It seems like only yesterday that Emma and I were thrashing out the finer detail of how we were going to launch the Janie Crow Temperature Blanket project. We were on the phone comparing our Stylecraft stashes, trying to come up with a colour palette from what we had. Emma sent balls to me and I sent balls to her so that we had a complete set of colours each. I have struggled at times to keep up to date with my blanket, and indeed I didn't manage to stick for long to my routine of adding a round each night. I'm running approximately 1 month behind still. Last month when I checked in I had just started my October squares and this month I have just started November, so at least I have made progress! 

October and November have very definitely brought all the green shades back in to play as the temperatures have cooled. Lime, Meadow and Apple Green have been my most frequently used colours. We did have some crazy temperature variations in November, with the highest temperature at 17 degrees and the lowest at 3 (hello Mint)!

So, here we are at the final month. I hope those of you that have joined in have enjoyed the project. I'm contemplating another temperature project for 2026 but probably a smaller item like a wrap or scarf and probably knitted. I must stop leaping ahead though and probably should consider finishing some of the many projects I have on the go already! 

Here is the December temperature recording chart for you to download:

December chart

I can't wait to see your blankets and how you have decided to join them. I will be back at the end of the month to wrap up this project so I'm determined to get back on track! 

Bye for now

Welcome back to our Book of the Month feature and this month we are looking at socks! You might have seen on our socials that we recently took part in a book tour for 'Crochet Socks that Rock' (David & Charles 2025 ISBN-13:9781446314517) by Anna Nikipirowicz. 

Crochet socks are a far rarer beast than knitted socks but patterns are starting to appear more often in the crochet magazines these days and Anna has put together a whole book of fabulous designs. 

I am a sock knitter and so I hadn't ever attempted a crocheted sock so I thought it would be a good idea to start with the Shortie Socks pattern. DK sock yarn is less common than 4-ply/fingering weight and so there wasn't a huge selection to choose from in my yarn stash so I used some leftovers from a skein of green DK merino/nylon from Castle View Yarns, together with a skein of Coop Knits Sock Yeah DK. As you might see in my photo above I hugely underestimated the amount I would need for the toe/heel/cuff and only have a tiny amount of the green left so for the second sock I will be substituting in another colour from the Coop Knits range, which is lighter but similar. 

There is a choice of 3 sizes for this pattern and most of the others but a couple of patterns only have 1 or 2 sizes to choose from. The instructions are laid out clearly on the page, with a good amount of spacing so they don't appear cluttered or squashed together, which really helps when it comes to following them. For patterns with lace or colourwork there are charts too. 

Towards the beginning of the book there is a very helpful information section , which includes information on the best types of yarn to choose, tools needed and very importantly how to measure your own feet. The anatomy of a sock is clearly explained, which really helps you to understand the construction of the sock as you make it. 

There is a also a glossary of techniques towards the end of the book, including pictures, useful as the book uses US terms throughout and whilst there is a note on the differences between UK and US terms in the introduction there isn't a full conversion table for the stitch abbreviations, which is quite a lengthy list. I think this is a shame as it could lead to confusion for crocheters used to working in UK terms.  

This is a lovely book and visually very pleasing. I confess that I'm not going to be a convert to crochet socks as I love knitting them so much but certainly if you aren't a knitter and would like to have a go at making socks it is well worth taking a look. 
If you are in the UK you can purchase the book from Search Press here with a 20% discount and free postage by using the code DD88 at checkout. 

Until next month, enjoy your crafting and if you do have a go at a pair of socks from the book let us know in the comments.
Bye for now...

Phew! What a manic month it has been here at Janie Crow! I have so much to tell you about this week, including news of some brand new kits and festive projects, so I hope you can spare a few minutes to catch up with my news! ​

Whether you are a fan of the show or not, there is no denying that The Game of Wool is doing great things for the knitting and crochet industry, with yarn shops and online sellers reporting a rise in visitors over the last couple of weeks. The great news is that many of these customers are new to the crafts and are looking to learn new skills. This is something that makes me feel incredibly hopeful for the future preservation of my beloved crochet in particular! 
 
I am incredibly proud to have been invited onto the show to be a guest judge of the projects made for episode 3. I had no idea beforehand of what the projects might be, so it was a complete surprise to be judging crochet deckchairs - not something that immediately springs to mind when you think about crochet! I am giving away no spoilers in case you haven't seen the episode yet - you can find it by following this link.

In the lead up to filming the show, the TV company asked me to send through some ideas of which projects I could wear. I gave them the option of the Magic Circles, Summer Palace and Climbing Rose wraps. They chose the latter, which I was pleased about as it kept me super cozy on what was a very chilly shoot day!
 
Climbing Rose was released as a crochet along project back in 2019 and patterns and kits are still available in the shop. Due to some discontinuations I have recently revamped the yarn usage by having a version made solely in Stylecraft Special DK. You can find the free yarn substitution document by following this link. The kits in our shop still contain some of the original yarns and will do so until they have sold through. You can find them by following this link.
 
Please note the image above is not too accurate on the colours within the wrap. Images below are closer to the true shades.

Many other projects of mine were showcased on episode 3 of Game of Wool and it would be great to know how many you spotted! I saw Spirit of Flora hanging in the background and there was Mystical Lanterns on the table when I demonstrated some crochet stitches. ​

Of course it was also a big thrill to see the image of Justin Bieber with my Persian Tiles blanket! You can find a Youtube video of him at the Vanity Fair Oscar's afterparty wearing the design here. Fabulous to see Tracy keeping warm with the Marrakesh version too!
 
If you are looking for a project to keep you cosy over the winter then do take a look at our kits and patterns. We have pretty much everything in stock in our shop at the moment - the first time that has happened for quite a while! 

I have been toying with the idea of creating crochet artworks for some time and love the recent trend for festive wall hangings. When Inside Crochet Magazine asked if I would like to work on a beaded masterclass booklet I jumped at the chance and set about creating four different designs, which you can make to hang on your tree, thread up as bunting, or pin to a board to create an artwork like mine.
 
Using the perfectly cute, mini balls of Ricorumi cotton to make these decorations was incredibly rewarding too, especially when paired with beads. They are a designers dream as their size and the array of shades makes it so easy to pick a lovely colour palette without making too much of a dent in your bank balance. The yarn is 100% natural and of a great quality, so it is a brilliant choice if you want to make special, heirloom worthy projects.

​The patterns for these designs are only available via Inside Crochet Magazine issue 184 which is out now and we have a limited number of yarn and bead packs for sale in the shop at just £29.95. 

This time last year I designed the Halley pouch as the project for a festive workshop. I love making the beaded flowers that are a part of this design so much that I keep going back to them to create more designs. I have used the beaded flower as the centre part of one of the hanging decorations and have also created a wrap version of Halley using yarns from the Yarnsmith's range.
 
The pattern is currently featured in Inside Crochet Magazine and you can find kits for the project on the Yarnsmiths site by clicking here.

With a little under five weeks to go before Christmas it is slowly beginning to feel a bit festive round here. I have managed to get a couple of gifts already, which is a bit of a record for me as I am usually very lastminute.com. I have also been thinking about decorations and have rooted through my projects to find all my festive things.
 
We have quite the collection of crochet decorations now and you can find them by following this link. We also have quite a few bags and pouches that would make great gifts. 

Andy and I have been taking part in a 50 day countdown to Christmas challenge, which has included specific exercises (the 100 squats before each meal was a particular killer on Wednesday) and good habit making ideas, including pointers to being healthy and mindful.
 
One of the days we were asked to experiment with a brand new breakfast idea and another day we had to create a new healthy evening meal. This weekend we have been set the task of trying out a new dessert recipe, but making sure that it does not include any refined sugar.
 
Always up for a challenge, we have found this recipe for lemon ice cream which is made using frozen bananas and cauliflower. Sounds crazy doesn't it! I will report back next time to let you know what it was like…

We have a lot of jobs that need doing in the house and the garden could do with its late autumn clear up, so we will be busy ticking things off of our to do lists all weekend. I am hoping to get in some baking time too as it is so long since I made a cake. I found a recipe for a boozy fruit cake made in the slow cooker, so I might give that a go on Sunday.
 
I am hoping that I will also be able to have lots of crochet or knit time on the settee with a movie or two, and of course The Game of Wool, on the TV. I have almost completed the Utility 2 cowl by The Knitting Shed and I have loved every single stitch of it. I used their Ainsworth & Prin plump sock DK yarn and it is just such a joy to work with. I think I might be a little sad to cast off, but then it is always so good to start a new project.
 
Whatever you have planned for the weekend I hope you keep safe and warm and that you mange to grab a little crochet fix! Much love until next time…..

Hello wonderful woolly crafters! I hope this email finds you well.
 
This is a really speedy email today as I have just three things I want to tell you about:
 
No 1: Due to a cancellation we now have two spaces on the Festive Knit & Crochet Weekend Workshop in Bournemouth.
 
No 2: Wool Warehouse now have Climbing Rose Wrap kits in stock, put together using their lovely Yarnsmiths range of yarn.
 
No 3: I am so excited about Game of Wool on Channel 4!
 
If any of these things tickle your fancy, then do read on for more information!
 

We had an amazing time in Morocco with Stitchtopia and now that I am home I keep looking through the hundreds of photos that I took to remind me of all the surface pattern and wonderment that we saw. It's the light that I am craving more than anything though, that lovely golden light that make colours pop and sing! ​

I haven't been particularly well since arriving home, with a cough that came on a few days after our trip. I had a cold while I was in Morocco too, so I am pretty sure I have had two bugs on the bounce, which is just bad luck! Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be shifting particularly quickly, so that, and the fact that it is getting dark at 4.30pm, is getting me down a little now that we are home. 
 
To cheer myself up I am sharing a few of my favourite pics from the trip on here. The one of the shepherd with his arms, and the tree behind him full of goats, was taken by the fabulous Teresa Wardlaw, my fantastic tour manager - isn't it great! We couldn't believe our eyes when we spotted a tree full of goats by the side of the road!

As I mentioned in the introduction, we have a twin room available on our forthcoming Festive Workshop in Bournemouth at the end of the month. The places are available due to a cancellation and are based on two people sharing either a twin or a double room. If you fancy coming along, either with another workshop participant, or with a non crafting companion, then email Sue at the following address:
 
[email protected] 
 
To avoid confusion we have not added the available spots to our Inspired Minds website, but you can find the dates and all the information about the workshop by following this link. To see the correct price you need to look at the inland double.
 
The workshop is hosted by hand knit designer Debbie Abrahams and myself and we both create a festive project for you to work on while you are with us. This year I have gone full on bling with a ton of lovely sparkly beads on my project - more info on that a bit closer to Christmas! 
 
The images above and below show last year's workshop where participants made my Halley Beaded Pouch.

Over the last few months we have been creating some yarn packs in conjunction with Wool Warehouse, using their lovely Superwash Merino yarn. The most recent one is my Climbing Rose Wrap and you can find the kits (which currently have a 40% discount) by following this link.
 
The wrap looks really fabulous made in gorgeous high end yarns and I have used their Heathers range and Pebble Haze which both have a lovely subtle tweedy feel to them. 

So, onto the final topic of this week's Quick Catch Up: GAME OF WOOL and I am already a big fan! 
 
There have been a few grumbles on social media this week, mainly about the scale of the yarn and needles that were used in week one, and poor Gordon's doomed steeking, but the good reviews far outweigh the negative, and the icing on the cake has to be making in onto Gogglebox on tonight! 
 
The framework of the show follows a very similar one to that of Bake Off, where contestants have to complete challenges in set time periods and are voted off on the basis of their achievements each week. Nothing new there, but what I think is AMAZING is finally seeing yarn crafts highlighted on a mainstream TV channel in a prime time slot. 
 
If you haven't watched the show you can find it on catch up by following this link. If, like me, you are already hooked, then don't forget to watch episode two on Sunday evening - I have it on good authority that the next episode includes crochet and finer yarn - so what's not to like! 

​I am looking forward to a weekend at home and have already lined up some comfort knitting on the settee for the evenings. I am making a cowl on circular needles. It has an i-cord cast on, which seemed to take me forever to do, so I am looking forward to getting to grips with the more straight forward (hopefully quite mindless knitting) part! 
 
If I am feeling completely better after my brush with the lurgy I might go to the Make Joy event at Woolwich Works tomorrow. The wonderfully talented Suraya of Mahliqa (knitted wire jewellery) is exhibiting so it will be lovely to see her stand and I really enjoyed the show last year. A fix of mingling with all the gorgeous yarn, accessories and other attendees has to be a great plan for a Saturday right?
 
I think that Sunday may well have the first roast dinner of the season on the cards, as I get ready for the second episode of Game of Wool. I haven't had a roast potato in what feels like months, so it will be good to have a treat! Maybe even an apple crumble to go with it - now that really would be living dangerously! 
 
Big hugs to you all. I will be back next Friday with the November newsletter - until then, stay safe and well.

Hi to all my fellow temperature blanket makers. We are here in the penultimate month of our project and even though I have to confess to being a month behind, I've only just finished my September squares, the blanket is getting big now. 

Temperatures here in North London have started to cool and we have had our first frosts on chilly mornings, although the daytime temperatures have consistently reached double figures each day. Apple Green and Meadow will be coming back out of the bag for the October squares and Copper, Raspberry and Pale Rose will be put away for now. They may be used in the border but I will decide that once all the squares are made and joined. 

I have been busy working on other projects this month but with just a sleeve to finish on a warm knitted jumper I will now be turning my attention back to this one and getting all the October squares made and back on track. In the meantime you can find the November temperature recording chart here. See you next month.