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Crochet Extra – 165th Edition – May 2020

Crochet Extra – 165th Edition – May 2020

Crochet Extra – 165th Edition – May 2020

I’m getting in early… happy Mother’s Day for next weekend to all you Mums! As we begin to see some of the restrictions easing, I hope you all get a chance to get out and do something nice with your family, so they can show their appreciation for all the work you do.

Today of course is also the start of the Crochet Tournament!  Good luck to all those who have entered.  I am looking forward to seeing all the photos as you progress through each stage and heat.  Invite friends and family to ‘spectate’ by joining the facebook group ‘Crochet Tournament 2020’  It has been a closed group up until now as the participants have been preparing, but its now open to everyone.  Or follow along in Instagram with #crochettournament2020.

In February many of my supplies increased their prices.  I have been able to hold off passing these along until now.  You will therefore see some price increases coming through this month for many of our yarns.

During April I was trialling the online workshops with my regular workshop attendees and I think we have a formula that works – so I’m opening it up wider this month, but limiting it to 10 attendees per workshop.  For May we are looking at Corner to Corner graphghans.  Tuesdays 9.30am – 11.30 or Wednesdays 5.30pm – 7.30.  I’m also trialing  this Saturday afternoon 1.30pm to 3.30.  by visiting our lesson calendar or calling us.

Until next time
Lynda


Theme—Afghans and Throws

It has never been a more perfect time to begin afghans and throws – winter is just around the corner; the scorching hot weather has passed; and we are still spending lots of time at home.   We can  never have too many hand-made blankets around – and if you think you do, there are many in need of blankets to help during the upcoming winter after losing everything in the fires we had during summer.  And don’t forget your pets – who also enjoy snuggling.

Afghans are also great for crocheters of all levels and abilities.  You can keep them simple using the one stitch – perfect for beginners; play with colour; learn new skills with sampler blankets or by using new stitches from many of the stitch directories; they can be made in rows that you can watch grow, or made portable by making squares or strips to join later.  I’ve seen many beautiful colourful afghans that have been made as stash busters – using simple stitches but such an array of colour.   And of course there are many Crochet-A-Longs (CAL’s) for afghans.  I started doing the Complications CAL 12 months ago and I’m still going (admittedly I put it away during summer as it was too hot to do it then, and I’ve just taken it back out.)

Or you can try your hand at a graphghan – you pick the picture and the stitch and off you go. If the thought of such a big project is daunting, try baby blankets or pram blankets.  You don’t need as much yarn and they can be finished a lot quicker.  Peter Pan baby yarn is perfect for this and I’ve seen many a beautiful baby blanket made with the whirl cotton/acrylic blend.

The real benefit of afghans though is the ability to use any yarn to make them – while we generally associate them with winter and using acrylic or wool,  the same designs in cotton can make some lovely light summer cover ups, or be perfect in the Northern part of the country in winter where it doesn’t get too cold.  I have seen afghans of various sizes made from almost all the yarn we sell in store: whirls cotton/acrylic, almina cotton, Camilla batik cotton, catona cotton. Stone washed cotton/acrylic, catona denim cotton, sunkissed cotton, loyal wool, peter pan baby yarn, superb 8 acrylic.

In addition to the yarns, we have a large range of patterns available – we feature just some of these in this newsletter.  Not sure where to start?  Try the Tiles Granny Afghan from Red Heart

 

 

 


Tip of the month

Adding Borders to Afghans

Adding the finishing touches to a project – such as a blanket, dishcloth, or neckline – often involves adding a border around the edge. Your item generally looks unfinished without them. While many projects often have the border in the pattern, there are some that do not, or the instructions are not entirely clear as to where to go to create the border.


love stitches

Book of the Month

Love  Stitches

This great book has all the ideas to crochet for someone you love or someone in need. Create 44 projects to show how much you care. Can also be used as a charity crocheter’s ultimate resource for all types of stitching for giving. Easy and attractive patterns for children and babies, animals and the displaced are featured. Try your hand at caps for all, blankets, receiving blankets and bootees, froggy security blanket, baby jacket and hat, baby sox, bags, shawl, chemo cap, toe warmer and scarves and mittens. A section on   various charities that accept crocheted items is included, making it easy for groups or individuals to connect with those who can use the items most. 64 pages   US terminology


Look What We Found

LA4423 63 Sampler Stitches to Crochet

a year of afghans bk 15

LA3746  A Year of Afghans Bk 15

afghans by the alphabet

LA3379 Afghans by the Alphabet

871504 Baby Blankets & Toys

LA6186 Best of Mary Maxim Ripple Afghans

circular afghans

LA75616 Circular Afghans

MCPS056 Cottage Floral Afghans

871635 Crochet Comfort & Joy

crocheted baby shawls

BK34 Crocheted Baby Shawls

ASN1445 Easy Timeless Blankies

LA75023 Floral Afghans

granny square reimagined

LA75519 Granny Square Reimagined

LA75474 Irresistilby Snuggly

Touch of Class Afghans

LA75038 Touch of Class Afghans

mindful mandala afghans

LA6890 Mindful Mandala Afghans

LA5169 More Projects from your Scrap Bag

a year of afghans bk 10

LA3107 A Year of Afghans Book 10

a year of q-hook afghans

LA3173 Q-Hook Afghans

Afghans for All Reasons/All Seasons

LA4422 Afghans for All Reasons & All Seasons

baby's knitted rugs and shawls

BK20 Baby’s Knitted Rugs and Shawls

LA3137 Big Book of Quick Knit Afghans

PAT044 Circular Crochet Throw

LA7119 Cotton Blankets and Throws

MAGCE2 Crochet Essentials Bookazine 2

LA4750 DIY Afghans with Interactive CD

emoji crochet

LA7073 Emoji Crochet

LA4773 Floral Touches

LA750221 Granny’s Delight Afghans

Touch of Class Afghans

LA4599 The Story of Home Spun

879543 Knit 1 Purl 2 in Crochet

BK35 More Crocheted Shawls for Baby

LA75438 Motif Afghans

a year of afghans bk 13

LA3324 A Year of Afghans Book 13

LA75270 Absolutely Afghans

LA75014 Aran Afghans

beginners guide mile a minute afghans

LA75010 Mile-A-Minute Afghans Beginners Guide

121112 Blankies Just for Baby Knitting

Classic Quick Knit Throws

LA4233 Classic Quick Knit Throws

crochenit beautiful baby afghans

873421 Crochenit Beautiful Baby Afghans

crochet the center to corner way

871780 Crochet the Center-to-Corner Way

LA3845 Dynamic Designs

naptime playtime blankets and toys

877536 Naptime-Playtime Blankets and Toys

LA4814 Panel by Panel

granny square flair

SH3497 Granny Square Flair

LA3298 Home Decor Afghans

LA6962 Afghans & Pillows to Love

LA75022 Afghan Medley to Knit

LA4592 Artsy Afghans

beneath the surface

SH9730 Beneath the Surface

LA75469 Car Seat Blankets

LA3144 Mile-A-Minute Afghans

LA5512 Crochet Baby Afghans by the Pound

IW30944 Crocheted Afghans

easy & quick

LA75282 Easy & Quick

honey bee blanket

SY08 Honey Bee Blanket

honey bee blanket

SY08 Honey Bee Blanket

hooked

DC5751 Hooked

885163 Nightie Night Owl

make in a weekend afghans

LA75590 Make in a Weekend Afghans

LA4238 More Herrschners Blue Ribbon Afghans