Shrimpton - Supersize crochet: 20 quick crochet projects using super chunky yarn

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Welcome to the wonderful world of supersize crochet. Come in, kick your shoes off and have a look around. Things here are just like normal crochet but, erm, a bit bigger. That said, supersize crochet isnt all about making ginormous things (although there are a few large-scale projects in this book); its about finding some truly chunky yarns and exploring different ways of working with them to create contemporary accessories for you and your home. In fact, its about using everything you already know about crochet and pushing it to new limits. Like what you see? Well, the good news is that all you need to supersize your crochet are some chunky yarns and the biggest hooks you can get your hands on.

I should warn you, however, that it can be hard work; the yarn is sometimes tough on your fingers, the projects can be big and cumbersome to work with, and wielding a mammoth hook takes a little practice, too. (These most certainly arent the sort of projects to take on your bus journey to the office.) But my goodness its good fun; hard work it may be, but difficult it isnt. The projects in this book are simple, coming together very quickly, and enormous stitches mean that its easy to see what youre doing.

So what can you do with supersize crochet? The answer is pretty much anything you like: make a cushion in a matter of minutes with some mega yarn; whip up a cosy blanket in a day; or create a statement beanbag with versatile T-shirt yarn. And dont forget that you can wear your supersize creations, too. Necklace? Hat? The cosiest cocoon shrug? Theyre all here, dear Reader. Supersizing your crochet doesnt mean that everything you make has to be massive, just that everything you make is awesome.

To supersize your crochet, the first thing youll need are some mighty fibres. Ive chosen a variety of different yarns for this book, all readily available (see my handy suppliers list at the end) and classed as super chunky or super bulky. Some yarns are acrylic-based (hard-wearing, vegan-friendly and cost-effective) and some have a generous smattering of wool content to keep you warm and add a touch of luxury. Theres also plenty of cotton, including the on-trend T-shirt yarn (recycled and affordable) to provide structure for some of the larger projects. And theres one thing I can assure you: the only double knit yarn youll find in this book is working extremely hard for the privilege*. And as for the hooks, most standard sizes up to 20mm (US size S/36) are readily available in your local yarn store. The bigger 25mm (US size U/50) and 40mm (no US size equivalent, just search for 40mm) ones are a little more special, but can be easily sourced online.

Supersize crochet is exactly what youd expect; its about creating show-stopping pieces which use chunky, mega chunky and truly mammoth yarns and changing the way you think about crochet forever. So what are you waiting for? Grab that yarn, arm yourself with that hook and lets make something superspecial.

*PS I have nothing against DK or any light-weight yarn. Its perfect for lots of wonderful crochet projects. It just doesnt cut the Supersize Crochet mustard without a little help.

Sarah xx

The standard kit is what youll need for supersizing your crochet, along with a few tweaks and some other essentials:

A toolkit staple. Make sure one pair is heavy duty enough to cope with cutting tougher yarns and threads.

The ends of giant yarns can be woven back into your work with your fingers, but youll still need a sturdy tapestry or darning needle with a blunt end. Make sure you find one with a really big eye to make it easier when threading through those chunky yarns.

To mark important stitches, often the first of a row or round. A large-sized one will be most useful, but you can always use a piece of coloured thread instead.

Useful for counting your completed rows and rounds. Paper and pen work just fine, too.

Youll need these to stuff cushions and pouffes. Each project will specify roughly what youll need.

Most crafters I know have a rather large stash of these sorts of things. Useful for creating interesting detail on your finished item.

As crazy as it sounds, one of these is very useful for putting your yarn into to stop it rolling all over the place; standard yarn bowls are a tad small for most of the yarns in this book.

Some projects need a little protecting as you work with them. A plastic sheet (cut up a big plastic bag) does the job perfectly.

These are the most important pieces in your kit (alongside the yarn, of course). The projects in this book use big hooks. And some require mahooosive hooks. Each project lists the hook size needed and youre going to need:

Each pattern specifies the brand and quantities of yarn you will need to complete the project, but what happens if it becomes discontinued, or if you want to try something different? To make it as easy as possible, a generic alternative is suggested most projects, like the blankets, can be made with any yarn and hook size you like (even, dare I say it, double knit!) simply follow the instructions in the pattern to adjust the number of stitches and rows to your liking. For other projects, try to source a yarn with a similar weight and meterage/yardage. That way, youll get as close a match as possible.

If you happen to have a whole stash of unworn T-shirts (my kids insist on growing out of theirs) then you can make your own T-shirt yarn and it really is very easy (this works best with plain T-shirts, without a print on the front):

Lay your T-shirt flat and cut off the bottom seam and top section across the underarms. Discard these pieces (or, being the crafty person you are, repurpose into a fabulous accessory).

Make long cuts approximately 2.5cm (1in) wide from one side to the other, leaving a gap of about 2.5cm (1in) from the edge.