UPDATE: This pattern is now available to buy as an advert free pdf download. The pattern includes all six parts of the original CAL in one document. It is available in UK and US terms. You can find it in my shop here.

With just a few days to go until the CAL starts, I thought I would do a little roundup of the questions I have been asked most. You can find my CAL Introduction post here which gives details about the materials you need. I’ll keep adding new questions as they pop up, but if I’ve missed any thing please don’t hesitate to ask.

What are the dates for the CAL?

The CAL will be in 6 parts as follows:

20th October - Part 1 - Stripes and Bobbles

27th October - Part 2 - Snowflakes

3rd November - Part 3 -Gingerbread People

10 th November - Part 4 - Father Christmas Hats

17th November - Part 5 - Snowflakes

24th November - Part 6 - Finishing off and border. This part is fairly short and quick to allow time to catch up on previous parts.

What time will the patterns be available?

The patterns will be available each week at 9am GMT

Do I need to sign up to join the CAL?

No. There is no signup required. The CAL is completely free and you do not need to register anywhere or give any of your personal details.

Where do I find the patterns?

Each week I will post the new pattern here on my website. I will pin the new post to the top of the homepage so it is easy to find.

daryl-and-james:tool#crochet-studio

Is the CAL suitable for a beginner?

Yes! The whole blanket is made up of basic stitches and nowhere near as difficult as it looks. The patterns have picture tutorials, so even if you have not read a pattern before, they will guide you through step by step.

Is the pattern in UK or US terms?

Both. The pdfs are available to download in both UK and US crochet terms. You can choose which suits you best.

Are there videos?

Yes. I’ve made videos to guide you step by step through the techniques you need to make the blanket. These are aimed at complete beginners and will show you how to work the stitches needed. I refer to both UK and US terms in the videos. They are also subtitled and you can translate them into different languages.

Will the patterns be available after the CAL finishes?

Yes. Once the CAL finishes I will put all of the parts together in one pdf which will stay on my website permanently. It will always be free to download.

Is the blanket made in sections?

No. It’s worked in rows, back and forth and all in one piece. There is no joining at the end.

What does the back of the blanket look like? Is it messy?

It looks virtually identical to the front. The carried yarns are hidden within the stitches.

How can I make the blanket bigger or smaller?

The pattern is made up of 5 repeats of 30 stitches plus 2 additional stitches. You can add or remove blocks of 30 stitches to make it wider or narrower. Each repeat is approximately 20cm wide.

Removing 30 stitches (1 repeat) would mean a starting chain of 122 and would give you an approximate blanket width of 80cm.

Adding 30 stitches would mean a starting chain of 182 and a blanket width of 120cm.

You can adjust the length by adding or removing elements of the patterns such as snowflakes or stripes.

What size hooks do I need?

4mm and 4.5mm. You can find a full list of the materials needed here

Where can I buy yarn packs?

Snufflebean Yarn - Red and Green pack

Sirdar - Blue yarn pack

Sirdar - Red and Green yarn pack