Simply Crochet

There’s magic in the air! Get ready for

That festive feeling...

I look forward to Christmas all year, yet

CONTRIBUTORS

Well done to the amazing designers in this issue!

Simply Crochet

Editor Sara Huntington Art Editors Claire Watkins, Julie

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FLOWER FAIRIES™ COLLECTION

NOTES Patterns are worked in the amigurumi

I ’ll be home for Christmas

Welcome to Ricorumi Elf World, the new booklet

HAPPY START

Looking to get your loved ones hooked on

TASTY TREATS

For a quick and easy festive garland, head

DESIGN AND CONQUER

Even us hooksters get a cool app to

Big news

There’s a new chunky yarn in town, and

HOW TO MAKE A SLIP STITCH BORDER

Crochet hackswith Miss Neriss

SUBS STARS!

EXCLUSIVELY FOR SUBSCRIBERS! Every month, three subscribers win

INSPIRING BOOKS

KNOT BAD AMIGURUMI VINCENTGREEN-HITE (£18.99,Quarto) Crochet sensation Vincent

STAY WARM

Simply Crochet designer Cassie Ward has partnered with

MIX AND MATCH

Whether you’re creating intricate colourwork or a solid

FEELING WOOL

▼ No matter who you’re hooking for this

Florrie’s Craft Shop Shop

Shop local Odie, the shop dog Each issue

MAKERS GONNA MAKE

Hobbycraft are giving small crafty businesses a leg

PURE CHEMISTRY

Scheepjes’ new Colour Lab CAL encourages hooksters to

FOR THE LOVE OF DOGS

A marathon is what you make it! Joanne

Skills & events

5 DEC Crochet workshop Christmas gift bags £24.99,

5 FAB FINDS

Scandinavian gnomes Enjoy some winter cheer with these tomte friends

CATHERINE’S JOURNAL

...from the studio

POSITIVELY CREATIVE

When it comes to cuteness, Anitha Domacin of A Little Love Everyday is an expert! Her popular, easy-to-make amigurumi creations burst with creativity and character

Reaching for the stars

When a savvy crocheter dreamed of creating the world’s tallest supported crochet structure, she had no idea how many lives it would transform!

Show us yours

JOIN OUR GANG oF TREBLE MAKERS AND SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND MAKES WITH US, FOR A CHANCE TO BE FEATURED HERE, USE OUR HASHTAG #SCTREBLEMAKER

Small world

Sixreasons to follow micro crochet artist Lucia Dolgopolova of lucia_knit and her teeny-tiny creations

MISSED AN ISSUE?

ISSUE 129 Get ready for Christmas with our

EVERY ISSUE IS AVAILABLE DIGITALLY, STARTING FROM ISSUE ONE!

ISSUE 128 Happy little gifts collection, sunflower cardi,

HAPPY sCraPmAs!

Whether you make gifts with scrap yarn, create reusable alternatives to holiday favourites or upcycle a would-be throwaway item, you'll have lots to feel good about this season

Warm wishes

Diamond patterns are a girl’s best friend in this cosy open cardi designed by Fran Morgan

DOWN UNDER DARLING

Meet Irene Strange’s studious echidna, also known as a spiny anteater, here on a visit from sunny Australia

Join the band

Breathe new life into a favourite cardi by adding this pretty button band by Emma Friedlander-Collins

Christmas kisses

Steal a smooch under this bunting by Kate Eastwood

Happy holidays

Fill the festive season with joy with this cheerful Christmas tree jumper by Ana Diakova

BABY BUMPS

Give little ones a sensory experience with Lianne Taylor’s delightful bobbly blanket

Bold cushions

We challenged two designers to come up with a fab design, each using the same yarn… which is your fave?

Winter’s eve

You’ll look graceful all night long in Fran Morgan’s lovely lacy shawl

Arts & crafts

This 70s-style blanket by Teri Hamilton will keep your living room looking groovy

Ginger snaps

Keep your toes warm in Anna Nikipirowicz ’s super-cosy

Elf made

Stay warm and festive in this jolly hat by Marianne Rawlins, complete with adorable pompom tips!

urth yarns

Meetan indie dyer and indulge in a design with their skeins

Pretty in patchwork

Thischarming shawl by Hannah Cross makes the most of the beautiful `shades in this colour-changing yarn

Budget yarns

Top up your stash with great value yarns that won’t break the bank!

HOW DO I USE VINTAGE PATTERNS?

Brushup on your technique with our simple guide…

HOW DO I CHOOSE YARN?

Turn detective and test drive a modern yarn…

HOW DO I CHOOSE A SIZE?

Let your bust measurement guide your size choice…

HOW DO I FOLLOW THE PATTERN?

It’s easier than you think to decode the instructions…

Crochet essentials

Over the next few pages, you’ll find simple step-by-step guides to many useful stitches and techniques that you’ll use every time you pick up a hook

CHARTS & DIAGRAMS

Follow these charts when making labels for your Christmas crackers and when hooking Tom Daley’s heart tote bag.

The Holly Fairy

O, I am green in Winter-time, When other trees are brown; Of all the trees (So saith the rhyme) The holly bears the crown.

The BlackthornFairy

See,even now, in hedge and thicket tangled, One brave and cheering sight: The leafless branches of the Blackthorn, spangled With starryblossomswhite!

The Daf fodil Fairy

I’m everyone’s darling: the blackbird and starling Are shouting about me from blossoming boughs; For I, the Lent Lily, the Daffy-down-dilly, Have heard through the country the call to arouse.

The Speedwell Fairy

The heavens are high: By the field-path I grow Where wayfarers go, And “Goodspeed,”sayI

The May Fairy

My buds, they cluster small and green; The sunshine gaineth heat: Soon shall the hawthorn tree be clothed As withasnowysheet

The Strawberry Fairy

Strawberries small And wild and sweet, For the Queen and all Of her Court to eat!

TheForget- Me- Not Fairy

I’ve never seen a garden plot; But though I’m small Forget me not!

The Foxglove Fairy

“Foxglove, Foxglove, What do you see?” The cool green woodland, The fat velvet bee; Hey, Mr Bumble, I’ve honey here for thee!

CLARE COOPER

Meet the amigurumi designer behind the adorable Flower Fairies™ in our calendar

The Blackberry Fairy

My berries cluster black and thick For rich and poor alike to pick.

The Acorn Fairy

ToEnglish folk the mighty oak Is England’s noblest tree

The Sloe Fairy

And now is Autumn here, and lo, The Blackthorn bears the purple sloe!

The Christmas Tree Fairy

The little Christmas Tree was born And dwelt in open air; It did not guess how bright a dress Some day its boughs would wear