Batik Swirl Wrap (and a little giveaway)

It's the newest member of the Stylecraft Batik family

and it's perfect for lazy crafters like me who cannot bear sewing in  ALLLLLLL the ends.

Batik Whirl is a yarn-cake of loveliness.

Stylecraft's Batik Yarn has been around for a little while now and I'm a really big fan, I have to say. I recently designed a shawl for Inside Crochet Magazine using the Batik solids range and I enjoyed working with it - the yarn has a nice bounce to it and the stitch definition is great.

The next release was the Batik Elements range. A collection with a different range of shades within a ball, designed to work alongside the Solids. Again, the same quality yarn with the same feel and effect. With this, I designed my Learn to Knit Shawl.

And now there's the Swirl.... it's a big, 200g cake with up to five different colours, which are repeated and at the mo, there are six different colour ways. I chose Purple Mist - a collection of greys and purples and different to any of my other shawls, scarves or wraps.

So I thought I'd make a rectangular sort-of half-blanket that you can wear as a wrap or a scarf. 

(Because let's face it,  I've hardly got any ...)

I designed this to be easy (cos I don't do difficult) but also to be the kind of project you can sit and make in the evenings, whilst watching your favourite thing on the telly-box.







I made mine with two swirls (400g), but you could make a narrower version with just one - instructions are given for both.

You will need:

2 x Batik swirl for wider wrap like mine or 1 x if making a narrower version. - I used Purple Mist (shade 3730)
or around 400g / 1100m (200m / 550m for narrower version) of dk yarn

4.5mm hook

Finished size approx: 47cm x 150 cm (wide version) 22cm x 150 cm (narrow version)

Gauge: approximately 16.5 stitches and 9 rows to 10cm

Chart showing rows 6 - 9:

UK Pattern

Abbreviations:

Stitch(es) st(s)

Chain ch

Treble Crochet tr.

ch 79 (wide version) or 40 (narrower version)

Row 1: beginning in 4th ch from hook, make 1tr in each st across, turn.

Rows 2 - 6: 3ch (counts as tr here and throughout), beginning in 5th ch from hook, 1tr in each st across, turn.

Row 7: 3ch, 3tr in 6th st from hook, sk 2 sts, *3tr in next st, sk 2 sts; repeat from * until 2 sts left, sk 1 st, 1tr in last st, turn.

Row 8: 3ch, 1tr in space before first treble cluster, 3tr in each space between clusters, 1tr in space after last cluster, 1tr in last st.

Row 9: 3ch, 3tr in each space between clusters, 1tr in last st.

Rows 10 - 135: (approx): repeat rows 8 and 9 alternately.

Rows 136 - 140: repeat rows 2 - 6.

Fasten off, weave in ends.

US Pattern

Abbreviations:

Stitch(es) st(s)

Chain ch

Double Crochet dc

ch 79 (wide version) or 40 (narrower version)

Row 1: beginning in 4th ch from hook, make 1dc in each st across, turn.

Rows 2 - 6: 3ch (counts as dc here and throughout), beginning in 5th ch from hook, 1dc in each st across, turn.

Row 7: 3ch, 3dc in 6th st from hook, sk 2 sts, *3dc in next st, sk 2 sts; repeat from *, until 2 sts left, sk 1 st, 1dc in last st, turn.

Row 8: 3ch, 1dc in space before first treble cluster, 3dc in each space between clusters, 1dc in space after last cluster, 1dc in last st.

Row 9: 3ch, 3dc in each space between clusters, 1dc in last st.

Rows 10 - 135: (approx): repeat rows 8 and 9 alternately.

Rows 136 - 140: repeat rows 2 - 6.

Fasten off, weave in ends.

I just love this wrap! It's very soft and with the added wool content, it's really warm, too. Perfect as a chunky scarf to keep out the chills when I'm out and about, or as a wrap-blanket (a wraplet?) to snuggle up with on those draughty evenings on the sofa.
Perfect.

If you'd like to win a cake of the very lovely Batik Swirl in Purple Mist, then simply enter the giveaway below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway


I'll draw it on Thursday 25th Jan 2018. Open worldwide.

Hope you like the pattern and good luck in the giveaway!

Sarah xxx

Special Yarn, a shawl and a GIVEAWAY!!!

As a designer, one of the most enjoyable things is being asked to try new yarns; so when the gals from CityKnits asked if I'd like to try their exclusive Marie Curie colourway bundle, I just couldn't say no.

 

What fab colours! 

The yarn is the award-winning West Yorkshire Spinners Signature 4-ply, which comes in balls of 100g / 400m, in 75% Wool (35% is Bluefaced Leicester) 25% Nylon. 

The blue, cream and yellow are standard colours, but it's the multicoloured one which is special. You see, the gals at Cityknits commissioned WYS to dye a unique colourway, to raise funds for Marie Curie*. And so, for every ball of this colourway ordered, £2 is donated to the charity.

*For any of my overseas readers, Marie Curie is a UK charity which provides support for families living through terminal illness - you can find out more here

It didn't take me long to decide on a project for this yarn. I'd designed a shawl called the Parallel Bars Shawl a while back, and thought that this might work well in blocks of colour. The Marie Curie colour bundle was perfect!

   

 

This is the original shawl below, in one colour. You can find the pattern here in my Etsy shop.  

To make the Marie Curie Shawl, I used exactly the same pattern, with a 4mm hook. I started with Yellow, then changed to Cream at Row 43, Marie Curie colourway at Row 85, then Blue at Row 128.

The best thing is that with all this yarn, I could make 3 (yes!! 3!!!) shawls (with a bit left over, too). That's very good value for money, in my book.

If you'd like to get your hands on some of this lovely yarn, then it is available exclusively from Cityknits here.

OR, why not enter our joint giveaway on Instagram to be in with a chance of winning the Parallel bars pattern AND the Marie Curie bundle.

The giveaway is running from Friday 25th August and a winner will be chosen at random at 5pm. Tuesday 29th August. Click here to take you to my Instagram.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend and good luck in the giveaway!

Sarah xx

Autumn Storm Shawl

Here in the U.K. the weather has changed; darker evenings, damper mornings and a distinct chill in the air mean that Autumn has most definitely arrived.

 

 

 

And so I felt the need for a big ol' shawl-type-thing. 

Something I could drape around my shoulders to keep the shivers at bay and wrap around to completely cocoon me in warmth.

 

 

And I came up with my Autumn Storm Shawl*

 

 

*Actually, I cannot take any credit for the name. I ran a little Instagram competition and had lots of amazing suggestions- this is the one I chose and it's pretty perfect, I think.

 

 

Crocheted in the most lovely Deramores Vintage Chunky yarn, this Shawl is a simple and speedy project, despite its size.

 

If you'd like to make one, then you can find the pattern here. 

I can promise it'll keep you super-snug.

 

 

 

Happy crocheting,

Sarah xx