In the Wool #53 (free)
Sayonara Summer
Good morning, makers!
I apologise for being a little late with this edition; I ran into some technical difficulties yesterday afternoon and didn’t want to publish an edition that wasn’t going to be at its best. The bright side is you get a blast of early morning inspiration to set you up for the week ahead! It’s almost time to switch your summer cocktails for pumpkin spice lattes as the autumn season is just around the corner. I don’t know about you, but I’m more than ready for some cold weather so I can get all cosy with my crochet. Blankets, sweaters, scarves - I can’t wait for autumn/winter projects! But before we get into that, I’m sure there’s something else on many of your minds right now; the kids are going back to school. There are so many ways you can incorporate crafting in the return to school, whether it be hand knitted cardigans or funky crochet pencil cases that will make your little ones smile.
In this edition, I’ll be going over some yarn and project inspiration that you may find useful, and of course an extensive collection of free knitting and crochet patterns for you to choose from. Don’t worry if the school run isn’t on your mind; I have plenty for you too, including my current crochet projects, behind the scenes access to our latest wool shop window display, and a little taste of autumn to get you in the mood. Enjoy!
For this week’s Yarn Corner, I wanted to find a range that would go hand in hand with school garments. I always had a knitted school cardigan when I was growing up; I remember one in particular that was navy blue with gold animal buttons. I chose Wendy with Wool aran for this feature as it carries some of the classic school uniform shades, such as blue, green and grey. It also comes in huge 400g balls, which is more than enough yarn to complete a full children’s garment in most sizes.
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CLICK HERE to learn all about this lovely yarn!
September Giveaway!
Over the last few weeks we’ve been blown away by the interest in our new pattern books from Ricorumi, so this month we’re giving away a copy of the coveted Element Heads book! One lucky subscriber will win this fantastic collection of unique amigurumi designs - check out the ‘Community Creations’ section of this newsletter to see which characters some of our local crafters have already made. If you have a premium subscription to In the Wool, you are automatically entered into our giveaway every month☺️
Behind the Scenes: Endangered Animals Window
This week we launched a brand new handmade window display in our yarn shop, Babes in the Wool. The theme this time started with endangered animals, but expanded to include a range of animals from Australia too. We thought this would be a fun way to raise awareness and create an exciting display for our local community. I’m going to take you behind the scenes and show you how this window came together. From developing our idea to the yarns and patterns we used, come and learn all about our endangered animals display.
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Back to School: Handmade Favourites
Summer has flown by and the new school year is here already. Many of you will have children or grandchildren, nieces or nephews, who will be heading to school this September, so I thought I’d share some useful patterns for handmade goodies that you may like to prepare for them. From simple sweaters and cardigans, to pencil cases and bookmarks, keep reading to get a head-start on the school run and make sure your little ones have everything they need for the coming term.
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As I’ve been getting so excited for colder weather, I’ve added the next 2 colour blocks to my crochet star blanket; it grows more and more every day. I love working on this project later in the evening as it’s an easy one to do if I’m tired or looking to relax. You don’t have to think too hard about the pattern so it’s easier to get into a rhythm with it, and before you know it the rounds start adding up. The chenille yarn makes this project extra cosy too, and my goal is to be wrapped up in a finished blanket by the time autumn officially arrives!
The other project I’ve been working on recently is an amigurumi pig. A relative of mine bought a couple of crochet kits and asked me if I would help make them as gifts, and of course I said yes. It’s been a few months since I’ve done amigurumi and I always forget how much I enjoy it. I love how quickly these projects can build up. Working on smaller patterns, and ones that require making different pieces to assemble, is always a boost to my motivation as the quick turnaround makes me feel more accomplished. Working on larger makes, like my star blanket, means having to wait longer for the payoff, which can sometimes be a little demotivating. That’s why I like having different sized projects on the go at any given time. It can be more stimulating to switch between them and have options for different moods. This little pig has been fun to work on after I’ve had my coffee in the morning as my brain is awake and ready to read a pattern!
I will say this pattern has been harder to work from than others. The kit looks as though it’s beginner friendly but I can see why these kits were passed on, as some of the phrasing was confusing even for me. But the pig is coming to life little by little; I’ve finished the head, body and legs, and will be moving on to arms and ears this week. Hopefully next time I’ll have a very cute character to share with you!
Community Creations
You may remember a few weeks ago when our new Ricorumi collections arrived in store, providing us with 2 brand new yarns and 2 interesting pattern books. As always, Ricorumi did a fantastic job with their new designs, and our local makers have really been enjoying these crochet patterns so far. One of the books sold out within the first few days, and we’re now starting to see some finished projects come to life.
Learn more about the new Ricorumi
First up, we have a colourful aubergine which has been crocheted by Coral using the Fresh Friends pattern book. This variegated purple shade certainly packs a lot of punch, and is created by Ricorumi’s new yarn cakes, Spin Spin DK. The shades in this range naturally add a bit of texture to any project instead of using a solid shade. I love how the green stalk kind of looks like a top hat, and the solid shade contrasts perfectly with the main body.
Pictured top right we have a character called ‘Moonhead’ who has been crocheted by Helen using the Element Heads pattern book. This is such a cute design, and I love all the smaller details like the star and the hat. The Element Heads book is perhaps Ricorumi’s most unique collection of patterns yet, and these amigurumis really stand out from the crowd.
My mum has also been working on a character from this collection called ‘Mother Earth Head’, which you can see in the bottom two photos. This design is one of my favourites as I love the little mushrooms on its head! Even though there are so many brilliant patterns out there, I think it can be hard to find designs that are completely one of a kind, but this book really pushes the limits of creativity and imagination. Which of these characters is your favourite?
A huge thank you to Coral, Helen and Lesley (my mum), for sharing these projects! You’ve all done a great job, and have definitely made me want to give one a go. CLICK HERE to read a recent instalment of Yarn Corner and learn more about Ricorumi’s latest releases.
Free Patterns!
A little taste of pumpkin season…
Pumpkins by Willow Crochet (crochet)
Pumpkin Treat Bowl by One Social Girl (crochet)
Boo Pumpkins by The Turtle Trunk (crochet)
Gourdgeous Pumpkins by Adrienne Sullivan (knit)
Petite Pumpkin by Michele C Meadows (knit)
Pumpkin Hat by Fox and Pine Stitches (knit)
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