Welcome to the inaugural issue of Crochet Current! 🧡 This newsletter pulls together all the happenings and highlights of the week in one convenient place.

Crochet Current weaves in crochet-related news stories, patterns, trends, crochet-alongs, and more to cut through the noise and inspire you to create more!

In this week’s e-mail:

• Michael’s acquire Joann’s brands

• Crochet in public day

• All about the Crochet Along

• And more…

LOOPED IN

News

• Michaels acquires Joann’s brands. In the biggest twist of the week, Michaels announced it had bought Joann’s intellectual property and private label brands, including the “Big Twist” yarn line. Stay tuned for how this could impact “Big Twist” at Herrschners. (USA Today)

• World Record. The largest display of crochet granny squares broke a world record in India with over 100,000 squares that spelled out a special message. (Guinness World Records)

• Tom Daley’s gift to Kelly Clarkson. British Olympic diver Tom Daley crocheted a cardigan for Kelly Clarkson who has recently started crocheting. (Prima)

• Yarn bombing on steroids! A Brazilian artist has created a huge crochet installation at Paris Museum. See pictures! (TheArtPulse)

• ICYMI- Jimmy Beans Wool sold. Local Craft Group, a division of Blue Point Capital Partners, bought the yarn and notions retailer based in Reno, NV. (NevadaAppeal)

STITCH BY STITCH

🧶 What’s a CAL, Anyway?

When I first started crocheting and following designers on Facebook and Instagram, I kept seeing the abbreviation “CAL” and wondered what it meant. After some digging, I discovered it stands for Crochet-Along (see also: KAL — Knit-Along).

A CAL is a project split into parts so that crocheters all work on the same pattern at the same time.

Along the way, participants share photos, ask questions, and cheer each other on in Facebook groups, Ravelry threads, and other online communities.

Hosted by designers, yarn brands, or crochet groups, they range from simple projects (like stuffed animals that teach new techniques) to ambitious, intricate blankets.

Some are free, some you can get a kit or pre-selected colors, but nearly all come with a healthy dose of encouragement.

Whether you're looking to stretch your skills, stay motivated, or just enjoy some crafty camaraderie, a CAL is like a virtual stitching circle — and there’s one for every style and skill level.

Current Crochet Alongs

Here are a few CALs currently underway. We'll feature a new one every week.

🔹 Spring Crochet Coasters Crochet Along (Sandra Stitches)

This three-week journey will introduce two patterns each week, allowing you to build a complete set that brings refreshing spring elements to your home. Starts on June 9th.

🔹 Toy Box CAL (Underground Crafter)

Weekly free toy/amigurumi makes through August, with giveaways included. Started in March.

🔹 MooglyCAL2025 (Moogly)

Year‑long CAL featuring 24 designer afghan squares, with monthly pattern drops. Mooglyblog also hosts monthly CALs throughout the year.

🔹 Wall of Stitches CAL (Froggity Frog)

Build a 48‑block textured blanket one stitch at a time. Free weekly posts and Facebook community.

🔹 Mosaic Crochet Calendar Blanket (Nicki’s Homemade Crafts)

This free crochet pattern for a Calendar Crochet Blanket Pattern is broken up into 12 parts over 12 months with a GIVEAWAY at the end. Queen of the CAL, Nicki hosts monthly mystery CALs as well!

👉 Are you joining a CAL or hosting one? Hit reply or tag me — I’d love to feature your progress in a future issue!

YARN OVER HOOK

My Weekly Favorite Finds

🧶 June 14 is Crochet in Public Day

• Worldwide Crochet and Knit in Public day is on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Visit your Local Yarn Shop to look for local events in your area.

⭕ Magic Circle

• Here is video #1 of a million ways to do a magic ring from CherilynQ (YouTube)

🟨 Granny Square of the Week

• This two-color granny square purports to solve the problem of twisting and is reversible. (VivCrochets)

 🧡 Featured Crochet Charity

• Supporting A Community with Kindness (S.A.C.K) collects crocheted soap sacks for distribution to food pantries and shelters (SoapSacks)

✨ WIP

• My work in progress for the week “The Study of Texture” (CrochetCurrent)

  What are you working on? Share it with me!

IN STITCHES

WEAVING IN THE ENDS

Thanks for reading the inaugural issue of Crochet Current!

See you next week for more crochet-y goodness,

—Michelle 🧡

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