December 2023

Newly-published books

60 Quick Crochet Projects For Beginners provides a collection of patterns aimed at helping new crocheters create lovely things while they learn new skills. I also think the book has something to offer even if you're a more experienced crocheter.

The book follows on from the "60 Quick Knits" series, a long-time collaboration between Sixth & Spring publishers and Cascade Yarns, with projects created by a team of designers. I'm not sure why the editors decided that the books should contain "60" designs, but I was somewhat concerned that having to hit that target would make it feel like they hadn't taken care with the choice of projects. However, I don't think they fell into that trap. In fact I counted twenty designs that I'd be happy to make for myself or as gifts! So even if you're not a beginner, I think this might be a book that you could turn to when you want to crochet a quick gift, or if you're looking for inspiration for your next project.

So that you can decide for yourself, here are 3 of the 7 cowls from the book:

And 3 of the 12 hats:

And the 3 mitts:

And 3 of the 6 adult sweaters—though I'm not sure how 'quick' these would be!

There are also patterns for pillows, blankets, scarves, shawls, bags, coasters, baskets and babies' slippers.

Does the book deliver on its claim to be a book for beginners? In my opinion, it does. There are clear tutorials explaining everything from the foundation chain to seaming, along with essential skills like how to read a pattern and how to keep the edges of your crochet straight. The 'how to' section is much more expansive than other crochet pattern books I've seen that claim to cater for beginners, and I think the editors have done a good job of writing instructions in a way that a complete beginner would understand. They've also thoughtfully repeated the abbreviations list on a fold-out section of the front cover, so you don't have to keep flipping back and forth as you're trying to get to grips with a pattern.

While I think it's impressive how much they have managed to fit into 192 pages, there are a couple of things that are missing that I would have loved to see. First, all the tutorials are at the start of the book, and it would have been great to have some extra tutorials further in. These could have covered techniques like standing stitches and faux stitches, which make crochet look extra beautiful, but would be too confusing to include for a beginner early on. The other thing I'd have appreciated is a gallery of photos of all the designs at the front of the book, instead of a written list. This would have made it easier to scan to see if the book contains the kind of pattern that you're after.

I think 60 Quick Crochet Projects For Beginners will be the book that I turn to first when I'm looking for crochet gift ideas. It's a nice collection of patterns and will be easier than sifting through endless online options. If you're a crocheter, it might be a book that you'd find useful to have on hand too. If you're not a crocheter, but you'd like to be, I think this book would be a helpful guide.

New and discontinued yarns

New

Cygnet
Colour Rush Chunky – Bulky – 100% Acrylic – Plied – Self-striping

DMC
Pirouette XL – Bulky – 80% Acrylic, 20% Wool – Single ply – Self-striping (gradient marl)

Debbie Bliss
Saphia – Bulky – 43% Baby Alpaca, 42% Merino Wool, 15% Linen – Plied – Semi-solid colors

Elements
Canvas Cakes XL – Bulky – 100% Acrylic – Plied – Self-striping marls
Colours Clouds DK – DK – 100% Polyester – Fleece style – Solid colors
Colours Patch – Bulky – 100% Acrylic – Plied – Multicolored
Simply Sumptuous DK – DK – 55% Nylon, 45% Acrylic – Plied – Solid colors

Emu
Classic Tweed Chunky – Bulky – 80% Acrylic, 15% Merino Wool, 5% Viscose – Tweedy – Tweed colors

Gründl
Hot Socks Merino – Fingering – 75% Merino Superwash Wool, 25% Nylon – Plied – Solid colors
Merino Mio – Sport – 100% Merino Superwash Wool – S on S plied – Solid colors
Papagallo – DK – 100% Acrylic – Plied – Self-striping
Quick & Cosy – Super Bulky – 80% Acrylic, 20% Superwash Wool – Plied – Solid colors

Hobbii
Cascata – Aran – 61% Cotton, 39% Acrylic – Fiber-filled net – Self-striping
Friends Ribbon – Super Bulky – 100% Cotton – Tape – Solid colors
Friends Ribbon Gold – Super Bulky – 63% Cotton, 37% Metallic – Tape – Solid colors with metallic
Tea Time – Worsted – 100% Acrylic – Single ply – Self-striping (gradient transition)

Illimani Yarn
Royal II – Bulky – 100% Superfine Alpaca – Brushed bouclé – Semi-solid colors
Santi Tweed – DK – 35% Merino Superwash Wool, 20% Alpaca, 15% Silk, 15% Viscose, 15% Yak – Tweedy – Tweed colors

Kelbourne Woolens
Erin – Bulky – 100% Wool – Plied – Heathered colors

Knit Picks / We Crochet
Bubbly Bouclé – DK – 82% Superfine Alpaca, 13% Merino Wool, 5% Nylon – Bouclé – Solid colors
Caterpillar – Sport – 57% Cotton, 43% Merino Wool – Fiber-filled net – Solid colors
Felicini – Fingering – 75% Merino Superwash Wool, 25% Nylon – Plied – Self-striping
Impressionist – Sport – 80% Merino Wool, 20% Nylon – Plied with a soft haze – Multicolored
Y2K – DK – 93% Superfine Alpaca, 7% Nylon – Chained – Self-striping (gradient transition)

La Bien Aimée
Alix – Lace – 70% Falklands Wool, 30% Suri Alpaca – 2 ply – Tonal colors, Multicolored, Speckled colors
Big Kumo – Aran – 73% Baby Alpaca, 20% Merino Wool, 7% Silk – Fuzzy – Tonal colors, Multicolored, Speckled colors
Little Kumo – Lace – 65% Baby Alpaca, 35% Silk – Brushed bouclé – Tonal colors, Multicolored, Speckled colors

Lana Grossa
Woohoo – Bulky – 100% Merino Superwash Wool – Plied – Solid colors

Lion Brand
Cover Story Chainette – Super Bulky – 100% Polyester – Fuzzy chain – Self-striping (gradient transition)
Cover Story Dreamland – Super Bulky – 100% Polyester – Fleece style – Multicolored
Cover Story Lazy Days Thick & Quick® – Super Bulky – 100% Polyester – filled_tube – Solid colors
Cover Story Squish Stitch – Jumbo – 100% Polyester – filled_tube – Solid colors
Cover Story Thick & Quick – Jumbo – 100% Polyester – Chenille – Multicolored
Made With Love The Cottony One – Heavy Worsted – 60% Cotton, 40% Acrylic – S on S plied – Solid colors

Naturally Yarns
New Zealand Merino – DK – 100% Merino Superwash Wool – Plied – Solid colors

Phildar
Phil Easy – Super Bulky – 32% Acrylic, 32% Wool, 20% Nylon, 16% Alpaca – Fuzzy chain – Self-striping (fair-isle effect)

Plymouth Yarn
Angora Mist – Worsted – 80% Angora, 20% Nylon – Plied with a soft haze – Solid colors

Sandnes Garn
Poppy – Heavy Worsted – 50% Superfine Alpaca, 35% Cotton, 15% Merino Wool – Fiber-filled net – Dashed colors

String Yarns
Capri Bulky Pure Cashmere – Bulky – 100% Cashmere – Crepe – Solid colors
Capri DK Pure Cashmere – Worsted – 100% Cashmere – Plied with a soft haze – Solid colors

Stylecraft
Knit Me Crochet Me – DK – 80% Acrylic, 20% Superwash Wool – Single ply – Multicolored

Trendsetter Yarns
Sweetie – DK – 100% Corn / Maize – Plied – Solid colors

Universal Yarn
Bella Pom Pom – Carry-along – 78% Nylon, 22% Polyester – Pompom – Multicolored

Viking of Norway
Iris – Heavy Worsted – 80% Merino Superwash Wool, 20% Nylon – Fiber-filled net – Self-striping (gradient transition)
Snorre – Super Bulky – 100% Highland Wool – Single ply – Solid colors

We Are Knitters
The Mini Cotton – Worsted – 100% Cotton – Plied – Solid colors

Woolcraft
Starlight Chunky – Bulky – 74% Acrylic, 26% Metallic – Tinsel – Metallic colors

Yarn and Colors
Happy – Bulky – 50% Nylon, 25% Acrylic, 25% Wool – Plied – Solid colors
Joy – DK – 50% Nylon, 25% Acrylic, 25% Wool – Plied – Solid colors

Discontinued

Amano Yarns
Pacha – DK – 50% Mulberry Silk, 25% Mohair, 25% Wool – Plied with a soft haze – Solid colors, Heathers
Puyu – Bulky – 70% Baby Alpaca, 30% Mulberry Silk – Fiber-filled net – Semi-solid colors
Yupi – Sport – 80% Superwash Wool, 20% Baby Alpaca – 2 ply – Self-striping

Berroco
Isola – DK – 38% Cotton, 36% Linen, 26% Viscose – Slubby tweed – Self-striping
Mochi – Heavy Worsted – 37% Baby Alpaca, 35% Nylon, 26% Merino Wool, 2% Synthetic – Fiber-filled net – Speckled colors
Tiramisu – Worsted – 38% Wool, 28% Acrylic, 23% Superkid Mohair, 11% Silk – Single ply – Multicolored
Vivo – DK – 100% Cotton – Slubby tweed – Self-striping

Biscotte Yarns
Lumos – Fingering – 75% Merino Superwash Wool, 20% Nylon, 5% Metallic – Plied – Tonal colors with metallic, Multicolored with metallic, Self-striping with metallic

DROPS Design
DROPS Loves You 8 – Aran – 100% Cotton – Loosely plied – Solid colors

Fraya Yarn
Soothing – Fingering – 100% Tencel / Lyocell – Plied – Solid colors, Multicolored

Garnudsalg
Blackhill Chunky Élevé Upcycled – Heavy Worsted – 100% Wool – Plied – Solid colors, Heathered colors

Katia
Concept Pluma – Aran – 85% Cotton, 15% Nylon – Fuzzy – Solid colors
Easy Jacquard – Aran – 70% Acrylic, 30% Wool – Plied – Self-striping (fair-isle effect)

Lana Gatto
Fresh – Sport – 100% Linen – Plied – Solid colors, Marled colors

Lion Brand
A Star Is Born - Oh Baby Organic – Sport – 100% Organic Cotton – S on S plied – Solid colors

Manos del Uruguay
Serpentina – Heavy Worsted – 100% Merino Superwash Wool – Thick and thin – Multicolored, Speckles

Mary Maxim
Starlette Chunky – Super Bulky – 100% Acrylic – Plied – Solid colors

Plymouth Yarn
Gina – Worsted – 100% Wool – Single ply – Self-striping (gradient transition)

Premier Yarns
Anti-Pilling Everyday Medley – Worsted – 100% Acrylic – Plied – Heathered colors
Coffee Shop – DK – 85% Acrylic, 15% Superwash Wool – Single ply – Self-striping (gradient marl)
Premier Basix Chenille Max – Jumbo – 100% Polyester – Chenille – Solid colors
Very Plush Big – Jumbo – 100% Polyester – Faux fur – Solid colors

Universal Yarn
Yashi – Heavy Worsted – 100% Viscose – Raffia – Solid colors

If you'd like to get in touch, please send a mail to hello@yarnsub.com (you can simply reply to this mail) or find me on Instagram.

Wishing you a Happy Christmas and some extra knitting and crochet time over the holidays!

See you in January 2024!

Wendy

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