January News

It has been a bit of a slow start for us here in North London. Andy and I both caught a lurgy at Christmas time and have struggled to chase it off completely - thankfully we seem to be on the way out of it now! Alongside feeling a tad poorly we have been without stable internet connection for almost 4 weeks after a road traffic accident demolished the green cabinet which houses all the local BT lines. Andy has managed to set up a mini hub so we are able to work, but large files, videos and images are still a bit difficult to access. I am incredibly grateful to Emma and Gemma for continuing to pop lovely posts on our social media platforms - something I am not currently able to do with ease!

Poor internet connection has been a blessing in some ways - we have read lots of books and I have crocheted more than usual, finally completing the new Marrakesh version of my Persian Tiles blanket and getting the new yarn substitution document sorted for the West Yorkshire Spinners version too. I am really pleased with this version of the blanket, which uses yarns from the West Yorkshire Spinners range of natural British wool. The blanket (shown above) stays true to the navy, teal and orange colours of my original design, although a few of the yarn shades are a little lighter, giving the blanket a slightly paler feel. 

The quality of the pure wool gives the blanket a lovely feel and drape, and the natural fibres will provide warmth and comfort for years to come, making it a true heirloom piece. New kits retail at £97.50 and we have added them to the website on a pre-sale basis as we are away at a show next week. You can find the kits and more information by following this link.

 was lucky enough to visit the stunning gardens that surround the Yves Saint Laurent Museum in Marrakesh last year and was blown away by the incredible colours, shapes and patterns there. Le Jardin Marjorelle was created by French artist Jaques Marjorelle over the course of almost 4 decades from 1923 and was later purchased by Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé who restored and maintained it to create the incredible location it is today. My new version of the Persian Tiles blanket is inspired by the gardens.

Kits and a free downloadable yarn substitution document will be added to the website within the next couple of weeks, so do keep and eye on our social media platforms as we will shout about it as soon as it is ready! We will be sorting out some nicely styled images of the blanket soon, but I have popped a quick snap I took at home (above) so that you can get an idea of what the blanket looks like.

Emma has been busy working on some official Persian Tiles technique videos and is in the process of making a playlist on our Youtube channel that includes lots of the processes involved in the design, such as making the fans, the crossed stitches and putting the pieces together. Follow this link, or click on the image above to take a look. 

In more Persian Tiles news - we have created a Spanish translation of the pattern which is almost ready for release. It has taken us quite a while to sort this, but it is looking lovely. Big thanks to Emma who has brushed up brilliantly on her language skills and to the fabulous Elizabeth Pintado who has worked hard to create a really concise translation. This is our first venture into Spanish translations, but if the pattern is a success we will consider doing some more in the future.

Alongside all the Persian Tiles related jobs, I have also been working on the kits and yarn substitution documents for two new versions of my Magic Circles blanket design. One colour way has been created by the Stylecraft team who have named it Supernova (shown above) and the second colour way echoes the shades used in the shawl version, so it is made from yarns in light pink and apricot shades. It doesn't have a name yet, but as soon as we have more information I will let you know. Both these kits are likely to be a February release.

It has been amazing to see completed Spirit of Flora blankets out in the wild. It has been a fantastic experience seeing this project evolve over the course of the last year and I am so proud of what the crochet community has created. We have had lots of people asking about my plans for the re-release of the patterns when the project reverts to me this year. We will have more news about this in the February newsletter once we have finalised our plans.

We received quite a large Della Q order just before Christmas and it included some fabulous messenger bags and backpacks, as well as a couple of new makers bag designs. We are especially in love with the brilliant new purple colour way and of course pleased to have the ever popular mini messenger bag (my own personal favourite) back in stock in lots of shades. Follow this link to take a look at what we have.

I have been nominated in two different categories in the Yarn Industry awards for 2023. I am really proud that my name appears in the 'Best Independent Designer' section and within the 'Best Online Personality' category. I am up against some true giants of the yarn world, many of them with many more followers than me, so I am flattered simply to have been nominated, but if you do want to vote for me, or any of the other fabulous nominees, please follow this link. Voting closes on the 22nd February.

We will be taking apart in the Wool in Garden City event in Welwyn next week. The preview evening is later on today and then the show will be open daily throughout next week from tomorrow onwards. It is free to enter and there are lots of workshops, talks and demonstrations that you can get involved in, including a 'knit night' on Saturday and a 'Crochet, Chat, Knit and Natter' event on Tuesday.

We are really looking forward to the event and hope to see some of you there. Tickets are sold out for this evening, but I will be at the show from 10am to 5pm tomorrow and then from 12 to 4pm on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and next Friday if you want to come and say hello! You can find more information by following this link.

Last weekend my friend Jo came to stay for a few days and we had a great time wandering around galleries and shops and doing lots of crochet and walking! It has been incredibly cold over the last couple of weeks, but the bright weather, and the fact that we are actually getting to see some sunshine, is a real bonus after all the rain we had before the new year. I think the weather is set to change again as we head into next week, so I will be hoping to get out in the sunshine again this weekend before the rain comes back!

We have quite a lot of exciting things coming up over the next couple of months including the release of my new book, The Complete Crochet Handbook, which will be out in February, so do make sure to keep up to date with what is going on via our social media platforms and these email newsletters. I will be back in your inbox in a fortnight's time with a quick catch up email. Sending yarny hugs until then.

Janie x