I recently received my copy of Rowan Knitting and Crochet Magazine 67, the Spring and Summer version for this year.
Design on the front cover is Bowie, by Lisa Richardson
I always look forward to checking out the latest patterns and deciding what I would like to knit or crochet for the next few months. However, the magazine isn’t just full of patterns, every issue also contains some interesting articles related to the craft of looping and twisting yarn.
Hooked on Crochet is the title of a short article by Rosee Woodland that heads up the first pattern “story” in the magazine, Crochet. In the article, Rosee talks to Lisa Richardson about her 12 crochet designs and how, by changing up the colour palette, they can also be worn in the cooler seasons of autumn and winter.
I have a few favourites from this section, such as Genoa, crocheted in Creative Linen…
Although it is supposed to be very loose fitting I think might have to adjust the width. The actual measurement of the smallest size is 107cm (42.25”) around the bust which is still too baggy for me.
Palermo, crocheted in Summerlite 4ply…
This is so cute and fashionably short and boxy. I’m not sure if It will suit me but I know my younger self would’ve loved it!
Verona, crocheted in Cotton Cashmere and Creative Linen…
Crochet either as one colour or multicoloured. This design is worked from the top down; the back and front in one piece and then the sleeves starting at the underarm, also worked top down.
Parma Wrap, crocheted in Cotton Cashmere.
Crochet the motifs joining them as you go. You can also make this as a scarf (not pictured) which consists of 3 squares in each row with 30 rows in total.
Rosee also writes about things I never even thought about crochet. I haven’t really considered it’s history and didn’t know that it is younger than knitting, probably only going back “a couple of hundred years”. Rosee continues, “its first reported use in the UK was by Scottish farmers in the early 19th century, who employed a type of slip stitch crochet to create thick garments that were then felted for extra warmth”. Concurrently, the French were working chain stitches into a fine mesh fabric. Subsequently, the mesh fabric was no longer used as a base and the chain stitches were crocheted alone and became known as “crochet in the air”. So I guess that’s how the crochet we know today began.
The second article in the magazine is titled Summer Hygge. Hygge? This is a word I keep seeing. I don’t quite know how to pronounce it and don’t know what it means. Well, Annika Andrea Wolke, the author of Summer Hygge (and also a knitwear designer) explains: “Hygge – the feeling you get when you are comfortable, happy and completely content in the moment.” Although, Annika goes on to mention, its usually associated with winter, but we knitters and crocheters can achieve this feeling any time of the year. Annika acknowledges that knitting is not as popular during the summer months as wooly yarn can stick to hot, sweaty hands but we can use cotton and linen yarns instead, which Rowan supplies in abundance!.
I am fortunate in that I have quite cool hands and it takes quite a high temperature to make my hands sweat. So, I will be working with yarn throughout the summer, sitting in the garden knitting or crocheting something.
Take a look at some of my favourites from the other pattern story featured in Magazine 67, titled Twinsets; maybe one of these will be a summer garden knit.
Beauvoir, designed by Georgia Farrell…
Beauvoir is knitted using one strand each of Kidsilk Haze and Fine Lace held together and worked from the top down. Interestingly, the dark lines you can see on the photo down the centre and along the raglan seams are formed by chain stitches embroidered on afterwards.
Or I could show-off my shoulders with Johnny, designed by Quail Studio, knitted using Summerlite 4ply…
And for those cooler summer days wrap up with June, designed by Quail Studio…
June is knitted using one strand each of Kidsilk Haze and Summerlite DK held together, a great combination!
And how do you pronounce Hygge? Hue-guh. Still no idea? Type “Google Translate” in the search bar of your internet browser. When you have found Google Translate type in the word Hygge and then click on the speaker icon to hear the pronunciation. Or click here to take you straight there.
So, will you be knitting or crocheting during the summer? And if the answer is yes, what have you chosen to make? Please do let me know by scrolling down to “Leave a Reply” below.
Esther x
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