It is hot hot hot here at Janie Crow!

Janie's Quick Catch Up

​It is a really speedy email this week just to let you know about a couple of things....

The first is that I have uploaded a lower resolution catalogue to the web site so that it doesn't take quite so long to load. We have a very fast internet connection at the studio, so I hadn't realised that for some of you the catalogue has been taking quite a while to download. The new file is less than a quarter of the size of the original, so you should find that you can download it a lot quicker. Thank you for all the amazing feedback you have sent in regards to the new catalogue. I am so glad you like it!

Another thing I want to tell you about this week is that the wonderful crochet designer Emma Varnam has launched a brand new Etsy store and has offered to give all of you guys a fabulous 10% discount code - you can find more information about this lower down the email.

Next week sees the launch of the final set of patterns for the Fruit Garden CAL. It is hard to believe that the end of the project is in sight after all these weeks. I have filmed the accompanying technique video and hope to add in a reveal of the new colour way of the project, which will launch in the autumn, so do take a look at that on Tuesday when I upload the video to my Youtube channel.

If you are an Instagram fan then you might be interested to hear that next Thursday evening (6th August) I will be taking part in a live event via the Scheepjes account, which you can find by following this link. We will be live at 6pm UK time and I am looking forward to talking about my design work and the Royal Garden Blanket in particular!
 

Climbing Rose Wrap - Coming Soon!
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Next week will also see the launch of The Climbing Rose Wrap pattern.

The project was originally featured as a crochet along project in Inside Crochet Magazine and now that the rights to the pattern have reverted to me, it will be available as a 16 page paper brochure pattern via my web site and Just Knots and as download versions via Ravelry and Etsy.

From next week onwards the dedicated yarn project packs will contain the pattern free of charge. The kits are £39.50 and the pattern will be £7.95 if purchased separately to the project pack.
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Emma Varnam - Crochet Baby Animals
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Emma Varnam has been making and designing award winning crochet toys for over a decade. She says:

‘I love making toys. To see the joy and sparkle on the face of child. That first kiss and hug as you hand over a new best friend’.

Now Emma has released a new range of exclusive crochet toy designs based on baby animals.  

‘These are the designs I give to friends and family and I thought it was time I shared them with my crochet friends’.

​You can choose from Bobby Bunny, Poppy Piglet, Gertie Goose, Pat Puppy and the classic Sam Lamb, all in single pattern form either as a digital download or printed copy.
The 5 splendid baby animal designs combine DK yarn with the softest baby yarn fibres. Each pattern has hints and tips to take you through the making process. Each design uses Emma’s signature techniques of combining the limbs and placing the ears into the crochet to ensure that your animal is not only cute but also robust. Each project is beautifully photographed and includes clear patterns and guidance.

Single pattern downloads are available via Etsy and Love Crafts. Limited Edition Kits are available via Emma’s Shop and Emma is offering a 10% discount on all downloadable patterns until 14th August. Simply type in the code JCROW1 (all upper case) at checkout.
Inspired by the imagination of children, Emma Varnam likes to make items that bring a smile.
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She has designed for many pattern houses including Debbie Bliss, West Yorkshire Spinners and Stylecraft Yarns. She enjoys designing and working for many UK Knitting and Crochet Magazines.
She has written a number of popular crochet books, including Cute Crocheted Wild Animals, Crocheted Succulents, Granny Squares Home, Crocheted Keyrings & Charms, Cute Crocheted Animals and How to Crochet, all published by GMC Publications. Emma lives in Greater Manchester, UK. You can find Emma and all of her gorgeous crochet pals on Instagram by following this link.
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Janie Crow Catalogue 2020

​The word 'excited' is a bit of an understatement in regards to how I feel about the launch of this brand new catalogue. I am so in love with it and so grateful to all the amazingly talented people who made it possible and, of course, I hope that you will like it too!

You can download the catalogue by following this link or by clicking on the image below and then following the link to the download from the website home page.
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We did the photo shoot for many of the images within the catalogue at an amazing house location in South London back in March - in fact we did it exactly a week before the UK was officially locked down, so memories of the day are very special. 

The images were styled by talented crochet designer Claire Montgomerie and shot by the lovely Leanne Jade. You can find a full list of all the other talented people involved with the project on the back cover of the brochure.
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The catalogue acts as a look book for you to get an idea of how my projects look in home settings, but within it I also tell you the stories behind the inspiration of the designs and give you an insight into my design process. I am beyond proud of how this project turned out and I hope to make this a bench mark for all projects going forwards. I hope you will love it as much as I do.
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Royal Garden Yarn Packs

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​As I have told you over the last few weeks, I have collaborated with Dutch Yarn company Scheepjes on some new yarn packs for my Royal Garden Blanket Design, which are now ready to dispatch.
 

There is the choice of 2 yarn packs - one is made using Scheepjes Colour Crafter DK (shown above) and the other uses Stone Washed and River Washed DK.
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​Inspired by the intricate and vibrant terracotta tiles decorating the floor combined with the patchwork layout of the main garden of the Green Hotel, the Royal Garden Blanket is an ode to the marvellous former palace in Mysore, India. To transform my fond memories of my trips there into a tangible project, I incorporated the tile motif and the blooming flowerbeds of the garden into this geometric design, resulting in a striking blanket that will be a centrepiece in any living space.
 

The image above shows the flat layout of the project. This blanket was made using a slightly more subdued colour way that is no longer available as a yarn pack. 

Please note that because of the weight of the kit (over 2kg) postage to the US and some other countries cannot be tracked or signed and the parcels will be sent standard airmail.

If you want the pattern only you can find it here on Ravelry
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It's nearly the Weekend!

​It is really warm here in North London today and it is set to be a scorching weekend too, so (hopefully) we will be spending time in the garden and lounging around at home over the next couple of days.... 

We have a lunch reservation on Saturday as another little treat to celebrate our Silver Wedding anniversary, which was on Tuesday. I am really looking forward to our lunch date and we have also invited a few friends over to spend some (socially distanced) time in the garden with us on Sunday, so we have quite a lot going on. It still feels odd to have plans and I really have no idea what I can wear for a posh lunch as my wardrobe for the last 6 months has been nothing but jeans, shorts and tea shirts!!!

Thank you all so much for all the lovely messages you have sent this week in honour of our wedding anniversary - it made the day feel very special.

I hope that wherever you are and whatever you have planned you have a great weekend.

Stay safe and keep well...