If you are a blanket person, then I have something exciting for you. A new crochet-a-long is here!
Introduction
Kamala Blanket was inspired by a single square designed several years ago. I have made a few pillowcases using this pattern, but the textured flower design was too beautiful not to turn it into a blanket. The flower with fragile petals reminded me of a Kamala flower, and this is where the blanket’s name comes from.
Being a simple construction of squares and border, the Kamala Blanket offers lots of interest regarding stitching and texture. And no doubt you will not be bored making it.
The blanket is big! It measures approx. 130 cm x 160 cm/ 51¼ in x 63 in, after blocking.
Where to get the pattern
Kamala Blanket consists of two patterns: A Different Granny Square and Kamala Border. You can grab a complete e-book with everything you need to make a blanket via our website HERE.
However, you can also purchase both patterns separately on Ravelry and Etsy (discover the links below).
Of course, as a stand-alone pattern, Kamala Border can be used for any other project of your choice. You will just need to adjust the stitch counts to start the border (everything explained in instructions).
A Different Granny Square: Ravelry, Etsy
If you previously purchased A Different Granny Square, you should have received an updated version which was added to your library. And if you have the pattern from Etsy, please check an introduction file for how to put a blanket together, as there you will see yarn amounts and placement of the colors for every round of the square.
Materials and yarn amounts
The Kamala Blanket comes in three colorways: Stained Glass, Sand and Blossom.
All three use Softfun yarn by Scheepjes which has been one of our absolute favourite. It is a cotton and acrylic blend, very soft. It also has just the right thickness for a medium size hook, which makes the crochet relatively fast and enjoyable.
Not to mention, the Softfun yarn does not split at all and is easy to care for. I have made several cushions with this yarn, and after years of hard-wear and washing they still are the perfect shape and look.
As for the previous CAL’s, this time we have also collaborated with Laura Jackson (aka @taemombo), who created her own colorway for the blanket and made one of the samples.
And Esther Schippers, who helped with testing, thought of a Blossom colorway for her blanket.
You can either choose one of our ready colorways, or you can pick your own colors to match your taste the best. Luckily, Softfun yarn comes in 90+ gorgeous colors, and you can also combine regular solid shades with Denim and Aquarel lines.
If you are in the USA or Canada, you can purchase a ready yarn kit from Laura’s shop HERE. You can also have a look at other colors and get yarn in your nearest Scheepjes shop or via online retailers: Wool Warehouse (UK, international shipping), Caro’s Atelier* (NL and Europe).
What is CAL (crochet-a-long) and how to join
As with the previous large projects, we have decided to host a Kamala Blanket as a CAL.
Crochet-a-long means that crafters from different parts of the world are making the same project at the same time. Usually, the CALs are hosted on a weekly basis, with new portions of instructions released every week.
However, with the Kamala Blanket we have decided to host a relaxed CAL allowing everyone to work at their own path. After purchasing the patterns, you will right away have all the instructions you need. You can begin at any time, and you can make as much progress every week as you wish.
The CAL means that we will have a space in our Facebook group, where you can share your pictures, give advice, and ask for help.
If you are not in a group yet, please join it, and do not forget to answer the simple question upon signing up. The approving process is automated, and without answering the question you will not be let in.
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We officially begin on May 24th, 2024 to allow enough time for getting all materials. But you can start right away, of course!
Hope you will join us on this journey.
I continue to explore brioche crochet technique, and today I am happy to share a new design with you. Good news for those who enjoyed the Archway Square, as the new pattern is also a large brioche square which can be turned into an infinity stitch pattern. I named it Blomma, as it reminds me of the flower.
Blomma Square brioche crochet pattern is available on Ravelry HERE and Etsy HERE with an introductory discount of 20% which will expire on Tuesday, March 5th, 2024. The price you see now is a discounted one, and no codes are needed.
Lately, every time I start working on a new project, I say to myself it should be a beginner-friendly one. Not in the way it looks or how it is constructed, but in a way how the stitch pattern flows, and how this is reflected in the written instructions.
It means that the crochet design which looks intricate would necessarily be difficult to make. I sometimes get messages from the beginning designers asking about my own designing process. Of course, everything (and always) starts with inspiration. In a burnt-out mode, it is not easy to design something unique and appealing.
Basically, the easier the design process goes, the more chances are that the result will be great. And if you are stuck from the beginning, it often means something is wrong and creative spirit is blocked at some point. And then it is better to leave the idea aside and create something else.
I never draw sketches beforehand. Usually there is a rough idea inside my head, but I prefer to draw with yarn right away. So, the beginning of every design of mine always starts with a ball of yarn and a hook, late in the evening, in front of the TV.
Somehow the first rows or rounds with simple stitches bring in a certain mood, and slowly after each new round the idea becomes clearer. The designing process does involve lots of frogging and remaking. It would be ambitious to think that genius stitch patterns come to the world on the first try.
And when I say genius, I mean the stitch patterns which are perfect regarding maths, with perfect stitch counts and repeats, which are easy to write down. And the last is probably the most important in the crochet design, for me at least. Which makes the pattern doable for crocheters with different skill levels.
Of course, not all my crochet designs are “genius” in that way, but with every new project I am trying to get closer to this ideal and make written instructions as easy to follow as possible. Brioche crochet is one of those techniques which look extremely intricate, and not even doable.
But Archway Square proved that crafters with advanced beginner skills can handle the pattern. Basically, the required minimum level is to know how to do basic crochet stitches. And the rest is only about their placement, which is explained in the pattern.
If you did Archway Square, then no doubts that Blomma Square is right for you. And if this is your first time with brioche crochet, an introductory video is waiting for you in the pattern explaining basics of technique and showing first rounds of the pattern to bring you into the right flow. And then the pattern also contains progress pictures for all the rounds.
The Blomma Square consists of 49 rounds, and with Scheepjes Softfun yarn (DK weight) it will make a perfectly sized front decoration for a ready-made fabric pillowcase. And if you want to experiment with the infinity looks, stop the pattern after any even round, and join small squares with an invisible technique (explained in the pattern).
For my pillow, I made four squares with 30 rounds, and the final joined large square is about 60cm.
Esther Schippers, who helped me with testing, decided to make a smaller one and stopped after 24 rounds on her squares. And ta-da! Here is a totally different look.
And Laura Jackson turned her Blomma Squares into a cute and stylish handbag. Check her Ravelry project page to learn more about the colors she used and how she assembled everything.
Get your own copy of the Blomma Square pattern on Ravelry HERE and Etsy HERE and unlock your creativity.
Hope you enjoy!
Year 2023 is right behind the door. I hope you had a relaxing holiday and time to meditate and reflex on the passing year. I do not make resolutions for a new year, as I think life does not finish on December 31st and does not start again on January 1st. And I do not really believe that it is possible to become a different person overnight. Though of course the last days of the year kind of force to think of what you’d like to bring to a new year. And what new achievements you’d like to make.
I’d like to become a better person. I’d like to find peace for my soul. I’d like to better balance my work and personal life. I’d like to finish my second book. I’d like to design more. And I’d like to design more simple patterns, stylish and wearable.
There is one pattern that I finished in December and planned to release before New Year's Eve. But in the holiday rush with a One Evening Mystery make-a-long (which was a huge success – thank you for all the love you gave my tiny patterns) I felt like that new pattern can wait for a while. And be released in January.
So… Here it is. A Friday Balaclava!
Find the pattern on Ravelry HERE and Etsy HERE.
Balaclavas and all kinds of hoods have been popular for quite a long time now. And it feels like this trend will stay with us for a while. And yes, I know there are plenty of balaclava patterns out there. Mostly knitted, but also crochet. But I could not help myself and try my own hand in something simple and wearable like this. And I should admit, I am very happy with how it turned out.
I’ve made four Friday Balaclavas, and they have already been claimed by my friends. Which makes me even happier and proves that I’ve designed something nice. I managed to save one balaclava for myself. Just in time for frosty weather.
Friday Balaclava pattern is written for one size, and keeping consistent and correct gauge is critical for accurate sizing. Though, some gauge variations are not too important. Just to assure you, all my four balaclavas turned in slightly different sizes. But they all fit just fine.
As for the yarn, I figured that merino yarn works the best for this pattern. I made two balaclavas with Scheepjes Merino Soft yarn (fantastic feel) and one balaclava for myself with Scheepjes Metropolis and Scheepjes Rhythm Mohair held together.
The gauge for the latest was a little bigger, but I love the roomy shape, as slim fitted hats and hoods do not suit my face. And if you cannot wear wool, then Scheepjes Stonewashed is also an option. The stitch definition with this yarn looks great and the fabric is warm enough to protect from cold and wind.
Check all colors of Scheepjes yarns in your local Scheepjes store, or via online retailers: Wool Warehouse* (UK & international shipping), Caro’s Atelier* (NL & Europe), Taemombo* (US & Canada).
Find the pattern for Friday Balaclava on Ravelry HERE and Etsy HERE.
Coming back to New Year's resolutions, it feels satisfying to enter the new year with a new design. And hopefully, more designs to come.
Welcome to Week 4 of the One Evening Mystery make-a-long. Time flies fast, and we are on the last part of the MAL already. In the previous three weeks we made a mug wrap, a colorful bauble, a fragile snowflake. And this week we will be making a coaster in a beloved brioche crochet technique.
If you purchased the MAL listing on Ravlery, the last pattern has already landed to your library, and you can download the instructions (again, there will be 2 files available for download, with one of them containing detailed progress pictures).
And if you do not own the patterns yet, but would like to join, you can grab your copy on Ravelry HERE and newly on Etsy HERE.
And if you would like to make even more small and cute hanging ornaments, check out an e-book with 7 patterns HERE on our website.
One Evening Coaster is a compact design with a practical ridge preventing glasses and cups from sliding off the coaster. It is small, but also big enough to get a nice introduction into the brioche crochet technique, with a helpful video tutorial accompanying the pattern.
And except of learning the technique, you will also get a chance to practice making modified crochet clusters. For a better result, choose a light and dark color for the center of the coaster, with a bright accent color for the last rounds.
And make a set of several coasters by switching placement of the colors for each new motif.
Brioche has been one of my most favourite crochet techniques over the last couple of years. If you want to check more patterns in this wonderful technique, have a look at my Brioche Masterclass HERE.
To hide the back side of the coasters, you can optionally sew a piece of felt to the bottom of them. Or you can turn them into hanging double-sided ornaments by making two circles in joining them together with some stuffing inside.
And of course, the beads will add a final festive touch. I sew the beads only along the last rounds of the coaster to keep the centre flat, as I am going to use those as coasters.
Hope you enjoyed the One Evening Mystery make-a-long.
See you next year with the new adventures.
This is the festive time of the year when we think of cosiness and decorations for our homes. Following the huge success of the last year's make-a-long, I have created a new one for you. Welcome to One Evening Mystery make-a-long (MAL).
I have designed four mystery crochet projects in different techniques: brioche, overlay and slip stitch crochet. All patterns are new, exclusive for this MAL and were never published before!
The patterns include small home decorations, all doable in just one evening. And some of them can be extended to bigger projects, too.
The MAL has not started yet, and a pre-order is running right now on Ravelry HERE. To get access to all 4 patterns, you need to purchase the listing on Ravelry. And to answer your possible questions, you will pay just once and receive all 4 patterns.
The first pattern will be added to your Ravelry library on November 24th, 2023. And then a new pattern will be revealed every Friday around 3pm CET.
You will need a tiny amount of yarn in several colors for each project. And a crochet hook. So, you can absolutely dive into your stash and see what you have there. For my projects, I used Scheepjes Catona* yarn and 3mm hook.
And if you in US or Canada, you can purchase a ready kit with yarns in several colorways from Laura of Taemombo. You can view the kits HERE.
Additionally, you can use beads to decorate and felt to make some of the projects more practical (but these are optional adds).
The patterns will be offered at a reduced price during the time of the MAL through December 31st, 2023. You do not need any codes, as the price is discounted already and will be updated to a full price after the end of the MAL.
Official support for this MAL will be offered in my Facebook group HERE where we will be happy to see all your pictures! Join now our friendly community with 37K+ members. Please, be aware that you will have to answer a simple question upon a sign-up. Without answering, your request will not be approved.
Hope you join! And enjoy!
UPDATE:
WEEK 1: One Evening Mug Wrap
WEEK 2: One Evening Bauble
WEEK 3: One Evening Snowflake (and star)
WEEK 4: One Evening Coaster
Copyright. An original LillaBjörnCrochet Design (Tatsiana Kupryianchyk). Copyright 2014-2023. All rights reserved. This pattern is for personal use only. It cannot be sold, redistributed or edited in any way. Translations and video tutorials are not allowed. You can sell your finished products, but you cannot use my pictures to promote them. Please, always note me as a designer of this pattern. Thank you!
Sample made by Esther Schippers.
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Materials
Scheepjes Stone Washed, and Scheepjes River Washed (78% Cotton x 22% Acrylic; 50g/130m)
Yarn A: Stone Washed 801 Moonstone x 21 balls
Yarn B: River Washed 957 Eisack x 10 balls, and Stone Washed 810 Garnet x 11 balls
Check all shades of Stone Washed yarn at your local Scheepejs shop, or make a purchase via online retailers: Wool Warehouse* (UK, international shipping), Caro’s Atelier* (NL), Taemombo* (US and Canada).
3.5mm hook
Yarn needle to weave in tails.
Gauge:
Octagon motif measures approx. 14cm/5½in from side to side
Square motif measures approx. 8cm/3¼in from side to side
The Souvenir Blanket consists of octagons, small squares, and a slim border. All rounds are worked on RS unless otherwise instructed. The yarn is not cut after every round but is brought up to the next round on WS, so small floats of yarn will appear on WS. The motifs are joined to each other with an invisible join using yarn tail left after fastening off and yarn needle. You can either join motifs right after they are finished, or first make all motifs and then sew them together.
ABBREVIATIONS (US terms)
blo back loop(s) only
ch chain stitch
dc double crochet
flo front loop(s) only
hdc half double crochet
opp opposite
RS right side
sc single crochet
ss slip stitch
st(s) stitch(es)
sp(s) space(s)
yo yarn over the hook
prev previous
WS wrong side
STITCH GUIDE
FPdc (front post double crochet): yo, insert hook from front to back to front around the post of indicated stitch, yo, draw up a lp, [yo, pull through 2 lps] twice.
FPtr (front post treble crochet): yo twice, insert hook from front to back to front around the post of indicated stitch, yo, draw up a loop, [yo, pull through 2 loops] 3 times.
FPtr2tog (front post treble 2 together): *yo twice, insert hook from front to back to front around the post of next stitch of same color below, [yo, draw up a lp, yo, pull through 2 lps on hook] twice; rep from * once more, yo, pull through all 3 lps on hook.
FPtr3tog (front post treble 3 together): *yo twice, insert hook from front to back to front around the post of next stitch of same color below, [yo, draw up a lp, yo, pull through 2 lps on hook] twice; rep from * 2 more times, yo, pull through all 4 lps on hook.
tr (treble crochet): yo twice, insert hook in indicated stitch, yo, draw up a loop, [yo, pull through 2 loops] 3 times.
tr2tog (treble crochet 3 together): *yo twice, insert hook in indicated st, yo, draw up a lp, [yo, pull through 2 lps] twice; rep from * once more, yo, pull through all 3 lps on hook.
Pattern repeats:
[…] repeat instructions inside […] as many times as indicated in the pattern.
*…; rep from * as times as indicated in the pattern.
Layout for joining
Find a ready-to-print copy of the Souvenir Blanket pattern without ads on Ravelry HERE and Etsy HERE.
INSTRUCTIONS
OCTAGON
Round 1. With Yarn A make an adjustable ring, ch1 (does not count as a st here and throughout), 8sc into ring, ss to beg sc – 8 sts.
Round 2. Cont with Yarn A. Ch4 (counts as first dc and ch2-sp), [1dc in next st, ch2] rep around, ss to beg sp – 8 dc & ch2-sps.
Round 3. Ch1 changing to Yarn B. [Ch2, skip st of opp color, 2dc in st of Round 1 below occupied by dc from prev round (work in front ch2-sp)] rep around, ss to beg sp – 16 dc & 8 ch2-sps.
Round 4. Ch1 changing back to Yarn A by grabbing it up on WS (here and throughout), [1FPdc around st of same color below, ch4, skip 2 sts of opp color] rep around, ss to beg FPdc – 8 FPdc & ch4-sps.
Round 5. Ch1 changing to Yarn B. [Ch2, skip st of opp color, 1FPdc around next st of same color, 2FPdc around next st of same color] rep around, ss to beg sp – 24 FPdc & 8 ch2-sps.
Round 6. Ch1 changing to Yarn A, [1FPdc around st of same color below, 1sc in next st, 2sc in next st, 1sc in next st] rep around, ss to beg FPdc – 8 FPdc & 32 sc.
Round 7. Ch2 changing to Yarn B in first ch, [2dc blo in FPdc of opp color, 4dc blo] rep around, ss blo to beg dc, ss blo in next 2 sts – 48 dc.
Round 8. Ch1 changing to Yarn A, [1tr2tog flo in prev and next FPdc of same color below, skip no sts behind tr2tog, 4sc blo, 1tr flo in same st as second leg of prev tr2tog, skip no sts behind tr, 4sc blo, 1tr2tog as prev, skip no sts behind tr2tog, 4sc blo] rep around, ss to beg tr2tog – 60 sts.
Round 9. Ch1 changing to Yarn B, [1sc blo in tr2tog, 1dc flo in st of same color below (here and for all dc on this round), 2dc flo in next st, 1dc flo, 1sc blo in next tr of opp color, 1dc flo, 2dc flo in next st, 1dc flo, 1sc blo in next tr2tog, 2dc flo in next st, 1dc flo, 2dc flo in next st] rep around, ss to beg sc – 64 sts.
Round 10. Ch1 changing to Yarn A, *1tr flo in tr2tog of same color below, skip 1 st, 2sc blo, 1tr flo in same tr2tog, skip no sts, 2sc blo, 1FPtr around tr of same color below, skip 1 st, 2sc blo, [1tr flo in next tr2tog, skip 1 st, 1sc blo] 3 times, 1tr flo in next tr2tog, skip no sts, 2sc blo; rep from * around, ss to beg tr – 72 sts.
Round 11. Ch1 changing to Yarn B, *1sc blo in tr, 2dc flo in st of same color visible at the bottom of next V, skip 2 sts, 1sc blo in next tr, [1FPdc around each of next 2 sts of same color below, 1sc blo in next tr] twice, [2dc flo in st of same color visible at the bottom of next V, skip 1 st, 1sc blo in next tr] twice, 1FPtr3tog around next 3 sts of same color below, skip 1 st, 1sc blo in next tr, 2dc flo in st of same color below visible at the bottom of next V, skip 2 sts; rep from * around, ss to beg sc – 80 sts.
Round 12. Ch1 changing to Yarn A (cut B), *1FPtr around tr of same color below (here and throughout), skip 1 st, 2sc blo in next dc of opp color, 2sc blo, [1FPdc, skip 1 st, 1sc blo] 3 times, 1sc blo, 2sc blo in next st, 1FPtr, skip 1 st, 2sc blo in next st, 2sc blo, 1FPtr2tog around 2 sts of same color on both sides of FPtr3tog below, skip 1 st, 2sc blo, 2sc blo in next st; rep from * around, ss to beg FPtr – 96 sts.
SQUARE
Round 1. With Yarn A, make adjustable ring, ch1 (does not count as a st), 8sc into ring, ss blo to beg sc – 8 sts.
Round 2. Ch1 changing to Yarn B, 2sc blo in same st as join, 2sc blo in each st around, ss blo to beg sc – 16 sts.
Round 3. Note: first dc is worked in a st of Round 1 where next inc of Round 2 was made.
Ch1 changing to Yarn A, *skip 1 st on round 1, 1dc flo in next st of Round 1, skip 1 st on Round 2, 1sc blo, [1dc flo in same st of Round 1, skip no sts, 1sc blo] twice; rep from * around, ss blo to beg dc, ss blo to next 2 sts – 24 sts.
Round 4. Ch1 changing to Yarn B, beg in same st as join, *1sc blo in dc of opp color, 2dc flo in st of same color visible at the bottom of next V, skip 1 st, 1sc blo in next dc of opp color, 1tr flo in free st of Round 1 below, skip 1 st, 1sc blo, 2dc flo in st of same color visible at the bottom of next V, skip 1 st; rep from * around, ss to beg sc – 32 sts.
Round 5. Ch1 changing to Yarn A, *1FPtr around st of same color below, skip 1 st, 2sc blo in next dc, 1sc blo in next dc, [1FPdc around st of same color below (here and throughout), skip 1 st, 1sc blo] twice, 2sc blo in next dc; rep from * around, ss to beg FPtr – 40 sts.
Round 6. Ch1 changing to Yarn B, beg in same st as join and working all FPdc around sts of same color below, *1sc blo in FPtr, 2FPtr around next st, 1FPdc around next st, skip 3 sts, 1sc blo, 3FPdc around next st, skip 1 st, 1sc blo, 1FPdc around next st, 2FPtr around next st, skip 3 sts; rep from * around, ss to beg sc – 48 sts.
Round 7. Ch1 changing to Yarn A (cut Yarn B), *1FPtr around FPtr of same color below, skip 1 st, 2sc blo in next st, 2sc blo, 1FPdc, skip 1 st, 3sc blo, 1FPdc, skip 1 st, 2sc blo, 2sc blo in next st; rep from * around, ss to beg FPtr – 56 sts.
JOINING
Here is a video tutorial for an invisible join.
BORDER
Round 1: Attach River Washed Eisack with ss blo in FPtr2tog of any octagon, ch1 (does not count as a st), beg in same st as join, *18sc blo in each st until you reach the bottom of the V on the edge, 1sc3tog working in sc before tr on current octagon, seam and sc after tr on the next octagon, 16sc blo; rep from * around the blanket, ss blo to beg sc.
Round 2: Increases will always be made directly above FPtr.
Ch2 changing to Stone Washed Garnet in first ch (cut River Washed), beg in same st as join, *5dc blo, 2dc blo in next st, 10dc blo, dc5tog blo over next 5 sts, 9dc blo, 2dc blo in next st, 4dc blo; rep from * around the blanket, ss blo to beg sc, fasten off.
FINISHING
Weave in all ends. Block blanket to measurements.
Find a ready-to-print copy of the Souvenir Blanket pattern without ads on Ravelry HERE and Etsy HERE.
With love,
