Crochet Extra – 162nd Edition – February 2020

This summer has certainly been hot this year – and this has not been helped with the extensive fires that have burned the country. We are still seeing the effects of road closures with continued delays in deliveries between the north and south coasts and the east and west coast. Our firefighters have been busy and our gratitude goes out to them all, and our hearts go out to all the families that have been affected. The help provided by people around the world has been overwhelming – to the people, the wildlife who have been misplaced and to the people helping fight these fires.

We had quite a few attend our workshops to make items requested for wildlife – making birds nests, joey pouches, sugar glider nests and animal beds and mats. As they appear to have enough items received, we will hold what has been made until they are needed. [insert image feb01 – to place along side this text]

Across the Christmas break I was able to spend time planning 2020 – our calendar of workshops is now up on the website. Thank you to all those who responded to my survey about online workshops. This I will be setting up for trial once I complete our new website – which should be live in the coming months. We have also looked closely at our yarn range and have discontinued some to make way for new and exciting yarns. You can see these in our discontinued section.

The Pantone colour of the year was announced as classic blue. This colour can be found in almost all of the yarns and threads that we stock here at Crochet Australia. What do you plan to make with this colour?

February we will be using crochet thread to make jug covers designed by Vicki Moodie – two designs will be available for different levels of experience. Book your spot now.

And we have a special workshop to be announced soon. So stay tuned.

Theme—Jewellery

Those who know me will know that I love my crocheted jewellery – particularly earrings. While I was away camping over the holiday season I had time to crochet some earrings and had many enquiring where they could buy them. And at a number of markets there were beautiful pieces of crocheted jewellery on display. Hence our theme this month – creating your own jewellery pieces.

One of the reasons I like crocheted jewellery – you can have your own colours to match your wardrobe, any yarn can be used, and it is a great way of using up left-over balls. Cotton thread (sizes 10 – 40) however is popular in many types of jewellery as they produce fine looking pieces. Metallic thread in particular adds some glamour. Of course thicker yarns can also be used to create a chunkier look.

Sparkle and glamour can also be added with beads, buttons, shells or even pieces from broken jewellery. Seed beads are popular to add to thread, but larger beads are great for the chunkier look. And there are a number of tools available to make working with beads easier – the big eye beading needle, bead tray and jewellery maker, just to name a few.

Flowers can be done in any thread and earring hoops or brooch backs added to make elegant jewellery. [insert image feb06 – to place along side this text]

See our ‘Look What We Found’ to see the other tools, resources, books and accessories to help you create beautiful jewellery. To get you started, I’ve shared the pattern for the Wheel Earrings I made when I was away. Experiment with the pattern by adding beads to create a different look. The rings can be purchased from craft stores or the jewellery section of department stores.

Tip of the month

Crocheting around rings

Many hoop earrings, mandalas and even large dream catchers have crochet work which is attached to a ring. This can be a bit daunting as a project if you have never crocheted around a ring before. Read our post for some ways to approach it…

Book of the Month

Beaded Neck Candy

Combine colourful beads and crochet in these 10 fun and fashionable necklaces, and make heads turn. All are made using sizes 3, 5 and 10 thread and yarn.