Hurrah! We have very nearly made it through January and to celebrate here we are with a little bit of Janie Crow chat!
 
I have been feeling very motivated to crochet lately (which is a bit of a relief if I am honest) and have been dipping in and out of a few projects. With deadlines still a way off on a couple of projects I am finding that this is a nice time to be working a little ‘under the radar’. I like January for that reason - it always feels like most people are not quite on top of their game after the Christmas holidays and that big deadlines tend to be best left for February, or even March!  
 
Gemma has been busy collating some lovely images of Temperature Blankets, which you can find in today's email and she has also found a couple of other great things to mention, including crocheted oysters and a yummy recipe (don't get the two muddled up!), so I hope you can spare a few minutes to catch up with all things Janie Crow!

Thank you for the fabulous response to my new design Majorelle, which we launched last week. The kits sold out in a very short space of time, so we are hoping to sort some more very soon. Unfortunately we are currently unable to get enough beads as the Indigo shade is sold out, but as soon as they are back in stock with Debbie we will be sure to get kit building. For those of you who pre-paid for a kit, we are hoping to get these posted out mid February. ​

I love seeing alternative colour ways of my designs, so perhaps our lack of kit stock will mean that more of you are tempted to create your own versions of this design. You can find the paper patterns in UK and US terms here and download versions on Etsy and Ravelry.
 
I am currently working on a blanket version of this project using an alternative colour palette, so I am looking forward to being able to show you that soon! 

​This time of year is when many of us start to think about holidays. The thought or warmer weather and a bit of a break really kicks in by the end of January when it is so dull and dismal here in the UK. 
 
I am really looking forward to all the workshop trips I have in my diary for this year, but as they are all fully booked I have already started to discuss trips for 2027. It seems a bit crazy to be planning so far ahead, but with time flying by so incredibly fast, I am sure it will feel like the next year will pass as quickly as all the others! 
 
With lots of ideas for new designs and my wish to continue teaching a few residential workshops I am trying not to over think the speed at which time goes past, but it is always good to have things to look forward to in the future. I read a book once called ‘Live Life in Crescendo’ and it was all about how positive it is to always be making new plans, so here we go:
 
I will be returning to Mysore, India with Knit For Peace, this time next year (mid to late January 2027), to tutor a knit and crochet workshop based at the amazing Green Hotel. Dates and prices are not fixed yet and further information is not available, but if you have ever fancied a workshop trip to India and like the idea of supporting a great charity at the same time, then you might want to keep this in mind. I will give you more info as soon as I have it.

I will also be tutoring on a Northern Lights yarn cruise with Sitchtopia in December 2027. This trip is now live and ready to book on their website. You can find more information by following this link. 
 
There are quite a few dates to choose from on this trip, including a knit holiday with Aleks Byrd in 2027, which I am sure will be fabulous! There are also still spaces on the trips that go this year, one is tutored by Lucy of Attic 24 and another by Julie Dubreux. If you want to come on the crochet one with me, the departure date is December 12th 2027!

Over the last year, we have been working with the lovely team at Wool Warehouse to produce yarn kits using some of their fabulous Yarnsmiths yarn. Creating projects using their Superwash DK has been a joy for me as their colour palettes are so huge and I am able to perfectly match colours used in my original designs. 
 
The latest addition to the collaboration between us here at Janie Crow and Yarnsmiths is the original Persian Tile blanket in navy, orange and red. You can find the kits by clicking on the image above or here.

This month we are focusing on the Temperature Blanket project. It's very hard to believe that it was over a year ago that we embarked on something slightly new and unusual for Janie Crow. 
 
Twelve months later and we have been so happy to see some beautiful finished temperature blankets appearing on social media. Gemma is currently hiding as she hasn't got around to sewing her ends in yet and therefore hasn't started work on the border, despite finishing and joining all her squares. Gemma says she is hoping to turn her mind to it in February and promises to keep you posted!
 
In the photos below, from top to bottom you can see blankets made by:
Scarlett Reynolds
Fiona Dobson
Melinda Hall
Terri Hayes (Kansas, USA)
Ruth French (Scottish Highlands)
 
We know there are more out there, so thank you to everyone who has been sharing photos of their completed blankets. We will put together a blog post with more of your photos in the coming weeks. 

Have you ever considered adopting an oyster? No, us neither, but now that we have seen these crochet versions, produced to support the Wild Oysters Project, we think we need to have a couple!  
 
The North East & Cumbria branch of the UK charity, Groundwork, are asking people to adopt a crocheted oyster as a way of supporting the Wild Oysters Project, which is aiming to restore native oysters to the north-east England coastline. 
 
There has been a decline of more than 95% in native oyster numbers across the UK since the 1800s and it is important that we don't loose them completely as they are a valuable inhabitant of our coastlines. Oysters are natural water filters, and can clean up to 200 litres of water a day - that's equivalent to a bathtub full! An abundance of oysters will not only clean the water and prevent algal blooms, but their reefs also provide a home in which other marine life can thrive.

​You can join the waiting list to be in with a chance of having one of the four thousand oysters currently being crocheted by the nation's fabulous volunteers by following this link, where you will also find more information about the project.

​Since the start of the new year, Gemma has been making a concerted effort to add a bit more variety to her diet. She believes that it's very easy to get stuck in a rut of eating the same half-dozen favourite dishes time and again, and I agree, so for this month's recipe Gemma is recommending something she hasn't made before - Kimchi Bubble & Squeak Cakes, served with fried eggs. 
 
In case you don't know already, Kimchi is a Korean fermented vegetable dish, most commonly made with cabbage in the West. It does have quite a kick, as it is full of garlic and chilli, so it really livens up the bubble & squeak and, as it is also a fermented food, it is really good for your tummy! So it's a win win! You can find a recipe on the Olive website here. 

​We are heading to Hove to visit some friends today and I am really looking forward to seeing the sea, despite the weather forecast for endless rain! There is something about the pull of the ocean isn't there? I think we all feel it. Of course I am really looking forward to spending time with friends too, especially as we all go way back to our secondary school days, but they have mentioned the idea of having a dip in the sea while we are there - something I am definitely planning to avoid despite my love for it! 
 
As I said in my introduction, I have been doing a lot of crochet this week so I am going to give my hands a bit of a rest, so will resist the allure of my hook for a few days over the weekend. I find I can only crochet for a couple of hours a day otherwise my hands get incredibly sore and clunky. Thankfully there are always lots of other jobs to do besides crochet! 
 
As we take our first steps into February in a couple of days time, I hope this email has found you healthy, happy, safe and warm. 
 
Until next time….

Happy New Year to you all. I think I'm allowed to say it as we are still in January! For this month's book review I have chosen a lovely book, hot off the press, called 'A Crochet Year' by ​Zoë Curtis (Quadrille, January 2026, ISBN9781837834129). Zoë is an independent crochet designer from Cornwall and having grown up in a remote coastal landscape it's not surprising that she draws much of her inspiration from the natural world and the coastline in particular. 

The book is split into four main sections, one for each of the seasons, and each of these sections begins with a description of the season, from both a nature perspective and from a human perspective. As an example, in the section for Spring, there is a description of how blossom starts appearing and the landscape begins its change from brown to green, from barren to lush and we start to want to spend more time outdoors. It also considers the concept of the 'Spring Clean' and how we can use natural materials to make items for the home that are both practical and biodegradable. In other words they can be used until they are thoroughly worn out and can then be returned to the earth as the materials they are made from biodegrade. With this in mind the Spring section contains projects for a linen tea towel, a laundry bag and raffia place mats among others. 

The book doesn't just contain patterns for household items, there are garments and accessories too. From a delicate cotton filet crochet wrap in Summer to a simple granny square vest designed to be worn over a jumper, in the Winter section. I particularly like the simple patchwork wrap made from a mixture of plain and striped blocks of simple double crochet stitches. Sometimes complicated patterns can feel like too much and the idea of gradually working on and accumulating a set of simple squares to assemble into a wrap really appeals. I think it could also be a great way of using small amounts of yarn, that would never be enough for a full project, but could make one or two squares as part of a bigger item. 

As you can possibly tell, I like this book very much. It's so very calming to leaf through, with the gorgeous seascapes and natural, understated colours. The projects are thoughtful and useful and Zoë's perspective on nature and crafting strikes a deep chord with me. 

The book also contains a comprehensive information section, covering tools, techniques, abbreviations and symbols and, usefully for me but becoming more unusual, the book uses UK terminology throughout. 

I highly recommend this book if you are a mindful crocheter, happy to take time over your projects and keen to embrace aspects of the natural world as you work. Or perhaps this is the year that you are able to slow down, take a breath and try to bring a greater sense of calm to the creative side of your life.

Although the official publication date for this book isn't until January 31st, it is available now on the Search Press website here and if you are in the UK and enter the code DD88 at checkout you will receive a 20% discount and free delivery. 

I'll be back next month with another review. In the meantime keep safe and warm.

Well here we are in January - officially the longest month of the year by at least a fortnight - or so it always feels anyway! With the twinkly lights of Christmas packed away for another year it seems odd to think that only a fortnight or so ago we were still in the holiday spirit, welcoming in the first days of 2026.
 
I don't seem to have a lot to show for the last couple of weeks, other than a tidy desk and depleted stash thanks to a good old sort out over the festive period. There was, as always, a whole lot of lurgy going on in our house for what seemed like weeks on end, so at least it is good to be over that and hopefully fighting fit for all that January has in store! 
 
I hope that you were all able to take a bit of time to rest over the holidays and that you got to spend some time working on a knit or crochet project. At busy times, it is just so good to take a break and get some stitching done.
 
I have a few things to tell you about today, including news of a new project that will be released next week and an exciting new collaboration with Inside Crochet Magazine, which will also make it's debut next week! I hope you have a few spare minutes to catch up with all things Janie Crow!

I designed the Majorelle cushion and project pouch for last year's workshop trip to Morocco with Stitchtopia. The design was inspired by the giant cacti found in the exotic Jardins Majorelle, which once belonged to Yves Saint Laurent and are now an essential visit when in Marrakesh.
 
My project uses the fabulous little 25g balls of Rico Ricorumi 100% cotton yarn, which is just perfect for smaller projects. I have used ten shades of yarn and some fabulously colourful beads from the Debbie Abrahams range to add a decorative touch to the designs.
 
Patterns will available in UK and US terms as paper copies via our store and as downloads via Etsy and Ravelry at a price of £6.95 from next Friday 23rd January. We will be releasing kits on a pre-sale basis on that day too. 
 
I have been working on a blanket version of this design using yarns from the Stylecraft range in a different colour palette. More information on this will come over the next few months, once I have finalised the border.

I like the turn of the year and find it is good time to reflect on what has been achieved and plan for the new year ahead, however I am not sure it is a good time to put new habits into practice. Starting a gym habit for example, is more likely to fall by the wayside at the first hint of a bad weather forecast and lets face it, eating healthier is so much easier in the summer when lighter meals and salads are more appealing.
 
January is a great month to hunker down and be kind to yourself and I often feel like it is a good time to re-set and look forward. We have lots of plans here at Janie Crow, including a couple of new events and a CAL project which will start this time next year. I have also made a few personal resolutions, but not a long, unrealistic list full and I won't be starting on any of them until February, when hopefully things will start to look brighter weather wise.
 
One of our exciting new projects is my Seasonal Journal, which will be published monthly in Inside Crochet Magazine. The first of these four page spreads, where I give ideas for projects, colour ways, recipes and a few technique tips, alongside other things, will feature in magazine 168 which is out on Thursday 22nd January. You can find more information and subscription details for the magazine by following this link.

We have kits for Mexican Diamonds in the pink and red palette, which is gorgeously different to the original version (shown above). We also have kits for the Summer Palace Blanket in the original colour way (shown below) and for the Royal Garden Blanket in the Stylecraft Special DK version. We have a few Mystical Lanterns kits in the Beatrix colour way, which you can find here. This kit is also made using Stylecraft Special DK.
 
You can find all our kits and yarn packs by following this link and all our paper patterns here. If you would prefer download copies then check out our Etsy and Ravelry stores.

Due to a cancellation there is one spot available on my trip to France with Stitchtopia in June. The trip is via Eurostar to Paris and from there we will visit Rouen for a couple of days before we travel to Claude Monet's garden at Giverny. We will then head to Paris for a guided tour and a river cruise and the holiday will also include three workshops with me and a trip to the Palace of Versailles.
 
You can find more information by following this link. You need to set your search to 1 person to find this holiday as the default is to search for 2. 

As I said already, we have some exciting things in store for the year, including workshops, events and new designs. Here are a few dates for your diary if you want to catch up with us:
 
Our first residential workshop of the year will be at Nunsmere Hall in April. This is currently sold out, but if we have any cancellations I will let you know. The workshop is organised by Inspired Minds, which is a partnership company made up of myself and Andy, plus talented hand knit designer Debbie Abrahams and her assistant Sue. We host a couple of workshops a year and they are always very well received. 
 
If you want to join the mailing list to find out about any new residential workshops (there are a few coming soon!) then head over to the site by following this link to sign up to the newsletter. There are still a couple of spaces on Debbie's workshop at Seaview Hydro Spa Hotel in Scotland in June. You can find more information by following this link.

The Stitch Festival will take place at London's Business Design Centre in March. We are hoping to be able to give you a discount code for tickets within the next couple of weeks over on our social media platforms and you can find more info here. We won't be exhibiting this year, but I like the idea of a wander around - it is a great show!
 
We will once again be exhibiting at Wonderwool Wales at the end of April. We have been doing this show for many years now and love it! We are really looking forward to the event this year as the show is celebrating its twentieth birthday!
 
In early June I will be leading the workshop trip to Northern France, which I have told you about already, and then towards the end of the month we will be hosting a new and very exciting Janie Crow event. We are working on the arrangements for this at the moment and hope to give you more information in early February

We are often asked about the practicalities of hanging crochet blankets as an artwork on the wall. We often hang my blankets at shows, but are sure to turn them often so that they don't stretch. We use poster clips to hold some of them and hooks for others and I have one blanket (Bohemian Blooms) that I have sewn a backing onto so that a curtain pole can be threaded through.
 
I was recently shown this fabulous version of Spirit of Flora made by Naomi Guy, which has been attached to a wooden panel backing. Isn't it fabulous! I am so grateful to Naomi for allowing me to share the images here. You can find more information within the Spirit of Flora group on Facebook here.

The Janie Crow team were all a bit obsessed by the Baileys laden slow cooker fruit cake recipe I shared before Christmas - we all loved it and will definitely be adding it to our festive favourites for next year. If you had a go at making it too then I would love to hear what you thought of it.
 
Andy made his usual delicious Vegetarian Wellington for Christmas Day. I have shared the recipe for this quite a few times, but in case you missed it previously you can find it here. It is a bit labour intensive, especially if (like Andy) you also want to make the pastry, but it is yummy.
 
In the funny period between Christmas and New Year, I fancied making something hearty and warming so I followed this recipe for a mushroom galette by Dom in the Kitchen. The pie filling was good, but it was the pastry that made me add it to my winter recipe collection as it was simply delicious! Not the best pic above, but the light wasn't great and the galette didn't hang around long enough for me to capture it in day light! The tiny bit we had left for the next day was yummy cold, so I think this would make a good thing to enjoy with a side salad in the summertime too.
 
I adore aubergines and have made this recipe for black bean parmigiana a couple of times now. It is super easy and really yummy, so I recommend you give it a go. I followed the recipe from the Bold Beans cookbook, but you can also find it here. 

With more time than usual to faff about making breakfasts over the festive season, I finally managed to perfect making poached eggs, and, after a five year hiatus (thanks to covid and the death of my previous starter), this week I have finally returned to making sourdough bread.
 
I was really amazed by how well my first loaf turned out as I honestly didn't believe that the simplicity of the technique I found on Instagram would work. The only down side was that we ate more than half a loaf at one sitting, so my bread making will definitely have to only be a once a week event! You can find the recipe and video tutorial that I followed, by Toast with Hope, by clicking here. 

Andy and I are off to a curry night with some friends this evening, but have very few weekend plans other than to make some more bread! What we end up doing will be based on the weather forecast as Andy is keen to get outside in the garden. He has big plans for extending the patio down by the studio so will no doubt he will be busy digging out some foundations! It's the sunniest spot in the summer so it would be good to make room for a larger table and more chairs.
 
Waltham Abbey Wool Show will take place on Sunday if you fancy getting out and about. I have bought a ticket as it is a great show and it would be great to catch up with some yarny friends. You can find tickets still for sale here and there are also some workshop places still available.
 
I am looking forward to getting properly back to work next week after a slightly faltered start. I have created a Pinterest board for my new CAL and have started to pick out some shades so I am excited about the idea of launching into something new. I also have quite a few workshop projects to design, so there definitely isn't a lack of things for me to do! 
 
I hope that whatever you have planned for the weekend and the next week or so, that you have a great time and that you are keeping safe and well. Big yarny hugs as always….