Innehållsförteckning för 92 från Simply Crochet

Say hello to Granny! We know how much you love her and we’re dedicating this issue to the iconic granny square with plenty of colour-rich inspiration and projects featuring this fave motif! And why not learn new skills (or brush up on old ones) courtesy of our ‘How To Crochet’ booklet with step-by-step tutorials for all basic stitches and techniques. If you’re hunting down that perfect New Year’s project, our diamond-pattern jumper (page 50) is a satisfying piece to get your hook into while our gorgeous wrap (page 66) will keep the wicked January frosts at bay.…

MODERN CROCHET BIBLE SARAH SHRIMPTON (£17.99, David & Charles) Sarah Shrimpton (of the blog ‘Annaboo’s House’) is back with another book to help you up your crafting game! Modern Crochet Bible contains over 100 contemporary crochet techniques and even shows you how to put a modern twist on traditional ones. You can then put your new knowledge to the test with a choice of over ten projects, including a beautiful geometric wrap. 3D GRANNY SQUARES CAITIE MOORE, SHARNA MOORE AND CELINE SEMAAN (£15.99, David & Charles) We love granny squares, and this book takes them to a new level with 100 designs – each with a fabulous 3D element! Motifs include food, animals (the sheep is so cute!) and flowers. Each section has a selection of projects so you can…

YOU WILL NEED ■ West Yorkshire Spinners ColourLab (100% wool, 100g/225m) Natural Cream (010) See table for measurements and yarn quantities of Natural Cream 1 ball of each for all sizes: Crimson Red (556) Zesty Orange (476) Citrus Yellow (229) Pear Green (186) Thistle Purple (717) Harbour Blue (746) ■ A 4.5mm (US 7) hook ■ Stitch markers For yarn stockists contact West Yorkshire Spinners 01535 664500 www.wyspinners.com TENSION 4 rounds measures 10x10cm (4x4in) over granny square pattern using a 4.5mm hook, or size needed to obtain correct tension ABBREVIATIONS For a full list, see page 92 We’re used to seeing granny squares used in cushions and blankets, but these cheery motifs need not be confined to homewares. If you can hook a granny square, you can make this super-simple…

1 Identify the post of the next stitch. Then work yrh (as usual for a treble stitch) and insert hook into the front of the fabric, around the back of the post, and bring out hook on other side of post. 2 Work the rest of the stitch as you usually would for a treble, so yrh and carefully pull the loop of yarn out of the fabric – it should loop around the post of the stitch. 3 Work yrh again and pull the yarn through the first 2 loops. Yrh and pull the yarn through the remaining 2 loops to complete the front post treble stitch. 4 You’ll see how the stitch is raised up, compared to the rest of the fabric. Work more front post treble stitches…

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.…

We’ve all had that sinking moment of realisation strike us while crocheting, that we’ve been doing something entirely wrong – something that could have potentially messed up our entire pattern... The good news is that it’s happened to the best of us – and to prove it, we asked some of our favourite crochet designers about the times they made some serious errors, and why they’re glad they happened! Get inspired by our experts and instead of being hard on yourself for your crafty slip-up, take it as a chance to learn from what you did wrong – it can be the key to really improving your future crochet game! EMMA FRIEDLANDER-COLLINS “Erinna now reads through the entirety of every pattern before starting” Emma Friedlander-Collins, aka Steel and Stitch, “I…

YOU WILL NEED ■ West Yorkshire Spinners The Croft (100% wool, 100g/166m) 5 skeins of Yarn A Laxfirth (639) 3 skeins of Yarn B Lerwick (637) ■ A 4mm (USG/6) hook For yarn stockists contact Deramores 01733 777345 www.deramores.com TENSION Tension is not critical for this project, but it may affect the yarn quantities required MEASUREMENTS Scarf measures 148x32cm (58¼x12½in) excluding fringe ABBREVIATIONS bl-dc (back loop double crochet) Work standard dc st through the back loop only For a full list, see page 92 It’s getting a bit nippy outside – must be time to hook yourself up a gorgeous new scarf to cosy up in this winter. This geometric design is super-stylish and simple to make, using just two shades of The Croft wool. GENERAL NOTES Scarf is worked…

Amigurumi he Japanese art of cute crochet toys: mi’ means crocheted and ‘nuigurumi’ means stuffed doll. Ball band The wrapper around a ball, skein or hank of yarn that includes useful information on that yarn. Ball end of yarn The end of the yarn that runs from the stitch on your hook back to the ball of yarn being used. Ball winder A device for winding yarn hanks into balls to be used for crochet. A winder is often used with a swift. Blocking Shaping a piece of crochet once it’s finished by pinning it out flat while it’s damp and letting it dry. Cable A motif created by crossing crochet stitches over each other. Designs can look like twisted ropes, hence the name. Chain The loops that you create…

JOINING Slip stitch is a very useful technique in your crochet repertoire. It has a variety of uses, but it’s most regularly used as a joining stitch for working in the round, for motifs such as granny squares. It can also be used to join together one part of the crochet fabric to another part, or for creating shaping. Slip stitch is abbreviated as ‘ss’ or ‘sl st’. EDGING Slip stitch is also handy for creating a narrow edging on another fabric, as shown right. You can also use the stitch if you need to move your crochet hook to another part of the fabric because the stitch is very small. It can also be used as a stitch, worked in rows, but it has almost no height so it…

After each row of double crochet stitches, you need to turn the fabric and work the turning chain (this is abbreviated as t-ch). The picture (right) shows the work turned and ready to work the t-ch (one chain for double crochet) – the numbers show where to work the dc stitches of the second row. So what’s a turning chain? In crochet, you need to make a t-ch at the start of every row to bring the hook up to the working height of the stitches in the next row. You usually do this at the start of a row, but it was traditionally worked at the end of the row, hence its name. Different stitches need a different length of t-ch. When working dc fabric, you can largely just…

Using a row counter will help you to keep track of where you are in a pattern, but you can also count rows at key points in your pattern. To count rows of tall treble stitches, it’s easy to see the stitch ‘stems’ (see right). For the small stitches of double crochet (see far right), it’s easy to see the rows of inverted V-shaped stitches (odd-numbered in photo), but remember that there will be another row in between (even-numbered in photo).…

YOU WILL NEED YARN ■ West Yorkshire Spinners ColourLab (100% wool, 100g/225m) 1 ball of each: Aqua Green (705) Deep Teal (716) HOOK ■ A 4mm (US G/6) hook For yarn stockists contact West Yorkshire Spinners 01535 664500 www.wyspinners.com TENSION AND SIZE ■ Tension is not critical for this project, but it may affect the yarn quantities required Cowl measures 18x162cm (7x63›in) ABBREVIATIONS Whipstitch Place 2 ends together lining up the sts from the final row with the foundation ch; thread the tail onto a darning needle and *insert it from the bottom up working through sts on both ends; rep from * across to the end working through each st along For a full list, see page 12 NOTES Cowl is worked in rows in one long piece. The…

YOU WILL NEED YARN ■ UK Alpaca, Baby Alpaca Silk 4ply (80% baby alpaca, 20% silk, 50g/225m), 2 balls of Teal HOOK ■ A 3mm (US C/2 or D/3) hook For yarn stockists contact LoveCrafts 01409 404010 www.lovecrafts.com TENSION AND SIZE 19 sts and 13 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over treble crochet using a 3mm hook Finished scarf measures approx 90x34cm (35½x13½in) ABBREVIATIONS For a full list see page 12 SCARF Ch12 (counts as tr and 9 ch). Row 1 (WS) 1tr in the fourth chain from hook, 2tr in the next ch, 1tr in next 2 ch, 3tr in next ch, 1tr in next 2 ch, 2tr in the next 2 ch, turn. [15 tr] Row 2 (RS) Ch3 (counts as tr throughout), 1tr in st at the…

MARIANNE RAWLINS Marianne has been practically glued to her hook for the past five years. An avid intarsia fan, she loves to cook up trend-led designs for her quirky crochet creations. Find her poncho on page 14. KATE MCCULLY Kate has been designing amigurumi toys for almost two years, and recently competed on Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas ! See her fuzzy monsters on page 32. CATALINA UNGUREANU Also known as ByKaterina, Catalina was taught crochet as a child, before rediscovering it four years ago. She loves creating modern, simple garments. Find her jumper on page 50. ALESSANDRA HAYDEN Crochet addict Alessandra loves designing accessories and creating interesting shapes using tapestry crochet, always accompanied by a cup of coffee! See her scarf on page 95. OTHER CONTRIBUTORS Oriana Baric, Esther De Beer,…

SLOPPY JO We’re loving the slouchy faux cables on Lorin Jean’s casual but oh-so chic ‘Cameron’ beanie hat. Use a soft yarn for the best effect. Search for TwoGirlsPatterns on Etsy and Ravelry. EXOTIC HEART Tunisian crochet and colourwork in one hat – looks like it’s time to level up your crochet skills! Get the free pattern at www.acraftyconc ept.com – search ‘Tunisian hat’. BUZZIN’ BEEHIVE Chunky textured ribbing creates the look of a whicker beehive, and a hole at the crown lets you show off tumbling locks. Pattern from www.madewitha twist.com PEAK-A-BOO Hitting the slopes this winter? Don’t leave home without our mountain horizon hat in your luggage. Check out issue 90’s Hook to Hook for this peak hooky headwear. CRISS-CROSS Don’t worry –the crossed stitches in Lindsay Allercot’s ‘Sweenie…

YOU WILL NEED ■ King Cole Bamboo Cotton (50% bamboo, 50% cotton, 100g/230m) 1 ball of each: Yarn A Grey (522) Yarn B Dusty Pink (618) Yarn C Lemon (3199) Yarn D Cream (538) ■ King Cole Moments (100% polyester, 50g/90m) 1 ball of each: Yarn E Grey (3229) Yarn F Soft Pink (479) Yarn G Yellow (1610) ■ A 3mm (US C/2 or US D/3) hook ■ Toy stuffing ■ Stitch markers ■ 3 pairs safety eyes, 12mm, with flat metal washers ■ Stiff cardboard or plastic canvas For stockists contact King Cole 01756 703670 www.kingcole.com TENSION Tension is not critical for this project, but it may affect the yarn quantities required MEASUREMENTS Blue Fuzzy Monster measures 12cm (4¾in) tall Pink Fuzzy Monster measures 11cm (4¼in) tall Yellow Fuzzy…

Marjan Gouda “Designing the pattern for this cowl was a real challenge for me, as I wanted to really do the colours and softness of the yarn justice within the design. To achieve this, I chose a cross stitch and double crochet stitch pattern to alternate both colours. The texture is created by these crochet stitches and the double crochet stitches, worked in the back loops only.” You can find more of Marjan’s crochet patterns on Instagram @hobbydingen or on her website at www.hobbydingen.com Vickie Smith “I was very pleased to receive this challenge. The yarn was so soft and the colours really complemented each other. I wanted to make something that was quick to hook but also practical and looked good. I really like making cowls because they are…

1 Read patterns all the way through before starting the piece. It will help you see how all the sections and parts come together. 2 Do a tension square. I repeat: do a tension square! To get the perfect fit you need to make sure your work will measure up. 3 Keep a count of your stitches, even when you’re working a straight section with no shaping. We all miss stitches but the sooner you realise the less you have to pull out. 4 Block your work, it gives it that professional finish!…

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…

My first foray into crochet was not completely positive – I had bought a 3.5mm hook and discovered it was a huge mistake. How anyone could work with something so fiddly was beyond me. So, I cycled back to my local yarn store and picked up a 5mm hook and some matching yarn and that was that – I just worked with DK yarn. This easy alliance continued right up until a couple of balls of mohair and alpaca wool landed in my lap: Scheepjes Mohair Rhythm and Scheepjes Alpaca Rhythm. The colours were so vibrant and my, were they soft. I simply had to work with them. However, the recommended hook size was a tiny 2.5mm. My hands started to sweat just thinking about it… but the yarn kept…

Crochet hooks come in all sizes, shapes and materials. But all you really need from a hook is that it’s fairly short, thin, smooth and strong enough to enable you to turn yarn into the stitches used to make crocheted fabric. Of course, things aren’t quite that straightforward. You also need to think about the different yarn fibres you’ll be working with, your stitch tension, personal preferences, and the fact that no one hook will work for all the projects you’ll want to make, so it’s a good idea to invest in a set of several hooks. The first thing you need to know about crochet hooks is that they come in different sizes or thicknesses, just like yarn comes in different thicknesses. It’s important to use the appropriate size…

YOU WILL NEED YARN ■ Scheepjes Cahlista (100% cotton, 50g/85m), 1 ball of each: Amethyst (240), Capri Blue (261), Cyan (397), Petrol Blue (400), Old Rose (408), Rich Coral (410), Cherry (413), Lime (512), Apple Granny (513), Fresia (519), Primrose (522) HOOK ■ A 3.5mm (US E/4) hook For yarn stockists contact Wool Warehouse 01926 882818 www.woolwarehouse.co.uk TENSION AND SIZE ■ Each loop is 4cm (1½in) wide and 8cm (3in) long before joining. Approx 20 loops are required to make 1m of bunting. Each ball of yarn makes approx 6-7 loops. ABBREVIATIONS For a full list, see page 12 NOTES Colours can be used in any order or sequence. We reckon this simple project is perfect for practising double crochet. Pick cheery shades of cotton and get to it. BASIC…

The world of crochet would be a very different one without increases and decreases – all we’d be able to make would be flat, straight fabrics, such as squares and scarves. By learning simple shaping stitches, you can create all sorts of shapes, including garments. So what are increasing and decreasing stitches? And how do they change the shape of your crochet fabric? By now, you will have made a few squares or rectangles, working the same number of stitches on every row to keep the sides straight. If you work decrease stitches, you will reduce the number of stitches in a row and so narrow the width of the crochet fabric. Working increase stitches will add more stitches to a row and widen the fabric. Decreasing and increasing will…

Once you start shaping, you might wonder what to do with the turning chain when you’re increasing or decreasing. Unless your pattern instructs you otherwise, at the start of the row, work the turning chain as usual and then increase in the first stitch you’d usually work into, or decrease over the first two stitches you’d usually work. At the end of a row in treble crochet, it’s neater to work a plain treble stitch into the top of the t-ch, so always work your increases or decreases right before the last stitch.…

Bloom with a view Hole up through the cold winter months with Loop’s Flower Power Scarf Kit. Rustic earth tones come courtesy of hand-dyer Mette Mehlsen, who coloured the yarn with wild plants from her native Denmark. The scarf is hooked up with a series of floral granny squares, and the kit features all you need to make it – plus a bonus tote. Find it online at www.loopknittingshop.com DYE GUIDE Handcarved Hooks have expanded into hand-dyed yarn, and are giving away a free e-book on natural dying to celebrate. The new skeins are dyed in earthy pastels using pokeberries, cherries, sarsparilla root, dandelions and even purple cabbage, and are available in a full range of weightings. Intrepid crafters can even try dying their own using the site’s free e-book.…

GRANNY SQUARE PATTERN Use this Granny Square pattern when working patterns from the collection See individual patterns for tension and measurements information. NOTES For best results we recommend blocking all Squares prior to joining. If working a join as you go (JAYG) pattern you can block the Squares before the JAYG round. GRANNY SQUARE Make a magic loop. Round 1 (RS) Ch5 (counts as tr and ch2 throughout), (3tr, ch2) 3 times into loop, 2tr, ss to third ch of beg ch-5 to join, ss into ch-2 sp. [4 3-tr groups] Round 2 Ch5, (3tr, ch1) into same sp, (3tr, ch2, 3tr, ch1) into next 3 ch-2 sps, 2tr into same sp as beg ch-5, ss to third ch of beg ch-5, ss into ch-2 sp. [8 3-tr groups] Round…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Rico Essentials Merino DK (100% wool, 50g/120m) Pearl Pink (16) See table for measurements and yarn quantities ■ A 4mm (US G/6) hook ■ A 4.5mm (US 7) hook ■ Stitch markers For yarn stockists contact Rico Design www.rico-design.co.uk TENSION 17sts and 13 rounds to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over Main Stitch Pattern with a 4.5mm hook or size required to achieve tension; this is the measurement before blocking ABBREVIATIONS mm Move marker to sp before next st pm Place marker in sp before next st twisted dc Insert hook in next st, pull up a loop keeping both loops on hook loose, turn hook counter clockwise, yrh and pull through both loops For a full list, see page 92 The alternating front and back post stitch…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino (55% wool, 33% acrylic, 12% cashmere, 50g/125m) 6 balls of Yarn A Ecru (101) 2 balls of Yarn B Mouse (309) ■ A small amount of black and red DK yarn ■ A 3.5mm (US E/4) hook ■ A 4mm (US G/6) hook ■ Polyester toy stuffing For yarn stockists contact LoveCrafts 01409 404010 www.lovecrafts.com TENSION Tension is not critical for this project but it may affect the yarn quantities required MEASUREMENTS Blanket measures 62x62cm (24½x24½in) ABBREVIATIONS For a full list, see page 92 Comfort blankets just got more comforting courtesy of Mungo the dog. Part blanket and part toy, he’ll ensure your toddler is all smiles, and as a bonus his patches will help camouflage those ineviable spills, too. NOTES Blanket…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Scheepjes Namaste (50% wool, 50% acrylic, 100g/85m) 6 balls of Yarn A Happy Baby (621) 1 ball of each: Yarn B Peacock (609) Yarn C Tree (610) Yarn D Mountain (613) ■ A 7mm (K/10½ or L/11) hooks For yarn stockists contact Scheepjes www.scheepjes.com/en TENSION Tension is not critical for this project, but it may affect the yarn quantities required MEASUREMENTS Wrap measures 210x37cm (82¾x14½in) ABBREVIATIONS tr2tog over 5 *Yrh, insert hook into next st, yrh and pull up a loop, yrh and pull through 2 loops**, skip next 3 sts; rep from * to **, yrh and pull through all loops on hook tr2tog over 3 *Yrh, insert hook into next st, yrh and pull up a loop, yrh and pull through 2 loops**, skip…

A BIT TRICKY YOU WILL NEED ■ Scheepjes Colour Crafter (100% acrylic, 100g/300m) 2 balls of each: Yarn A Barneveld (1005) OR Ede (1002) (see Notes) 1 ball of each: Yarn B Delft (1117) Yarn C Leuven (2008) Yarn D Gent (2002) Yarn E (Cream Cushion only) Malmedy (2014) Yarn F (Cream Cushion only) Antwerpen (2001) ■ A 4mm (US G/6) hook ■ A 4.5mm (US 7) hook ■ Cushion pad, 40x40cm ■ Zip, 40cm per cushion For stockists contact Scheepjes www.scheepjes.com/en TENSION 14 sts and 15 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over half treble crochet worked between sts using a 4mm hook, or size needed to obtain correct tension MEASUREMENTS Cushion measures approx 40x40cm (15¾x15¾in) ABBREVIATIONS reverse dc As a standard dc st, but working in opposite direct (left…

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.…

Modern crochet hooks are usually made of aluminium, steel, plastic, bamboo or wood. Below are some of the hook types you’ll come across and what they’re best used for. Collect hooks of different types for different uses. The most commonly used crochet hook is the simple, straight hook. Examples of this sort of hook have been around for hundreds of years. They’re easy to use, with the hook at the end helping to pull loops of yarn through other loops of yarn, to form fabric. The fabric can be flat or tubular. You’ll only ever work with one loop of yarn, so crochet hooks don’t need to be any larger than your hand. Crochet hooks come in a standard length of 15cm, although you can also find them in 20cm…

Crochet really is easy when you know how, and this chapter will help you get to grips with the basics, with clear, step-by-step instructions for all the main stitches. With a bit of practice, you’ll find that crochet is a fun and simple way to create cosy fabrics for all sorts of items, from fashion to homewares. All you need to get started is a quiet place, where you won’t be disturbed, and about an hour. You’ll also need a hook and some yarn. Anything you can get your hands on should be fine, although we recommend you use a smooth acrylic or wool yarn, either DK weight with a 4mm hook, or aran weight with a 5mm hook to start. The important thing to remember is that every crocheter…

The above method is just one way you can use to make a slipknot – there are plenty of other ways to do it, so if you have trouble with the method above and find that it doesn’t work for you, don’t give up! Just find a method that does. Some crocheters prefer to wrap the yarn around the index finger and then pull a second loop of yarn through the loop on their finger. Other crocheters prefer to lay the yarn on a flat surface and form the looped structure here before inserting the hook. You can find step-by-step guides to these techniques, and many more, on the internet. Just type ‘crochet slipknot’ into any search engine to find various methods to try – you’re bound to find one…

YOU WILL NEED YARN ■ Rico Essentials Crochet Print (100% cotton, 50g/280m) 1 ball of Red Mix (002) ■ Rico Essentials Crochet Cotton (100% cotton, 50g/280m) 1 ball of each: Red (004) Pink (029) Pastel Pink (028) HOOK ■ A 2.5mm (US B/1 or C/2) hook For yarn stockists contact Rico Design www.rico-design.co.uk NOTIONS ■ 2 end caps, 1cm size ■ Super glue ■ 2 lengths of linked metal chain with fastenings TENSION AND SIZE Tension is not critical for this project. Necklace measures approx 52cm (20½in) long ABBREVIATIONS For a full list see page 12 NOTES Necklace is worked in multiple lengths of chains which are secured into the jewellery end caps. If you don’t want to use end caps, you could simply work several chains to the length…

You can use the above technique to change the colour of rows, rounds or individual stitches. No matter which stitch you’re working, the principle is the same: join in the new colour on the final yrh of a stitch, so that the next stitch will be in the new colour. For double crochet (shown right), you would insert hook, yrh, pull loop through and stop. Then pull a loop of the new colour through the two loops, ready to work the next stitch. You’ll need to think ahead to where you want to start working with your new colour and switch to the new yarn in the stitch before that.…

Get your hook at the ready for these fab patterns from Simply Crochet magazine! To get the issues mentioned here, you can buy digital versions of back issues from Apple Newsstand to view on your iPhone and iPad or Google Play to view them on Android devices. For more information and to find out which other digital platforms are supported, take a look at the website address below: www.simplycrochetmag.co.uk/digital 1 Chunky hunk BEGINNER Check your Simply Crochet issue 79 for this quick and easy chunky hat. It will give you the perfect chance to practise increases. It’s easy to make once you’ve learned the basic techniques. 2 Shark attack! IMPROVER A fab project from issue 87 of Simply Crochet, this fun shark pouffe will change up your décor or make…

When you’re shaping trebles, the turning chain can complicate things. At the end of a row, it’s neater to work a plain treble in the top of the t-ch, so work any shaping before you reach the last stitch. To shape at the start of a row, work the t-ch and skip the stitch at the base of the t-ch, as usual. Then work the increase into the top of the next stitch on the row below, or work a tr2tog stitch over the next two stitches. Or follow your pattern instructions.…