How are your plans coming together for some time off over the Holiday Season? I have been busy planning our getaway for our annual family camping trip in January and doing some maintenance on the tents, tinny and fishing lines. While it’s too early to plan which crochet projects I will be taking, it has been in the back of my mind. Do you have a family holiday tradition?

All that planning has included determining which days the shop will be closed over the holiday period. Our last day of trading will be Friday 20th of December and we will be reopening on Monday 6th of January. As always orders can still be placed via our website, and these will all be processed and shipped out during that first week back.

The next stage of our Christmas Crochet Fun kicks off today! If you signed up you would have received the first lot of patterns for two fun pockets. If you didn’t get around to signing up, there is just one week left to join our Christmas Crochet – a – long.

We’ve also received details about the cutoff dates for Christmas deliveries from Australia Post:
Regular Parcel Post – last date to send parcels:
NT – 13th December
TAS, WA & SA – 18th December
VIC, ACT, NSW, QLD – 20th December
Express Parcel Post – last date to send 20th December
These dates apply for metro areas only!

But please don’t delay – we know from experience that parcels often take longer during November and December. When you are ordering, don’t forget to stock up on your needs across the Christmas holiday period.

The Holiday season can often be a busy and stressful time for people – so why not plan a post Holiday season getaway for yourself? We have a few spots left at our annual crochet retreat in the picturesque Hunter Valley in May 2025.

Picture a weekend devoted solely to crochet surrounded by the historical beauty of the Mercure Monte Pio. No need to cook, or worry about chores or entertaining! It’s all taken care of… Better still – it would make a great Christmas gift to get contributions towards it from your loved ones, so pop it onto your Christmas wish list. Just pay a deposit now to book your spot. But don’t delay too long Queensland has already sold out!

Our November Classes kick off next week – we will be making this stunning Cross Body Bag – designed by Crochet With Lynda. You’ll learn the unique shaping technique so that there is no side seams to sew – the bag is made all in one!

Classes are conducted by Lynda via zoom Monday nights – so no matter where you are you can learn to make this bag. Or come into store for classes Tuesday mornings or Wednesday evenings.

Are you still looking for some inspiration for gifts for family and friends – visit our Gift Giving Guide here.

Until next time

Lynda

Theme— Summer Crochet: What’s Hot so You’re Not!

Summer isn’t officially here yet, but it sure feels like it! The days are getting longer and hotter; daylight savings is upon us (well, not in Queensland); and it’s time to swap your crochet blankets for more lightweight and breathable projects that won’t weigh you down in the warmer weather.

If you’re thinking of putting down the crochet hook for a few months because of the heat, think again! This month, we’re all about summer-friendly patterns, yarns, accessories, and ways to stay cool while crocheting throughout the warm days ahead.

To keep crocheting through summer, leave the large and/or heavy pieces, such as blankets and jumpers and wintery items like socks and scarves. Opt instead for small, light items like bookmarks, coasters, headbands, sun hats, beach bags, and flowy garments like tops, shawls, skirts and dresses. You can even crochet décor for your backyard BBQs or picnics, such as placemats, table centrepieces and lanterns for a touch of ambience.

Once you have chosen your summer-ready project, the next step to keeping cool is to choose the right yarn. Being in Queensland, we are practically overflowing with summer yarns, but how do you choose which one is perfect for your summer project?

Cotton: Breathable, durable, and absorbent. It holds its shape well and is machine washable, ideal for everyday use.
Bamboo/Cotton Blends: Smooth with a beautiful drape, combining bamboo’s softness with cotton’s durability. Hypoallergenic and moisture-wicking—perfect for staying cool.
Silk and Silk/Cotton Blends: Lightweight with a luxurious sheen, great for sophisticated garments and shawls. Breathable and moisture-absorbent.
Rayon: Silky, lightweight, and cool to the touch with a polished finish and beautiful drape, perfect for summer accessories.
Linen Blends: Known for its cooling properties and durability, linen is great for tops, bags, and home décor. It gets softer with each wash and holds its shape well.

To get you started and summer-ready, here is a free pattern for a beautiful be ach swimsuit cover-up by Off the Beaten Hook, made with a 10 ply 100% cotton yarn (Fiddlesticks Finch would be perfect for this project!)

Check out our range of summer-friendly patterns, yarns and accessories in the next section.

Book of the Month

40+ Stash-Busting Projects to Crochet

Stash is a crochet term for leftover or oddball yarn. Stash-Busting is finding a project that uses small amounts of yarns.

In this amazing book you will find over 40 designs all made with small amounts of different sizes of yarns for home, baby and accessories! Designs include gnome coasters, little gnomes, easy doilies, afghans, hot pads, baby blankets, baby slippers, a ladies shawlette, jewelry and more!

64 Pages. US terminology

Buy Now

Customer Corner

Thank you everyone for sending in pictures of what you have been making in the past quarter. We feature below some comments and masterpieces submitted by customers. Send us a photo of your masterpiece (by the submissions page, email or on our facebook page), telling us which book it came from and which yarn or thread you used, and be in the draw to win a $25 voucher in March 2025 (see conditions on our website). Please also add any tips you’ve picked up when making them. Congratulations to Maureen K for winning this quarter’s voucher – submitting a photo of the vintage vest she made for her husband using Scheepjes Merino Soft.

View Customer Corner