Here we are, at the very end of the Scheepjes CAL 2016. 14 weeks have flown by, don’t you think? I’ve absolutely loved following your posts and photos since the beginning, and I especially love the creative colourways and stitch variations. We crocheters are massively creative, let’s not forget it!
Today I have two main chunks of info; how to join your squares, and how to create the border.
The joining is done using the “Zipper” method. Get the info from the gorgeous new Scheepjes website here.
The border is a moss stitch, or linen stitch, grab the instructions and chart here.
Once you’re done, wash in eucalan (be careful of colour run) and then block the entire blanket. It’ll look fabulous!
Here we are. It’s the last square in the Scheepjes CAL 2016. How did you go with Annelies’ square? I have to confess: I haven’t started it yet! The week has just fallen through my fingers.
Week 12 brings us to Tammy’s square. This is one of the most beautiful designs of them all. It’s a challenging one, but worth the effort. I am also perhaps a little biased as Tammy is one of my dearest friends. But I know a great design when I see one!
Do make sure you share your squares on social media so we can all see and comment on them. Use hashtag#scheepjesCAL2016 or #lastdanceonthebeach all over the internet and I’ll be sure to find them on Insta or Twitter or Facebook.
It’s almost over! This week brings us the penultimate square of the Scheepjes CAL 2016. The weeks have flown by, have you managed to keep up? I know that I haven’t!
Let me introduce you to Annelies. Not that she needs any introduction, mind you. Annelies was the designer behind the Flight of Fancy CAL last year and is world famous for her designs. You cannot pick up a crochet magazine without falling in love with one of her designs. One of my favourites is the Flower Mosaic Shawl with about a billion tiny flower motifs. There’s no way I would ever have the patience to make one, but I wish I did!
Please do pop over and read Annelies’ post about her inspiration. She also touches on the deep effects of social media on designers – something I can absolutely relate to; the idea that if you wouldn’t say it to someone directly, please think twice before hitting Send.
Do make sure you share your squares on social media so we can all see and comment on them. Use hashtag #scheepjesCAL2016 or #lastdanceonthebeach all over the internet and I’ll be sure to find them on Insta or Twitter or Facebook.
Do make sure you share your squares on social media so we can all see and comment on them. Use hashtag #scheepjesCAL2016or#lastdanceonthebeach all over the internet and I’ll be sure to find them on Insta or Twitter or Facebook.
How did you go with the waffle stitch? I have to be honest, I haven’t picked up a ball of CAL yarn in more than a week – I’ve had a million other things to think about. So I’d love to know what you thought of it!
Now we meet Dedri. Well, I’m sure you already know Dedri, and have quite likely spent the last year or so making Sophie’s Universe, right? Do pop over and say hi on her site Look at What I Made; Dedri is the undisputed queen of the giant motif!
Dedri has designed a beautiful square for this week, I think you’re going to love it. Be sure to read about her square and the inspiration behind it.
Do make sure you share your squares on social media so we can all see and comment on them. Use hashtag #scheepjesCAL2016or#lastdanceonthebeach all over the internet and I’ll be sure to find them on Insta or Twitter or Facebook.
How did you go last week? Did you just love the heart square? I certainly did. Although, I’ve only made one so far – I need a lot more hours in the day. Having to work isn’t awesome, I could use those hours to crochet!
This week we meet Jellina from Jellina’s Creations. I’m sure you’ve already seen (or made) Jellina’s work. I especially love her Escher style projects; they are mind-bendingly good. Jellina blogs mostly in Dutch, so google translate is your friend if you don’t know the language.
Jellina has designed a waffle stitch square for you. It’s another technique that I have never tried, so I’m eager to get started! Make sure you visit her post this week about her inspiration (which is seriously cool, btw) and what this project means to her.
Do make sure you share your squares on social media so we can all see and comment on them. Use hashtag #scheepjesCAL2016or#lastdanceonthebeach all over the internet and I’ll be sure to find them on Insta or Twitter or Facebook.
A couple of months or so ago I came across a brand new podcast on youtube by my Insta-friend Vanessa Kind andshe introduced me to the wonderful indie dyer Dingo Dyeworks. I fell head over heels with all the yarns and colourways – you know how much I love a good merino yarn.
When I visited the site I was overwhelmed. How could I possibly choose between all these amazing yarns?! But then I saw Winterlight.
I love the Fair Dinkum range, it carries the NewMerino certification, which is a an Australian initiative promoting 100% traceability, sustainability and ethical treatment.
The hardest decision was then what else should I get? Because the yarn was coming all the way from Perth, I couldn’t just order one skein – it’d be a waste right?
In the end I settled on some Fair Dinkum ultrafine fingering in Blue Gum. Blue gums have the most incredible scent. In the region I grew up in, about 20 years ago graziers started cashing in on the blue gum boom, selling their land for a thousand dollars an acre (insane money) to be replanted with blue gums. All of a sudden I was living in a forest instead of farmland, it was strange how the landscape changed so rapidly.
So the blue gum is something familiar, and a lovely colourway, so it fits. I have a project in mind, another Meg Gadsbey design called Minnamurra. Aren’t all these Australian names awesome? It makes me a bit homesick to be honest. I think my obsession with merino is something that I use to keep me connected, do you know what I mean?
I absolutely loved making Winterlight. The pattern is perfect for someone like me who doesn’t class themselves as a “knitter””- although I do now! It’s also just beautiful, so that’s reason enough!
I can’t wait to make another one. But I have a to-do list and WIP list that is longer than my arm, so it’ll have to wait a bit.
And finally, do check out Vanessa’s great podcast on Youtube. Although, lock up your wallet; she’s a bad influence!
We’ve cracked the halfway point of the squares for the Scheepjes CAL 2016. I could see from all the wonderful Instagram posts from last week how much you all enjoyed Carmen’s C2C. I had never done it before and I LOVED it!
This week we meet Maria, the creative and wonderfully cheeky soul behind 50 Shades of 4ply. Maria has an incredible eye for colour, I love her palette choices every single time she makes something. Maria is a featured designer in the brand new Scheepjes bookazine, Yarn, which is just another reason for you to get a copy*.
Maria has designed the square that if I am perfectly honest, I’ve been the most excited about. It’s the heart square!
Do make sure you share your squares on social media so we can all see and comment on them. Use hashtag #scheepjesCAL2016or#lastdanceonthebeach all over the internet and I’ll be sure to find them on Insta or Twitter or Facebook.
I’ve been on a major yarn buying binge lately. I promise that I’ll compile pics of the yarns and projects, but today I just want to share with you some inspiration.
I’ve trawled Etsy and created a Treasury with some of my absolute favourite hand dyed yarns. I didn’t think about the fibre content today, I focused 100% on colour. It’s difficult to say which is my favourite, because they all stand out for different reasons. I love rainbows – to me they represent my daughter. Maybe I should make a treasury with just rainbow gradients….
6y week is over already, I can’t believe it zoomed by so quickly. It was a wonderful week, with so many beautiful squares and such a positive response. It has made me so proud and happy, thank you to all of you.
This week we meet Carmen.
Carmen is the wonderful designer behind Crafty Queens and probably one of the loveliest people I’ve met. She makes the cutest amigurumis, they’re so squishy and cuddly. They usually have to be pried out of my hands, no kidding! Be sure to check them out, I think you’ll love them too.
This week Carmen has designed a corner to corner square, which is a stitch that I’ve never tried before, so I’m excited to learn!
Do make sure you share your squares on social media so we can all see and comment on them. Use hashtag #scheepjesCAL2016 or#lastdanceonthebeach all over the internet and I’ll be sure to find them on Insta or Twitter or Facebook.
MissNeriss 