The One with a SUPERSIZE blog hop

Yep, not any old-sized blog hop - a SUPERSIZED one, of course.

And so, to celebrate the launch of my new book, Supersize Crochet (eeeeeeek!!! totally excited!!!), there's an amazing blog hop taking place from the 1st - 19th May.

It features the most AWESOME crochet bloggers from across the entire blimmin' planet, who will be taking a look at the book and trying out some of the projects, too.

Want to know more?
Here's what's happening:

Monday 1st May - watch out! I'll be taking over the Sew and So Instagram Account
Tuesday 2nd May - read my guest blog over at Sew and So

Wednesday 3rd May - the first of the guest bloggers is Maria from Dinki Dots
Thursday 4th May - then it's Shelley from Spincushions
Friday 5th May - next up, Ashley from Lazy Daisy Jones

Monday 8th May - another great week begins with Tamara from Moogly
Tuesday 9th May - next it's Sarah from Crafts from the Cwtch
Wednesday 10th May - happy hump day with Sara from Crochet Me
Friday 12th May - a lot of FriYAY love with Marianne from MaRRose
Sunday 14th May - enjoy the weekend with Ruby and Kim from Frank & Olive
 
Monday 15th May -start a new week with Kathryn from Crochet Concupiscence
Tuesday 16th May - then it's Twinkie from Twinkie Chan
Wednesday 17th May - everything is HUGE with Andrea from Woolly Mahoosive
Thursday 18th May - the penultimate post from Kerry at Interweave
Friday 19th May - ah, it's all over. Read the Blog Hop Round Up

Wow! It's a line-up of Mega stars!! I can't wait to see what they all get up to. Join us for the blog hop and don't forget to take part across social media with the hashtags #supersizecrochet and #annabooshousetakeover .

 

Have a great week,
Sarah xx

The one with a chunky yarn rug-let

Rug-let?

Yep, I made it up.

Well there are piglets (small pigs) and capelets (small capes) and now there are ruglets (small...er...rugs).

I know - I am a semantic genius.

This all came about when I received some gorgeous super-chunky yarn from my good friend Andrea at Woolly Mahoosive (excellent name for a shop selling mega-yarn, eh?).

Andrea has kindly supplied me with lots of her fab yarn for my new book, Supersize crochet (available for pre-order here). 

This yarn is called Squiggly in Peach. It's 100% acrylic and comes in gigantic skeins of 300g (ish) and it is SOOOOOOOO soft. And I mean really, really soft.

I wanted to create a project which would use as much of a skein as possible and so decided something in the round might be the way forward. And so the ruglet was born.

I just love how it turned out.

 

And here it is, in situ next to my roaring fire*

You can see what I mean by 'Ruglet' - it's quite petite. My plan is to make several and lie them next to another on the floor, OR, I'd like to put them on the wall. I'm sure the Mister would be thrilled by that idea.

*kindly made by my 7 year old, using black card and torn strips of fiery coloured paper, should you want to recreate your own.

To see more about the chunky yarns, then take a look at my latest YouTube video here, or over in my sidebar ----->>>

If you'd like to make a ruglet (or many ruglets), then here's the pattern:

Have a great week,
Sarah xx

A Chunky Ruglet (Uk first, US below)

size = approx 50cms

You'll need:
Approx 300g Squiggly Yarn in Peach
20mm hook

To make a picot, 3ch, then sl st in 3rd ch.

To tr2tog, *yarn over hook, hook into stitch, yoh, pull yarn through st, yoh, pull yarn through 2 loops. repeat from * (3 loops on hook), yoh, pull yarn through all loops.

Rnd 1: 3ch (counts as tr here and throughout), 9tr in magic ring, or 4ch, 9tr in 4th ch fom hook. Sl st to 3rd ch to join.
Rnd 2: 2ch, 1tr in same st (counts as tr2tog), 2ch, then (tr2tog, 2ch) in each st around. Sl st to 1st tr to join, then sl st into 2ch-sp.
Rnd 3: 3ch, 2tr in 2ch-sp, 2ch, then (3tr, 2ch) in each 2ch-sp around. Sl st to 3rd ch to join.
Rnd 4: 2ch (counts as htr), 1tr, picot, 1htr, 1dc in ch1-sp. *1htr, 1tr, picot, 1htr, 1dc in ch1-sp. Repeat from * around.

Fasten off

US version

size = approx 50cms

You'll need:
Approx 300g Squiggly Yarn in Peach
20mm hook

To make a picot, 3ch, then sl st in 3rd ch.

To dc2tog, *yarn over hook, hook into stitch, yoh, pull yarn through st, yoh, pull yarn through 2 loops. repeat from * (3 loops on hook), yoh, pull yarn through all loops.

Rnd 1: 3ch (counts as dc here and throughout), 9dc in magic ring, or 4ch, 9dc in 4th ch fom hook. Sl st to 3rd ch to join.
Rnd 2: 2ch, 1dc in same st (counts as dc2tog), 2ch, then (dc2tog, 2ch) in each st around. Sl st to 1st dc to join, then sl st into 2ch-sp.
Rnd 3: 3ch, 2dc in 2ch-sp, 2ch, then (3dc, 2ch) in each 2ch-sp around. Sl st to 3rd ch to join.
Rnd 4: 2ch (counts as hdc), 1dc, picot, 1hdc, 1sc in ch1-sp. *1hdc, 1dc, picot, 1hdc, 1sc in ch1-sp. Repeat from * around.

Fasten off

Episode 3: Chunky Yarn Show Notes

Drops Polaris 100% Wool in Grey

Tshirt Yarn available from Tshirt Yarn Shop

Stylecraft Special XL in Plum

Woolly Mahoosive Mammoth Yarn in Turquoise
Woolly Mahoosive Superfine Giant Merino in Navy
Woolly Mahoosive Wiggly (not available at present)
Woolly Mahoosive Squiggly in Peach, Orange and Cream
New Woolly Mahoosive Yarns in Navy and Purple available soon.

Supersize hooks

Glow in the Dark Yarn from Unique Yarns Co

Yarn and Colors Must-Have Minis

Inside Crochet Magazine

Bilum PukPuk (shawl yarn)

Supersize Crochet - a new book

Oh yes, it's very nearly here...
My new book is currently at the printers, ready to be released in May 2017 .
*supresses squeals of excitement*

There are 20 projects to choose from ranging from larger-than-life rugs and blankets to an oversized colour block cowl and hat for super-sized accessorising. The projects are simple enough to be tackled by beginner crocheters and you’ll be amazed by how quickly they work up.
All you need to get started is a big hook and some yarn and you’re good to go!

So why tell you about it now?
Well, I thought it would be jolly nice to offer this free BONUS pattern for anyone who decides to pre-order a copy.

Here's what you need to do:

Want a FREE copy of my “Gelato Snood” pattern?
(Offer valid until 25/05/17)
If you pre-order my book on Amazon, it’s yours with my thanks! Here’s how to get it:
1) Preorder Supersize Crochet on Amazon by clicking here:

2) After you have placed your order, click here to visit the link to receive your free bonus project (you’ll need to input your order number, so have that handy).

3) Enjoy your free pattern right now!

I hope you all like the new book - it's been a real pleasure to design the projects for you.

And if you fancy a quick peek at all 20 projects, then check out the Ravelry page here.

Happy crocheting,
Sarah xx

Crochet T-shirt necklace

Inspired by a rather large delivery of T-shirt yarn from here, I decided to make this cute crochet necklace.

Fancy making one?

Those of you who know my stuff won't be surprised to learn that this project is super-quick and super-easy. 

AAAAAnd, I've included a step-by-step photo tutorial underneath the pattern for all you crochet newbies.

Cos I am nice like that.

Let's crack on..

You will need:

12mm hook 

T-shirt yarn in whatever colours you like (this is perfect for using up leftovers)

Tapestry needle

Pattern: (US terms in bracket)

Foundation chain: In colour A, Chain 13

Row 1: beginning in 2nd chain from hook, 1dc (1sc) in each ch across, 1ch, then pull through colour B for 2nd ch, leaving long beginning tail for tie.

Now working the other side of the ch, make 1slst in each st across.

Fasten off, leaving long tail of colour B. Weave in ends of colour A.

Photo tutorial:

In colour A, Chain 13:

Beginning in 2nd chain from hook, 1dc (1sc) in each ch across:

 

Make 1ch in colour A, then pull up a loop of colour B, leaving a long tail at the beginning:

Turn the necklace around so you can work along the other side of the chain. You'll make your stitches into those unused loops:

Make 1 slip stitch into each stitch across, keeping your tension quite loose.

Pull the yarn tail through and make an invisible fastening-off as follows:

Stitch the end through the loop of the next stitch...

...and then back through the last slip stitch.

Turn the necklace over and stitch this tail through the back of the stitches to create one of the ties:

Weave away the yarn tail from the foundation chain on the other side:

Knot together the remaining two ends and weave away colour A, leaving colour B as the other tie:

Tada! 

Job done. 

Enjoy, lovely peeps!

Sarah xx

The big stuff

I loves a bit of mahooooosive yarn.

Not your Granny's doily

It has to be a favourite of mine.

It's so exciting- seeing that huge skein, rolled up in a cone or ball. So many possibilities ...

I've made quite a few things now, with the big stuff:

A knitted thing

A crocheted bracelet

Slippers

And I've got a few projects in mind for the book, too.

If you fancy giving it a go, then there are plenty of commercially produced yarns available. And you can always make your own t-shirt yarn - there's lots of tutorials online to guide you - try this one for size.

My stash (and there's more)

It goes without saying that you'll need a big hook-anything from 10-20mm (US 15/N/P - S) depending on the pattern and then you're good to go. Hold it in exactly the same way as you would a smaller hook and yarn- it takes a little getting used to, but you'll soon adapt.

The great thing about this yarn is that it works up really quickly.

In no time at all you can have a bag or basket or slippers! 

Enjoy your mahosssive  yarn adventures,

Sarah xx