Crochet Extra – 163rd Edition – March 2020

I received an email from my son’s school the other day – and do you know we are already halfway through term one? It certainly doesn’t feel like we are that far through the year. As usual time is flying by. Of course this always happens when there are many things going on. Here at Crochet Australia we have been busy with many new people coming in to learn to crochet (which I love to see), preparing for our new website (you’ll see some changes in our newsletter in preparation), tracking down new suppliers for some items and planning our future events.

Craft alive Sunshine Coast will be in Caloundra again from the 17 to 19 April. we will have a stall there again with 2 make and take sessions each day. Emily Littlefair (author or Round and Round the Crochet Hook) will be coming along to run one of these.  One session will be to make this Irish lace flower, the other session will be to make this decorative mandala.

We will be holding the Sunshine Coast Crochet retreat in May this year – the weekend of 23 and 24 May – lock that in your diaries.   Full details will be released shortly. We are also trying a new venue in Marcoola – right on the beach.

Thank you to everyone for sending in photos of your creations. There are many exciting projects that feature in our customer corner section this month. Congratulations to Lynley B for winning this quarter’s $25 voucher for submitting her project.

Our march workshop will be learning Tunisian crochet and making this vest top – using basic Tunisian and lace Tunisian stitches.  Book your spot – Tuesday’s 9.30 – 11.30 am or Wednesday’s 5.30 – 7.30 pm.

Theme—Autumn Air

No it  doesn’t feel like it yet—but it’s not far away. For many this is going to be a relief after the hot summer we have had. I love autumn, because it’s not too cold to require heavy jumpers and sweaters.  But you just need an extra layer on when you go outside. Wraps and shawls are perfect for this time as are vests, capes, shrugs, light ponchos and cardigans – One of my favourites is the short-sleeved cardigan.

For the young girls and infants, there are some lovely cool cover-ups – shrugs and cardigans that hold off the chill but still give them the freedom to play.  And of course we can’t forget their dolls, to make playtime a little extra special.

Your pets too will begin to feel it – so why not consider some light jackets for them too?

If you already have too many in your wardrobe – there are many fire ravished areas where people will be in need of such items and other winter woollies as winter approaches.  There are many organisations collecting these items.

We have a great selection of yarn in store to suit any project – For the extra warmth try loyal wool or fiddlesticks acrylics. Many of the cotton blends make excellent light layers – Cedar cotton/bamboo, Papyrus cotton/silk, Stone Washed or Whirl cotton/acrylic.  As does cotton – Organicon Organic cotton, Catona cotton, Almina cotton, MT or Petra Perle 5 cotton.

You are bound to find something suitable in our ‘Look what we found’ section to get you going.  Or start with the free pattern we’ve found – The tripletimer bolero.

Book of the Month

The After Yarn Party Collection

Okay this isn’t really a book…. But I just love the patterns that Scheepjes have published, so I have assembled a collection of their patterns to feature for the month and sell as a set.

This is a collection of 7 crocheted patterns from the After Yarn Party range issued by Scheepjes suitable for Autumn weather.  Includes: Indigo Shrug, Stormy Day Shawl, Dream Cather Shawl,Alto Mare Wrap, Coral Dreams Cardigan, Forest Valley Shawl, Celtic Tiles Wrap

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 email or on our facebook page—www.facebook.com/crochetaustralia), 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 2019 (see conditions on our website). Please also add any tips you’ve picked up when making them. Congratulations to Lynley B for winning this quarter’s voucher.

Look What We Found