Hooray summer has arrived!  Well, it is sunny at the moment but no doubt rain is not to far away!  Now is the time to put all your scarf, jumper and mitten patterns away and knit/crochet something lighter and a bit more summery.   If you haven’t yet tried out one of our free patterns now is a great time to get started.  The Flirt Napkin Skirt from Yarnplay at Home by Lisa Shobhana Mason’s is a quirky, quick and easy project and will make a great addition to your outdoor dinning set.  You can use any colour so why not go for bright pink or yellow to brighten things up.

If you are after a bigger project try knitting or crocheting a picnic blanket, it is a great thing to have in the boot of your car and take out with you on day trips.  You can make it as big or as small as you like and in any pattern or colour.  The easiest way to knit or crochet a blanket is to work in squares and there are 2 great books full of different patterns for inspiration.  200 Knitted Blocks and 200 Crochet Blocks both by Jan Eaton.

Each book features 200 beautiful block designs with instructions on different ways of joining them to make blankets and throws that are both functional and decorative.  All stitches and techniques are clearly explained with step-by-step illustrations, from working in rows and in the round to joining blocks and making figures. At-a-glance symbols denote the methods used and level of difficulty, so both new and experienced crafters can easily create a crochet/knitted masterpiece.

Enjoy the weather!

Marie