🌸 A Little Life Update... And Back to Crochet! 🧶🩷

🌸 A Little Life Update... And Back to Crochet! 🧶🩷

Hello everyone!

Firstly, I just wanted to pop on and say hello and apologise for being a little quiet here at Apple Blossom Dreams lately! 🩷

I promise I haven't disappeared, and I certainly haven't forgotten about all the lovely crochet projects I've been sharing with you!

The truth is, the Poppy Project has pretty much consumed my life for the past six months! 😂❤️

❤️ Two Years in the Making...

For those of you who don't know, I've spent the past two years organising the Holy Trinity & Community Poppy Project 2026 here in Skipton, North Yorkshire.

What started as an idea has turned into a HUGE community project, bringing together thousands of handmade poppies to create a very special Remembrance installation at Holy Trinity Church.

And for the past six months, it has pretty much taken over my entire life! 😂❤️

From organising volunteers and community sewing sessions to planning the displays, sorting thousands of poppies and making sure everything is ready, it's been a massive undertaking!

I've had some wonderful people helping along the way, and I couldn't have done it without them, but it's certainly been a lot to organise!

And now, after two years of hard work, the installation finally goes up this Friday, 6th November! ❤️

I honestly can't believe we've reached this point, and I can't wait to see everything come together.

I'll definitely be sharing some photos once it's all in place! 🥰

🌸 So, What's Happening With the Astri Blanket?

Well, the good news is that the Astri Blanket is finally back on my hook! 🥰

I've managed to pick it up again and I'm now working on the final few squares.

I'm using the beautiful Yarnsmiths Pebble Haze DK in my By the Sea colourway, with lovely soft blues, greens and neutral shades.

I absolutely LOVE how it's looking, and seeing all those floral squares coming together has reminded me just how excited I am about this design.

There's still joining, finishing and pattern writing to do, but I'm looking forward to getting properly stuck into it again.

I had originally hoped to have this design ready much sooner, but sometimes life has other plans!

And I'd much rather take my time and get it right than rush to finish it. 🩵

🧶 And There's More to Come!

Once the Poppy Project installation is up, I'm really looking forward to getting back into a more normal routine.

That means more time for crochet, finishing the Astri Blanket, sharing lots of pretty things here again and hopefully getting another new design onto my hook! 🌸

I've got so many ideas buzzing around in my head, and I'm itching to get started!

There are also some other lovely projects I've been wanting to revisit, so I'm hoping the next few months will be full of colour, flowers and plenty of yarn. 🥰

🩷 Thank You for Sticking Around!

I just wanted to say a huge thank you for being patient while things have been a little quieter.

Running Apple Blossom Dreams alongside Emkatcrochet, everyday life and such a huge community project has certainly been a juggling act!

But I really do love sharing these beautiful crochet designs with you, and I'm looking forward to spending more time here again.

So bear with me just a little longer while we get through this final big week of the Poppy Project.

Then it's back to the crochet hook, pretty flowers and hopefully lots of exciting things to share! 🌸🧶

Thank you for being here!

Happy crocheting!

Helen 🩷

🍂 Apple Blossom Dreams Autumn Sale! 20% Off ALL Patterns 🍂

 🍂 Apple Blossom Dreams Autumn Sale! 20% Off ALL Patterns 🍂

Autumn is well and truly here, which means cosy crochet season has arrived! 🧶🍂

There’s nothing better at this time of year than curling up with a crochet hook, some gorgeous yarn and a new project. So I thought October was the perfect time for an Apple Blossom Dreams Autumn Sale! 🩷

 

From 1st October until 10th October, you can get:

🧶 20% OFF ALL Apple Blossom Dreams crochet patterns!

Yes, ALL patterns! 🎉

The sale is running in both my Etsy and Ravelry shops, so whether you fancy starting a beautiful blanket, a cosy scarf or a quick handmade gift, now is the perfect time to have a browse.

🩷 Shop Apple Blossom Dreams on Etsy HERE!

🩷 Shop Apple Blossom Dreams on Ravelry HERE!

🍁 Find your next autumn project

There are so many gorgeous Apple Blossom Dreams designs to choose from, including some of Astri’s much loved original patterns alongside the designs and new colourways I’ve been working on since taking over Apple Blossom Dreams.

If you’re looking for a lovely big project to settle down with during the colder evenings, you could choose the Midnight Blossoms Throw, Forest Flower Blanket, La Vie en Rose or Thomas Blanket. 🌸🧶

Or perhaps you fancy something a little quicker? The City Scapes Scarf and Meadow Larksfoot Scarf are perfect for this time of year, while the Granny Heart Baubles and Mitered Dish Cloths are brilliant little projects if you’re starting to think about handmade Christmas gifts. 🎄🎁

There really is something for every crochet mood!

🧶 Patterns AND yarn packs!

And if choosing all the colours yourself is the bit you struggle with, I’ve got you covered there too! 🥰

A number of Apple Blossom Dreams designs also have ready made yarn packs available from Wool Warehouse, making it even easier to recreate the original colourways.

You can simply choose your pattern, order the coordinating yarn pack and have everything ready to start your next project. 🧶✨

You’ll find yarn packs for a growing selection of Apple Blossom Dreams designs, including favourites such as La Vie en Rose and the Midnight Blossoms Throw, plus more from the collection.

🧶 Browse Apple Blossom Dreams yarn packs at Wool Warehouse HERE.

Please remember that the 20% discount applies to the crochet patterns in my Etsy and Ravelry shops, not the Wool Warehouse yarn packs.

🍂 Don’t miss the Autumn Sale!

The Apple Blossom Dreams Autumn Sale ends on 10th October, so make sure you have a browse before it finishes.

🩷 20% off ALL patterns

🩷 Etsy HERE

🩷 Ravelry HERE

🧶 Wool Warehouse yarn packs HERE

Whether you choose a big cosy blanket, a beautiful scarf or a quick little Christmas make, I hope you find something you can’t wait to get on your hook! 🥰

Happy crocheting!

Helen 🩷

🌹 La Vie en Rose | Yarn Packs Are Here! 🌹

🌹 La Vie en Rose - Yarn Packs Are Here! 🌹

I’m so excited to share a little update about the beautiful La Vie en Rose Blanket! 🩷

Since taking over Apple Blossom Dreams, I’ve absolutely loved looking back through Astri’s gorgeous designs and finding ways to bring some of them back into the spotlight.

And La Vie en Rose is definitely one that deserves it! 🌹

🌹 A little about La Vie en Rose

La Vie en Rose is a beautiful floral crochet blanket made using lots of tiny granny squares to create one large rose design.

I just love the effect! 🩷

The pink and red rose sits against a crisp white background, surrounded by green leaves and stems, with those gorgeous shades of blue creating the pretty border.

It’s one of those blankets that looks incredibly detailed from a distance, but when you look closer you can see how the whole picture has been created one little square at a time. 🧶

And of course, it wouldn’t be an Apple Blossom Dreams blanket without a pretty crochet border to finish it off!

 

🧶 My Yarnsmiths Create DK version

For this version I used Yarnsmiths Create DK, choosing eight shades to recreate the original La Vie en Rose design:

💙 Cornflower Blue - 3279

🩵 Powder Blue - 3262

🤍 White - 3040

💚 Apple Green - 3188

🌿 Country Green - 3204

🩷 Candyfloss Pink - 3400

🌸 Fondant Pink - 3390

❤️ Scarlet Red - 3100

I absolutely love this combination. The different pinks and red give the rose so much definition, while the fresh greens and blues make the whole design pop. 🌹🩵

🛍️ Pattern AND yarn packs now available!

And now for the exciting bit...

La Vie en Rose is now available from Wool Warehouse! 🎉🌹

The pattern is available in both UK and US crochet terms, so you can simply choose the version you prefer. 🧶

Not only can you purchase the crochet pattern, but there are now Yarnsmiths Create DK yarn packs available too, so you can pick up the yarn needed to make your own version without having to work out all the colours yourself. 🧶

I know how handy it is having everything together in one place, especially for a design with quite a few different shades like this one.

You can find the La Vie en Rose pattern and yarn pack HERE at Wool Warehouse and the pattern links below:

🌹Ravelry - Get the pattern HERE

🌹Etsy - Get the pattern HERE

 

🌹 Will you make one?

I’ve really enjoyed bringing this beautiful Apple Blossom Dreams design back to life, and I hope we’ll start seeing some new La Vie en Rose blankets appearing too!

If you make one, please do tag @appleblossomdreams so I can see it, seeing your versions of these designs is always one of my favourite parts. 🩷

Happy crocheting! 🧶🌹

Helen x

Bringing This Beautiful Design to Life 🌿🌸

Bringing This Beautiful Design to Life 🌸🩷

Hello everyone!

If you follow Apple Blossom Dreams on social media, you may have already seen the floral motif that Astri designed several years ago. It was never written up into a crochet pattern, but the moment she shared it with me, I knew it deserved to be brought to life.

I absolutely fell in love with the delicate open petals and knew it would make the most beautiful blanket. Over the coming weeks and months, I'll be recreating Astri's original design, writing the pattern and transforming it into a blanket that I hope you'll all love just as much as I do.

Choosing the Colourways

One of my favourite parts of any new design is choosing the colours, and for this blanket I've picked two completely different palettes using Yarnsmiths Pebble Haze DK.

🍂 Warm & Earthy

This first colourway has a cosy, autumnal feel with rich warm tones balanced by soft neutrals.

I've chosen:

🤍 Limestone

🤎 Mudstone

🟤 Tiger's Eye

🤍 Dolomite

🧡 Orange Topaz

💜 Porphyry

I can already picture this version draped over the back of a sofa, bringing warmth and comfort to any room.

🌊 Calm & Coastal

For the second colourway, I wanted something completely different. This palette is fresh, calming and reminds me of the coast.

The colours are:

🤍 Limestone

🩶 Dolomite

🌿 Ledlamite

🩵 Olivine

💙 Chalcedony

🔵 Blue Slate

It's amazing how using exactly the same design with a different colour palette can completely change its personality.

Looking Ahead

There's still plenty of crocheting to do before I can reveal the finished blanket, but I honestly can't wait to bring Astri's beautiful design to life, one motif at a time. I'll be sharing lots of updates along the way, from the first motifs to the finished blanket and, eventually, the completed crochet pattern.

I genuinely think this is going to become a very special addition to the Apple Blossom Dreams collection, and I'm so excited to finally share this journey with you.

I'd love to know... which colourway would you choose? 🍂🌊 Let me know in the comments below!

Happy crocheting,

Helen 🩷

Catch-Up | What You Might Have Missed! 🌸🩷

Catch-Up | What You Might Have Missed! 🌸🩷

Hello everyone!

Firstly, I just wanted to say a huge sorry for disappearing throughout July! If you've been wondering where I'd got to, life simply got in the way for a little while. Although I haven't been writing here on the blog, I have been sharing lots of exciting updates over on my social media pages, so I thought it was about time I brought you all up to speed!

It's certainly been an exciting few weeks for Apple Blossom Dreams, with some beautiful archived designs making a comeback, new colourways being chosen and plenty of crochet inspiration along the way.

The Thomas Blanket Surprise 🌈

One of the biggest surprises recently has been the response to a new sample of the Thomas Blanket.

Rather than using the original colourway, I made this version using a mixture of Yarnsmiths Create DK and Stylecraft Special DK, simply pulling colours from a stash of yarn. I absolutely loved how the warm golds, earthy greens and pops of teal transformed the blanket into something completely different.

I honestly didn't expect quite so many of you to fall in love with it too! The post reached far more people than I imagined, and so many of you asked for the colour combination.

The good news is that Astri and I are currently working through the colours so we can write them all down properly and share them with you.

A Dozen Roses Might Finally Bloom 🌹

While exploring the Apple Blossom Dreams archives, I came across a beautiful cushion called A Dozen Roses, designed by Astri back in 2022.

Although the sample was completed and photographed, the pattern was never actually written.

Judging by your comments, it's a design many of you think deserves a second chance! The response across social media was incredible, and so many of you asked if we'd finally release it as a pattern.

I'm very pleased to say... I've already ordered the yarn from Yarnsmiths!

So watch this space because this beautiful cushion will soon be making its comeback.

Another Forgotten Design Returns 🌸

Another design that captured everyone's attention was a gorgeous floral motif Astri started several years ago.

The original pattern was never written up, but I instantly knew it deserved to become something special.

I've now chosen two beautiful Yarnsmiths Pebble Haze DK colourways, gathered all the yarn together and I'm so excited to start bringing this blanket to life. I can't wait to share my progress as the motifs begin to grow into a finished design.

 

La Vie en Rose Gets a Fresh New Look 🩷

Another exciting project happening behind the scenes is La Vie en Rose.

This much-loved Apple Blossom Dreams blanket has been remade using Yarnsmiths Create DK, while staying true to Astri's original colour palette.

Even better, Wool Warehouse will soon be stocking yarn packs, making it even easier for you to recreate the blanket yourself.

I can't wait to show you the finished version!

A Softer Side of Macaroon Blossom 🌸

I also shared a pastel version of the Macaroon Blossom Blanket, crocheted in beautiful Scheepjes Stone Washed.

It's amazing how changing the colours can completely transform a design. The soft pinks, lilacs, blues and greens give the blanket such a delicate, elegant feel while still letting all those gorgeous floral motifs shine.

It has definitely become one of my favourite colourways.

Looking Ahead...

Although July was a little quieter here on the blog, it certainly wasn't quiet behind the scenes!

Over the coming weeks I'll be sharing updates on all of these projects as they progress, including:

• 🌹 A Dozen Roses
• 🌸 The new floral blanket inspired by Astri's original motif
• 🩷 La Vie en Rose in Yarnsmiths Create DK
• 🌈 The Thomas Blanket colour combination you've all been asking for

There's so much to look forward to, and I'm really excited to have you joining me for the journey.

As always, thank you so much for your continued support, it truly means the world to both Astri and me. 💕

Happy crocheting,

Helen 🩷

🌸 Thank You For 46 Wonderful Weeks | Weekly Celebration Finale 🌸

🌸 Thank You For 46 Wonderful Weeks | Weekly Celebration Finale 🌸

Well, we've made it to Week 46 💛✨

 

What started as a simple idea to celebrate one Apple Blossom Dreams pattern each week has turned into almost a full year of sharing beautiful crochet designs, favourite makes, colourful yarns, and wonderful memories with all of you 🌸

Over the last 46 weeks we've revisited blankets, cushions, floral motifs, home décor projects, and some of the most-loved Apple Blossom Dreams designs. It's been such a lovely way to showcase the collection and celebrate the creativity of this amazing crochet community 🧶💗

As a special thank you, all Apple Blossom Dreams patterns are 20% off on Etsy this week 🎉

👉 Browse all patterns HERE

More importantly, I want to say a huge thank you.

Thank you for supporting the patterns.

Thank you for sharing your photos.

Thank you for your messages, comments, encouragement, and kindness.

Thank you for helping keep these beautiful designs thriving 🌸

Whether you've been here since Week 1 or you've only recently discovered Apple Blossom Dreams, I'm so grateful you've been part of this journey 💛

And whilst this may be the end of the Weekly Celebrations, it's definitely not the end of Apple Blossom Dreams ✨

 

In fact... something new is coming very soon! 👀🌸

I can't wait to start sharing what I've been working on and bring some fresh inspiration to the grid over the coming weeks.

Until then, thank you again for every stitch, every share, and every bit of support.

Happy crocheting 💗

Helen 🌸