​I think it is pretty much a foregone conclusion that at this time of year many of us find ourselves reflecting on the previous 12 months in order to calculate and consider all the things that we think we have achieved and the things we have learnt so that then, through this contemplation, we are able to decide what objectives we will take into the future. We reminisce about the good times we have had, look at our achievements and then make new plans based on these things, whilst also making a mental note to learn from, and not revisit, the bad times.
 
2020 has been a game changer. It has been about staying safe and looking out for others. It has been a chance to reset and reflect over the course of months rather than as a reaction to the New Year looming. This year, whilst it is inevitable that we all have different things planned for 2021, the overriding achievement has to be (that unlike the many of thousands of people who have lost their lives, or who have had their life drastically altered thanks to the pandemic), we are lucky enough to be in a position to reflect on 2020 in the first place!

For me the past year has been a chance to re-evaluate the things that we prioritise and really think about how we want our home and work life to look going forwards. Over the last few months we have been busy making some exciting plans for the new year that we hope will include projects and events that you would like to get involved in. 2021 will be Janie Crow's 10th Anniversary year so it is extra exciting for us!
 
Your support over the last year has been incredible and I am always blown away by your lovely emails and messages and your amazing response to my work. I wish you all good health and happiness for 2021. With love from my family to yours....
​

I hope you are all having a nice festive holiday. I am here again to let you know that the fifth yarn substitution document for the Love is Enough version of the Fruit Garden Crochet Along project is now live on the Stylecraft web site. 
 ​

​Have you made your list and checked it twice? Have you been naughty or nice? Whatever your answers to these 2 questions there is no escaping the fact that a week today will be Christmas Day! For most of us it is set to be unlike any Christmas Day we have ever seen before, but a fact is a fact - this time next week we will be donning our fancy frocks and silly paper hats, eating a little too much and maybe getting a tad tipsy, all in the most grown up, socially distanced and sensible way possible!
 
I must admit I am really looking forward to the festive break despite the fact that it will be quieter than usual and I have already stared to line up the projects I want to work on while we are at home - I have rummaged around at the back of the sofa and found a few WIPS that are not far off being finished, so it will be nice to settle down with these and have a few days of Christmas movies, jigsaws and mince pies!

We are planning to spend this weekend finishing off our festive preparations and getting ready for the not so big day! Over the course of 2020 we have tried to keep ourselves to ourselves as much as possible in order to keep our family safe and so from now through to Christmas we will be extra hermit like so that we can see some of our loved ones. We have really missed the usual run of parties and events that lead up to the festive period so Andy, Charlie and I have decided that we will have our own 'Christmas Do' at home on Saturday evening - not quite sure what that will entail just yet, but I am hoping for a few party dances and a game of guess the intro - one of my favourite games especially in regards to the 80s and 90s music rounds!

I would love to know what your plans are especially if you are lining up a new knit or crochet projects or if you have some ideas for fun things to do in small groups - it would be lovely to share some of these on social media...

I am really pleased to say that team Janie Crow managed to raise nearly £800 by completing the Big Walk for Shelter. Our total currently sits at £760 which really is amazing, but there is still time to donate if you want to. Thank you so much for all your amazing support!

This is my last newsletter for 2020 and I will be back mid January with the next one.
The studio opening times over the next few weeks will be as follows:

25th - 28th December: Closed.
29th, 30th & 31st December: Open 10am to 4pm. 
1st, 2nd, 3rd January: Closed

Please note that we will be unable to man the phone line during the festive period so please do not call. If you have a query about an order or want to contact us about anything else please us the following email address: info@janiecrow.co.uk

So that is pretty much it from me for 2020. It has been the strangest of years for obvious reasons. On a personal level there have been some major lows over the course of the last 9 months but there have also been some incredible high points and it has been amazing to have been part of your crafting journeys this year.

I hope that whatever your plans are that you have a good time despite the restrictions. We are sad not to be able to see some of our family but we know that the more we all behave and adhere to the rules the more we are protecting our loved ones and the quicker we will see a brighter future. I look forward to being back here with you in January when we will hopefully already be reaping the benefits of a better New Year.
 
With much love
​

​I am here again to let you know that the fourth yarn substitution document for the Love is Enough version of the Fruit Garden Crochet Along project is now live on the Stylecraft web site and to let you know that Stylecraft are running some fabulous festive giveaways via their Facebook page and blog. The giveaway gives you a chance to win the yarn to complete one of the projects that have been featured on the Stylecraft Make Along Facebook Group over the course of this year, each one designed by a Blogstar. There are some great prizes to be won and if you visit the page on Thursday you can enter the prize draw to win the yarn to make the Melsetter Fruit Garden cushion cover. Click on the image below for more info.
   

​So, as I said already, today sees the release of the yarn substitution document to make the next part of the Fruit Garden CAL. To work through the Aster motif and the next part of the Acanthus motif you will need to download the original pattern for Part 4 and use the yarn sub document alongside this as a guide for which yarn shades to use. If you are joining in the CAL and using one of the 2 original colourways or your own colour palette then you will not need the yarn sub document. 
​

​I have recorded a short video to accompany the re-release of the first set of patterns and you can find the video here. You can find a video to accompany the Purple Aster and the next few rounds of the Acanthus motifs here.

​If you want to make a cushion to accompany your project you can find the patterns as a free download or as a paper pattern by following this link. 

If you want to make a Fruit Garden blanket in the Naturals Bamboo + Cotton, Night & Dusk colour way (shown above) we now have kits in stock on Janie Crow and Just Knots. Don't forget that you can find help and join in some crochet orientated chat via the Stylecraft Yarns CAL Facebook page here.

Yarn substitution documents for the next part of the project will go live on the 29th December.

Sending big yarny hugs to you all and hoping that you are safe and well.

​It is hard to believe that Christmas Day is just 2 weeks away - are you ready for it? I think we are pretty much sorted for our much quieter day than usual, but there are still a few bits and bobs to get and some gift wrapping to do. I hope that wherever you are and whatever you have planned that you are looking forward to a fabulous festive break despite the current situation.
​

The paper version of the Festive Edition of Inside Crochet magazine has sold out, but if you are looking to make some last minute decorations or fancy embarking on a lovely new project to make over Christmas you can download a one off copy of the magazine by following this link.
 ​

There are so many fabulous projects in this magazine including projects by some of the UK's leading designers and I am honoured to have been asked to contribute the patterns for some festive decorations that feature in an exclusive 'beaded crochet' cover book. ​
​

If you like the idea of beading but feel you need a bit of extra help you can find a video tutorial that Sarah and I filmed a few years ago on the Janie Crow YouTube channel here and a free to download technique document here.

You can find more bead shades over on Andy's Just Knots site by following this link.
​
 ​

The response to the Janie Crow Lifestyle brand, which we launched a little over a month ago, has been amazing and it is incredible to see the number of followers of the Instagram page grow by the day. We are closing in on 850 followers, which is just great - thank you all so much for your kind words and messages.
 ​

​Sarah has been looking at some neat ways to use oddments of fabric, scarves and tea towels to make some great reusable gift wrapping and she has also included some ideas of how to use pages from a magazine or newspaper as gift wrapping and you can find her ideas and images along with links to great tutorials lower down this email.
​

​As we come to the end of 2020, I think many of us will want to put some extra thought into the way we wrap our gifts for friends and family. There is a certain irony in me writing this piece for you as I am not very good at wrapping gifts, since I usually leave it right until the last minute. However, since working on the Lifestyle brand with Jane I have become much more aware of packaging generally and we might present some of our gifts more thoughtfully and consciously. 

So often we turn to the East for inspiration and this year I have noticed that lots of brands - large and small -are encouraging us to practice Furoshiki, the Japanese art of fabric wrapping. Back in the Nara period (710-794 B.C.) cloth was used to wrap important goods and treasures. Fast forward to 2006 and the Japanese Minister of the Environment encouraged the use of Furoshiki cloth to reduce the use of plastic. As a result of this kind of intervention we are now seeing this ancient Japanese art being practised all over the world.

“It would be wonderful if the furoshiki, as a symbol of traditional Japanese culture, could provide an opportunity for us to reconsider the possibilities of a sound-material cycle society. As my sincere wish, I would like to disseminate the culture of the furoshiki to the entire world.”
Ms Yuriko Koike – Minister for the Environment (Japan) 2003-2006

I was really surprised by how quick and simple the technique is. All you need is a square piece of cloth. Ideally this should be double sided, but it is not crucial. Most Furoshiki cloths are either 45cm or 70cm square, but in reality they can be as large or small as the gift requires. There are lots of tutorials available online and I found this one from Edinburgh based Furoshiki Giftwrap, really helpful. 

This inspired me to have a go myself and here is a Friendly Soap bar wrapped and ready to go!
​

Every year as a child my mum would meticulously preserve wrapping paper from one year to the next. During one of our Janie Crow Lifestyle catch ups we thought it would be nice to show you how to reuse not only gift wrap but the pages of magazines, leaflets etc by making an origami gift bag. Just like the Furoshiki this idea is also influenced by Japan where the art of paper folding is practised to a magnificent standard.

We have posted a super quick video of me making one of these bags over on the Janie Crow Lifestyle Instagram feed, but if you would like to learn how to make one yourself then the following link will take you to a fantastic tutorial by Paperkerwaii. It is incredibly soothing to watch and I made the following bags from magazine pages and ribbon that I have collected from packaging over the years!
 ​

I have only touched on a couple of ideas here, but I hope that they will inspire you and since this is my last piece for 2020 I thought it would be nice to leave you with a gift!

Here is the pattern for my Slipstitch Gift Bag – it’s a great stash buster and perfect for soaps, candles or anything small. These can be used again and again and I hope you enjoy making one or two!
 ​

​SLIPSTITCH GIFT BAG
 
Yarn:  This design can be worked in 4ply or DK oddments in three colours, A, B & C.
Needles and notions: 3.25mm needle for 4ply version.
4mm needles for DK version.
Tension:  25sts and 40 rows to 10cm using 4mm needles and measured over pattern.
Measurements:  Varies according to multiple of sts cast on.

Abbreviations:
wyib - with yarn to the back
wyif - with yarn to the front

Pattern notes: 
Information inside the brackets refers to DK version.
Twist yarns not in use, up the side of the work.
Slip all sts purlwise.
The bag can be made larger or smaller for either yarn weight by casting on more or less stitches equal to a multiple of 4 + 1. e.g, 4 x 4 =16 + 1 = 17

Instructions:
Using 3.25mm (4mm) needles cast on 21(25sts) in yarn A.
Purl one row. Change to yarn B, but do not break yarn A.
Row 1(RS): K1, *sl3 wyib, K1; rep from * to end.
Row 2: P2, *sl1 wyif, P3; rep from * to end, ending last rep with P2.
Row 3: Knit.
Row 4: Purl.
Rows 5-8: As rows 1-4 in C.
Rows 9-12: As rows 1-4 in A.
Repeat last 12 rows, twice more.
Break yarns A and C.
Next row: Knit in B.
Next row: Purl in B.
Repeat last 2 rows, two (three) more times, increasing one st at the end of the last row. 22 (26) sts
*Eyelet row: K2, *yfwd, K2tog, K2; rep from * to end of row.
Next row: Purl.
Work a further 3 (5) rows in stst. Break yarn B.
With WS of work facing join in yarn C and cast off loosely.*

To Finish:
Plain back version:
With 3.25mm (4mm) needles pick up and knit 21 (25) sts from cast on edge in yarn colour of choice.
Starting with a Purl row continue in stst until work measures the same as the Front to Eyelet Row. Work from * to *.
Patterned version:
With 3.25mm (4mm) needles pick up and knit 21 (25) sts from cast on edge in yarn A. Work as Front.
Both versions: Weave in any loose ends and block according to ball band instructions. Join side seams using back stitch or mattress stitch if preferred.
Make a twisted cord/ crocheted chain long enough to be slotted through eyelets and tied into a bow.
​

When we started looking at products to stock on Janie Crow Lifestyle we were keen to source plastic free things that would act as a replacement for items that most of us already use, such as soap, deodorants and moisturisers. We also wanted to have items that were good quality and had a price point that matched their longevity and that ultimately looked good. Over the last 6 months we have spent a lot of time testing things and have chosen items that ticked lots of boxes, such as plastic free, cruelty free and low waste, whilst also trying to source things that are made in the UK and so have a low carbon footprint.

When it came to finding good cosmetic brands it was difficult to find items that could tick all our boxes so we have had to make a few compromises on some of the brands we have chosen. One of these is our brand new range of Lipstick pencils from Beauty Made Easy, which we fell in love with and just had to stock!
 ​

Last week I mentioned how much I like our range of Friendly Soaps and so I was really pleased to discover that the company have now won an award for their Lavender and Geranium hair conditioner bar. You can find more information about this by following this link to their Instagram page and you can find the award winning conditioner bar on sale in our store here.
 ​

Head huggers have proved to be a really popular accessory this season. Not only do they keep your ears warm, but they are a great way to use up your stash. Why not make a few to give as gifts for friends and family this Christmas?

I have tried out a couple of ideas this week and thought I would share them with you! This is not so much a pattern but a few guidelines for making your own head hugger with the resources you have available.
 ​

The basis of the head hugger is a knitted or crocheted tube measuring approximately 22cm wide and 48cm long. So when you are working out how many stitches or chains to make, first of all check the tension details of your yarn. If you are using a standard DK, you should get 22sts to 10cm in width. This means that 1cm is equal to 2.2sts. If you multiply 2.2 x 22 you will get 48.4 sts. You will need to round this up or down depending on the stitch you have chosen to use. As a rough guide I made 37 chain for my chunky head hugger (shown above on the beautiful Phoebe) and 48 chain for the DK version (shown lower down). You may find that some stitch patterns use more or less stitches to achieve the same width, so to be super accurate it is a good idea to work a tension square first. 

Having worked out how many stitches to use you can then start to make your tube. I used Waffle stitch for my chunky hugger and Rope stitch for the DK version. Details are at the end of this piece. You may prefer to work this as a flat piece or to work in the round. Either is fine, but if you are working flat, join the long edges with right sides together using either mattress stitch or slip stitch so that you achieve a nice flat seam. ​
​

INSTRUCTIONS:
Waffle stitch
Worked on an odd number of stitches plus 2 for the foundation chain.

Special abbreviation: 
2 Linked exdc – 2 linked extended double crochet
Insert hook as instructed, yrh, pull a loop through, insert hook in next stitch as instructed, yrh, pull a loop through, [yrh, pull through two loops] twice.

Foundation row: make the required number of chain depending on your yarn choice. 

Row 1 (RS):  2 linked exdc in 3rd and 4th ch from hook, *ch1, 2 linked exdc in each of next 2 ch; rep from * to last ch, ch1, 1dc in last ch, turn.

Row 2: Ch2, (does not count as st), 2 linked exdc in first dc and next ch-sp *ch1, 2 linked exdc inserting hook to right of next vertical thread (at centre of next exdc) and then into the ch-sp; rep from * to last exdc, ch1, 1dc in last exdc, turn.

Repeat Row 2 until you reach desired length.
 
Rope stitch:

Worked on a multiple of 3+2 stitches plus 1 for the foundation chain.

Foundation Row: 1tr in 4th ch from hook, ch1, 1tr in next ch, *skip 1ch, 1tr in next ch, ch1, 1tr in next ch; rep from* to last ch, 1tr in last ch, turn.

Row 1: Ch3, (counts as 1tr), skip first 2tr, * [1tr, ch1, 1tr] in ch-1 sp. skip 2tr; rep from * to last tr, skip last tr, 1tr in 3rd of ch3, turn.

Repeat Row 1 until you reach desired length.
​

​My lovely friend Jan contacted me this week to tell me about the charity and social enterprise 'Fine Cell Work' which enables prisoners to 'build fulfilling and crime-free lives'.
​

You can find their web site by following this link and this is what they say about their work in prison and post release programme:

'Fine Cell Work is a charity and social enterprise which enables prisoners to build fulfilling and crime-free lives. We do this by training them in high-quality, skilled, creative needlework undertaken in the long hours spent in their cells to foster hope, discipline and self-esteem. Our aim is to allow them to finish their sentences with work skills, money earned and saved, and the self-belief to not re-offend.

At the Fine Works Hub, our London-based community workshop, we run our Open the Gate programme which provides work experience, formal training and employment support to ex-prisoners (who we call apprentices). Funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, the programme aims to support ex-prisoners with their reintegration into society upon their release from prison'.

The needlepoint and embroidered cushion collection is possibly my favourite area on the site. The collection is simply stunning and the quality of work looks perfect.
 ​

If you fancy having a go at making a cushion cover yourself or are looking for a gift, then the needlepoint kits would be a great choice, especially if (like me), you are a big fan of the work of Arts and Craft Movement ceramic artist William De Morgan.

I think there is something for everyone on this web site and I will definitely be popping back there to look for a few gifts and decorations although quite a lot of the Christmas bits and bobs are now out of stock.

The standard of work is amazing and of course I love the fact that the charity have made the link between craft and well being and I think as crafters we can all relate to their belief that 'The making and selling of high-quality needlework boosts their self-worth, instils self-discipline, and fosters hope.'
 ​

You can follow Fine Cell Work on Instagram here and you can find a brilliant informative video that shows the process of how items are created on this web page. 
 ​

​We had thought that we might head into the West End to do a little bit of shopping and see the Christmas lights this weekend, but I think with London on the verge of going into Tier 3 that this would not be the best decision so (as usual) we don't have big plans for the weekend. I guess we will be spending our time pottering around at home and baking Summer's lovely brownies at some point. The weather forecast is not brilliant but maybe we will manage a walk or two and of course we will be only too pleased to settle ourselves on the sofa with a craft project or a book!

I hope that whatever your plans are you keep safe and well. Sending big virtual yarny hugs to you all.
​

​I have been nominated within the Craft Influencer of the Year category of the Craft Business Awards once again. I was fortunate enough to win this award for 2020 and would love to do so again. If you would like to vote for me then click on this link or on the image below to be taken to the online voting forms.
 ​

​My goodness! Just like that it is Friday again and I am here with a quick catch up email. As usual it has been a bit of a bonkers week here at Janie Crow and Just Knots HQ but we are feeling really positive this Friday after a week of better news in regards to the pandemic here in the UK at least with the Pfizer vaccinations getting the go ahead. We know that we will still face lots of restrictions over the coming months, but hopefully better times for all of us are not too far away...

Last weekend we managed to get the Christmas decorations down out of the loft but the boxes have remained unpacked all week, so hopefully we will make it a priority to get the house decorated this weekend. I love getting the festive bits and bobs out, but it is going to be strange for us all this year with pared back arrangements and less interaction with the extended family and friends. I hope that whatever your situation is that you have managed to make at least some plans for a little celebration.

From a creative point of view I am very pleased to report that my crojo has definitely returned after a few worrying months where I was feeling wholly uninspired. So many of you emailed me with great tips about how to cope with a loss of motivation and you were all so supportive, thank you!

I have a few things to tell you about this week so I hope you have 5 minutes for a quick catch up and wherever you are and whatever you have planned I hope you have a fabulous weekend.
​

​There will be just 7 of us getting together for a few days over Christmas, but we are still looking forward to the festive season, partly because it will mean a little bit of time off and that all important rest and recuperation so that we are fit and ready for whatever 2021 will throw at us.

I am a big lover of the summer time, when days are longer and warmer, but I also really like this time of year at home when we can shut out the dark and cold and enjoy cosy nights in front of the fire and some hearty, warming meals together. As I sit here at the studio writing this email it is dismal outside, almost as if it is getting dark at 2pm and so I am already thinking about what project I might pick up and work on in the comfort of my settee later on! The thought of twinkling lights on the Christmas tree, some lovely scented candles and a few festive treats makes this thought even more enticing..
​

​Yesterday evening I had a sudden urge to rearrange our bedroom and in the process I managed to sort out the light up decorative tree that we usually have here at the studio. I have put an image of it on the Janie Crow Lifestyle Instagram page this morning along with an invitation for you to tell me your thoughts on the big fake vs real Christmas tree debate. If you want to see the post you can find it here.

Our main tree is an artificial one. I bought it about 10 years ago when the children were small because I fell in love with the snow covered look that came into fashion around then. A decade down the line and I am not sure I would make the same decision again, but I still love my tree and envisage it being a lifelong companion. What I miss about a real tree is the smell of fresh fir, but I certainly don't miss having to vacuum the pine needles up daily or having to do quick clean up jobs when the tree has an accidental wobble! 

There are lots of facts and figures about whether it is ethical to have a fake tree, but there are lots about having a real one too! I suppose in an ideal world we shouldn't really have either (bah humbug!) so I guess the best way to approach it is to stick with a fake tree if you already have one (the suggestion is that you should have an imitation one for at least 10 years) or, if you are a fan of real trees try to make sure you get one that comes from a sustainable source and dispose of it in the correct way as trees that end up in landfill can create a lot of methane gas. There is an article here that you might find interesting in regards to weighing up the pros and cons of both.
   

​If you are looking to create a sweet festive treat that could also make a great gift for someone, Summer has posted her recipe for rum & raisin fudge on her Instagram feed Rosie Baker. I can vouch for the fact that the fudge is amazing, but do be careful with the amount of rum you add as this will have an effect on how well it sets! 

We have some great stocking filler type gifts in stock within the new lifestyle brand on Janie Crow. The Friendly Soaps have been going like hot cakes, so we have just created another order and hope that more stock should arrive here next week. The Travel Soap bars are brilliant 'all rounders' and can be used as body soap, shampoo and can even be used to wash your clothes. I am currently in love with the Cinnamon and Cedarwood bars, which smell wonderfully festive. Other good choices are the Rose and Geranimum, which smells and looks like Turkish Delight and the selection boxes, which make a really great treat! You can find a video on the Friendly Soap YouTube channel that shows their production process by following this link.
​

All Friendly Soaps are made in Yorkshire and this is what they have to say about them:

'We’re a wee bit obsessive at Friendly, and putting ethics before profits underpins everything here. That’s why our products aren’t just vegan, or cruelty-free, or made by people paid a living wage, without using plastic, preservatives, sulphates or triclosan. They’re all of these things. Sure, we could make more money doing things less ethically, but all we ever really wanted to make was a difference.

For soaps this ethical we use a cold-process method handed down through generations of makers. It creates no by-products and relies on old-fashioned elbow grease, with every bar poured, cut and packed by hand, right here in Yorkshire. The soap is biodegradable too, so it’s better for the planet even once you’ve used it. Our recycled and recyclable packaging is just us being sticklers.'

*Please note that some of the shampoo and conditioner bars are not suitable for hard water areas.

If you are looking for some little gifts we also have some great telescopic metal straws that come in a metal case that can be attached to your bag or your key ring. These come in silver or rose gold and are super handy. My final recommendation, although not strictly the kind of thing you might use as a stocking filler, is one of the fabulous fragrances of Scence deodorant. This is a product that we all really love here and out of all the items we have chosen for the Lifestyle range this is probably our favourite so far. The deodorants smell good, don't leave a sticky mess on your skin and come in cardboard packaging that does not break down in any way during use. With a £12 price tag these do seem expensive but they honestly last for ages. I have been using the same one daily since the end of October and am barely half way through the tube. Oh! and they really work! 

If you are looking for a great festive drink then you might fancy giving Andy's Marmalade Gin a try. A few years ago we were introduced to the delight of this drink by a friend of ours who had made it for one of her pre-Christmas parties and Andy has been making it ever since so it has become a firm favourite with our family! 
   

​​This scrummy gin is good on it’s own with lots of ice, or served with tonic or sparkling wine and it is super easy to make! You need to leave it to rest for a couple of weeks, so this weekend would be the perfect time to get it ready!
 
You will need:
A large airtight Kilner type jar - sterilised.
A muslin cloth and a funnel for straining.
A bottle to store it in once it is ready.
 
Ingredients:
A bottle of cheap gin – no need to use the expensive stuff!
A jar of good quality marmalade.
2 bay leaves.
A large slice or 2 of fresh orange peel - not zest.
 
Method:
Add all the ingredients to the Kilner type jar and stir well.
Seal the jar and leave it in a dark place for 2 weeks giving it a little shake every few days.
After 2 weeks strain the mixture through muslin a couple of times to ensure there is no residue left in the liquid and transfer to your (sterilised) bottle.
 
Cheers! 
   

​I have known Jo for a long time and I have always admired her fabulous use of colour. Jo is a crochet designer unafraid to use bright clashing colours in a way that works brilliantly making her crochet creations perfect for decorations, shawls, blankets and jewellery. I am really happy to have a fabulous collection of Jo's handmade creations for sale in the Janie Crow shop just in time for the festive season.

Jo is a crocheter, knitter, early years specialist, grandma, gardener, and crochet teacher. Jo loves sharing her skills and has regularly led crochet workshops at the Knitting and Stitching Shows and at Waltham Abbey Wool Show.  Jo’s work has an exuberance and childlike energy and joy. She uses a cacophony of colour and sparkle, making pieces that are vibrant, sometimes gaudy and always joyful. Her colour choices may look like a crazy random mix of rainbows and neons and sparkles but are always carefully considered so each complements or contrasts with others to make the piece sing.
​

​Jo has been crocheting for over 50 years and makes blankets, wraps, bags, cushions garlands, etc. if it can be crocheted, Jo has crocheted it.  Jo delights in experimenting with colour, pattern and texture. As she makes one thing she’s already working out different colours patterns and stitches to try next. So you will never find 2 things the same. Everything she makes is unique.  
  

​You can find a link to more information about Jo here on the Janie Crow web site and there is a link to the items that Jo has designed in stock here. I am particularly smitten by the bauble style crochet 'bead' necklaces and bracelet! Click on the images for more information.

I think all of Jo's creations would make the perfect way to brighten up a quieter Christmas than usual...

​Since moving into their home on the edge of Dartmoor, my brother and his wife have started providing food, water and shelter for hedgehogs in their garden. I thought you might like to see and read about what they have been up to, so this is what Simon has to say:

'Hedgehogs are brilliant! They are not only amazing creatures to have roaming around the garden, but they do a very effective job of hoovering up those pesky slugs that otherwise create havoc in the veg plot and flower borders. However, while there were an estimated 30 million hedgehogs in the UK during the 1950s, there are now fewer than one million roaming our gardens and hedgerows, which is a 50% decline since 2000 alone. Organisations such as the British Hedgehog Preservation Society are looking to alleviate this, along with the help of the eco-friendly British public. 
   

​We provide the local hedgehogs with dried cat food - the best is chicken and it’s cheap! I have made covered shelters that have a small opening and a further obstacle at the entrance that allow hedgehogs in (and out!) but not cats – our recent night-time video clips confirms that this works. We also provide water in old drip trays or saucers, both of which are shared with the garden birds. To our amazement, the night-time clips also show that the hedgehogs drink from the pond that we dug out during the ‘lockdown summer’. The edge of the pond has a shallow slope, which is important for hedgehog safety.

We feel very lucky to share our garden with such amazing animals, and to also share our clips with those living in urban areas, for whom seeing a hedgehog in the wild is an unlikely event. We are also fortunate in having a caring vet as a close neighbour, who is also on-hand to offer help and advice when needed.'

We will put Simon's video in next week's newsletter but in the mean time you can find a great award winning film 'Hedgehog Close' made by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society by following this link.

​There is still time to make some crochet decorations and these cute little crochet stockings would look great hung on the Christmas Tree. They are big enough to fit in a small gift, so you could make some to use as an alternative to gift wrapping, or, if you fancy making 24 of them, you could create your own advent calendar and pop in some scrummy chocolate treats to enjoy during December!
   

​The stockings do not use much yarn so are a great stash busting project too! Why not try making stockings with brightly coloured stripes from lots of colours or add different types of decoration on the cuffs like bright pom-poms or bigger beads?
   

​The pattern includes the instructions for four variations of the stocking. Two of the stockings are striped and two have a cuff. One stocking has a beaded cuff and another has a crochet holly detail. The pattern is written for DK weight of yarn and the stockings are worked in the round. The pattern is written in UK terms and has a chart for US equivalents at the front of the brochure.

The pattern is £5.95 and you can get the paper pattern via the web site here or you can download it via Ravelry or Etsy.
   

​I love the way unpacking the decorations year after year and arranging them around the house brings back lots of lovely memories and good feelings. Handmade decorations make extra special gifts as they convey that sentiment too and are a great way of using up odds and ends of yarn from your stash.
   

​For these hanging decorations I have used four shades of yarn for a more contemporary, simple look, but I think these would also look great made with all sorts of yarn types and colours with added buttons, beads and ribbon to add in a big splash of fun!

The pattern in written for five decorations and I have included an alternative shade sequence for each one, so you can see I have included ten decorations in the images. 
​

​The pattern is written in UK terms, but includes a list of US equivalents. The pattern is available as an 8 page paper brochure or you can purchase a download copy via Ravelry or Etsy.
   

​Team Janie Crow will be walking 10k on Thursday to help raise funds for the homeless charity Shelter. Andy and I will walk whatever the weather has in store on the day here in North London (even though the walk can be done between the 10th & the 13th December) as those living on the streets don't get to choose what type of weather conditions they are homeless in. Sarah and Paul will be walking on the same day in Birmingham too. 
​

​We are so grateful to all those of you who have already donated and we are so pleased to have raised £290 already, which is totally amazing! Thank you!

If you want to donate you can do so by following this link and you can find out more about Shelter's invaluable work and the Big Walk by following this link.
   

​Don't forget that you can check out my back catalogue of designs by taking a look at the Janie Crow brochure. Simply click on this link or on the image below to be taken to the full colour download version or pop one in your cart alongside any other purchases on the Janie Crow web site and we will send you a paper copy for free.
  

​It has been really great seeing all the images of your Christmas makes on social media. I particularly like seeing all the festive decorations made from stash yarns and it has been a treat to see so many of you making the crochet decorations that featured in Inside Crochet Magazine this month.
  

​The yarn substitution document for Part 3 of the Love Is Enough version of my Fruit Garden CAL went live on Tuesday and we do still have some stock of the Night & Dusk packs featuring the Bamboo + Cotton yarn.

As lockdown restrictions have eased slightly this week we are hoping to get out to do a bit of Christmas shopping over the weekend, but with the forecast looking a bit chilly and damp we are sure to be spending most of our time being the 'home bunnies' that we are - pottering around at home and keeping cosy in the knowledge that we are incredibly fortunate to be able to do so.
 
Don't forget that you can get in touch by simply hitting reply, so please let me know if you have any suggestions for techniques or questions that you might want answered in the December newsletter. I hope that wherever you are and whatever you have planned for the weekend you will find some time to indulge in a spot of crafting too and I hope you keep safe and well.
​

​I have been nominated within the Craft Influencer of the Year category of the Craft Business Awards once again. I was fortunate enough to win this award for 2020 and would love to do so again. If you would like to vote for me then click on this link or on the image below to be taken to the online voting forms.
   

​As promised I am here again to let you know that the third yarn substitution document for the Love is Enough version of the Fruit Garden Crochet Along project is now live on the Stylecraft web site.

To work through the Clementine motif and the next part of the Acanthus motif you will need to download the original pattern for Part 3 and use the yarn sub document alongside this as a guide for which yarn shades to use. If you are joining in the CAL and using one of the 2 original colourways or your own colour palette then you will not need the yarn sub document.

I have recorded a short video to accompany the re-release of the first set of patterns and you can find the video here. You can find a video to accompany the Clementine and the next few rounds of the Acanthus motifs here.
​

If you want to make a cushion to accompany your project you can find the patterns as free downloads or paper patterns by following this link. 

If you want to make a Fruit Garden blanket in the Naturals Bamboo + Cotton, Night & Dusk colour way (shown above) we now have kits in stock on Janie Crow and Just Knots.

Don't forget that you can find help and join in some crochet orientated chat via the Stylecraft Yarns CAL Facebook page here.

Yarn substitution documents for the next part of the project will go live on the 15th December.

Sending big yarny hugs to you all and hoping that you are safe and well.

​

​​If you would like to vote for me in the Craft Business Awards please click on this link or on the image below to be taken to the online voting forms.
​