Top 10 Must Haves

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top 10 MUST-HAVES

Our picks to help you put your best hook forward

Whether you’re a beginner or an old pro, it’s always a good idea to keep in touch with trends.

Make sure your stash is refreshed by taking a look at some of our fave products available now.

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Make it Today!

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SUPERSIZED KIT

A BACK-UP STASH

We bet you adore the scrummy ice cream shades in this issue’s Sorbet kit just as much as we do, and, like us, you have more projects on your list than yarn in your kit. The good news is that Drops Paris, an aran weight, 100% cotton yarn, is the perfect alternative to use for those extra Sorbet-themed makes. Head over to the Wool Warehouse’s Drops Superstore to pick up your Sorbet-inspired collection in shades of strong yellow, white, off-white, dusty orange, pistachio, dark turquoise and shocking pink. At £1.79 per 50g ball these yarns are good value too! woolwarehouse.co.uk

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If you thought super chunky yarns were thick, think again. Introducing Tjockt – a Finnish company who developed fat wool-spinning processes to produce giant yarns. Great for those of you who like to see their work take shape quickly, or are looking to try something new. Yarn prices start from €6.95 and you can pick up a 25mm crochet hook for €29. tjockt.com

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STAPLE YARN STASH

When crocheting, make sure you look for yarns that promote great stitch definition. Cotton or merino fibres are particularly good for this. For classic examples of these yarns, go for brands such as Debbie Bliss, Patons and Louisa Harding. If you’re feeling the urge to splash out, pick up a few skeins of Rowan’s Creative Linen, it’s a 50% linen and cotton blend and costs £8.95 per 100g skein. deramores.com

CHUNKY CONES

If you’re keen to step away from traditional crochet yarns, plump for super chunky fibres such as DY Choice Chunky yarn – £7.50 per 150g ball, whateweneed.co.uk – or even T-shirt yarn.

Hoooked Zpaghetti costs £8.99 per 1200g cone from SAVVY STORAGE woolwarehouse.co.uk With crochet comes yarn and comes in a variety of hoarding. A lot of yarn hoarding. shades including pastels We find that the best thing to do is to and prints. It’s particularly make necessary purchases only (so useful in producing sturdy, that will be every gram of squidgy crocheted baskets, bags and rugs. delight you see then). As your hoard

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HOOK STORE

For the serious crocheter, only a full set of hooks will do. Clover Amour Crochet Hook Set (RRP £60) comes in an array of lovely rainbow colours with hook sizes ranging from 2mm – 6mm including all half sizes.

With a soft, easy-grip handle you’ll be able to happily crochet for hours. For stockists email clover@stockistenquiries.co.uk

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grows you’ll need Lots of storage to stash your little bundles of happiness until you’re ready to use them. We’re fans of the stackable zinc storage baskets. £18, papermash.co.uk

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SPECIALIST HOOKS

Once you’ve mastered the basics, the next step on your crochet merry-go-round could be experimenting with particular types of crochet such as Tunisian or broomstick lace. One item you might like to pop in your bag is a knooking needle; it’s an amalgamation of knitting and crochet using a crochet hook with an eyelet at one end.

Knitpro have an aluminium version, £2.50, knitproneedles.co.uk

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CLEVER COLLECTIONS

A great way to get your head around a new craft is to invest in a kit; they usually come complete with the yarn, pattern and a crochet hook.

Warm Pixie has a variety of kits for different skill levels. We love the company’s Bright Granny Square Crochet Blanket set (a must-make for any crocheter), it’s available in three sizes with prices starting from £45. warmpixie.com

ESSENTIAL BOOKS You can never have too many crafty books and The Crocheter’s Skill-building Workshop by Dora Ohrenstein (£14.99, Storey Publishing) is an absolute must for budding hook addicts. Bursting with techniques and advice on what to keep in your crochet tool box, this tome is packed with essential info. There’s even a whole chapter on controlling your tension!

TAKE A CLASS

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Sometimes taking a course can make all the difference to your crochet skills, bumping you from a beginner to a dab-hand. The Mercerie in Norwich regularly run workshops and even offer bespoke classes. They have a beginner’s crochet session on Wednesday 21st January and Improver’s Crochet for something more challenging on Wednesday 25th February 2015. themercerie.net