PlanetJune Blog: Latest News, Patterns and Tutorials

After an amazing year-long CAL, with colourful snakes being crocheted all over the world, I’m delighted to announce that the Temperature Snake instructions are now available as a stand-alone crochet pattern and workbook. Pick up the pattern now, and crochet your own Temperature Snake in 2024!

Temperature Snake is an amigurumi-style riff on the temperature blanket/scarf, where you crochet one row per day to represent the maximum temperature that day. The Temperature Snake crochet pattern includes all the crochet instructions needed to crochet a snake in your choice of two sizes (Large and Small) and three different lengths (Daily, Every-Other-Day and Weekly).

The accompanying Temperature Snake workbook is included at no extra cost. This 25-page ebook includes all the information you need to figure out your colours and calculate the temperature range for your location, suggestions for colour palettes, and printable worksheets (that are also fillable digital forms, if you prefer) so you can log your temperatures and colours over the year.

Work at your own pace, mark the progress of the coming year or commemorate a special year from the past (birth year snakes for children have proven very popular, and kids adore playing with these fantastically long snakes). With just a single round of stitches per day, Temperature Snakes have a much lower time commitment than temperature blankets, so you’ll be much more likely to complete your daily project!

Here are just a few examples of the snakes that have been made during the CAL this year, so you can see how easy it is to customize your snake to any colour palette you prefer. Details for all these variations are included in the workbook:

Credits, clockwise from top left: Dot, PsychoGryphon, CrochetChrisie, jukatca, Mouzly

(Temperature Snake CALers: your multi-part CAL pattern and worksheets have been replaced by the final version of the pattern and workbook, and you can download them at any time from your PlanetJune account!)

And, although the official CAL is wrapping up now, we’ll keep the Temperature Snake threads going in the PlanetJune groups on Discord and Ravelry indefinitely, so please come and join us in either group if you want to show off your progress on your 2024 (and beyond…) snake, ask for advice on temperature or colour selections, and get some encouragement from the friendly PJ community.

So, what do you think: are you in for crocheting a unique and gloriously colourful snake throughout 2024? Now is the perfect time to grab the Temperature Snake pattern, so you can start choosing your colours and be ready to crochet your first stripe on January 1st!

I can hardly believe I finally get to say this, but, after a year of dedicated work, The Essential Guide to Amigurumi: Crochet Toy Techniques from Basics to Advanced, the amigurumi reference book that I’ve been dreaming of and planning for years, is here!

I didn’t think I could be more proud of a book than I am of my beautiful Everyday Crochet, but The Essential Guide to Amigurumi is truly unique. This is the book that only I could write, and I’m so happy to have brought the vision I had for my legacy book to life.

About the Book

I’ve condensed all my expertise gained from 17 years of amigurumi design and innovation into this high-quality 200-page full-colour reference book. It’s laid out in a clear, easy-to-read format, and packed full of techniques, tips and patterns that will take you step-by-step from complete basics to becoming a skilled amigurumist.

The book is divided into three colour-coded parts (see more about the contents here), and I designed it to be easy to read, with large, clear text throughout, and colour-coded boxes for definitions, tips and bonus information.

And, as you may have already noticed, I’ve actually written two books! I’m thrilled to be able to offer The Essential Guide to Amigurumi in right-handed and left-handed versions, so everyone can see all the step-by-step photos and read the instructions exactly as you need them, with no need to translate or mirror any instructions. (Lefties, you are going to love this!)

Links to Buy The Essential Guide to Amigurumi

(You can use the ‘Read Sample’ feature on Amazon to see the complete table of contents, the first few pages, and the index!)

Availability

My paperback links above will direct you straight through to your local Amazon so you can buy the book. If you live in Australia (where Amazon doesn’t have the printing facilities to offer it directly), or a country that doesn’t have its own Amazon website, you can order internationally from amazon.com.

If that doesn’t work for you, I’m still searching for a way to offer wider distribution without compromising the quality of the book – I’ll let you know if that works out! In the meantime, the fabulous ebook version is available worldwide with no shipping cost. And you can always upgrade to the bundle deal (see below) later, if you want the paperback too – I’m not putting a time limit on that offer.

Special Offers

• Order an author-signed bookplate for your paperback and I’ll sign it personally to you!
• Upgrade your purchase to the bundle that includes both the paperback and ebook versions.

I’ve channeled all my passion for developing and improving amigurumi techniques into this book, and I’m so proud of the result. The Essential Guide to Amigurumi is the complete reference for all stages of your amigurumi journey, and I hope you’ll enjoy using it for many years to come!

Each month in 2023 I’m sharing a Temperature Snake CAL roundup with a collage of some of our snakes’ progress – even if you aren’t joining in, I think you’ll enjoy seeing all the snakes growing throughout the year!

I can’t believe this is the final monthly roundup – only one more month of snake-CALing until we can start adding our snakes to the final Temperature Snake CAL 2023 gallery!

Here’s the November collage from some of the latest photos that have been posted to the CAL threads on Discord and Ravelry, plus some from people who’ve tagged me (@PlanetJune) on FB and IG or emailed to me:

Click to see the full-size collage

Can you spot your snake?

CALers, if you haven’t already downloaded the final part of your pattern, grab it now from your PlanetJune account! This month you get to start the tail decreases, make the tail tip, and add the finishing touch of a tongue to your snake – at last 😀

We’re all ready to cheer you to the finish if you’ve got behind on your snake – come and join us in the PlanetJune community groups if you need some extra encouragement.

Just one month to go – you can do it! I can’t wait to see our finished Temperature Snakes in all their glory in the new year.

And if you’d like to make a Temperature Snake in 2024, I’ll be releasing the final stand-alone pattern and workbook shortly – watch this space! Or, if you’d prefer, you can still order the multi-part CAL pattern now, and you’ll be automatically upgraded to the final Temperature Snake pattern once it’s released.

A brief time-limited announcement before we begin: Amazon (US only, sorry) is having a super-sale on the ebook version of my last book, Everyday Crochet. It was supposed to be a one-day sale, but, as I write this, the price is still just $1.99 – it’s a crazy bargain, so please don’t miss out! Buy Everyday Crochet now! >>

And, if you already bought it this weekend (or any time), it’d mean the world to me if you could leave a review on Amazon – thank you ♥

Now back to our regularly-scheduled programming…

Each month in 2023 I’m sharing a Temperature Snake CAL roundup with a collage of some of our snakes’ progress – even if you aren’t joining in, I think you’ll enjoy seeing all the snakes growing throughout the year!

It’s hard to believe this is the penultimate roundup – just one more set of interim photos to go after this and then it’ll be time for the final CAL gallery!

Here’s the October collage from some of the latest photos that have been posted to the CAL threads on Discord and Ravelry, plus some from people who’ve tagged me (@PlanetJune) on FB and IG or emailed to me:

Click to see the full-size collage

Can you spot your snake?

Now we’re getting towards the end of the year, the different colour palettes are so clear! It’s fun to look through the photos and see which snakes look like they might be related and which look completely different. But, as I anticipated, every snake is unique, and I love that!

If your snake has been lagging, come and join us in the PlanetJune community groups, and we’ll cheer you on. Some CALers have caught up on a few months of their snake during October – with only 20 stitches per day, that’s very possible, and you can do it too!

And, if you’d like your snake to be included in the last monthly roundup before the final gallery, please post an up-to-date pic (or email it directly to me: june@planetjune.com) by 9am EST on December 3rd. Do remember to tag or DM me (@PlanetJune) if you post on social, and make your post public, or I won’t see your pic.

We’re heading into the home stretch now! Keep going 🙂

The third annual PlanetJune Reindeer Games CAL begins tomorrow! The Reindeer Games is the annual PlanetJune end-of-year crochet-along and online community event, and you can join by submitting photos of your PJ projects on Discord, Ravelry, social media or by email. Everyone is very welcome, and I can’t wait to see the gallery of beautiful projects that will emerge as we head toward the end of the year – I hope you’ll join us!

Reindeer Games 2023 CAL

Crochet anything PlanetJune as part of the PlanetJune Reindeer Games 2023 (Wednesday, Nov 1 – Sunday, Dec 31).

The idea of the games is to challenge yourself by starting and finishing crochet project(s) before the end of the year. It’s just for fun, like a CAL but you get to choose your projects – anything PlanetJune, including projects from my books – and earn virtual awards! During the Games, we all cheer each other on to complete our chosen projects. You’ll earn virtual medals for every project you complete, and your projects and awards will be added to the Reindeer Games gallery!

Inspired by the success of the Temperature Snake CAL this year, where people are entering via the PJ groups, social media and email, I’ve expanded the scope of the Reindeer Games so it’s no longer limited to Ravelry – you can join wherever you are online:

• Online Groups For the fullest experience, join in the fun in one of the PlanetJune Community groups. Look for the Reindeer Games 2023 thread on Ravelry or the #reindeer-games-2023 channel on Discord.
• Social Media Post your project photo on Instagram or Facebook with your stall/antler list and tag @PlanetJune (make sure your post is public so I can see it!), or message your photo and list to me directly via my IG account or FB page.
• Email Send your photo and stall/antler list directly to june@planetjune.com with subject line ‘Reindeer Games’, and also tell me the username you’d like to use for the Gallery).

I’ve set up a new Reindeer Games site where you can find full instructions, the list of stalls (categories) and antlers (bonus awards) you can win, the games stats, and the project gallery.

I’m especially excited about the gallery, even though, as I write this, there’s nothing to see there. But that will all change as soon as there are some completed projects to show – it’s pretty fancy! We’ll all be able to see and admire all the completed projects (as soon as I’ve awarded their medals), no matter where they were submitted from.

In this ever-changing online world where there isn’t one single place where all PJ fans like to congregate, this seems like a much more sustainable way to run a CAL. Now I can meet you where you are, so everyone is included… as it should be 🙂

Project Ideas

You can enter the Reindeer Games by making absolutely anything based on a PlanetJune pattern (or something from any of my books), but this year we’ve added a new antler award called Season’s Greetings, which you can win by making any seasonal holiday-related PJ projects. I thought I’d whet your appetite with a few examples you might like to try…

You can’t have Reindeer Games without reindeer! Try my Reindeer/Caribou pattern for a realistic reindeer:

Decorate your home with a beautiful wreath – my Christmas Decor crochet pattern collection includes all the components and an optional crocheted wreath base:

The cutest life-sized Gingerbread Family patterns are a fast and fun project:

Or fill your windowsill or mantle with my Christmas Trees pattern sets:

You’ll find plenty more ideas in the Holiday & Seasonal Crochet Patterns category of my shop. And if these seasonal decorations don’t appeal to you, remember you can join the Reindeer Games by making any PlanetJune patterns – there are no restrictions!

Join Us!

So, will you join us for the Reindeer Games 2023? I do hope so – it’s going to be so much fun, and I’d love to see the project gallery filled to the brim with our beautiful crocheted projects by the end of the year. Whether you’re crocheting your favourite PlanetJune patterns as Christmas gifts, items to sell at craft fairs or online, toys for charity, or projects for yourself, we’re ready to encourage you to complete your goals and to celebrate your successes with you!

And, even if you think you may not have time to complete a project, you’re very welcome to join us online for the community spirit and friendly chat. There’s something about PlanetJune that attracts the kindest and most supportive people, and, if you enjoy PlanetJune patterns, you’re already part of our community – do come over to our Discord server or Ravelry group and say hello!

Each month in 2023 I’m sharing a Temperature Snake CAL roundup with a collage of some of our snakes’ progress – even if you aren’t joining in, I think you’ll enjoy seeing all the snakes growing throughout the year!

We’re three quarters through the CAL now, and, at 273 body rounds, it’s no wonder our snakes are long enough to be tied in knots! Here’s the September collage from some of the latest photos that have been posted. These are taken from the CAL threads on Discord and Ravelry, plus some from people who’ve tagged me (@PlanetJune) on FB and IG or emailed to me:

Click to see the full-size collage

Can you spot your snake?

The snakes are becoming more spectacular with each month that passes, don’t you think? I love how stripey and bendy they are, and how creative our CALers are getting with their photos!

If you’ve got behind on your snake, you’re not alone, and we understand! Come and join us in the PlanetJune community groups, and we’ll give you some support and encouragement as you catch up – just add a few extra rounds a day, and you’ll be up to date again in no time. Now is the perfect time to get back into it so you’re all caught up before the busy holiday season begins.

And, if you’d like your snake to be included in the next monthly roundup, please post an up-to-date pic (or email it directly to me: june@planetjune.com) by 9am EST on November 3rd. Do remember to tag or DM me (@PlanetJune) if you post on social, and make your post public, or I won’t see your pic.

Each month in 2023 I’m sharing a Temperature Snake CAL roundup with a collage of some of our snakes’ progress – even if you aren’t joining in, I think you’ll enjoy seeing all the snakes growing throughout the year!

We’re two thirds through the CAL now, and our snakes are getting seriously long! Here’s the August collage from some of the latest photos that have been posted. These are taken from the CAL threads on Discord and Ravelry, plus some from people who’ve tagged me (@PlanetJune) on FB and IG or emailed to me:

Click to see the full-size collage

Can you spot your snake?

I love all the snakey poses – the roundups are only getting more fun to look through as the year progresses, don’t you think?

August has been a bit quiet in the crochet-along, with fewer photos than usual in this collage. I’d like to think the other CALers have been enjoying their vacations, and leaving their snakes at home. But now we’re into September – the start of the prime crochet season – so if you’ve let your snake lapse over the summer, maybe it’s time to pick it back up and enjoy crocheting some more colourful stripes?

If you’re making a Temperature Snake too, please join us in the PlanetJune community groups, share your snake’s progress with us all, and get chatting with our friendly community. We’ll cheer you on if you have some catching up to do!

And, if you’d like your snake to be included in the next monthly roundup, please post an up-to-date pic (or email it directly to me: june@planetjune.com) by 9am EST on October 3rd. Do remember to tag or DM me (@PlanetJune) if you post on social, or I won’t see your pic.

Each month in 2023 I’m sharing a Temperature Snake CAL roundup with a collage of some of our snakes’ progress – even if you aren’t joining in, I think you’ll enjoy seeing all the snakes growing throughout the year!

Yep, the months are flying by, and somehow it’s roundup time again! Here’s the July collage from some of the latest photos that have been posted. These are taken from the CAL threads on Discord and Ravelry, plus some from people who’ve tagged me (@PlanetJune) on FB and IG or emailed to me:

Click to see the full-size collage

Can you spot your snake?

At this length, they’re starting to look very snakey, and it’s so much fun bending them into different shapes that have different overlapping colours. Everyone has used almost all their colours by now, so our snakes are at peak colour! Now we just need to watch and wait and see what happens with the colours as they continue to grow for the rest of the year…

If you’re making a Temperature Snake too, please join us in the PlanetJune community groups, share your snake’s progress with us all, and get chatting with our friendly community.

And, if you’d like your snake to be included in the next monthly roundup, please post an up-to-date pic (or email it directly to me: june@planetjune.com) by 9am EST on September 3rd. Do remember to tag me (@PlanetJune) if you post on social, or I won’t see your pic.