Innholdsfortegnelse for Spring 2017 i Love Crochet

Congratulations! You made it through January! All that talk of diet, fitness and ‘going dry’ is over – thank goodness! Although here in the Love Crochet office we did do a dry January" dry martinis! dry white wines! dry gins… Our only way to survive January! So! now we’re ready to shake off the dull fug of winter and get ready for spring$ And that’s exactly what we have in mind for you this issue… So, if it’s spring-wardrobe refreshment you’re in the mood for, try our granny-square vest on page 54, crochet pocket ideal for jean cut-offs (p.62) and sweet du&e bag perfect for picnics (p.52). We also have a heart necklace on page 64, a really simple make that’s great for bringing a fashionable but subtle update to…

AT LEAST FROM £5 EVERY COPY SOLD GOES TO COMIC RELIEF DON’T MISS OUT! Mollie Makes The Big Comic Relief Crafternoon is back with an all-new collection of over 50 makes for Red Nose Day. It’s packed with projects to sell at your own Crafternoon, or simply to make and enjoy, and £5 from every copy goes to charity! INSIDE! A special 8-page section printed on matt paper to cut out and frame! Find colouring pages, inspirational illustrated quotes and a botanical sketchbook tutorial.…

TOP TIP If you prefer, embroider on the eyes instead of using safety toy eyes YOU WILL NEED Drops Alpaca Boucle, 3 x 50g in Off White Drops Cotton Light, 2 x 50g in Light Grey and 2 x 50g in Dark Grey 3.5mm and 4.5mm crochet hooks Toy stuffing 9mm safety toy eyes Fabric glue Wool needle and embroidery needle Pink and black embroidery thread SIZE Approx. 18x12x12cm (8x5x5in) per sheep TENSION Tension is not important for this project ABBREVIATIONS Turn to page 90 for a full list of abbreviations ABOUT THESE YARNS DROPS ALPACA BOUCLE 80% alpaca, 15% wool, 5% polyamide 140m per 50g £2.05 DROPS COTTON LIGHT 50% cotton, 50% polyester 105m per 50g £0.95 www.woolwarehouse.co.uk We love the idea of a cute flock of sheep to…

P arisian artist Isabelle Kessedjian has a somewhat quirky view of the world. Pop on to her Instagram profile and you’ll find image after image of vibrant, sunny scenes – from pink swirls of ice creams to crochet cases shaped like cameras and bursting with a rainbow array of pencils. At first glance, these scenes may seem childlike, innocent even, but take a more considered look and it’s evident that the colour and composition have been framed by a very experienced, for want of a better word, visualiser. Isabelle’s love of crochet stems, at least in part, from this perfectionism. “Having lost my mother at a young age, I was brought up by my granny, and she taught me to crochet when I was eight,” she says. “When I was…

TOP TIP Mix yarn colours as you go to get a lovely even coverage YOU WILL NEED King Cole Big Value Chunky, 100g in Old Copper (558), Sahara (1544), Wine (545), Dusty Pink, (639), Blue Grass (611), Grey (547), Opal (1541), Seaspray (557) 2m brown cord 5.5mm crochet hook Tapestry needle Stitch marker SIZE 25x48cm (9¾x18¾in) with an 80cm (31½in) circumference TENSION Each granny square should measure 10x10cm (4x4in) using a 5.5mm crochet hook ABBREVIATIONS Turn to page 90 for a full list of abbreviations ABOUT THIS YARN KING COLE BIG VALUE CHUNKY 100% acrylic 152m per 100g £2.39 www.woolwarehouse.co.uk When you’ve got a boxful of yarn scraps that you’re itching to turn into something, then granny squares are the perfect technique! One of the easiest crochet designs to make,…

TOP TIP Make sure each row of bobbles sits neatly between the bobbles of the row above Yeoman Panama 4ply, 30g of Cream (101) is enough for 2 pockets 3mm crochet hook Matching sewing thread SIZE 10x11cm (4x4_in) each TENSION Tension is not important for this project ABBREVIATIONS Bobble (Yrh, insert hook in stitch indicated, yrh, pull loop through) 4 times inserting hook in same st each time, yrh, pull through all 9 loops on hook Turn to page 90 for a full list of abbreviations ABOUT THIS YARN YEOMAN PANAMA 4PLY 50% cotton, 50% acrylic 2000m per 500g £12.50 www.yeoman-yarns.co.uk Liven up your summer staples with the addition of a handmade pocket or two. Bobbles add some texture and look impressive, but with just a little patience, you’ll soon…

TOP TIP The eyebrows create your food’s personality, so stitch with care! YOU WILL NEED Rico Creative Cotton Aran yarn in Rose, Red, Light Blue, Green, Light Pistachio, Nougat, Vanilla, Light Yellow, Candy Pink, Tangerine and White 6mm and 9mm safety toy eyes Toy stuffing Black embroidery thread Scrap of pink felt Fabric glue 3.5mm crochet hook Wool needle Stitch marker TENSION Tension is not important for this project ABBREVIATIONS BLO: back of loop only Turn to page 90 for a full list of abbreviations ABOUT THIS YARN RICO CREATIVE COTTON ARAN 100% cotton 85m per 50g £1.79 www.woolwarehouse.co.uk SAFETY FIRST These items are not designed for very young children. Always ensure that your work is well-stitched and loose parts are securely attached. This bright and fun amigurumi picnic is…

When I think of spring, I picture Easter and pastel shades instead of the solid greens and reds of winter. If you haven’t finished that ultra-warm throw you’ve been working on, put it aside to start again next winter – it’s time to bring in some lightness and brightness! There are so many wonderful yarns that can be used for spring projects. If you’re planning to make a lightweight scarf or cardi choose a yarn that’s a mixture of cotton and a warmer fibre because the weather can still be chilly. The Drops Cotton Merino Double Knit mix from www.garnstudio.com is a combination of 50% extra fine merino and 50% long cotton fibres. The cotton and the merino has been spun together but not carded beforehand so the colours are…

TOP TIP Take extra care when stitching the face to make sure Clio looks really happy! YOU WILL NEED DMC Natura For the body, 1 x 50g ball in Glicine (N30) for the Tropic Brown (N22) and Rose Layette (N6) For the wings, 1 x 50g ball in Crimson (N61) For the eyes and mouth, small quantity of Noir (N11) and Ibiza (N01) For the bow and heart, small quantity of Coral (N18) and Erica (N51) 3mm crochet hook Wool needle Toy stu_ng 4 cotton buds (for the wings) SIZE 24cm (9.4in) high w/o antennae 7cm (2.7in) wide w/o arms and wings TENSION Tension is not important for this project, but make sure your stitches are tight enough that the stu_ng won’t poke through. ABBREVIATIONS Turn to page 90 for…

TOP TIP Use fresh contrasting shades to give your table a subtle taste of springtime YOU WILL NEED Rooster Almerino Aran, 1 x 50g ball each of Shimmer (315), Brighton Rock (307), Gooseberry (306) 5mm crochet hook Tapestry needle SIZE Each coaster measures 8cm (3in) diameter TENSION Tension is not important for this project ABBREVIATIONS Turn to page 90 for a full list of abbreviations ABOUT THIS YARN ROOSTER ALMERINO ARAN 50% baby alpaca 50% merino 94m per 50g £5.75 www.laughinghens.com Practical, colourful and easy to make, these coasters are supersimple. A stack of them makes a great, quick gift in next to no time. Work them in single colours to co-ordinate with your décor, or add a splash of freshness by alternating white and your favourite spring shades every…

TOP TIP To make a larger version, simply multiply the number of squares! YOU WILL NEED Sirdar Hayfield Baby DK, 1 ball of Cream (451) Rico Essentials Cotton DK, 1 ball each of Berry (15), Erica (93), Aqua (95) 4mm and 5mm crochet hook Tapestry needle SIZE 12.5cm (5in) cube TENSIONS Tension is not important for this project ABOUT THESE YARNS SIRDAR HAYFIELD BABY DK 70% acrylic, 30% nylon 350m per 100g £3.09 RICO ESSENTIALS COTTON DK 100% cotton 130m per 50g £2.49 www.woolwarehouse.co.uk Necessities need never be dull, as Jenny May shows us with her pretty, lacy tissue box holder. With a contrast double crochet trim and the two flowers as a finishing touch, this sweet accessory will work well in a nursery, bathroom or bedroom. We’ve chosen vintage…

YOU WILL NEED King Cole Merino Blend DK 1 ball each of Magenta (A) and Aran (B) 5mm hook Tapestry needle SIZE 28cm (11in) square TENSION Tension is not important for this project ABBREVIATIONS Turn to page 90 for a full list of abbreviations TOP TIP Animal yarns are naturally heat resistant, so go for 100% wool! ABOUT THIS YARN KING COLE MERINO BLEND DK 100% wool 112m per 50g £2.99 www.woolwarehouse.co.uk Sometimes you just want to protect your surfaces the old-fashioned way. This pot stand’s a real star in the kitchen and would also adorn your dining table beautifully. Why not work a few of them in colours that complement your interior? Join five diamonds to make a single two-colour star, and repeat as desired. POT STAND Make five…

As many as 25,000 older people’s lives are at risk because of the cold. And innocent wanted to help. Back in 2003 they had an idea, asking people to knit little woolly hats. They put those hats on their smoothies, and for each one sold made a donation to Age UK. innocent has put little hand-knitted hats onto smoothie bottles for over 13 years now, and in that time donated £1.9 million to Age UK. This year, they’re aiming for an enormous, recordbreaking two million hats to raise more money than ever before. KEEPING IT LOCAL All the hats for the Big Knit are knitted by real people who volunteer their time and knitting skills to help make the campaign a success. Lots of the hats are knitted by older…

TOP TIP For added contrast, crochet trims in Bud Pink or Peony instead of Frothy YOU WILL NEED Sublime Egyptian Cotton DK, 6 (7: 8) balls of Frothy (321); 1 ball of each: Alessandra (325), Bud Pink (323), Peony (326), Rush Hour (324), Freya (328) 4mm and 3.75mm or 3.5mm crochet hook (see sizing notes) SIZE Instructions include three sizes, small, medium and large. Small: To fit 86cm/34in bust Medium: To fit 100cm/39½in bust Large: To fit 114cm/45in bust Sizes are determined by the number of squares in the top. To make a size in between the sizes given, use a smaller hook (3.5mm or 3.75mm), checking the measurements of one square and multiplying it by 12 (14: 16) to give you the finished bust size, adding an extra 2cm…

YOU WILL NEED Güterman Top Stitch thread in yellow, pink and grey 1.5mm crochet hook 18in chain necklace Jewellery pliers ABBREVIATIONS Turn to page 90 for a full list of abbreviations TOP TIP Blocking your hearts sets the stitches in shape, ensuring a better finish ABOUT THIS YARN GÜTERMANN TOP STITCH THREAD 100% polyester 30m £1.75 www.johnlewis.com What’s not to love about bunting? It’s fun, it’s retro and it makes us all smile. Mini bunting hearts are easy to crochet and can be made up in any combination of colours to go with any outfit. We’ve gone for a bang-on trend mustard, cream and pink combination. Your flags can be strung from any plain chain necklace, making this the perfect excuse to raid a few flea market jewellery stalls. BUNTING…

TOP TIP If you struggle to achieve tight stitches, try going down a hook size or two YOU WILL NEED Brown Sheep Shepherd’s Shades, 1 x ball each of (A) Rose Petal and (B) Thistle 5.5mm and 6mm crochet hooks Toy stuffing Tapestry needle Embroidery thread in black 7.5mm safety eyes in black TENSION 4 sts over 4½ rows = 2.5cm (1in) Safety first: Suitable for all ages ABBREVIATIONS Turn to page 90 for a full list of abbreviations ABOUT THIS YARN BROWN SHEEP SHEPHERD’S SHADES 100% wool 120m per 100g www.brownsheep.com BOOKSHOP… 500 Toys (RRP £9.99) has hundreds of projects whether you love crochet, knitting, sewing or needlefelt, there’s plenty for all skill levels. Visit www.searchpress.com Everyone benefits from some sweetness in life, and Pops the piglet is a…

TOP TIP To make a larger blanket for an older child, use a bigger hook and dk yarn YOU WILL NEED Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino 6 balls of Yarn A Ecru (101) 1 ball of each: Yarn B Candy Pink (06), Lilac (10), Amber (66), Apple (02), Pool (71), Peach Melba (68) 1 ball of Yarn C Chocolate (11) 3mm crochet hook SIZE Finished blanket: approx 73x91cm (28_x36in) Each square measures approx 9.5cm (3_in) TENSION Tension is not important for this project ABBREVIATIONS Turn to page 90 for a full list of abbreviations ABOUT THIS YARN DEBBIE BLISS BABY CASHMERINO 55% wool, 33% acrylic, 12% cashmere 125m per 50g £4.99 www.woolwarehouse.co.uk Snuggly, soft and sweet, this lovely blanket is a must-make for baby. Designer Nicki Trench says: “The beautiful colours…

Holding the hook TRY THESE METHODS AND SEE WHICH WORKS BEST PENCIL METHOD Hold the hook like a pencil, in your right hand (if you’re right-handed), about 3-5cm from the hooked end. If your hook has a flat area, you’ll find it comfortable to hold it here. KNIFE METHOD Hold the hook between your thumb and forefinger, about 3-5cm from the hooked end, resting the end of the hook against your palm. This will give you lots of control. Holding the yarn EVEN TENSION RESULTS IN EVEN STITCHES METHOD ONE Pass the ball end of the yarn between the little finger and third finger of your left hand (if you are right-handed), then behind the third and middle fingers, over your index finger. METHOD TWO Loop the ball end of…

Top of ?he B?ogs! AmigurumiBarmy.blogspot.co.uk Meet Love Crochet favourite, Liz Ward! Liz is the talented designer behind many of the projects we feature in our magazine, and she’s also the creator of AmigurumiBarmy. blogspot.co.uk – a colourful, imaginative home to Liz’s menagerie of cute and quirky creations. Liz lives in the beautiful setting of York and is the proud owner of Bengal cats, Cassi and Cal. Check out Liz’s Etsy shop (www.AmigurumiBarmy.etsy.com) to get your hands on some of her amazing designs to make yourself. Beginner's luck If you vowed at the start of the year to learn to crochet or hone your skills, but can't make it to a local class, we might have the answer. Take a look at the site for Get Hooked, a raved-about crochet workshop…

YOU WILL NEED Drops Eskimo Uni Colour yarn, 3 x 50g balls in shade 53 Grey (A),and 1 x 50g ball in shade 26 Bright Pink (B) 5.5mm and 6mm crochet hooks Magnetic bag clasp available from most good craft stores SIZE 29x21cm (11½x8in) TENSION Tension is not important for this project ABBREVIATIONS Turn to page 90 for a full list of abbreviations TOP TIP Take care when sewing up as the yarn is very soft and will split easily ABOUT THIS YARN RICO CREATIVE COTTON ARAN 100% wool 50m per 50g £1.70 www.woolwarehouse.co.uk Make this super clutch bag in just a couple of evenings using gorgeous pure wool chunky yarn from Drops. A simple onerow pattern is used to create a textured look to the fabric. Add a flourish…

TOP TIP After breaks, check you’re using the same size hook when you pick up your work YOU WILL NEED T-shirt yarn in the colours of your choice. We used Tek-Tek Pastel Pink and Tek-Tek Vibrant Turquiose, Hoooked Aqua Stylecraft Special DK – cream (for pompom) 8mm, 9mm or 10mm crochet hook Pompom maker Scissors TENSION Tension is not important for this project ABBREVIATIONS Turn to page 90 for a full list of abbreviations T-shirt yarn is a gorgeously bouncy option available in an array of bright colours. If you've already discovered it, you'll find this project a brilliant stash buster for using up leftovers. The sturdy containers are great for tidying up bathrooms, bedrooms and, of course, craft rooms. In fact, they'd be ideal receptacle for yarn remnants! The…

YOU WILL NEED Rico Essentials Cotton DK, 1 ball of Natural (51) 3mm crochet hook Wooden ring (5.5cm/2in diameter) Jar and tea lights SIZE Base of 8 rounds measures 6.5cm (2½in) Sides, with (5 rounds of lattice and bobble pattern) twice, measure 13.5cm (5¼in) TENSION Tension is not important for this project Abbreviations Bobble stitch = Yrh, insert hook where directed, (yrh pull through, insert in same place) 3 times, yrh pull through all 5 loops). Always work with WS facing for bobble to be on RS. Turn to page 90 for a full list of abbreviations ABOUT THIS YARN RICO ESSENTIALS COTTON DK 100% cotton 130m per 50g £2.49 www.woolwarehouse.co.uk You can alter this pattern to suit the circumference of your own jar by using a di_erent number of…

Every year, innocent’s Big Knit campaign recruits talented crafters like you from all over the UK to make fun little hats for smoothie bottles. This year, we’re helping innocent reach their target of 2 million hats for the biggest bit knit ever. It’s fun, it’s easy and it’s for a great cause. For every behatted smoothie sold, the Big Knit campaign donates 25p to Age UK to help keep older people warm and well over winter. The colder months can be tough for a lot of people – as many as 25,000 older people’s lives are at risk because of the cold. But we can help and whether you’re new to crocheting hats or have made a hundred before, it’s simple to get involved. Thanks to crocheters and knitters like…

TOP TIP Why not glue some felt to the bottom of each slipper for extra durability? YOU WILL NEED MATERIALS DMC Woolly, 1 x 50g ball each in Turquoise (074) and Purple (062) 3.5mm crochet hook 1cm (_in) lilac buttons Wool needle Stitch marker SIZE Will fit most UK sizes TENSION Tension is not important for this project ABBREVIATIONS Turn to page 90 for a full list of abbreviations ABOUT THIS YARN DMC WOOLLY 100% merino wool 125m per 50g £6.00 www.hobbycraft.co.uk Forget fluffy sheepskins – for the warmer months, we prefer lighter makes to keep feet comfy and cool. These crocheted slip-ons are just the ticket: made from fine, light merino wool for a neat fit that won’t irritate. They’re really quick to work up and cost-effective too, as…

TOP TIP Children love to wear items they’ve had a say in so let them pick the colours! YOU WILL NEED James C Brett Cotton On DK, 1 ball each in Cream (shade CO2) and Coral (shade CO6) 4mm crochet hook Wool needle SIZE 40x20cm (15_x7_in) TENSION Tension is not important for this project ABBREVIATIONS blo = back loop only Turn to page 90 for a full list of abbreviations IT’S IN THE DETAIL To start a magic ring, don’t make a slipknot. Instead, make a loop with the yarn, leaving a tail around 10cm long. Make sure the tail end is on the bottom. Now insert your hook into the loop, from front to back. Wrap the working yarn around the hook anticlockwise and pull the yarn through the…

TOP TIP A long sewing needle allows you to finish your ends in the middle of the toy YOU WILL NEED Patons 100% cotton 4ply in, 20g in Nougat, 10g in Cream and 5g in Deep Fuchsia 1.25mm, 2mm and 3mm crochet hooks Embroidery thread, black, white, green, yellow Stitch markers (optional) Pins (optional but recommended) Toy stu_ng SIZE Approx. 9cm (3.5in) tall TENSION Tension is not important for this project ABBREVIATIONS Turn to page 90 for a full list of abbreviations ABOUT THIS YARN STYLECRAFT SPECIAL DK 100% acrylic 295m per 100g £1.79 www.woolwarehouse.co.uk This amigurumi bunny may be small, but she's big on personality – in fact, she's likely to rabbit on throughout any social situation! Happily, she's small enough to fit in a pocket, so you can…

TOP TIP Test your magic ring to ensure it opens and closes before you start working into it YOU WILL NEED 50g balls of any DK yarn, for the cats’ bodies 50g balls of Sirdar Wash ‘n’ Wear Double Crepe DK in Denim 300, Buttercup 200, Lime 373, Cherry 278, Bright pink 375, Hydrangea 264, White 251, Clerical 289, Black 275, Duck egg 318 3.5mm crochet hook 12mm (½in) safety toy eyes Wool needle Toy stuffing Fabric glue Jewellery wire Flower motif SIZE 20x10cm (8x4in) TENSION Tension is not important for this project, but make sure your stitches are tight enough that the stuffing won’t poke through ABBREVIATIONS Turn to page 90 for a full list of abbreviations ABOUT THIS YARN SIRDAR WASH ‘N’ WEAR DOUBLE CREPE DK 55% acrylic,…

Bruno the Bear kit RICO £15.99 www.woolwarehouse.co.uk A cute rainbow-striped bear is always on our wish list, and we know plenty of children who would love Rico’s Bruno the Bear too. Part of Rico’s Patchwork Family, the kit makes creating him yourself easy, with 25g balls of Rico Creative Cotton Aran in pearl grey, candy pink, cherry, sky blue, light green, and vanilla for the body, plus black yarn for eyes and nose and two 25g balls of Natural. You also get a 3.5mm crochet hook, tapestry needle and the pattern. We love his plump belly and squidgy limbs, just right for bedtime cuddles. Crochet sushi kit THE PUDGY RABBIT £20.33 www.ThePudgyRabbit.etsy.com We love an assortment of nonedible food and nothing could be more appropriate than some amigurumi sushi. This…

In the next issue... Longer, sunnier days are giving us plenty of light-filled evenings for crocheting, so we’re bursting with eagerness to get on with some lovely, speedy makes! Your next issue of Love Crochet is crammed with fun, colourful makes, with projects for all skill levels, plus inspiration and crucial crochet tips. Don’t miss out – pre-order your copy now! At just £4.99 this issue includes: Sweet Easter projects Advice and tutorials News, reviews & more The April 2017 issue is on sale 22nd March. Pre-order your copy today with FREE UK delivery!…