Have Red Yarn and Willing To Travel - Crochet On A Plane Flight

Whenever I catch a flight anywhere, I take my WIP.

I always look around at the unenlightened passengers in the seats across the aisle attempting to read the boring in-flight magazine tucked into the seat pocket in front of them, boredom etched on their faces. If only they had brought crochet with them!

But not me. I’m not bored. I have my WIP very carefully added to my carry on luggage.

I happily while away the time getting in a few hours on whatever project I decided to bring along. With crochet in my hands, I can almost forget that the smiling toddler in the seat behind me is clearly attempting to set a new world record for how many times they can kick the back of my seat. Meanwhile, the toddler’s mother and grandmother are doing a stellar job of trying to keep not only this toddler, but also their tiny baby amused… (and maybe I should underline trying). It certainly seems to have healthy lungs.

One particular day I was making simple headbands. I had a very nice ball of brilliant red Shepherd DK. I don’t work with red very often and I’m not really a red fan at all, but a friend of mine loves it beyond anything and I was making the headband for her.

It’s an odd day if you catch her wearing an outfit that doesn’t have red in it somewhere. So, naturally, I was whipping up this headband in her honour.

I was seated in an aisle seat and the second my behind hit the chair, out came the crochet. I popped the ball of yarn onto my lap, carefully pulling out only what I needed as I worked. As we took off, I continued crocheting away, happy in my own little crochet bubble.

The plane was still climbing, with everyone nicely strapped in, when I realised I needed more yarn from the ball. I gave it a gentle tug, hoping it would unwind a little more.

There was slight resistance.

So I looked down at my lap.

The yarn was not there.

This is right about the moment that horrible “Oh no…” feeling hit, along with a sense of dread.

I looked down at my feet, hoping it had simply rolled off and was sitting there waiting for me like a well-behaved ball of yarn should.

But no.

The yarn had other plans.

It had fallen off my lap and travelled under the seat… and when I turned and followed its escape path, I realised it had made its way out from under my seat, down the aisle, and right towards the back of the plane.

I was seated just past the mid-section of the aircraft. With the plane angled upward during take-off, my wayward ball of yarn had started to roll… and then just kept on rolling.

Honestly, I could almost hear it yelling, “I’m free! I’m free!” as it escaped down the aisle like it had been planning this moment for its entire life.

There at the back centre of the plane sat a male flight attendant, strapped in for take-off.

And in his lap…

…was my fully unravelled ball of red yarn.

I looked at him with pure horror on my face, embarrassed beyond belief, and mouthed the words:

“Sorry!”

He just smiled.

Several of the aisle-seat passengers behind me were also grinning widely. Clearly they had witnessed the yarn’s dramatic escape and enjoyed every second of it.

Once the plane had levelled out, I snuck another look at the flight attendant.

He was busily winding my yarn back into a ball.

Then, as casually as if this sort of thing happened every day, he slowly walked back up the aisle, rewinding it as he went.

Thankfully, he had a sense of humour… and thankfully, he didn’t hand it back to me with a lecture about keeping my yarn under control.

Even after that rather embarrassing moment I still never travel without a crochet project in my carry-on.

It keeps my hands busy, my mind quiet, and occasionally provides unexpected entertainment for the entire cabin (yarn escapes included).

So if you’re ever heading off somewhere, or just want something portable that doesn’t take over the lounge room, small projects like headbands, scarves, or little purses are perfect travel companions.

I have a number of portable designs, travel approved. So if you feel like having a browse, head to my home page. No pressure… just ideas for your next “take anywhere” project.

And if you are travelling with your yarn, be sure it does not try to hatch an escape plan as the embarrassment is rather epic!

Yarn Reviews

Reviews Jump to:

• Fiddlesticks Eddy

• Scheepjes Whirl

• Yarnart Flower

• Stylecraft Special Dk

• Bendigo Woollen Mill Luxury 8ply Dk

• Bendigo Woollen Mill Cotton 8ply Dk

• Stylecraft Batik DK

• Hobbii Soft Alpaca

• Hobbii Cotton Kings Sultan

Fiddlesticks Eddy Review

It’s time for a close look at Fiddlesticks Eddy Yarn!

The good and the bad.

As always, this is just my personal opinion!

The hard facts:

Composition: Cotton / Acrylic blend (check your ball band for exact percentages as they may vary slightly depending on batch)

Construction: Twisted gradient cake

Weight: 220 g cake

Length: (varies by cake – check label)

Size: Fingering / 4ply style cake yarn

Range: 16 colourways

Colour transition: Slow gradient

Cake style: Can be worked from the centre or the outside

My Opinion

I recently worked with Fiddlesticks Eddy and I have to say… I really enjoyed it.

This yarn feels like a very welcome option for those of us who love gradient cakes, but want something a little different from the usual go-to’s like Scheepjes Whirl.

And honestly… being in Australia, finding decent cake yarns that don’t require selling a kidney to cover shipping costs is becoming a bit of a hobby in itself.

With the changes in availability of certain overseas yarn brands (and yes, I’m looking directly at you, Hobbii), it’s nice to find a yarn that still gives that smooth gradient-cake experience without the drama.

The cakes come in a 220g size (990 mts / 1082 yds.) which is a great amount to work with, and I love that you can choose to pull from either the centre or the outside of the cake depending on your preference.

Because we all know… some cakes behave beautifully from the centre, and some cakes turn into a yarn bar fight.

Thankfully, Eddy behaved.

Pistachio Dragonfly Scarf

I used this yarn to create my Pistachio Dragonfly Scarf, and it was a really enjoyable yarn to work with from start to finish.

Auburncraft Crochet Design CEO - Stella - Approved.

I used a 3.5mm hook, which is my go-to size for yarn cakes of this type, and it worked beautifully.

One thing I really liked was the colour flow. The transitions felt smooth and well-balanced, and the gradient change was pleasing without any sudden “wait… what just happened?” moments.

For:

Lovely to work with
This yarn was smooth, pleasant, and didn’t feel like it was constantly trying to fight my hook. I always take that as a good sign.

A great alternative to Scheepjes Whirl style cakes
If you love the gradient cake look but want another option in your yarn cupboard, this is a very handy one to know about.

Great stitch definition
The stitch work came up clean and clear, which is exactly what you want when your pattern has detail (especially dragonfly detail!). The Pistachio Dragonfly Scarf came out beautifully.

Good for Aussie crocheters
We are at the bottom of the world and shipping costs can be absolutely brutal. So finding yarns that are accessible here (and don’t cost more in postage than the yarn itself) is a win.

220g cakes are a great size
Not too small, not ridiculously oversized, and enough to make you feel like you’re getting somewhere when you start a project.

Work from centre or outside
This is always a bonus, because everyone has a preference — and some of us like to pretend we’re organised by choosing the “correct” end.

Against:

Only 16 colours available
This is probably the biggest downside for me. The yarn itself is lovely, but the colour range is a bit limited.

Sixteen colourways is fine… but it’s also just enough to make you want more.

Because once you find a cake yarn you enjoy working with, suddenly you want it in every mood:
soft pastels, bold brights, moody jewel tones, dramatic dark fades… the whole lot.

So yes. More colours please, Fiddlesticks. And definately MORE purple!

Overall:

A really enjoyable yarn to work with, and a great alternative gradient cake option for Aussie crocheters.

If the colour range expands in the future, this could become an absolute staple yarn for people who love the gradient cake style but need something more accessible here in Australia.

And honestly… anything that gives me “Whirl vibes” without the stress of hunting down overseas stock deserves a place in my yarn cupboard.

.

Dragonflies for Dee Wall Hanging

Dragonflies for Dee Wall Hanging

Yarnart Flowers Review

It’s time for a close look at Yarnart Flowers! The good and bad. This is of course just my personal opinion!

The hard facts:

Composition: 55% Cotton, 45% Acrylic.

Contruction: Soft Twisted

Weight: 250 g (8.8 oz)

Great Stitch Definition

Length: 1000 m (1093 yds)

Size: Fingering 4ply

Range: 50 Plus?

Colour transition: Slow gradien

My Opinion

I used Yarnart Flowers for the first time recently and was pleasantly surprised.

I chose colour 271. The outside of this is a soft grey which transitions to soft blue and then all the way to deep blue.

I selected a 3.5mm hook and felt for me this worked well.

I turned this one cake of Yarnart Flowers into a large mandala style wall hanging- Dragonflies for Dee Wall Hanging.

Very little was left from the one cake.

For:

This yarn was very suitable for the project I produced and gave a lovely definition of stitch work.

For me (being an Aussie and living at the bottom end of the world) yarn cost can be a factor as shipping from overseas can cost A LOT!
This is an affordable option and I can’t fault the end look. I produced 3 wall hangings from the same pattern using 3 different yarns. The Yarnart Flowers stood amongst its peers, head held high and at a fraction of the cost. The other yarns used being Scheepjes Whirl and Hobbii Sultan Deluxe.

Dragonflies For Dee Wall Hanging

Similar to other cake yarns, you can work from the centre of the cake or the outside.

My crochet hook is always the first to complain if a yarn is difficult to work with. Not a peep was heard from my trusty 3.5mm hook during the design process. Well in truth the hook did yell at me a few times when I made a silly error, but that doesn’t really count, does it?

This yarn is classified as a Fingering weight. Maybe it is just me but I find the clasification of yarns can be really broad. I look at some yarns and think ‘What trickery is this? So they are trying to tell me this yarn that is almost as thick as my arm, is a dk weight? I think not!”

Yarnart Flowers is thicker than Scheepjes Whirl, but slightly thinner than Hobbii Sultan Deluxe.

I am yet to use this yarn for shawls or blankets but I will get to that one day, if I live long enough. Then I may update this review.

As to the colour range, I am yet to fully discover just how many colours are available I have so far counted 50. I have not, as yet found a site that could give me a complete view of the range. Everyone who stocks this yarn seems to have selected the colours they wish to stock. So it varies from seller to seller.

.Against:

Now please remember these are my own personal gripes and what bugs me may not bother anyone else!

I can’t say I have any real gripes about this yarn other than personal ones.

For me personally it is a bit hit and miss, trying to get the colour cake in the colour required. And no, I will not move to Turkey (where this is manufactured) to achieve ease of shipping and access.

It is just as well that there seems to be a broad range of colours in this yarn, as I really am not a fan of a number of the colour cakes. Way too much use of green for me. But there are plenty of cakes to choose from to try and avoid the dreadful greens.

Overall:

Affordable and pleasant to work with.

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P.S. Yes I did make one of those wall hangings in Turquoise Whirl. It’s not green, It’s Turquoise which is slightly better than green. I made this as a gift and chose the colour to suit!

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Stylecraft Special DK- Review

The yellow (Citron) is currently being used for an embossed blanket I’m working on. The lavender ball actually arrived by accident — I thought it was a different shade when I ordered it — but it’s still a lovely colour.

Chasing Rainbows Finding Tulips

Today I am putting Stylecraft Special Dk under the microscope and looking at the good and bad. This is of course just my personal opinion! *This page may contains affiliate links. Click on the photographs to be taken to the crochet designs shown on this page. Links to purchase can then be found.

The hard facts:

Length: 295m (323yds)

Size: 8ply Dk Weight

Remembering Grandma Bed Runner‍ ‍

Range: At the time of writing this 111 colours available

Remembering Grandma Bed Runner

My Opinion

For

Stylecraft Special DK Yarn Review

For

The Flower Patch

Stylecraft Special DK is an acrylic yarn that is an affordable option for lovers of crochet. While this yarn has had its moments over the years with different manufacturers, including some quality slips and supply issues due to the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, it has remained a widely used and accessible yarn.

I have used this yarn numerous times for designs such as the RemChasing Rainbows Finding Tulips Blanket, embering Grandma Bed Runner and The Flower Patch Blanket. I am at present using it in the colour Citron (1263) for an embossed-look blanket. I generally work it with a 4 mm hook and find that combination is great for my usually firm tension.

I have found the yarn to be unlike many acrylics that can feel a bit like sandpaper. This one is soft to work with and gives lovely stitch definition.

Although I do not tend to work in DK weight yarn all that often, this is a yarn I reach for if I want a broad colour selection. With 111 colours available, it would be hard not to find something suitable for your project.

It also does not break the bank and comes in decent-sized balls of around 295 metres per 100 grams. Acrylics certainly have their place, and when you find a decent one they are often hardy for wear and easy to care for. Unlike some of the more prima donna yarns that can shrink dramatically if they accidentally find their way into the washing machine.

.Against:

Now please remember these are my own personal gripes and what bugs me may not bother anyone else.

I do not have a long list of negatives for this yarn as it largely is what it claims to be. It is not a luscious alpaca or a divine silk blend — it is a budget acrylic.

That said, I have seen some discussion in recent times about declining quality in some newer batches. Some crocheters have mentioned yarn that feels thinner or a little scratchier than older versions, and there have also been comments about colour differences between dye lots making it tricky to match older projects.

Personally, I have not experienced issues such as yarn thinning mid-ball or noticeable thick and thin sections in the balls I have used. My experience with the yarn has been quite consistent.

Overall

Overall, Stylecraft Special DK does exactly what it sets out to do. It is an affordable acrylic yarn with an impressive colour range, good stitch definition, and a softness that makes it pleasant to work with.

While it may not be a luxury fibre, it is a reliable and practical option for many crochet projects, particularly larger pieces such as blankets where cost, durability, and colour choice all matter. For those reasons, it remains a yarn I am happy to reach for when the right project comes along.

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Hobbii Cotton Kings Sultan Review

Today I am putting Sultan Cotton Kings under the microscope and looking at the good and bad. This is of course just my personal opinion!

The hard facts:

Composition: 100% Cotton

Contruction: 4 strand cotton

Weight: 200gms

Length: 800 m (875 yds)

Size: 5ply Sport Weight

Range: At the time of writing this 44 colours available

Colour transition: Slow gradient

My Opinion

For:

This is a very affordable option for a slow colour change yarn and this is a huge tick on that level.

The colour range is on the larger side and has quite a number of the colours I gravitate towards. Those who know me understand that the first thing I would do when selecting a yarn colour to work in, is to immediately throw all the green out. Even doing this leaves a lot of delicious colours to select and work from.

The colour transitions are amazing. When using a yarn that is made up of 4 strands, the manner of changing one strand at a time creates a lovely slow flow of colour transition. If you tend to make larger projects like I do with many of my blankets, the option to cut and swap to another ball is always a plus. I find this will take your project to the next level. The project I road tested this yarn on is a small blanket and I chose to work in the colour Amethyst (06). Purple is always a favourite of mine and at the top of the colour choice list. The colour is just gorgeous.

With the composition of this yarn being 100% cotton, it makes for great shawls, lighter weight blankets etc and is a great yarn to work in for those summer months.

I used my go-to hook for this type of weight yarn, that being my 3.5mm. Hobbii describes this as a sport weight yarn and I don’t see a huge difference in working with this as opposed to working in many other typical gradient yarns that state 4ply or fingering weight. Of course it is always best to gauge check!

.Against:

Now please remember these are my own personal gripes and what bugs me may not bother anyone else! I did promise to be honest with my reviews!

I am not a huge fan of working in 4 strand yarn! While I love the colour transition created by it, I just find it frustrating. And yes, I have tried putting a bead onto the yarn prior to starting in order to hold the wayward strands together and I have to call b*llsh** on that one.

I Wish I Were A Butterfly Blanket‍ ‍

Personally I don’t think it makes a jot of difference and those pesky little strands will pop out and then come back to haunt you a round later when you notice them. I found myself at one point threatening to hurl the blanket I was working on, from the balcony and let the wind take it where it would. A short time out for the project where neither of us dared to speak to the other did calm the situation down and while we may never truly be friends, we did manage to come to a tense understanding of each other (learnt to work together) nearing the end.

I find the cake size of these a bit of a downer for me. Many of the blankets and shawls I make, size and work much better when the cakes offer 1000m. This is of course not a huge issue but still for me a small elephant in the room.

Oh, I do love this colour!

Overall:

I do think I much prefer to spend a little more and work with Hobbii Sultan Deluxe and would love it if the colour range of the Cotton Kings was available in the Deluxe range. While I won’t say I will never use this yarn again, it is not my favourite or go to yarn. I do keep looking lovingly at the gorgeous colour selection and thinking to myself, is it really that bad the 4 strands? I have to then slap myself a few times to resist the urge to order and keep repeating ‘You don’t like 4 stranded yarn’ over and over.

But back to my butterfly blanket that does look superb in my chosen colourway and so who knows! This yarn and I may well never be besties, but I may forget the arguments and harsh words thrown around when using it, and one day be tempted by the gorgeous colourways to try again. I do just drool whenever I look at this incredible purple!

What you do get with this yarn is a lovely finished product with a beautiful colour transition and so for many who don’t find those errant strands annoying, this would be a great affordable option.

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Bendigo Woolen Mill 8Ply Cotton

Today I am putting Bendigo Woolen Mill 8Ply Cotton under the microscope and looking at the good and bad. This is of course just my personal opinion!

The hard facts:

Composition: 100% Cotton

Contruction: Plied

Weight: 200 grams (7.05 ounces)

Flowers Don’t Tell But I Do Blanket

A Contemplation of Cats Blanket‍ ‍

Length: 529 yards (484 metres)

Size: 8Ply Dk weight

Range: 30 colours

Colour transition: Solid

My Opinion

For:

In order to have full disclosure I must state that Bendigo Woolen Mill have my patterns on their webpage. They run a brilliant program for local designers and pass on 100% of all pattern sales to the designers. I also have been fortunate to have worked with BWM on numerous occasions, where they have offered me yarn support. The team who run this business have my respect and I find them brilliant to work with.

This is an Australian yarn company and the largest individual manufacturer of quality yarns in Australia.

BWM cotton is super soft. This yarn has a lovely sheen to it to! The hank dying method they use lends to this softer final product. It is fabulous for blankets and works up just brilliantly, showcasing my designs in a manner that I find pleasing.

I find I get great definition in the stitches with this cotton and cannot fault it for quaility.

If I Want Flowers I Shall Have Them Blanket‍ ‍

I love working in this yarn and it is often my go-to default when I am making any blankets that I want a solid colour in.

I also work often in the same yarn but in a 4ply (fingering weight). Again this is brilliant to work with.

This yarn has a colour selection of 30 shades.

While I have to say I do prefer the cottons (which is just personal preference) they also manufacture yarns in Alpaca, Mohair, Silk, Milk fiber and Bamboo.

These are larger style balls and not tiny 50g balls where you need a ton of the stuff to make a decent size blanket.

If you are lucky enough to strike a sale, then you can load up for future makes..

I typically use a 3.5mm hook when working in yarns of this type and. I do tend to have a very firm tension, so the result is nice little firm stitches.

I have made multiple items in the cotton 8ply.

.Against:

Now please remember these are my own personal gripes and what bugs me may not bother anyone else!

I only thing that I can say with even a slightly negative lean to it in regards to this yarn, would be the colour range. I understand that to dye more colours may be problematic to the mill, but I would really love a few more to select from. Maybe part of my gripe about this is due to the fact that the range has a number of greens in it and for anyone who follows my writings, you will know that I really am not a fan of green.

I will also add that this is a thinner style 8ply or Dk weight than most. Not an issue but something to keep in mind.

One other point I willl make is the need to keep a clean workspace when using the lighter colours. Of course this is not just relevant to BWM Cotton but to all yarns. There is nothing worse than putting time and effort into a project and find it is grubby by the time you finish.

Overall:

As can be seen by how often I use this cotton, I do love it! I have even converted one of my USA based pattern testers to using it. Yes postage to the USA can be a bit of an issue but they have asssured me that they are more than happy for all family members to starve, in order to feed their need for BWM cotton. (just kidding, postage is not that bad).

Do yourself a favour and try this cotton.

The links here will take you directly to BWM. I get no kickback from sending you there. My only benefit is the yarn support they offer and also the pattern sales I gain from there. Bendigo Woolen Mill 8 Ply cotton

You can also find a number of my pattern for sale in their independant designer section: Click here

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Bendigo Woollen Mill 8Ply Luxury Review

Today I am putting Bendigo Woollen Mill 8Ply Luxury under the microscope and looking at the good and bad. This is of course just my personal opinion!

The hard facts:

Composition: 100% Pure Wool

Contruction: Plied

Weight: 200 grams (7.05 ounces)

Length: 437 yards (400 metres)

Size: 8Ply Dk weight

Range: 36 colours

Dragonflies On Parade Blanket

Colour transition: Solid

My Opinion

For:

In order to have full disclosure I must state that Bendigo Woollen Mill have my patterns on their webpage. They run a brilliant program for local designers and pass on 100% of all pattern sales to the designers. I also have been fortunate to have worked with BWM on numerous occasions, where they have offered me yarn support. The team who run this business have my respect and I find them brilliant to work with.

This is an Australian yarn company and the largest individual manufacturer of quality yarns in Australia.

The name says it all! .

BWM Luxury is simply that Luxury. It is super soft and while I am reviewing the 8ply or Dk today, this does come in 3Ply, 4Ply and 10Ply. This yarn provides great stitch definition and is a quality product. This has a snuggle factor of 10/10 and if using this yarn for items such as blankets, it does have some weight to it. It is perfect for weighted blankets.

It is also a great choice for shawls and hats for those really cold months. The end result from using this yarn is an item with a lovely finish and quality to it. Working with BWM Luxury is a pleasant and pleasing experience.

The 200gram balls are a big drawcard for me as I do design blankets a lot. It is a lot less work and fiddling with yarn ends, than you can get when using 50gram ball of yarn.

Luxury comes in36 shades. If you happen to be on BWM mailing list, they often send out colour swatch cards. This can be a very helpful resource, enabling you to see the yarn colours up close.

.Against:

Now please remember these are my own personal gripes and what bugs me may not bother anyone else!

I am very much a fan of this yarn so I will have to be very nit picky to find something bad to say about it.

Luxury is not a yarn I choose to use all that often. But this has more to do with the climate I live in. Right now it is winter but for me and where I am placed in this huge world, its endless days of sunshine. Winter sees very little rain and is in fact the driest months of the year. Skies are blue and it is seldom that a cloud dares to wander by. Mornings can be slightly cooler, but by 10am any extra layer of clothing is not needed. Therefore the need for a warm pure wool blanket, shawl, hat or anything else is really not a necessity. Then by the time summer does arrive, the thought of using a pure wool yarn really is not at all appealing, as it is just too hot!

Colour selection:

Yes, there are 36 colour choices available, but often the shade is just not quite what I want. Obviously manufacturers such as Bendigo Woollen Mills do have a limit on just what they can produce, but I do wish they would extend the colour selection slightly.

Luxury is so soft that it can be a problem. The urge to spend hours just squishing and admiring it can mean no work gets done! This yarn is almost too nice to use!

Using this yarn may spoil you for any other yarn. If you have heard the term ‘yarn snob’ and never understood the real meaning of it, try some BWM Luxury and you may well become one.

As a designer I don’t insist that pattern testers use BWM for a project simply as I have designed using it. Sometimes this could be ver unrealistic simply due to international postage costs. This is of course out of the control of BWM and comes with living in Australia. It is a long way from pretty much everywhere. So, if you are interested in trying out BWM Luxury and happen to be anywhere other than Australia, you may find postage costs a bit of an issue.

Overall:

Luxury is really worth trying, but do be careful you don’t get addicted to the super soft decadence of it!

Make sure you have subscribed to my webpage for the upcoming launch of a new pattern using this yarn.

The links here will take you directly to BWM. I get no kickback from sending you there. My only benefit is the occasional yarn support they offer and also the pattern sales I gain from there. Bendigo Woollen Mill

You can also find a number of my patterns for sale in their independant designer section:

Meow Said The Cat Blanket

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Scheepjes Whirl Review

Today I take a hard look at Scheepjes Whirl!

Scheepjes Whirl is one of the most popular gradient yarn cakes on the market, and it’s easy to see why. With its slow colour changes, generous meterage, and soft drape, it’s a favourite for shawls and lightweight blankets. But is it perfect? Of course not. Today I’m putting Scheepjes Whirl under the microscope and sharing the good, the bad, and my honest experience using it.

The Hard Facts

Composition: 60% Cotton / 40% Acrylic
Construction: Twisted ply
Weight: 225 g
Length: 1000 m
Size: 4 ply / Fingering weight
Range: 54 colours
Colour transition: Slow gradient

Links to purchase: (click here for Jimmy Beans)

My Opinion

For

Of course there is cheaper yarn on the market, but in my humble opinion, you usually do get what you pay for. We could all wish that Scheepjes Whirl grew on trees and we could simply head out into the garden to pick a few when needed… but sadly this is not the case. (Well, not in my garden anyway.)

I find Scheepjes Whirl to be a reasonably priced yarn that offers good quality. And if you’re going to bother working your way through 1000 metres, then using quality yarn is definitely worth it.

The cake size is fantastic. For many of the items I design, that 1000 m length is spot on.

I also genuinely enjoy working with Whirl and have completed quite a few projects in it. I typically use a 3.5 mm / E hook for Whirl projects.

It’s a great yarn for lightweight blankets and is especially suited to shawls. It drapes beautifully, feels quite soft, and has a lovely finished look.

One of my favourite features is the twisted construction. Unlike many slow-gradient cakes, this yarn doesn’t constantly split. Some gradient yarns are made up of separate strands that aren’t twisted together, and it can be a pain trying to keep them all behaving. With Whirl, I don’t have to worry about my hook slipping through one strand… only to discover that mistake 1000 stitches later.

And of course, the slow gradient colour changes are gorgeous. You can pull from the centre or the outside, which gives you control over how the colours flow.

At each colour change point, you’ll find a tiny little fuzz-buzz (a fluffy rejoin section). These don’t bother me personally, but I’ve seen plenty of people mention that they find them annoying.

Six Wishes For a Dragonfly Blanket

The 60% cotton content also makes this yarn suitable for blocking, which means your finished piece will hold its shape nicely.

North South East West Forget Me Knot Blanket

I have several blanket designs that use two cakes, including my Six Wishes for a Dragonfly Blanket. and North South East West Forget Me Knot Blanket. If you use two cakes and swap between them at the colour changes (working from the same colour section in each cake), the blanket develops a beautifully slow and balanced colour fade. It takes the finished look from gorgeous to WOW.

And it is perfect for shawls. Swinging From the Chandelier is an example of that.

Against

On The Wings of a Dragonfly Shawl

While Scheepjes Whirl has a reasonable colour selection, I do feel it’s time they updated the range and added more options. There are quite a few colourways I personally wouldn’t choose… but that’s just preference. I tend to gravitate toward purples, oranges, the occasional pink, and sometimes a brown.

That said, I do try to force myself out of my comfort zone now and then. I did exactly that with On The Wings of a Dragonfly, using Salted Caramel Matcha.

Swinging From the Chandelier Shawl

One ongoing issue for me is that—unless I rewind the cake first (which I always tell myself I should do, but never do)—I nearly always end up with some form of yarn barf or tangling at some point. No matter how careful I am, it always seems to find a way to misbehave.

To be fair, this isn’t exclusive to Whirl. Most fingering-weight gradient cakes seem to have the same talent for chaos.

Overall

Scheepjes Whirl is a yarn I’m very happy to work with. Projects made in Whirl often have that extra “wow” factor thanks to the slow, beautiful colour transitions.

I’ll definitely be designing more patterns using this yarn.

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Stylecraft Batik Review

Today I’m taking a close look at Stylecraft Batik DK yarn. I’ll be looking at the good and the bad, and as always, this is purely my personal opinion.

No, I have not received free yarn from Stylecraft to produce this review… but hey Stylecraft, all donations are gratefully accepted.

The Hard Facts

Tirari Dessert Flower Ruana

Composition: 20% Wool / 80% Acrylic
Construction: Fully twisted
Ball weight: 50 g
Length: 138 m
Yarn weight: DK / 8 ply
Range: Approximately 18–22 colourways (depending on availability)
Colour style: Painted / speckled effect

Links to purchase: (click here for LoveCrafts)

My Opinion

Hook Size

I typically use a 4.0 mm hook when working with this yarn, as it suits my personal tension.

The Good Stuff (AKA Why I Keep Buying It)

I’ve made a number of projects using Stylecraft Batik DK, and every time I work with it, I’m happy with the final result. It’s one of those yarns that always seems to add personality to a project.

Despite being 80% acrylic, it is surprisingly soft. The 20% wool content gives it an extra touch of warmth and quality, making it feel like a step up from many other acrylic-based yarns.

The yarn has a painted effect, with small specks of white showing through. This is more noticeable in some colours than others, but it adds to the unique look and makes the fabric visually interesting.

It’s also:

• affordable

• easy to frog (if you’re unlucky enough to need to)

• unlikely to split due to the full twist

• machine washable

• a very flexible DK weight (warm without being bulky)

The smaller 50 g balls are also a bonus—they’re easier to work from and far less likely to become a tangled disaster.

Projects I’ve Used This Yarn For

Just a Little Bit Batik Shawl/Wrap

Just A Little Bit Batik Shawl

I really let my imagination run wild with this one, and I think the results speak for themselves. This yarn creates a beautiful fabric and the colour movement gives the finished shawl a lot of depth.

Pattern link: (Click here for the pattern)

Tirari Desert Flower Ruana

This is one of my favourite projects made using Batik DK. I absolutely loved the final outcome and the overall effect created by mixing colours from the range.

I also incorporated surface slip stitch, which looks especially fabulous in this yarn. The finished piece has a lot of detail and texture, and Batik DK really enhances the colourwork beautifully.

Leadlight Blanket

This blanket is worked in the round, and at one point I had almost 100 bobbins in play.

Yes. One hundred.

I am not known for being neat or organised in these situations, so I used cardboard as bobbins. It worked… but I won’t pretend it wasn’t chaos at times.

Now, I should probably confess something.

I have a deep dislike for yarn of the green variety. I’m just not a green person.

But I decided it was time to step outside my comfort zone and made the bold choice to create this epic blanket in green/blue tones. So yes… my Leadlight Blanket contains many of the Stylecraft Batik green shades.

The blanket turned out beautifully and the yarn worked brilliantly, but I still can’t say I’ve fallen in love with the greens. Some of the blue-toned shades are quite lovely though. The sage green? I dislike it a LOT.

The Not-So-Good Stuff

Being an Aussie means that finding stockists can be a thorn in my side. This yarn isn’t available everywhere, and purchasing from overseas often means a long wait.

I would also love to see more colours in the purple variety. And I have to say… I was highly offended when they removed Plum from the range.

While this is excellent quality for a mostly acrylic yarn, and it is quite soft, there are obviously higher-quality yarns available. You’ll just pay a lot more for them.


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Hobbii Soft Alpaca Review

It’s time for a close look at Hobbii Soft Alpaca! Today I’m putting it under the microscope and taking a look at the good and the bad. As always, this is purely my personal opinion.

This page may contain links to products.

Winter Enchantress Neck Warmer

The Hard Facts

Composition: 100% Alpaca
Construction: 4 ply twist
Ball weight: 50 g
Length: 165 m
Size: DK / 8 ply
Recommended hook size: 4.0 mm
Care: Hand wash recommended

Links to purchase: (Click here for Hobbii)

My Opinion

For

This yarn is soft. Proper soft. The kind of soft that makes you rub it against your cheek like a weirdo in the yarn aisle.

Hobbii Soft Alpaca has a gentle halo (that light fuzzy look alpaca is known for), which gives finished projects a beautiful, slightly dreamy feel. It’s especially lovely for accessories like shawls, scarves, and cowls where drape and softness are the goal.

It also has a wonderful warmth without feeling heavy. Alpaca is one of those fibres that manages to be cosy while still staying light, which makes it ideal for layering pieces.

I find it works up beautifully with a 4.0 mm hook, giving a fabric that feels smooth, flexible, and comfortable against the skin.

The yarn has a nice twist, and while it does have a halo, it still feels pleasant to crochet with and doesn’t constantly split. It has enough structure to behave, without feeling stiff.

The colour range is also very wearable. These are the kinds of shades that actually suit real life, not just the fantasy version of myself who thinks she’s going to wear neon chartreuse every day.

Against

As with most alpaca yarns, this one doesn’t have the bounce and elasticity that wool does. That means it can stretch if you make something heavy or oversized, especially over time.

Because it has a halo, it’s also not the best choice if you need sharp stitch definition. Fancy textured stitches may get a little lost in the fuzz.

It’s also not a “throw it in the washing machine and hope for the best” type of yarn. Alpaca generally needs gentle treatment, so if you’re making something for a toddler, a dog, or a husband who thinks laundry is optional… you may want to reconsider.

And of course, being alpaca, it’s not a budget acrylic. It’s not outrageously expensive, but it’s definitely more of a treat yarn than an everyday workhorse.

Overall

Hobbii Soft Alpaca is a gorgeous yarn if you’re looking for softness, warmth, and beautiful drape. It’s a fantastic choice for shawls, scarves, and wearable items where comfort is the priority.

If you want crisp stitch definition or a yarn you can machine wash without fear, this probably isn’t the one. But if you want something that feels luxurious and cosy, it’s well worth considering.

Pistachio Dragonfly Scarf – A Reversible Dragonfly Design

What to Do When Gifted a Lovely Fiddlesticks Eddy Yarn Cake?

Looking at this sumptuous cake of yarn, it was inevitable that visions of dragonflies popped into my head.

I may wander off and create different patterns, play with tulle, or add floral crochet to something or other… but it never lasts long before I find myself returning to my signature dragonflies.

I wanted this design to be fully reversible, so standard post stitches simply wouldn’t do. Instead, I created my own front post/back post stitch method to keep both sides looking the same. I also didn’t want to overcomplicate this one, so the pattern was worked in a simple repeat.

Once that was sorted, I began thinking about the finishing touches. I could have added something lacey to each end, or perhaps a simple fringe, but honestly… the idea bored me to tears.

The solution was to create a new, unique fringe. Thankfully, I had the foresight to wind off some yarn at the beginning. Because I was using a slow gradient yarn, this allowed me to keep the colour flow working beautifully at both ends, and ensured the fringe edging followed the same progression.

I have to say, I really enjoyed working with this yarn. You can visit my yarn review blog page to read more about Fiddlesticks Eddy and my thoughts on it, or head to the main webpage for the Pistachio Dragonfly Scarf to see materials information and pattern details.

It’s all just a click away.

Do you like the unique fringe? Let me know in the comments!

The Right Yarn - Does it Exist

Yarn Selection: Choosing the Right Yarn for Your Crochet Project

Note: The charts in this blog post are available to download for Members of the webpage. Membership is free. Sign up on the home page.

Let’s be honest… choosing yarn should be the fun part.

But sometimes it turns into one of those moments where you’ve got twelve tabs open, three skeins in your cart, and you’re still sitting there thinking “Is this going to crochet up beautifully… or am I about to make something that feels like a dishcloth?”

Because here’s the thing: not every yarn suits every project.

You can have the most stunning stitch pattern in the world, but if the yarn choice is off, the finished piece just won’t have the look or feel you were hoping for.

So if you’ve ever wondered why one shawl looks floaty and elegant, and another one (using the same pattern!) looks stiff and awkward… it’s almost always the yarn.

Let’s go through what actually matters when choosing yarn.

Start With the Finished Look (Not the Yarn Label)

Before you even think about fibre content or hook size, ask yourself:

What do I want this project to feel like when it’s finished?

Do you want it to drape and flow?
Do you want it warm and cosy?
Do you need it to hold its shape?
Is it going to be worn on the skin, or is it more decorative?

Once you know the goal, the yarn becomes much easier to choose.

Drape: The Secret Ingredient in Beautiful Shawls and Wearables

If you’re making shawls, wraps, scarves, or anything wearable, drape matters more than almost anything else.

Drape is basically how the fabric hangs. Does it fall nicely? Does it move? Does it feel soft and elegant?

A yarn with good drape will give you that “flowy” look that makes a crochet piece feel polished and wearable.

Yarns that usually give lovely drape:

• bamboo blends

• silk blends

• alpaca

• some soft wool blends

• lightweight acrylics with a smooth finish

Yarns that tend to be more structured:

• cotton

• thick acrylic

• firm spun wool

• anything that feels stiff straight off the skein

And yes… cotton is beautiful, but if you’re making a large shawl with it, it can get heavy fast. Sometimes that’s exactly what you want. Other times, it turns your lovely floaty design into something that feels like it could double as a picnic rug.

Weather Matters (Especially Here)

I’m in Australia, so I always keep the weather in mind.

A yarn that feels perfect in winter might be completely unbearable in summer, and a light summer yarn might not give you any warmth at all when the cold hits.

For warm weather makes:

Go for breathable fibres like:

• cotton

• bamboo

• linen

• cotton blends

They’re light, airy, and won’t have you sweating after ten minutes.

For cooler weather makes:

Warm fibres are your best friend:

• wool

• alpaca

• mohair blends

• acrylic (especially for everyday wear)

And if you want warmth without bulk, mohair and alpaca blends can be magic.

Fibre Content: It Changes Everything

Fibre isn’t just about softness. It affects how the yarn behaves while you crochet, how it blocks, how it wears, and how it feels when you actually use it.

Here are the main ones most of us reach for:

Wool

Warm, springy, blocks beautifully, and gives great stitch definition. Wool is one of the best fibres for winter garments and shawls.

Cotton

Strong, breathable, great for stitch definition. Perfect for summer items, bags, home décor, and baby pieces. But it can feel heavy in larger projects.

Acrylic

Affordable, easy to wash, and comes in every colour imaginable. Acrylic is brilliant for blankets and gifts (because not everyone wants to handwash a crochet item like it’s royalty).

Bamboo / Viscose

Soft, silky, and drapey. Makes gorgeous shawls. Can be a little slippery to work with, but the results are worth it.

Alpaca

Soft and warm with beautiful drape, but it can “grow” a little over time, so it’s not always the best choice for structured fitted pieces.

Mohair

Light, fluffy, and dreamy. It adds a halo and makes everything look delicate and luxurious. Not ideal if you want crisp stitch definition, but stunning for soft wraps and airy layers.

Budget Matters (and That’s Completely Okay)

Not every project needs luxury yarn, and not every crocheter has the budget to spend $15–$30 per skein. And honestly? That’s perfectly fine.

Some of the best crochet items I’ve ever seen have been made with affordable acrylic, budget cotton, or sale yarn.

The key is simply choosing a yarn that suits the purpose of the project.

If you’re making a shawl as a special statement piece, you might choose something with a little more drape or softness. But if you’re making a blanket for everyday use, a budget-friendly yarn that washes well can be the smarter option.

There is no “wrong” yarn — only yarn that is better suited to certain projects.

Crochet should be enjoyable, not stressful, and you should never feel pressured to spend more than you’re comfortable with.

Stitch Definition: Do You Want the Pattern to Pop?

If your pattern has texture, lace, cables, or detailed motifs, you’ll want yarn that shows it off.

Smooth yarns are best for crisp stitch detail.

Fluffy yarns (like mohair) can blur everything, which can be beautiful… but it depends on the design.

So before you commit, ask yourself:

Do I want the stitchwork to be the star, or the yarn?

Because sometimes the yarn is the feature, and the stitch pattern is just along for the ride.

Yarn Weight Isn’t Always as Straightforward as It Should Be

We’ve all seen it.

Two yarns can both say “DK” or “worsted”… but one is clearly thicker, and the other is closer to sport weight.

So if you’re swapping yarn, don’t rely only on the label.

Check:

• metres per 100g (or per ball)

• recommended hook size

• how it feels compared to the yarn suggested in the pattern

And if you’re unsure, a quick swatch will tell you immediately if you’re in the right ballpark.

Think About Wear and Tear (Because Real Life Happens)

A shawl made from a delicate silk blend is gorgeous.

But if you’re making something that’s going to be worn daily, tossed on chairs, shoved in a handbag, or dragged around by kids… you need to be practical.

For everyday items, you want yarn that:

• won’t pill too quickly

• can handle washing

• doesn’t stretch out and lose shape

• feels good on the skin

This is why acrylic and acrylic blends are still so popular — they’re not “fancy”, but they are reliable.

Care Instructions: Don’t Set Yourself Up for Regret

If the yarn label says “handwash only” and you know deep down you’re not going to do that…

choose a different yarn.

Same goes for gifts. If you’re making something for someone else, you want it to be easy-care unless you know they’ll treat it gently.

Because the last thing you want is your beautiful crochet gift getting ruined in a hot wash two weeks later.

A Quick Note About Felting (Because It Happens!)

Some yarns, especially animal fibres like wool and alpaca, can felt if they’re exposed to heat, agitation, or sudden temperature changes.

Felting can happen accidentally in the washing machine (or even sometimes with rough handling), and once it happens, it’s permanent.

That doesn’t mean you should avoid these fibres — they’re beautiful to work with and often perfect for winter projects — but it does mean you’ll want to check the care instructions and treat the finished piece accordingly.

If you’re making a gift, or something that needs to be easy-care, choosing a yarn that is machine washable (or a superwash wool) can save a lot of heartbreak later.

Colour Choice Can Make or Break a Project

Colour isn’t just about what looks pretty in the skein.

Some colours show stitchwork beautifully, while others can hide it completely.

• Light colours show texture clearly

• Dark colours can hide stitch detail

• Busy variegated yarns can overpower lace or motifs

• Tonal yarns are often the sweet spot for textured patterns

If you’ve got a detailed stitch pattern, a solid or lightly tonal yarn will usually let it shine. If the stitch pattern is simple, bold colour changes can look amazing.

But colour choice is also a deeply personal part of the process. It’s just as important to choose colours that genuinely speak to you — the ones you keep coming back to because they simply feel right in your hands and in your imagination.

The main exception is when you’re creating something as a gift. In that case, the focus shifts from what sings to you, to what will resonate with the recipient. A little time spent noticing their favourite colours, clothing tones, or home style can make all the difference in creating something they’ll truly connect with — and help avoid the heartbreak of discovering the blanket you spent 200 hours making shoved in a cupboard… or worse

Swatching: I Know… But It Saves Heartbreak

I know swatching is not everyone’s idea of fun.

But it’s not just about gauge.

A swatch will tell you:

• if the fabric is stiff or drapey

• if the stitch pattern is clear

• if the yarn feels nice once it’s worked up

• if the yarn is going to stretch or sag

Even a small swatch can save you from crocheting half a project only to realise you hate the way it’s turning out.

Final Thoughts: Choose Yarn With the End Result in Mind

The best yarn choice isn’t always the prettiest yarn on the shelf.

It’s the yarn that suits:

• the drape you want

• the climate you’re making it for

• the stitch pattern

• how it will be worn or used

• and how much effort you want to put into caring for it

Once you start thinking this way, yarn shopping becomes much easier… and your finished projects will look and feel exactly the way they should.

And honestly, that’s the goal.

Because we don’t crochet just to make things…
we crochet to make things we actually want to wear and use.

Still Playing With Tulle - The Court of Quiet Mischief

Tulle + Crochet? Yes please.

I still had the bug and felt the need to play with tulle again.

Tulle often brings to mind ballet skirts, weddings, and fairies… but it really is so much more than that. And if you’re thinking of the old-style tulle with that stiff, scratchy feel, I promise this is different. Soft tulle is light, drapey, and surprisingly easy to work with — and it adds such a unique touch to crochet.

This is my second venture into using tulle alongside yarn, and I absolutely love the result.

The finished piece is a unique neck warmer collar that works up quickly and makes a real statement. It’s a super fast make and can easily be sized up or down depending on how you like the fit. Definitely one for those who love to stand out a little.

For this design, I used multiple yarns held together to create a soft, textured fabric that still feels light and wearable. That said, it could also be made using a single yarn if you prefer to simplify it.

Hooks

5 mm (H)
6 mm (J)

Yarn Notes

Yarns are held together as specified in the instructions. All yarns listed are required.

Yarn amounts are based on a 45-row neck warmer. Additional yarn will be required if you choose to make a larger size.

Materials

C1: Prestige Yarns Moseta (Kid Mohair & Silk), Colour 06/001
Lace weight
25 g / 210 m / 229.6 yd per skein
72% Kid Mohair, 28% Silk
Approx. total used (if gauge is met): 127 m / 138.8 yd

C2: Bendigo Woollen Mills Luxury 4 ply (Fingering), Colour Frost
200 g ball – 720 m / 787.4 yd
Approx. total used (if gauge is met): 101 m / 110.4 yd

C3: Patons Baby Dreamtime Merino 4 ply (Fingering), Colour Black
Approx. total used (if gauge is met): 25 m / 27.3 yd

Soft tulle: 1/4 metre / 0.27 yd

Stitch markers
Scissors
Needle and cotton thread (for adding beads)
22 x 6 mm pearl beads

If you want, I can also add a closing paragraph that gently nudges them to join the members section + grab the code, without sounding salesy.

If you’d like to grab this one with a launch day discount, make sure you’re signed up as a free member. The promo code will be posted in the Members Section on release day and will be dated, so you’ll know exactly how long you have to use it.

I’ll still send out an email to let everyone know the pattern is live, but instead of including the code in the email, you’ll need to pop over to the website and log in to access it. It’s a small change, but it helps support my website and keeps it worthwhile for me to keep designing new patterns.

And while you’re there, take a look through the free patterns too. I’m slowly giving them all a makeover and adding more as I go.

Crochet Free Downloads - Auburncraft Crochet Design Yarn Stalker Gold - Members Section

Exciting things are afoot at Auburncraft Crochet Design!

Over the past couple of months, I’ve been working quietly behind the scenes on something new — a Members Only section on my website. It’s still a work in progress, but I’m happy to say it is now officially up and running.

Introducing Auburncraft Crochet Design – Yarn Stalker Gold.

And the best part? It’s completely FREE to join.

Welcome to Yarn Stalker Gold

Members of Auburncraft Crochet Design – Yarn Stalker Gold will have access to free downloads of selected patterns, available exclusively through the members area. It’s my way of giving a little something back to those who support my work and love crochet as much as I do.

New Pattern Launch: Makin’ Daisies Bandana

To celebrate the launch of Yarn Stalker Gold, I’m also releasing a brand new design today — the Makin’ Daisies Bandana.

This cheerful little project is made from joined flower motifs and is designed to brighten up your day (and your hair!). It’s a fun and practical accessory with plenty of handmade charm, and it also makes a lovely gift.

The Makin’ Daisies Bandana has now been added to Yarn Stalker Gold as a FREE member download.

How to Get Your Free Download

Head to my website and sign up via the link on the home page, then access the members area to download your copy and view other Free downloads!

Visit: https://auburncraftcrochetdesign.com/

Auburncraft Crochet Design – Yarn Stalker Gold will grow as new FREE Downloads are added!

Makin’ Daisies is also available to purchase on Ravelry and Etsy!

Ode To A Butterfly Belt

I recently launched A Moment of Butterflies Scarf and fell in love with the delicate wave of butterflies dancing along the edge of the design. The brain cogs began to whirl, and the idea for a belt was born.

Ode to a Butterfly Belt uses the same concept, with a touch of filet crochet (Auburncraft style)* — meaning I’ve tweaked it slightly… and added a whole lot of butterflies.

The best thing about this design is that it can be made to any size by adding or subtracting butterflies. Sizes from x-small to xx-large are included in the pattern, along with the number of repeats needed to achieve them. However, the sky is the limit, and it can easily be made larger.

Due to the shape of the butterflies, the two ends that meet at the centre are not mirrored. However, the pattern is designed to accommodate this, finishing both ends with delicate beading and ties to fasten the belt. Eight beads add just the right touch of elegance to the closure, and if you feel a little hesitant about adding beads, don’t worry — I have a a walk-through in the tips section of the webpage. You’ll also find helpful tips on keeping your filet crochet neat and crisp.

This is a super-fast make at an intermediate level, and one most won’t stop at just one belt… it’s addictive.!

Using fingering weight yarn and a 3.5 mm E hook, it’s a light, delicate make that comes together quicker than you’d expect.
Be warned though… one may not be enough.
Ode to a Butterfly Belt is now available on Ravelry and Etsy.

Adding the Beads

Yarn and Tulle, Tulle and Yarn!

People with creative minds are often classified as… let’s just say different. I don’t mind the description, as I recognise that it does describe me. My mind works a little differently than most people I know — unless they happen to be creative types too, and then we have our own little padded room where we can all be different together.

Who knows what others think about when they have a moment to themselves or during a 30-minute commute. Or when dozing off to sleep late at night. My mind tends to wander to what I might create next. Lately, that train of thought has landed on tulle.

Perhaps I am longing for the days when my eldest child attended ballet classes. Although I do have to say that if I never have to watch The Nutcracker again in my life, I won’t complain. My daughter’s ballet teacher was high up in the Cecchetti ballet world and she absolutely loved The Nutcracker. I believe my daughter danced in it for the end-of-year concert at least five times. She began as a tiny fairy and, as the years passed, I had the honour of watching her dance the Tarantella.

But anyway… this brings my familiarity with tulle to the fore.

Why not use tulle with crochet?

And so I did.

Dancing With The Fae Neck Warmer was born from ideas of the magical — and more than likely from those years of watching my daughter in tutus and the wonder that brought to my life. This is a statement piece of whimsy.

The tulle is added in a similar way to fringing, so if the need to wash the piece arises it can easily be removed and replaced.

For the yarn I used some leftover Hobbii Friends Extra Soft Merino 4-ply combined with Prestige Moseta Kid Mohair and Silk 4-ply held double. This combination adds to the fae-like feel of the piece, as it is unbelievably soft.

Of course, this design needed a touch of quirk. The main body tapers wider, and the added flowers slowly grow in size. It closes with a button and long ties.

The tulle I chose has an ombré effect with small beads scattered across it. The strips were cut in a deliberately random way, while still keeping the ombré grading flowing through the fringe.

And despite how it looks, it works up surprisingly fast.

If you enjoy a design that steps a little outside the ordinary and embraces a bit of whimsy, this might just be the project for you. Sometimes the most delightful creations come from the slightly unusual ideas — and perhaps from a mind that wanders to tulle during a quiet moment.

Granny Style Filet Crochet Blanket - Where The Dragonflies Dance

Sometimes a classic stitch meets a favourite motif in just the right way. I had been thinking about combining my signature dragonflies with the humble granny stitch for a while, and finally, the idea came together in a small blanket design.

Where the Dragonflies Dance

Where the Dragonflies Dance brings the good old granny stitch together with my signature dragonflies — a combination I don’t often use, but one that had been quietly waiting in the back of my mind.

I don’t usually reach for the classic granny stitch when designing. It’s a familiar technique, so I often find myself wandering down slightly different paths. But every now and then an idea just clicks, and this was one of those times.

A few balls of Bendigo Woollen Mills Luxury 4ply had been sitting in my yarn stash, and this felt like the perfect project to put them to use. Sometimes the yarn almost seems to choose the design for you.

The pattern is built around a 12-row repeat, letting the dragonflies appear and drift across the fabric while the granny stitch provides a simple, predictable structure that’s easy to follow.

For the finishing touch, I added a bit of colour to the tulip border using more Bendigo Woollen Mills Luxury yarn that had been itching to be used. While the stitches in the border are simple, it does require concentration to keep the stitch count correct — sides 1 and 3 are a different length to sides 2 and 4, so you’ll need to pay attention as you go.

Aside from that, this pattern sits at the lower end of intermediate — possibly even leaning toward easy, which is not something I say often about my designs!

The finished blanket measures approximately 37.7 inches / 96 cm by 39.3 inches / 100 cm, a perfect size for a lap blanket, pram blanket, or just something cosy to drape over your favourite chair.

I had so much fun creating this design, and I can already imagine a version worked in rounds in the future — when time allows. If you enjoy dragonflies and like the idea of pairing them with a classic stitch, this one might just be perfect for your hook.

Head to the webpage for further information on materials and to view some of my amazing pattern testers versions of the design.

From Impulse Yarn Buy to Crochet Wrap – The Story of Violet Haze

If you enjoy crochet patterns where the yarn truly shines, Violet Haze Wrap is a wrap design that balances simplicity with a touch of Auburncraft quirkiness. Designed to highlight beautiful hand-dyed yarn, this crochet wrap features an easy repeating pattern and a playful floral border.

Violet Haze began as an impulse buy.

You know that moment when you’re scrolling through yarn sellers’ posts and you spot a yarn so luxurious that, if you could reach through the screen, nothing would stop you from giving it a really good squeeze? Then it’s like your body is taken over and you have no control. The next thing you know, that yarn is in your cart and you’re pressing the purchase now button.

And just like that, I became the proud owner of two skeins of Neon Donegal Cloud Fingering in the colour Enchanted Wisteria.

I was super pleased with my purchase and did spend a considerable amount of time staring at this lovely pile of squishiness with love in my eyes. I wanted to do this yarn justice, so the cogs in my brain began plotting a course for the next unique Auburncraft crochet design.

With this design I wanted the yarn to be the star, but it still had to have the usual Auburncraft quirkiness. The result was a simple four-row repeating pattern for the main body of the wrap and, for that added quirky factor, a border with dangling flowers.

The pattern is now available on Ravelry and Etsy.

The final product is a wrap that ticks a number of boxes:

Yarn shining through — ✓
Pattern with a simple repeat — ✓
Added quirky factor — ✓

I recommend you check out Folklore and Fibre’s bespoke style yarns.

For Information on Materials Etc, Click the main webpage link below.

The Designer The Hook and the Yarn.

The Designer, the Hook, and the Ball of Yarn
(My crochet version of the man, the boy, and the donkey)

Once upon a time there was a crochet designer (Me) who had a lovely ball of yarn (That was certainly NOT GREEN) and a shiny crochet hook. She decided she would design a beautiful pattern to share with the world.

She sat down and began.

Soon someone said,
“Why are you using that yarn? Everyone knows cotton is better.”

So she changed the yarn.

Then another voice said,
“Cotton? Oh no. Acrylic is much more practical.”

So she changed the yarn again.

She started crocheting.

Someone else said,
“That stitch is far too complicated. Beginners won’t like it.”

So she simplified the stitch.

Another person frowned and said,
“Well now it’s too basic. Experienced crocheters will be bored.”

So she made the stitch more intricate again.

She worked on the design all night.

Someone said,
“It should be a blanket.”

So she made it a blanket.

Another person said,
“Blankets take too long. People prefer quick projects.”

So she turned it into a scarf.

A third person chimed in,
“Scarves are overdone. You should make garments.”

So she tried turning it into a sweater.

By now the designer had a pile of half-finished ideas, a very confused ball of yarn, and a crochet hook that looked like it needed a lie down.

Finally an old crocheter passing by stopped and watched for a moment.

Then she said,
“My dear, if you try to crochet for everyone, you’ll never finish a single stitch.”

The designer looked at her tangled yarn, picked up her hook again, and said,

“Right then… I’m making what I like.”

And strangely enough…
once she did that, plenty of people liked it too.

Moral of the story:
In crochet design, if you try to please everyone, you’ll end up with nothing but a tangled skein and a headache.

Better to make the thing that makes your hook happy.

And the funny thing is… designing crochet has taught me far more life lessons than I ever expected.

Lesson One: Be yourself.

I don’t want to fit in a box. I don’t want to follow trends. I want to step over the lines and draw my own boundaries.

Pattern sales are wonderful when they happen — and yes, I do like eating — but more importantly I want to be proud of my designs. I want to look at them and think, that’s mine. In my mind I occasionally picture them on a catwalk somewhere… which may or may not involve models dramatically swishing around in very complicated shawls.

A designer can dream.

Lesson Two: Everything annoys someone.

That’s actually a quote from Ricky Gervais, and I suspect he knows what he’s talking about.

If you are not annoying someone, you are probably sitting alone in a room talking to yourself.

You can spend hours making a short video to show off a design. Lighting, angles, editing… the works. Someone will give it a thumbs-down. Why? Who knows. Maybe they hate the colour. Maybe they hate crochet. Maybe they hate Tuesdays.

Someone, somewhere, will take offence at something you do.

In fact, there is probably someone annoyed right now that I quoted Ricky Gervais.

Lesson Three: I am not nearly as clever as I think I am.

Send a pattern to testers and you will very quickly discover the glaringly obvious mistake you somehow managed to overlook.

The one that you read past seventeen times.

Testing is always a humbling experience.

There are designers who say, “Oh, I don’t need testers. I checked the pattern myself.”

Well… good for them.

Personally, I need my testers. They check my maths, my instructions, my sanity, and occasionally my eyesight. They also provide a healthy and regular reminder that I am, in fact, human.

Lesson Four: Crochet skill levels are… flexible.

One person’s intermediate is another person’s advanced. Everyone learns at their own pace and their own level, and that is perfectly fine.

But if you see the word intermediate, it usually means there may be a few slightly tricky bits involved.

Interestingly, it is often the people who are “advanced” — “I have been crocheting for fiiiiiiifty years” — who believe there must be an error or that the pattern should have been written differently.

How do I know they’ve been crocheting for fifty years?

Because that is usually the opening sentence of their message.

I am occasionally tempted to reply,
“Wow… you must be very tired.”

Lesson Five: Humour helps.

If you design long enough you will make mistakes, someone will dislike your work, someone will misunderstand your instructions, and someone will absolutely insist their way of crocheting is the only correct way.

If you can’t laugh a little, you probably won’t last very long.

And perhaps the real lesson is this:

Designing is a strange mix of creativity, stubbornness, problem-solving, and the occasional small crisis involving stitch counts.

But it is also incredibly satisfying to turn a ball of yarn into something that didn’t exist before — and then see someone else in the world make it with their own hands.

That part never gets old.

So I will keep designing.
My testers will keep finding my mistakes.
Someone will keep telling me they’ve been crocheting for fifty years.

And somewhere out there, hopefully, someone will be enjoying the process of making something beautiful from my design.

Which, when you think about it, is the whole point.

Find my patterns on Etsy and Ravelry.

Why I Love Filet Crochet?

Why I Love Filet Crochet

(And Why You Might Too!)

If you're looking for techniques and tips, be sure to check out my post: Filet Crochet: Keeping it Neat!

What Is Filet Crochet, Anyway?

The word filet is French for "net"—or so I’m told! It gets its name from the open squares that resemble the mesh of a net. Simple, structured, and surprisingly elegant, filet crochet has a charm all its own.

Historically, filet crochet evolved from traditional lace-making techniques in Europe, particularly in France and Italy. It was often used to create delicate curtains, tablecloths, and samplers with decorative motifs—flowers, birds, and monograms were all popular. Though it may look fancy, filet is usually made with basic stitches, giving it a lovely blend of accessibility and sophistication.

But Why Choose Filet Crochet?

Others may have their own opinions, but here’s mine!

After reflecting on why so many of my designs lean toward the filet technique, I realised it comes down to a few simple reasons:

Why I Love Filet Crochet

(And Why You Might Too!)

If you're looking for techniques and tips, be sure to check out my post: Filet Crochet: Keeping it Neat!

What Is Filet Crochet, Anyway?

The word filet is French for “net”—or so I’m told! It gets its name from the open squares that resemble the mesh of a fishing net. Simple, structured, and surprisingly elegant, filet crochet has a charm all its own.

Historically, filet crochet evolved from traditional lace-making techniques in Europe, particularly in France and Italy. It was often used to create delicate curtains, tablecloths, and decorative samplers. Popular motifs included flowers, birds, and monograms. Though it may look intricate, filet crochet is usually made using very basic stitches, which gives it a wonderful balance of accessibility and sophistication.

Filet crochet is also a technique that works beautifully for creating pictures and motifs. By arranging open and filled blocks in a grid, you can form shapes, patterns, and even detailed images.

But Why Choose Filet Crochet?

Others may have their own opinions, but here’s mine.

After reflecting on why so many of my designs lean toward the filet technique, I realised it comes down to a few simple reasons.

1. I’m not overly keen on constantly swapping yarn colours.
Let’s face it—changing colours every few stitches can get a bit fiddly.

2. While sewing in lots of ends doesn’t completely bother me…
…it’s still not my favourite way to spend my crafting time. Less ends = more joy!

3. Filet crochet is incredibly versatile.
You can create something simple and sweet, or craft a masterpiece that spans a wall. Often, even large and intricate pieces use only basic stitches—but it’s the arrangement of open and filled blocks that creates the magic.

4. It can be wonderfully technical—if you want it to be.
Working with detailed images or complex motifs means every open block matters. A single square in the wrong spot can throw off the whole design. That challenge? I absolutely love it.

5. It’s rhythmic and relaxing.
Once you settle into the pattern of open and solid blocks, the work becomes wonderfully meditative. It’s the sort of crochet that lets you relax while still keeping your mind gently engaged.

6. Most of all, I simply enjoy it.
And that, I believe, is what it’s really all about. You need to enjoy what you’re making. For me, filet crochet just feels right.

Testing the Boundaries of Filet Crochet

Filet crochet is often thought of as neat rows of boxes worked in a fairly regimented way. But I rather enjoy testing those boundaries.

One of my recent designs, A Moment of Butterflies Scarf, does just that. While designing the filet pattern for the scarf itself, I wanted the filled blocks within the design to really stand out. After several attempts, the pattern still wasn’t giving me the effect I was looking for—the solid blocks simply weren’t popping the way I wanted them to.

So I experimented a little.

Instead of using the traditional solid filet block, I replaced it with a Dc3tog (US). That small change added a little texture and created the visual pop I was after within the scarf pattern.

The butterflies themselves hang from the edge of the scarf, but the textured blocks within the filet design help give the overall piece a bit more depth and interest.

It does require just a little extra concentration while crocheting, but that small adjustment helped bring the design to life and satisfied my love of creating something a little different.

A Moment of Butterflies

If you're curious to see how it worked out, you can take a look at A Moment of Butterflies Scarf here.

My Favourite Tools & Yarn for Filet Crochet

When working in filet crochet, I typically use a 3.5 mm hook and either 4 ply (fingering weight) or 8 ply (DK weight) yarn, depending on the project.

I especially enjoy working with cotton. It’s crisp, has great stitch definition, and holds its shape beautifully—perfect for showing off those clean filet blocks.

One of my absolute favourites is cotton from Bendigo Woollen Mills. It’s smooth, strong, and ideal for projects where you want the stitches to really stand out. If you haven’t tried it yet, I highly recommend giving it a go.

Of course, I dabble in other crochet styles too—but I always find myself coming back to filet. There’s something so satisfying, so meditative, and so beautiful about working in this technique.

Do you enjoy filet crochet too? Or are you tempted to try it for the first time? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

Check out some of my Filet Designs. Patterns are available for all of them on Ravelry and Etsy.

If Yarn Had Feelings — A Lighthearted Look Inside the Stash

If Yarn Had Feelings

Do you have a yarn stash that, when unravelled, could wrap around the earth multiple times and still have a bit left over to create a nice hat with matching mittens?

Let’s be honest — we all have a yarn stash that’s slightly out of control (some of us more than slightly). And sometimes, when you open that cupboard or tub, the judgment coming from inside is epic.

So I got to thinking… what if yarn actually had feelings?

That Fancy Merino — Bought for a Special Project

"I’m still in the drawer? I see you’re still waiting for the ‘perfect idea’ again?"

This one lives in the “too nice to mess with” pile. You take it out, pat it, sigh a bit, give it a cuddle, and put it right back again like some kind of pet. A very expensive, squishy pet.

That Giant Acrylic Cake From That Time There Was a Sale

"You don’t love me. You settled for me. You needed comfort yarn in lockdown and I was available. I remember."

The poor dear! It’s not glamorous, and it’s had a hard life. It was once a half-made scarf, resulting in a tension disaster. A brief moment as a corner-to-corner that was just not right. One day you’ll use it up on a charity blanket and we’ll all pretend none of that ever happened.

The Black Yarn

"Here we go again. You treat me like a gremlin. Once the sun goes down I’m just a problem. I can’t help it if I need a tiny hook."

This yarn is simply yummy — but it’s a menace after sunset. You can’t see a thing, and you want to use this beauty but are just not quite brave enough. The trauma is real!

That Gradient Yarn

"Oh look, it’s time for my weekly Instagram photoshoot. I’m thrilled. Still not a scarf, though, am I?"

This is the star of your shelf. The elite one that lords over all in the stash. The one you keep petting but can’t commit to. You need a project of epic proportions to do justice to this one, so instead it gets admired like yarn royalty, but never used.

That Weird Scratchy Ball You Inherited

"You don’t know what I’m made of. I don’t know what I’m made of. But here we are, together forever, and I am stuck in this forgotten basket."

The label for this one disappeared eons ago. It kind of feels like sandpaper. Smells faintly like someone's Nan's cupboard. You don’t want to use it, but you don’t want to throw it out. Because what if it’s alpaca? It’s probably not. But still.

That Hand-Dyed Indie Skein You Were “Saving”

"One wrong stitch and I will tangle like your life depends on it."

This one came from a market. Or a small-batch Etsy seller. Or someone who dyes yarn in their kitchen with beetroot and moss. You only have one skein. Not enough to make a blanket, or really anything much. But it’s so lovely.

That Basket of Tiny Leftovers

"We are here and will one day be a beautiful scrap blanket or a very questionable art piece. Won’t we!"

Remains of blankets past. Little balls that refuse to be thrown away because “they might be useful.” One day you’ll use them. That day is not today.

Finally…

The yarn needs love. It just wants to be chosen, turned into something soft and snuggly, and maybe shown off a little. And if it doesn’t get what it wants — well, it will continue to judge you from the corner of the room. Quietly. Constantly

Intricate Filet Blanket with Texture - Dragonfly Citadel Blanket

Yes… another dragonfly design.

Dragonflies are the heart of my signature style. Although I design many pieces without them, I always seem to wander back to where it all began — dragonflies.

My latest blanket, Dragonfly Citadel, is worked in a hexagon shape. Filet crochet is paired with post stitches and popcorns to create depth and texture. At the centre, a six-point star edged with post stitches radiates outward, encircled by watchful dragonflies and diamond-shaped turrets. A second ring follows, then the palisade walls, and finally a scalloped edge — the last line of defence.

The stitches are mostly basic, but there is no obvious repeat, and the placement of post stitches requires attention. The centre section does include a repeat to help establish the pattern.

Two YarnArt Flowers cakes were alternated throughout for a smooth, continuous colour flow.

The pattern is available on Ravelry and Etsy.

Visit the webpage for materials, sizing and to view pattern testers makes. View more of the blanket on Youtube.

Crochet Tournament 2026

This year has seen the design team — myself and CEO Stella — hit the ground running, with ideas and designs flying everywhere.

2026 is shaping up to be fast and furious, with a strong design focus that actually began six months ago when I was invited to be a featured designer for the upcoming Crochet Tournament 2026.

As one of the three Australian designers involved, I’ve had a first-hand look at the beautiful designs participants will get to create throughout the tournament.

Have a read about it below — registration opens today.

—————————————————————————————-

Winter is nearly here, and the Crochet Tournament 2026 is your chance to get cosy. This year’s challenge is all about creating wearable, warming accessories that will see you through the cold months. Join in, connect with others, and craft your own winter-ready collection.

The aim of the tournament is for you to have a fun, challenging and inspiring time.  We all want you to grow as crocheters and learn new stitches and techniques. 

As in previous years, there are two streams – a beginner (newbie) designed for those new to crochet or with basic crochet skills and an intermediate (competent).

Each stream will have a prize for each project (stage)  and there is an overall prize for each stream that everyone who completes all stages by the final date will be eligible for.  

All you have to do is complete each stage in time, and submit a photo within the time frame and you go into the draw to win some fabulous prizes.

In both streams, the stages progressively get a little more difficult and challenging, helping you to grow and learn new stitches and techniques.  If you are new to crochet, please only sign up for the beginner/easy stream, and give yourself time to learn, both before and during the tournament.

All designs have been prepared by Australian designers and will be written in both US and UK terminology.

The tournament will begin April 1st and for each stage you will have 4 weeks to complete the project and submit your photo.

See all the details and register for your chance to wrap up warm this winter

A Moment of Butterflies Scarf

Catching a glimpse of a butterfly going about its day, always lifts the spirits.

A leftover cake of yarn. Summer. Butterflies. Somehow it all just flowed together.

My new design, A Moment of Butterflies Scarf, has quickly become my new favourite.

I spent forever and a day getting this one just right. At first glance it looks like a filet design — but it has quirks. I wanted the pattern in the main body to really show and be unmistakable. After many attempts (well over ten), it became clear that a standard block-style filet just wasn’t going to cut it.

So this design breaks the rules a little. It uses a mix of larger and smaller filet spaces to make the pattern stand out, and while there is an eight-row repeat, you’ll definitely want your thinking cap firmly in place when it comes to stitch placement.

The butterflies are worked as you go, not added on later. This involves turning the work and crocheting down the side of the scarf for certain rows — a little different, but very satisfying once it clicks.

Yes, it’s a bit challenging. But it’s also wonderfully addictive once you find the rhythm. I have no doubt you’ll fall in love with it just as much as I have.

As always, the pattern has been thoroughly tested by my dedicated team of testers.

For yarn choice, most fingering-weight yarns will work well. Avoid anything with a fuzz factor — I did try, and the pattern simply disappears. Very busy yarns are best avoided too, as they hide the details. Ombre yarns, on the other hand, look absolutely stunning.

This pattern is available on Ravelry and Etsy.

Crochet Designing is Soooo.. Easy!

Crochet design is so easy!

I tell you, the money just rolls in and the patterns practically write themselves whilst I live in lazy luxury.

…said no crochet designer I’ve ever met. This, of course, is something no crochet designer has ever actually said. At least not one who is still conscious and not laughing hysterically.

A look at the last month (aka: the glamour)

The past month involved four patterns in testing, which is exactly as relaxing and effortless as it sounds.

Fortunately, I have some truly excellent pattern testers. They know me well now — my strengths, my weaknesses, and the small but significant detail that I sometimes cannot count. They also know that if something is glaringly obvious, there is a very real chance I will stare directly at it and still not see it.

They’ve learned that the only effective solution is persistent nagging until my brain finally connects the dots. This is an essential part of the process, because no one wants an error in a pattern. Let one slip through and, based on experience, the resulting fallout rivals Days of Our Lives.

The designer is then sentenced to emotional distress via bad reviews.
This sentence is not recommended.

Two new wraps and the fuzz factor

Over the past few weeks (months, really), I’ve been designing two new scarf/wrap patterns. My hope — as always — is that the written patterns will be clear, easy to follow, and not induce rage. I truly want my customers to love what they create from them.

Designing began with the purchase of some luxury yarn featuring a generous fuzz factor.

The first design was attempted with this yarn. Getting a design to work perfectly is usually a matter of trial and error — and this one involved a lot of trial and a lot of error. Fuzzy yarn is deeply disagreeable to frogging
(frogging: the slow unravelling of your hopes and dreams).

Frogging fuzzy yarn involves frustration, tears, swearing, and a deep questioning of your life choices. This design went through 15+ attempts before it finally worked — only to reveal that the beautiful stitch pattern was completely lost to the fuzz.

So naturally, I frogged it again.

A different yarn was used, the design finally behaved itself, and the fuzzy yarn was placed in time-out to think about what it had done.

Giving the fuzz a second chance

The second wrap was designed specifically for the fuzzy yarn, because it really was too pretty to ignore. I tried to keep the stitch pattern simple to reduce the risk of further emotional damage, but some frogging was still unavoidable.

This required intense concentration, excellent lighting, a fine darning needle to tease fibres apart, and an amount of patience that I simply did not possess.

At this point, I began sourcing patience elsewhere.

Please sir, do you have any patience? I’ll take everything you’ve got. Quickly.

Meanwhile, in testing…

While I was frogging my way through existence, my pattern testers were calmly working through designs in testing — sending corrections, clarifications, and occasionally suggesting I sit quietly in a corner and think about my decisions.

Add to this customer support: helping those who genuinely needed assistance, and navigating the occasional customer who, after one hour, decided the special stitch was impossible, didn’t ask for help, and concluded the pattern was “rubbish”.

Naturally, this resulted in a one-star review.
Offers of help were made.
The customer vanished and attempts of help ignored.
The star remained.

The good bits (yes, there are good bits)

There were lovely moments too. Messages from customers who enjoyed the pattern, thoughtful reviews, kind words. These are the moments to hold onto — especially when the crochet champions reappear demanding blood because the pattern isn’t written in French, doesn’t include a full video tutorial, or is simply above their current skill level and apparently hurts their brain — their review said so.

But yes.
Crochet design is very easy.
Anyone can do it.
And the millions just roll right in.

(Choke. Chortle.)

Stay tuned for new designs. Several will launch very soon. Subscribe to receive launch day discount codes!

Stepping into 2026

Some of the designs created in 2025

Every new year starts the same way. Bold declarations are made. Bad habits are banished. Someone, somewhere, buys a planner.

And suddenly, 2026 is here. How did that even happen? I feel like I only just turned around after celebrating the Millennium, wondering whether the Y2K bug would destroy life as we know it or not. That slightly unhinged, end-of-the-world-but-make-it-digital vibe. And yet… here we are. 2026, somehow still standing.

It really makes no difference what declaration I make on New Year’s Eve — I know I am not going to change. I won’t use that planner purchased with intent. I won’t complete every crochet project I begin. The one shoved in the corner and glaring at me every time I enter the room will continue to judge me in silence. I won’t resist the urge to purchase that really nice yarn I don’t need but absolutely might need later. And the one thing I am absolutely certain of is that, as a designer, I won’t please everyone — no matter how much effort, experience, or care goes into the work.

My year ended with a four-star review on Etsy from a buyer who loved the pattern but, for some reason, found the written instructions in this much-loved design (with dozens of five-star reviews) hurt their head. The graph, however, was great. Just as well I spent hours upon hours not only writing the “offending” words, but also painstakingly drawing a usable chart. A progress photo was included, and the project looked like it was coming along nicely. Short of offering to crochet the piece myself for the buyer — in their chosen yarn, size, and preferred tension — there really was no point worrying about it.

I know the pattern is well written and clearly marked as intermediate level. So what can a person do? I looked at that review — which wasn’t awful, but… meh, it could certainly have been better — and realised it summed up 2025 rather well. A year of effort, learning, persistence, and the occasional quiet sigh. It could have been better.

Do I expect 2026 to be better, stronger, kinder? One can only hope — but it would be unwise to hold one’s breath. Experience suggests optimism is best served with a side of realism and a good cup of tea.

As I head into 2026, I will do my best to continue creating usable patterns of unique pieces. They will, no doubt, remain intermediate level — because that’s where I enjoy designing, and where creativity still feels like a challenge rather than a checklist. I will savour the kind reviews people leave and, just as surely, feel a little miserable over the lesser ones that pop up from time to time, even though I know better.

The biggest thing to remember is this: while a new year may have begun, renewal does not require becoming a completely different person. And in crochet terms, not every project needs to be finished. Some are lessons. Some are experiments. Some are simply there to remind us where we were at the time. If others do not appreciate the skill, time, and effort that go into crochet — whether as a gift or as a design — that does not make me less.

Crochet is different for every individual. Some people love fast projects and instant gratification. Others enjoy charts, challenges, and complexity. Neither is wrong.

For me, I enjoy creating more complex designs, while also finding that the repetition of crochet helps focus the mind on other things. The quiet counting, the reworking of a design, the problem-solving when something doesn’t quite sit right — it’s a challenge I love to immerse myself in, even when it tests my patience.

My hopes for 2026

To create some amazing designs.
That people will be courteous and thoughtful when leaving reviews.
That there will be some appreciation for the many hours spent creating workable patterns.

And mostly, that people remember that behind every pattern is a real person — thinking, adjusting, counting, frogging, and doing their best.

Designed with care, tested with love, and unmistakably me — 100% Auburncraft.

Auburncraft Crochet Design The Year That Was

2025 has certainly been an interesting year.
A year full of challenges — the sort that arrive uninvited — yet somehow the creativity kept going. Even with everything happening around me, I still managed to create 17 new designs. From smaller blankets to doilies and scarves, to a few projects that seriously tested my patience, the hooks kept moving in a blur of creativity.

The pattern test resort (also known as the basement) has been permanently at capacity, staffed by my hardworking testers and fuelled, of course, by quality porridge and the customary daily hour of downtime. I’m sure I test their patience more often than I should, but they keep signing on — so I must be doing something right. Or maybe they just really love porridge. It is top-shelf stuff, with only a few weevils in it.

My latest release was epic! As often happens when I design, an idea morphs as I go, and this one did exactly that — growing into a very large blanket, the kind that quietly expands until you suddenly realise it spans a king-sized bed. The initial aim was to use up my yarn stash, but that idea quickly went by the wayside when, of course, there wasn’t enough. And if this was going to be in rainbow colours, I simply had to have yellow — and I couldn’t possibly leave orange out. I suppose I shall have to add Greeeeeeeeeeen. Vomit!

In the end, it was worth all the work, even the addition of the dreaded Greeeeeeeeeeen, and watching it come together reminded me why I love designing in the first place.

This year also pushed me into something new: videos.
I’ve started making a few very basic clips for parts of my patterns that people often need help with. I cannot imagine myself ever doing full tutorials — that’s not who I am — but small, simple steps feel manageable. My little YouTube channel is growing slowly, and I’m genuinely grateful for everyone who watches, subscribes, or just presses the thumbs-up button.

Small moments — like seeing one of my designs proudly shown off by a maker, gifted to someone special, or featured by a company such as LoveCrafts — always put a smile on my face. They might seem like small things, but they’re big for me and a quiet reminder of why I love doing what I do.

Of course, the landscape has shifted this year too.
With AI-generated content popping up everywhere, the number of scams has exploded. People selling patterns that don’t work, designs stolen, photos misused, and items that look pretty on screen but are impossible to crochet in real life. Add in the ongoing juggling act of keeping customers happy. And of course, there’s always that sting of a less-than-stellar review from someone who never even asked for help. It’s added a whole extra layer of frustration and worry — and I suspect things will not change in the future. As for the AI, it’s something we’ll all be dealing with even more in the years ahead. It’s made me even more determined to create work that’s tested, trusted, and genuinely mine.

Looking towards 2026, there’s plenty more coming.

Next year I’ll be taking part in at least one event in collaboration with a local yarn store. I was also invited to a much larger convention here in Australia. It was an honour to be asked, but I decided to decline — I’m simply not a front-of-house person. Put me behind the hook, behind the scenes, and I’m perfectly happy. Put me in front of a hall full of people and that’s a very firm “no, thank you.” I love sharing my work and I’m more than happy to join in, as long as it can be done from behind the scenes. But ask me to be a keynote speaker and that’s just not going to happen

Several designs are already in testing, and there’s a long list waiting in the design queue. Expect more texture, more unexpected details, more flowers worked in… and yes, more dragonflies, always.

Latest Release

Pantone Colour of the Year 2026 - Cloud Dancer - REALLY?

Do you ever find yourself longing to step back in time?

Because honestly, I’m feeling an almost gravitational pull dragging me back to 2023. The Pantone Colour Institute — in all their infinite wisdom — has me diving head-first into my time capsule and hurtling down the Time Tunnel straight to the glorious days of Viva Magenta (PANTONE 18-1750).

Ah yes. 2023. A very good year. But let’s be real: any year dipped in a shade of purple is automatically superior. It’s scientific.

And then… we arrive at 2026.
Pantone steps forward and triumphantly announces PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer — an off white so off it makes you wonder if the colour-picking committee spent their afternoon locked in a padded room and thought, “Hey, this looks familiar.”

I can already see people begging for colour — any colour (okay, maybe not green). Honestly, it would take one rebellious flick of a brush dipped in purple, orange, pink, or yellow to “accidentally” fall into the tin of off white. Just a tiny sabotage. For the greater good.

Picture the big Pantone board meeting:
“Alright team, 2026. What sums up the mood?”
A chorus of architects and interior designers replies,
“I know! Let’s go with a noiiiiice off white. It’ll be fab-u-lous.”
Of course it will. Everything white is fabulous, darling.

But wait — the meaning of off white:
Purity. Innocence. Cleanliness.
Also… death and sadness.
Perfect. A colour for every occasion.

White makes spaces feel bigger, they claim.
Maybe that’s the grand plan for 2026: make the year look large and airy so no one notices how truly rotten 2025 has been. Clever.

“Let’s call it Cloud Dancer,” they say.
Because clouds are famously known for their structure and reliability.

So here we are, marching boldly (or reluctantly) toward 2026 with an off-white energy — a blank canvas for literally anything more interesting to land on it.

Bring on 2027 — and please, Pantone, anything but greeeeennnnnnnn. Well maybe not ANYTHING!