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Things You Need, To Learn How to Crochet

November 20, 2024November 18, 2024crochet, crochet resources2 Comments

Granny squares, a beginner project for when you learn how to crochet

Recently, an old acquaintance got in touch as they wanted to learn how to crochet. I love it when this happens! It’s an opportunity for someone else to become as obsessed with yarn as me! More specifically, they wanted to know what they needed to be able to learn crochet. It was rather fortuitous because that very same day there was a Guardian article about that same thing.

The article is about what kit you need to learn how to crochet. So, using my experience of first picking up a crochet hook, combined with the approach that the article took, it felt like the perfect excuse for a blog post.

Therefore, consider this a post for Things You Need to Know, To Learn How To Learn Crochet. But to be perfectly honest, all you really need to begin your fabulous new hobby is a crochet hook and a ball or two of yarn. And a little bit of determination.

Things You Need to Learn How to Crochet

Listed below are my top tips, which will help you learn how to crochet. In this blog post you will find info on the following:

Tools & Equipment: Hooks and other Paraphernalia.
Buying Yarn as a Beginner Crocheter.
Crochet Tension & How to Hold Your Hook and Yarn.
Crochet Terminology. The Difference between UK &US terms.
What Crochet Stitches to Know.
Getting Gauge in Crochet.
What Crochet Patterns to Try.
Choosing Colour for Your Crochet.

Tools and Equipment for Beginner Crocheters

When I first learned to crochet fifteen years ago, I went to the old-school wool shop in town, bought two or three balls of acrylic yarn and asked the woman behind the counter to sell me the right size hook for the yarn. The yarn was double knit (DK) and the hook was a 4.5mm.

These are the only two things I needed to learn the absolute basics of crochet. You’ve probably already got scissors for cutting yarn, I presume? Maybe not. Get some scissors then. And, to ensure you can truly finish projects neatly, you’ll need a darning needle for sewing in ends.

That’s it! Those are the only tools you need to learn how to crochet.

I also bought a very simple book with useful diagrams and charts. It was a small, purple book called, Crochet Unravelled. I used it a lot but then I discovered YouTube! YouTube has A LOT of video tutorials for crochet.

Crochet tools for when you learn how to crochet

Crochet Hooks

I have a lot of crochet tools now. In my collection are hooks of all sizes, using different ones depending on the project and yarn weight. It’s best to have multiple hooks in the same size (maybe lots of 4mm hooks, for example) as you’ll find it easiest to keep each hook with its project (AKA WIP = work in progress). When in deep, you will likely have multiple projects on the go at once so that means many crochet hooks.

I have novelty hooks, wooden hooks, hooks with handles and plastic hooks, but for me, my total faves are the plain, cheap steel ones. There is no need for fancy hooks unless you start getting hand pain. Funnily enough, I get hand pain from the ergonomic hooks as I find them too bulky. Give me a straight stick any day. You will soon discover your preference.

Other Crochet Paraphanelia

Stitch Markers

Stitch markers are very useful and some people have a separate hobby of collecting pretty stitch markers. I prefer cheap bulb pins, or plain plastic markers as they are lightweight and don’t get tangled in my work (I am not a fan of novelty stitch markers because they pull threads and can be too heavy).

Use stitch markers at the beginning and ends of rows to make stitches easy to find. They also stop a stored project’s stitches from unravelling without permission. Some crochet patterns tell you to work to a marker and then change direction. It’s best to have some in stock but you can always use a length of yarn in a contrasting colour as your marker.

Tape Measure

A Tape Measure is crucial!! I have several tape measures dotted in different locations around the house. I use them more often when I’m making crochet clothes. You don’t often need to measure a granny square blanket but you never know. If making crochet clothes, a tape measure is THE thing. Or, a gauge reader doodah, which is essentially a ruler in a different shape.

Blocking Mats, Pins and Wires

Firstly, nobody is going to arrest you if you don’t block your crochet and sometimes it isn’t necessary (for example, I have never blocked a crochet bag and I don’t bother blocking projects when I use 100% acrylic) but read on for a general overview…

An Overview on Blocking Crochet

When I first started blocking my crochet projects, I would use dressmakers pins and pin my finished object (FO) directly onto the carpet. I haven’t written about blocking in great detail yet (I keep putting it off as, although it’s super important, writing about it isn’t very exciting).

Blocking is about making the best of your crochet; it opens up stitches into their final “look”. Depending on the yarn you’ve used, you can wash/soak, rinse and blot your crochet before pinning it out to dry. Or pin it out first, then steam or spray crochet fabric with water and leave it to dry. That’s all blocking is. Normally, you pin it out to set measurements but often, you can wing it.

Once a crochet item has been blocked, the fabric size and drape can be vastly different to what your crochet looked and felt like before you dunked it in soapy water. Stitches can bloom open and soften beautifully. Or, carelessly steam-block with an iron and you could burn or melt your precious crochet. Please be careful!

These days, I have foam blocking mats to protect the carpet and fancy blocking pins, which are brilliant (although I don’t have enough of them). The blocking mats can make things more mobile; you can move them about if careful. I totally love blocking wires as well. They are expensive but it means you don’t need to painstakingly pin loads of pins because a few wires will do the job of several pointy little devils.

I love that one of the pics above shows a shawl being blocked with knitting needles. Must have been before I bought the blocking wires!

Notions Pouch for Crochet Tools

A notions pouch is a little bag to keep all of the above in (well, maybe not blocking stuff). Essentially, it is your bag of tricks. In mine, I also have: lip balm, too many hairbands, a nail file (more important than you think; scraggy nails snag on yarn) and a pen for writing notes on random bits of paper or printed patterns.

Yarn For Beginner Crocheters

It didn’t occur to me how much of a minefield this one is but the subject of yarn is huge. There are mountains of different yarns out there and knowing where to start is definitely discombobulating. I used to call it all Wool but that confuses or annoys a few people. So it is a good idea to call it Yarn as it covers the whole gamut.

As a beginner wanting to learn how to crochet, acrylic double knit (DK) is a popular yarn to choose. Master crochet stitches first and then treat yourself to the posher yarn, should you wish to try it. Or not, you might fall in love with acrylic. It’s colourful, affordable and much better quality than it used to be.

Over fifteen years, I have picked up quite a lot of information about yarn and I don’t take my yarny knowledge for granted. When I first started I didn’t know anything at all. If I liked the look or feel of yarn I’d buy it. It wasn’t always the right yarn for the project but that helped me to learn. Nowt wrong with making a few mistakes along the way!

Check out my blog post about Yarn Substitution. It covers a little bit of everything: what yardage means, different yarn weights (the thickness of yarn), different fibres (acrylic, wool, cotton, yak, stinging nettle?) etc.

Car Crochet. Making my Zigzag Bag on the way to Wales in September 23.

Crochet Tension & How to Hold Yarn

Tension is key in learning how to crochet. I don’t care how you hold your hook as long as it feels comfortable. Knife hold or pen hold are the two main ways of holding a crochet hook but there are other ways too.

Generally speaking, the hook is held in the right hand if you’re right-handed and left if you’re left-handed. The yarn is twiddled around the fingers of your other hand to hold the tension. If you are a knitter, you might even like to hold both yarn and hook in the same hand and conduct witchcraft.

Anyway, practice practice practice. Learn how to comfortably glide the yarn through your fingers. Control it with a firm (but not too tight) tension. Do not let it control you or it will run rings around you (or just spin around the hook a lot).

Tension will improve the more you work at it. The very first thing I did when I learned how to crochet was to crochet the world’s longest chain. I wouldn’t let myself move on from that until the chains were uniform. They were not too tight, not too loose and not twisted. My first attempts looked like mangled worms. Nevertheless, I was very proud.

Learn How to Crochet: US or UK Crochet Terms?

Before you even pick up a crochet hook, know this one super duper important fact. There are two terminologies for crochet stitches and people find it very VERY confusing! It’s the stupidest thing about my beloved hobby.

When you get your hands on a crochet pattern, the first thing to check is, is the pattern using American or UK terms. Fear not, it isn’t that difficult to overcome and translating is a doddle. Patterns are better at telling us these days but older crochet patterns assume you know.

At first glance, the names are the same. Unfortunately, what they mean to the respective countries is different. Booo.

Look out for “tells”. If an “sc” or “single crochet” is used, you will know for certain that it’s an American pattern as “sc” doesn’t appear in UK terms at all. Is there a “htr” or “half treble”? That’s a UK term because there’s no such thing in US terms (it’s known as an “hdc” or half double crochet in US speak).

Check out charts too. Chart symbols are universal so it doesn’t matter about the written terms. They’re a good clue to indicate what the written terms are though.

What Crochet Stitches Do I Need to Know?

There aren’t actually that many crochet stitches, not really. What there are loads of is combinations of crochet stitches. The way different stitches are put together creates different textures and styles of fabric. Crochet is way more diverse than it’s given credit for, especially over the last few years, we’ve seen wonderfully modern, innovative crochet design. But they all stem from the same few stitches. Magic!

Perhaps because of social media, maybe even Covid, makers are exploring new stitch patterns and pushing the boundaries of what crochet can be. But not wanting to get ahead of ourselves, let’s just take a look at basic crochet stitches.

Commonly Used Crochet Stitches

The order in which the most common stitches go is:
For the UK: slip stitch, double crochet, half treble, treble crochet, double treble.
And for the US: slip stitch, single crochet, half double, double crochet, treble crochet.
(FYI, I’ve found that whether it’s triple and treble, the two words are interchangeable – there is no difference. “Treble” seems to be my default).

Table of Commonly Used Crochet Stitches

Slip Stitch (ss or sl st) =	Slip Stitch (ss or sl st). It’s the same for both US &UK!
UK double crochet (dc) =	US single crochet (sc)
UK half treble crochet (htr) =	US half double crochet (hdc)
UK treble crochet (tr) =	US double crochet (dc)
UK double treble (dtr)=	US treble (tr)

Everyone (apart from the odd psychopath, or two) hates slip stitches because they are an absolute bugger to work into (using a larger hook size negates the struggle though). They are frequently used as joining stitches, which are easy. It’s when they are used as part of a stitch pattern that people become filled with rage and/or despair. But they create awesome stitch patterns so there is reason to persevere and you might end up appreciating them a little bit.

The most popular, commonly used crochet stitches are the UK double crochet (same as a US single crochet), and the UK treble (same as a US double crochet). They are the most basic stitches and are used in a myriad of different combinations.

But, you are allowed to go off piste whenever you want. If you want to experiment with how many times you yarn over, go for it (or, ooh, try yarning under, what does that look like? It’s different, right?). I did an extra yarn over on a UK dc (US sc) once and thought I’d broken some sort of sacrosanct rule. Turns out I’d just worked an Extended UK dc (US sc) and didn’t know it had a name. *shrugs*

Getting Gauge in Crochet

I wrote a blog post about Getting Gauge in your Crochet Garments. It covers most of what you need to know. Needless to say, the crochet tension you learned about has an effect on the density of the fabric you make. Looser stitches create a larger fabric. Tight stitches make a dense fabric with little drape. You need to match the gauge to make the same sized garments as intended in a crochet pattern.

Granny stitch shawl pattern, a great pattern for a beginner crochet when you learn how to crochet.

Learn How to Crochet: Choosing Patterns

What do you want to crochet? This will have an impact on the type of patterns you search for. Either way, as a beginner crocheter, start small. A lot of makers learn how to crochet by finding Free Crochet Patterns online. Online freebies are not all the same quality though so beware. Some of my earlier free crochet patterns were not as polished as I would like so every now and then I update old patterns so that I’m not quite as ashamed! Oh dear. I try harder these days, honest!

When I first started to learn how to crochet, like many others I was drawn to Lucy of Attic 24. This is because she produces step-by-step photo tutorials alongside simple written instructions. You will also find many videos for beginner friendly crochet tutorials on YouTube. I have a YouTube channel for crochet tutorials but you may wish to tackle how to work a chain first.

Sign up for Ravelry, which is a vast online library of knitting and crochet patterns. My crochet patterns are on there. And don’t get lost down the Pinterest rabbit hole. Or feel free to do so if it pleases you. I love Pinterest, you’ll find so many ideas there.

Choosing Colour for Crochet

My first crochet projects were dreadful. I didn’t know anything about Choosing Colour for my Crochet projects. However, if you buy all the same yarn (the same brand, weight & collection), chances are the shades will go together. Brand collections often deliberately have a cohesive and complementary palette so that makers can trust the colours they choose will go together.

As I have said in the past, playing with colour is one of my favourite things about crochet. Go with your gut and don’t worry too much if you don’t like what you’ve chosen. At least you’ll know for next time. And you’ll get better at choosing colours for crochet projects the more you do it.

All The Things For Learning How to Crochet!

Wow!! There’s quite a lot of information when you stop and think about it. I thought this was going to be a quick & easy list of things you need to know when you want to learn how to crochet. There’s so much more to it than I realised. In practice, you obviously don’t need to absorb all that information in one go. It’s a gradual process so trust that it’s not actually overwhelming in real life, I promise it isn’t!

Crochet is fun, cathartic, mindful and awesome. So, if you see all of the above information and feel a little bit intimidated, please don’t be. As I learned recently, when exploring how to create crochet charts, you just need to take a deep breath and take it one step at a time.

Cripes, that was a long one, I hope you made it all the way to the end!? If you did, cheers! x

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Z&R Cardigan CAL 2024. Discounts and Prizes!!

January 9, 2024May 11, 2024crochet4 Comments

Crochet Along Time!

The Cardigan Crochet Along is almost upon us! Starting on Saturday 13th (that’s this Saturday), we can all pick up our hooks and start crocheting!

I wrote lots of fabulous information about the CAL in my first post a couple of weeks ago. You will find lots of useful bits and bobs about how to join in with the Cardigan Crochet Along HERE. At this point in time I am very excited about starting, and I hope you are too!

One of the other reasons I’m excited is because I am sitting waiting for the postman to arrive as he will be delivering my yarn soon, so I can crochet a cardi! The other reason is that I can finally share discounts and prizes to make the CAL that little bit more enticing! These have been kindly offered by my crochet friends to give you additional ideas and choices for the Crochet Along.

She Sells Seashells Crochet Cardigan designed by Zeens and Roger. The perfect pattern to join the Cardigan crochet along — She Sells Seashells

CAL Discount Offers from Brilliant Crochet Designers

Let’s do the discounts first as they may have an impact on your pattern choice for the Crochet Along. However, even if some of these cardigan patterns aren’t what you’re going to make for the CAL, perhaps you’ll be tempted to grab copies of your faves for a date to make in the future.

Also, please think about hitting “follow” on anyone new to you and sign up for newsletters etc. It really supports the crochet community by highlighting designers for new makers and you get to learn new stuff too! I have specifically chosen designers where there is a really good mix of different styles, techniques and stitches. This way there is something for everyone. Below there is a wonderful selection of different yarn weights, different experience levels and different styles.

Zeens and Roger Cardigan Patterns

I am going to cheekily barge my way to the front on this one. I think I’ll be forgiven!

First up, I am releasing two cardigan patterns for this awesome yarny event and both will have discounts throughout the CAL. For kicks and giggles, I will also pop a discount on the Perfect Cardigan too. Therefore, I am offering 25 % off on Little Fluffy Clouds, She Sells Seashells and the Perfect Cardigan with the code: ZeensCAL24

The code is valid from Saturday 13th January through to the 31st of March. You will be able to buy them from my Etsy shop and also my Ravelry store with the discount code.

Find She Sells Seashells on Ravelry HERE. And Shop for the pattern on Etsy HERE.
Find Little Fluffy Clouds on Ravelry HERE. And shop for the pattern on Etsy HERE.
Find The Perfect Cardigan on Ravelry HERE. And shop for the pattern on Etsy HERE.
If you’re hoping to save a few quid by using a free pattern, try my recipe for the crochet JW Anderson cardigan.

Read on for even more great discounts from some of my fellow crochet designers and also, to find out which cardigan I will be making….

A collection of Crochet cardigans by Zeens and Roger for the Cardigan Crochet Along 2024

More Crochet Cardigan Patterns…

All codes will be valid throughout the duration of the CAL, beginning January 13th.
Oh, and whilst I’ve linked many specific patterns to Ravelry, you can find them on the designer’s other platforms, which are also linked.

Strata – Fay Dashper Hughes

I keep looking out the window to see if the postman is on his way. I am waiting for a bundle of skeins so that I can make Strata, a beautiful crochet cardigan designed by Fay Dashper Hughes. Fay is a friend of mine who designs modern crochet patterns. Strata is her first crochet cardigan design and I’m really keen to get started. I was lucky enough to try on the sample when Fay was making it so I know it’s a doozy!

Fay’s designs are available on Ravelry, Etsy and her own website, Provenance Craft Co (links below). If you purchase Strata from her website, Fay operates a “pay what you can” scheme.

Fay is offering 30% off of Strata with the code: ZeensCAL24

Fay’s socials and shopping opportunities
Instagram @faydhdesigns
Blog/Website: Provenance Craft Co.
Ravelry
Etsy

Strata, a crochet cardigan by Fay Dashper Hughes — Strata

Short Stories Cardigan- Michelle White

I’m sure you know Michelle, otherwise known as Dora! Michelle, another lovely friend of mine, has a fab catalogue of crochet designs, I love love love her new cardigan design, Short Stories. It is a set-in sleeve garment, which I’ve never done before but would love to try. With the inclusion of short rows for the sleeve caps, it’s an intermediate pattern that is sophisticated and beautifully shaped.

Michelle is offering 20% off the Short Stories cardigan pattern with the code ZeensXDora

Michelle’s socials and shopping opportunities
Instagram @Doraexplored
Blog/Website
Ravelry
Etsy

Also, it’s worth pointing out that Michelle’s newsletter is the best one out there. Always full of relevant crochet good stuff.

Short Stories Crochet Cardigan by Dora Explored. — Short Stories

Fay, Michelle and I had a lovely weekend in the Cotswolds a couple of years back. Here is a pic of us all in the sunshine. I just happen to be wearing my first sample of Little Fluffy Clouds!! Michelle is wearing one of her pretty cardis too. This makes me happy!

Cardigan Collection – Blage Crochet Designs

Next up is a gorgeous choice of cardigans by Blazenka of Blage Crochet Designs. Her Airy Petrol Shrug is super eye-catching, I love the stitch pattern and shaping! There is a variety of stitches and shaping in Blazenka’s design work. Woodhill is another that I thought was interesting piece that would be popular.

Blazenka is offering 25% off all of the cardigans (pic below) until the end of the CAL. Code: ZEENSCAL24

Blazenka’s socials and shopping opportunities
Instagram @Blagecrochetdesign
Ravelry
Etsy

Blage Crochet Desgin crochet cardigan patterns — Blage Crochet Design

A Spoonful of Yarn – Crochet Cardigan Collection

Christina is well known for her amazingly popular Hotel of Bees shawl. Luckily for us, she also has some lovely crochet cardigan patterns too. My fave is the Little Maple Cardigan, the shoulder shaping is what I’m curious to try, it has an interesting construction. The maple motif continues with Maple Leaf cardigan.

The beauty of Christina’s patterns is that you can find them for free on her blog. However, the discount that is on offer is to receive 20% off the PDF versions so you can print the pattern and make it without trawling through website ads. The code you need to receive a discount is ZeensCAL2024

Christina’s socials and shopping opportunities
Instagram: @aspoonfulofyarn
Blog/Website
Ravelry
Etsy

Two cardigan designs from A Spoonful of Yarn for the Cardigan CAL 2024 — A Spoonful of Yarn

Crochet Along Prize Draw!!

A few years ago, when I hosted my last CAL, it was super popular to include prizes and giveaways too. I don’t see this as often anymore but it’s what I know and it adds an extra layer of excitement to the crafty proceedings. Therefore, I have arranged a fantastic bundle of crochet designs that one lucky participant will win at the end of the CAL.

In the old days, I would close my eyes and do some random scrolling, press my finger to the screen and the name nearest my smudgey paw print would be the winner. These days I can download names from chats and they go into an anonymous random generator. I will do that this time around.

So, want to see what’s on offer?! ….

The CAL Prizes

A collection of crochet pattern by Lois of Logiilo — Logiilo Crochet

Logiilo Crochet

I love Lois’s modern crochet work (some examples above), it’s timeles, classic and always on trend. Her colour choices are on point too. The winner will receive a Ravelry gift code to pick a pattern of their choice. I don’t know how anyone would choose mind you, there are so many lovely things to crochet!

Lois’s socials and shopping opportunities
Instagram @Logiilo
Blog/Website
Ravelry
Etsy

Red Sparrow Crochet

I think Esme was won over by the name of Little Fluffy Clouds! It is a 90’s dance track by the Orb and I know that Esme recently went to one of their gigs. She has kindly offered to gift a copy of a pattern for her Fool’s Gold blanket (Fool’s Gold, another classic, old school track!).

Esme is the queen of colourful mosaic crochet and her books are amazing and stupendous.

Esme’s socials and shopping opportunities
Instagram: @redsparrowcrochet
Blog/Website
Ravelry
Etsy

Made By Hem

Helen was one of my brilliant Little Fluffy Clouds cardigan testers. I am so so grateful to Helen and the rest of the gang who helped me spot any tweaks that needed to happen. Thanks, Helen!!

Helen will send over a PDF to the winner for her Retro Flowers blanket. It is so pretty and colourful and fun, as are all of the crochet patterns that Helen designs! Loves ’em, I do and you can see more examples of her work on Lovecrafts (link below).

Helen’s socials and shopping opportunities
Instagram: @made.by.hem
Blog/Website
Lovecrafts

A collection of crochet garments for the Cardigan Crochet Along 2024

More Crochet Along Prizes…

Not content with allllll of the above, the designers who are offering discounts for their cardigan designs are also generously donating prizes to the pot, for example, Michelle has donated a copy of her Any Yarn Will Do Cardigan, which, as the name suggests, you can make in any yarn weight. But it’s not just cardigans, there are accessories, blankets and other garments. Plus, I will add three of my own designs to the bundle of patterns so the winner will have ten patterns to enjoy crocheting at their leisure!!

Whether it’s a pattern of your choice or a specific pattern that the designer is offering, I’m sure you will agree wholeheartedly that we have put together a selection of joyful treats for the person whose name gets plucked from the hat.

Useful Crochet Resources

If you have any questions at this point, please please do ask. You can drop me a line in the comments, or message me on the other platforms and forms. You will find all the links in the first post about the Zeens and Roger Cardigan Crochet Along 2024!!

If you have never crocheted a garment before then you will certainly find it useful to read up on getting gauge for your crochet clothes.

If the yarns suggested in a specific pattern aren’t for you, then check out my blog post on Yarn Substitution.

And with that, it’s nearly time to get cracking. Are you looking forward to joining the Zeens and Roger Cardigan CAL 2024?!

PS, my yarn arrived just as I finished writing this post!! Yay!

Z&R Cardigan CAL 2024

December 19, 2023January 12, 2024crochet1 Comment

Welcome to the Z&R Cardigan CAL!

Hello and welcome to the first post about my Cardigan CAL 2024!! I have been brewing this idea for a few weeks, ever since I thought about publishing two crochet cardigan patterns at the same time. (She Sells Seashells and Little Fluffy Clouds are being released on January 13th! – keep your eyes peeled for discounts as they’re on the way and don’t forget to scroll down to the end of this post for further info on both. That way, you can be prepared in advance!)

Starting January 13th and continuing throughout the first few weeks of 2024 and finishing at the end of March, I thought it would be a lovely idea to have a Crochet Along so that a community of crafters can come together and crochet cardigans. If we are all making patterns at the same time, wouldn’t it be great if we could chat to each other? Talk to each other about the patterns we’re making, and ask for advice on yarns, stitches and construction!?

She Sells Seashells Cardigan by Zeens and Roger

What is a CAL?

A CAL stands for Crochet Along. You may have also heard of a MAL (Make Along) and KAL (Knit Along). In a nutshell, it’s a fun get together where folks can encourage each other and have a fun time with like minded people. Participation can be as in depth as you choose. In the past, when I have hosted a CAL, there has been a fabulously diverse mix of makers of all different skill levels.

The social side of a CAL is a huge perk for me but it’s not the only reason for taking part. The sharing of ideas, as well as learning tips and tricks brings a disparate bunch of enthusiasts together, enriching what can be a quiet and solitary hobby. In other words, it’s loads of fun hanging out with your crochet mates!

There are other benefits too. Joining a CAL is the opportunity to try something new that you might not otherwise feel brave enough to make. A CAL can give you focus and encouragement so you can achieve your goal without the energy wearing off. It can remove the pressure of working out all the details too. And let’s not forget the potential for a prize or two!

There are lots of different platforms you can choose to hang out on. I’ve seen CALs hosted on Facebook, Instagram and Ravelry to name just a few.

Zeens and Roger, Little Fluffy Clouds cardigan

Which Cardigan Can I Make?

Ok, so here’s the bit I struggled with the most. I know that most CALs stick to one pattern but I cannot do it. I am always so indecisive and torn by choices. It seemed unfair to say you had to make just one crochet design when I don’t like being restricted myself. So, I have opened up the options a little bit.

It also allows me to make a cardigan of my choice too and seeing as I have already made samples of my own designs, I wanna make something different! I am going to make a cardigan designed by one of my friends, which you can find out about here on the CAL Discount and Prizes post!

I have put a little crochet cardigan bundle together on ravelry, for some different styles. A couple have free options but I have pulled together few friends who are offering discounts on their paid patterns too. A few fellow designers are offering 25% off their cardigan patterns so that you can make whichever one is your favourite. Or buy them all and save some crocheting for a later date!

How Do I Join in the Cardigan CAL?

To join the CAL all you need to do is crochet a cardigan during the first few months of 2024. If you join in the chat and share your progress, your name can also be added to a prize draw where I will pick one winner who will receive a lovely bundle of digital crochet patterns.

There are three different places to take part so it’s a bit more inclusive than just running it in just one place. Not everyone uses Instagram, for example. But fear not, you don’t need to participate in all three if you don’t want to. You only need to use your preferred social media platform.

Links to all three are below. We are live so you can get started on the chat straightaway!

The CAL Facebook Group

I have already set up the Facebook Group. Please forgive its current barebones, I don’t really use Facebook at the moment and haven’t added any bells and whistles. What I’m hoping for is to build a community there as I know it’s still a popular place for crochet chat.

Ravelry Cardi Chatter Thread

I have also set up a Cardigan CAL Ravelry forum as I know people love this platform for chatter threads and sharing progress. It has been a while since I used Ravelry for its forums but it is very easy to do.

Instagram Fun

If you’re an IG user, I’ll assume you’re familiar with sharing your pics on your feed. I would love to see all your progress shots, not just one finished photo at the end of the CAL. Keep active and people will see your hard work. Obvs, I don’t mean sharing every day but perhaps once every couple of weeks to keep in the loop. If you’re enjoying it and want to share more, go for it!

Use hashtags on Instagram to share what you’re making. #ZeensAndRoger #ZCardiCAL2024

Feel free to use both of these hashtags but the one I’ll use for the prize draw at the end is #ZCardiCAL2024

the perfect crochet cardigan — The Perfect Crochet Cardigan!

CAL Prizes?!

The prize draw is optional and just for fun. Ok, it’s an incentive to join in too but ultimately, this is the sort of thing I’d join even if prizes weren’t on offer! I might have a couple of runners up too, depending on what I can work out for the number of prizes there are at the end. I have already roped in a few friends who have offered some gorgeous patterns and discounts. It’s so good already! In previous CALs, I managed to boost the bundle even more throughout the CAL’s duration so if you’re a designer and would like to offer a digital pattern (It doesn’t need to be a cardigan pattern), please get in touch!

What I haven’t done yet is ask for you to join newsletters for me and my crochet friends, but please consider it as it’s a really helpful method of getting designers known by a wider audience. I very rarely send a newsletter but when I do it will be because I have discounts or free patterns to offer, or just some really exciting news to share!

At the end of the CAL, I will pull the names of participants together and draw names out of a hat. There isn’t much you need to do apart from being present in one or more of the community groups and/or use of hashtags on Instagram.

Prize info revealed here!!

The CAL Rules

I want this CAL to be as laid back as possible. This is for two reasons:

1) I don’t want you to have to jump through hoops to join in.
2) I want to do as little work as I can (sorry but it’s true! Haha). I just want to have fun watching all the cardis get made.

Therefore, this means there aren’t loads of rules. However, you can’t just dig out an already made cardigan from your wardrobe and enter that. No! That’s cheating. Here are the basics:

A cardigan is an open front sweater. This CAL is not for any other garments.
Please no WIPs, I would like you to start your cardigan at some point from the beginning of the CAL. By all means, start a week or two later if you’re not able to start on the 13th Jan. Even later if you’re a speedy crocheter and will still finish by the end of March.
You can double dip. So if you have seen another CAL or MAL and wish to enter that too, I have no objections.
You only need to join one of the groups above to be part of the CAL but you can be present in all three if you fancy.
This CAL is for everyone, whether you have just started to crochet or you’ve been hooking for decades, this crochet along is for you. Please remember to be respectful of what others are making.

What Cardigan Are You Going To Make?

So, that just leaves you to choose which cardigan you fancy making! What will it be?!

Read on for the additional details about my own designs. …

Crochet cardigan patterns by zeens and roger

Little Fluffy Clouds

Dropping especially for the Cardigan CAL 2024 is Little Fluffy Clouds, a puff stitch cardigan in DK weight yarn. I have been working on this for more than two years!! Life kept getting in the way and I procrastinated way more than was necessary. However, I am over the moon to say that my crochet cardigan, Little Fluffy Clouds is live!!!

You can get 25% off the pattern and for the whole duration of the CAL. Discount news on all the cardigan patterns is here!

She Sells Seashells

I love wearing this cardigan, it’s warm yet light weight and uses an alpaca 4ply. It was first featured in Inside Crochet magazine back in the autumn. You can read about sizes and yarn quantities on Ravelry. I am pleased to say you can buy the crochet pattern independently in time for the CAL. And yes, it has the 25% discount!

Other Cardigan Patterns

I also have the Perfect Cardigan, a striped v-neck pattern, which has the discount as well.

And if you were trying to save bit of cash, don’t forget the JW Anderson inspired crochet cardigan, which is a free pattern here on my blog. It is also a great stash buster so you could absolutely raid lots of your leftover yarns to make that colourful crochet pattern.

I will come back and suggest some other cardi patterns soon too.

Thank You!!

Finally, a massive Thank You!! I have had such a ridiculously positive response about this crochet along, I’m thrilled that you want to join in. I often have sparks of inspiration but then chicken out in bringing them to fruition because I’m afraid it won’t be of interest. Without the enthusiasm from you guys, this idea would have been fleeting and surely fizzled out. Thank you very much.

If you have read through this post and it has raised a question, please let me know in the comments and I will address your queries in the next post.

Cheers. x

Z&R Crochet Podcast 102. Finished Objects of 2023

November 17, 2023May 11, 2024crochetLeave a Comment

Crocheting in 2023

Halloooo! How are you?! It has been a LONG time since I put together a YouTube crochet podcast but the time has come for me to pop my head in to chat about some finished objects.

There has been a lot of crochet going on this year, I’m quite surprised at how much actually. But I did cheat slightly as I thought it would be acceptable to include a few items from 2022 that you won’t have seen because I stopped podcasting about 18 months ago. Therefore, a couple of the patterns are a bit older. Hopefully, I haven’t podcasted about them before. However, please forgive me, my memory of previous episodes is hazy…

Click on the picture above or go to crochet podcast 102 HERE.

Other Podcast Business

Not only do I waffle happily about garments, shawls and bags, but there are also a few other bits and bobs that I will add here too.

And my AOB is … should I do a CAL at the beginning of 2024? It would be in line with the release of my Little Fluffy Clouds cardigan pattern. And if I am super organised I would also publish She Sells Sea Shells at the same time. Therefore, the idea is to do a Cardigan CAL or a garment CAL. Is it something you’re interested in?

Crochet Patterns of the Year

Scroll down for a few photos showing some of my finished objects, however, what I will do first is list everything I chatted about so you can find patterns that are available.

Before I list what’s featured, please do also check out my Free Patterns Page. There are several other 2023 patterns there that I couldn’t squeeze into this episode, including a hat, a granny shawl and some easy peasy striped wrist warmers.
Granny Square Jumpers. I have linked to the first, colourful rainbow version. From there you can also find the other patterns where I explored different adjustments.
Zigzag Chevron bag. A fully lined, crochet tote bag.
Wildcard – my new fave, a crochet market bag pattern. The link is to Ravelry but you can find it easily on Etsy and Lovecrafts too.
She Sells Sea Shells featured in Inside Crochet magazine, issue 162. I will release the pattern at the beginning of 2024.
The Rustic Ripple Wrap was in issue 161 and at some point, I’ll release it as well. It is very similar (but not the same as) the Lorax scarf.
Riley 2 is a bright and colourful, super chunky sweater. Find it HERE.
Sweety inspired Milis featured in issue 4 of Moorit magazine. It’s now available on Etsy and Ravelry. The idea for the combo of stitches came from my Mixtape Medley blanket.
The Barton Hap was commissioned for John Arbon Textiles Annual 3. I am immensely proud of this design. I pushed myself out of comfort zones for this one and I am very glad that I did!
I wrote a post for different crochet ribbing options. you’ll find a link to the video tutorial in that post too.

Let me know what you think? How has your 2023 been? Did you get much crochet completed?

For more crochet good stuff, it’s definitely worth following me on Instagram, I am there pretty often. I also love a bit of Pinterest so if you’re after crochet ideas, then you know where to find me. And finally, should I make more of an effort with Facebook, what do you reckon?!

Cheers!

Quick Crochet Granny Sweater

July 2, 2023July 2, 2023crochet9 Comments

A crochet Granny sweater from Zeens and Roger

Obsessed with Crocheting Granny Sweaters

Yep, I got the yarn and hooks out again to work up a third Granny Square Sweater! I have a funny feeling that it won’t be the last one I crochet either.

I used the notes and charts based on my first (stashbusting colour fest granny) and second (blue and black mohair) Granny Square sweater.

Crochet Granny Sweater by Zeens and Roger

Why Crochet Another Sweater?

Each jumper builds on the last. Some people sketch a lot, swatch religiously, and try everything out first before finalising a design. Eh, yes I could do that too and sometimes I do but I still have the impulse to get an idea out of my head, turning it into a physical thing as quickly as possible. In this case I have had to crochet each sweater to see how I can adapt the recipe to make it better and/or different.

I will often make something again and again. I find it an interesting challenge to analyse why a design isn’t quite right. I enjoy tweaking the fabric, tension, shaping etc to what affect that has. It’s how one gets better at the thing they do, isn’t it? It’s the same reason I come back to my fave sitches again and again too.

I love love love my two other granny jumpers but I want to try all the things. It isn’t only about striving for perfection but also seeing how different fibres and colours work together. Isn’t it fascinating how a few changes and adjustments can create a brand new look?

Therefore, this time I wondered what a looser stitch with block colours would look like. Influenced by some leftover stash from a recent scarf project, off I went and Granny Sweater No. 3 was born.

Granny sweater. Crochet your own granny square jumper

Granny Sweater No. 3

The first two blog posts have extensive information about how to crochet a granny square jumper so I am not going to do that here. The first blog post (and accompanying video tutorial) is all about crochet sweater basics, with a little bit of optional maths thrown in for making it in the size you want. Then the second post is all about how I made adjustments to take my granny sweater to the next level. There are crochet charts too, which help with things like sleeve shaping and shoulder tabs.

Adjusting My Crochet Sweater

The first two sweaters use aran weight yarn and so does this one. I used Stylecraft Grace, which feels quite fine for an aran weight yarn. I also went up to a 6mm hook, therefore my gauge is different. 10cm only gives me 6.5 rows here. I used a larger hook as I wanted a looser, drapier fabric. As Grace is a light, fluffy yarn and I think it deserves a floaty kind of treatment.

Because my tension created bigger clusters my main squares are only 12 rounds. You would not believe how quickly this sweater worked up. So fast! Front and back weigh approx 75 grams each which, in jumper terms is nothing.

The shoulder tabs and sides are worked in a very similar fashion to jumper No.2. Tweak them as you see fit.

More About the Yarn

Stylecraft Grace only comes in 8 colours. When there is a limited range it can be quite nice because most of the agonising over which colours to choose is gone. I used Ocean for the main body as that’s what I had most of. Therefore, I had zero concerns about playing yarn chicken. The sleeves are Long Grass, and I used Petals, Hibiscus and Storm for the ribbing.

I bought the Ocean and Long Grass shades last winter when I had planned to crochet a jumper for one of the kids. It never happened… The other shades are left over from a recent commission that’s coming out in a few months.

I like it. It’s less than a fiver per 100 grams and seeing as I’m a big fan of mohair, I like that it has 10% mohair mixed with (5%) wool and (85%) acrylic. This Granny sweater would be a good project if you’re tempted to try mohair for the first time. It’s one that’s not too arduous to frog if you need to (but still a bit of a bugger, so don’t get too smug).

The Main Body

The Front has stripes of granny clusters added to either side of the square. I added four rows on each side. A square of 12 rounds plus 4+4 rows of stripes in total creates a (blocked) width of 50cm (20 inches).

The back needs additional height as well as the width, so work around three sides of the main square here. I did three rounds and then added just one stripe on either side.

I know I’m glossing over this quite quickly but there’s more detail about these adjustments in the Blue and Black jumper post. Hopefully, I can support the words with this basic diagram too:

Shoulders Tabs

The front panel has five rows of shaping to create the tabs and rounded neckline.

For the Back I only added two rows for the tabs. It doesn’t need much at the back, just a bit so the jumper hugs the top of your shoulders rather than riding up the nape of the neck.

Granny Stripe Sleeves

My sleeves measure 51cm long (20 inches approx) with an upper arm depth of 22cm (8.5 inches). The wrist circumference is 22cm as well. Oh, and my sleeves only weigh 53 grams each.

The change here (from my original version) is that the increases are more frequent. There are only 26 rows of granny stripes (plus the foundation row of US single crochet) for this jumper’s sleeves. I wanted to see obvious shaping and the way to do that was to work increases every three rows.

To be honest, I also fancy some batwing style sleeves too, I wonder if I’d achieve this by increasing every row? Hmm…Granny Sweater No.4 anyone??

Anyway, I began with a foundation row of 28 stitches (multiples of 3 +1). I am not a fan of working into chains so this is a crochet foundation start, for which I have a lovely video tutorial!

Crochet Ribbing

Due to the loose drape created by using a 6mm hook, I went down to a 5mm for the ribbing. I didn’t want floppy cuffs and neck! I don’t think anybody does.

Unlike my colourful stashbusting version you’ll notice that I added the ribbing at the end here. It doesn’t really matter which order you do it in. However, if you do it at the end and mess it up, at least you can frog it at this stage without unpicking the entire thing.

You’ll also notice in the picture below that I’ve worked a foundation in the same colour as the ribbing. It looks sooooo much neater when you do this.

I have used my fave ribbing again, which is demonstrated in the video tutorial, around 44 minutes in.

Look at the image below. Around the neckline, I actually worked one round of US sc stitches in the main body colour, followed by a round of the ribbing colour. This is about little finishing touches to ensure it looks tidy.

Make a Sweater Lickety Split

And that’s about it. I think this one is a winner. I cannot tell you how satisfying Granny sweater No.3 was to make. There are so many things going for it.

The yarn is a bargain and you don’t need loads.
It is a crochet sweater that’s ridiculously quick to make.
It’s bang on trend. Crochet, especially granny crochet, is totes down with the kidz.
The boxy nature means you don’t have to get a perfect fit.
…Voila!
Now you can practice yoga and fall over a bit…

I hope you’ve found these blog posts useful. WIthin them you have the means to make the perfect sweater just for you. As much as I love an official, graded pattern I also love making things up as I go. The idea behind these posts is to encourage you to do the same. Embrace winging it and let me know what you think!

Cheers! x

Zeens & Roger Crochet Podcast. Episode 36!

August 17, 2018vlogging5 Comments

Long time no see! Going OK?! …. Right, I’m getting stuck right in. Here is Episode 36 of the Zeens & Roger Crochet Podcast / Vlogcast (same thing, innit?!). Click on the pic above to go directly to the episode. Check out the whole YouTube channel HERE.

I haven’t taken up to date pics but there are a couple of progress shots below. And the links to stuff are… :

John Arbon Knit By Numbers 4ply.

Wool on the Exe – LYS

Yarndale. You’ve probs heard of it!

The Crochet Your Fade shawl is coming soon via Julme/MY Square Hat on Ravlery. HERE.

C2C dreaming…. Here is my C2C Pinterest board. Got any pics? Send them my way.

Somerset Yarns. Great colour ways.

Knitcrate. I forgot to mention that if you fancy a subscription box more than I do, ZEENSANDROGER20 is the code you need to get a discount off your first box.

You can find me in the following places: Instagram, Ravelry, Facebook, Pinterest.

Cheers. X

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August Garden

August 13, 2018flowers, garden, veg patch4 Comments

Hello! It has been aaaages! How’s it going? I haven’t written for nearly a month! I’ve been working on crochet commissions and hanging out with the boys as the summer holidays have started. I wanted to write a garden update a week or two ago but either we weren’t here or the light wasn’t right for photo taking. I’ve given up on waiting to take more pictures so I’m sharing what I have manged to snap.

Flowers first. I’m thrilled that the white anemone has bloomed for the first time. I bought it about four years ago and planted it down at the very bottom of the garden. It had never been happy there and not once did I see a flower after its first year. I dug it up last year and plonked it in a pot to live nearer the house. Hey presto! Flowers! I love anemones. I don’t suppose they’re anything special but I don’t care. They’re definitely a favourite.

See? I have a pink one too! These flowers have always been happy sharing a corner with ferns.

This plumbago lives next to the pink anemone and the ferns. It looks like the ferns are spreading and will swamp it. I ought to move it but don’t know where it could go. Given the opportunity, I think this could get much much bigger. Where would it be happiest? The borders are where I do a lot of guess work. I’ll do some research.

Then there are the patio plants. This is what I was waiting to capture; none of these photos really show what’s what. Maybe it’s a good thing there are no other images, it isn’t the best bunch of pots I’ve ever had. The prolonged high temps made things leggy and sparse. But the boys chose this year’s plants and they chose bright things. The flowers that have come out really do make an impact. Sort of. All the summer’s rain seems to have fallen in this single past week. I wonder if it’ll pep things up. Then I can ask the sun to come for a photo opportunity! Quick, please, before the autumn comes!

Veg patch. I’ve been much better at keeping things tidy this year. It helps to have more plants waiting in the wings. There has been no room for laziness. Once the mange tout was over, once I’d pulled up all the (sadly, maggotty) carrots and eaten all the broad beans, I pulled it all out to make room for leeks and purple sprouting.

I got the leek seedlings from my step dad and the purple sprouting from the garden centre. I have tried growing both from seed before but I no longer see the point. I didn’t like the tangle of microscopic leeks that you had to wrangle (and you get too many – even without sowing them all). And caterpillars ate all my PS babies (I can’t be bothered to keep typing purple sprouting). I don’t feel the need to cheat in the garden all that often but there are times when it works out for the best. Courgettes, for example, I buy two plants each year because you don’t need more than that. Even if you made all the chutney and cake to feed an entire town, there would still be a magic porridge pot of mini marrows.

Anyway, I made a PS net house. Three sodding hours it took me to build! I had to sew the netting together at the joins, which took ages. But, I have noticed lots of healthy growth and no butterflies. I was told to build it high as butterflies drop their eggs like bombs! Cheeky buggers. I’ve had to make a few repairs already as the cat has seen it as a daily challenge to break and enter. Pfft. I am hoping my efforts will be rewarded with the gloriousness of the best vegetable in the whole world! (Now that I’ve written that I realise that they’re all my favourite vegetables. I’m growing all my favourites! Of course I am, I wouldn’t grow ones I didn’t like, duh).

Finally. Have you ever happened upon a mystery squash? There’s one in the herb bed. I thought it was going to be a butternut. It’s not. I grew them once so wondered if it was a rogue seed. The other option is it’s a pumpkin. I grew mini pumpkins about five years ago. This isn’t mini. Whilst it isn’t orange, I’m guessing it’s a Halloween job. Last year I chucked the carved ones on the veg bed to rot down. There must have been seeds left in one of them. Do they turn orange at a later date? Squash Watch is a thing now.

Oh, hang on the rain has stopped. Right, I’m off outside. Whilst I’m gone, let me know what’s going on in your patch? Cheers. x

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When Did the Garden Grow?

July 11, 2018July 11, 2018garden, veg patch16 Comments

I find it so odd that a garden can grow and grow but it’s not until you look back on pictures that you really notice just how much. It’s all happened so quickly that I’ve been overwhelmed by the progress so I’m jumping in with random pics of the last couple of months before it all gets too much. This HERE is the last “stage” back in May.

I’ve only commented on a few pictures. You don’t need a massive essay on a garden I go on about all the time. As it stands, right now we’re eating courgettes (zucchini) like our lives depended on it (for the first time ever, the yellow ones are bigger & better than the green). The broad beans are just coming in, which makes me happy (I love them!). The mange tout are over but the runner beans are in flower, waiting to transform into my favourite ever beans. Beetroot and carrots are being pulled up and added to salads and roast dinners. I’m also finding a plethora of wildflowers have cheekily wedged themselves between the rows of my veg (viola, nemesia, snapdragons). They won’t get pulled up though, they’re too pretty.

At some point this week you’ll probably find me in the kitchen, standing over a pile of courgettes, trying to decide whether to make chutney, cake or both.

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The hawthorn flowered much later than expected. Usually it’s May but this wasn’t until June. I look forward to it; it makes a great focal point smack bang in the middle of my view, down at the bottom of the garden.

Every year I forget what it’s called. Not any more, Love in the Mist!

Caught in the act. But I’m totally shocked to find that none of my hostas are riddled with holes. Winner!

xxx

A Crochet Podcast. Episode 32.

June 8, 2018June 8, 2018vlogging2 Comments

Hola! It feels like it’s been ages but really it has been the usual amount of time, it’s just that I’ve been on holiday! For someone with a lack of crochet on the go I seem to have an awful lot to talk about. It’s all relative so don’t worry about any nonsense. See below for links to all things discussed in this episode, plus a few pics too. As ever, please click on the pic above to go to the episode or HERE to my YouTube channel. Thank you very much.

Holey Smokes! Version 1 is on Ravelry HERE. Version 2 is on the way at sometime in the future…

My original pompom edging tutorial. I plan on filming a version of this soon.

Granny and her rainbow edge. A free pattern.

Off the Chart. A c2c blanket, which is now available on Ravelry.

My C2C Pinterest board. Just in case you were interested!

Check out Crochetzine over on Instagram. I love that these things are happening for crochet at the minute.

Little Burrow Designs. A friend of mine and an amazing artist.

The Contemporary Craft Festival, Bovey Tracey, Devon.

A list of CALs: The KCACY calkal, Bad Boys/Bad girls summer romance cal, The Cherry Heart mal, Summer top cal from the Crochet Circle podcast, Love Yourself cal from Hannah over at Cosy Cottage Crochet.

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xxx

A Crochet Podcast. Episode 31

May 25, 2018May 25, 2018crochet, vlogging1 Comment

Howdy, are you after some crochet talk? Look no further, Episode 31 is here! Click on the pic above to miraculously travel to the crochet podcast episode or pop over and take a look at the whole YouTube channel HERE. Ta very much. Don’t forget to take a quick look at some photos below, they pretty much show what I’ve been up to over the last couple of weeks. Ta very much. X