July has been a really busy month so I'm scraping in on the last day with my recommended book. It's not a very recent publication, but a book that has been on my list to have a better look at for some time. Here at Janie Crow we always like to cheer on fellow crochet designers and Mark Roseboom (perhaps better known as The Guy with the Hook) creates beautiful designs through his use of texture and choice of rich colours. So the book I have chosen to highlight this month is Mark's  'Crochet Journey' (ISBN-13:9781446309568 David & Charles 2022).

As the cover suggests this book is full of patterns inspired by Mark's travels around the world, with 12 patterns each inspired by a different destination. There is a feeling of opulence to the photos in the book, with rich background colours and for each pattern a full page of text explaining the inspiration behind the design. I always like reading where a design has 'come from' so this really appeals to me. 

There is a wide variety of patterns, from shawls to blankets, a rug, mandalas, a cushion cover, and for a fantastic stash-busting project, a pin cushion! So if you're looking for a quick make or a longer term project there should be something in the book to suit everyone. 

I haven't started a project from the book yet so I'm not able to comment on how the patterns are written but there is a comprehensive page of abbreviations, including symbols and each pattern does include a chart as well as written instructions. The patterns are written in US terminology throughout. 

I've shortlisted a couple of the patterns to make. The Rivendell Shawl, inspired by a trip to New Zealand, uses a Scheepjes Whirl yarn cake and as I have two of those in my stash I think this would be a very worthy use of one of them. The other pattern that really caught my eye was the Santa Maria Maggiore Rug, inspired by the cathedral of that name in Rome. That particular pattern uses a Scheepjes Stone Washed/River Washed colour pack so a great pattern for anyone looking for a project to use that colour pack with. 

One comment about the layout of the patterns is that on most of them the yarn/hook information and pattern notes appear in a text box that isn't at the start of the pattern. It's clear that this has been done to make best use of the space on the pages but I like to see all of that information right at the beginning of the pattern and that way I'm much less likely to miss something important that I need to know before getting started. 

The Rivendell Shawl

The Santa Maria Maggiore Rug

This book really is a feast for the eyes and the range of projects appealing. If you think it might be a worthy addition to your craft book collection you can find it on the Search Press website here. If you are in the UK you can get a 20% discount and free postage by quoting the code DD88 at checkout. 

I'll be back with my next book recommendation towards the end of August. Until then, happy crafting! 

Hi Fellow Temperature Blanket Makers!

It's Gemma here, with a very quick update on progress and to give you the August temperature recording chart. How can it be almost August already? I can't believe that we're already halfway through our blankets. I had managed to get myself back up to date a couple of weeks ago but have fallen back a little bit with the start of the school holidays, which means much less time to myself. 

Up to the middle of July we had some very warm weather and I've loved seeing all the warm colours appearing in my blanket squares and, as I'm joining as I go, the fifth row has been started so visually it is over the halfway point. I wish I could say that I am up to date with sewing in ends but of course all good intentions have gone by the wayside on that front! 

Do keep sharing your photos using the hashtag #janiecrowtempblanket25 (just rolls off the tongue that, doesn't it?). We do love seeing your progress.

In the meantime click here for the August temperature recording chart and I'll be back in a month's time. 

We’ve been enjoying the run up to Granny Square day and we’ve all been looking back at our respective Granny Square histories – more on those soon!
 
We’ve also spent time looking back at Jane’s Granny Square from 2022  'A Flower For Alice' .  It’s a beautiful 3D floral block and was named for  Jane’s Great Grandmother.  You can find the original blog post by clicking here.

These flowers are so special to us: our grandfather grew them, our late father took seeds from those plants and grew them too.  I am hopeless with plants of any kind so I have not tried!  It is Julie who keeps these glorious blooms in my life!  They smell divine and they are delicate – and short lived – perhaps this is what makes them so special.
 

​Alice Martin, Jane’s Great Grandmother was a prolific crocheter and would use recycled yarns to make her blankets, buying old sweaters, unravelling and washing the yarn and reworking it into colourful squares.  Do go and read the original blog post as she sounds so interesting and it’s wonderful to hear how she influenced and inspired Jane.
 
Both Jane and I have been reworking this motif in new colourways – Jane’s progress photos look amazing.

​For my part, I had the most beautiful inspiration, also from a lovely family member: my sister Julie!  Even though we are both now in our 50s, I still very much hold the “little sister”  position in my sister’s mind – and indeed in my own: she is simply unrivalled when it comes to rebuilding me when I’m a bit broken.  Colds, heartbreak, stress  - she can soothe all of that and I’m very lucky!

​One of the things she spoils me with is Sweet Peas on my birthday!  Wherever I am they arrive – I’ve been in workshops, she has been away, doesn’t matter, there will be a knock on the door and the most beautiful flowers – my very favourite – will appear!  They are the best when she’s delivering them but this year the bunch she sent was spectacular, even though it was delivered by a florist.

​Anyway my Flower for Alice blocks have been inspired by this year’s glorious bouquet.  I have only managed to finish one so far due to the busiest – and happiest – summer ever but I look forward to adding to these beauties.  I will call them “Flowers for Julie” and if I possibly can, I’ll make my big sister a blanket. 

Hello fellow yarn lovers, I hope this email finds you well. I am writing this whilst cooling down in an air-conditioned hotel room in Granada, Spain, after the most amazing visit to the incredible Alhambra this morning. Andy and I have been away on our summer holidays for a little over a week so far and have visited Paris, Barcelona, Seville and Cordoba, all of which have been fabulous and have provided me with lots of design inspiration. We have been travelling on the train as much as possible, so I have even managed to keep up with my crochet projects and jot down some ideas in my sketch book! I am feeling incredibly lucky and full of ideas for new designs!
 
While we have been away, Emma and Gemma have been expertly holding the fort at Janie Crow and between us, we have some things to tell you about this month. We even have a healthy stock of kits at last, so there may be something of interest within this email for you.

A few weeks ago I had a fabulous time with a lovely group of knitters on a Stitchtopia holiday in West Yorkshire. During the trip we had the pleasure of visiting the amazing collection at the Knitting and Crochet Guild in Slaithwaite. 
 
They have a huge collection of knit and crochet related things - including wooden knitter’s sheaths for holding needles - something I had never seen before! They provide an incredible resource and their collection means that items that could have been lost over the years will be saved for future generations. You can see some of the items in the collection in the image below. Isn't that tiger sweater just fabulous?
 
The guild has members all over the UK and membership gives you access to their archive and regional groups. Check out @kcguild for more information. ❤️ 🧶

We certainly haven't been short of sunshine over the last few weeks here in North London and the project this time of year always makes me think of is the Sunshine & Showers blanket. ​

​Sunshine & Showers was a crochet along project released in parts in a magazine back in 2017. Since then it has been through a pattern refresh and a whole set of supporting videos have been uploaded to our YouTube channel. 
 
This would make a great next-step project after completing our Zero to Granny video course as it was designed with beginners in mind. The patterns include step by step images and the project gets more difficult as you go along so it's a great learning tool. You can read more about it and find yarn packs for sale over on the website (click on the images above and below). It's a great stash-busting project too though! 

I'm so excited to share the news that Stylecraft Yarns have chosen the Love is Enough Fruit Garden blanket as their Summer Make Along project! The MAL begins on 29th July and all patterns are available to download free of charge from the Stylecraft Yarns website here. You will need the original Fruit Garden patterns together with the Love is Enough yarn substitution documents for the project. 
 
The Fruit Garden pattern, including the details of Love is Enough, is also available as a book here. The book includes crochet charts, clear step-by-step images, testimonials and more background information about my inspiration and design process as well as an additional colour way of the blanket project, called ‘Red House’.
 
All the supporting videos for the remain available over on our YouTube channel too!

If you fancy joining in with the make along you can find yarn packs on our website here or speak to your local Stylecraft Yarns stockist. ​

I will look forward to seeing your progress popping up on the Stylecraft Make Along Group over on Facebook. If you aren't already a member of the group you can find it here.
 
This time of year can bring gluts of fruit and vegetables and for Gemma that means a visit from a neighbour with marrows and large courgettes. The courgettes have been turned into soup and the marrow duly stuffed. If you have any suggestions for tasty marrow or courgette recipes do let us know! 

​It's just under a month until Granny Square Day is here. The date for your diary is 15th August so keep your eyes peeled for lots of colour and inspiration appearing on social media. The day is being hosted by Simply Crochet Magazine and I'm so proud to have been invited to be an Ambassador for the event this year! 
 
You can read more about what the team at Simply Crochet have in store here and to get you in the mood for making squares you can find a pattern I designed for Granny Square Day 2022 here, called a Flower for Alice. 

Gemma will be teaching a one day workshop on making a crochet hexi cardigan at Community Learning Partnership in South Oxhey (near Watford) on the 14th August and there are still a few places left. If you're local to Watford and fancy spending a day among like-minded companions, click on the image below for booking information. You'd be sure of a very warm welcome! ​

Working on a large project at this time of year can be a bit too warm so here are some of our suggestions for summertime projects. Click on the images for more information. ​

​With Granny Square day on the horizon and lots of ideas inspired by our trip to Spain, I am hopeful that the next few months will be full of crochet for me. I have been thinking a lot about creating more simplified crochet designs, so that my work can be accessible to beginners, and I have also been trying to think of smaller projects, so that not everything I create is blanket size! I get told a lot that crocheters don’t know what to do with all the blankets they make, so if you have an idea for smaller projects, do let us know.
 
During the summer months, when the garden is pretty and the light is good, I am better at posting on the Janie Crow Lifestyle Instagram account. I have been posting quite a bit while we have been away, (mostly food if I am honest!), so if you want to catch up with things other than crochet or are interested to see some of the places we have visited while away, you can find the account by following this link.
 
I hope that wherever you are, and whatever you have planned for the weekend, you have a lovely time, and I look forward to landing back in your inbox in a couple of weeks' time.