JANUARY NEWSLETTER

Hello, my friends! It’s good to have you here. In today’s newsletter, I share my plans to release several new patterns and connect with you more often in 2025. I also reveal how I’m drawing on a heritage of handcrafts as inspiration for a new crochet blanket collection. See which of my patterns was named a top pattern of 2024. Last but not least, we’ll spotlight a fantastic Painter’s Garden Blanket by Rhonda.

Get ready for more crochet patterns and news in 2025!

I have nearly a dozen crochet patterns in various stages of completion that need to be brought into the world! Well, 2025 is the year to make this happen. I can’t wait to share with you all these unique and fun-to-make blankets and accessories!

Plus, I’d like to do more to keep in touch with you this year. Since I’m no longer on social media, this newsletter is my sole outlet for sharing all things crochet. Thanks so much for reading it!

Going forward, on the first Friday of the month, you’ll receive this newsletter with details about upcoming patterns and tutorials, news, yarn-related discoveries, reviews, and featured projects made by you. Then, each Friday after that, you’ll receive a short mailing focused on either a new pattern, video tutorial, or special feature covering tips, tricks, and topics of interest.

I hope you’ll enjoy this new format. I can’t wait to share more of my crochet world with you!

Handmade Blanket Heritage

Like many of us, I learned how to crochet, knit, and sew from the women in my family. I’m so grateful that they took the time to pass these skills down to me. As I don’t have any children of my own, I feel like writing and publishing patterns is my way of sharing the tradition of crochet with others (as far and wide as I can!).

I’m currently working on a collection of blanket designs that captures the unique creativity and artistic vision of each of the women in my family whose skills and traditions I carry with me today.

First up, the Cozy Calico Blanket pattern (to be released later this month) celebrates a humble patchwork blanket that my mother made for me back in the ‘80s out of calico fabric with its distinctive tiny, floral prints.

My grandmother on my mother’s side, who we called Nana, taught me needlepoint and ceramics and shared with me a love of oil painting. My great-grandmother (Nana’s mother-in-law) worked as a designer at a trim and braid manufacturer, and I’ve inherited a large collection of her tatting and crochet thread creations. My grandmother on my father’s side was a prolific knitter. There was hardly a moment when she wasn’t working on a sweater for someone!

I’m looking forward to exploring the work of these amazing ladies to design beautiful blankets inspired by their artistic legacies.

Homework: Take time this weekend to say thank-you to someone who introduced you to a hobby or craft you still enjoy today.

Why I Love Designing Blankets

While rewriting my bio recently for my website and various other channels, I spent a lot of time thinking deeply about what I love about designing blankets and why I can’t seem to stop making them. I thought you might enjoy reading what I came up with. When it comes to making blankets for those you love, do you feel the same way?

“It’s no secret that blankets are my favorite thing to design. Making a blanket for someone, you find yourself thinking of them throughout the long process, stitching in your love as you go. You recall the memories of your times with them. You imagine their face when they receive your blanket and how they may treasure it whenever you’re apart. The blanket may even go on to become a family heirloom, passed down through generations. I am humbled and honored whenever I hear your stories of the blankets you’ve made for the special people and events in your life. I want to keep designing blankets that celebrate those cherished connections. To me, there’s nothing more akin to a hug than cuddling up in a treasured blanket to feel the love that’s stitched in.”

Website Update: New Pages for Every Pattern

Have you ever been in the middle of a crochet project and need to rewatch the tutorial video, but you can’t find the link or you printed out the pattern and don’t want to type the URL into your phone? Now you can find links to video tutorials on the pattern pages on my website.

Over the holiday break, I created a separate webpage for each of my designs. Each page includes all the pattern details, including skill level, concentration level, stitches and techniques used, yarn requirements, suggested yarn substitutes, and more, as well as links to all the video tutorials to guide you in completing your project.

If you’re looking for your next project, these new pages will help you find just the right one for your mood. Simply go to https://jenniferolivarez.com/patterns. Then click on the type of project (choose from Blankets, Shawls, Scarves, and Bags). Then click on the individual pattern to view all the details. Note that links to videos and other resources are listed at the bottom.

Best of 2024: Lacy Lavender Pullover

The Lacy Lavender Pullover was named one of the top 25 crochet patterns of 2024 by I Like Crochet magazine.

This delicate spring top is a light and airy garment that feels heavenly to wear. Use a lace-weight yarn in a fiber that will provide plenty of drape, such as merino, silk, cashmere, or alpaca. There’s no shaping in this design. The fluid drape of the fabric comes from combining these fibers with a large lacy stitch pattern.

This pattern was originally published in the February 2024 issue of I Like Crochet, an online-only crochet magazine. The basic pattern is free, or you may subscribe to get the premium pattern, which includes a stitch chart and schematic.

View I Like Crochet’s Best Crochet Patterns of 2024 here.

Or go straight to the Lacy Lavender Pullover pattern here.

Coming Soon: January’s Special Features

• New Pattern: Cozy Calico Blanket

• Hot Topic: What does skill level really mean?

Maker Spotlight: Rhonda’s Painter’s Garden Blanket

This month we’re featuring a fabulous Painter’s Garden Blanket made by Rhonda (RhondaYeager on Ravelry).

Rhonda used Sirdar Jewelspun in 839 Northern Lights for this stunning blanket. Didn’t it turn out lovely? It’s always such a thrill to see how all the different colorways of Jewelspun work up with this pattern.

About the project, Rhonda mentioned that she had only been crocheting for a short time when she saw the pattern and purchased it. Before embarking on the blanket project, she worked on smaller projects to gain the skills and confidence she felt she needed.

I’m tickled that this blanket inspired Rhonda to build up her crochet skills in order to complete it. This is a great reminder (for all crocheters, regardless of experience level) that taking the time to learn the necessary skills before diving into a big project can make it so much more fun and enjoyable.

Nice work, Rhonda! Your blanket really turned out so beautiful. And your care and craftsmanship show.

Learn more about the Painter’s Garden Blanket crochet pattern here.

Heartful Hat Update

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to find enough testers to proceed with this pattern. Maybe it was timing, or maybe it’s the design itself, but it’s no problem – these things happen. I’ll revisit this pattern later this year and decide what to do next. Thanks to the few who volunteered. I really appreciate your support! Stay tuned for more testing opportunities.

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!

Thank you for subscribing to my newsletter!

Having you in my crochet circle means so much to me. I aim to publish 4-6 new patterns every year, along with video and photo tutorials. In addition to announcements, here I’ll share crochet tips and tricks, 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!