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Scheepjes YARN, Issue 5: WOMAN – Lotus Leaf Blanket

Looking for something new to crochet? Scheepjes Yarns has released their latest issue of YARN bookazine, and it is so lush.

Find this issue here at > WoolWarehouse < for speedy delivery.

The theme for this issue is “WOMAN” and as a beautiful celebration of the pride and love that goes into being a woman. An expression of pride is present in every photograph.

Take a look at the beautiful cover:

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Related Links

  • Find the YARN Bookazine and other Scheepjes publications at WoolWarehouse.*
  • Head to Ravelry to see projects, learn more about the designers, find yarn options, see more photos, and a whole lot more
  • Shop the yarn I used in my project: Cahlista Yarn*

Selected Highlights

I chose a couple contributions to this issue to share with you all.

Chill-out Blanket

First I picked the “Chill-out Blanket”, by Maria McPherson of 50 Shades of 4-Ply. See this piece on Ravelry. It is made with River Washed*, and I really like it because, well I have an obsession with blankets (you may know), and also the coziness appeals to me greatly. Sometimes you just want a back-and-forth blanket amidst all the current crochet trends.

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Amethyst Dress

The “Amethyst Dress” is the other project I wanted to highlight. I have always had some serious respect for designers who create garments, as I find it a great challenge to get the sizing and drape just right. Tatsiana Kupryianchyk of Lilla Bjorn Crochet really nailed it in her elegant and empowering design using Whirl* yarn. Read more about her contribution from her website or see it on Ravelry.

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Lotus Leaf Blanket

Maybe you’d like to read about my contribution to the issue? It is the Lotus Leaf Blanket, made with Cahlista *  yarn. See more on Ravelry, and hit that Favorite button! 🙂 I designed this piece to push my boundaries and experiment with carrying motifs and stitches in the same blanket. The color palette speaks to me as blues and greens are so relaxing, peaceful, and re-energizing. I have been on a real energy, meditation, zen kick lately (see my free Relaxghans Series for further proof), and expressing this through crochet has been the best thing for my mental health.

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Thanks to the talented Iris Dongo of Southern Belle Crochet for testing this blanket for me. I couldn’t have done it without her input!

Find Lotus Leaf Blanket on Ravelry, and shop Cahlista Yarn at my affiliate stores: WoolWarehouse, Knotty House, Black Sheep Wools, or at other Scheepjes retailers.

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I thought in addition to revealing a few of the beautifully styled shots that can be seen in the YARN bookazine, I would show a couple photos from my living room. 🙂

Here is Lotus Leaf lounging on her blocking board. I use a set of 4 large foam mats which interlock to form a 4x4ft square. This creates the perfect surface to pin and re-pin projects. Cahlista blocks out like a dream, and blocking changes the drape dramatically. It makes the piece light and airy. If you are wary of blocking, I’d say you don’t have to do it with every project, but it does make a great difference. I also use an industrial fan that I got at Lowe’s. It just blows on the pinned blanket for about an hour, and it’s dry. Ta-da!

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The final piece. I was almost sad to wrap her up and send her on her journey to the Netherlands, but what a great sense of pride I get seeing my designs printed among those of the talented designers that contribute to YARN bookazine.

Thanks for your support, everyone! I would still be wandering around aimlessly with a hook in my hand if it weren’t for you crafters always cheering me on and pushing me to do more. – Rachele C.

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*This post contains affiliate links marked with an asterisk. Shopping through them will help support CypressTextiles at no additional cost to you. Yay!

Hi, y’all! Did you miss my new pattern in the Scheepjes YARN Bookazine, Issue 6, “FOLK” (affiliate)? Hit the pause button on this post, go give it a favorite and pop it in your queue on Ravelry, then come right back.


Okay, you back? Fab! Now I’m ready to show you a new colorway and yarn that I used to create a meditation rug from my Lotus Leaf Blanket pattern published in the fifth issue of Scheepjes YARN, “WOMAN”.

First, a quick tour of my past YARN contributions

Issue 5 Lotus Leaf Blanket in Scheepjes Cahlista Yarn

Related links:

Here is the beautiful cover for the fifth issue of YARN.


Introduction

When I started out designing Lotus Leaf, I had in mind to make it a meditation rug, but along the way, somehow it changed into a blanket pattern. With all the different fresh motifs and patterning, I had this nagging in the back of my mind to show you what it was like as a meditation rug! Of course the design is the same, but the yarn is updated, and my friend Iris Dongo of Southern Belle Crochet worked up a sample for me to test the pattern. She used a holiday colorway that I am so in love with!


My rug in blues and greens original colorway

Have a look at the texture and happy color!

Another shot, with a sneak peek from the all white motif – y’all know I have to change it up when I design. Often, people tell me they couldn’t create layouts like mine because they are too “OCD.” Well I think I must me the opposite of OCD because asymmetric and semi-random (or full-on chaotic) is my specialty.

Of course, that border! Crisp and fresh, full of positive energy. Also: sparklyyy.

Holiday theme colorway – sample made by Iris Dongo

Iris used Twinkle yarn as well, but in this fruity palette that’s perfect for the holiday season! (Added bonus – border looks like watermelon.) And I don’t know if you can see it in this pic, but the yarn has a sparkly thread running through it. YUM! This yarn is perfect for holiday ornaments, bunting, crochet or knit wreaths, and pretty much all your decor needs.

I love adding in unexpected colors like the tan, pink, and light orange. They let the red and green mellow out a little for an updated spin on the classics. Iris killed it with this sample – she is very talented. Check out her Etsy Shop.

I’m just loving these two next to each other. My eldest daughter and I already do yoga together, so maybe now we need to meditate on these rugs together. D’aawwwww!


Scheepjes Twinkle Yarn

From the Wool Warehouse page, all the yarny info and a sneak peek.

Thanks for having a look at these pieces. I’ve been waiting to share them, and with the recent release of YARN 6, I thought it would be the perfect time. And now it’s the perfect time… to meditate, have a yoga sesh, a cuppa, some “play crochet” and a good Netflix binge. Sounds like self-care heaven!

Love you guys!

Happy crafting,

Rachele C.