JULY NEWSLETTER

Hello, my crochet friends!

I hope you’ve had a lovely week. Happy Independence Day to my friends here in the US. There’s so much I’m excited to share with you this month!

But first, I have to say a huge thank you for the incredible reception to my new shawl pattern, the Sweet Season Shawl, last Friday. I was absolutely floored by the response! When I decided to offer the pattern for free to the first 100 downloads, I honestly thought it might take a few days (maybe even a week) for them all to be claimed.

Well, you all had other plans! Every free copy was downloaded in under an hour. I had gone for a walk right after hitting “send” and came back to find the pattern had already taken off. It was so thrilling that I decided to keep the celebration going and put the pattern on sale through the weekend.

This was, hands down, the most fun I’ve ever had with a pattern release. Thank you, thank you! Let’s definitely do this again sometime.

Now, on to this month’s news and updates. I’ve been keeping very busy (and having a blast in the process!). First up: I’m finally giving a long-overdue refresh to a fan favorite, the Double Wedding Ring Blanket. I’m also releasing a brand-new market bag pattern—and if it looks familiar, that’s because it made its debut in Crochet World this summer. And speaking of market bags, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how to prevent crochet bags from getting stretched out. Spoiler: there’s more to it than just adding a lining (though that’s still high on the list).

So go ahead and grab your favorite summertime beverage, and let’s dig in!

The Double Wedding Ring Blanket Is Getting a Makeover

It’s been a long time coming, but my most beloved pattern is finally getting the refresh it deserves. The Double Wedding Ring Blanket first debuted in August 2021. I can hardly believe that was nearly four years ago! Even more incredible is that thousands of makers have crocheted this design since then. I’m truly humbled and honored to be the steward of such a meaningful pattern.

The original release included four stitch charts, a sizing sheet to help with assembly planning, and a 13-page photo tutorial to guide crocheters through the first motif and the join-as-you-go (JAYGO) assembly technique. Not long after launch, I quickly recorded a video to help a customer who was having trouble with the assembly. That rough, unedited clip eventually made its way to YouTube, where it’s been surprisingly well-loved ever since.

Now, it’s finally time to give the entire pattern a gentle polish. This week, I wrapped up editing a brand-new video that demonstrates how to crochet the motif, along with an edit of the tutorial video on the JAYGO assembly. Next, I’ll be re-typesetting the pattern using my new design software, which allows me to optimize the layout for screen readers—with alt text for images, tagging, and verified reading order to make the pattern fully accessible.

I’m always touched to hear how often this pattern has been chosen to create heirloom blankets for newlyweds. Crocheting something so meaningful for someone you love is a deeply personal, heartfelt act. My hope is that these new updates will help make the experience of creating this blanket just as special for the gift giver as it will be for the recipient.

Once the updated pattern is ready, I’ll be sending out an announcement with all the details. And if you’ve already purchased the original version, don’t worry, you’ll receive the new edition at no extra cost, as a heartfelt thank-you for being part of this pattern’s journey.

New Pattern Coming Soon! Prairie Flower Market Bag

I’m thrilled to share that later this month I’ll be releasing my version of the Prairie Flower Market Bag crochet pattern, which was originally published in the summer issue of Crochet World. I’m so excited to bring this design directly to you, complete with a host of resources to make the project as smooth and enjoyable as possible.

When Crochet World put out a call for summer market bag designs, I already knew exactly what I wanted to make. I’d been dreaming of the perfect lacy summer tote, and the idea for this pattern came together quickly. In fact, before the design was even accepted, I had already written the pattern and started crocheting my own version—just because I loved it so much!

Here’s a look at some of the early stages of the design process from initial sketches to swatches to the very first sample bag:

What makes this bag so special is the interplay of two beautiful lace stitch patterns. The bold diamond motif on the bottom adds striking visual interest, while the shell eyelet pattern at the top lends a refined, delicate finish. The result is a classic and elegant look that’s perfect for market days, beach trips, and everyday summer outings.

Now that I’m preparing to publish the pattern independently, I’m going all out to make it as user-friendly and well-supported as possible. The pattern will include:

• A video overview of the bag’s construction

• A schematic for visual reference

• Stitch charts for the base, body, top edge, and straps

• Instructions (and likely a video!) for lining your bag

While making the sample, I also documented every step, taking nearly four hours of video and a photo of every completed round! I’m still deciding how much of that to include, but I do plan to put together a focused video on shaping the straps, which is the only part that might feel a bit tricky. I may also include a photo of each completed section to strike a good balance between guidance and simplicity.

I can’t wait to share this pattern with you at the end of the month. It’s truly one of my all-time favorites!

Stay tuned and tell your friends! You won’t want to miss this release. As a special thank-you, all newsletter subscribers will receive 20% off!

Taming the Stretch: Tips for Sturdier Crochet Bags

As I gear up to release the Prairie Flower Market Bag crochet pattern this month, I’ve been thinking a lot about yarn choices for market and produce bags. One of the most common concerns I hear from makers is how overly stretchy some crochet bags can become. And I get it—while a little give is great, no one wants a bag that sags to their knees after a few uses!

So I’ve been digging into ways to reduce excess stretch in crochet bags, and there are a few tried-and-true methods worth considering.

Lining your bag is one of the most effective solutions, especially for larger designs like the Prairie Flower Market Bag. Of course, you can line smaller bags like crochet mesh produce bags too, though part of their charm is how they stretch to accommodate your farmer’s market haul. In the end, it really comes down to personal preference and how you plan to use your bag.

If you’d like your bags to hold their shape better, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

Avoid overloading your bag. It might sound obvious, but too much weight is the fastest way to stretch things out of shape.

Choose sturdier plant-based fibers. Linen and hemp tend to offer more structure than cotton and are great options for durable bags.

Size down your hook. Using a smaller hook will create a denser, more supportive fabric, resulting in less stretch and more stability. Just note that your bag may end up smaller than what is listed in the pattern (which could be perfect if you expect it to stretch with use).

Swatch, swatch, swatch. Testing different yarns and hook sizes is the best way to find the right balance between structure and flexibility.

Consider a lining. Adding a fabric lining to the bag and straps is the most popular solution for reducing stretch. And it can add a polished, finished look too.

To put all this into practice, I’ve decided to experiment with a new sample of the Prairie Flower Market Bag. This time, I’ll be crocheting it in linen to see how it affects the structure and stretch. I was excited to discover that Lion Brand carries cones of fingering weight linen (from Silk City Fibers) at a reasonable price. The cone holds approximately 1,750 yards, so I think I’ll be able to get a sleeveless top out of it too. I can’t wait for it to arrive so I can get started!

I’ll be sure to share the results of this little experiment, along with more tips and observations, at the end of the month.

Coming Soon: July’s Special Features

• Behind the Scenes: Double Wedding Ring Blanket Refresh

• New Pattern: Prairie Flower Market Bag

• Tip of the Month: How to Prevent Stretchy, Saggy Crochet Bags

Maker Spotlight

Bellflower Produce Bags by Céline

Take a look at these lovely produce bags that the talented Céline crocheted using my Bellflower Produce Bag pattern.

Céline crocheted her bags using Hobbii Friends Cotton 8/4 Solids, which is a fingering weight yarn that is just slightly lighter than the Curio #3 used in the pattern. She says that crocheted with a smaller hook (2.5 mm), a single ball is enough to make one bag that is a little smaller than what is listed in the pattern.

Céline, your bags are beautiful! They really turned out great. I love the colors you chose, and your stitching is divine. Nice work!

For more, check out Céline’s project page on Ravelry.

Want to add a Bellflower Produce Bag to your list of summer makes? You can find the pattern on Etsy and Ravelry.

All customer photos are used with permission.

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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