In the hustle and bustle of modern life, finding moments of tranquility can seem like an elusive dream. However, nestled within the gentle rhythm of yarn and needles lies a therapeutic haven: the art of crochet and knitting. Beyond creating beautiful pieces of fabric, these crafts offer profound mental health benefits, tapping into the intricate chemistry of our brains and fostering a sense of well-being. Let's delve into the science behind the soothing power of crochet and knitting, exploring how they stimulate the release of dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin – the trio of happiness hormones ..read more

Are you ready to embark on your next crochet or knit project? For some of us, planning is the key to success! Whether you're an experienced maker or just starting out, taking the time to plan out your project can save you time, money, and frustration. While some of us (I sometimes fall into this category) like to be spontaneous in our creating, most of us like to have a clear plan.  If you have multiple projects on the go, a project planner can be a great way to keep track of them all and help you plan out your next projects! 1. Define Your Project The first step in planning your crochet ..read more

Mr YMC and I are extremely lucky to live in the gorgeous town of Portarlington on the Bellarine Peninsula in Victoria.  We are part of an amazing community that has a strong focus on supporting others. We have been very privileged to meet many likeminded people that share our passion for Social Justice and want to do our part to continue to support others wherever we can.  Because of this we plan to have four major donation drives for the year.   April - Cottage by the Sea in Queenscliff (drop off by 3rd April) July - Food Assist in Portarlington (drop off by 30t ..read more

Are you a talented crocheter or knitter who wants to turn your hobby into a profitable business? Do you know that what you create is beautiful but you're not totally sure of the next steps?   Selling your handmade items can be a rewarding way to share your creations with others and make some extra income. However, there are certain do's and don'ts that you should keep in mind to ensure your success in the competitive world of handmade goods. In this blog post, we will explore some ideas for selling your beautiful makes.     Research The Market There are a lot of ..read more

Are you tired of the same old Christmas decorations? Looking to add a touch of handmade charm to your tree this year? Well, look no further! In this  post, I'll show you how to crochet a delightful Christmas tree bauble using 4 ply sock yarn. Get ready to unleash your inner crochet wizard and create a festive masterpiece that will have everyone oohing and aahing! What You'll Need: Before we dive into the magical world of crocheting baubles, let's gather our supplies. Here's what you'll need: 4 ply sock yarn in festive colours (because who says Christmas can't be stylish?) add s ..read more

Hmm, not one but two blogs this month!  Why, you might ask...well its because I find this stuff pretty important, looking after YOU, when lets be honest you are generally spending most of your energy at this time of year looking after others!  The other blog, A Little Bauble of Cheer, was sharing a little pattern to make you smile, this one however is about how you can hopefully keep smiling through the madness that is the silly season. You know, that magical time of year when the world seems to go a little bit bonkers. From office parties to family gatherings, it's a whirlwind ..read more

I love freeform or freestyle crochet because there are no rules and you are only limited by your imagination! It is such a liberating way to create! I often use it to create wearable art such as jewellery or scarves and it is an amazing way to use that special one skein of yarn that you purchased that you had no idea what you were going to do with! The piece you can see above was a necklace that I 'whipped up' when I was at the Australian Crochet Guild Conference earlier this year.  I used some stunning Country Wide Yarn Mandala 8 ply and created this coral effect piece.   Ok, s ..read more

This gorgeous square is called Kara's Dreams. I recently designed a square for her big sister, Kate - called Something for Kate (another free pattern on The Calming Yarn Blog) and this is a special square just for Kara. Kara told me her fave colours are Red and Orange so they are the primary colours in this design! When I first shared this pattern Atty's love for crochet told me that it has some similarity to one of her designs, Windmills of my Mind.  Because am a big believer in being open, honest and transparent and I think it is important that people are aware of this similar ..read more

What do you call a collection of scrunchies?  A band, no thats for musicians...A comb, no thats bananas...A dazzle, no that zebras.  So what do you call them?  There is no collective noun for a collection of scrunchies (that I can find) so I think I might just make one up!  I am going to call it a bunchy of scrunchies!!!  You might wonder why I am so curious about bunchies of scrunchies (you might not wonder too and might just think I am off on another eccentric tangent!!!) I recently received a shipment of Premier Parfait Chunky Pom Pom Yarn a divinely soft ..read more

In early June I was in Sydney for the Australian Crochet Guild Conference (and I had a ball!).  While I was there I was rapt to be able to catch up with some of my gorgeous family!  Due to the numerous lockdowns here in Victoria Mr, YMC and I hadn't had much of a chance to visit our family in Sydney and this was the perfect opportunity!  We had an amazing time going to Vivid and spending time with my fabulous cousin Craig and his awesome wife Nyrelle and their absolutely adorable 2 girls Kate and Kara. Kate told me that she still had the amigurumi toy that I had made her ye ..read more