Innehållsförteckning för 82 från Simply Crochet

Congratulations to all the winners of our British Craft Awards, and thanks to all of you for voting for your favourites! We had a fun, fizz-fuelled evening, and you can discover the winners on page 72. Dedri Uys won Crochet Designer of the Year – and she’s written her first column for us on page 32. Thrilled to have you, Dedri! In other news, we have everything you need for your Easter Instafeed. Try our wreath kit (p14), the super-cute egg cosies by Erinna Lee, our latest Hook to Hook challenge (p57), and our spring pastel collection. Hooks at the ready!…

THE ART OF CROCHET BLANKETS RACHELE CARMONA (£18.99, Interweave ) A beautiful compilation of modern-inspired makes, this is a superb choice for the advanced crocheter looking for a project to get their teeth into. The book also features a series of six profiles of modern makers, including Tula Pink and April Rhodes. GET KNOOKING LAURA STRUTT (£18.99, CICO Books) Part knitting, part crochet, Get Knooking is bringing this exciting new crossover craft to the world with 35 quick and easy patterns to get you started, covering garments, gifts and decorations. The book comes with a 4mm bamboo crochet hook plus a length of cord, so you can get stuck in straight away! CROCHET DOGS MEGAN KREINER (£9.49/£13.99, Thunder Bay Press) Crochet your very own littlest pet shop with this 80-page…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece (80% cotton, 20% wool, 100g/197m) 3 balls of Peridot (CW365) ■ A 5mm (US H/8) hook ■ Stitch marker For yarn stockists contact Love Crochet 01409 404010 www.lovecrochet.com TENSION Tension is not critical but may affect yarn quantities required MEASUREMENTS Shawl measures approx 130x64cm (51x25in) ABBREVIATIONS For a full list, see page 92 Its clever, all-enveloping shape and cute tassels mean this comforting shawl is a bit like a security blanket for grown-ups. With its simple, repetitive pattern, this is an ideal project to hook up in front of the telly. SHAWL Make a magic loop. Row 1 (RS) Ch5 (counts as dtr, ch1 throughout), (3tr, ch2, 3tr, ch1, dtr) into loop, turn. [8 sts] Row 2 (WS) Ch5, (tr,…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Scheepjes Colour Crafter (100% acrylic, 100g/300m) 5 balls of Verviers (2017) 1 ball of each: Nijmegen (1712) Rotterdam (1063) Eelde (1422) Wolvega (1099) ■ A 5.5mm (US I/9) hook ■ Pompom maker, 65mm For yarn stockists contact Scheepjes www.scheepjes.com/en TENSION Tension is not critical for this project, but may affect the yarn quantities required MEASUREMENTS Throw measures 160x105cm (63x41¼in) ABBREVIATIONS For a full list, see page 92 Channel Scandinavian chic with this treetop-inspired geometric aesthetic. Mustard and turquoise add pep to an otherwise greyscale palette, while the speckled pompoms stitched onto each corner are a playful finishing touch. NOTES Refer to the Chart on page 95 when making your Throw. Each small square on the Chart represents the size of 1 dc st, but…

YOU WILL NEED ■ King Cole Cotton Soft DK (100% cotton, 100g/210m) 3 balls of French Navy (741) ■ King Cole Giza Cotton 4ply (100% cotton, 50g/158m) 1 ball of Sky (2419) ■ A 3.5mm (US E/4) hook ■ Cushion pad, 50x30cm ■ 75 white beads For yarn stockists contact King Cole 01756 703670 www.kingcole.com TENSION 17 sts over 19 rows measures 10x10cm (4x4in) over dc st MEASUREMENTS To fit 50x30cm (19½x11¾in) cushion pad ABBREVIATIONS bobble (Worked on WS of work to appear on RS) Yrh, insert hook st indicated, yrh and pull up loop, (yrh, insert hook into same st, yrh and draw up loop) 3 times, yrh, draw through all 9 loops on hook French knot Pull needle up through the fabric to RS, hold the…

Whether you’re an adventurous crocheter or you’ve only just picked up some hooks, you may be surprised to hear that there are ways to further your crochet education in the form of dedicated courses. Yep, hooksters are going back to the books in the name of developing their crochet skills – and so could you. These courses help you to gain more technical knowledge, hone your skills and even provide you with recognised qualifications. We’ve spoken to the crochet industry’s top educators, as well as a designer who completed a course, on the benefits of pursuing a crochet education. A GOOD FOUNDATION One of the most highly sought-after qualifications in the field is the International Diploma. It covers all aspects of crochet, basing the techniques on traditional methods, but also…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Yarn and Colors Must-Have (100% cotton, 50g/125m), 1 ball of each: Cardinal (031) Sorbus (019) Sunglow (013) Peridot (083) Navy Blue (060) Lavender (056) Grape (054) ■ A 3.5mm (US E/4) hook ■ Cushion pad, 38x38cm Yarn and Colors www.yarnandcolors.com TENSION 17 sts over 13 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over htr sts MEASUREMENTS To fit cushion measuring 38x38cm (15x15in) ABBREVIATIONS FPhtr Yrh, insert hook from front to back around post of st below, complete as htr stitch For a full list, see page 92 Rainbow brights bring vibrancy while tessellating diamonds create curious ripples in this eye-catching cushion. NOTES All rows are worked on the RS. Fasten off yarn at the end of each row and join the next colour into the first…

Most crochet patterns state the tension required, in rows and stitches of a specific type. Make a swatch at least 15cm square and check that your tension matches. Place a ruler across the swatch and insert two pins, 10cm apart. Then place the ruler along a column of stitches and insert two pins 10cm apart. Count the stitches and rows between the pins – if you have less than the pattern, your tension is too loose so you need to use a smaller hook, but if you have too many, use a larger hook. It’s usually better to match the stitches than rows, because you can always work more or fewer rows.…

FRAN MORGAN Designer and teacher Fran is the designer behind our coral jumper on page 28. She says the secret to her success is patience, positive thinking and a sense of humour. KAREN GEORGE Karen has a passion for building multiple stitch patterns around a single motif. She loves sharing the finishing touches in her pattern designs, and you can make her granny scarf on page 64. ESME CRICK Esme describes herself as equal parts crochet designer, teacher and mum and she’s never far from her hook. Be inspired by her beautiful geometric treetops throw on page 45. VICKI ROBERTS Vicki loves to hook ponchos, amongst many other things. This issue she’s put her crafty talents into creating a sturdy overnight bag – you’ll find it on page 75. OTHER…

Easter We’ve hunted out a basket of Easter treasures 1 ‘EAR ME NOW We thought these snub-nosed cuties couldn’t get any sweeter – then we spied those fluffy tails! Available in six sizes with an option for non-slip soles. Sniff these slippers out on Etsy at Jayneanncrochet. 2 CHICK LIT Ira Rott’s easy nine-page pattern for a ‘chicken cocoon’ and hat might just break the internet. Experience the cuteness first-hand at irarott.com 3 EGGED ON Even Easter cannot escape amigurumi’s ascendancy. This free pattern skips the choc but still delivers on sweetness. Find it at zeensandroger.wordpress.com 4 MINT TULIP This free pattern cleverly adapts a Bella Coco YouTube tutorial to come up with these zingy tulip headbands. See letsdosomethingcrafty.com for the full tutorial.…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Cascade 220 Superwash (100% superwash wool), 100g/200m) Coral (827) Peach (1940) Salmon (1941) See table for yarn quantities and measurements ■ A 5.5mm (US 6) hook For yarn stockists contact Wool Warehouse 01926 882818 www.woolwarehouse.co.uk TENSION 6 V-sts and 8 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over V-stitch pattern using a 5.5mm hook or size needed to obtain tension ABBREVIATIONS V-st Each pair of treble stitches in the row is referred to as a V-stitch; on following rows the V-sts are worked into the centre of the previous 2-tr, between the stitches; at the beginning of the row/round, (ch3, tr) counts as a V-st throughout For a full list, see page 92 Fading up like an all-pink Fab lolly, this jumper puts coral hues on…

1 Cut a piece of cardboard that’s about 5cm wide and as long as you’d like your tassel to be. Make a 1cm cut in one short end of the card. Tie a knot in one end of your yarn and secure it around the slot. 2 Wrap the yarn around the length of the card to the thickness you require. If you want to use more colours, knot the yarns together at the base of the card and carry on wrapping around. 3 Cut a small piece of yarn, thread under the yarn wraps at the top of the card and knot the two ends. Cut through the bottom wraps of the tassel and snip off the starting knot(s). 4 Cut another piece of yarn and wrap it around…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Scheepjes Whirlette (60% cotton, 40% acrylic, 100g/455m) Yarn A Blueberry (854) See table for measurements and yarn quantities ■ Scheepjes Maxi Sweet Treat (100% cotton, 25g/140m) 1 ball of Yarn B Forest Green (412) (for all sizes) ■ A 1.75mm (US 4 steel) crochet hook ■ A 3mm (US D/3) crochet hook ■ A 3.5mm (US E/4) crochet hook ■ Stitch markers For yarn stockists contact Scheepjes www.scheepjes.com/en TENSION 17 sts measure 10cm (4in) and 9 rows measure 9cm (3½in) over main stitch pattern using a 3.5mm hook, or size needed to obtain correct tension 10 sts and 7 rows measure 5x5cm (2x2in) over half treble using a 3.5mm hook, or size needed to obtain correct tension ABBREVIATIONS Ch-3 picot Ch3, ss in the…

EASTER BUNNY EGG Long ears and a bobtail add character to a plain egg shape. Designed by Hayley Hall. ■ Stylecraft Classique Cotton 4ply (100% cotton, 50g/182m), 1 ball of each: Fondant (3094), Sunflower (3662), Soft Lime (3663), Sky Blue (3667), Lavender (3673) ■ A 2.5mm (US B/1 or C/2) hook ■ A stitch marker ■ Polyester stuffing For yarn stockists, contact Stylecraft 01484 848435 www.stylecraft-yarns.co.uk TENSION Tension is not critical, but may affect yarn quantities required MEASUREMENTS Bunny Egg measures 10x5cm (4x2in) NOTES Egg is worked in a continuous spiral without closing off each round with a ss. You may find it helpful to mark the first stitch of each round, moving it up as you work. Each Egg uses approx 10g of yarn. Eggs and Ears…

YOU WILL NEED ■ King Cole Merino Blend 4ply (100% wool, 50g/180m) 3 balls of Petrol (926) ■ King Cole Zig Zag 4ply (75% wool, 25% nylon, 100g/420m) 1 ball of Corals (3234) ■ A 3.75mm (US F/5) hook For yarn stockists contact King Cole 01756 703670 www.kingcole.com TENSION Square Motif measures 11.5x11.5cm (4½x4½in) MEASUREMENTS Scarf measures approx 221x16.5cm (87x6½in) excluding the fringe ABBREVIATIONS 5-puff st (Yrh, insert hook in space indicated, yrh, bring hook back through) 5 times, yrh, draw through all loops, ch1 to close 4-puff st (Yrh, insert hook in space indicated, yrh, bring hook back through) 4 times, yrh, draw through all loops, ch1 to close dc ss join Ch1, dc in same sp on Motif, *remove loop from hook, insert hook corresponding st…

All the projects in our new Crochet Colour Class series are made using the Yarn and Colors Must-Have range, one of eight ranges the brand now carries. (We love the matching 10g Must-Have minis!) Owner Koen says, “With lots of love and care we have created a colour range of 100 different shades, forming the foundation of Yarn and Colors. All our ranges are based on this colour palette, creating an assortment where not only can colours easily be combined but the different yarns can be effortlessly mixed, too.”…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Stylecraft Special Chunky (100% premium acrylic, 100g/144m) 5 balls of Khaki (1027) 2 balls of each: Burgundy (1035) Raspberry (1023) 1 ball of Gold (1709) ■ A 6mm (US J/10) hook ■ Bag bottom ultra stiff, 55x35cm (available at www.bobbingirl.co.uk) ■ Leather bag handles, 60cm (available at www.bobbingirl.co.uk) ■ Strong thread to attach bag handles ■ 4 bag feet (available at www.bobbingirl.co.uk) ■ 4 magnetic fasteners ■ 1m ripstock fabric ■ 1m calico lining For yarn stockists contact Stylecraft 01484 848435 www.stylecraft-yarns.co.uk TENSION Square Motif measures 17cm (6¾in) after blocking MEASUREMENTS Bag measures 52x34x37cm (20½x13½x14½in) ABBREVIATIONS 2-tr cl (2-tr-cluster) (Yrh, insert hook in st indicated, yrh and pull up loop, yrh and draw through 2 loops) twice, inserting the hook in the same st/sp…

BIG AND BOLD Emma from @made_lovingly has succumbed to the temptations of issue 78’s rainbow cushion. The world is now a pompom-ier place and we’re all for it. FUNNY BONES Sooz from @little_ mountain_gnome is now one skull jumper richer, thanks to a bit of clever crochet and issue 59’s macabre sweater pattern. It’s a design to die for! CATWALK CROCHET Shamim from @crochetandbiscuits has her spring style sorted, having hooked up a gorgeous grey and pink poncho from issue 78. WHOLE LOTL LOVE Anne of @raisiebay has been doing a lot of axolotl amigurumi (try saying that ten times fast). This little critter only featured in issue 80! We salute your swift hookwork.…

My favourite crochet design is a humble utilitarian light shade. About four years ago, my husband Damien and I were planning to build a new house (where we now live), and I had very clear ideas of how I wanted our kitchen to look. When I informed Damien I was going to crochet three mustard-yellow lace lampshades for the pendants to hang above the island bench in our shiny new kitchen, he looked at me with uncomfortable deer-caught-in-headlight eyes and managed a slow “ok?” but wisely left it at that. Friends and family seemed equally dubious when I told them excitedly of my intentions, but I knew these shades were going to be all kinds of awesome and carried on regardless. I had three balls of the perfect colour of…

YOU WILL NEED To make all six egg cosies, you will need: ■ DMC Natura Just Cotton (100% cotton, 50g/155m), 1 ball of each: Lin (N78), Ombre (N39), Ibiza (N01), Sable (N03), Geranium (N52), Blé (N83), Crimson (N61), Bleu Layette (N05), Blue Jeans (N26), Jade (N20) Shades for each egg cosy are listed separately: ■ Small amounts of DMC Natura Just Cotton (100% cotton, 50g/155m) BEAVER Lin (N78) Ombre (N39) Ibiza (N01) FROG Ibiza (N01) Jade (N20) ■ A 2.5mm (US B/1 or C/2) hook ■ Black stranded cotton ■ Toy stuffing For yarn stockists contact DMC 01924 231669 www.dmc.com TENSION 30 sts over 30 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over dc st MEASUREMENTS Beaver measures approx 8cm (3in) tall Frog measures approx 10cm…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Small amounts of DMC Natura Just Cotton (100% cotton, 50g/155m) BUNNY Geranium (N52) Sable (N03) Ibiza (N01) CHICK Blé (N83) Crimson (N61) ■ A 2.5mm (US B/1 or C/2) hook ■ Black stranded cotton ■ Toy stuffing For yarn stockists contact DMC 01924 231669 www.dmc.com TENSION 30 sts over 30 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over dc st MEASUREMENTS Bunny measures approx 10cm (4in) tall Chick measures approx 8cm (3in) tall ABBREVIATIONS For a full list, see page 92 of Simply Crochet Original Easter poster kids Bunny and Chico are well used to life in the limelight. Just don’t forget them once spring has sprung – these guys are for life, not just for Easter, you know. NOTE The Bunny and Chick are worked…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Small amounts of DMC Natura Just Cotton (100% cotton, 50g/155m) UNICORN Ibiza (N01) Geranium (N52) Blue Jeans (N26) DRAGON Ibiza (N01) Bleu Layette (N05) Blue Jeans (N26) ■ A 2.5mm (US B/1 or C/2) hook ■ Black stranded cotton ■ Toy stuffing For yarn stockists contact DMC 01924 231669 www.dmc.com TENSION 30 sts over 30 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over dc st MEASUREMENTS Unicorn measures approx 10cm (4in) tall Dragon measures approx 10cm (4in) tall ABBREVIATIONS For a full list, see page 92 of Simply Crochet Supernatural feats come easy to Draco and Luni. They’re also dab hands at horticulture. NOTES The cosies are worked in a continuous spiral, without closing off each round with a ss. You may find it helpful to…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Use your cover gift or oddments of any DK yarn: Green Yellow Pink ■ A 2.5mm (US C/2) hook (not included in gift) ■ 50cm ribbon, approx 7.5mm wide ■ Wooden ring, 7cm diameter TENSION Tension is not critical, but may affect yarn quantities required MEASUREMENTS Wreath measures 10cm (4in) in diameter ABBREVIATIONS French knot Secure yarn on WS and bring needle to the front; using your thumb and forefinger, hold the yarn a few cm above the point where it comes out of the fabric; keeping it taut, twist the needle around the yarn beneath your fingers 3 times, then take the needle back through the fabric, close to where it came up For a full list, see page 92 Spring has sprung, and also…

When I first started to crochet in earnest, I had no idea that the six basic stitches in my repertoire might become anything other than what they were. I learned to chain, treble crochet and slip stitch first. This allowed me to make as many granny squares as my heart desired. After a while, I wanted a bit more variety, so I learned how to do double crochets, half-treble crochets, and double treble crochets. “That’s it” I thought. “I have now mastered the art of crochet. I can use these six stitches with confidence AND I can increase and decrease to boot. There is nothing more to learn.” Oh, how wrong I was! In the past few years, crochet has exploded in popularity, with patterns and stitches becoming more and…

Hayley Hall “I love working with different colour combinations and thought these bright cottons looked great together! I decided to work two strands of yarn together to make my amigurumi-style Easter eggs, adding the bunny ears and tail to make a cute, fun decoration. I really enjoyed this design challenge and hope you have fun making your own little bunny eggs this Easter”. Find Hayley on Instagram @hellomooncrochet or www.hellomooncrochet.blogspot.com . Becky Skuse “I’ve always been fascinated by eggs – they’re such a perfect shape and a miracle of nature. My colourful cluster of crochet eggs make lovely little decorations for Easter. Striped, spotted or floral, the eggs are quick and easy to make, and you can use your own choice of colours. I like to imagine…

As a child of the 1980s, rainbows festooned my stationery, my toys, clothing and – dare I admit – my food. I was all about Care Bears, Rainbow Brite, My Little Pony, Punky Brewster and Hello Kitty. Farewell to the tie-dyed swirls of the 70s, my version was a hard-edged graphic rainbow. Pastel, plastic and addictive. Eighties’ consumerism was notorious and I was at the forefront, my pocket money a tornado, funnelling rainbow stickers, erasers and sweets into my kaleidoscopic pencil case. Throughout the ages rainbows have inspired mythology, imagination and artistry, but in my case, they inspired greed! But what is a rainbow, apart from an enormous multicoloured ribbon that drapes itself fabulously across the sky? Yes, it can be explained through through maths and physics, white light refracted…

The Handmade Florist Learn to make beautiful handmade felt flowers with craft kits from The Handmade Florist. These creative kits include gorgeous bouquets and wreaths, bursting with year-round colour. Get 10% off kit purchases before 30/04/19 with code SIMPLY10. thehandmadeflorist.co.uk  • thehandmadeflorist.etsy.com MakeItEasy Craftroom Enjoy making these super cute baby chicks for upcoming Easter. They can be made as a decorative piece or make a unique gift for family and friends this holiday season! Visit my etsy shop or email likanacraft@gmail.com etsy.com/uk/shop/MakeItEasyCraftroom Lucky Kitty Toy Craft with gorgeous materials for unforgettable projects that you and your kids will go wild for! Polushkabunny has so many patterns and kits to choose from. Use SIMPLYCROCHETMAGAZINE promo code and get 10%Off discount. And our Hurry-Up Limited Time Offer – Worldwide Free Shipping! polushkabunny.com…

EXCLAMATION MARK MOTIF DOT Make a magic loop, 8dc into loop, ss into first st to join. FASTEN OFF and weave in ends. DASH ROUND 1 Ch8, dc in second ch from hook and in next 5 ch, 4dc in final ch, working around in unworked loop of ch sts, dc in next 6ch, 3dc in next ch,ss into first st to join. FASTEN OFF and weave in ends. RICO DESIGNS SUPERBA SUPI DUPI WEIGHT 4ply CONTENT 75% virgin wool, 25% polyamide BALL 100g/400m HOOK 3mm RRP £7.15 Rico have added another range to their superb collection, and this one is a fantastic sock yarn. It’s available in six colours, all of which feature a base grey colour, combined with variegations of complementary colours in block sections that hook up…

THE LOWDOWN It’s simple to be in with a chance of winning a great hooky prize in a future issue! Show us your Simply Crochet makes on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or via email or post by 9 April 2019. For all terms and conditions, and more information, visit www.simplycrochetmag.co.uk/competitionrules COMPETITION RULES By Promoter: Immediate Media Company Bristol Limited (“Promoter”). By taking part in one of our Competitions, you agree to be bound by these Competition Rules. Late or incomplete entries will be disqualified. No responsibility accepted for lost, delayed, ineligible or fraudulent entries. Proof of posting (if relevant) shall not be deemed proof of delivery. Entries must be submitted by an individual (not via any agency or similar) and, unless otherwise stated, are limited to one per household.…

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…