Introducing my latest throw design, in beautiful spring shades and a soft dk yarn. I’ve been using this King Cole Cottonsoft DK for a while now, and I’ve been really pleased with the stitch definition and drape. This pattern would suit a confident beginner/intermediate crocheter, as I’ve tried to include lots of texture to go with the dramatic colour changes. It’s one of my favourites. Pattern is available on Ravelry, Etsy and LoveCrafts.

This latest pattern is my longest wrap to date. It uses two Scheepjes Whirls, one each side of the dramatic central stripe. I’ve kept the Tunisian crochet stitches quite simple, so the focus can be on the colour changes. I really loved working on this – the pattern was interesting enough to be enjoyable, and repetitive enough to be relaxing. I chose to listen to an audio book when I was working on it, and found a new author to enjoy. The yarn is fingering-weight, so I’m looking forward to wearing this over the warmer summer months. Pattern can be found on Etsy, Ravelry and LoveCrafts.

This is a lovely throw for spring/summer, in Tunisian crochet. I’ve kept the stitches really simply, so that the focus is on the dramatic colour change. Increasingly I find that I’m drawn to Tunisian crochet for the rhythm of the stitch – the whole process is just so calming. I’ve added honeycomb stitch edges to prevent any curling, and the yarn, a 100% cotton from King Cole, has a lovely weight to it. I wasn’t sure what to call the throw when it was finished, and one of my grandchildren said it reminded him of big teeth: thank you, James. Pattern is available on Ravelry, Etsy and Lovecrafts.

Pattern release: introducing the Isel Throw, a generous blanket/throw so named after a character in the audiobook I was listening to as I made it (people often ask where the names come from, so now you know). This is worked in a beautiful 100% cotton yarn from King Cole, called Cottonsoft DK, in three lovely colours. It drapes really well, with some weight to it. Pattern is available on Etsy, Ravelry and LoveCrafts.

I loved designing and making this one. Increasingly I find myself drawn back to Tunisian crochet. The stitches here are fairly simple – net stitch and honeycomb stitch. The interest comes with the blocks of colour in a beautiful aran yarn. I had some fun working out the increases for the hood, and I’m really pleased with how it came out. The shawl drapes beautifully, and is ideal as an extra layer when the mornings/evenings are just a little cool. Pattern is available on Ravelry, Etsy and Lovecrafts.

This has been in the works for a while. First of all I got waylaid with two magazine commissions and then, when I’d finished making the shrug up, I found all sorts of reasons not to sit at the computer and write it up. Even when I’d written it up and tested the pattern, I still kept putting off the final touches. What I’ve realised is that I love creating and making, but I really don’t enjoy the admin. This is a lovely, lightweight shrug, ideal for when the weather finally begins to warm up. It drapes beautifully, and because of the short sleeve seams it is easier to wear than a wrap in my opinion. Pattern is on Ravelry, Etsy and Lovecrafts.

I made this one over the Christmas period, and I have to say I’ve really enjoyed wearing it since the weather has turned much colder. This Field of Stars Shrug is worked in an aran yarn, and I’ve used the three colours to create quite striking blocks. It is worked in a rectangle and then joined at very short sleeve seams to create cuffs, so it drapes like a blanket over the shoulders – it’s like wearing a hug. The shrug is a Tunisian crochet design, so I’ve worked honeycomb stitch in bands around all edges to prevent curling, and the centre of the rectangle is worked in star stitch, to create texture. Pattern is available on all my sites, and Ravelry.

I have so many works in progress (WIPs) that I was determined to get one finished, and here it is: the Moorland Poncho. I’ve worked it in Hayfield Spirit DK, a lovely variegated yarn that created the stripes you see here. The pattern is largely based around treble crochet (US double crochet), either worked ‘as standard’, grouped into V-stitches, or worked together to create triangles. It is a two-row repeat, so you quickly become familiar with the pattern and I found it quite relaxing. I have a tendency to over-complicate things, so I’m making a real effort this year to keep patterns a little simpler, while still including enough detail to be interesting. This poncho is made of two panels, joined at the shoulders. Pattern is available on Etsy, Lovecrafts and on Ravelry

I finished so many projects in the run up to the Christmas break, but didn’t want to release anything until the new year, so expect to see some new things over January and February. To start with, I’m releasing this Salted Caramel Wrap. I had one cake of Scheepjes Whirl, and wanted to make a really long, light, rectangular piece that I could wear draped over my shoulders or wrapped around on colder evenings. I kept the stitches reasonable simple, as I am aware that I often over-complicate things, but I did include a little challenge. There was a lovely rhythm to the stitches when I was making this, which is what I always aim for. The long gradient change in the yarn came out beautifully – I often think the end result is far better than the cake itself suggests. Pattern is available on Ravelry, LoveCrafts and Etsy.

This is quite the biggest throw I’ve ever designed, in a lovely aran yarn so it is really cosy for the colder months. I’ve called it the Leilany Tricolour Throw, and I’ve kept the Tunisian crochet stitches simple to focus on the dramatic colour changes. Tje pattern is available on Lovecrafts, Etsy and on Ravelry