Make it Today Issue 5 Crochet

Make it Today!

ISSUE 5 MAY 20 15

GET CROCHET CLEVER LOVE IT MAKE IT DO IT

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CRAFT GOODIES GALORE

BUY IT

TRY IT

READ IT

EXPLORE & ENJOY

22 amazing makes WITH YOUR CAROUSEL KIT

ISSUE 5 | 拢7.99 MAY 2015

Inside

MAKE IT TODAY

PICK YOUR FAVOURITE TO TRY & TREASURE

Handy stitch guide 路 Hooky homewares 路 Meet Anna Wilkinson

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EXTRA PROJECTS 22 GRANNY STRIPE SWEATER Whip up Anna Wilkinson’s glam jumper with a few treble stitches

ON PATROL 9 HOOK ME UP We’ve sussed out the must-have tools so you don’t have to

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41 FABRIC LOVE How to crochet with fabric, on fabric, and everything inbetween 33 THE BOOKS We’ve picked our top six crochet books and talk to author Anna Wilkinson

RELAX AND READ 6 MAKE IT, BUY IT, LOVE IT Check in and read the crochet world’s latest yarn news 8 NOTICEBOARD Your lovely makes this month 20 MEET OUR MAKE IT

Contents: crochet ISSUE 5

YOUR KIT MAKES 10 FRANK THE

DRAUGHT-EXCLUDER Use your yarn to make a canine friend to guard draughty doors and windows

14 1920s HEADBAND

30 GEOMETRIC CUSHION

Brighten your lounge with a homemade contemporary cushion

35 BREAKFAST ESSENTIALS

Enjoy making a cafetière cosy, egg hats and flower-shaped coasters ready for tomorrow morning

Master your trebles and make floral embellishments with this chic accessory

38 GADGET COSY Protect your tech in style by covering it in this chevron-style pocket

16 THE THREE AMIGURIMOS Drum roll please...we reveal each name for our Make it Today musketeers

44 MITTY MOUSE

24 OWL TOTE

Perfect for practising your joining techniques – owl about that?

Crochet a cute amigurumi animal for the little one in your life

47 CROCHET CUFFS Gorgeous around a long sleeve, gorgeous as a bracelet... just gorgeous full stop!

TODAY CROCHET QUEENS Our professionals share their crucial crochet tips with us

50 FABULOUS FRAMES Give your walls a colour pop by adding frilly little frames 58 CROCHET HEARTS Learn crochet increases and decreases and make something truly lovely 60 GRANNY SQUARE LAMP Be en-light-ened and take a granny square pattern one step further

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Get money off a three issue trial Turn to page 48 for more info

28 A BEGINNER’S

CROCHET DIARY Read how Editorial Assistant Rosalind fares on her first hooky workshop

56 YOUR CROCHET HOME Add hooky style to your abode with the help of Dep Ed Jenny 66 INTERVIEW: JANINE HOLMES The amigurumi pro introduces us to some of her favourite crochet characters

IN EVERY ISSUE 3 WELCOME 5 INSIDE YOUR KIT 48 SUBSCRIPTIONS 49 GIVEAWAYS 54 COMING NEXT ISSUE 62 THE PRACTICALS

Make it Today!

YOUR 8-BALL YARN KIT

DK ACRYLIC YARN!

A SELECTION Of GORGEOUS SHADES FOR SUMMER

Turn to page 62 for all of the crochet know-how you need to get started!

HANDY 4MM AND 5.5MM DOUBLE-ENDED CROCHET HOOK DON’T MISS NEXT ISSUE! Three Butterick McCall patterns with our DRESSMAKING SPECIAL

ON SALE 19 JUNE 2015 Find out more on pages 48 and 53

PROJECT BY LYNNE ROWE | SUITABLE FOR INTERMEDIATE | SHOULD TAKE A WEEKEND FOR AMIGURUMI ENTHUSIASTS

YOU CAN THANK

FRANK THE DOGGIE DRAUGHT-EXCLUDER for keeping the breeze at bay

Kickstart your amigurumi adventure by making a canine companion like Frank, who in return will guard your doors with pride. With his adorable features and long colourful body, which is worked in charming two-round stripes, you can really push your colourwork prowess with our exclusive Carousel yarn kit in hand. Just remember to use a locking stitch marker to hold your working loop while you stuff, which will prevent your work from unravelling. You’ll be whipping him up before you have time to say ‘amigurumi’!

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PROJECT BY EMMA VARNAM | SUITABLE FOR BEGINNERS | SHOULD TAKE A FEW NIGHTS OF HOOKY GOODNESS

PACK A PUNCH WITH A

Geometric cushion and funk up your home tonight

While the thought of triangles may bring back visions of school trigonometry lessons, the versatile shapes are actually one of the hottest trends this year.

This fun, contemporary design is sure to liven up your interiors and will add a pop of colour to even the dullest of sofas. Because it is made as a panel, it’s quick to create, and transforming a tired cushion into something special has never been easier! For an even bolder look, stitch the panel to your cushion front with a contrast yarn or embroidery thread.

HALF TRIANGLE WHOLE TRIANGLE

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THIS MONTH...

make it, buY it, love it

Take a break from crafting and check out these corking crochet finds

LOVE CROCHET

Following the success that online knitting store Love Knitting has enjoyed, the team have decided to launch its hooky younger sister – Love Crochet!

With oodles of patterns and yarns from indie designers and spinners among all your favourite brands, it’s definitely worth stopping by. 0845 544 2324, lovecrochet.com

WHY YES, WE CERTAINLY WILL! BAA RAM EWE MUG, £8.

BAARAMEWE.CO.UK

YUMMY YARNS

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Since it opened back in 2005, Kent yarn shop Avicraft Wool has enjoyed many joyous years in the industry and is approaching its ten year milestone in October.

Visit the website to find out how you can join the celebrations! The team have also recently launched a fantastic online store along with a blog and all of the shop’s latest yarn news. Here’s to another decade of yarn! 020 8290 1238, avicraftwool.com

COTTON CANDY PLEASE

Tangled Yarn isn’t just an online stockist of every yarn you could imagine! Owner Rachel Owen has recently decided to launch its own in-house label; Mabel & Ivy. These gorgeous crochet cottons are available in a range of delicious shades that have arrived just in time for summer. The yarn is inbetween lace weight and 4ply, but you can also use it doubled if you prefer to work with something thicker. From £4.20, tangled-yarn.co.uk

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JOIN IN!

Stylecraft designer Jane Crowfoot tells Make it Today about an exciting new crochet-along…

the wow-pacA

Ruth Strickley of The Little Wool Company has recently added new colours to her Chilla Valley Alpaca range. The yarns are bright and zingy, and are sure to give your crochet projects a soft and special touch – especially with its blend of alpaca, Shetland and tussah silk. She also stocks a 100% alpaca ball! 01409 221699, thelittlewoolcompany.com

CURVACEOUS CROCHET

Make sure you check out the range of yarns and accessories stocked by Sconch, which includes the yarn shop’s own range of kits!

Sconch also stock Curvy Girl Crochet (£14.99, Taunton) by Mary Beth Temple, which contains 25 patterns designed to embrace and complement curves. £12.99, 01376 743123, sconch.com

Head on over to Creative Needles and take a peek at the fab range of craft products, pronto!

01452 831725, creative-needles.co.uk

SIMPLY TO DYE FOR ACE LACE

If you’re partial to a spot of embroidery or hooking fine laces, try Adriafil Ricamo 8, a colourful range of crochet cotton stocked

by Thread of Life. It’s even available in small 20g balls, which is ideal for making smaller embellishments like flowers! Turn to page 53 to find out how you can win a bundle. From £3.50, threadoflife.co.uk

Unbelieva-wool is a shop and service that offers beautiful hand-dyed skeins of yarn.

Founder Samantha Hinks is able to dye yarn to the colours of your choice and on a variety of fibres. Her passion for colour stems from her love of crochet, and she welcomes you to get in touch with your custom orders.

Visit etsy.com/shop/unbelievawool or speak to Samantha on 07702 870603 or facebook.com/unbelievawool

ON PATROL 7

Hi Jane! So tell us, what’s a crochet-along?

Crochet-alongs (CALs) have become very popular recently! If some crocheters don’t have a local crochet circle, they can really feel part of a group with a virtual CAL, where you’re all working on the same project at the same time. Because you are working towards the same goal, the sense of achievement is fantastic.

How did the Stylecraft CAL come about?

I have run four crochet clubs that have been very successful and always wanted to work with Stylecraft on a virtual crochet club. The Stylecraft CAL is working towards a beautiful lily pond blanket, which helps crocheters of all levels develop their skills.

What inspired your lily pond project?

There is a big trend for botanicals that I was very drawn to. When I design I begin with a motif, which was a lily in this case, and that often inspires the rest of the project. I like to design in this way, working and exploring a theme until I am happy.

How can people get involved?

The patterns will be free every two weeks on the Stylecraft website. If you want to take part, ask your local stockist for the Crochet Along Yarn Pack and keep an eye on my blog for hints at janeknits.blogspot.co.uk.

Stylecraft is also hosting a Q&A session in May, so keep an eye on the Facebook page for details and updates.

How’s it going so far?

The excitement is fantastic. I am so pleased that this project has already resonated with so many crocheters already, and hope even more will join.

LILY POND BLANKET Find out more at stylecraftyarns.co.uk or facebook.com/ stylecraftyarn

PROJECT BY TRACEY TODHUNTER | SUITABLE FOR BEGINNERS | SHOULD TAKE A LEISURELY CRAFTERNOON

RISE AND SHINE WITH OUR

BREAKFAST ESSENTIALS and you’ll wake up smiling

How do you like your eggs in the morning?

If, like us, you prefer yours to be coordinating, we’ve got just the ticket! Brighten up your breakfast spread by making a trendy cafetière cover, some simple egg cosies and a set of pretty flower coasters. These projects involve only three simple stitches and also allow you to get to grips with making colour changes.

You can also have fun experimenting with which combinations you use. Not an early riser? This cute crochet set is guaranteed to ease you into the morning.

BREAKFAST ESSENTIALS 35

PROJECT BY SARAH SHRIMPTON | SUITABLE FOR BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE | SHOULD TAKE UP TO 30 MINS PER HEART

HOOK A HANDFUL OF

CROCHET HEARTS for a loved one to cherish

Sometimes when you pick up your yarn and hook, the hardest part is deciding where to start – especially with all of the making possibilities! Everybody loves a romantic gift, so these handmade hearts are the perfect project to whip up tonight. What’s more, Make It Today designer Sarah Shrimpton shows you just how easy it is to work an increase and decrease technique at the beginning and end of each row. Once you’ve tried these, you can master the shape of the heart and give them to whoever holds yours. What’s not to love?

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PROJECT BY JACKIE CARREIRA | SUITABLE FOR BEGINNERS | SHOULD TAKE A CRAFTY AFTERNOON

TURN A SIMPLE PATTERN INTO A

GRANNY SQUARE LAMP and light up your home in style

If you’re new to crochet, what better way to mark the start of your love affair than with the iconic granny square?

This lampshade project is not only easy, it’s also a great chance to practise and perfect these ever-useful motifs – and once you’ve mastered one, you’ll be able to make all kinds of larger projects.

Whether you choose to place yours on a base or adapt it into a ceiling fitting, just remember to follow our recommendations in the Safety First panel for the ultimate granny chic look.

THERE’S ENOUGH YARN IN YOUR CAROUSEL KIT TO MAKE TWO LAMPSHADES!

REALLY EASY PATTERN!

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SAFETY FIRST!

ACRYLIC YARN CAN BE FLAMMABLE SO WE RECOMMEND USING A BATTERY-OPERATED LIGHTBULB. ALTERNATIVELY, YOU CAN MAKE YOUR PROJECT SAFE TO USE BY SUBSTITUTING YOUR YARN FOR A CROCHET COTTON AND USING A FLAME RETARDANT SPRAY.

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