My Circles & Squares project is coming along nicely. Last week I showed you the Scheepjes Colour Crafter Velvet yarn I was going to work with and the colours I'd chosen. Now that I've made a couple of circles and squares I can say that I'm more than happy with how the four shades work together. The colours are so vibrant and they really reinforce one another.

I'm working on two different patterns. I started designing the granny square first. It's so great to have a design you can use for all kinds of projects: blankets, cushion covers, shawls or bags. Once I'd finished it, I wanted to do more with the circle inside the square so I decided to make a companion piece to the square. I started expanding the circle, which was a little harder than expected. I wanted it to lay completely flat and it took a lot of frogging before I was satisfied. After having designed so many items, it still surprises me how adding or losing just one stitch here and there can make such a big difference. So far I have made one large circle and a few squares. I've tried two different colour orders and will see if I can combine them in my project. Any ideas on what I'm making? Well, next week I'll reveal all!





Purple: Burton 859
Blue: Taylor 842
Mint: Hepburn 844

1. Yarn Prize Pack #1: Caroline Lennek – Please send a Facebook message to Jennifer at A Crocheted Simplicity (click here)
2. Yarn Prize Pack #2: Alecia Rivers Goodman – Please send a Facebook message to Jennifer at A Crocheted Simplicity (click here)
3. Yarn Prize Pack #3: Kyla Mahoney – Please send a Facebook message to Jennifer at A Crocheted Simplicity (click here)
4. $25 Etsy Gift Card: Andrea Stoessal – Please send a Facebook message to Jennifer at A Crocheted Simplicity (click here)
5. $25 Etsy Gift Card: Louise Dorais – Please send a Facebook message to Jennifer at A Crocheted Simplicity (click here)
6. $25 Etsy Gift Card: Deidre M – Please send a Facebook message to Jennifer at A Crocheted Simplicity (click here)
7. $25 Etsy Gift Card: Andrea Muskett – Please send a Facebook message to Jennifer at A Crocheted Simplicity (click here)
8. $50 Amazon Gift Card: Brandi Stevenson – Please send a Facebook message to Kathy at ELK Studio (click here)
9. $50 Amazon Gift Card: Carol Sturman – Please send a Facebook message to Maria at Pattern Paradise (click here)
10. Unwind Box: Amanda Hart – Please send a Facebook message to Melody at Melody’s Makings (click here)
11. Hand dyed yarn & stitch markers: Steph Gilbert – Please send a Facebook message to Katy at KT and the Squid Yarns (click here)
12. Stitch Markers: Morgan Bryant Schrodt – Please send a Facebook message to Mary at Made by Mary (click here)
13. Clover Amour Crochet Hooks: Amanda Dancy – Please send a Facebook message to Jennifer at A Crocheted Simplicity (click here)

This week I'm going to start a new design in my favourite colours. Since I mostly work with sport weight mercerized cotton (Scheepjes Catona), I though it might be nice to work with a completely different yarn this time. I could have made this design in cotton too but I chose Scheepjes Colour Crafter Velvet, which is a DK acrylic yarn, to make it extra soft and cosy. Well, actually, I'll be making two things soft and cosy and I'll share the patterns here soon.

I selected four shades that fit bang into my colour comfort zone. For those of you who have no clue: "peacocky" shades always work for me whatever the design ;-) I won't tell you what designs I have in mind just yet but I can give you two clues: Circles & Squares.


I've already been swatching and taking lots of notes so I think I'll be able to show you some Circles & Squares next week.

A bit more info on Colour Crafter Velvet
Let me give you a little more info on Colour Crafter Velvet because it's not the most well-known Scheepjes yarn and I think it deserves more attention. It's the younger sister of the regular Colour Crafter yarn you may know from the 2016 Scheepjes CAL Last Dance on the Beach. The Velvet version has one main colour with white streaks in different gradations, giving the impression that in these places the colour has weathered a bit so that it looks like faded velvet. It comes in 20 different shades and needless to say, they combine perfectly with regular Colour Crafter.
In YARN book-a-zine issue 4, you'll find a lovely granny square made with Colour Crafter Velvet.