Here in Saskatchewan, Canada we are going through a heat wave. A week of temperatures over 30° Celsius (86° Fahrenheit), sometimes getting as high as 38°C! (100°F) Maybe you are in a place that is warm all the time and you just laugh at us but I feel like it is too hot to even go to the beach.

July Gnome lives on the beach. Surf, sand, and sun! Sun’s out, buns out! Flip flops and sunglasses! He is having a great time!

I want YOU to have a great time too! To start the 2nd half of 2021 off right, everything on Etsy and Ravelry will be 25% off until July 5th. No codes needed.

Rainbow-colored knitted background, text says, "Ashlee Brotzell Designs. 25% off Etsy and Ravelry. Linktr.ee/LFMandMosaic @AshleesLint

I know the background of that graphic is knitted, not crocheted. I just finished this tube blanket on my Sentro 48 and the colors are just so amazing! I do have a YouTube video with some tips if you have a circular knitting machine and want to try making a blanket too!

Anyway, back to the crochet. And specifically, back to our monthly gnome! I particularly like the nose on this one.

Sample crocheted by CarolinevdB using the overlay mosaic technique

Like all my patterns, this is written for both of my favorite techniques: interlocking crochet and overlay mosaic crochet.

The eBook, “A Year of Gnomes” is half-finished now. I will also be adding a bonus all-in-one pattern once all the Gnomes are drawn and published. It will follow the same format as all my patterns: line-by-line instructions for interlocking crochet, a chart, and then the line-by-line instructions for overlay mosaic crochet. It will have all the gnomes in monthly order starting at the top right corner.

If I wanted to crochet all the Gnomes into a blanket, especially when using the mosaic technique, I would prefer an all-in-one pattern. Keeps those tails to a minimum when doing mosaic crochet. However, it is easier to change colors for each square by doing them one by one. And, if I was doing them one at a time I’d probably use the interlocking method because I find it easier to join the squares.

Here’s our master list of Gnomes so far:

I guess this monthly gnome series is sort of like a CAL (Crochet-A-Long). Our MusicCAL just ended and I love seeing all your projects. ?

There’s another CAL for you to eagerly anticipate!

The Friends Around the World 6th Anniversary CAL: Adventure in Mosaic Crochet begins on July 8th! This is a group-effort CAL. There were so many designers that they actually have 3 different blankets for you to make!

I can’t spoil the surprise of which part is mine or when my part will be released. But the first blanket begins on Thursday, July 8th and has an ocean theme!

Sample of Ocean FATW6

Some cool details:

  • FREE
  • Mosaic Crochet
  • Many designers
  • My section includes written instructions, a chart with x’s, and a YouTube tutorial walk-thru!
  • New section released every Monday and Thursday, beginning on Thursday, July 8, 2021
  • Ocean-themed blanket first
  • Geometric blanket begins August 30, 2021
  • Garden Party begins October 25th
  • This is the 6th Friends Around the World (FATW6) CAL

Make sure you join the Facebook group and event for this one! https://www.facebook.com/calcrochetalong