MAY NEWSLETTER

Hello, my friends! I’m so glad you’re here. In today’s newsletter, I’ll be sharing why it’s sometimes a good idea to step away from crochet for a bit—and what I’ll be working on during my own little break. You’ll also get an update on my marled yarn experiment, a sneak peek at the First Bloom Blanket, and a look at a stunning Double Wedding Ring Blanket made by Michelle Burke.

This newsletter contains links to outside products and websites, but they are for informational purposes only. I am not affiliated with these companies, and I do not receive any compensation when you make a purchase.

Switch Things Up to Keep Your Hands (and Crojo) Healthy

Whenever my hands are tired or inspiration has left me, I find it helps to take a break from crochet and spend a little time with another craft. In addition to crochet, I enjoy knitting, embroidery, sewing, and painting. Taking little breaks to try something different can be beneficial in a few key ways.

Physical Benefits

Because different crafts use different muscle groups, switching things up now and again helps prevent my hands and forearms from getting overworked. It’s a gentle way to give my body a break while still being creative.

Mental Refresh

Trying another craft gives me a fresh perspective on crochet. Whenever I pick up my knitting needles, for instance, I’m reminded what it feels like to be a beginner again—and how nice it can be to have detailed instructions to follow. Giving my “crochet brain” a rest often helps my crochet inspiration return. Sometimes, that’s all I need to get my “crojo” (crochet mojo) flowing again.

A Vacation Project

Maybe that’s why I’ve been craving some time with my knitting needles lately. I almost always have a new crochet pattern in the works, so I don’t usually have time to knit or crochet just for myself. But this month, I’ll be taking a little vacation, and I’d love to bring a simple knitting project along.

The Patterns Calling My Name

I’ve had my eye on a few knitting patterns lately. The Wave Tee by PetiteKnit keeps popping up, and I love the look—plus, bulky yarn means it would knit up fast. The SABAI and Thea tops by Susanne Müller are classic and stylish. And I’ve always admired Yumiko Alexander’s designs—her new Hourglass top looks so elegant.

They’re all tempting, but in the end, I chose the SABAI Top. It’s a sleeveless, top-down knit with simple stitches and shaping. The pattern includes two versions: one with ribbing and one in plain stockinette. While I love the ribbing, I’m choosing the plain design and looking forward to that relaxing stretch where you just knit in the round below the armholes.

Knitting Without Looking?

I can already picture myself stitching away as we drive, watching the scenery fly by. It’s funny—after fifteen years of daily crochet, I still can’t crochet without looking. But knitting? Somehow, even with less practice, I can do it almost by feel. My crochet side feels a little jealous!

The Yarn & the Vision

For my SABAI Top, I’m using yarn already in my stash: Lana Grossa Linea Pura Solo Lino in the shade 31 Grau—a lovely gray-purple. Someday I might try the ribbed version too; for that, I think I’d choose a lighter color to highlight the texture.

Rest, Recharge, and Return

Hopefully, I’ll come back from my trip refreshed, rejuvenated, and full of new crochet inspiration—ready to dive into fresh designs. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll have a new knit top to share with you in next month’s newsletter!

New Pattern Coming Soon! Get Ready for the First Bloom Blanket

I’m pleased to introduce the First Bloom Blanket. It’s the first blanket I’ve ever designed that’s worked entirely in the round. There are times when I enjoy having a motif-based project, especially when I’m traveling. And there are times when it’s fun to work in rows, but every so often, I really enjoy a project that’s worked in the round. There’s something soothing about finishing each round and watching the blanket grow.

The First Bloom Blanket features elegant lace stitches that evoke the gentle awakening of spring. A delicate eyelet pattern, created with fans and simple decreases, forms a soft backdrop, while bands of flowers made with clusters add a decorative touch.

So that it can be used for a variety of purposes, I designed this blanket with instructions for seven sizes—from a lovey to a blanket large enough for a queen-sized bed. Each size is thoughtfully designed to end with a floral border, so no matter which size you choose, the result will be beautiful. In a white cotton, this would make a lovely christening blanket.

This is a mindful make with simple, repetitive stitches—engaging enough to hold your attention, but soothing enough for relaxed stitching. It’s the perfect companion for quiet mornings and a warm cup of your favorite brew.

Stay tuned! This pattern will be available later this month.

Experimenting with Marled Yarn Part 2

My experiment with my marled yarn from Julie Spins continues. This is a fingering weight yarn made with 80% superwash merino and 20% nylon, and the black-and-white colorway I’m using is aptly called Newsprint. When we last left off, I shared with you an experiment I tried by holding the yarn double with various brightly colored shades of Hedgehog Fibres sock. See the March newsletter (scroll down to “Experimenting with Marled Yarn”).

In that experiment, I stitched the sample using double crochet. I have a feeling that the height of my stitches might be what’s creating the cow print that I’m so desperate to get away from. So this month, I’ve decided to try out this yarn with patterns using shorter stitches—in particular, single crochet and half double crochet. Here are the swatches I created.

Each of these swatches was worked with approximately 20 stitches. The single crochet swatch was worked with a D/3.25 mm hook. The rest were worked with a G/4.00m hook.

Single Crochet

Plain single crochet created an interesting and pleasant stripe pattern.

Single Crochet in the Back Loop Only

Working in the back loop breaks up the color changes so that the stripes are a little less obvious.

Half Double Crochet in the 3rd Loop Only

Isn’t this interesting? I had no idea what to expect from this swatch, but I’m pleasantly surprised. If I were inclined to do some planned pooling so that the ribs are consistently displayed in white against the marled black background, I think this could make a cool fabric.

Linen (Moss) Stitch

As expected, linen stitch (also often referred to as moss or seed stitch) is a clear winner. Working into the chain spaces between single crochet stitches creates an even distribution of the colors. This is the reason that linen stitch is a popular choice for variegated yarns.

Double Crochet V-Stitch

I got a little tired of working with short stitches, so I allowed myself to veer off course and make a double crochet swatch. I’ve used V-stitches with variegated yarns in the past, and I was curious to see what it would look like with this marled yarn. Even though I think it’s softer than the cow print I was getting with straight double crochet, it’s still a little too splotchy for me.

What I Learned

If I had to choose a stitch pattern to use with this yarn today, I would probably choose Linen Stitch. The even distribution and lovely drape that this stitch is known for make it an easy choice. But something inside me just isn’t satisfied with that solution. This beautiful hand-dyed yarn deserves a more thoughtful and deliberate treatment.

In these early experiments with this yarn, it seems I failed to consider the length of the color changes, which is perhaps one of the most important aspects of working with partially marled or variegated yarns.

As I mentioned, the Julie Spins yarn I’m using is hand-dyed, so I wasn’t expecting the color changes to be exact. Taking a few measurements confirmed that the color changes are indeed inconsistently spaced. The marled sections are roughly 22 inches (56 cm) long, while the white sections are 39 inches (99 cm) long, plus or minus 4 inches (10 cm).

For my next experiment, I think I’ll work with the yarn instead of trying to get it to bend to my will. In other words, I’ll try to find (or invent!) a stitch pattern that works with the length of these color changes. Join me next time to see what I come up with.

Extra! Extra! Look Who’s on the Cover!

I was so excited to discover that my design for the summer issue of Crochet World landed on the cover. The Prairie Flower Market Bag is made with super fine (fingering) weight cotton. The specific yarn I used is Eulali from Omega in #22 beige.

What I enjoyed most about creating this design was working with the bold lace diamonds around the body of the bag. They’re such an eye-catching detail. After the body is complete, the pattern shifts to a shell eyelet stitch for the top edge and strap. The left and right sides of the strap are worked with simple decreases at the beginning and ends of rows to achieve just the right shape. Finally, the two ends of the strap are joined with single crochet, and a single crochet edging is added.

This unique and striking bag is as beautiful as it is versatile—perfect for summer trips to the market! The summer issue is out now—pick up your copy today.

Coming Soon: May’s Special Features

• New Stitch Tutorial: Spike Extended Double Crochet

• FAQ: How should I care for my crochet produce bags?

• New Pattern: First Bloom Blanket

• Behind the Scenes: Designing a Simple but Satisfying Triangle Shawl

Maker Spotlight

Double Wedding Ring Blanket by Michelle Burke

Michelle has crocheted a lovely and unique Double Wedding Ring Blanket that I’ve been dying to share with you. I love how she used five different colors to give it a quilt-inspired look.

Etsy Review from Michelle: “After I got the hang of it, it was easy to work. Took a couple tries on my first square. I found the written instructions easier to follow than the pictures. I also chose not to JAYG. I changed up the color scheme a little to have more of a ‘quilted’ look and added a wider border. It is on a queen size bed for reference. I made it 7X8. It is a wedding gift for a friend’s son.”

Over the years, I’ve only seen a few crocheters brave enough to introduce color into this design. Between the construction and the intricate lace and raised stitch pattern, it can be a bit tricky. But Michelle has used color in a really smart way here and the effect is mesmerizing. I love that I can still make out the raised ring design, but every time I look at it, the colors guide me to a different detail. I also love the special border she added. To me, the whole blanket works in harmony.

Nice job, Michelle! The happy couple is sure to treasure this lovely blanket.

How to Share Your Projects

I always enjoy seeing what you make with my patterns and I love showing off your work! If you would like for your work to be featured in a future newsletter, email your project photos to Jennifer at crochet@JenniferOlivarez.com.

Or create a project on Ravelry: Share your project photos, yarn used, details, and more!

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Having you in my crochet circle means so much to me. This newsletter is sent on the first Friday of the month. Additional special mailings are sent each Friday after that, featuring new patterns, new stitch tutorials, tips and tricks, hot topics in the yarn industry, book and yarn reviews, and a peek into my design process. But I’ll only send you crochet content that I think you will enjoy. In the meantime, you can contact me by replying to this email or crochet@JenniferOlivarez.com. I would love to hear from you!

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