Welcoming April with Fresh Crochet Inspiration

And a lot of rain, apparently

Hello, lovely crocheters!

Guess who's back? Yep, it's me, a few newsletters late as usual :) When I started writing, I set a goal to send a mail per month. But if you have been around for a while, you already know that I always start my newsletters with some whining about how busy I’ve been and how fast time flies... So, to continue with the tradition, today I’m writing to tell you that the past few months I've been working like crazy. Life, as always, threw a few curveballs (and maybe a tangled skein or two!), but here I am, ready to spill the tea—quite literally—on my latest crochet escapades.

Yep, I’ve been tangled. Just like my leftover yarn stash: I love to take it out, sort it by color, untangle the mess… and then let it tangle again :)

2025: The Year of Ambitious Designing

At the beginning of this year, I set a lofty goal: design and release one crochet pattern each month. Ambitious? Absolutely. Achievable? So far, so good! Now that we’re four months in, I’m happy (and a little amazed) to say I’ve stuck to it so far! Three designs have already been released—one each month—and the fourth is currently taking shape as I write to you. Here’s a quick round-up in case you’ve missed any of them:

January: LapsangTea Shawl

A lacey, mysterious wrap that’s as cozy as it is chic. It can be done with a single gradient cake (I know that’s a favorite for many of you!).

You can find the pattern in Etsy and Ravelry.

February: LapsangTea Blanket

The blanket version of the shawl with the same name. Because nothing beats being outside with a colorful throw to keep you company :)

Here are the links to the pattern in Etsy and Ravelry.

March: BubbleTea Shawl

I wanted to make a shawl inspired by gothic windows and ended up with something else. But I like the result too! - and guess what’s my next pattern ;)

As usual, you can find the pattern both in Etsy and Ravelry.

Each of these pieces has been an exploration in shape and texture—two elements I’ve been especially drawn to lately. I wanted each design to feel tactile and sculptural, something that’s as fun to make as it is to wear or gift.

Blocking time!

One thing I’ve learned throughout this process is just how much blocking can transform a finished piece, especially in lacy ones like the three above. I’ve experimented with three different methods:

• Flat surface blocking—a simple yet effective technique for gently shaping your work without fuss. Just pin your piece to a carpet or ideally a blocking mat, spray it with water and let it dry. You can speed up the process with a steamer. Pros: simple. Cons: complicated for big projects

• Steam ironing—my grandma’s method! I like it because it’s instantaneous and you can apply hand pressure where you need it. Pros: perfect for big pieces. Cons: you can only do it with heat-resisting yarn, such as cotton. Don’t do this with synthetic fibers!

• Clothes line blocking (I think I just made the name up)—perfect for big pieces and for delicate or heavy yarn. Just wet your piece, hang it from the clothes line and add lots of clothespins. Let it air dry! Pros: it does not require any specific material, just your regular stuff. Cons: you need sunny, dry weather to make it work.

Blocking makes a huge diference, but sometimes I prefer the non-blocked look and feel! You can see for yourself:

All three techniques have been part of my toolkit lately, and I’m considering putting together a small guide or post to walk through how I block each project, in case it’s helpful for you, too.

Color Me Excited

And speaking of things that bring joy—color! I’ve been playing around with a couple of new combinations that I can’t wait to show you.

Here’s the first one:

This is an apricot-to-teal transition, combining as usual Rainbow (R) and Friends (F) colors. From left to right: F96,F95,R77,R71,F72,F73,R40,R93,F44,R48.

And here’s another one - I seem to be in a turquoise mood, whatever that is :)

Color codes: F70,F74,F84,F92,F91,F90,F94 (yep, you can see a Rainbow skein in the pic, but I found the Friends equivalent)

By the way, if you can keep me the secret… this is the colorway of the pattern I’m designing right now ;)

Lastly, as Easter weekend approaches, I want to wish each of you a restful, joyful break. Whether you're celebrating with family, sneaking away for a few peaceful stitches, or simply enjoying the longer days, I hope it’s a time of comfort and renewal.

Thanks, as always, for being here—your support, comments, and makes bring so much warmth to this little corner of the internet. I’m truly grateful.

Warm wishes from Madrid!
Inés from Red Teapot Atelier