Craft Focus - Aug/Sep (Issue 68)

thinking woolly EARN YOUR STRIPES Haafner Linssen’s new title, Stripy Blankets to Crochet offers a riot of colour to brighten up any home. The patterns featured are relaxing to create, can be worked up quickly and don’t have lots of ends to sew in. Projects vary from simple designs that only use basic stitches to more complex patterns that require a little more skill. Each blanket features a chart, full instructions and colour advice, while basic crochet techniques are also explained in detail. The book retails at £10.99. +44 (0)1892 510 850 searchpress.com A KIND OF MAGIC Wool specialist, Cygnet Yarns has a range of exciting products available this autumn, including Whopper Cotton, which can be used for knitting, crochet, weaving and macramé. The wool is available in eight vibrant shades. Also arriving in late summer, Fairydust DK is a new baby yarn that features a subtle shimmer, adding a touch of magic to knits for little ones. +44 (0)1274 743 374 cygnetyarns.com GARDEN PARTY Crocheted Cactuses is delightful little volume containing 16 on-trend projects. Using simple stitches and widely available yarn, there’s a diverse selection to choose from, all inspired by real species. Some are embellished with beads, while others have ridges, flowers and bobbles. There’s a short techniques section at the beginning of the book, and all the reader needs to get started is a hook and some yarn. It’s priced at £6.99. +44 (0)1892 510 850 searchpress.com FULL COLOUR Caron has teamed up with Pantone to produce a luxurious new yarn, combining rich merino wool with the versatility of easy- care acrylic and nylon. Caron x Pantone is packaged to include five 20g skeins, taking the headache out of selecting complementary colours. The product has a retail price of £8.99. The brand has also added tone-on- tone sparkle to create its Simply Soft Party collection, retailing at £5.49 per ball. +44 (0)116 271 3131 creativeworldofcrafts.co.uk 42 craft focus