see page 92 Forget that ancient tinsel – with plenty of sparkle and worked in vibrant Bollywood Christmas shades, this bauble bunting is a stylish festive showpiece that you’ll be proudly hanging up year…

SHE’S A LADY Have insects ever been cuter? We’re loving this amigurumi ladybird created by @lbwright22. She made this for a friend using Ilaria Caliri’s pattern in issue 60. It’s the little legs and big smile that have stolen our hearts. Here she is striking a pose among the sunflowers and marigolds. Aw! JUMBO JUMPER W This super-fun creative make brightened up our inbox this month! Christine Adams says: “Here is my interpretation of the Filet Skull Jumper from issue 59. I used a 9mm hook and a rainbow and black colour scheme to make a massive funky kaftan!” SO MANY STITCHES Wow, crochet makes don’t get much more epic than this – a whole hooky tent! Reader Wendy Griffiths emailed us this picture of the lovely stripy play tent…

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…