Crochet

Patterns, projects and techniques

MORE ‘INSIDE CROCHET’

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INSIDE CROCHET MAGAZINE #17

I continue to be a fan of this wonderful UK produced Inside crochet magazine!  I thought I would share a few of my favorite projects from inside this issue.

First, I just happen to have one of the recommended yarns for the Hill of Tara Shawl pictured on the lower right corner of the cover.  This is a simple pattern that creates a stunning shawl.  The yarn will do most of the ‘heavy lifting’ in this project.  I have 10 skeins of LB Amazing yarn in the Ruby Colorway that I’ll use to make this shawl.  The pictured shawl uses two different colorways – which is a great idea and one I might do yet.

The Pewter Tunic on page 59 is one of those patterns that can be worked up as a tunic, dress, blouse, or pull over sweater.  The stitch pattern is intricate looking and I suspect that yarn choice will be key in creating a subtly shaded garment that can be worn to the office or out for a soiree.

Other projects include the pretty cover filet style tunic, a very handsome child’s jacket in tunisian, an elegantly simple filet scarf, and several other projects that probably won’t make it onto my ‘to-do’ list – but well be ones you’d like.

One of my favorite regular features in “Yarns We Love” where four to six yarns are featured, described in detail, including price, and shown crocheted into a motif.  This is valuable information that pulls me in one direction or another for each yarn – usually toward ALL of them!  And, with this information, alone, I can determine if the yarn will work for a project I have in mind.

In the US, you may have trouble locating this magazine.  It is carried by some Border’s stores, some Barnes and Noble stores, and probably other booksellers I don’t have access to.  It’s also available as a download from yudu.com.  It’s a pricey subscription – actually quite reasonable for a monthly publication – but I have no faith that the magazines would make it intact all the way from the UK to my St. Louis address – if they made it at all.  Such items are frequently stolen along the way (in my experience).  I prefer to buy it monthly at local booksellers.  If you’re in the UK, I’d recommend subscribing.

Comments

  1. I know what you mean about it not making it to you. I have trouble with my Post Office because I never get my BH&G magazine. The one time I did it was all rolled up like someone had stashed it away to read it and then put it in my mail box. I forgot why I stopped my magazine subscriptions and after this I will not renew, just pick them up in the store.

Have you read?

Shock Wave Free Crochet Lap Blanket Pattern

This Free Shock Wave Crochet Lap Blanket Pattern from Mary Maxim looks like one of those wonderfully satisfying projects that gives big cozy payoff without fiddly detail. Mary Maxim lists it as a free download, designed as a crochet afghan/lap blanket, with a finished size of 45 x 50 inches.

What immediately stands out is the yarn choice. The pattern is made with Bernat Blanket Extra Thick, using 5 skeins, and calls for a U.S. U/50 (25 mm) crochet hook. That is gloriously chunky territory, which usually means fast progress and lots of squishy texture. If you are in the mood for a project that feels substantial in your hands and grows quickly row by row, this one definitely has that appeal.

Mary Maxim describes the blanket as having a beautifully textured, plush, soft finish and suggests it as a project for home décor or gifting. Based on the materials and oversized hook alone, that sounds about right. This feels like the sort of blanket you make for curling up on the couch, draping over a chair, or giving as a practical handmade gift that will actually get used instead of folded away “for best.”

The pattern is marked Easy, and the listed stitch requirements are straightforward: chain, repeat, double crochet, single crochet, and slip stitch. That makes it sound approachable for confident beginners and very appealing for anyone who wants a relaxing crochet project without too much counting drama.

I also think the lap blanket size is a smart one. Not every crochet blanket needs to become a giant commitment that takes over the lounge room and your will to live. A 45 x 50 inch blanket is a useful, manageable size for gifting, for wheelchairs or reading nooks, or just for keeping on hand for chilly evenings. That practicality gives this pattern extra appeal. The usability point is my own take based on the finished dimensions Mary Maxim provides.

At the moment, the pattern page shows no reviews, so there is not much customer feedback to go on yet. Still, if you enjoy easy crochet blanket patterns, super chunky crochet throws, or quick lap blanket projects, this one looks like a solid freebie to save.

My overall take? This looks like a fast, cozy, beginner-friendly crochet blanket pattern with plenty of texture and instant-gratification energy. Very much the sort of project you start because it looks easy, then keep going because the yarn feels ridiculously soft.