The Winter 2011 issue of Interweave Crochet arrived at the shop yesterday.

In this issue, they explore lace for winter with several big, bold winter lace designs and a handful of fine lace designs, to add a light touch of lace to your burly winter garb. And socks! We have three ways to make socks, including fabulous Pamir slip-stitch socks. Maire Treanor’s series on Clones lace continues with two shamrock designs. Add some jackets and vests, as well as a blanket, and it all adds up to 22 projects to cheer you through winter.

We’re delighted to be able to show you about these gorgeous new knitting bags that have been made exclusively for us.

Each knitting bag measures 45cm x 32cm and contains pockets inside to hold your notions and other bits.

Lacy loveliness and fabulous projects for children are the hallmarks of the Interweave Crochet Spring 2011 issue, with twenty-five bright designs for Spring.

Rowan Summer Baby is a beautiful brochure full of fun and colourful knits for little girls and boys. Featuring designs by the Rowan design team in their favourite cotton yarns, this lovely pattern books is sure to be a hit with parents and grandparents alike.

Designs range from pretty floral dresses and party dress cardigans to graphic animal stripes and star patterns for the boys.

Interweave Crochet Summer issue arrived from the USA yesterday.

Interweave Crochet Summer 2010

This issue has a special emphasis on shawls. Also included are patterns for flirty skirts, easy-wearing tops and lightweight lacy garments by some of your favorite designers—Annette Petavy, Kristin Omdahl, Doris Chan, Lisa Naskrent, and more—as well as projects by emerging designers. In addition, Beyond the Basics introduces you to a variation of Tunisian crochet called double-ended crochet, with table mats to practice your technique. In the Craftivism column, Betsy Greer focuses on charities for homeless pets, including a pattern for a Cat Nap Mat by Laura Rintala. In all, there are 25 projects to keep you crocheting through the summer!

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The Spring 2010 issue of Interweave Crochet is here.

In this issue, there are special focus on shells. In Beyond the Basics, Doris Chan explains the structure of shell patterns and how garments are shaped with shells. There are seven patterns featuring shells, including a tunic by Robyn Chachula, a vest by Tracy St. John and a fabulous mother-daughter duo by Doris Chan.

There are also two Tunisian shawls and several great season-spanning cardigans, plus four mod projects for the home. Learn more about Kristin Omdahl’s designs in our profile and work her clever linked-motif shawl.

In the Craftivism column, Betsy Greer explores blanket charities. And Interweave Crochet launchs their year-long Chain Reaction Afghan Project, which brings together the work of established designers and reader designers (that could be you!) in a single project that will be auctioned for charity.

Interweave Crochet is one of the best sources for innovative crochet patterns—with diagrams, illustrations, and clear instructions—as well as news, tips, and insightful articles. Everyone from beginning to advanced crocheters will find something that inspires.

Just came across this FREE lovely crochet cardigan pattern from crochetme.com

Flame Scallop Cardi Crochet Pattern

I really am going to have to practice my crochet skills so I can have a go at this.

Rowan have released several new books for Spring and Summer 2010 and first up is Summer Crochet.

Rowan Summer Crochet pattern book

Crochet is definitely becoming more popular and crocheters have been asking for a long time for more patterns.  This new book from Rowan booklet focuses solely on summer crochet patterns. With 12 feminine designs which are both modern and easy to wear, the collection includes crochet lace panel tunics and summer tops to the chunkier openwork crochet of a shrug and a poncho.

Here are just some of the crochet patterns featured in the book.  More can be seen on our website.

Santorini from Rowan Summer Crochet

Crete from Rowan Summer Crochet

Corsica from Rowan Summer Crochet

All the patterns use either Rowan Cotton Glace or Rowan Siena 4 Ply yarn – both of which we’ll be getting in stock soon.

I know there’s not much time to crochet this before Advent starts on Tuesday, but I just spotted this free crochet pattern on Rowan’s website to crochet an advent calendar.  It looks really simple – just lots of pockets with numbers on them, hung from a pretty hanger – for you to fill with whatever goodies you like.

Free Rowan crochet pattern for an unusual advent calendar

The pockets are actually felted and the numbers stitched with Rowan Shimmer

You can download the pattern here.

We’ve just started stocking Rowan Shimmer yarn.  This glittery yarn is perfect for giving garments a touch of sparkle and I’m currently knitting a bolero from Rowan Studio 17 which is knitted by holding together a strand of Shimmer and a strand of Kidsilk Aura.  It gives a lovely effect.

However you can use Shimmer just by itself and Rowan have just published two free crochet patterns on their website: one for a festive napkin ring, and one for a placemat and coaster set.

Free crochet pattern from Rowan

These patterns use Shimmer in shade 93 Titanium, which I have to say isn’t very accurately represented in their photo.  In the photo above it looks bronze, but in real life it looks more like a dark silver shade.