I was recently offered the opportunity to review the Crochet Foundry Magazine Winter 2020 Edition and I was excited to take a look inside. Today, I’ll share my review with you as well as some information about some of the time sensitive bonuses they are offering to those that purchase the magazine and my review of those bonuses as well. They have also given me an exclusive discount code to share and a copy of the magazine to giveaway as well. Keep reading to find out more about the magazine and how you can enter to win.
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What is Crochet Foundry Magazine?
In case you aren’t familiar with Crochet Foundry Magazine, it’s a quarterly, online, inclusive sizing crochet magazine. This means that the designs included in the magazine have been graded to include the largest range of sizes possible. The winter edition of Crochet Foundry has seven different winter garments, all available in sizes extra-small to 5XL. This is one of the features that drew me to be interested in this magazine in the first place.
From the Plus Size Perspective
The contributors don’t just stop at saying that they are size-inclusive or just including the plus sizes in their patterns – they take it one step further. They include actual, real life plus size models in their magazine wearing some of the designs. I say real life plus models because they are models that actually wear a size 3xl and not the size 12 “plus models” we typically see in the media.
As a woman that wears a plus size, I love this! I want to see real women that are really, genuinely plus size women. Seeing these designs on a real plus size model helps me know whether the designs I’m looking at are genuinely flattering to a plus size body (in addition to those that wear regular sizes) or if they just threw in the extra plus sizes to draw in a wider audience. In this particular edition, there was only one design worn by a plus size model but she looked pretty in the design she modelled and it looked like it fit her well. There is a bonus extra pattern that was also modelled by the same plus size model as well (see below for the picture).
The Designers
Crochet Foundry Magazine currently has four (4) different indie designer contributors: Pam Stark from Sincerely, Pam, Lorene Eppolite from Cre8tion Crochet, Michelle Moore from MJ’s Off the Hook Designs/Sentry Box Designs and Briana Kepner from Briana K Designs.
The Designs
The Crochet Foundry Winter 2020 Edition comes with seven (7) different winter garment patterns, all available in sizes extra-small to 5xl. The designs included in this edition are:
- Cranberry Biscotti Turtleneck by Michelle Moore
- Striped Shortbread Duster by Briana Kepner
- Bredele Cropped Vest by Pam Stark
- Pizzelle Hooded Cardigan by Lorene Eppolite
- Coconut Macaroon Sweater Dress by Michelle Moore
- Gingersnap Pullover by Briana Kepner
- Amaretti Boyfriend Cardigan by Lorene Eppolite
I enjoyed that there are different garment styles included in the magazine. There’s a bit of something for everyone and should you buy within the first 5 days of the launch and get the added extras (which I’ll discuss momentarily), the Style Guide gives some handy recommendations to make alterations to further fit your personal style.
The designs in the Crochet Foundry Winter 2020 Edition are crocheted using worsted weight yarns available from WeCrochet. One thing that I really loved is that each design has yarn substitution suggestions listed with the pattern and those suggestions are broken down into Splurge, Spend and Save categories so you can find a yarn that will fit with your budget for each project. Some of the designs also include links to YouTube tutorials to assist with some techniques, like cabling or using a Furls Lucet Fork, used in the designs, which was helpful as well.
The patterns were well-written and easy to understand. The patterns are rated for skill levels from skilled beginner to intermediate.
I would absolutely wear many of the designs included in the Crochet Foundry Winter 2020 Edition. Michelle Moore really knocked it out of the park with the Coconut Maccaroon Sweater Dress on the front cover. I just love it! My personal body confidence wouldn’t allow me to wear something of this length and fit without a very healthy dose of Spandex support. We’re talking industrial grade support here lol. But if you’re with me in that feeling, don’t worry. Michelle’s got your back in the Style Guide extra – giving instructions on how you can adjust the length to make it a shorter dress or a sweater. Since a sweater is something I’d be more confident wearing, I’m so excited that this was included. Excuse me while I go find my hooks.
The Extras
For the Winter 2020 Edition, each pattern includes a different cookie recipe from the designer which is a fun addition. So while you’re blocking your new project, you can make a yummy batch of cookies to pass the time.
If you purchase the magazine in the first five (5) days of the launch, you also receive some pretty cool extras:
- A bonus, exlusive – The Maple Toffee Pullover Sweater by Pam Stark,
- A Style Guide which has tips from each of the designers on different ways to style your garment so from work to play, you can wear it your way.
- Gauge Matters! which is a thorough guide on all things related to gauge and gauge swatching
- Crochet Foundry Custom Fit Guide – tips and recommendations from the designers on changes that can be made to the patterns to get a fit/style that works for you. I would have loved to see something included in this about getting accurate body measurements to ensure you’re making the right size as I know this is something many people struggle with.
The contributors of Crochet Foundry have given me an exclusive discount code to share with my readers. If you purchase through this link and use the code loopy20, they’ll give you a 20% discount off your purchase.
The Experience
The Crochet Foundry Winter 2020 Edition is a beautiful magazine. Chock full of gorgeous patterns and gorgeous photos of those projects, the yarn and the Furls Crochet hooks that were used to make them. This is clearly a project full of passion from some very talented designers. If you’re interested in checking it out, you can find it HERE and be sure the coupon code loopy20 to save 20% off your purchase. There is also a yearly subscription option to get all 4 issues for just $40 (reg. $50) through this link, using the loopy20 coupon code at the check out.
If you enjoy crochet pattern books, you can check out some more of my crochet book reviews on my blog:
- Crochet Hacking Book Review
- Crochet Iconic Women Book Review
- Modern Tunisian Crochet Book Review
- Making with Meaning Review
- You can find all my crochet book reviews HERE.
Crochet Foundry Winter 2020 Edition Giveaway
Thanks to Crochet Foundry, I have a PDF copy of the Winter 2020 Edition to giveaway to one lucky winner!
This pattern giveaway on The Loopy Lamb is open to worldwide participants (except where void by law) and ends Monday, December 21, 2020 at 11:45pm Eastern Standard time. The winner will be chosen on Tuesday, December 22nd and notified by email. If you have already purchased your copy or yearly subscription then you will be refunded your purchase price of $12.
To enter, use the King Sumo form below. If you are on mobile and have difficulty entering, please use a desktop computer to enter. Only the Email option is mandatory – all other tasks are optional, for bonus entries only. Please note that by entering your email below, you are subscribing to The Loopy Lamb email list. We will not send you spam, just notifications about new free crochet patterns, news and giveaways.
