The Crochet Project

28/12/2023

Counting down my favourite designs as i end my career as a crochet designer. Thanks for indulging me. Here is my favourite. Is that surprising?

1/ Reverse Gear Shawl

from The Shawl Project Book Two​

This one will be a surprise to many of you as this shawl will have flown well under your radar. Hidden inside a book and with a slightly off putting, and perhaps not justified, advanced rating, I've seen precious few versions made.

The reason I love this pattern so much is that it is a very elegant design that was very hard won. Like transposition, this pattern takes a stitch pattern and riffs on it, a single colour pattern becomes a two colour overlay which then becomes overlay only to form the lace. Not only that but the reverse side makes a different and equally beautiful pattern so it's a fully reversible shawl. I was working on the design during a camping trip and ripped it out at least three times a day through the whole long weekend; much to everyone's amusement. But so much satisfaction when I finally got each element of the pattern to elegantly and evenly increase along the neck edge to grow into a marvellous shawl. It's got texture, it's got drama, it's got lace, its big enough to wrap up warm or drape dramatically - I love it!

So there we have it, my top ten - in the past I always refused to name favourites and it has been tricky to do so. I've loved everything we have put out as the crochet project because if we didn't then it simply didn't get published - we set the bar high for ourselves.

27/12/2023

2/Anvard Cardigan from Everyday Wearables​

Join me as I countdown my favourite designs. Any guesses what will make the top spot? (newsletter readers, no cheating!)

A cardigan so good that it spawned a whole book! I didn't even weave in the ends or shoot it before I first wore this. I knew it was something special. It uses the same magical fit circular yoke top down ratios that I worked out for the Aberfoyle cardigan and used ever more. Chatting in the hotel with knitty friends over a chinese after a yarn show Lisa of for the love of yarn showed me the version she was working up in just two colours and how it made it look totally different. I was so inspired by this i went and had a play some more and realised that I could not just vary the colour combinations but I could plug in different patterns at the yoke, or the body and sleeves and it would still work well. I could even use the same ratios for a sweater version. And I practiced all these in miniature on a hat - the Pick and Mix book was born! Still a favourite of mine to wear, Anvard is one variation of a very special theme.

26/12/2023

Join me as I round out more than 10 years of The Crochet Project with a countdown of my personal favourite designs.

3/ Conker Time Hat from The Accessories Project​

This hat is in such firm winter rotation that I even have a matching lipstick to go with it. Everything about it is perfect to me, the colour, the subtle pretty lace and the double brim that keeps it so comfortably in place whatever I am up to. I also have the fondest memories of this photoshoot - it was the hottest day of the year, 27C in the shade of the forest I think. Out of shot I am wearing flip flops and shorts and Kat stood me in the shade and overexposed the pictures to make it look like it snowed. Lots of shouting "look colder" and lots and lots of laughing.

23/12/2023

Counting down my career favourite designs - have you made this classic?

4/ Contour Shawl​

Our best selling pattern. At darker times I have felt the weight of this and thought I'd never design a shawl like it, and I am not sure I ever did. Its such a gloriously simple pattern that gives a really striking effect and I've seen it made in every style and weight of yarn and it always looks superb. The finished shawl is extra special as the yarn was a gift from a dear friend when she lived away and it really brings out the green flecks in my eyes.

22/12/2023

Continuing my countdown of my favourite patterns that I designed for the crochet project
Number 5: Log off Shawl
Mystery crochet a-longs were often when i got most creative and this one kept you all guessing in the best way. Its a pattern I will almost certainly make again as I tackle the residual stash that I've always kept for swatching ideas out. I see a glorious technicolour one in my future - inspired by so many of your gorgeous creations. I think a mix of textures will really appeal to my tactile side too. Inspired by quilt patterns its like wearing a blanket out and something I wear a lot.

20/12/2023

Number 6
Join me as I count down my top ten crochet designs of my career - my personal favourites.
At number 6 it the Transposition Shawl from The Shawl Project Book One.
The first shawl project book has a very special place in my heart as it really turned everything around for us. Transposition was, I think, the first pattern that I made for the book and it just encompasses everything I really love in a design. I adore shawls that take a simple stitch and gradually open it up into a beautiful lace. I've taken that idea in other designs (Stash of Shells and Love Triangle from The Shawl Project Book Five being two other examples) but Transposition was the first I created and I don't feel I ever bettered it.

19/12/2023

Number 7
I'm counting down my favourite crochet designs of my career. Would this design make your top ten?

Tattingstone Sweater from Easy Everyday Wearables - this top down circular yoke sweater uses the same perfect fit ratio as the Aberfoyle Cardigan (my number 8). I just love how it plays with colour and is so achievable for even novice crocheters - a very good first garment using very few stitches and simple skills only. Because it's so simple I made it one of the patterns in Sweater School so that the emphasis was on fit not on techniques. But that alone doesn't make it a top ten - it's here because I absolutely love wearing it.

18/12/2023

Number 8
I'm counting down my personal favourite designs from The Crochet Project - what would make your list?

At number 8 we have Aberfoyle Cardigan from Three from the Top - The fit on this top down circular yoke is just right, it fits and suits almost everybody who has made it. It just sits so nicely on the shoulders. I wore this cardigan so much around the release of the book, it's not quite my colours now so I'd definitely consider making another one perhaps in a darker yarn and using a skein of hand-dyed for the stripes.

16/12/2023

Number 9 - Kelpie Hat
I'm looking back over the past ten years of The Crochet Project and choosing my favourite designs.

So quick to make and the really simple stitch just shows off a hand-dyed yarn to perfection. I often say that the simple ones are the best and Kelpie was perhaps the design that really taught me this. Quite a few of my DK single skeins in stash are destined to become Kelpie Hats I think.

15/12/2023

Top ten.
I hope you'll indulge me as I reminisce over the last ten years of The Crochet Project and count down my personal top ten.

Number 10: Ettinsmoor Sweater from Everyday Wearables. I love everything about this casual relaxed sweater, the unusual construction and the way the fabric drapes. If I could change one thing I think I would have instructed a slip stitch/line of surface crochet at the neckline to stabilise it further which I have since added to my own - but this is just a dream to wear.

Let me know in the comments which patterns you'd choose for your top ten.

13/12/2023

Trailblazing..

As I prepare to retire my hook I'm looking back at ten wonderful years of The Crochet Project and the things I am most proud of.

It's easy to forget now just how dire the world of wearable crochet patterns was when we started in 2013. There were beautiful afghan and homewares patterns but crochet was very much seen as not for clothing and any patterns you could find to wear looked stiff and clunky. Contemporary crochet was almost exclusively acrylic and in DK/worsted weight or above. And if you could find something nice then it often wasn't well written, edited or photographed to show it off. Knitting was having a renaissance with lots of independent designers creating innovative designs in beautiful delicate hand-dyed yarns and we wanted crochet to follow.

In the early days we were constantly met with incredulity. Either people refused to believe it could be done or when we showed them our designs they refused to believe it was crochet!

And let's not forget your role in this. You believed in us and bought and made our patterns changing the minds of people around you as you went.

Looking at my instagram feed and ravelry there are hundreds of beautiful patterns to crochet with lots of wonderful designers who I admire hugely. Our work here is done!

Images - some of my favourite pieces from the early days. All still looking fresh!
1/Evesham Socks from our second book Crochet Yeah! in 2015
2/Alchemilla from our first ever collection in 2013
3/Pleated cardigan originally published in Inside Crochet before we launched and bought into our catalog after launch.
4/ Maple falls tee from our second collection Autumn 2013

10/12/2023

Through the tough times...

As we prepare to close The Crochet Project after ten wonderful years we look back at the things we are most proud of and being there in tough times is one of them.

You supported our business through tough times: we've somehow made it through EU VAT regulation changes, Brexit, Covid, injuries, a divorce and all the challenges of raising three quite a-hem lively kids each. It felt at times that we were having to change our business plan more often than our bed sheets! And you have supported us every step of the way, getting on board with our latest scheme, buying our latest and greatest idea or cheerleading on social media. And we can't thank you enough for it.

But we've also helped you through some hard times, I was so touched to hear stories of shawls made at bedsides, people working themselves stitch by stitch out of mental ill health, projects worked while bodies recovered, feelings of accomplishment and joy in creating for your body, as it is not as you wish it was. All of these stories have been so affirming and made me so proud of the small role we have played in your lives at some of the hardest times.

Photo from our book Crochet Yeah!
We also have loved being involved in the happy times with shawls and cardigans being made for brides and bridesmaids being particular highs!

08/12/2023

Teaching you.

As we prepare to close The Crochet Project I'm reflecting back on some of the things I am proudest of, teaching is one of them.

So many of you reached out to say that we were the start of your crochet journey, whether that was a Kat's hugely popular Crochet Camp, one of the hundreds of people who took a class with one of us in person, or learnt through our beginners book.

Or if your first stitches were learnt elsewhere we heard from lots of you that we helped expand your skills through our patterns, especially the mystery patterns.

The mystery patterns were always a joy to create and I loved using them to pass on new skills, It the Entwine Shawl being probably my favourite for that.

Photos:
1/ Bottisham Hat from THe Learn to Crochet Project - our book for beginners. I've always loved Brandi's face in this, it just captures the joy of "I made this" perfectly
2/Entwine Shawl - this was a mystery crochet a-long that taught us all how to do interlocking crochet - an utterly mesmerising technique.
3/Tunisian Cowl - remember when I taught you all Tunisian, I wish I'd done more.
4/Tipping the Scale Socks - whether you learnt in the MCAL or in our recent Crochet Sock class, we got you making comfortable socks that really fit.

30/11/2023

Ten years of The Crochet Project.
It's been a great ride but it's time to say goodbye. The Crochet Project will cease trading on 31st December 2023.

We feel very blessed to have made money from our hobby, built a beautiful brand with amazing customers, partners, wholesalers and distributors. We'd like to thank everyone who has been a part of the last ten years in any way.
It's been a real joy and we are so proud of the business we created.

All of the information about what happens next, as we currently know it can be found on our website and/or read our latest newsletter for the full story.

We'll also pop these bits up separately on here over the next month with the information - Instagram isn't a great place to dump a whole load of information in one post. We'll also probably be completely self indulgent with some retrospectives and sharing memories! You have been warned! 😭

01/11/2023

I remember how very proud I felt to have one of my designs selected to appear in Pom Pom magazine. True trailblazers and champions of crochet. Pom pom magazine will be missed.

Dear beloved friends of Pom Pom,

It is with great sadness, and yet full hearts, that we must announce that the next issue of Pom Pom Quarterly will be our last.

We started Pom Pom in 2012 in our mid-twenties, with £600 and next to no publishing or business experience. From the very first issue, our readers were our biggest champions, and the feeling of having the creative project that we were passionate about be encouraged, cherished, and uplifted by the making community is one of the proudest accomplishments of our lives.

Our team grew as we moved forward, and we have been honoured to have incredibly talented people spend years of their lives working as hard and as passionately as we have on Pom Pom. We have also worked with some of the most talented craft professionals in the world, without whose innovative designs and thoughtful writing we would be nothing.

Pom Pom grew beyond our wildest dreams: offices in the UK and US, over 700 stockists around the world, and thousands upon thousands of our magazines and books in your hands.

Pom Pom was founded during a renaissance of printed magazines, when many believed print was dead. We knew that makers are tactile people, and our readership appreciated the beautiful paper and lithographic printing that has always been a hallmark of our publications. We have always sold more in print than digitally. The world has changed unimaginably since our foundation. The cost of paper and printing has more than doubled in recent years, as has the cost of shipping. Though we tried many, many ways of continuing to make Pom Pom work as a print publishing company, we cannot continue without compromising the values on which we were founded. It has been an incredibly difficult struggle but we can safely say we gave it our all.

Our last issue, , will be published in January 2024. It is among the best issues we’ve ever produced. We have many costs to cover in the coming months, not least supporting our incredible staff and freelance collaborators. If Pom Pom has been a meaningful part of your crafting life over the past twelve years, we would like to humbly request that you help get us through this difficult stage of our beloved small business by pre-ordering our final issue, buying back issues or books, or even just sharing this call for support. It hasn’t been our style to ask for help in the past, but any small or large purchases you can make at this time mean the absolute world to us.

We love you, dear Pom Pom readers. Thank you for believing in us from the start. Here’s to one more issue we can’t wait to share with you this spring.

All our love,
Lydia + Meghan

Everything in print except our final two issues is now 50% off in our online shop. We hope you find something you love.

We know you might still have a lot of questions, and we’ve done our best to answer them on our blog which you can find at pompommag.com/blog

09/10/2023

Despite the last gasp of heat where I am in Cambridgeshire UK, the mornings and evenings are getting chilly and my thoughts turn to hats - second, after cardigans, to get pulled from the winter storage as the weather cools.
Sea Urchin hat is a gem of a slouchy beret (although you can make it with less slouch if you enjoy a fitted beanie more) with cute little puffs creating the easily memorised pattern.
It is the pattern of the month in the Hub and you can get started on it with left and right handed video tutorials explaining how to get going.
Joining the hub (from £5 a month) lets you access a years worth of patterns of the month, quick stitch tutorials, a knowledge bank, lots of courses - including our new sock class - and our forums. Loads to keep you out of trouble this Autumn.
http://learn.thecrochetproject.com/bundles/hub

The hat is also available to purchase as a pdf from our store.
https://thecrochetproject.com/collections/hats/products/sea-urchin-hat

22/09/2023

I don't know about you but this week is the first week I've needed socks. If you need cosy toes, perhaps you'd like to join us on our sock making class that kicks off this week.
The next two weeks are prep: selecting yarn and patterns, learning about sock construction and measuring - all the foundations you need to get perfect fitting crochet socks. So now is the perfect time to sign up.
Once we pick up our hooks you can expect detailed videos (left and right handed - all with subtitles) each step of the way - available to watch whenever is convenient, as often as you like.
Join us in the Hub where the class is included in the membership - there are lots of membership options including rolling subscriptions and one off passes. Or buy the class outright either in one payment of £25 or three monthly payments of £9.
Find out more at https://learn.thecrochetproject.com/courses/crochet-socks

18/09/2023

As we are well into yarn show season you might have been or about to be tempted by a beautiful skein of variegated yarn. Stunning in the skein, sometimes it can be challenging to find the perfect pattern to show them off.
Enter Humbug Scarf, it's a glorious simple one skein scarf that uses a bias design and a clever stitch pattern to let even the craziest colourways really show off. All that and bold puff stitch picots - what's not to love?
It's our pattern of the month in the Hub where we have left and right handed videos showing in full each stage of the shawl - perfect for those who find following patterns challenging. Use code APP25 (until 23rd September 2023) to get 25% off hub passes and subscriptions (monthly subscription discounted for the first three months)
Or, of course, you can buy the pattern (tagged) and work through it alone.

15/09/2023

Going Mobile! (PS read to the end for a great offer!)

While you've always been able to view our classes and forums on your phone or tablet through the browser, it isn't the ideal experience. So I'm delighted to tell you that all of The Crochet Project's classes and the Hub are now available within the Thinkific app. This will make it much easier to access the content on your phone or tablet - I've had a play and much prefer the experience even to the website on a laptop. The only thing you can't do in app is buy new classes or adjust your subscriptions, that's still a job for the full site.

Hopefully this move will enable you to really make the most of the features such as the stitch dictionary and pattern explainers, or browse the forums, snuggled on your favourite chair with your crochet in hand.

If you are already a hub member or have bought any class in the past then you can use the link below to install the app which should then pre-load The Crochet Project into the app, otherwise you find the Thinkific app in the Apple or Google Play store and search for The Crochet Project when prompted. It will ask for your login and then you are good to go.
https://thinkificmobile.page.link/F8dpbq6WoasAu5pz5

If the arrival of the app has you thinking you'd like to try out a class, pass or membership then I have just the offer for you! To celebrate the app launch, I'm offering 25% off any class, pass or membership - just use the code APP25 at checkout. This voucher runs until 23rd September (next Sunday) so don't delay.

So whether you fancy trying a month's pass to ​the Hub​ for £4.50 instead of £6 or signing up to a years rolling membership for just £41.25 instead of £55. Or maybe a class is more your taste: we'll have you jumpering for joy in ​Sweater School​ for £26.25, becoming your own designer for £37.50 in ​Crochet your Ideas​, or learning ​Tunisian​ for just £11.25! Or, of course, our new ​sock class​ is available for £18.75!
The discount, once applied, will last for up to three months so you can pay in installments and get the full discount or if you choose a monthly subscription to the Hub you'll get the first 3 months at 25% off.
Head to learn.thecrochetproject.com to explore your options.

Let me know in the comments if you are going to give the app a try!

08/09/2023

Love warm feet and bargains? Step this way....

Just fresh back from my holiday, I am working hard to finalise the details for our new Crochet Socks class which starts later this month. Until I have all the fine details available for you to view I am offering it at the special early bird price of just £15.

I can tell you that it will be video on-demand, start on 29th September, be free to Hub members and cover everything you need to know to make well fitting, comfortable crochet socks for all the family.

If you have any other questions, drop me a comment and I will try and answer (plus you'll be helping me craft the FAQ!)

Buy now before the price goes up at https://learn.thecrochetproject.com/courses/crochet-socks

03/09/2023

Missing our daily flash sales? Did you know that Hub members always get 40% off books and patterns?

You don't have to take out a rolling subscription (although that is our best value option), we have non renewing passes available too. A great way to access our crochet and Tunisian crochet courses, patterns, knowledge bank, tutorials, quick stitch guides and private forums!

Find out more about all the great content and offers that come with Hub membership.
https://learn.thecrochetproject.com/bundles/hub

31/08/2023

All good things have to come to an end. The end of August means the last of our offers. To end on a high I've made this one a little different. Its a pattern or a class!
If you already know how to do Tunisian crochet the sampler pattern takes you through some interesting stitches to quickly create a beautiful cowl. ​You can get the pattern half price today for just £2.​

New to Tunisian crochet or not so confident in your abilities? The course is also half price today - use the code FLASH at checkout. The on-demand video class covers everything from choosing a hook to reading a tunisian pattern and chart and builds step by step to this lovely pattern. ​Just £7.50 today with the code.​
https://learn.thecrochetproject.com/courses/tunisian

Both are half price today only: the very last offer in what I am sure you'll agree has been a fantastic sale - grab it for half price while you can!⁠
Don't forget that ​hub members​ get this included in their membership so don't buy it again!

30/08/2023

Out of Office is on!

Just a scheduled post as a reminder that I am having a break from all email and social media for a week to eat ice-cream and read my book in a hammock.

I'll be back at my desk on 7th September and will deal with any messages/requests then. I know flash sales queries are time sensitive but if for any reason it doesn't go through at the price it should I can refund the difference to honour it on my return.
Thanks so much for supporting me during this time - as a sole trader it is so important to take some proper time away as running a business does tend to creep into all the spare time and days off aren't really a thing.

30/08/2023

As we transition between the seasons, what could be more perfect than the Maple Falls Top. Worked in a DK weight yarn and using spike stitches to create simple but effective colour work, this seamless crochet top comes with lots of alteration instruction, including the ability to add sleeves. Play with colours and layering to create a look perfect for any season.

It's half price until midnight (UK time) - still struggling to tag products but all offers can be found on the front of the website just below the banner.
www.thecrochetproject.com

29/08/2023

Good things come to those who wait.

A lace weight shawl is never going to fly off the hook but patterns that are written for lace, that understand you want to work into spaces so you don't have to look for tiny stitches, that build relatively quickly and easily and are easy to pick up and put down are well worth your time and effort. You'll be rewarded with the lightest, airiest, easiest to pack shawls ever.

And don't forget, in these times as cost of living bites, lace weight yarn goes a lot further making projects more affordable in yarn use.

Save money on the patterns today too as The Shawl Project Book Five is half price sale. You'll get five crochet patterns for beautiful lace weight shawls for just £6.

28/08/2023

Want to get those beautiful skeins out of stash and turn them into some wearable art?

Working with variegated and speckled yarns (whether hand-dyed or commercial prints) it can be hard to find crochet patterns that really show off the yarn. Stitchers' Rhapsody is designed with riots of colour in mind, with an array of clever stitches that showcase that gorgeous yarn.
The pattern is half price, just £2, until midnight (BST/GMT+1)

www.thecrochetproject.com

27/08/2023

When you just need a quick and easy project, why not reach for this? Worked inside out to let the puffs really pop, this simple hat uses a drapey DK to quickly achieve effortless style - bad hair days be gone!

Just £2 until midnight.

You can find each daily offer at www.thecrochetproject.com

26/08/2023

I'm unashamedly a fan of the seamless top down cardigan. If I could only crochet one thing for the rest of my life that would be what I would choose. Easy to make, easy to try on before you've done too much work and so many styles to choose from.

Three from the Top is our classic book of top down seamless cardigans and all of the designs make regular rotation in my wardrobe to this day. Sized from toddler to 150cm/60in chest you can make one for all the family.

Get your copy half price today only, £6 for pdf or print. (It's been out of print for a while but the beauty of print on demand means it is back! - so why not use this as your chance to finally pick up a copy.)

https://thecrochetproject.com/collections/august-daily-deal

25/08/2023

Out of Office is on!

I'm taking a week off from all email and social media for a week to eat ice-cream and read my book in a hammock.

In the meantime I've scheduled the flash sales posts to go out daily - so make sure you take advantage of those.

I'll be back at my desk on 7th September and will deal with any messages/requests then. I know flash sales queries are time sensitive but if for any reason it doesn't go through at the price it should I can refund the difference to honour it on my return.

Thanks so much for supporting me during this time - as a sole trader it is so important to take some proper time away as running a business does tend to creep into all the spare time and days off aren't really a thing.

25/08/2023

Today's offer is on the pattern that formed our gorgeous mystery crochet a-long almost two years ago (it seems like only yesterday!) Because it was a crochet-a-long we have lots of helpful tutorials available on the website so its suitable for all levels of crocheter.

The Log off Shawl is a blanket you can wear. Perfect for busting that stash, its is written for three yarn weights and very adaptable for size.

Grab it today only at half price - just £3

It was lovely while it lasted but I have again lost ability to tag products so do head to https://thecrochetproject.com/collections/august-daily-deal to grab your copy
(this link always displays the latest offer so its useful to have if you are seeing this a couple of days late and wonder what today's offer is.)