yarn – Pearson Handmade

Cosy Crochet Projects for Chilly Evenings

Last week, I introduced you to my latest Tunisian crochet design, the Mistwood Hooded Scarf. This week, as the evenings draw in and the temperature drops, I wanted to share a few ideas for cosy crochet projects that are perfect for slow, comforting making on chilly nights.

For me, truly cosy projects begin with the yarn. Choosing fibres that feel warm, soft, and satisfying in the hands makes all the difference when you’re settling in for an evening of crochet.

One of my long-standing favourites is Drops Nepal, a wool and alpaca blend classed as an aran weight. It has a lovely warmth and weight, and because it’s aran, projects grow quickly – always a joy when the evenings feel short. I’ve recently designed a particularly cosy project using this yarn, which will appear in the next issue of Simply Crochet magazine, out on 23rd December.

I also regularly use King Cole Fashion Aran, which comes in a huge range of colours. With 30% wool, it’s a more affordable option, making larger projects such as blankets feel achievable without worrying too much about cost. More recently, I’ve discovered King Cole Merino Blend DK, a superwash 100% wool yarn that has worked up beautifully and feels wonderfully soft.

Of course, if you’re able to spin your own yarn, you can really lean into seasonal colours and textures. This very Christmassy Corriedale and sari silk blend from Adelaide Walker, called Medina, is a perfect example – full of depth, warmth, and character.

Once you’ve chosen your yarn, it’s time to find a project you’ll genuinely enjoy. A quick search on Ravelry using the yarn weight you have to hand will reveal plenty of hats, gloves, and scarves that work up quickly and make satisfying gifts. That said, I don’t think there’s much better than crocheting a blanket or throw at this time of year. The gentle weight of the fabric resting in your lap is incredibly comforting, and as the piece grows, you almost find yourself wrapped in its warmth.

Over the years, I’ve built up a small library of pattern books, and the ones I still return to most often include:

Crocheted Throws and Wraps by Melody Griffiths
The Art of Crochet Blankets by Rachele Carmona
Rainbow Crocheted Blankets by Amanda Perkins
Beautiful Blankets, Afghans and Throws by Leonie Morgan

If you’d like to try your hand at Tunisian crochet, Toni Lipsey’s The Tunisian Crochet Handbook is full of cosy, inspiring projects. One of my own bestselling patterns, the Winterborn Throw, is a Tunisian crochet design worked in Fashion Aran yarn and is ideal for slow winter evenings.

However you choose to spend your crafting time, I hope these ideas encourage you to embrace slower making, warmer fibres, and projects that bring a little extra comfort at this time of year.

Happy crafting until next time – which will be after the Christmas break, when I’ll be turning my focus to fibre.

Sue

Crocheter or Weaver – Which Are You?

Last week, I wrote about blocking and how to give your finished projects a truly professional finish. This week, I’m exploring the two crafts I spend most of my time with: crochet and weaving. Both bring me so much joy, but in very different ways.

Crochet: My First Craft Love

My mum taught me to crochet when I was in Primary school. I still remember making long chains to use as ties for a classroom project! Crochet has stayed with me ever since—partly because it’s incredibly versatile, and partly because it’s so portable. One hook and a ball of yarn can go anywhere.

Over the years, I’ve explored lots of different crochet styles, and each one offers something unique:

Standard Crochet

Probably the most familiar style, with a huge range of stitches to create texture, lace, or dense fabrics—whatever your project calls for. Patterns range from simple and soothing to wonderfully challenging, using both written instructions and charts.

Tunisian Crochet

One of my favourites. This style uses a long hook (or one with a cable) to hold multiple loops, almost like a hybrid of crochet and knitting. When worked flat, you keep the right side facing and alternate a Forward Pass and Return Pass. It’s also lovely worked in the round for throws or tall cowls. I learned this technique from books and from Toni Lipsey’s excellent YouTube tutorials.

Mosaic Crochet

There are two main types: inset and overlay mosaic.

Inset mosaic uses simple stitches and two colours on alternate rows—no endless ends to sew in! Esme Crick’s Mosaic Crochet Workshop is a fantastic introduction.
Overlay mosaic is more complex and creates those dramatic, slanting patterns. Each row is cut at the end, so there are plenty of ends to deal with, but the results are stunning. Alexis Sixel’s Dark and Dramatic Mosaic Crochet is a brilliant guide.

Mochila Bag Crochet

This technique creates sturdy drawstring bags, often paired with a woven strap—a perfect blend of the two crafts I love. It’s a slow, meditative process, and I can’t recommend Marion Verloop’s Facebook group, Mochila Style Crochet, highly enough—the files section is a treasure trove.

Freeform Crochet

Anything goes! I learned freeform crochet at my local wool shop, and I love making small motifs and joining them onto bags or felt boxes as decoration. It’s improvisational, creative, and wonderfully freeing.

Weaving: A Newer Creative Journey

Compared to crochet, I’m still relatively new to weaving.

I first learned inkle weaving when I discovered Mochila bags, as it’s the traditional technique for making the straps. My husband even built me a loom from shed scraps during the Covid lockdown—and it’s still going strong!

In the summer of 2024 I moved on to a rigid heddle loom so I could create scarves and shawls. Mine lives on the kitchen table, always warped and ready to go. I’ve experimented with patterns, but I’ve realised that for me, weaving is a way to decompress. Rather than counting picks or following charts, I weave whatever I’m feeling, usually resulting in organic, random stripes in beautiful yarns.

Lately, I’ve also started exploring off-loom weaving, using interesting stones I find on my walks as the base. These tiny woven pieces scratch a completely different creative itch, and for these, I do enjoy following a set pattern. If you’re curious, Lark and Bower offer excellent online classes.

Whichever craft speaks to you—crochet, weaving, or both—I hope you find joy in the making.
Happy crafting until next week, when I’ll be sharing some of my favourite colour combinations.

Sue

Why I Spin My Own Yarn

Thank you to everyone who read my first blog post. I thought for my second post, I’d talk about why I spin my own yarn — one of the most rewarding (and sometimes challenging!) parts of my fibre journey.

Initially, I thought a little handspun yarn would add some interesting texture to my crochet and woven projects. So, for Christmas 2023, I asked for a drop spindle kit from Adelaide Walker — a simple spindle, a sheet of instructions, and three fibres to practise with.

I got the basics, but really struggled to make a yarn that was at all useable. I watched a lot of YouTube videos (JillianEve was particularly good), and found the book Yarn Spinning with a Modern Twist by Vanessa Kroening very helpful too. In the end, though, nothing beats a bit of individual tuition, so I spent a couple of hours with the very lovely Zoe at Old School Crafts in Minting.

Drop spindles are wonderfully portable — you can spin almost anywhere — and they range from cheap, homemade versions to beautifully crafted works of art. I have both. They seem to breed.

My drop spindles satisfied my need to make yarn for a while, and the material I produced added interesting texture to my woven projects. But I struggled to make enough to crochet with. So, in February 2025, I took the plunge and bought a used Ashford Traditional spinning wheel. Another sharp learning curve followed — more books, more YouTube videos — but persistence paid off. I can recommend Sasha Torres at Sheepspot for her tutorials and podcasts.

I now spin a little every day, and over time my yarn has improved enough to crochet with. I’ve even written a crochet pattern, the Pebble and Loop Scarf, specifically for my handspun! Like the drop spindles, my spinning wheels are multiplying — I recently added an Ashford Traveller 3 so I can take it to classes and work on improving my technique.

Plying is still a bit of a mystery to me, and definitely something I need to work on. But part of the joy of spinning is that there’s always more to learn. Do you spin your own yarn, or have you ever been tempted to try?

Thanks for reading to the end. Next week, I’ll be sharing how I design for my crochet and weaving projects. In the meantime, happy crafting!

Sue

A New Yarn Begins: Welcome to Pearson Handmade

A new yarn (and a new adventure!) begins as I share my journey with fibre, creativity, and a touch of chaos from my handmade studio.

Hi, I’m Sue — the creative hands behind Pearson Handmade — and welcome to my very first ‘proper’ blog post!
This is my foray into writing a regular weekly blog, so wish me luck. I thought I’d start by sharing a little about what I do, why I love it, and what you can expect in future posts.

My mum taught me to knit, crochet, and cross-stitch when I was a child. Later, when I studied design at college, I discovered that it was possible to work entirely from scratch without a pattern — and that nothing is ever really a mistake (it can always be cut up and reused somewhere else!). I also fell in love with beading, feltmaking, and braiding during that time.

Fast forward to 2020: during the lockdowns, I bought some beautiful yarn and an expensive crochet pattern that turned out to be frustratingly unclear. I ended up unpicking the whole thing, tossing the pattern, and thinking “I could write a better one.”
And that’s how my journey into designing began.

More recently, I’ve taken up spinning and weaving — because, frankly, yarn is my thing and I love having it in my hands. I’m also moving more toward natural fibres and a zero-waste approach, so expect more about that in future posts.

My earlier patterns (pre-2025) are still available on Ravelry and Lovecrafts, but since Brexit, all of my work — both patterns and handmade pieces — can be found exclusively in my Etsy shop.

Thanks for reading, and I hope you’ll join me each week as I share more about my creative process, inspirations, and projects on the go.

Woolly Adventures, New Projects & Free Resources

It’s been a busy few months here at Pearson Handmade—so much making, travelling, and experimenting that September slipped away without a newsletter! The good news is that I have even more to share with you this month.

🌿 Natural Beauties: Woolly Finds in Scotland

In September, I was fortunate to spend some time in Oban, West Scotland, exploring the islands of the Inner Hebrides. My husband and I had a lovely day wandering around the tiny island of Lismore, where we discovered Sarah Campbell’s Mogwaii Design studio. Amongst the treasures there, I found hanks of Shetland wool from her own flock—irresistible! I brought some home and am currently weaving them into a scarf.

Speaking of Shetland wool, I also had three skeins from Lammermuir Wool in rich autumnal shades, bought earlier at the Wool Monty. They inspired my Tunisian Crochet Bracken Scarf. And from the same event, I picked up two skeins of Blue Faced Leicester wool from Dystopic Fibre in the shade Death by Honey—which became the spark for my advanced crochet design, the Fractured Bee Line Scarf.

🧵 Spinning Wheels Are Multiplying…

I first learned to spin with a drop spindle—a simple, affordable way to turn fibre into yarn. But soon, I wanted to produce more, so I hunted down a second-hand Ashford Traditional spinning wheel. After a little time (and a little cursing), I finally produced consistent yarn and was hooked.

Of course, the Traditional isn’t very portable, and I want to attend classes to improve. So, after much thought (and with my husband’s help assembling it), I invested in an Ashford Traveller 3 from Wingham Wools.

Now two wheels sit proudly in my living room, each with singles in progress. I feel very fortunate indeed—and now I just need to find those spinning classes.

✨ Weaving Away the Stash

For the past couple of years, my motto has been no yarn waste. I never throw yarn away—not even short ends. But what to do with those tricky leftover skeins and discontinued fancy yarns?

My answer: use them as weft on the loom. By grouping them into gentle gradients, I’ve been weaving scarves and shawls with no set rules or patterns—just the joy of combining colours and textures to see what emerges. It feels wonderfully freeing.

🎁 More Stash-Busting Ideas

Once the larger leftovers were woven, I was left with shorter yarn runs and loom waste. That’s when I discovered the joy of crocheted Mug Rugs/Coasters. Who knew small rectangles of dense stitches could be so satisfying?

Sometimes I add fringes, beads, or picots to the edges for extra charm. I’m currently writing up a pattern for these little beauties, which will be released later this month—just in time for Christmas gift-making.

🛠 Free Resources for Makers

Here’s a reminder of the free resources I’ve created to support your making:

Thank you for joining me on this month’s making journey. Whether you’re spinning, weaving, crocheting, or simply dreaming up your next project, I hope you’ve found a little inspiration here.

💬 I’d love to hear what you’re working on—share in the comments below or tag me on social media with your projects.

Happy crafting,
Sue

A month of making

New textures, colours, and creative calm

Pebble and Loop Scarf Pattern

I’m excited to share my latest crochet design: Pebble and Loop. This triangular scarf blends plump popcorn stitches with airy chain spaces to create a fabric that’s both light and sculptural. It grows gently along one edge, making it easy to adjust to your preferred size—from a snug cowl to a generous wrap.

This pattern is designed with versatility in mind. It works beautifully in any yarn weight and drapes elegantly when blocked. Whether you’re using handspun or a favourite commercial yarn, Pebble and Loop offers a rhythmic, mindful stitching experience—perfect for wrapping yourself (or someone you love) in warmth and texture.

The pattern is now available on Etsy.
(Written in English using UK crochet terms.)

🎨 Colour Play & Commissions

I’ve been working on commissions for a national crochet magazine this month. One design is finished, and I’m deep into the second. I love the chance to explore new yarns and colour combinations—especially when it pushes me beyond my usual palette.

One of my favourite resources for colour inspiration is Swatch This by Haruyoshi Nagumo. It’s packed with unexpected, effective combinations, and a great tool for rethinking how stash yarns can come together in fresh ways.

🧶 Spinning Joys

July has been all about spinning for me. I took part in Tour de Fleece hosted by Adelaide Walker, and enjoyed working through a gorgeous selection of fibres—from soft blues and greys to creams and browns. Some of that handspun has already become another Pebble and Loop scarf (I will put some images up on my social media next week). It’s such a satisfying way to pair slow spinning with mindful crochet.

🧵 Weaving as Rest

Life has been wonderfully full lately, but I’ve found calm at my rigid heddle loom. I keep things simple with plain weave and let the yarns do the work. Interesting textures and colours from my local yarn shop turn into meditative projects—no pressure, just the gentle rhythm of weaving.

🛠 Free Maker Resources

If you’re looking to support your craft with a few handy tools, I’ve created these free resources:

Project Tracker Sheet
Yarn Gift Tag
Yarn Colour Sample Card
Yarn Fibre Guide
They’re all designed to help you stay organised, inspired, and ready for your next creative project.

🧣 New Crochet Patterns

A few new designs joined the collection this past month:

The Tunisian Tiles Cushion Cover
A richly textured, geometric crochet design.

The Fieldsong Shawl
A large beaded wrap full of movement and grace.

Thanks for reading and being part of this making journey. I hope you found a spark of inspiration here—whether you’re spinning, weaving, crocheting or simply dreaming up your next project.

Feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you’re working on!Happy making,
Sue

Hot Yarn, Cool Projects: What’s New at Pearson HQ This Month

Summer might be heating up, but here at Pearson HQ, the creativity is keeping pace! From exciting magazine news to experiments with handspun yarn, plus a handy fibre guide and fresh patterns on the horizon, there’s plenty to catch up on this month.

A Busy Month at Pearson HQ

It’s been another month of crafting adventures here, and I can’t wait to share what’s been happening!

🌿 Crochet Magazines: Exciting News!

A little while back, I submitted some designs to a crochet magazine during their quarterly call-out. I’m absolutely thrilled to say my ideas were selected for their Autumn/Winter programme—and hopefully my work will be appearing in three consecutive issues!

The yarn for the first design has just arrived, and I’ve already made a start. The only challenge? Working with chunky wool during a summer heatwave. My solution so far: plenty of iced drinks and regular hand-cooling breaks!

🧶 Spinning & Handspun Projects

My spinning is getting more consistent (at last!), and I’ve been experimenting with some fibres I picked up at the Wool Monty. I’ve managed to create nearly 300g of worsted-weight 2-ply yarn in soft pinks, and I’m absolutely loving it.

I’m also working on a pattern using this yarn, and it’s coming together beautifully. The good news? I’ll be sharing this pattern with my email subscribers for free next month. It’s perfect for any DK, worsted, or even aran-weight yarn, so stay tuned!

🧵 Yarn Talk: Understanding Fibres

Ever feel overwhelmed by all the different yarn types out there? What’s acrylic actually made from? And what does “mercerised” really mean?

I’ve put together a quick guide to common fibre types to help demystify the jargon. You can check it out here.

🛍 Why I Love Local Yarn Shops

Like many of us, I often order from big online outlets such as Wool Warehouse or Black Sheep Wools—they’re great when I know exactly what I want. But nothing compares to visiting a yarn shop in person: reading labels, feeling the fibres, and discovering new ranges I might never have considered.

My local shop, Friary Stitch, introduced me to a gorgeous aran yarn from La Paz that’s become a firm favourite for weaving. And as a bonus, the staff there are always so lovely and helpful.

✨ Latest & Upcoming Patterns

Last month was a little quieter for pattern releases as I juggled new projects, but I did launch the Tracery Cowl, a sweet and simple design.

Looking ahead, next month is shaping up to be busy:

A Tunisian crochet cushion cover
A large summer crochet wrap
A beautifully pink woven shawl
And don’t forget the free handspun-friendly pattern for subscribers!

Thanks for following along on this month’s making journey—whether you’re spinning, stitching, or just planning your next project, I hope you find a little inspiration here. I’d love to hear what you’re working on, too—just hit reply and say hello!Happy crafting,
Sue

Hello from the Studio!

Hello from the Studio!

This newsletter is arriving a little later than planned—things have been a touch more chaotic than usual around here! But I hope it’s worth the wait and full of fibre-filled inspiration.

A Trip to the Wool Monty

Earlier this month, I made my annual pilgrimage to the Wool Monty Show at Magna, near Sheffield. It was my second visit, and once again, it didn’t disappoint. I loved reconnecting with familiar faces and discovering some fantastic new stallholders. The selection of yarn and fibre was dangerously tempting—I came home with fibres I’ve never spun before and some indie-dyed yarns in colours well outside my comfort zone.

If you’ve never been to a wool show, I highly recommend seeking one out. They’re abundant at this time of year, and each one is a treasure trove waiting to be explored.

Spinning, Weaving, and the Joy of Notebooks

If you follow me on social media, you’ll know I often have several projects on the go—spinning, weaving, crochet, blocking, finishing, steaming… my hands are rarely still! All this activity made me reflect on how I keep everything organized.

The answer? Notebooks. Lots of them.

I jot down every yarn, fibre, stitch, and swatch, because no matter how sure you are that you’ll remember, it’s surprisingly easy to forget. If this sounds familiar, I’ve created a free project tracker you might find helpful.

Learning and Experimenting

My curiosity about yarn has only grown since I began spinning, and I’ve been learning so much. One of my favourite resources has been Sasha Torres at Sheepspot—her podcasts are packed with knowledge and have encouraged me to take better care of my tools (my old spinning wheel is now running like new after a well-earned spa day!).

I’ve also been experimenting with new techniques like short backward draft and spinning off the fold. These have helped me better understand the fibres I work with—and even discover new favourites. One standout is Cormo, a fine wool from sheep developed by crossing Corriedale rams with Merino ewes. I had no idea it existed before I started spinning, and now I’m hooked.

From Fibre to Fabric

Lately, I’ve been making a real effort to use my handspun fibres—no point in letting them gather dust! I crocheted a poncho using some of my finer samples and wove scarves from the more rustic yarns. It’s been incredibly satisfying to see the full journey from fibre to finished item.

New Patterns

May was a busy month for pattern releases! I launched a new handwoven cotton scarf and three new crochet patterns:

I also re-released my Tropicana Picnic Blanket, which was previously published in a magazine.

Coming up this month: another cozy cowl pattern and (fingers crossed) a few new woven scarves. Stay tuned!

Thoughts and Resources

Hello, lovely maker,

I hope this note finds you well—perhaps with a warm cup of tea in one hand and a ball of yarn in the other (or at least dreaming of it!).

This month, I wanted to share a few thoughts and resources to spark your creativity—whether you’re just picking up a hook for the first time, or already have a basket full of projects under your belt.

Do you make for yourself or for others?

When I create something for myself, I sometimes find that I’ve put so much time and care into it that I need to step away for a bit before I can truly appreciate using or wearing it. Does that happen to you too?

When making gifts for others—especially non-crafters—I often wonder if they realise just how much time and love has gone into the piece. But then I remind myself: I enjoyed making this for them, and that’s what really matters.

To help share a little of that creative process with gift recipients, I designed a small gift tag you can attach to your handmade items. I’ve started including the link at the end of all my new patterns, and if you’d like to use it too, you can find it here. I’d love to know what you think!

Behind the scenes: chaos in the craft room

My workroom? A bit of a creative storm lately.

Despite my best intentions to keep only a few works in progress, things tend to pile up—and then I don’t know where to start. When that happens, I take a deep breath, make a strong cup of coffee, and give myself just one hour to tidy and prioritise.

I’ve found that making a simple list helps me feel in control again. I keep only the current projects visible and store the rest in a cupboard—out of sight, out of mind (until later!). I even shared a peek at one of my big sorting sessions recently—a huge crate of samples that finally got the attention it deserved.

Choosing colours—do you panic too?

I get lots of questions about how I choose colour palettes. I recently shared some tips on social media, along with a favourite resource: Swatch This by Haruyoshi Nagumo. It’s a gem!

If you find yourself using the same yarn brand often, it’s really helpful to keep a small colour reference. I cut 6-inch strands of each colour and tie them to a piece of card, noting the reference numbers beside them. It’s a simple tool, but it saves so much time when planning.

I’ve put together a more polished template for you to make your own swatch card—grab it here.

Thanks for being here and for supporting handmade. Your creativity, your curiosity, and your love for the craft mean so much.

Until next time,
Sue