In my last blog post I spoke about my visit to Stylecraft Mill in West Yorkshire where I met with a lovely group of knitting/crochet designers and bloggers, collectively known as the Stylecraft Blogstars.
A new yarn range had just been launched called Batik and I received this as a gift sample pack in all the 16 colours. It is a double knitting weight yarn, 20% wool, 80% premium acrylic, 50g ball, recommended needle size 4mm, UK8, US6.
While at Stylecraft Mill I met the designer Sue Pinner who has created some amazing crochet patterns for this yarn. Sue arrived carrying two lovely crochet bags (unfortunately I didn't manage to photograph them). I generally knit but occasionally crochet. Inspired by Sue's shoulder bag creations and the look of the Batik yarn, I decided on a crochet rather than a knit project.
After sampling a few of the colours in basic granny square motifs, I settled on four colours: pistachio, coral, cream and sage for a crochet bag.
Then I made 9 granny squares mixing the colours making 3 of each combination.
For the back of the bag I made one large granny square.
The strap was made with a foundation of a single chain measuring 30 inches. Followed by single crochet stitches into each chain stitch. Repeating the single crochet rows until the strap width measured about an inch.
This yarn has been a pleasure to work with and I'm very pleased with the finished result. I still have several colours left in my basket and plan to knit with this on another project...
If you would like to try this yarn for yourself I'm hosting a Stylecraft giveaway of £25.00 worth of vouchers (redeemable at UK bricks and mortar yarn stores) and some other goodies.
To enter the giveaway please leave a comment in the comments section below.
The giveaway will end at noon GMT on Monday 26th September 2016 and a winner will be chosen.
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Update 26th Sept 2016: Thank you all for the lovely comments. Comments are now closed and a winner will be announced on the blog.
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Update 26th Sept 2016: Thank you all for the lovely comments. Comments are now closed and a winner will be announced on the blog.
I am a big fan of Stylecraft Special, their premium acrylic, for things like bags and blankets and this new Batik yarn looks gorgeous with the subtle shading the colours have. This bag looks great Julia and perfect for new crocheters too.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful bag. What an amaxing giveaway please count me in.
ReplyDeleteI really love your colour combination. Your bag is just stunning.
ReplyDeleteEverything looks so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThe bag is lovely, colours are good. Do like that Batik Yarn
ReplyDeleteThese colours are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThe yarn and bag are lovely. I've only ever used Stylecraft Special before, but the batik is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI love how this bag turned out. Great color choices!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful bag. beautiful colours. Would love to try this yarn out now that Autumn projects are on my mind!
ReplyDeleteLove using this type of thing for bags, always handy for an extra present for someone...always seem to be welcomed by girlies!
ReplyDeleteI love the colours you chose for your bag! Please count me in for the giveaway.
ReplyDeletelindarumsey on Ravelry
The bag is fab, very colourful and practical. Have seen the batik in the shops and it's feels so soft, it's on my to buy list!
ReplyDeleteThese look gorgeous! I'm loving the batik effect & I'm a huge fan of Stylecraft anyway (especially Special DK and Cabaret! Oh... and how could I forget Carnival!), I suspect this will become another one of my preferred yarns!
ReplyDeleteThe new yarn is lovely and has made a fantastic bag!
ReplyDeleteI've been looking for a project to use the batik on and this is perfect. You can never have too many bags after all lol. Lovely colour combinations too!!
ReplyDeleteI've been looking for a project to use the batik on and this is perfect. You can never have too many bags after all lol. Lovely colour combinations too!!
ReplyDeleteI'm loving the colours in this new range. I'd love to be able to use some. x
ReplyDeleteI love this! So pretty!
ReplyDeleteOh I just love Stylecraft yarns but haven't had a chance to try the new Batik yarn yet. I would love to try it as it looks as wonderful as their other yarns from your work x
ReplyDeleteVI do have to say I'm new to crocheting and I am now hooked on it. Loving all the beautiful colours from the special dk, also the batik. Just started two projects at once and I can't get enough. The Bloggers and pattern designers are so helpful to a beginner (like Julia and Sue).
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing all your wisdom and giving me the confidence to give it a go!
I absolutely love your shoulder bag! I love the colour combinations and granny squares are really my thing at the moment! Would be great to try a bag as I haven't done this before x
ReplyDeleteOoooohhh would live to win this to have the opportunity to make myself a project bag. Currently use carriers and an old shoebox to keep my crochet bits in. A batik bag would be so stylish and I could practice lots of new stitches too!
ReplyDeleteLove your colour combination, the bag looks beautiful! I love using stylecraft DK, I would love to try this batik yarn too!
ReplyDeleteI love the look of the new Batik yarn and I would love to try it. Your bag is so pretty.
ReplyDeleteI would love the chance to play with this lovely squishy yarn. The colour combinations are gorgeous too.
ReplyDeleteLove the look of this yarn. Fingers crossed x
ReplyDeleteBeautiful bag and beautiful yarn. I think it would be great for hat and shawls too!
ReplyDeleteI am in NZ so I don't know if I am eligible for this, but I would love to try Stylecraft Yarns at some point. And these look simply delicious! Love the bag!
ReplyDeleteThe bag is just gorgeous! Would love to get my hands on some batik to have a play :)
ReplyDeleteGorgeous bag, would love to try batik, love Stylecraft yarn
ReplyDeleteLove the bag and the yarn, the colours go together so well
ReplyDeleteGreat bag and the muted limited colour choices work really well . The greens really appeal to me . Yet to try the Batik but an very familiar with Stylecraft yarn and use it a lot . Caroline Partridge
ReplyDeleteThe bag is lovely. Just finished knitting a pair of socks with Stylecraft Head over Heels.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! Yes please count me in :)
ReplyDeleteBatik looks gorgeous, love the muted colours and they look good in your bag. Would love to win vouchers to get some.
ReplyDeleteThe soft multi dimensional colours of the Batik make for a stunning look. I have to say I would LOVE to win some of it to use myself :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely bag, I'm loving the tray full of Baltik and that's a cool Stylecraft keyring.
ReplyDeleteThe colours are so lovely - I'd love an opportunity to work with them!
ReplyDeleteAmazing giveaway,thank you for the chance to win it.
ReplyDeleteSome vouchers to spend would be a lovely treat.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this opportunity and I 'll keep my fingers crossed I can spend it at my local wool shop.
ReplyDeleteThe colours of the Batik yarn are lovely and the bag looks amazing, would love to try this yarn.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful colors. Count me in.
ReplyDeleteI love Stylecraft. Specially the self striping ones, like Merry Go Round and the Special effects DK and Cabaret. And this Batik looks great. Would love to try it :)
ReplyDeleteThose colours are wonderful, especially love your colour choices for your crochet bag, nice one ☺
ReplyDeleteI would love to have the chance to crochet with this batik yarn. Here doesn't exist something like that. Thanks for the chance! The bag looks beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love this yarn and that bag you made is gorgeous!!!
ReplyDeleteI've never actually heard of this yarn until now but it looks simply gorgeous...as does the bag you made. The color combinations are quite impressive.
ReplyDeleteLove your colors! Some people have a gift for it. I'm overcoming the tendency to avoid colors I don't favor in instances where they compliment the scheme regardless of my opinion. Hence a lot of trusting the pattern or someone else. The bag turned out great too! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYour new bag is so colourful! I would love the chance to win some vouchers so that I can try this lovely looking yarn, thanks
ReplyDeleteThe yarn and bag are lovely......Thanks
ReplyDeleteYour bag pattern is lovely and the batik yarn added a twist and now look at this beautiful bag! I can see hats, shawls and mittens made of batik yarn...
ReplyDeleteSo effective, also the bag is a good size for all the shopping that used to go in plastic bags.
ReplyDelete