Quick Catch Up with Janie Crow

Traditionally this time of year has always been quieter than other months. With the kids off school and lots of people away on holidays we usually see a dip in sales and expect our workload to drop off a little. This year has been different, possibly due to the rise in download pattern sales, which means our income is no longer as seasonal as it used to be. I also wonder if the warm spell of weather here in the UK has led to crocheters battening down the hatches and staying inside to craft rather than head out into the heat. 
 
Whatever the reasons, it continues to be a busy time for us here at Janie Crow and I have a few things to tell you about this week, so I hope you can spare a few minutes to catch up with our news…

I have been working on a new colourway of the Gillow motif from the Spirit of Flora Collection so that we can make up kits for the cushion cover I designed for the recent Stitchtopia trip - In the Footsteps of William Morris. I love working on new colourways and recently asked a few questions about them over on Instagram. You can find the chat here.

We have been experiencing a run of sales on Persian Tiles once again, possibly due to a glut of wonderful blanket drop down videos on social media channels. I just love seeing all the colourways that crocheters come up with for this design and am hoping to work on yet another new version myself later in the summer.

For her latest book review over on the Book of the Month blog Gemma looked at Interlocking Crochet by Ana-Maria Babanica. If you're a lover of geometric shapes and two-tone colourways then this book will definitely be up your street. ​

The book contains fifty different stitch patterns and five garment/accessory patterns, with lots of photos and step by step instructions. Gemma quite fancies having a go at the tote bag pattern.  ​

You can see more of Ana-Maria's work on her website or over on Instagram here and, if you like the look of her latest book and live in the UK, you can bag a 20% discount and free delivery by ordering from Search Press and quoting the code DD88 at checkout. ​

There are a couple of one day workshops coming up in August, taught by our very own Gemma, and taking place at Community Learning Partnership in South Oxhey (near Watford). I have it on good authority that there are a couple of places still remaining on both workshops so if you like the look of either of them get your booking in quickly and you will be sure of a warm welcome on the day. Scanning the QR codes on the images below will take you to the booking page. ​

For those of you who enjoy visiting yarn shows, there are a few coming up in August, beginning with the North East Wool Show at Newcastle Racecourse on the 8th-9th. You can find out lots of information about the show, as well as buy advance tickets, by visiting the show's own website here. 
 
The Southern Wool Show takes place later in the month on the 22nd & 23rd August at Newbury Racecourse in Berkshire. Click on the image below for more info.

To stay up to date with all the yarn shows happening around the country do keep an eye on the UK Hand Knitting website events page, which you can find here. ​

Gemma's recommended recipe this week is Mushroom Stroganoff. It's so quick and easy to prepare and not too heavy for warm summer evenings. Gemma uses worcestershire sauce instead of mustard, and creme fraiche in place of the soured cream as she always keeps a pot of that in her fridge. Apparently it tastes great served with wild rice. You can find a recipe here.

​Andy and I celebrated our anniversary this week by heading to an off grid cabin at Leys Farm on the edge of the Cotswolds. We were pretty much off grid for three days and had the best time watching wildlife, walking and cooking outside. You can find a reel I made of our trip over on the Janie Crow Lifestyle feed here.
 
This weekend I am very lucky to be heading away with some fabulous girlfriends for a weekend of knitting, crochet and chat. This will be my final trip away before the autumn as I am going to have a small op on Wednesday and have been told to rest for a while afterwards. I have been busy getting all my crochet projects lined up and ready by the settee to work on during my convalescence - I keep wondering if it's a bit wrong that I am actually quite looking forward to the enforced calm? 
 
I will be back in a fortnight with the August newsletter, so until then I send you yarny hugs and hope you all stay safe and well…