Category: Pattern Tests

Wintry Forest Cal

Finally I can show something I worked on for the last few weeks: Wintry Forest.

Wintry Forest is the new Cal by Ana Morais Soares from One Skein of Love. It will come in 6 parts (5 for the blanket and 1 for the border) and starts on November 10th. The Intro File with all relevant information is already available on Ana’s Ravelry page.

When I started testing it about 4 weeks ago I knew right away that I was going to make a wall decoration. But this time the decision about colour was a difficult one. It cost me a lot of time and nerves.

At first I thought about using just cream and grey, but I abandoned the idea after one of my fellow testers used exactly this colour combination. My next idea was to make it colourful, changing background and contrast colour for each pattern. So I picked about 10 or 12 colours from my Stylecraft Special DK and began mixing and matching them. I ended up with a pile of colour swatches but somehow I didn‘t get the colour placement balanced. So I also discarded this idea.

The picture above shows only some of them :D

Nevertheless I will keep my pile of swatches as I found some really nice combinations. For instance I never thought that Mocha and Pale Rose would look that great together. Duck Egg and Storm Blue also are a great combination. Strong but beautiful!


In the end, I came back to my idea with Cream and Grey and decided on a combination of

Cream, Mocha, Grey (Stylecraft Special DK) and Stonewash (King Cole Comfort DK).

I also added a little bit of Denim (Stylecraft), just because I fell in love with that colour and thought that it matches the rest.

The colours remind me on a cold and sunny winter morning. I love them!

I separated the pattern (10 different designs) into three parts and am just framing my panels with borders and make some tassels.

Hopefully I will be able to show you my completed decoration next week when the Cal starts.

… and another test for Pam – Sage Advice Square

I tested this little beauty already in August.
Once again I had the feeling that I didn’t have the right colours in my Rainbow Cotton to do justice to this design. So I used a yarn that I had actually ordered to try out for a completely different project. Drops Muskat.
Drops Muskat is a mercerised cotton yarn, classified as DK yarn with 100 m per 50 g. It comes in 45 colours and has a lovely shine that gives it a bit a vintage touch (at least in my eyes). It splits a bit, so you have to be careful when crocheting, but I’ve worked with yarns where this was worse. And the finished look is worth the effort I think.

As always Pam‘s design is rich with stitch combinations and full of texture. And again the square was designed with a Aran / worsted weight (#4) yarn. Depending on the hook size it is supposed to be either 11 x 11” (4,5 mm hook) or 12” x 12” ( 5 mm hook). That makes approx. 28 cm respectively 30,5 cm in the square.

It was absolutely fun to test it! Here some details of my version:

Pattern

Sage Advice Square
available on Ravelry

Designer

Pam Knighton-Haener from A Yarn of Serendipity

Technique

regular crochet

Yarn

Drops Muskat
100 % cotton, #3

Colours

following colour way 2
A — 81, Clay 
B — 61, Light Beige 
C — 85, Mustard 
D — 24, Taupe

Hook

Clover Amour Hook, 4 mm

Finished Size

approx. 25 x 25 cm (about 10 inch)

Head over Heels Square

A new design from Pam …

Head over Heals is the new design from Pam Knighton-Haener / A Yarn of Serendipity. I had the pleasure to test this square in July.

Although I had decided at some point to do all her tests with Hobbii Rainbow Cotton 8/4, this time I felt I didn’t have the right colours for it. So I came back to my SSDK after all. Instead of the 4 mm hook I normally use with this yarn I chose 4,5 mm this time. I think the result is better but I am still not 100% satisfied with the stitch definition.

I love the colours though. I wanted to try this combination for a long time

Cream, Apricot, Pistachio, Silver and Graphite.

Square I

For my test square I followed Pam‘s colour way 2 with some slight changes for two rounds. Hooking the square I was so fascinated by the center part that I wanted to see how it would look in another colour combination. And I also was curious how my colours would look in another arrangement. So I made a second one following my own ideas. Not sure which one I like better.

I was thinking about mounting one of the squares on a cushion cover. Unfortunately I only have one in a dark grey. So I’m already thinking about whether I should make a third square in slightly brighter colours, hm … Well, we will see!

Square Ii

Here some details

Pattern

Head over Heels Square
available on Ravelry

Designer

Pam Knighton-Haener from A Yarn of Serendipity

Technique

regular crochet

Yarn

Stylecraft Special DK

Colours Square I

Following Pam’s colour way 2
A – Cream
B – Graphite
C- Pistachio
D – Apricot
E – Silver
Changes:
round 7 – colour A
round 8 – colour E

Colours Square II

Round 1 – Cream
Round 2 – Pistachio
Round 3 – Cream
Round 4 – Cream
Round 5 – Graphite
Round 6 – Silver
Round 7 – Apricot
Round 8 – Cream
Round 9 – Silver
Round 10 – Pistachio
Round 11 – Apricot
Round 12 – Graphite
Round 13 – Pistachio
Round 14 – Cream
Round 15 – Graphite

Hook

Clover Amour hook, 4,5 mm

Happy Granny Square Day

Sweet Marigold Square

Today is the international Granny Square Day!

For this day Ana Morais Soares from One Skein of Love has designed this lovely square: Sweet Marigold Square. The pattern is featured in Simply Crochet Magazine. This month they will have a supplement with 52 Granny Squares patterns that will be put together into a blanket. The blanket and their fees will be donated to Operation Orphan, a non profit organization.

I had the pleasure to test Ana’s pattern earlier this year. My version is made with Schachenmayr Catania – a Sport weight (#2)Cotton yarn (125 m / 50 g) – and a 2,5 mm hook. It turned out about 12 cm.

My colours are

Colour A – 427 Scampi
Colour B – 401 Apricot
Colour C and D – 269 Graublau

I am curious to see the other squares from the Simply Crochet Magazine supplement!

Have a lovely day 💕

Test No.3/2022 for Pam – The Sweet Delusions Square

Last updated on May 11, 2026

Sweet Delusions – another beautiful design by Pam Knighton-Haener, A Yarn of Serendipity.

It’s my third completed crochet test for Pam this year and there’s still more to come … YAY!

The Sweet Delusions Square is featured in the BAMCAL 2022 – Crochet a Block-a-Month— on Ravelry. It’s the August square.
The pattern is available for free on Pam’s website or as a paid pattern on Ravelry. The paid version includes additional features like the very helpful round-by-roubd pictures and links that help you navigate through the document.

For my version of the Sweet Delusions Square, I used Hobbii Rainbow Cotton 8/4 again.

I’m absolutely happy with the result!

The colours go really well together. Although I can imagine it in other colours too. Maybe different shades of green with a touch of cream? Or shades of purple? The possibilities are endless!

Pattern

Sweet Delusions Square
available on Ravelry

Designer

Pam Knighton-Haener from A Yarn of Serendipity

finished

14. June 2022

Technique

traditional crochet

Yarn

Hobbii Rainbow Cotton 8/4

Colours and Placement

28 Light Jeans Blue – colour A
69 Lilac – colour B
46 Old Rosa – colour C
29 Jeans Blue – colour D
97 Mist – colour E
following colour way 1

Hook

Clover Soft Touch, 2,5 mm

Finished Size

about 20 cm

If you like Pam’s designs just have a look at my other tests:

My test versions

I hope you find some inspiration!

Mellow Fellows – Cruciferous

Have you already seen the new pattern by misssBerlin? The Cruciferous are part of her new Mellow Fellow series. A yummy cauliflower and broccoli.

I had the pleasure to test this pattern during the last days. As always it was a lot of fun. Dana‘s cute Amigurumi are always very inspiring.

My veggies are made with Catania from Schachenmayr and a 2,5 mm hook (my Clover Soft Touch). For the cauliflower I used the colour 130 Cream throughout. The little broccoli is made with 392 Lime for the stalk and 212 Khaki for the florets.
Both are crocheted more or less in one piece, only the little arms are sewn on.

Everything is explained very well in the pattern. If you know how to do chains, single crochet and double crochet (US terms) you are able to do it! Although I think that the placement of the stitches in the florets is a bit tricky at times and needs patience!
The skill level is rated as adventurous beginner/ intermediate.

The pattern is available on Ravelry.

You also should have a look at the other fellows of this series!

I already wrote about the little mushroom and the trees in this post.

But there are also little Acorns and Cacti available. Unfortunately I was not able to test these but here two of Dana‘s photos. Aren‘t they cute? I will have to make them to complete my collection!

Costa Nova Cal – Some colour ideas

Have you already seen that Ana from One Skein of Love is launching a new Cal?
It will start on Thursday, 07. July 2022. The Intro file with all relevant information is now available on Ravelry. During the Cal there is a 30 % discount on the price and an extra 20% discount for members of Ana‘s Facebook group.

Although I am one of the testers I don’t hav a blanket to show you this time. And no own colour way, sorry!
After crocheting almost exclusively test projects since autumn of last year, I needed a break. I urgently want to finish my (hubby‘s) Midnight Snowflakes blanket and a shawl I started designing months ago.
So I “only“ checked the pattern by reading, counting stitches, checking colours, diagrams and everything and reading again … checking again…

But my fingers were itching! Ana designed lovely costal motifs to pay homage to her favourite beach: Costa Nova.

So I couldn‘t help. I had to think about colours that would suit the pattern and that I would use. I thought I would show you my favourite ideas, maybe you will like some of them?

(At this point once again many thanks to Stylecraft Yarns who allowed me to use the colour samples from their website.)

This one is my absolute favourite

and this one was my first idea

But I also love this one

Hard to decide, isn’t it?
If you take part in the Cal I wish you a lot of fun already now 💕

New tests for Pam

This year, Pam Knighton-Haener from A Yarn of Serendipity has created some new designs and so far I have already been able to test three of them. Two are already published, so I can show them. The third one is still in the testing phase and will be released in August.

As you may know I have been unsure all the time which yarn to use. Pam’s squares are designed to use a cotton yarn in Aran weight. Depending on hook size – 4,5 or 5 mm hook – the finished size will be 11 or 12 inch – that’s about 28 respectively 30,5 cm.

When I started testing for Pam in 2020 I made my first squares with Drops Paris and Love you 8 using a 4,5 mm hook. I love the colours of Drops as they are soft and subtle but somehow I don’t like to work with Aran weight. It’s probably a matter of practice, but I’m never satisfied with the look of my stitches when I use Aran. Especially since Pam often uses trebles and double trebles. Somehow it stresses me out and I have been looking for alternatives.
So, after a short excursion to Stylecraft Special DK (not as good stitch definition as cotton and harder to block), I came to Hobbii Rainbow Cotton 8/4. It is a fingering weight with 170 m / 50 g. Much thinner than Aran but I still think my squares are a good size at around 19 or 20 cm. I like the colours, I’m happy with the look of my stitches, I feel less stressed – I’m sticking with it.
Luckily Pam doesn’t mind me using it.

The first Square I tested this year was the

Simple Wonders Square

Pattern

Simple Wonders Square
available on Ravelry

Designer

Pam Knighton-Haener from A Yarn of Serendipity

finished

06. February 2022

Technique

regular crochet

Yarn

Hobbii Rainbow Cotton 8/4
170 m / 50 g

Colours and Placement

65 Apricot Colour A
97 Mist Colour B
13 Grayish Purple Colour C
Following colour way 1

Hook

Clover Soft Touch, 2,5 mm

Finished Size

app. 19 cm

And the second one was the lovely

Apart Together Square

Pattern

Apart Together Square
available on Ravelry

Designer

Pam Knighton-Haener from A Yarn of Serendipity

finished

06. April 2022

Technique

regular crochet

Yarn

Hobbii Rainbow Cotton 8/4
170 m / 50 g

Colours and Placement

69 Lilac Colour A
97 Mist Colour B
46 Old Rose Colour C
Following colour way 2

Hook

Clover Soft Touch, 2,5 mm

Finished Size

app. 19 cm

If you are interested in the other squares I tested for Pam, just have a look

From left to right:
Carter Jude Square, Brood of Angels, Margaret Square, all made with Drops yarn

… and Fancy Nancy, made with Stylecraft Special DK

Have a good time

Mellow Fellows

By now you probably know that Dana from misssBerlin is my favorite Amigurumi Designer. She has designed all the little Dudes you see here on this site. Unfortunately it’s been a while since I last tested for her, the Carnival Treat Dudes in April 2021.

Now she has created a brand new series, the Mellow Fellows and asked me at the end of April if I was able test them. Fortunately I could test at least two of the first four patterns that will be released over the next few weeks.

Mushrooms

First were the Mushrooms. Aren’t they cute?

The pattern includes the instructions to make these little mushrooms in two different sizes – about 8,5 and 10 cm tall. There is only little sewing as they are made more or less in one piece. As always Dana’s pattern is very detailed and easy to follow.

The pattern is written for a level 2 mercerized cotton yarn but I think you can also use any other yarn you like. I made my mushrooms with Schachenmayr Catania and a 2,5 mm hook. The colours I used are Natur and Red. I used the same colour to embroider the little dots on the Cap and a leftover of Black for the eyes.

They are really fun to make and I am absolutely happy how they turned out!

Trees

The trees pattern contains the instructions for an approx. 8.5 cm high Pine Tree and a Fruit Tree which is about 10 cm tall. Only the arms are sewn on for these two as well, the rest is crocheted in one piece.

I used Schachenmayr Catania in the colour Teddy for the bodies / trunks of both. The treetop of the Pine Tree is made with Khaki. The crown of the fruit tree can be varied depending on which fruit it is to bear. I made mine with Scheepjes Catona in the colour Forest Green, combined with Woll Butt Camilla (a German brand) in Hellgrün. It is an apple tree with green apples.

The pattern are available in Dana’s Ravelry Store.
Just have a look at the Mellow Fellows Mushrooms and
the Mellow Fellow Trees.

I hope you will enjoy making these little creatures as much as I did.

Sorbet

Sorbet is the latest pattern from Ana Morais Soares. I had the pleasure to test this beauty during May.
The original blanket is made with a colour changing yarn. Ana used Hobbii Twister, a Cotton / Acrylic mix in sport weight.

As I had to use up some of my stash, my blanket is made from DK yarn.

I actually wanted to achieve the same size with my thicker yarn as Ana did with her Twister (90 x 130 cm).
I probably miscalculated! To achieve this, I would have needed 2 more repeats in the width. My blanket is now only 80 cm wide and so I have also reduced the length slightly.
For me anyway, it’s a perfect lap blanket for sitting on the couch. The colours fit perfectly in my living room and they will also go well with my – er, my husband’s – Midnight Snowflakes (when it’s finished one day).

I am happy!

Here are some more details about my Sorbet

Pattern

Sorbet
available on Ravelry
and Etsy

Designer

Ana Morais Soares from One Skein of Love

Technique

Overlay Mosaic

Test Phase

03. May 2022 – 01. June 2022

Finished

05. June 2022

Yarn and Colours

Stylecraft Special DK (295 m / 100 g)

1807 A Hint of Silver
1722 Storm Blue

3 balls
1 ball

King Cole Baby Comfort DK (310 m / 100g)

1729 Glacier

3 balls

Detailed Yarn Amounts

258 g Glacier
239 g A Hint of Silver
95 g Storm Blue

Hooks

Clover Amour Hook, 4 mm
Slip stitch round: Clover Amour Hook, 4,5 mm
Back Layer Border: Clover Soft Touch, 3,75 mm

Pattern Repeats

16 repeats, 131 stitches

Layout

following the pattern for Layout 1

Pattern 1, 3 repeats
Pattern 3, 14 repeats

197 rows in total

Colour Placement

Pattern 1 and 3
C1: Glacier
C2: A Hint of Silver

Pattern 2
C1: Storm Blue
C2: A Hint of Silver

Border
Slip stitch round: Storm Blue
Back layer: Glacier
Front Layer: Storm Blue
Joining Round: Storm Blue

Final Size

appr. 80 x 113 cm

Have a lovely time 💕