Crochet Extra – July 2021

It’s official – we are half way through 2021!  It seems to have gone very quickly and with all the activities over the coming months, I have a feeling the second six months will fly by.

Did you get to the Crochet Guild of Australia conference?  There were many crocheters from all over the country and it was great to put faces to names.  Sadly the sudden lock down in Victoria prevented some attending – we’ll have to wait until next time.

And of course the most recent lock downs have placed a lot of uncertainty on many other planned events—so please check the relevant websites closer to the dates:

Knitfest is this weekend – 3rd and 4th of July in Maleny, with the theme ‘There’s a Dragon in my Garden’.

Australian Wool Show—16th to 18th July in Bendigo.

Craft Alive Sunshine Coast – 30th and 31st of July and 1st August in Caloundra.  We will have a stall and will be running two workshops each day.  In the mornings a Mindful Mini Mandala  and in the afternoon an Irish Crochet flower.

Seaside Crochet Retreat – 28th and 29th August in Marcoola.  The deluxe rooms have sold out, but bookings are still available for the water view and standard rooms, and of course day visitors.

Have you booked in for any of our workshops?

In July we have the second part of the workshop to make the Pleated Cardigan, while in August we will be making the Calin Shirt using a whirl – a great top for summer or winter.   With the current restrictions in place attendance at the in store workshops is limited to 10 and advanced bookings are required.  Or do these from the safety of your home – we will now only have the online workshops on Monday evenings 7pm to 9pm.

Until next time

Lynda

Theme—Christmas in July

Christmas in July…. Hang on a second, you might say, isn’t Christmas celebrated in Australia on the 25^th of December. Yes. It. Is. However, our traditional Christmas falls in the Summer. So, to have a wintery Christmas celebration like those who live in the Northern Hemisphere, otherwise known as Yulefest or Yuletide in Australia, many now celebrate with Christmas in July.  They can then wear their winter woollies and consume hot wintery treats while sitting by the fire with their favourite Christmas decorations around them.

It’s widely believed that ‘Christmas in July’ originated in the 1980’s in the Blue Mountain region of NSW. Visiting Irish tourists saw the snowfall and it reminded them of the Christmases spent back home. Feeling homesick they convinced the owner of the Mountain Heritage Hotel to throw an event called “Yulefest” to celebrate Christmas just how they remembered. Word spread like wildfire and soon the Blue Mountain region was joining in!

It’s yet another reason for us crafters to get crafting!

But if you live in a part of the Country that doesn’t get that ‘snowy Christmas feel’ like the Northern countries, it’s a still a great opportunity to beat the Christmas rush and begin preparing for Christmas.

Take a look at the range of Christmas books we have available with loads and loads of projects to keep you busy, whether it be to help celebrate Christmas in July or prepare for Christmas at the end of the year.

Our ever so popular Excel Metallic yarn is perfect to give a sparkle to your Christmas projects. It comes in a wide range of colours to suit any décor and looks bright and cheerful for all ages.

There is also the beautiful Lizbeth metallic size 20 thread that can be used on its own or added to other threads or yarns to add that touch of Christmas sparkle. Perfect for those Christmas earrings to match or highlight your favourite outfit.

And of course we have loads of great accessories to help you create –  like pom pom and tassel makers, Lizbeth thread holders in lots of glitzy colours, Basket Bases to create the perfect Christmas basket, Thergonomic gloves to help hold the cold and pain at bay so you can continue to crochet or knit comfortably…. We even have a pretty selection of Shawl pins to jazz up your winter shawl or scarf collection.

Or kick start your winter gift giving by choosing from our range of kits to make beanies, scarves or gloves.

Try this free pattern and bring some laughter and joy with these Santa Gift Holders – your friends and family will remember your thoughtful gifts.

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 October 2021  (see conditions on our website). Please also add any tips you’ve picked up when making them. Congratulations to Geraldine Low for winning this quarter’s voucher – submitting a photo of her mosaic scarf made at the June workshops

Look What We Found