Innehållsförteckning för Issue 67 från Simply Crochet

Whether you’re loving the dramatic look of our Midnight Garden collection (see page 14), or if you’re looking forward to working up simple stripy blankets this month (pages 57 and 81), we’ve got you covered! Fibonacci stripes are such a wonderful idea. Once you know the principles behind them you’ll be dying to put them into practice, so don’t forget to show us the results! We’re going to be experimenting like mad while we dream of a crochet getaway – turn to page 66 to find out more.…

CUDDLY AMIGURUMI TOYS MARI-LIIS LILLE (£15.21, Meteoor Books) Following the success of her Magical Amigurumi Toys, designer Lilleliis is back with this new collection of adorable amigurumi animals. There are 15 cute projects to choose from, including Klaus the Rabbit, Lars the Little Dragon and Mia the Cow. Great for gifts for little ones. GRANNY SQUARES & FLOWER MOTIFS NICKI TRENCH (£9.99, CICO Books) Gather up your yarn stash and have some fun learning to crochet squares, hexagons, triangles and flowers with Nicki Trench’s latest book. Full of clear photos and with an extensive techniques section, this is a great book for beginners and you’ll find 25 colourful projects to practise your skills on. CROCHET KALEIDOSCOPE SANDRA ENG (£18.99, Interweave) This book almost combines crochet with quilt making. With a…

PSST: Thread a little ribbon through for a party upcycle YOU WILL NEED • Wendy Merino DK (100% superwash merino wool, 116m/50g), Fennel (2382) See table for yarn quantities and measurements • A 3.75mm (US F/5) hook • 6 buttons For yarn stockists contact TB Ramsden 01943 872264 www. tbramsden.co.uk TENSION 4.5 shell patterns and 7 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over shell pattern ABBREVIATIONS Shell (2dtr, ch2, tr) For a full list, see page 90 For maximum impact you can’t go wrong with a lacy, vintage-vibe cardi teamed with urban-chic jeans (rips optional). You’ll love hooking up our spectacular shell stitch number. Layer it over a top in a bright, contrasting shade to make the awesome pattern really stand out. BACK Ch84 (92: 100: 108). Row 1…

YOU WILL NEED • Yarn and Colors Must-Have (100% mercerised cotton, 50g/125m), 2 balls of Deep Cerise (034) • A 4mm (US G/6) hook • A black denim jacket • Tapestry needle • Scissors • A razor (for fraying edges) • Glue gun or fabric glue For yarn stockists contact Wool Warehouse 01926 882818 www.woolwarehouse.co.uk TENSION 6 ch-3 sp and 15 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over Mesh Stitch Pattern MEASUREMENTS Right/Left Front Panels: 13x16.5cm (5x6½in) at widest points Upper Arm Panels: 11x15cm (4½x5¾in) Lower Arm Panels: 11x15cm (4½x5¾in) at widest points ABBREVIATIONS For a full list, see page 90 A simple mesh stitch transforms this denim jacket from ‘meh’ to ‘wow’. Choose a well-fitting jacket (as old or cheap as you like) and a bold accent colour…

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.…

YOU WILL NEED • DROPS Cotton Merino (50% cotton, 50% wool, 50g/110m), 6 balls of Grey (19) • DROPS Alaska (100% wool, 50g/70m), 1 ball of Off White (02) • A 4mm (US G/6) hook • A 5mm (US H/8) hook For yarn stockists contact Wool Warehouse 01926 882818 www.woolwarehouse.co.uk TENSION 17 sts and 9 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over treble crochet using a 4mm hook MEASUREMENTS 30x160cm (12x63in) ABBREVIATIONS For a full list, see page 90 Oh-so fashionable grey forms the treble background for this striking scarf. The standout geometric surface crochet is added by forming chains along the spaces left in the clever (but simple) scarf pattern. NOTE The start and end of each row is worked in a clever way to ensure straight edges…

SOCK SHAPE Make a magic loop. ROUND 1 Ch1 (does not count as st), 6dc into the loop. [6dc] ROUND 2 2dc in each st around. [12dc] ROUNDS 3-8 Dc in each st around. ROUNDS 9-11 Dc in first 6 sts, tr in next 6 sts. [6dc and 6tr] ROUNDS 12-19 Dc in each st around. ROUND 20 Ss in next st, ch3. (counts as tr), tr in next 11 sts, ss into top of starting ch3. Fold over this last row. FASTEN OFF and weave in ends. WYS SIGNATURE 4PLY WEIGHT 4ply CONTENT 75% wool, 25% nylon SKEIN 100g/ 400m HOOK 3.25mm RRP £7.20 This yarn is a delicious mix of nylon and pure wool, 35% of which is Bluefaced Leicester. This blend is spun into an even twist…

YOU WILL NEED • West Yorkshire Spinners Signature 4 Ply (75% wool, 25% nylon, 400m/100g), 1 ball of each: Yarn A Blue Raspberry (333) Yarn B Blackcurrant Bomb (735) • A 3mm (US C/2 or D/3) hook • Stitch markers • Tapestry needle For yarn stockists contact West Yorkshire Spinners 01535 664500 www.wyspinners.com TENSION 24 sts and 21 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over pattern using a 3mm hook MEASUREMENTS Foot length: adjustable Foot circumference: 20 (22.5: 25)cm (8 (8›: 9›)in) Leg length: adjustable ABBREVIATIONS ftr (Foundation treble crochet) Ch4, yrh, insert hook in fourth ch from hook, yrh, draw yarn through as for a normal tr, work an extra ‘ch1’ by putting yrh and drawing yarn through first loop on hook, complete as for a normal tr;…

Sock yarns are abundant, and overwhelming. A simple search online will garner thousands and thousands of results. From self-striping to variegated to solid, you have many amazing colour choices to make. I implore you, however, to look beyond the colour and at the content. It is the content, after all, that makes the character. When we crochet socks, we need our chosen yarn to do two specific things: it needs to stretch, and it needs to be strong. Now, before we continue, we need to establish some basic rules of sock yarn choice with crochet. You need wool. You need it. While it is rare (but possible) to find a milk or tofu or soy or some other kind of sock yarn out there, wool is best. I hear from…

LOU SMITH Lou and Sara designed our fabulous denim jacket upcycle this issue on page 41; it’s a triumph of mesh crochet and black denim mixed to the max. Rock on! ROHN STRONG Sock man extraordinaire Rohn is the crochet star behind our sock-tastic booklet. From trendy trainer socks to an elegant lacy choice, Rohn’s hooked something special for all skill levels. SUSAN MARIA Susan is an avid crocheter, with oodles of designs under her creative belt. She’s put her talents to good use and whipped up the gorgeous hoodie for little ones on page 70. MARTY MILLER You might recognise Marty from her The Crochet Doctor or Not Your Granny’s Crochet blog. She’s taken time out of her busy schedule to hook the clever Fibonacci blanket on page 81.…

HEART TO HEART Cakes or crochet knick-knacks? This set of lovely vintage-inspired storage tins is perfect for keeping your kit in check – but you can keep one aside for biscuits, obviously. www.lakeland.co.uk PETAL SOFT Give your mum a treat with this cross stitch style cushion kit decorated with cool irises. Check out the daisy version too! www.annsorchard.co.uk FLORAL TRIBUTE Go trad with these perfect hooky tulips – ideal for injecting a bit of spring when we need it most! Search for MyCroWonders in Etsy for more gorgeous patterns. BLOOMIN’ MARVELLOUS Your mum is bound to love this A5 card adorned with a pretty crochet flower, £3.50 from www.lingartdesigns.co.uk ALL SEWN UP We would suggest this is a lovely Mother’s Day gift, but frankly,…

YOU WILL NEED • Rowan Valley Tweed (100% wool, 50g/207m), 1 ball of Wolds Poppy (107) • A 4mm (US G/6) hook For yarn stockists contact Rowan 01484 950630 www.knitrowan.com TENSION 16 sts and 14 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over front post treble crochet working in rounds MEASUREMENTS 52x10cm (20x4in) ABBREVIATIONS ftr (foundation treble crochet) Ch4, yrh, insert hook in fourth ch from hook, yrh and draw yarn through as for normal tr stitch, work an extra ‘ch1’ by putting yrh and drawing yarn through first loop on hook, complete as for a normal treble st; the next st will be worked into the ch-1 of the previous st, adding the extra ch1 at the same point if you are continuing in foundation treble FPhtr (Front Post…

YOU WILL NEED • Yarns and Colors Must-Have (100% mercerized cotton, 50g/125m), 1 ball of Yarn A Pacific Blue (067), small amounts of: Yarn B Silver (094) Yarn C Sunglow (013) Yarn D Peridot (083) Yarn E Pink Sand (040) • A 2.5mm (US B/1 or C/2) hook • A pair of 9mm safety eyes • Black stranded cotton • White sewing thread • White felt for teeth • Stitch markers • Toy stuffing For yarn stockists contact Wool Warehouse 01926 882818 www.woolwarehouse.co.uk MEASUREMENTS 16cm (6 1/4 in) long ABBREVIATIONS For a full list, see page 90 There’s no need to be scared to go in the water with this cute little guy swimming around. Hooked in easy double crochet all round, with the odd half treble here…

PSST Go bold with your favourite accent colour! YOU WILL NEED • Paintbox Yarns Simply Chunky (100% acrylic, 100g/136m) Yarn A Slate Grey (305) Yarn B Misty Grey (303) Yarn C Lime Green (328) See table for yarn amounts and measurements • A 6mm (US J/10) hook For yarn stockists contact Paintbox Yarns www.paintboxyarns.com and www.lovecrochet.com TENSION 12 tr to measure 10cm (4in) and 2 pattern repeats to measure 8cm (3¼in) over pattern ABBREVIATIONS FPdtr Yrh twice, starting at the front, insert hook from front to back to front around the post of the indicated st, complete as for dtr Surface crochet With RS facing, working yarn in front of work, and starting from the first st of row, *insert hook around post of next…

YOU WILL NEED • West Yorkshire Spinners Signature 4ply (75% wool, 25% nylon, 100g/400m), 5 balls of Yarn A Kingfisher (844) 3 balls of Yarn B Milk Bottle (010) • A 3mm (US C/2 or D/3) hook For yarn stockists contact West Yorkshire Spinners 01535 664500 www.wyspinners.com TENSION 9 blocks and 9 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) MEASUREMENTS 106x131cm (41¾x51½in) (including edging) ABBREVIATIONS For a full list, see page 92 Never tried C2C construction before? Start here. Once you get the hang of this pretty repeat pattern you’ll love hooking the stripes, and you have a treat in store as the wool blend includes luxurious Bluefaced Leicester, making this a sumptuous blanket to snuggle up in. NOTES This pattern is worked using a ‘corner-tocorner’ (C2C) construction in blocks…

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 • West Yorkshire Spinners Signature 4 Ply (75% wool, 25% nylon, 400m/100g), 1 ball of each: Yarn A Blue Lagoon (831) Yarn B Blackcurrant Bomb (735) • A 3mm (US C/2 or D/3) hook • Stitch markers • Tapestry needle For yarn stockists contact West Yorkshire Spinners 01535 664500 www.wyspinners.com TENSION 24 sts and 15 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over pattern using a 3mm hook MEASUREMENTS Foot length: adjustable Foot circumference: 20 (21.5: 25)cm (8 (8½: 9¾)in) Leg length: adjustable ABBREVIATIONS For a full list, see page 92 of Simply Crochet The easiest way to get stripes in your crochet projects is to use a self-striping yarn, and that’s why this yarn is just perfect for the job of creating Rohn’s snazzy socks. If…

“The neat thing about crocheting small ami is that you can turn them into almost anything.” A few months ago, I made a huge decision to take a full-time day job again. I’ve been an independent crochet designer for eight years, so the transition has been extremely surreal. I have a lot of new ideas for my signature scarves, but the reality is that I don’t have a lot of energy or time for designing new patterns. To keep myself motivated and crocheting, I’ve been setting smaller goals with smaller projects. Enter: crocheted bento boxes! HOME-PACKED LUNCH Bento is a single-portion takeout or home-packed lunch common in Japan. Traditionally, it may contain meat, fish, rice, and vegetables, and usually comes in a box-shaped container. Also an art form, many bentos…

1 Make a foundation ring (see p91) 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…

Nicole Riley Nicole is the designer and blogger behind nickishomemadecrafts.com . “When I first saw the colours of this yarn, the red reminded me of hearts and the yellow of the sunshine. I wanted my design to express love, peace and joy by having the hearts, as crocheted knit stitches, fly up towards the sun, filling the air with warmth and happiness. I used a stitch that looks like it was knitted as, even though we may seem one way, only the people that truly know us will know what our hearts really feel.” Liliana Buce Crochet designer Liliana’s best love is making mandalas and she says her style is bright, fun and modern. She told us: “Making these mittens was great fun and working with Debbie…

YOU WILL NEED • Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino (55% extrafine merino wool, 33% acrylic microfibre, 12% cashmere, 50g/125m) Yarn A Teal (203) Yarn B Camel (102) Yarn C Light Blue (202) See table for yarn quantities and measurements • A 4mm (US G/6) hook • A 4.5mm (US G/6) hook • A 5mm (US H/8) hook TENSION 16 sts and 9 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over treble crochet using a 4.5mm hook ABBREVIATIONS Dc Edging Rnd Ch1, dc around entire piece, work 1dc in each st across top and bottom edges; 2dc in side of each tr row-end. Work 3dc in each convex corner, and dc2tog at each concave corner Contrast Edging Rnd (RS) With Yarn C and 4mm hook, join in any dc, 1dc in bl of each…

PSST Win the yarn to make this! YOU WILL NEED • King Cole Giza Cotton 4ply (100% cotton, 50g/158m), 1 ball of each: White (2190), Rosehip (2197), Amber (2200), Red (2202), Bluebell (2198), Grey (2207) • A 2.5mm (US B/1 or C/2) hook For yarn stockists, contact King Cole 01756 703670 www.kingcole.com MEASUREMENTS 17cm (63/4in) diameter ABBREVIATIONS 3-tr cluster (yrh, insert hook in st indicated, yrh and pull up loop, yrh and draw through 2 loops) 3 times, inserting the hook in the same st each time, yrh and draw through all 4 loops on hook For a full list, see page 92 Be inspired by the beauty of amazing stained glass windows, using dark grey (or black, if you’re feeling brave) to highlight and enhance your favourite…

YOU WILL NEED • West Yorkshire Spinners Signature 4 Ply (75% wool, 25% nylon, 400m/100g), 1 ball of each: Yarn A Sour Apple (390), Yarn B Blackcurrant Bomb (735) • A 3mm (US C/2 or D/3) hook • Stitch markers • Tapestry needle For yarn stockists contact West Yorkshire Spinners 01535 664500 www.wyspinners.com TENSION 24 sts and 21 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over pattern using a 3mm hook MEASUREMENTS Foot length: adjustable Foot circumference: 20 (21.5: 25)cm (8 (8½: 9¾) in) ABBREVIATIONS ftr (Foundation treble crochet) Ch4, yrh, insert hook in fourth ch from hook, yrh, draw yarn through as for a normal tr, work an extra ‘ch1’ by putting yrh and drawing yarn through first loop on hook, complete as for a normal tr; the next…

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