Innehållsförteckning för Issue 41 från Simply Crochet

“I LOVE TO CROCHET AT HOME WITH MY CAT HULOTTE.” SANDRINE DEVEZE Sandrine is a French crochet designer and author. Over on page 46, we chat to her about her first ever amigurumi makes, her latest book and finding inspiration in bedtime stories. “I LOVE TO SHARE MY CROCHET JOURNEY ONLINE.” DOROTEJA KARDUM Doroteja is the hookster behind Croby Patterns. She’s passionate about crocheting for babies, whether that’s bootees, hats or toys. Turn to page 73 to find her adorable baby boots. “CROCHET IDEAS PRESENT THEMSELVES OUT OF THE BLUE.” MATTHEW SPIERS One Man Crochet blogger Matthew popped by this issue to share his greatest crochet makes of 2015 and what he’ll be hooking for 2016. You can read all about it on page 58. “AMIGURUMI IS THE REASON I…

STOLE MY HEART Maaike’s Flower Stole would make a gorgeous gift for mum. Visit www.crejjtion.etsy.com for the pattern. SWEET FEET Hook Vita Apala’s fab, loafer-style slippers with loopy fringing. Find the pattern at www.mon petitviolon.com MUMMY BEE Pick up this floral scented Mummy Bee candle with essential oils from www.annabeljames.co.uk – sweet. A LITTLE BIRDY For the mum who has everything, how about an Orla Kiely bird house? So chic. Head to www.cuckooland.com LOOKING ROSY Treat your mum to a pair of mitts lovingly made by you. This pattern is from issue 28. See page 86 for back issues info.…

1 First, make sure you fasten off, weave in ends and block pieces. Place pieces wrong sides together. With a slip knot on the hook, insert it into the far right stitch on both pieces, work a slip st. 2 Make 1ch (the t-ch for dc). Insert hook into the 2nd stitch of both layers and work a dc stitch. Work more dc stitches in this way along the edge, as far as you need to. 3 Fasten off, weave in ends, open out the seam and lightly press from the wrong side. You’ll create a raised seam for a decorative effect on the right side (see above), using any colour of yarn. 4 In step 1, if you were to place your pieces with right sides together and work…

Toenails have never been cute before, we’re pretty certain, but such is the power of amigurumi. Monty the woolly mammoth, with his mop of fuzzy curls and enormous eyes, is made to be cuddled. Extinction? Pah. YOU WILL NEED UK Alpaca Superfine Alpaca DK (70% superfine alpaca, 30% Bluefaced Leicester wool, 50g/120m), 2 balls of Chocolate, 1 ball of Yarn B Parchment Rowan Kidsilk Haze (70% super kid mohair, 30% silk, 25g/210m), 2 balls of Fudge (658) Yarn A is Chocolate held together with Fudge A 3.5mm (US E/4) hook 2 safety eyes, 20mm diameter Polyester toy stuffing Stitch markers Strong thread for stitching jointed limbs For yarn stockists, contact UK Alpaca 01884 243579 www.ukalpaca.com  Rowan 01484 681881 www.knitrowan.com MEASUREMENTS 20cm (8in) tall, sitting 28cm (11in) tall, standing…

1 Check your yarn’s ball band for advice on whether to dry, wet or steam block your item. To wet block, wash the item before pinning. For dry and steam blocking, pin out when the item is still dry. 2 Lay the item flat on a towel over a blanket, then pin it out using long, rust-proof pins or blocking wires. Start at the corners, moving evenly around the edges and repositioning pins if needed. 3 Place pins inside the last row of sts, not in the actual sts or you may distort them. Insert the pin’s point towards the centre of the fabric, away from the edge, to balance out the forces involved. 4 To wet block, just leave to dry. To dry block, spritz with cold water and…

Perky patch pockets cunningly disguised as mittens can make the world of difference to a chilly pair of hands. This project is just the right size for customising a child’s jumper. The mitts should fit ages six to nine years. Stripes plus neon is our jam right now, but you could use any two shades. YOU WILL NEED DROPS Andes (65% wool, 35% alpaca, 100g/100m), 1 ball of each: White (1101), Navy (6990) An 8mm (US L/11) hook A plain sweatshirt Sewing needle, pins and matching thread For yarn stockists, contact Wool Warehouse 01926 882818 www.woolwarehouse.co.uk TENSION 10sts and 12 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over dc using 8mm hook or size needed to obtain tension MEASUREMENTS Mitten pockets measure 20cm (8in) long and 12cm (4¾in) at widest…

Worked in contrasting colours, spike stitches are great for creating unusual colour effects, particularly for adding interest to stripes. Spike stitches are usually only worked on double crochet fabrics, so they’re also called elongated double crochet stitches or dropped stitches. We’ll show you just how to do it and once you’ve mastered the technique, you can practise your new skills by making our fingerless mittens on page 83. WHAT SORT OF PATTERNS COULD I CREATE? We’ll show you how to work these three popular colour patterns. SPIKE WAVES Spike stitches won’t affect the tension of your fabric so it’s easy to incorporate patterns like this wave into any stripy project. Vary the placement of the wave to create different effects. ALMOND STITCH We love these colourful almond shapes, separated by…

Designer Lucy Croft used King Cole’s newest printed cotton DK to create an unusual motif that’s quite literally ‘in Vogue’! This three-round triangle has useful pointy picots on each corner that make joining really easy. It’s a marvellous motif that would be the perfect basis for a colourful shawl or scarf. Pick two shades you love and get creative with your crochet hook. YOU WILL NEED King Cole Vogue (100% cotton, 50g/140m), Yarn A Cotton Candy (2112) Yarn B Carnation (2110) A 3.5mm (US E/4) hook For yarn stockists, contact King Cole 01756 703670 www.kingcole.com ABBREVIATIONS V-st (Tr, ch1, tr) in st indicated Picot Ch3, ss to third ch from hook For a full list, see page 92 TRIANGLE MOTIF Round 1 Using Yarn A, *ch8, 3tr…

WRAP STAR Perched right on the tipping point of when an accessory becomes a garment is this fine creation. Arms and shoulders are kept snug and there’s a gorgeous wrapover front. Think of it as a wrap with sleeves. I DREAM OF BEANIE The beauty of this beanie hat lies in the faultless simplicity of the design and the sheer magnitude of that slouch. Just think – in a pinch, you could even stash your latest WIP away in there. Well, maybe. TO BE ADORNED Seeking an easy, on-the-go project fit for a fashionista? Look no further. There are two beaded necklaces to stitch, each made with stacks of speedy, single-round circles. And need we say they’re nifty stashbusters? OFF THE CHAIN Denim goes with everything, which is why accessories…

Blankets we can wear outside the house? Yes please. We’re loving the blanket wrap trend this season and this design by Hannah Cross is absolutely spot on. It has a really simple construction (no pesky shaping to worry about here), but it also has unique braiding rows and loop stitch details to keep things interesting. YOU WILL NEED Rowan Kid Classic (70% wool, 22% mohair, 8% polyamide, 50g/140m), 13 balls of Yarn A Drought (876), 3 balls of Yarn B Feather (828) A 6mm (US J/10) hook For yarn stockists, contact Rowan 01484 681881 www.knitrowan.com TENSION 15 sts and 9 rows to 10x10cm (4x4in) over stitch pattern using a 6mm hook or size needed to obtain tension MEASUREMENTS 120x140cm (47¼x55in) without fringe ABBREVIATIONS Slip stitch 2 sts tog…

1 Sue Culligan – Knitting Holidays in France Based in the Cognac area of France we offer the opportunity to enjoy relaxed knitting and crochet retreats and workshops where you can meet like-minded guests and brush up on your skills. Prices start at £395 per head for full board. sueculligan@gmail.com  | www.knittingholidaysinfrance.com 2 Bergère de France Knitting Holiday Come and join fellow knitters for a trip to France! Enjoy a private guided tour of the Bergère de France factory with presentations, visit the factory shop, plus workshops with our tutor Bronagh Miskelly. Yarn kit included. 19-23 Apr 2016, from £999 pp. 01473 660800 | www.arenatravel.com 3 StraightCurves StraightCurves provides high quality courses and workshops for all abilities from their fully accessible studios in Chesterfield. Their…

Hello crochet fans. Don’t you think the start of a new year is a great time to think about how far you’ve come? Towards the end of 2014 I was busy exhibiting my crochet artwork as part of the Knitted Textile Awards in London and Harrogate. It left a lasting effect on me: the appreciation of my work by the public confirmed to me that my crochet art is the direction I want to be heading in. I’ve been continuing with this work (albeit quietly) and have spent most of 2015 working on making a collection that I can exhibit together. It’s taking a long time and a lot of commitment. Working on large crochet pieces is rewarding in the end, but sometimes it can be a bit laborious getting…

What a majestic beast. Challenge yourself and get in on the faux taxidermy trend with this incredible crochet creation. He’ll certainly make a statement on your wall at home. Designer Vanessa Mooncie says: “Chunky yarn is used to crochet the head of this African lion. The mane is made by threading tassels in two shades of brown through the stitches. A little embroidery on the eyes and some nylon whiskers completes the big cat’s features.“ YOU WILL NEED • Katia Alaska (100% acrylic, 100g/115m) or any chunky yarn, 7 balls of Yarn A mid-brown 025 1 ball of each: Yarn B off white 003 and Yarn C fawn 008 2 balls of Yarn D dark brown 030 • Oddment of Yarn E chunky yarn in black • Oddment of DK…

TOASTY TOES @louizamakes dug out her granny socks from issue 26 to stay snug in the colder weather. These spring pastel shades are so pretty. PETIT POOCH This amigurumi pup crocheted by @cathkroon is impossibly cute. He’s a dinky Japanese Shiba and he was in Simply Crochet issue 26. Sweet. GO LARGE Keen stitcher @bowdle_1 has been a busy bee making the chunky cushions from issue 30. We’re loving this subtle yet chic palette.…

Designer Becky Skuse says: “Men deserve a crocheted treat every now and then, and these mittens are sure to be a winner. The simple spiked dc stitch pattern creates an argyle effect, while the cut-off design leaves the fingers and thumbs free.” YOU WILL NEED Rico Baby Classic DK (50% acrylic, 50% polyamide, 50g/165m), 1 ball of each: cream (020), purple (016), brown (037) A 4mm (US G/6) hook Two stitch markers For yarn stockists, contact Rico www.rico-design.co.uk TENSION 16 sts and 13 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over double crochet using a 4mm hook or size needed to obtain tension MEASUREMENTS To fit hand measurement around palm of 21cm (8¼in) Finished mittens measure 15cm (6in) long, 21.5cm (8½in) around palm ABBREVIATIONS For a full list, see…

THE CROCHET BLOCK BIBLE Luise Roberts and Heather Loginsky (£14.99, Search Press) This book has over 100 blocks to be worked in a variety of stitches. There’s also a handy section at the back to help you refine your techniques. The spiral spine is fab for keeping your place open. CROCHETED SEA CREATURES Vanessa Mooncie (£14.99, GMC) There are 12 playful amigurumi creatures of the deep to crochet, including a seahorse, a lobster, jellyfish and an awesome octopus. Each project has detailed instructions and charts. QUICK CROCHETED ACCESSORIES Sharon Zientara (£14.99, Interweave) Ideal for stashbusting and last-minute gifts, this book is packed with speedy accessories that use no more than three skeins. Make shawls, hats, mitts and more using a variety of techniques. TATTED LACE ACCESSORIES Donatella Ciotta (£8.99, Search…

Designer Becky Skuse says: “My yarn stash is full of leftover bits of yarn from finished projects. I decided to use some of them up and create this super-simple rainbow scarf. It’s quick and easy (great for beginners), using just treble and double crochet stitches, while the dc seam between the stripes adds a bit of texture. The best thing is that you can customise the colour theme in fun ways, depending on the spare yarn you’ve got – I’ve got so many scraps of blue yarn that an ombré blue scarf is next on my list.” YOU WILL NEED Any DK yarn, small amounts of 8 rainbow shades, plus cream (we used Sublime Cashmere Merino Silk DK and Sublime Extra Fine Merino Wool DK, approx 15g/35m of each rainbow…

This straightforward leafy motif can be hooked up in three different sizes using the same pattern. How can this be? Is it some kind of sorcery? Nope, all you need to do is adjust your crochet hook size as suggested and double up the yarn where necessary. Each cheerful little decoration is quick to make, so grab a bright green DK yarn from your stash and start stitching. You’ll find a light blocking of your finished motifs will help to define that instantly recognisable shamrock shape. YOU WILL NEED Stylecraft Special DK (100% acrylic, 100g/295m), 1 ball of Kelly Green (1826) A 2.5mm (US B/1 or C/2) hook for small size A 3.5mm (US E/4) hook for medium size A 4.5mm (US 7) hook for large size For yarn stockists,…

With a 4mm crochet hook, laceweight yarn seems a lot more manageable. Have a go at this botanical-inspired accessory. The triangle shawl is worked in open lace, giving marvellous drape. Why not hook it as a special gift for Mother’s Day? YOU WILL NEED Araucania Botany Lace (100% wool, 100g/410m), 2 skeins – sample is made in Rainbow (18) (only available in the US), so we suggest using shade PT1948 A 4mm (US G/6) hook Tapestry needle Blocking board and pins For yarn stockists, contact Designer Yarns 01535 664222 www.designeryarns.uk.com TENSION 2 stitch patt repeats and 7 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over stitch pattern using a 4mm hook or size needed to obtain correct tension (after blocking) MEASUREMENTS 164cm (64½in) wide x 98cm (38½in) deep after blocking…

Treat a tiny new pair of feet to some extra special boots hooked with love. The fantastic stripes of ribbed texture on these baby bootees are created with rounds of front and back post trebles. The soles are made first and then the upper is worked from around the soles and upwards, hooking those trickier post treble stitches last. Pick two contrasting shades for the full two-tone effect. Very impressive. YOU WILL NEED DK cotton yarn, 50g of each: Yarn A pale blue Yarn B white A 3.25mm (US D/3) hook TENSION 20 sts and 23 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over double crochet using a 3.25mm hook or size needed to obtain correct tension MEASUREMENTS 0-3 months (3-6 months: 6-12 months) Sole length: 8.5 (9.5: 11.5)cm, 3½ (3¾: 4½)in…

KISS MOTIF Stroke (Make 2) Ch13. Round 1 (RS) Starting in 2nd ch from hook 12dc, ch1, rotate to work in other side of foundation ch, 12dc, ch1, ss in beg dc. Fasten off and weave in ends. Sew the two strokes together to form an X . EXCELANA DK LUXURY WOOL WEIGHT DK CONTENT 70% Exmoor Blueface, 30% Bluefaced Leicester wool BALL 50g/119m HOOK 4mm RRP £4.99 This luxurious, worsted-spun yarn is soft and elegant. It’s in a fairly generous DK weight and is made with 100% British wool. Plump and cosy Excelana was designed by vintage-loving crafter Susan Crawford and Fibre Harvest spinner John Arbon. Their aim was to produce a wool yarn with British fibres that would represent some of the best qualities of vintage yarns. You’ll…

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…