A postcard from March 2026

Image shows a closeup of some white blossom against a blue sky

April 1, 2026 ~ Making Stitches ~ Leave a comment

Hello there! I hope you’re doing well. My word, March was a super month in my world, filled with fun, sunshine and lots to interesting chats with super people. The main highlight of the month was the TexStyle Festival in Manchester city centre. It was the first of its kind and I spent the whole weekend at it – it was amazing!

So, here’s a little round up of the past month in my neck of the woods…

Sunny days

I don’t want to sound like a weather bore, but in amongst the usual damp and grey March days, we enjoyed several beautiful sunny and warm days this month. Fortunately for me, some of them happened on days when I wasn’t working so I was able to enjoy some time out pottering in my garden.

It was lovely to be able to give the back lawn it’s first cut of the year – it was getting very long and tufty in places, and it stayed looking pretty smart for a couple of hours until it returned to being used as a penalty shoot out area again! One day I will have a pristine lawn, but only when my resident footballers have flown the nest, so I’m not wishing my life away.

A Literary Evening Out

In early March I went along to our local bookshop along with a very good friend of mine to hear local author, Helen Gaskell, speak about her first novel. Released at the height of Bridgerton Series 4 fever, her book The Regency Switch involves time travel from the present day, back to the Regency era.

Helen gave a really fascinating talk and we really enjoyed our evening out (on a school night too!).

Thank you Helen for a brilliant evening!

Image is of author Helen Gaskell posing for the camera holding her first novel, The Regency Swap in a book shop in front of book cases

TexStyle Festival 2026

Oh my, where to begin with TexStyle Festival? What a wonderful weekend of fun, creativity and community!

I was thrilled to be asked to compere the Textile Talks stage at the festival, so I was lucky enough to spend the full two days at Manchester Central, enjoying all that it had to offer. The weekend’s speakers were textile artists, Sophia Gardiner, Stephen West from WestKnits, Amelia Rogers from Amelia Stitches, Gareth from Manchester Wool & Yarn, Debbie Munro from The Lace Knittery & Jane Smith from Japanese Embroidery UK.

It was a brilliant weekend and I feel really privileged to have been a small part of it all. I took my podcast microphone with me (naturally) and shared an episode all about the weekend.

The whole TexStyle experience was a whirlwind, which I still can’t stop thinking about, I had so many lovely conversations with people and look forward to seeing lots of them again in the not too distant future. I’m really grateful to be a part of this super duper community.

Victoria Salmon from Another Knitted Thing

To get a true flavour of the event, please check out my TexStyle 2026 episode of Making Stitches Podcast.

My March Makes

My only full length photo of my new cardigan taken in the loos at TexStyle!

Image is of the back of a cardigan made using Orla Squares — My only full length photo of my new cardigan taken in the loos at TexStyle!

Last month in my Postcard from February, I mentioned that I was working on something using the Orla Squares I had made during my summer craft challenge. The aim was to get a new cardigan made using the squares and I just about managed to get it finished in time for the second day of the TexStyle Festival.

The pattern I used for the squares was on PS I Crochet’s Instagram account last year in Karen’s Orla Love Bag post you can see her account here.

I’m really chuffed with how the cardigan ended up and received some nice compliments about it when I had it on at TexStyle, which is always nice!

Zeens and Roger Small Bobble Cowl pattern

Once my cardigan was finished and I had time to hit my WIP pile with determination to tick another WIP off the list, I settled on this Small Bobble Cowl. I started it in January and then it was cast aside for cardigan making. The pattern is by Zeens and Roger and is called the ‘Small Bobble Cowl’, you can find a link to the crochet pattern bundle for cowls designed by Rosina here. I loved making this and used yarn from Kitey aka https://www.yarnwhisperer.co.uk I love the vibrancy of the colours against the cream background yarn. I just hoping when I wear it, I don’t look too much like a children’s TV presenter!

My final make for March was this ‘mini-me’ for my Zumba instructor, Guillaume who left us at the end of the month to concentrate on his other, candle making business.

I can’t tell you how much my Tuesday evenings dancing have meant to me over the past 4 years I’ve been going. They have been the highlight of my week and such a laugh.

If you want to support his business, I can highly recommend his candles, wax melts, diffusers and candle-making classes. All of which leave your nose in raptures of lovely smells! You can find all of Gui’s products at https://malumiere.co.uk

The mini-me is not anatomically correct by the way! I used my fail safe of adapting a pattern from the Carla Mitrani book Crochet Iconic Women.

On Making Stitches Podcast this month…

I kicked off a brand new series of Making Stitches Podcast this month with a chat I had with Katy Mitchell aka Kate’s Crochet Creations.

Katy is a passionate advocate for the Granny Square and has designed hundreds of different ones. She published her first book last year ‘The Granny Square Book’ which is filled with over 100 different designs for you to make your own unique Granny Square projects with.

You can find Katy’s episode here

Episode art for Episode 101 of Making Stitches Podcast

Episode artwork for the TexStyle festival 2026 episode 102 of Making Stitches Podcast

I have said so much about this festival already in the post, but in case you missed it before, my second episode of the month came out last week and features the brilliant TexStyle Festival. You can listen to it along with all the previous Making Stitches Podcast episodes in all the main podcast places like Apple Podcasts, Spotify etc as well as on my Making Stitches Podcast website.

And that’s it for this month, I hope March was kind to you and that April goes well too. We have the Easter long weekend just around the corner and with it plenty of time to enjoy time with family and my yarn too! Thank you for stopping by to read my latest update.

Have a lovely month!

Lindsay x

A Postcard from February 2026

March 8, 2026 ~ Making Stitches ~ Leave a comment

Hello there! I hope life is treating you well. I am writing this bathed in early spring sunshine which is so welcome after a very grey and damp few weeks we’ve had.

I honestly thought that February had been quite a busy month for me, but when I took a look back at my photos I realised that perhaps it wasn’t as busy as I remembered – or perhaps maybe the busyness wasn’t as photogenic as I’d hoped it was!

One thing which happened (which I have no photos for) was the excitement of a new BBC show being filmed in my local area which was a bit of a thrill. Have you watched Small Prophets? There has been a lot of noise about it locally as some of the filming locations are less than 10 minutes walk from my front door! For those who may not know what I’m banging on about, it’s a show written by Mackenzie Crook (from The Office (the original UK version), Pirates of the Carribean and more recently the TV show Detectorists) about a man whose girlfriend disappeared years ago and he’s effectively waiting for her to return. It’s a really touching story with great actors. I won’t spoil it by saying any more, but it’s a heartwarming story about friendship with a bit of supernatural activity involved and cameo from Michael Palin. Do go and watch it on BBC iplayer if you can – you’ll see one of our local pubs, the street that’s central to the plot and a few other locations around my hometown featuring.

Without further ado here is a rather potted version of what I got up to last month…

A trip over the Pennines

I got the chance to travel over the Pennines to Halifax one weekend to visit a work colleague who I worked with pre children (20+ years ago – eek). In fact, we both went off on maternity leave with our firstborns at the same time. I didn’t go back to that job and I think she then went off and did other things pretty quickly too.

We hadn’t seen each other since a chance get together on the Costa del Sol back when we lived in Gibraltar! It was high time for a catch up, so we chose a spot which was halfway between where we both are now and that spot was Piece Hall in Halifax.

It was so lovely to be back as Piece Hall was somewhere we had visited a few times back in the days before children, Gibraltar and blogging were a thing for me! I arrived a bit early so had a look around the visitor centre first of all. We had the most delicious lunch and put the world to rights before heading off for a mooch around the lovely independent shops which are nestled in amongst the different rooms of the hall.

One of the beautiful gates at one of the entrances to Piece Hall

There was a big exhibition of vintage tractors going on in the central area which had attracted loads of visitors and little ones were entertained with a treasure trail put on for the half term holidays – there was such a vibrant atmosphere, it was really lovely to be back again.

Spring

It certainly feels like Spring is doing its thing in the sunshine today. I just love seeing the first tiny hints of green appearing on branches at this time of the year. I went out for a walk one afternoon during the half term holidays and spied this hawthorn about to burst forth which made me smile. Half terms have taken on a new meaning for me these days. Gone are the days of trying to find activities to keep young ones entertained, and now (thanks to my manager being very flexible) I am often able to work from home during the school holidays so I can be a presence in the house even if I am not ‘off’ work. I was fortunate this time that I was able to take a bit of leave (before the financial year end) and got out and about for a few walks on my own – one teenager was otherwise engaged and the other was revising for exams so I escaped for some fresh air alone!

My Makes in February

I set myself a deadline which I thought would be pretty tough to hit when I started work on my cardigan in January. I wanted it to be finished by the end of February, and I’m thrilled to say I managed it with 2 days to spare – go me! I’m so pleased with how it turned out. I have knitted cables before but never lacework and I really enjoyed seeing how this intricate panel appeared just thanks to some slipped stitches and yarn overs! I shall be dipping my toe back into knitting again before too long, I’m sure of that.

My next make involves the crocheted ‘Orla Squares’ I made during my Summer Craft Challenge last year. I used the project to use up some tiny balls of Scheepjes Catona which I was gifted a box of a while ago (they have been sitting there waiting to be used for quite some time). I determined to only make one square using each of the shades which limited how many squares I could make, but didn’t know what their ultimate use would be.

Recently, I got to thinking about them again and thought they might make a nice cardigan. I don’t have enough to make an entire cardigan out of them, so think I’ll use them to make the body and have the sleeves with a different design. I’m at the playing with colours stage trying to work out how they will sit alongside each other – random or colour blocked? Only time will tell!

Exciting news

Now this is something I’m really excited about which is happening next week. The first ever TexStyle Festival is coming to Manchester Central on the weekend of 14^th & 15^th March. I spoke to Michelle, one of the organisers of the event on Making Stitches Podcast last year and heard all about the plans for the event. There will be stalls, workshops and all sorts going on over the weekend and I was getting giddy to have such a large craft related event happening so close to my home.

Last month, I was thrilled to be asked to host the Textile Talks stage at the festival! I will be there to introduce the guest speakers including Stephen West from WestKnits, Amelia from Amelia Stitches, Gareth from Manchester Wool & Yarn, Debbie from The Lace Knittery, Laili from Emily Foulds Knits and Charmingo Sews Academy. I simply cannot wait!!

If you would like to come along and enjoy what promises to be a brilliant event, you can find all the information about it here: https://texstyle.uk/

And that just about brings this Monthly Postcard to an end. I promise I will have a more exciting round up by the end of this month – thanks to TexStyle! If you are going to be there, please pop along to the talks stage and say hello!

Until next time, have a great month and look after yourself!

Lindsay x

A postcard from January 2026

February 1, 2026January 31, 2026 ~ Making Stitches ~ Leave a comment

Hello there! I hope 2026 is treating you kindly so far. It’s been a pretty good month for us, no dramas, no insurmountable problems and despite people calling January the longest month of the year – I think it’s sped by pretty quickly. I wasn’t really ready for it to come to an end, but it has and here I am with my first monthly postcard of the year.

Here’s a little snapshot of what I have been up to so far this year…

A cold start to the month

I know some places around the UK and further afield have experienced some very cold and snowy weather of late. As usual, in my part of the world – which is renowned for its dampness – we have had a rather cold snap but not so much of the white stuff. I always get excited when I see a flurry of snowflakes coming down, it immediately transports me back to being a child again. Unfortunately for the children (and some of the grown ups) in my part of Manchester, there certainly wasn’t enough for snowmen this month!

We did experience some very cold weather in the first week of the year though, unfortunately for us, it coincided with our central heating boiler going on the blink. Youngest had a football match on the first Sunday of the month, in minus 6 weather. It was bitterly cold, but thanks to the fact it was being played on a very smart, state-of-the-art artificial pitch, it was the only game that week in their league which wasn’t called off.

Despite wearing thermal leggings and top under my usual clothes, with two pairs of socks, double coat and hat, I wimped out and ran back to the car to get the heaters on at half time, this picture shows the payers heading back onto the pitch after the shortest half time I’ve ever experienced. Clearly everyone wanted to get it over and done with and get back to warm houses! I had enough time to walk to the car, turn on the ignition and then it was time to go back out into the cold again!

We ended up going home to a cold house as our boiler had stopped working. Thankfully, some of the football parents had spare electric heaters which they leant to us until we could get it fixed (a faulty sensor apparently). It was a stark reminder that without central heating it can be very cold, and for those who struggle to pay for heating, it must be very bleak indeed.

100 episodes of Making Stitches Podcast

I can hardly believe I’m writing this, but at the start of January, I released episode number 100 of Making Stitches Podcast. It was a bit different this time, as my friend Christine Perry aka Winwick Mum offered to interview me! It was lovely having a chat with Christine, we talked about how I got into my crafty passions as well as my broadcasting experiences and my previous podcast, Gibraltar Stories.

It was a bit out of my comfort zone at first, I normally like to be the one asking the questions! But Christine was very gentle with me and was an excellent podcast host! If you haven’t listened yet, you can find it in all the usual podcast places (by searching for Making Stitches Podcast) – you can also find it here, on the Making Stitches Podcast website.

Also this month, my podcast host (Buzzsprout) sent me a lovely recap of the year. It was filled with stats about 2025 for Making Stitches and I was floored to hear that last year, it was listened to in 156 countries & territories around the world!! That’s just a little bit bonkers isn’t it??

Another birthday!

I celebrated my birthday this month, and was spoiled by Eldest who sent these beautiful flowers to me through the post. They were super. I felt very appreciated.

Also for my birthday, my lovely parents took me to see an amazing show at Manchester Cathedral called Luminisence. It was incredible. We arrived knowing very little about what to expect and found some chairs at the back. Slowly the cathedral began to fill with people and then the music started. It was a stunning performance of so many great tunes by a gospel choir with the stunning backdrop of Manchester Cathedral illuminated by a light show. Lights and moving pictures were projected onto the walls and ceiling while the music played along with a narration by the actor, Christopher Eccleston talking about the history of the city and the cathedral itself. If you get the chance to go, I highly recommend it – it was stunning.

January makes

One of my lovely colleagues at work celebrated a big birthday recently. I felt it warranted a mini-me to be made so knocked this little lady up. I used Carla Mitrani’s Crochet Iconic Women book as the basis for the pattern. I love this book and have made so many gifts for special people using the patterns in it.

This gorgeous book was a birthday present to myself. The Crochet Stitch Companion by Anna Nikipirowicz. I want to try to get to grips with mosaic crochet this year, and thought this was a good place to start.

When it arrived through the post, it came wrapped up with this cute crocheted flower and a tea bag! Never before have I received such a beautifully presented book through the post.

Also this month, I managed to get around to getting these hearts off to the North West & North Wales Paediatric Transport Service. The service has an appeal for yarny hearts (knitted or crocheted will do). They ask for 3 matching hearts, one for the patient (a child) and one for each parent, so if they have to be separated from each other during the journey they are on, or at their destination, they will all have a matching heart to keep hold of.

You can read all about the appeal here.

And I’ve been knitting! I got a voucher at Christmas for my favourite yarn shop, Black Sheep Wools, so popped along and spent it on a pattern, some yarn and new needles. I have set myself a tight deadline of mid March for two new cardigans, one knitted (see picture) and another one which is crocheted. Do you think I’ll manage to hit the deadline? Only time will tell.

Miles for Meals

I didn’t really start the year with any resolutions, but I did set myself the target of walking or running 104km this month. At my work (FareShare Greater Manchester) we are trying to raise £25,000 to replace one of our delivery vans which have a habit of breaking down. We use those vans to get food out to the charities and community groups which we support with surplus food. I pledged to walk or run the distance of one of those delivery routes – the one from our base in Openshaw to Atherton and Wigan which is around 65 miles long or 104 km.

I set out on my Miles for Meals mission in the first few days of the year. We traveled to Rivington which is just a stone’s throw from the Atherton and Wigan delivery route and climbed to the top of Rivington Pike. It was a cold and sunny day and we could see as far as Manchester city centre, the mountains of North Wales, Liverpool docks, Blackpool tower and the mountains of the southern Lake District from the top of the hill. It was stunning.

Since then, my walks and runs haven’t been quite as picturesque and were often after dark, but I did manage a morning run on my birthday which was frosty and sunny and then yesterday, on my final day, I woke up with another 10km still to cover, so I set off on a solo walk from our home to a lovely riverside coffee shop beside the River Mersey and back again – a round trip of 10.5km which took about 2 hours to complete. I can safely say I have completed my mission and should you like to contribute to my fundraising efforts, you can find my Just Giving page here.

Thank you!

And that brings me to a close. Thank you for joining me on this jaunt back through the last 31 days! I’m hoping to maintain this throughout the year with a monthly postcard – something I failed to do last year, but we’ll see how it goes.

I hope that February is kind to you and I look forward to seeing what it has in store for us!

Thanks for stopping by!

Lindsay x

Happy New Year!

January 1, 2026 ~ Making Stitches ~ Leave a comment

Hello and happy New Year!

I hope you had a peaceful and happy Chtistmas time. I’ve been a bit quiet on here lately owning to being very busy. I am hoping to be around here a little more often in future if life allows!

I’m looking forward to sharing some posts about the last few months including a fabulous visit back to Gibraltar in autumn in the coming weeks all being well.

Before then though, I wanted to let you know about a very special Making Stitches Podcast episode which is out tomorrow – Episode 100!

Before then though, I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has read my posts, sent me comments and messages, listened to my podcast and joined in with the Making Stitches 2025 CAL this year. You have made it a very special one for me as I celebrated 10 years of this blog (previous Postcard from Gibraltar) and now Making Stitches.

I’d also like to thank my blogging pal, Eleonora from Coastal Crochet for helping me celebrate a decade of blogging with our ‘Let’s Celebrate’ collaboration wreath – that was a blast!

I’m off now to put the finishing touches to tomorrow’s podcast episode, I look forward to sharing it with you!

Thanks again to you all for being there & I hope 2026 is kind to you!

Lindsay x

Making Stitches 2025 CAL Bonus 2025 Square & Join-As-You-Go method

December 12, 2025December 13, 2025 ~ Making Stitches ~ Leave a comment

So we are in the midst of December already, and I thought I would share what I did with my Making Stitches 2025 CAL squares. Once I had laid them all out, I realised that 15 squares didn’t make for a great blanket shape. As I had gone to the trouble of designing 3 extra squares this year in addition to the 12 monthly ones, I decided to use them all.

There was the extra July ‘Tutti Frutti’ square, the ‘Bonus Birthday Bunting square’ and the ‘Bonus Granny Square Day square’ as well as the ones through from January to December. I figured I’d better knock up another one quickly to make a round 16! So now I’ve created the Bonus 2025 square as well for anyone wanting to do the same as I have!

Throughout this CAL I’ve been using my stash of Stylecraft Special DK yarn to make up all of my squares, and this square is no different. In a bid to use some of my brighter coloured yarn, I opted to be inspired by highlighter pens – well this CAL and the people I have ‘met’ through creating it have truly been a highlight of this year for me, so why not?

I have included the names and numbers of the shades I’ve used in case you want to replicate what I have done exactly, but you can use any yarn you like. The only thing you need to do is make sure it’s all the same weight, ie all DK or all Aran or whatever yarn you choose, and if you are making the whole project along with me, make sure all your squares are made using the same weight and the same size of crochet hook to make sure they all measure the same size so they can be joined together easily at the end.

Here’s the pattern for my Bonus 2025 Making Stitches 2025 CAL square!

Bonus 2025 Square

Using Stylecraft Special DK:

(A) Black (1002)

(B) Silver (1203)

(D) Bright Green (1259)

(E) Jaffa (1256)

(F) Bright Pink (1435)

Size 4mm crochet hook

Scissors

Stitch Marker

Yarn Needle

A small amount of toy filling

Abbreviations (in UK terms): BBL = Bobble Stitch, blo = work in back loop only, ch = chain, dc = double crochet, dc2tog = double crochet 2 together, dc3tog = double crochet 3 together, dtr = double treble crochet, fyo = final yarn over, htr = half treble crochet, mc = magic circle / magic ring, rep = repeat, RS = right side, slst = slip stitch, st = stitch, tr = treble crochet.

To make a 5 Tr Bobble: Bobble coloured yarn over hook (eg Red for the first fairy light), insert hook into st, yarn over, pull up loop, yarn over, draw through 2 loops on hook – repeat this another 4 times so you have 6 loops on your hook and all are worked into the same st. Yarn over with Black yarn (Fairy lights wire colour) and pull through all of the Red loops to close the bobble. Chain 1 to lock the bobble closed. If the bobble is poking through the back of the work, gently poke it back through to the front. [When you come to work the next round, make sure you work into the first st (the one that was pulled through all the loops and leave the 1ch unworked.

To make the square:

Using Yarn A, make a MC.
Round 1 Ch2 (not counted as a st throughout), 12 tr into MC. Slst into top of ch2 to close the round. Pull the central yarn tail tight to close MC. (12tr)

Round 2 Ch2, 2tr into each st around. Slst into the top of the ch2. (24tr)

Making Stitches 2025 CAL Bonus 2025 Square — Round 1

Round 3 Ch1, (2dc in first st, 1dc in next st), rep around. Slst into top of Ch2 (36dc)

Round 4 Ch2, (2tr in first st, 1tr in next 2 sts) around. Slst into top of ch2. (48tr)

Round 5 Ch1, (2dc in first st, 1dc into next 3 sts) rep around, slst into the top of the ch1 to close the square. (60 dc)

Round 6 Ch1, (1dc in next 3 sts, 1htr in next 2 sts, 1tr in next 2 sts, 1dtr + 2ch + 1dtr in next st, 1tr in next 2 sts, 1htr in next 2 sts, 1dc in next 3 sts) rep around. Fasten off and break yarn.

Round 7 Join Yarn B into any st. Work 1dc into every st around and 1dc ch2 1dc into every corner space. Slst to top of 1ch. Fasten off and break yarn. (72dc)

Round 8 With Yarn A, join into the blo of the final st of one of the sides of the square, 2ch 1htr into every st around working 1htr 2ch 1htr into each corner space. (80 htr)

Round 9 Ch1, 1dc in every st around plus 1dc + 2ch + 1dc into each corner space. Slst into top of first Ch1. (88 dc)

Round 10 Ch1 & 1dc in same st, 1dc 2ch 1dc into corner space and work 1dc into first 3 sts of the next side changing to Yarn C with fyo, make a 5tr BBL into the next st using Yarn C, change to Yarn A with fyo of BBL, with Yarn A, work 1dc into next 4 sts changing to Yarn D with fyo, with Yarn D make a 5tr BBL into next st, change back to Yarn A with fyo of BBL, using Yarn A work 1dc into next 4 sts changing to Yarn E in fyo, with Yarn E make a BBL into next st changing back to Yarn A in fyo of BBL, work 1dc into next 4 sts changing to Yarn F in fyo, with Yarn F make a BBL changing back to Yarn A in fyo of BBL, 1dc in remaining 3 sts of side, 1dc + 2ch +1dc into corner space repeat this process around the remaining 3 sides, slst into top of 1ch to close round. (Total of 80 dc and 16 bobbles).

Round 11 Continuing with Yarn A, ch1 & 1dc into same st, 1dc into every st around (being careful to only make 1dc into the top of each BBL) plus 1dc + 2ch + 1dc into each corner space. Slst into top of 1ch to close round. (104 dc)

Round 12 Ch1 & 1dc into acme st, 1dc into every st around and 1dc + 2ch + 1dc into each corner space. Slst into top of 1ch to close round. Fasten off and break yarn. (112 dc)

Round 13 Join Yarn B in any st, ch1 and 1dc into that st, work 1dc into every st around and 1dc + 2ch + 1dc into every corner space. Fasten off and break yarn. (120 dc)

To make the numbers:

Number 2 (Make 2) With Yarn D & Yarn F, Ch 17, 2dc in 2nd ch from hook, 2dc in next 3 ch, 1dc in next 5 ch, dc2tog, dc2tog, 1dc in next 3 ch. Fasten off.

Number 0 (Make 1) With Yarn E, Ch 16, then work into the first chain you made in order to close the loop making sure you don’t twist the chain, 2dc in that first ch, 2dc into the next 4 ch, 1dc into next 3 ch, 2dc into next 5 ch, 1dc into next 3 ch. Slst into top of first dc to close round. Fasten off.

Number 5 (Make 1) With Yarn C, Ch 20, 1dc in 2nd ch from hook, 1dc in next 3 ch, dc3tog, 1dc in next 2 ch, dc3tog, 2dc in next 7 ch. Fasten off.

Once you have woven the ends in from your numbers, place them in the centre of your square and once you are happy with their placement, sew them securely onto it.

That’s your Bonus 2025 square finished! Time to join the squares all together.

How I joined my squares:

Once I’d completed all of my square and they had all been blocked, I realised that in order to do a 3tr cluster join-as-you go, I would need a different stitch count to make the joining rows evenly spaced. By adding a 14th round to each square gave me the basis for this particular join-as-you go method.

Round 14 With Yarn B, Ch1, 1dc into every st around (1dc + 2ch + 1dc into corner spaces), slst into top of first st to close round. Fasten off and break yarn. (128 dc)

Once all 16 squares had Round 14 added, it was time to get cracking with the joining. I am not a fan of sewing when it comes to crochet, so if at all possible I will join any pieces I have by crocheting them together. In order to do this, it’s helpful to have a plan of how you are going to do this. Below is my plan for joining the squares. I started at number 1 (highlighted in red) and followed along each side as shown with the arrows.

Begin at the bottom left hand side of square number 1, work 3tr cluster in corner square, (miss next 2 sts, and work another 3tr cluster) rep along bottom of square to corner. Work 3tr cluster + 2ch + 3tr cluster into corner space and continue in the same fashion up to to the top of the 2nd side. At this point we need to join to square number 2. Ch1 and then work 3tr cluster into the corner space of square number 2 as shown in 3rd photo below.

At this stage, take your hook out of the loop and put it through the gap between the last 2 tr clusters on square one. Pull the loop up through that gap, miss the next 2 sts and work a 3tr cluster into the next st. Continue down the side making sure you pull your loop through the gaps on the side of square 1 until you reach the bottom corner. In the corner work a 3tr cluster, ch 2 remove loop from hook and pull it through the corner ch space on square 1 before making a 2nd 3tr cluster in that corner space on square 2 then continue along the bottom of square 2 as shown in the JAYG plan above as arrow 4.

Turn the corner of square 2 as you did on square 1 and work back up to the top before joining square 3 in the same fashion. Repeat the process to join Square 4 but once you have worked along the bottom of square 4 (arrow 10), you need to slst into the top of the first st of the first 3tr cluster, then turn your work to join square 5 along the bottom edge.

When you reach the end of the top of square 5, in the corner space work 3tr cluster ch 1, take loop off hook and pull it through the opposite corner on square 3, ch1 and work 2nd 3tr cluster in the corner space of square 5 before working back down the side edge of square 5 (arrow 12). Join square 6 and work back up to the top right hand corner of square 6 before joining the final 4th corner to the opposite corner space as shown above.

Continue joining the 6th, 7th & 8th squares as shown in the plan above, then work along the bottom of all 4 squares before embarking on square 9 as detailed in the plan.

Once you have joined all your squares, work back along the bottom edge (arrow 34), up the side (arrow 35), along the top (arrow 36) and back down to where you began on the bottom left corner of square 1 (arrow 37). In the corner space, work 3tr cluster, ch2 and slst into the top of the first st.

Fasten off and weave in all your ends. After this, I worked another 3 rounds of 3tr clusters then changed to a darker grey (Graphite 1063) for a round of 1dc around.

And that truly is it for this Making Stitches 2025 CAL. I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has joined in with this, my first ever CAL. It’s been a real learning experience for me and one which has been such a lot of fun. I’m thrilled that together we have made it through to the finish – there’s nothing more satisfying than having a finished project!

So as this year comes to a close, thank you for keeping me company throughout 2025 with this fun crochet adventure. I am not going to be starting a new CAL in January for next year, I think I need a little break to give my brain room to ponder some ideas I have for future crochet projects, but as soon as I’m ready to share my next crochet adventure with you, I will let you know!

Have a lovely Christmas and I hope 2026 brings you lots of happiness & creativity.

Happy hooking,

Lindsay x

PS If you do decide to make a Bonus 2025 Square, or for that matter, any of the Making Stitches 2025 CAL square, please, if you share it online, I would love it if you could use the hashtag #MakingStitches2025CAL so I can see any squares when they appear!

Making Stitches 2025 CAL Part Twelve : December

December 1, 2025December 11, 2025 ~ Making Stitches ~ 2 Comments

Well here we are on 1st December! I’m so thrilled to have been able to share this 2025 Crochet Along with you all year. It genuinely doesn’t feel like long ago that I thought, during that time between Christmas and New Year, that I would like to host a monthly crochet along. I wondered whether I’d be able to sustain it, or whether anyone would be interested in and join in. I’m so glad I had a go and didn’t listen to my inner doubts as it’s been a lot of fun and it’s been so lovely to be able to share it with you.

Part 12, follows the same sort of pattern as the 11 preceding monthly squares with a circular pattern at its heart and a border to reflect the time of year. My December centre is a traditional Christmas wreath and my border this time is inspired by Christmas lights – particularly the loud, gaudy coloured ones we had on our tree when I was a child growing up in the late 70s and 80s.

The whole point of this 2025 CAL has been to create a fun way of stash busting to help you get rid of some of your odds and ends of yarn left over from previous projects. I am certainly using it for that purpose!

I have made my squares using my own stash of Stylecraft Special DK yarns and I will include the names and numbers of the shades I’ve used in case you want to replicate what I have done exactly, but you can use any yarn you like. The only thing you need to do is make sure it’s all the same weight, ie all DK or all Aran or whatever yarn you choose, and if you are making the whole project along with me, make sure all your squares are made using the same weight and the same size of crochet hook to make sure they all measure the same size so they can be joined together easily at the end.

In addition to the Stylecraft Special DK I also used some glittery gold coloured yarn from my stash which is called Sparkle by Claire in Glam Gold (003).

Here’s the pattern for my December Making Stitches 2025 CAL square!

December : Christmas Decorations

Using Stylecraft Special DK:

(A) Cypress (1824)

(B) Green (1116)

(D) Gold yarn – Sparkle by Claire in Glam Gold (003)

(E) Black (1002)

(F) Citron (1263)

(G) Aster (1003)

(H) Jaffa (1256)

Size 4mm crochet hook

Scissors

Stitch Marker

Yarn Needle

A small amount of toy filling

Abbreviations (in UK terms): BBL = Bobble Stitch, blo = work in back loop only, ch = chain, dc = double crochet, dtr = double treble crochet, fyo = final yarn over, htr = half treble crochet, mc = magic circle / magic ring, rep = repeat, RS = right side, slst = slip stitch, st = stitch, tr = treble crochet.

To make the square:

Using Yarn A, make a MC.
Round 1 Ch2 (not counted as a st throughout), 12 tr into MC. Slst into top of ch2 to close the round. Pull the central yarn tail tight to close MC. (12tr)

Round 2 Ch2, 2tr into each st around. Slst into the top of the ch2. Put this stitch onto a stitch marker. (24tr)

Round 3A Join Yarn B into flo of first st and working in the flo around this round, ch2, (2tr in first st, 1tr in next st), rep around. Slst into top of Ch2 (36tr)

Round 4A Ch2, (2tr in first st, 1tr in next 2 sts) around. Slst into top of ch2. Fasten off and break yarn. (48tr)

Round 3B Remove the stitch marker at the end of Round 2, ch2 and working into blo of 1st st, ch2, (2htr in first st, 1htr in next st) rep around. Slst into top of ch2. (36 htr)

Round 4B Ch2, (2htr in first st, 1htr in next two sts) rep around. Slst into top of ch2. (48 htr)

Round 5 You will be joining the front wreath section (Round 4A) and background (Round 4B) together in this round, and you can add a small amount of toy filling between the layers to make the ring stand proud if you want to.

Continuing to work with Yarn A, ch1, work 2dc into the first sts of both Round 4A & 4B, then 1dc into next 3 sts, (2dc in first st, 1dc into next 3 sts) rep around, slst into the top of the ch1 to close the square. (60 dc)

Round 6 With Yarn A ch1, 1dc in next 3 sts, 1htr in next 2 sts, 1tr in next 2 sts, 1dtr + 2ch + 1dtr in next st, 1tr in next 2 sts, 1htr in next 2 sts, 1dc in next 6 sts, 1htr in next 2 sts, 1tr in next 2 sts, 1dtr + 2ch + 1dtr in next st, 1tr in next 2 sts, 1htr in next 2 sts, 1dc in next 3 sts changing to Yarn B in fyo of 3rd st, with Yarn B 1dc in next 3 sts, 1htr in next 2 sts, 1tr in next 2 sts, 1dtr + 2ch + 1dtr in next st, 1tr in next 2 sts, 1htr in next 2 sts, 1dc in next 6 sts, 1htr in next 2 sts, 1tr in next 2 sts, 1dtr + 2ch + 1dtr in next st, 1tr in next 2 sts, 1htr in next 2 st, 1dc in next 3 sts slst into top of ch1 to close round. Fasten off and break yarn.

Make bow: With yarn C, Ch31, 1dc in 2nd ch from hook and work 1dc into the remain chains. (30dc) Turn, ch1 and work 1dc into each st. Fasten off and break yarn. Then ch9, 1dc in 2nd ch from hook, 1dc along the ch. Turn, ch1 and work 1dc into each st. Fasten off and break yarn. Arrange the longer strip to look like a bow with 2 loops, then wrap the shorter strip around the centre to look like the knot and stitch it into place securely. Then sew the bow to the wreath.

Round 7 Join Yarn D into any st. Work 1dc into every st around and 1dc ch2 1dc into every corner space. Slst to top of 1ch. Fasten off and break yarn. (72dc)

Round 8 With Yarn A, join into the blo of the final st of one of the sides of the square, ch2 & 1tr in the blo of that st, in corner space work 1tr + 2ch + 1tr, then working in the blo around, continue with (1dtr, 1tr, 1htr, 1dc, 1htr, 1tr,) and repeat to penultimate st of each side, work 1tr into final st, and 1tr +2ch +1tr into the corner space. Repeat around and slst into the top of the ch2 at the start of the round. Fasten of and break yarn. (80 sts)

Round 9 With Yarn E, join in the blo of the final st of one of the sides, ch2 & 1dc into that st, 1dc + 2ch + 1dc into corner space, and work 1dc into first st of the next side. Make a 5tr bobble into the next st using Yarn C, change to Yarn E in fyo of BBL and close the bobble (see instructions above if you are unfamiliar with bobbles). Using Yarn E, work 1dc into blo of next 2 sts changing to Yarn F in fyo then work BBL into next st changing back to Yarn E in fyo of BBL, with Yarn E 1dc into blo of next 2 sts changing to Yarn G with fyo, BBL using Yarn G changing back to Yarn E in fyo of BBL, using Yarn E work 1dc into blo of next 2 sts changing to Yarn H in fyo, BBL into next st using Yarn H changing back to Yarn E with fyo. repeat this process across row until you have 7 BBLS of alternating colour and end with 1dc in blo of last st, 1dc + 2ch =1dc into corner space and repeat around following the colour sequence of the BBLs, slst into the top of the first st to close the round. Fasten off and break yarn. (60 dc & 28 bobbles).

Round 10 Join Yarn A into the last st of one of the sides. Ch2 1htr into same st, 1htr + 2ch + 1htr into corner space, 1htr into next st, (1htr in next st, 1dc in next st, 1htr in next st, 1tr in next st, 1dtr in next st, 1tr in next st) rep along that side, 1dc + 2ch + 1dc into the corner space. NB: You will be working the dc and dtr stitches into the top of the BBLs). Rep around, slst into the top of the first st to close the round. (96 dc)

Round 11 Join Yarn D in any st, ch1 and 1dc into that st, work 1dc into every st around and 1dc + 2ch + 1dc into every corner space. Fasten off and break yarn. (104 dc)

Round 12 Join Yarn A into any st, rep Round 11 but do not fasten off. (112 dc)

Round 13 Ch1, 1dc into every st around (1dc + 2ch + 1dc into corner spaces), slst into top of first st to close round. Fasten off and break yarn. (120 dc)

By the way – I can only apologise for all the ends you will need to sew in after making the multi-coloured fairy lights!

Finally, you can embellish your wreath with French knots made using the golden yarn.

And that is your 12 Making Stitches 2025 CAL squares all finished. But I couldn’t just stop there…. in total I had designed 15 squares including the two July squares, the Bonus Birthday Square and the International Granny Square day bonus square. 15 doesn’t make for a nice shaped blanket though. I thought I’d like to make a blanket using all of my squares so that called out for an extra bonus square and I simply had to have one to mark the year we went on this yarny adventure together! So, the 2025 Bonus Square was born.

I look forward to sharing the Bonus 2025 square pattern with you next weekend along with details of how I have been joining all of my squares together using a sewing free method. I can’t wait to share this final instalment of the Making Stitches 2025 CAL with you next weekend! In the meantime, happy hooking, and I hope you enjoy making your December Christmas Decorations Square.

Lindsay x

PS If you do decide to make an December Christmas Decorations Square, please, if you share it online, I would love it if you could use the hashtag #MakingStitches2025CAL so I can see any squares when they appear!

Making Stitches 2025 CAL Part Eleven : November

November 1, 2025November 1, 2025 ~ Making Stitches ~ Leave a comment

Hello! Welcome to the penultimate square for the Making Stitches 2025 CAL! It’s the first day of November, and along with fireworks and Bonfire Night, for me, November means Remembrance of the sacrifice made by so many in our armed forces. So this month, your square is the November Remembrance Poppy Square.

At the centre sits the traditional Remembrance Poppy and around the border I chose to use some of the colours which are related to the armed forces, the Army, the Navy & the Royal Air Force. They aren’t exactly the correct shades of the different colours, but the whole point of this CAL is to be a stash buster project, so rather than going out and buying new yarn to make this, I used odds and ends I had in my stash.

I have made my squares using my stash of Stylecraft Special DK yarns and I have included the names and numbers of the shades I’ve used in case you want to replicate what I have done exactly, but you can use any yarn you like. The only thing you need to do is make sure it’s all the same weight, ie all DK or all Aran or whatever yarn you choose, and if you are making the whole project along with me, make sure all your squares are made using the same weight and the same size of crochet hook to make sure they all measure the same size so they can be joined together easily at the end.

Here’s the pattern for my November Remembrance Poppy Making Stitches 2025 CAL square!

November : Remembrance Poppy Square

I used Stylecraft Special DK in:

(A) Black (1002)

(B) Poppy (2170)

(D) Parchment (1218)

(E) Mocha (1064)

(F) Lobelia (1825)

(G) Cloud Blue (1019)

Size 4mm crochet hook

Scissors

Stitch Marker

Yarn Needle

Abbreviations (in UK terms): blo = work in back loop only, ch = chain, dc = double crochet, dtr = double treble crochet, fyo = final yarn over, htr = half treble crochet, mc = magic circle / magic ring, rep = repeat, slst = slip stitch, st = stitch, tr = treble crochet.

To make the Poppy:

Using Yarn A, make a MC.
Round 1 Ch3 (doesn’t count as a st), 12 tr into MC. Slst into top of ch2 to close the round. Pull the central yarn tail tight to close MC. (12tr)

Round 2 Ch1, (2dc in the blo of next st) rep around. Slst into the top of the ch1. (24tr)

Round 3 Ch1, (2dc in next st, 1dc in next st) rep around. Slst into top of ch2. Fasten off and break yarn. (36 dc)

1st Petal Rows 1 & 2 Using Yarn B & working into flo, ch2 & 1tr, 2tr in next 7 sts. Turn your work and ch1. Miss 1st st, (2htr in next st, 1htr in next st) rep five times, ch1, miss the next st, slst into last st. Fasten off and break yarn.

2nd Petal Row 1 & 2 Insert your hook into the next unworked front loop of Round 2 and repeat the petal making process as with 1st Petal.

Petal Row 3 (work for both petals) Join Yarn B around first st of Row 1 work 2dc around 2ch, 1dc into the ch1 at the edge of Row 2, then, being careful not to pull your yarn too tightly, work 1dc into every stitch along the top of Row 2, 1dc into the ch1 at the end of Row 2, then work 2dc around the last tr of Row 1 slst into the flo of Round 1 that the final tr is worked into. Fasten off and break yarn. Repeat the who process with 2nd petal.

Round 4 Join Yarn C into a st in Round 3 which is in the centre of one of the petals. Ch2, (2htr in next st, 1htr in next 2 sts) rep around. Slst into top of Ch2. (48 htr)

Round 5 Ch2, (2tr in next st, 1tr in next 3 sts) rep around. (60 tr)

Round 6 NOTE: You need to be beginning this round from a st in the centre of one of the poppy petals. If you are not in the correct position, fasten off and rejoin Yarn C in a st at the centre of one of the petals. Ch1 (does not count as a st) (1dc in next 3 sts, 1htr into next 2 sts, 1tr into next 2 sts, dtr + 2ch = dtr into next st, 1tr into next 2 sts, 1htr into next 2 sts, 1dc into next 3 sts) repeat around. Slst into top of 1st dc to close round. Fasten off and cut yarn. You now have a square. (64 sts)

To make the border:

Round 7 Join Yarn B into any st, ch1 work 1dc into every st around and 1dc + 2ch + 1dc into every corner space. Slst into top of 1st dc to close round. Fasten off and cut yarn. (72 dc)

Round 8 Join Yarn D in final st of one of the sides of Round 7, Ch1 & 1dc in that st, work 1dc 2ch 1dc into the corner chain space. 1dc in the 1st st, (1ch, miss next st, 1dc in next st) rep along the side 1dc 2ch 1dc in corner space. Rep around, slst into to the top of the first ch1. Fasten off and break yarn. (12 dc in each side = 48 dc around)

Round 9 Join Yarn E in last st on one of the sides of Round 8. Ch1 & 1dc in that st, 1dc 2ch 1dc in the corner space, 1dc in first st (ch1, miss next st, 1dc into the ch space in the Round below) rep around making 1dc 2ch 1dc into each corner space. Slst into top of the first ch1. Fasten off and break yarn. (14 dc on each side = 56 dc around)

Round 10 Using Yarn B, Rep Round 9. (16 dc on each side = 64 dc around)

Round 11 Using Yarn F, Rep Round 9. (18 dc on each side = 72 dc around)

Round 12 Using Yarn G, Rep Round 9. (20 dc on each side = 80 dc around)

Round 13 Using Yarn B, Rep Round 9 but do not break yarn and finish off at the end. (22 dc on each side = 88 dc around)

Round 14 Note: In this Round we need to increase the stitch count for the Round from 88 dc to 120 dc to match the other Making Stitches 2025 CAL Squares. You will need to end up with 30 dc on each side. It is important that you are relaxed with the tension on this round as you won’t be working dcs into all of the chain spaces, but you want the tension to be even so don’t pull your stitches tight. Ch1 1dc in that st, 1dc in next st, 1dc 2ch 1dc in corner space. 1dc (loosely) in next 9 dcs without working any ch spaces between them, (1dc in next ch space, 1dc in next st) 5 times, 1dc in next 9 dcs, 1dc 2ch 1dc in the corner space. Rep around until you are back at the beginning of the Round Slst into top of the first ch1. Fasten off & break yarn. You should, then, have 30 dc on each side and 120 in total.

Then, with Yarn B, neatly sew around the edge of your poppy petals to fix them to the square and stop them from curling up. Weave in all your ends and your October Making Stitches 2025 CAL is complete!

I do hope you enjoy making your November Remembrance Square! If you share your square online, I would love it if you could use the hashtag #MakingStitches2025CAL so I can see any squares when they appear.

I’m sharing this post from Gibraltar! We are visiting for the first time since we left back in 2020. I brought my square with me in case a spotted a photo opportunity. Here it is by the Gibraltar war memorial.

Also in Gibraltar, I was amazed to spot these beautiful displays of knitted and crocheted poppies! How apt. This lovely display knitted & crocheted by members of the Gibraltar community re just lovely and very effective.

Poppies on the Gibraltar City Hall balcony

More poppies adorn the Main Guard, home to Gibraltar Heritage Trust

Whatever you are up to this month, I hope November will be a good month for you.

Happy hooking!

Lindsay x

Making Stitches 2025 CAL Part Ten : October

October 1, 2025October 1, 2025 ~ Making Stitches ~ Leave a comment

Hello there and welcome to Part 10 of the Making Stitches 2025 CAL!

My word, how are we at October and the tenth month already? That’s madness!

I spent quite a while mulling over what to use as the inspiration for my October square and couldn’t resist some autumnal colours – it was really hard to think ‘autumn’, when we were in the midst of some warm sunny September days! I also wanted to give a nod to Halloween, but without going down the spooky black white and orange theme. So here we are with a large pumpkin at the centre of our October square and some autumn leaves in the border.

The whole point of this CAL is to be a stash buster project to help you get rid of some of your odds and ends of yarn left over from previous projects. I am certainly using it for that purpose!

I have made my squares using my own stash of Stylecraft Special DK yarns and I have included the names and numbers of the shades I’ve used in case you want to replicate what I have done exactly, but you can use any yarn you like. The only thing you need to do is make sure it’s all the same weight, ie all DK or all Aran or whatever yarn you choose, and if you are making the whole project along with me, make sure all your squares are made using the same weight and the same size of crochet hook to make sure they all measure the same size so they can be joined together easily at the end.

Here’s the pattern for my October Pumpkin Making Stitches 2025 CAL square!

October : Pumpkin Square

I used Stylecraft Special DK in:

(A) Spice (1711)

(B) Parchment (1218)

(D) Meadow (1065)

(E) Copper (1029)

(F) Gold (1709)

Size 4mm crochet hook

Scissors

Stitch Marker

Yarn Needle

To make the square:

Using Yarn A, make a MC.
Round 1 Ch3 (counts as a st), 11 tr into MC. Slst into top of ch2 to close the round. Pull the central yarn tail tight to close MC. (12tr)

Round 2 Ch3 1tr in same st, (2tr into next st) rep around. Slst into the top of the ch2. (24tr)

Round 3 Ch1, (2dc in next st, 1dc in next st, 2htr in next st, 1htr in next st, 2tr in next st, 1tr in next st, 2tr in next st, 1tr in next st, 2htr in next st, 1htr in next st, 2dc in next st, 1dc in next st) rep. Slst into top of ch2 changing to Yarn B in fyo. (36 tr)

Round 4 Work in the blo in this round Using Yarn B & working into blo, ch3, (2tr in next st, 1tr in next st, 1tr in next st, 2htr in next st, 1htr in next st, 1htr in next st, 2dc in next st, 1dc in next st, 1 dc in next st, 2dc in next st, 1dc in next st, 1dc in next st, 2htr in next st, 1htr in next st, 1htr in next st, 2tr in next st, 1tr in next st, 1tr in next st) rep. Slst into top of Ch3.(48 sts)

Round 5 Ch1, (2dc in next st, 1dc in next 3 sts) rep around. (60 dc)

Round 6 Ch1 (does not count as a st) (1dc in next 3 sts, 1htr into next 2 sts, 1tr into next 2 sts, dtr + 2ch = dtr into next st, 1tr into next 2 sts, 1htr into next 2 sts, 1dc into next 3 sts) repeat around. Slst into top of 1st dc to close round. Fasten off and cut yarn. You now have a square. (64 sts)

To make the border:

Round 7 Work in blo in this round Join C into any st, ch1 work 1dc into every st around and 1dc + 2ch + 1dc into every corner space. Slst into top of 1st dc to close round. Fasten off and cut yarn. (72 dc)

Round 8 Work in blo in this round Join Yarn D in final st of one of the sides of Round 7, Ch4 (counts as 1dtr), work 1dtr 2ch 1dtr into the corner chain space. (1dtr in next st, 1tr in next st, 1htr in next st, 1dc in next 3 sts, 1htr in next st, 1tr in next st, 1dtr in next 2 sts, 1tr in next st, 1htr in next st, 1dc in next 3 sts, 1htr in next st, 1tr in next st, 1dtr in next st, 1dtr 2ch 1dtr into corner space) rep around following the pattern until you reach the start of the round, slst into to the top of the ch4. (80 sts)

Round 9 (Please note slsts are worked through both loops, other sts are worked in blo in this round) 1slst into next st, 1dc 2ch 1dc in corner space, 1slst into next st changing to yarn E with fyo. With Yarn E and working in the blo, 1dc in next st, 1htr in next st, 1tr in next 3 sts, 1htr in next st, 1dc in next st changing back to Yarn D with fyo. 1slst in next 2 sts changing to Yarn F in fyo of 2nd st. With Yarn F and working in the blo, 1dc in next st, 1htr in next st, 1tr in next 3 sts, 1htr in next st, 1dc in next st changing back to Yarn D with fyo. Repeat this pattern around. No need to slst into the first stlst on this round. (88 sts)

Round 10 Rep Round 9. (96 sts)

Round 11 Rep Round 8. Fasten off and break yarn. (104 sts)

Round 12 Work in the blo on this round. Ch1, 1dc in every st around, 1dc + 2ch +1dc in the corners spaces, slst into the top of ch1, fasten off and break yarn. (112 sts)

Round 13 Rep Round 12. (120 sts)

Then, with Yarn E, surface crochet around the pumpkin and add its stripes. Then, with Yarn D, surface crochet (or chain embroidery st) the spirally tendril & pumpkin stalk. Weave in all your ends and your October Making Stitches 2025 CAL is complete!

I do hope you enjoy making your October Pumpkin Square!

If you share your square online, I would love it if you could use the hashtag #MakingStitches2025CAL so I can see any squares when they appear!

I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who joined in with the CAL during September including Annette from @etenamakes & Kristina from @crochet_at_holme, you can see their squares here.

Whatever you are caught up to this month, I hope October is kind to you.

Happy hooking!

Lindsay x

Summer Craft Challenge 2025 : Week Six +

image shows Lindsay from Making Stitches sitting on a rock in Snowdonia smiling at the camera while crocheting

September 7, 2025 ~ Making Stitches ~ 2 Comments

Hello there! Bit late getting this out to you again – it’s been quite a week what with back to school shenanigans and a trip up to Glasgow for a University Open Day. But here we are, well into September now and with everyone in my household back at school or university. Back when I first started this Summer Craft Challenge in 2016, I was staring down the barrel of a 10-week-long school summer break with 3 young children. It was a bit of a marathon keeping everyone entertained back then, but times have changed. My boys only get 6 weeks off now we live back here in England AND they are a lot more independent these days, so the summer school holidays don’t feel quite the same for me.

It was still fun to deliberately seek out some time for creativity (almost) every day during that 6-and-a-bit weeks this year. It was also great fun to be joined in the challenge by even more people as well. Thank you to everyone who joined me this summer, it was so nice to hear that the challenge had inspired some of you to dig out some wips and get them finished or try something new. Thank you for sharing what you have been working on this year!

Here’s a little look back at what I got up to during the sixth and final week (and a bit) of the school summer holidays:

In Week 5 I started making another heart for the North West & North Wales Paediatric Transport Service but ran out of stuffing! I made a quick trip out to the shops and restocked on my stuffing stash and was able to finish this one off!

By now, you may well be aware of a special project I worked on with Eleonora from Coastal Crochet called the Let’s Celebrate Wreath. Well before launching that I realised that the orange balloon I’d previous made for it was the wrong shade of yarn! Arghhh! At least I spotted it before it was too late!

On Bank Holiday Monday, I had to make an early morning dash to Snowdonia with son number 2. He needed to gather some evidence for a geography A-Level piece of work. The trip had been scheduled for earlier in the holiday but Storm Floris blew in (not the best conditions for climbing hills) so it was put off, then ill health got in the way so we were left with only one option – to drive to Wales on Bank Holiday Monday – not ideal.

We were up with the lark and he got the work done while I sat on a rock and crocheted!

Not much time for creativity on Day 39 – busy day back at work for me and I was a bit tired in the evening, so only managed one cube on my Hello Hooray Blog embroidery kit.

This Orla Square was made while watching Manchester United get knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Grimsby Town. The dark colour of the flower in my Orla Square was rather appropriate!

Day 41 and I suddenly realised we were hurtling towards the end of August and I still hadn’t completely decided what I was going to do for my September Square for the Making Stiches 2025 CAL – nothing like leaving it until the last minute eh?

This cream coloured square went on to become the middle of an apple. You can find the full square here.

Throughout this Summer Craft Challenge, I have been making these really fun Orla Squares. My aim is to create a garment with them, and, as I often do, I have set myself a potentially unrealistic target for finishing it! On Day 42 (Friday 29th), I laid all these beauties out and was trying to decide whether to go random with their colour placement or have some sort of pattern – I simply couldn’t decide!

Fast forward to Tuesday 2nd September. Week Six officially ended on Day 42, and I had planned to keep going every day until both of my younger boys were back at school, but the weekend was exceptionally busy and didn’t allow for any creativity, so as I climbed aboard a train bound for Glasgow on Tuesday afternoon with Son number 2, I was thrilled to have a good chunk of uninterrupted train crochet time!

Sadly, on our return journey from Glasgow on Wednesday 3rd, things didn’t quite go to plan. A damaged power line meant no trains south of Carlisle, so we had a rather stressful journey home, which took about 4 hours longer than it should have done. We arrived home on Thursday morning ready for a full return to school, university and work. I didn’t get any crochet done on the return leg, so just posted this collection of 9 squares I managed on the journey north.

And that’s it for my 2025 Summer Craft Challenge! It has genuinely flown by for me, I cannot quite believe that we are back in the old routine again. School’s back, Eldest has gone back to University and we had our first football match of the season this morning with Youngest. It’s as if it was all a dream, but at least I have lovely memories and a lot more crochet done and it was so lovely to spent my summer with you all.

Huge thanks to everyone who has joined in with the Summer Craft Challenge this time – it has genuinely been so lovely to have company on this challenge. Included below are some of varied Instagram posts I’ve seen including crocheted rainbow fans by Sarah @Sarah.livelovecrochet, a lovely scrappy sock in the making by Kristina @crochet_at_holme, a beautiful festival cardigan modelled by Carol @nanaseamakes, fabulous mountain-top crochet with Zeli @yarnstorms, the final pocket of a cardigan being made by Sarah @sarahsheehangib, stunning felt fungi by Sandra @wilddaffodilwild, the cutest crocheted avocado made by Jothi @Jothiquestcrafts, a lovely crocheted rose brooch by Karen @seasidekaren & utterly stunning Persian Tiles by AnnMarie @crochetscot – Thank you all!

And that’s all for this week and this summer! Thanks again to everyone who’s joined in with the craft challenge to keep me company over the past six and a bit weeks! Anyone up for joining in next year? If so, watch this space!

Happy crafting!

Lindsay x

Making Stitches 2025 CAL Part Nine : September

Image shows a photo of the Making Stitches 2025 CAL September, back to school square.

September 1, 2025 ~ Making Stitches ~ Leave a comment

A crocheted square featuring a central apple design, surrounded by colorful building blocks with letters 'A', 'B', 'C' and numbers '1', '2', '3'. The square has a black border and green background, symbolizing a back-to-school theme.

Hello and welcome to Part 9 of the Making Stitches 2025 CAL!

In my world, at least for the next few years, September means ‘back to school’ and while it’s been a long time since anyone in our house was learning their abcs, I thought it would be fun to revisit those early years of Primary school with an ‘A for apple’ inspired square for September’s Making Stitches 2025 CAL square.

This fun square has an apple at its heart, and it’s surrounded by a blackboard inspired black border (sorry for anyone who hates crocheting with black yarn or anyone who is too young to remember blackboards in school!) and some alphabet and number building blocks.

The whole point of this CAL is to be a stash buster project to help you get rid of some of your odds and ends of yarn left over from previous projects. I am certainly using it for that purpose!

Here’s the pattern for my September Making Stitches 2025 CAL square!

September : Back to School Square

I used Stylecraft Special DK in:

(A) Cream (1005)

(B) Matador (1010)

(D) Black (1002)

(E) Citron (1263)

(F) Aster (1003)

(G) Grass Green (1821)

(H) Walnut (1054)

Size 4mm crochet hook

Scissors

Stitch Marker

Yarn Needle

Abbreviations (in UK terms): blo = work in back loop only, ch = chain, dc = double crochet, dtr = double treble crochet, fptr = front post treble, fyo = final yarn over, htr = half treble crochet, mc = magic circle / magic ring, rep = repeat, RS = right side, slst = slip stitch, st = stitch, tr = treble crochet.

To make the square:

Using Yarn A, make a MC.
Round 1 Ch3 (counts as a st), 11 tr into MC. Slst into top of ch2 to close the round. Pull the central yarn tail tight to close MC. (12tr)

A close-up image of a small round crochet piece made with cream yarn, featuring a crochet hook adjacent to it on a wooden surface. — Round 1

A partially completed crocheted circle in cream yarn, resting on a wooden surface with a crochet hook nearby. — Round 1

Round 2 Ch3 1tr in same st, (2tr into next st) rep around. Slst into the top of the ch2. (24tr)

Round 3 Ch2,(2tr in next st, 1tr in next st) rep around. Change to Yarn B in fyo of last st. (36 tr)

A close-up view of a crochet project featuring a circular piece in cream with a red yarn strand being added. — 1st fptr

A close-up image of a hand holding a hook with a crochet project in progress, featuring cream-colored yarn with a red strand being added. — 1st fptr

Round 4 Work in the blo in this round With Yarn B, make 3 fptr around the ch3 of Round 2. Then count up to the 13th st of Round 2 and mark it with a stitch marker – this is where the next group of fptr sts will be worked. [Miss the next 2 sts, 1dc in next st, (2dc in next st, 1dc in next 2 sts) 5 times] make 3 fptr around the st marked with the marker, then repeat the section in [brackets]. Slst into top of ch1. Fasten off and break yarn. (48dc)

Round 5 Work into the blo of this round Join Yarn c into the central st of one of the 3fptr groups. Ch1, (2dc in next st, 1dc in next 3 sts) rep around. (60 dc)

A close-up view of a crocheted apple with a red border and a creamy center, featuring a crochet hook placed on top. — Join Yarn C in middle fptr

A crocheted apple motif featuring red and green yarn, with a beige interior, designed for a back-to-school themed project. — Join Yarn C in middle fptr

Round 6 With Yarn D ch1, 1dc in next 3 sts, 1htr in next 2 sts, 1tr in next 2 sts, 1dtr + 2ch + 1dtr in next st, 1tr in next 2 sts, 1htr in next 2 sts, 1dc in next 6 sts, 1htr in next 2 sts, 1tr in next 2 sts, 1dtr + 2ch + 1dtr in next st, 1tr in next 2 sts, 1htr in next 2 sts, 1dc in next 3 sts changing to Yarn B in fyo of 3rd st, with Yarn B 1dc in next 3 sts, 1htr in next 2 sts, 1tr in next 2 sts, 1dtr + 2ch + 1dtr in next st, 1tr in next 2 sts, 1htr in next 2 sts, 1dc in next 6 sts, 1htr in next 2 sts, 1tr in next 2 sts, 1dtr + 2ch + 1dtr in next st, 1tr in next 2 sts, 1htr in next 2 st, 1dc in next 3 sts slst into top of ch1 to close round. Fasten off and break yarn. You now have your main square. (64 sts)

At this point, it is time to make your building blocks – you will need 6 in total, 2 in red, 2 in blue and 2 in yellow.

Close-up of a red crocheted square in progress, with a crochet hook resting on top, set against a wooden surface. — Turning the first corner at the end of Row 4

A small red crocheted square displayed on a wooden surface. — Turning the first corner at the end of Row 4

To make a building block:

Using Yarn B, E & F make six blocks.

Row 1 Ch5, 1dc in 2nd ch from hook and back along the chain, turn. (4dc)

Row 2 Ch1, 1dc in next 4 sts, turn. (4dc)

Rows 3 & 4 Rep Row 2. At the end of Row 4, make 2 dc in final st to turn the corner, turn square 90 degrees, work along the side of the square working 1dc into every row end, work 2dc into the corner, turn square 90 degrees, 1dc into each of the foundation chains along the bottom of the square, then turn the corner again and work back up the other side. Slst into the first st of Row 4. Fasten off and break yarn, weave in your ends.

Once you have 6 building blocks made, embroider them in chain st using Yarn D with A,B,C,1,2 & 3.

A crocheted square featuring a central apple design, surrounded by a green border, with colorful crocheted building blocks labeled 'A', 'B', 'C', and '1', '2', '3', alongside a crochet hook. — Border Round 1 complete

A colorful crochet square featuring a central apple design, surrounded by a green border and a black outline. Accompanying the square are small building blocks labeled with letters A, B, C in red, yellow, and blue. — Border Round 1 complete

To make the border:

Border Round 1 Work in the blo in this round. Join Yarn D into any st on one of the sides of the main square (not the top or the bottom). Work 1dc into every st around and 1dc ch2 1dc into every corner space. Slst to top of 1ch. (72dc)

Border Round 2 ch2 & 1htr in every st to the corner, in corner space work 1htr + 2ch + 1htr, then 1htr in the next st.m Take the first building block you need to join (as I started the round on the right hand side of the square, in the case of the picture below it is ‘C’) hold the building block and the main square right sides together and join the building block to the main square working into the blo of the building block’s bottom edge and 1htr into the next st on the main square joining both together. Work 1htr through the remaining sts along the edge of the building block and through the next 3 sts of the main square. Then work 1htr into the next 2 sts on the main square before repeating the join with the next building block (block ‘B’ below), once you have worked 1htr into each of the 4 sts along the base of that block, work 1htr into the next 2 sts and join the next block (block ‘A’ below) the same way, work 1htr in the final st on the main square, 1htr + 2ch + 1htr into the corner space, work 1htr in every st along the side of the main square and repeat the process of joining the blocks (1,2 & 3 below) along the bottom of the main square. Work 1htr + 2ch + 1htr in the corner and 1htr into the remaining unworked sts up the side to the beginning of the round. Slst into the top of the ch2 to close the round. (80 htr)

A crocheted square featuring a stylized apple design at its center, surrounded by a green and black border, with colorful crocheted alphabet blocks labeled 'A', 'B', and 'C' placed above it.

A close-up of a hand holding a crochet hook working on a colorful crochet square featuring an apple design, with building blocks labeled 'A' and 'B' in the background.

Border Round 3 Ch2, 1htr in every st around. 1htr + 2ch + 1htr in the corner spaces. Slst into the top of the ch2 to close the round. (22 sts on each side = 88 sts in round)

Border Round 4 Rep Border Round 3 (24 sts on each side = 96 sts in round)

Border Round 5 Rep Border Round 3 (26 sts on each side = 104 sts in round)

Border Round 6 Rep Border Round 3 (28 sts on each side = 112 sts in round)

Border Round 7 Ch1 1dc in every st around, 1dc + 2ch + 1dc in the corner spaces. However, when you reach the top of each of the building blocks, join the top edge by working your dc through the blo of the building block and the border row behind it. Work 1dc into the top of each 4 st along the top of each block and 1dc into the next 2 sts to keep the blocks straight and to mirror what you did in the joining row of Border Row 2. At the end of the round, slst into the top of the ch1, fasten off and break yarn. (30 sts on each side = 120 sts in round).

Close-up of a hand holding a crochet hook, working on a colorful crochet piece featuring an apple design surrounded by other colored yarns.

Crocheted square featuring an apple design at the center, surrounded by a colorful border of building blocks labeled with letters 'A', 'B', 'C' and numbers '1', '2', '3'. The square has a black background with green, red, and yellow accents.

Then, with yarn C, you can surface crochet around the sts in Border Round 7 to give a green stripe around the edge of the square. When you get to the corner spaces, slst around the corner edge to keep the green embellishment nice and square. Note: be careful not to make your surface crochet too tight, so the square doesn’t get pulled out of shape.

A close-up of a hand holding a crochet hook while crocheting with colorful yarns, showcasing a partially completed crochet square. — Surface crochet

Close-up of a crocheting process featuring colorful building block motifs in red, yellow, and black with a green yarn being added, on a wooden surface. — Surface crochet

To make your apple leaf:

With Yarn G, Ch7, 1dc in 2nd ch from hook, 1htr in next ch, 1tr in next ch, 1htr in next ch, 1dc in next ch, slst into final ch. Fasten off and leave yarn tail to sew the apple leaf in place. Sew your leaf onto your apple.

Then, with Yarn H embroider 4 apple pips in the centre of the apple.

A colorful crocheted square featuring a red apple in the center, surrounded by black borders and blocks displaying letters 'A, B, C' and numbers '1, 2, 3'. A small green leaf is placed next to the square. — Embroidering on an apple pip

Close-up of a crocheted apple with a green leaf, surrounded by colorful alphabet blocks, showing a needle and brown yarn stitching in the apple. — Embroidering on an apple pip

So there you have it, your Making Stitches 2025 CAL September Back to School square is completed. I hope you enjoy making one, or maybe even more than one!

I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who joined in with the CAL during August – it was a two square month with the Seaside Holiday Square and the Bonus Granny Square Day Square. It was so lovely to see them appearing on Instagram over the last few weeks! In particular, thanks to Annette from @etenamakes, Kristina from @crochet_at_holme, Judith from @judithlouise21 & Sarah from @sarahsheehangib – you can see their squares here.

Whether you are caught up in the ‘back to school’ chaos or not, I hope September is a good month for you.

Happy hooking!

Lindsay x

PS If you do decide to make a September Back to School square, please, if you share it online, I would love it if you could use the hashtag #MakingStitches2025CAL so I can see any squares when they appear!

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