I am a knitter and, to me, knitting is second nature.  I knit without looking, I knit whilst reading and, when I’m really tired but I just have to finish one more row, I knit with my eyes closed.   And I know that this looks like magic to non-knitters but, to me, knitting is easy.

The real magic is crochet.  Crochet is knitting’s mysterious twin… It amazes me, it baffles me!   I tried to teach myself to crochet once — I managed a little strip of fabric (that with the addition of some knitted flowers became quite a nice choker), but I quickly realised that it’s crocheters who make the real magic happen.  Here are three patterns that really inspire me to pick up a hook and try my hand at crochet again.

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Tusculum Cowl by Robyn Chachula

Here is a crochet at its most spellbinding.  I love the drama of Robyn Chachula‘s unusual cowl, the way the chain-stitched edging forms a striking cobweb that can be worn gathered up around the neck or draped dramatically across the body.  I’d love to see this done in SpaceCadet’s Astrid yarn in a rich, deep colourway such as Desert Wine to bring a dash of glamour to a new winter coat.

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Sonata Shawl by Sharon Silverman

Sharon Silverman conjured up something truly special when she designed this spectacular shawl.  The magic is in the changing stitch pattern that creates distinct bands of lacy texture from top to bottom.  Worked in lace weight yarn, this would look fresh and light in SpaceCadet’s Luna Laceweight in Old Money, or darkly dramatic in Luna Laceweight in Plum Wine.

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Fan Stitch Hat by Brittany Tyler

The magic of Brittany Tyler‘s charming little hat in is the way it gathers up the colours of varigated yarns and distributes them in little pools across the crocheted fabric.  Quirky and sweet with a flower detail, it would bring out the striking colours of SpaceCadet’s Astrid yarn in Sleep Deep or look cute as a button in Sailor’s Warning.