As we near the end of the school summer holidays this is always a time when I feel the need to organise myself a little. It’s a bit like the back to school feeling I used to get as a child when I would sharpen my pencils, sort out a few new pens and a smart new case. Obviously, I am hoping for quite a lot of good late summer weather, but as we will take our tentative first steps into September next week, I feel the need to tidy up my yarn stash, clear my desk a little and update my to do list.
 
As I near the finishing stages of top-down knitted sweater by Caitlin Hunter I am already lining up my next knitting project. I have really enjoyed working in the round and as purling doesn’t seem to agree with my hands these days, I will probably opt for another one that is made in this way. I am also hoping to get going on a new crochet blanket project and a beaded runner that I have designed for the festive edition of Inside Crochet Magazine.
 
If you are also feeling the need to line up a project for the autumn, we have a good stock of kits to choose from, including the new Paloma version of Frida’s Flowers which is made using Pure Wool. You can find more information about Paloma further down this email along with our usual Words from the Web, Book of the Month and Yummy Recipe, features. I hope you can spare a few minutes to catch up with all our news.

Thank you for all the love you have shown for the revamped Frida's Flowers design. I was so pleased to be able to use the new Pure Wool from Stylecraft for this new colourway and I love the fact that the shades mirror those in the Special DK range. We do still have some Pure Wool yarn packs for the project in stock in the webshop.
 
If you are thinking of embarking on a Frida project, the original patterns can be downloaded free of charge from the Stylecraft Yarns website and to make the Paloma colourway you will need the yarn substitution document which you can find on the Frida's Flowers page of our website or by clicking on the image below.

There are several yarn shows coming up over the next few months. First up is Yarndale on the 26th & 27th of September, one of our favourites that we always really look forward to. Below is a photo of our stand from a couple of years ago and, as you can see, we make sure not an inch is left uncovered so you can get a good look at all the blanket samples! ​

For our followers in the US, Mary Maxim have been expanding their range of colourways for the Persian Tiles blanket and in addition to the Original, Light Blue, Sandalwood and Marrakesh versions they have five other colourways on offer, with the latest called the Tri-Coloured (shown below), which, as the name suggests, is a pared-down version using just three colours. 
 
Mary Maxim also stock kits for several of my other blankets, including Sevilla, so do have a browse on their website if you are in the US or Canada and looking for your next Janie Crow project! 

Having taken a long hard look at her yarn stash this month (having added to it after a yarn show visit!), Gemma has been looking at books that focus on using up leftover yarn. For lots of quick and easy projects she recommends Nicki Trench's book ‘Crochet with Leftover Yarn’ and this might be particularly suited to those of you who have more recently learnt to crochet as a great way of consolidating your newly learned skills and techniques. You can read Gemma's review and see some more images from the book over on the blog here. ​

Possibly of interest to those among you who are also knitters, Gemma treated herself to a copy of Laine's  ‘52 Weeks of Scrap Yarn’ and has already identified a fabulous sweater that would make a great project for using up leftovers of hand-dyed loveliness! The Vestiges sweater (shown below) is knitted from the top down in two halves, so has a really interesting construction, which we think will make a fun knit. ​

It's always nice to see the subject of crochet appearing in the news and we came across this article about the Crafting Smiles creative community, helping Hong Kong nationals who have moved to the UK forge friendships and overcome loneliness through crafting. ​

You can find out more about Crafting Smiles on their Facebook page here or read about some of the projects they have been involved in and the recognition the organisation has gained over on their website. ​

Three and a half weeks on from my little op I am beginning to feel more like my old self. I am still a bit slow and swollen by the end of the day, but can see the improvement all the time. I am really missing the gym and am still restricted on how much I can do, but everyone around me has been super kind and helpful so I consider myself very lucky.
 
Andy and I are enjoying some time away in the Greek sunshine for a couple of weeks and floating around in the sea is already proving to be a really good healer. No doubt aided by the delicious Greek salads and spinach and feta pies which I find hard to resist!
 
I have a pile of books with me and a few yarny projects, including yet another Sophie Scarf which I am using an almost fluorescent pink hand dyed yarn to make. It is a total joy to work on by the pool, especially early in the day before it gets too warm.

The island we are staying on gets much busier at the weekend, with lots of tourists heading over from the mainland for a few days, so I am hoping to manage the twenty minute walk into town later today to enjoy the hustle and bustle of a busier vibe. No doubt we will all be relieved on Monday when most people will head back to Athens on the ferry, but I always enjoy the atmosphere of people having fun in the beach front bars and restaurants, especially in the evenings.
 
I am incredibly grateful to Gemma and Emma who are busy holding the fort at Janie Crow while we are away. I will be back in a fortnight with the September newsletter, so until then I send you yarny hugs and hope you all stay safe and well…

I don't know about anyone else but my yarn stash seems to have taken on a life of its own and (I've probably said this before, several times) I think it's time I had a good sort out. Most of my stash contains yarn in good quantities, purchased to make specific projects, along with lots of beautiful individual skeins of hand-dyed yarn, which are great for one skein projects such as small scarves and shawls. There are many individual balls of yarn (and part-balls) left over from finished projects that need a bit of attention turning to them. So my chosen book for this month is 'Crochet with Leftover Yarn' by Nikki Trench (Cico Books 2026 ISBN: 978-1-80065-583-6).

The book is divided into four pattern sections: For the Home, For Baby, Bits & Bobs and Toys. There is also a comprehensive Techniques section covering basic stitches through to increasing and decreasing, seaming and weaving in ends. The book is written in UK terms throughout and it's worth noting that there isn't a conversion chart for the US equivalents. 

All the projects in the book are small and only use fairly minimal quantities of yarn. Most of the items use a variety of colours within the pattern and so really helpful for using up much smaller leftover amounts. My favourite pattern in the book is the Vintage Style Vase Coaster. I like making mandalas and they usually end up under an indoor plant pot and so this is the sort of project I enjoy in between larger ones like garments and blankets. I love crocheting with cotton too, which is always perfect for this sort of thing.

The 'For Baby' sections includes, as might be expected, patterns for hats, booties, covers for hangers and a pretty, striped buggy blanket using a wave stitch pattern. Stripes are a great way to use up small amounts of yarn and it can be fun to not plan out your colour scheme in advance and just add to the blanket one colour at a time, looking at how the next colour works with the one before it each time you choose. 

'Bits & Bobs' includes items such as bunting, pin cushions and tea light jar cosies, while 'Toys' includes a kitten, a puppy, mice and a snowman among others. 

This is a book that would suit a relative newcomer to crochet as most of the projects are fairly simple and straightforward and as such a great way to practise newly acquired skills and reinforce techniques. For those more experienced crafters there are lots of ideas for quick and easy gifts and 'in-between' projects that give a bit of light relief from more longer-term undertakings. 

When I chose this book I wasn't aware that it is a reprint of a previous publication that appeared under the name 'Crochet Stashbusters' in 2019 and it is also worth pointing out that some of the patterns have appeared in other books by the author too. 

​There are some interesting titles coming out over the next couple of months so I'm looking forward to choosing next month's book. In the meantime enjoy your crochet! The very hot weather here in North London has eased and so settling down in the cooler evenings with hook and yarn has become far more enjoyable. See you next month. 

As I sit here melting at my desk in the heat of this record breaking summer it seems a tad ridiculous to be thinking about projects for the autumn, but as I have been in recovery mode since my little op a week or so ago, I have made good progress on both my top down knitted sweater and some woolly crochet projects I have been working on. Using wool yarn at this time of year is actually easier than you would think as one of the beauties of the fibre is that it is warm when it is cold and cool when it is hot. That said I have restricted my knitting to early morning and evenings and have had a fan on the go on my desk when crocheting. Thank goodness for modern appliances! 
 
I have a few things to tell you about this week, including a sneaky peek of a brand new release which is set for next week. I hope you can spare a few minutes to catch up with all the Janie Crow news.

My next crochet along will launch in partnership with Stylecraft Yarns as we head into next year and I can't wait to show it to you. The design is finished and the patterns have gone off for their technical edit so it has been nice to see it all finished over the last few weeks. I am really looking forward to showing it to you later on in the year.
 
I have made the project in a couple of Stylecraft's yarn ranges so you can choose which you want to use. One of the yarns is something brand new which launches next week on Tuesday (18th August). It is a yarn that I have been asking them to produce since starting to design with them over a decade ago so I am particularly excited about showing it to you very soon! We will be filming a special reveal video over the weekend, so if you want to be within some of the first yarn lovers to see whats going on, be sure to check out our Instagram feed or our Facebook page on Tuesday.

If you feel up to a spot of crochet, or if you are starting to plan your autumn makes, we have a good stock of kits at the moment, including a very healthy number of Eastern Jewels as shown in the image above.
 
You can find paper patterns, kits and our Emma Ball accessories range in our shop by following this link.

I will be tutoring a repeat of my workshop trip to France next year with Stitchtopia. You can find the trip by following this link.
 
My lovely mate Juliet Bernard will also be tutoring a fabulous trip with Stitchtopia in the form of a cruise to Iceland in May 2027. Having been on this trip before I know how brilliant this holiday is - Juliet is so excited about it that she has already designed the project!
 
The holiday is a spectacular circumnavigation of Iceland, where dramatic coastlines, volcanic landscapes and abundant wildlife provide breathtaking scenery at every turn. There will also be exclusive excursions including a full-day Golden Circle tour with inspiring yarn-related visits, and a guided sightseeing tour of Reykjavík featuring the Hand Knitting Association of Iceland and time to browse the city's yarn shops. In Akureyri, an exclusive visit to Garn í Gangi includes a special show-and-tell and the opportunity to shop for beautiful Icelandic yarns.
 
With the waters of northern Iceland renowned for humpback and minke whales, there's also the chance to spot these magnificent creatures on board Fred Olsen's flagship, Bolette. If you want to join Juliet for a memorable holiday you can book here.

I designed the Frida's Flowers blanket as a crochet along project for Stylecraft a decade ago (can you believe it?), so we felt it was time for a revamp. Next week will see the release of this new version (shown above), which uses a rich platte of colours evocative of the iconic Frida Kahlo's choice to wear traditional Mexican clothes that featured embroidery, ribbons and embellishments. Look out for more information on this project, which I have called Paloma, next week!  ​

We will be exhibiting at Yarndale in September and I will be on the Stylecraft stand at the Knit + Stitch Show at Ally Pally in October. 
 
We have also booked a stand at the Harrogate Knit + Stitch show in November and have been offered the chance for you to nab a discount on tickets. You can find more info by following this link. Use the code JANIECROW at checkout to get your discount.

If you are a fan of Arts and Crafts houses, I urge you to check out the National Trust property Standen House in East Grinstead, especially as they are currently hosting an exhibition of contemporary artists work - each piece inspired by the work of the movement.
 
I am absolutely delighted that The Fruit Garden blanket was chosen to be part of the show and I am looking forward to visiting to see it in situe soon. You can find more info by clicking here.

I don't really have a recipe for you this time as food hasn't really been on my radar since my op. That's not to say I haven't been eating (heaven forbid), but in the heat, and as I have not been able to stand for long periods or walk about too much, we have been having quite a bit of batch cooked dinners - many of them from recipes I have shared here before.
 
A poke bowl is a great idea this time of year as they are so easy to make, especially as any left overs from the fridge will be a great choice along side some vegetables and salad. The image above shows one I ordered in a cafe in Barcelona last year. It was particularly yummy and super simple! 

​The hollyhocks are finally looking amazing on our front drive despite the heat. I scatter the seeds every autumn and year on year I worry that they won't come to flower, so it is always fabulous when they start to bloom late summer time! Last year I bought seeds that have produced these lovely dark flowers aren't they fabulous! I have also harvested and dried my own herbs this year and now have pots of home grown thyme and oregano, which have made me ridiculously happy! 
 
I haven't managed more than about four thousand steps a day since my op, but I am getting about a lot easier as the days go by. Nonetheless we have a very quiet weekend planned as a result and I will mostly be pottering around the garden and indulging myself in some knitting and crochet from the comfort of an easy chair!
 
Don't forget it is Granny Square Day tomorrow and have a fab weekend!