Innehållsförteckning för Issue 64 från Simply Crochet

Don’t panic! There’s still time to get your hook on if you’re into making gifts for Christmas. We are spoiling you with gorgeous gifts in alpaca from top designers (page 14), seasonal makes for your home, and a whole calendar of fabulous toys from Toft! Looking ahead, we’re really excited about the British Craft Awards 2018, and you can join in by voting for your favourite designer, blogger, brand, yarn and product – turn to page 81 to find out how to vote before the deadline. Merry crocheted Christmas, one and all!…

THE GRANNY SQUARE BOOK MARGARET HUBERT (£16.99, Creative Publishing International) Now on its second edition, this granny square bible has been updated with 25 additional squares, making a whopping 100 in total! As well as covering the crochet basics and the square patterns themselves, Margaret includes 25 projects, and gives plenty of tips and ideas for how to create your own designs. EDWARD’S CROCHET DOLL EMPORIUM KERRY LORD (£16.99, Pavilion Books) Create friends and family in crochet in this latest ‘Edward’ book from Kerry Lord, founder of the TOFT brand. It’s a fun flip book that lets you mix and match hairstyles and outfits – so whether you want to make your granddad as a cowboy, or your daughter as a jockey, you’ll find everything you need! POCKET AMIGURUMI SABRINA…

YOU WILL NEED • DROPS Karisma Mix (100% wool, 50g/100m), Yarn A Petrol (73) • DROPS Karisma Uni Colour (100% wool, 50g/100m), Yarn B Wine Red (48) See table for yarn quantities and measurements for the cape • A 5mm (US H/8) hook for the Cape • A 3.5mm (E/4) hook for the Beanie • A 45mm pompom maker (Cape) • A 7cm pompom maker (Beanie) For yarn stockists contact Wool Warehouse 01926 882818 www.woolwarehouse.co.uk TENSION Cape Due to the nature of the stitch pattern and increases, the stitch tension varies over the cape. At the top, the tension is 12 sts to 10cm (4in), at the bottom it is 14 sts to 10cm (4in). The row tension is 8 rows to 10cm (4in) throughout, all with a…

1 Make a foundation ring (see p89) and work the t-ch (1ch for dc). Now work 12 dc stitches into the ring, but do not join the last stitch and first stitch of this first round with a slip stitch. 2 Instead, work the first dc stitch of the second round into the first stitch of the first round. To do this, insert the hook into the stitch, yrh, pull yarn through, yrh and pull the yarn through both loops. 3 You’ll now be working in a spiral. Continue to work more rounds of dc stitches in a spiral, according to your pattern instructions. 4 On the last round, after you’ve worked the last dc stitch, you’ll need to finish off the spiral with a slip stitch for a neat…

1 To make a double treble crochet stitch, yrh twice and insert the hook under the top two loops of the next stitch on the previous row. Yrh and draw through the stitch only (4 loops on hook). 2 Yrh and pull the yarn through the first 2 loops only (3 loops on hook). 3 Yrh and pull the yarn through the first 2 loops only (2 loops on hook). 4 Yrh and pull the yarn through the remaining 2 loops. There’s your double treble made and you’ll have one loop left on your hook ready to do the next stitch.…

YOU WILL NEED • DROPS Andes Super Chunky (65% wool, 35% alpaca, 100g/75m), 10 balls of Gray Lilac (4010), 2 balls of each: Light Grey Green (7120), Medium Grey (8465), Sea Green Mix (7130), 1 ball of each: Cerise (3755), Pistachio (7320), Powder Pink (3145) • A 10mm (US N/15) crochet hook For yarn stockists contact Wool Warehouse 01926 882818 www.woolwarehouse.co.uk MEASUREMENTS Each square measures 20x20cm (8x8in), finished throw measures 110x150cm (43x59in) SPECIAL STITCHES Puff Stitch Round 2 (Puff2) (yrh, insert hook into st, draw up loop) twice, draw yarn through all loops on hook Puff Stitch Round 3 (Puff3) (yrh, insert hook into st, draw up loop) 3 times, draw yarn through all loops on hook For a full list, see page 92 Snuggling up on the…

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…

We are so thrilled to present Simply Crochet’s latest calendar! This exciting collection of mini-dolls and their fabulous outfits were designed exclusively for us by Kerry Lord of TOFT. Early this year when we were starting to plan a calendar full of doll patterns, we spoke to Kerry at a show and it became clear that we were both thinking along the same lines, Was she was deep in the fun of doll-making for her book! Kerry has very generously come up with some new ideas to provide us with exclusive new dolls, accessories and outfits for the calendar. She explains, “They’re about a third of the size of the dolls in the book, so there are fewer stitches and they’re quicker and easier to make. I designed them in…

JANE CROWFOOT Jane is renowned for her colourful designs for interiors – flowers combined into blankets are a speciality. You’ll find her beautiful pointsettia corsage on page 21. ALESSANDRA HAYDEN Alessandra is the Brazilian stitcher behind Just Be Happy Crochet. She draws inspiration from her two children and from luxurious yarns. Find her stunning maze clutch on page 20. NICKI TRENCH Expert crocheter and super craftswoman Nicki is the author of some of our favourite crafting bibles, and this issue she’s created the fun hat for kids on page 59 and the mitts on page 20. SUE PINNER A best-selling author and crochet club guru, Sue has a degree in fashion design. She’s put her talents to great use for us and designed the amazing diamond cowl on page 23.…

HANGING AROUND Not just one, but 14 fun and festive decorations: enough to adorn your tree, your mantlepiece, your furniture – even you. Go to VliegendeHollander on Etsy for these and other gorgeous patterns. BAUBLE BLING This show-stopping stellar sphere is set to be your glorious centrepiece - and it’s a lot simpler than it looks. Go to ASmartPattern on Etsy for inspiration. GORGEOUS GONKS Ling Ryan is bonkers for gonks: find patterns for pilots, astronauts, fire fighters and these crazy cute santas at HookedoPatterns on Etsy. STARRY TREE Fairy fallen off her perch? All is not lost: quickly hook this stunning star and your tree will be complete. Go to crochetgiftsshop on Etsy. TRIO OF TREES Tiny house? Allergic to pine? Tree-hating cats? NatalieSpot on Etsy has the answer:…

“I want to recreate the way the clouds split the light of the sun.” So well did he fit his life into this place that he is remembered, even in the family, as having belonged here.” I got chills when I first read that quote from Wendell Berry. With both my husband and I being immigrants to the UK, the topic of ‘home’ circles around us, from well-meaning friends asking if we are going ‘home’ for Christmas to others we've just met asking if we'd ever move back ‘home’. My answer to those questions is always the same. I tell people that I consider myself as having two great loves of my life: the first, a freckled South African with dark hair and blue eyes; and the second, the ragged,…

YOU WILL NEED • Bergère de France Calinou (75% acrylic, 25% wool, 50g/185m) in Limonade (30) See table for measurements and yarn quantities • A 3mm (US C/2 or D/3) hook For yarn stockists contact Bergère de France www.hobbycraft.co.uk TENSION 20 sts and 11 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over treble crochet using 3mm hook ABBREVIATIONS Foundation Treble (Ftr) Work a treble stitch as usual, but after the first (insert hook, yrh and pull through), work an extra ch1 before completing the stitch. The next st is worked into this extra ch1. To bridge a gap between sts, as in this pattern, add the extra ch1 to the stitch before the gap, then work the number of foundation sts stated. On the last ftr, replace the extra…

Claire Guy “I was really excited to take part in this challenge, especially as it’s Christmas themed, because it’s my absolute favourite time of year. I definitely found it a challenge because I had to work in DK and I usually work in chunky and super chunky yarn. I chose to do an elf hat because what could be more Christmassy?! I also make a lot of hats (it’s kinda my thing, if you will) and any chance I get to make a pompom, I’m all over it!” For more from Claire, find her online at www.etsy.com/shop/CraftyClarenceShop Tuula Kyrölä and now I have a blog just for Christmas designs. The inspiration behind the tea cosy was thinking back to when my children were small and I used to…

YOU WILL NEED • Scheepjes Catona (100% Cotton, 50g/125m), 1 ball of Yarn A Scarlet (192) • Scheepjes Catona (100% Cotton, 25g/62m), 1 ball of each: Yarn B Black Coffee (162) Yarn C Linen (505) Yarn D Cornelia Rose (256) • Scheepjes Stone Washed (78% cotton, 22% acrylic, 50g/130m), 1 ball of Yarn E Moon stone (801) • Scheepjes Lizzy (80% viscose, 20% polyester), 1 ball of Yarn F Gold (03) • A 2.5mm (B/1 or C/2) hook • A pair of safety eyes approx 9mm diameter • Tapestry needle • Stitch markers • Pipe cleaners (optional) • Plastic sheet such as a yoghurt lid (optional) • Toy stuffing For yarn stockists contact Scheepjes www.scheepjes.com MEASUREMENTS Doll measures 25cm (10in) tall excluding hat ABBREVIATIONS 2-tr cluster (yrh, insert…

HERRINGBONE HALF TREBLE PATTERN Ch16. Row 1 (RS) Yrh, insert hook in 3rd ch from hook, yrh and pull through ch and next loop on hook, yrh and pull through remaining 2 loops on hook, *yrh, insert hook in next ch, yrh and pull through ch and next loop on hook, yrh and pull through remaining 2 loops on hook; rep from * across, turn. Row 2 (WS) Ch2 (counts as hbhtr), *yrh, insert hook in next st, yrh and pull through stitch and next loop on hook, yrh and pull through remaining 2 loops on hook; rep from * across, turn. Repeat Row 2 for pattern. MUG HUGS Hooking this set of cheerful mug cosies is a speedy way to master this stitch. • Lily Sugar ’n Cream (100%…

The TOFT yarn brand was born in September 2006, a product of the successful and established Toft Alpaca Stud farm where Kerry Lord grew up. Eleven years on, TOFT is a UK leader in the manufacturing of homegrown woollen yarn and the design of DIY fashion knitting and on-trend crochet kits. Meanwhile, TOFT HQ in Warwickshire has become a destination, where Kerry has set up a shop and workshop space and where visitors can take a walk around the farm to see the alpacas. Web: www.toftuk.com Instagram & Twitter: @toft_uk Facebook: TOFT Studio Hashtags: #edsdolls #TOFTuk #edsanimals PS Don’t forget to join us on the Simply Crochet blog for free patterns, designer interviews, and to sign up for our newsletter! www.simplycrochetmag.co.uk SUBSCRIBE TODAY You’ll get a Toft bumper kit to…