Crochet Extra – May 2022

I’ll kick off May by wishing all the Mums and Mum like figures a “Happy Mothers Day” for the 8^th of May. I hope your day is filled with many happy moments with your families.

May is a beautiful time of the year – the crisp cool mornings are perfect and invigorating for my walk with Roxi our dog. And the evenings are crisp and clear and perfect to snuggle into the blanket WIP I’ve had on hold over the summer months.

May is a chance to plan for all the cool weather yarnie events in  June and July…….

• World Wide Knit (& Crochet) Day is Saturday 11th June.  We will be holding a crochet session at Cedar & Vine here in Yandina – a quirkly little cafe and Artisan shop with Vintage, Jewellery, Garden, homewares and Crystals. What events are happening near you?
• The Beanie Festival kicks off in Alice Springs on the 24th – 27th June.  A great opportunity to use up your stash and be creative. You can enter the competitions or sell you beanies by mailing them to the organisers. For more information visit their website.
• The Australian Sheep and Wool Show in Bendigo kicks off 15th July for three days to see the ‘best of best’ sheep breeders compete and where just some of the country’s most passionate food, fashion and fibre lovers gather to celebrate the mighty Australian sheep.  Find out more on their website.
• Warwick Jumpers and Jazz festival is on 21st – 31st July – Queensland’s quirkiest winter woolie festival.  Find out about all that’s going on from their website.
• Craft Alive Sunshine Coast dates are currently unknown, but there is a new venue for July 2022 – Morayfield on the North Side of Brisbane on 29th to 31st July.  We will have a stall there withsome of our new yarns. Stay up to date with this event and other venues by visiting the Craft Alive  website.

The 2022 Crochet Retreat will be here before we know it.  Have you got your spot booked?  Join us on the 27^th and 28^th of August for a weekend of crochet fun.  Book here

This month at our crochet classes, we will be making a two-tone Olivia Cowl/Scarf.  Made with a whirl and whirlette it is light and soft making it the perfect Winter accessory. Book your spot here

In June we are once again looking at the technique of tunisian entrelac crochet, but learning how to do this in a circle.  Even if you’ve never done tunisian entrelac before you can still master this technique.  Book your spot here

See them all in our Events Calendar

Until next time

Lynda

Theme—Winter Warming Accessories

Are you prepared for the cooler weather coming our way?  It has been slowly creeping in in the Southern States with daily highs below the 20s.    I find the secret to staying warm is layering up with winter warming accessories that can be added to any outfit.

I love making winter warming accessories – most of them are small projects that can be finished quite quickly and they make fabulous gifts.  They are easily transportable and make the perfect travelling project for our winter adventures.  And there is a vast range of projects to choose from.

Starting at the extremities – socks, slippers, gloves, mittens and beanies are a must.  They say that if your feet are warm, there’s a good chance your whole body feels warmer.  Heat escapes from the head, so beanies help you keep that warmth.  And lets face it, handmade items feel so much better and warmer as they are full of love and joy from the crafter.  Not to mention you can create your own unique colourways.  Sock yarn, wool and acrylic and even the cotton/acrylic blends all make beautiful soft items.    And if you are making beanies – don’t forget about our tip to get the right size beanie – whether knit or crochet the same principles apply.

Then there’s the wraps and scarves that add a touch of elegance to any outfit making them perfect for days or evenings.  Shrugs, capes, ponchos and vests also add a layer of warmth and are easy to take along to any occasion.  With the colours now available in yarn they are a popular accessory to brighten up any winter outfit.  They can be simple – to show off the colours of the yarn, or embellish with flowers, buttons or bows to name a few – or they can be made in beautiful stitches.

Wool, cotton/acrylic blends, wool/acrylic blends and acrylic are all great for these winter warming accessories.  Scheepjes Merino Soft, Scheepjes Stone Washed, Scheepjes Whirl/Whirlette, Patons Sierra or Fiddlesticks Superb 8 and Fiddlesticks Superb 88 are all beautiful and soft to the touch.

For the young ones, we still have some Peter Pan Baby yarn left – but not much so get in quick.  The Fiddlesticks Superb 8 is also suitable and the Fiddlesticks Superb 4 arriving soon.

And don’t forget your pets – dogs and cats feel the cold weather too.  There are some beautiful winter accessories that will help them enjoy their winter walks.

Find inspiration in with the selection of patterns, yarns and tools we’ve found for you in the Look What We Found Section.  Or try making these easy to make Fantail Wrist/Hand warmers by Hooked By Robin.

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 August 2022  (see conditions on our website). Please also add any tips you’ve picked up when making them. Congratulations to Darleen P for winning this quarter’s voucher – submitting a photo of her Sampler Rug made with Superb 8 Acrylic Yarn.

Look What We Found