notyourgranny'scrochet

Last Minute Gifts to Crochet

2011-12-02T17:53:00.000-05:00

Has this happened to you lately? Last week, all of a sudden, I realized that there were only a few more weeks until Sparkle Season! And I still had presents to crochet! How could I get them all done? Well, I went through my patterns that have been published, and discovered that I have designed a lot of quick and easy accessories, for both children and adults, that I could make in no time. Problem solved! And even though I may crochet the same pattern for two presents, they wouldn't necessarily look alike because the yarn would be totally different. So I made a list of what I had to choose from, and this is what I came up with. If you're looking for quick and easy presents to make, all of these patterns are accessible on the web. You can download them, or order a print copy. Here they are:

Easy Hat at Annie's Attic;

http://www.AnniesAttic.com/detail.html?prod_id=80331

This is a self-published pattern of mine, on sale through Annie's Attic - download only - and yesterday I wanted to see how easy the directions were, and how long it would take me to crochet one. One hour - that's all. From start to finish! Couldn't be easier! The pattern calls for bulky yarn, and an N-15/10mm hook.

Goldilock's Family of Hats at the Interweave Store

http://www.interweavestore.com/Crochet/Crochet-Patterns/Goldilocks-Family-of-Hats.html?SessionThemeID=19

This is what Interweave said about these patterns (there are 5):
Marty Miller has designed the Goldilock's Family of Hats to suit every member of the family, with distinctive differences in brims and details. The five hats have something for everyone, from simple details for a woman and man to cute stripes for a boy, flower embellishment for a girl, and a tiny hat for a baby.

Bonsai Shawl/Scarf in Interweave Crochet Accessories, 2011

http://www.interweavestore.com/Crochet/Magazines/Interweave-Crochet-Accessories-2011-Digital-Edition.html

I just made one for myself, in a light-weight wool self-striping yarn. It keeps me warm when I wear it tied loosely around my neck, without being bulky or getting in the way. I'm going to make more for myself! (Just as soon as I finish these presents!)

Totes for All Reasons - at Leisure Arts

http://www.leisurearts.com/totes-for-all-reasons.html

There are 7 different totes in this book. All the totes are made and shown twice - once with craft store yarns and once with yarn shop yarns. So no matter where the yarn comes from, you can make the tote and it will look great! You will also learn new stitch patterns, and how to felt crochet.

This booklet is available in print form, and also through the iTunes store and the Leisure Arts app.

So don't panic! You can get all your presents crocheted before Sparkle Season! And each one will be loved and appreciated, especially because it's made by YOU!

Robyn Chachula's new book - Crochet Stitches Visual Encyclopedia

2011-10-26T15:03:00.000-04:00

If you want to read my blog post about Robyn Chachula's great new book, Crochet Stitches Visual Encyclopedia, head on over to my other blog: http://thecrochetdoctor.blogspot.com.
You may even win a copy of the book.
Have fun and good luck!

Blog tour winners

2011-09-06T17:42:00.000-04:00

Using a random number generator, I picked 2 winners from the comments posted. Congratulations to Stitch 'n Frog and CrochetBlogger. You will be contacted soon by Leisure Arts - I hope you like your prize book - Totes for All Reasons.

If you didn't win ( and I'm sorry that you all couldn't win!), you can order the book from LA, either in hard copy or digital! (Yes - it's available as a digital download!!!)

And keep watching this blog. For the past 2 or 3 weeks, I've been making these totes using my stash yarn, so that I can display them at the CGOA Chain Link conference in Greenboro. I am going to be signing my book at the Gate City Yarn booth on Saturday, September 24, and would love to meet you and show you my totes. You'll be able to purchase the book there, and I can help you pick the best yarns for the totes you want to work on. As soon as I get the ends woven in on the last two bags, I'll take some pictures of the totes I made and post them here.
Meanwhile, remember - You Can Never Have Too Many Totes!
And once again, congratulations to the 2 winners - Stitch 'n Frog and CrochetBlogger!

Crocheted TOTES FOR ALL REASONS

2011-08-29T08:59:00.001-04:00

One can never have too many totes! And a day without crochet is a day without sunshine. These are two facts of life for me. So in early August, when I was home after teaching at the Chain Link summer conference in Minneapolis, and I found myself with no "have-to-do-immediately" projects, I decided to go "shopping" in my yarn stash and make something for the fall Chain Link conference in Greensboro, NC. I thought I could make a sweater to wear – but then I realized I already had 2 new sweaters finished, and two more on the hook. Well, then, what about a tote – or multiple totes – to carry my supplies to my classes? I'll be teaching 6 classes, and I'll have a lot of yarn and stuff to give away. Totes would be good. So stash-shopping I went. I found a great lime green bulky cotton. Oh – that would be perfect for a Circle Mesh tote.

And then a worsted weight cotton on a cone. Oh yes, another tote. A Trellis Stitch tote.

And what about that orange worsted weight cotton in a huge skein? A shell tote – the color just looks like summer, and shells remind me of the beach. And, I love large skeins or cones of yarn best of all, just 2 ends to weave in. A Beach Tote!

Oh - what about this worsted weight pink cotton? It's a bright pink and everyone loves the color. Another tote, and I can practice a new stitch. A Puff Stitch tote.

And I have just one skein of this pink marled cotton – a small skein – so how about a tote that has mostly chains. A One Skein tote.

And worsted weight cotton in many different colors of small balls – how about a Granny Square tote? I'd have to weave in ends on Granny Squares, anyway.

And I can use this wonderful wool bulky weight yarn that self-stripes, for a felted tote. A Bucket tote.

Wow, I thought, that's a lot of totes to design and crochet in a short time! Can I do it? And write my thank-you notes for the donations for the Professional Development Day raffle to raise money for breast cancer research? And what about all those notes to remind the donors about our raffle in Greensboro to raise money for ovarian cancer research? And what about all the thank you notes for the yarn that companies sent me for my classes to use? And I would need to write them to ask for more for the Greensboro conference. That's a lot of writing to do. And finish writing up 2 of my classes. Would I still have time to design 7 totes?

But wait a minute! I realized that I already designed the totes. And they were already in my book Totes for All Reasons – published by Leisure Arts. Whew! So I didn't have to re-design them. All I needed to do is crochet them again! And then I can bring them with me to the conference, and use them. I can also display them at the Gate City Yarns booth when I do my book signing on Saturday.

So with that decided, I started crocheting.
For the past 2 weeks I've been working on the totes. And it is interesting. I didn't remember the patterns because I wrote them a year ago when I was working on the designs. So I wanted to see if I could follow the patterns without any problems. Good news! I can! :-) As I was crocheting them, I realized that I liked the versatility of the designs. Each one is different. And, I was able to use just about any yarn I had on hand. For the book, I made each of the totes twice, in 2 different yarns – one was in yarn that you would get from a craft store (we call it a big box store), and the other was in yarn you would get from a local yarn store. So no matter where you shop, (even in your stash), you can find yarn for the totes. And most of the yarn is interchangeable (except for the 2 bulky yarns), so with one worsted weight yarn, you have your choice of 5 totes to make. They didn't take me long to crochet, either. And it's not because I'm a fast crocheter (although I am pretty speedy!) I still have 2 more to finish, but they're nearly done. They are all quick projects. One of my students bought my book and she's making at least 2 totes a week. And she's a fairly new crocheter, too. She is also working on a sweater at the same time.

These totes are some of my favorites, and include some of my favorite techniques. Granny squares are my passion. Felting is my passion. Heck – crocheting is my passion. So I hope you will find your passion in these totes. Remember – you can never have too many totes!
And, if you post a comment on this blog, telling me which tote you want to make first and what yarn you're going to use, your name will be entered in a drawing for a copy of my book Totes For All Reasons. I will pick 2 winners, by a random number generator. You have until the end of the blog tour to win. That's September 5, 2011, at midnight, eastern time. (The tour is over September 4th.) And don't forget to check out the other tour stops, one each day. Many of them will also have drawings for copies of the book.

Here are the blogs and dates for the rest of the tour:

August 29: Marty Miller (this is me, and here is where you are) http://bit.ly/Tote-Book-Tour-Day1

August 30: Ellen Gormley http://bit.ly/Tote-Book-TourDay2

August 31: Drew Emborsky http://bit.ly/Tote-Book-Tour-Day3

September 1: Kimberly McAlindin http://mybuttonjar.blogspot.com

September 2: Doris Chan http://bit.ly/Tote-Book-Tour-Day5

September 3: Vashti Braha http://bit.ly/Tote-Book-Tour-Day6

September 4: Kate Steinke http://bit.ly/Tote-Book-Tour-Day7

Winners of the Knook Giveaway!

2011-08-09T18:39:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to ‪Stitch 'n Frog and Maggi, the two winners of the Knook giveaway. And thanks to everyone who commented. I had a great time reading the comments, and I hope you all get to try the Knook! Remember, it's available at Walmart.
And don't forget to check out the Leisure Arts web site to see video instructions on how to Knook, and all the free patterns available to you, once you get a Knook.

My Adventures with the Knook

2011-08-05T07:43:00.005-04:00

My grandmother taught me to crochet when I was 5. At the same time, she taught me how to knit. So I was bi-textural at a young age! She taught me lots of needle arts: how to sew on her old Singer treadle sewing machine; how to darn socks; how to thread a needle (sewing or yarn). She also knew how to make lace, do Tunisian crochet (she might have taught me that, too), do Broomstick crochet, Hairpin lace and tatting. She probably would have liked using the Knook – not just because it's so much like knitting, but with a hook instead of 2 needles. But because she couldn't read English, and had to learn her skills by looking at pictures or having some one teach her. She would have loved the videos that Leisure Arts has on their web site – you know, the ones that teach the 'how to's" of Knooking.

When I was asked by Leisure Arts to be a part of this blog tour, I jumped at the chance. I had noticed the ads for the Knook, and really wanted to try it. It looked so interesting. Like Tunisian crochet (which I love, do, design with, and teach). It looked like knitting (which I love, do, and do some designing with), but there were subtle differences with both Tunisian crochet and knitting. I was anxious to try Knooking.

By now, if you've followed the blog tour for the past 2 weeks, you've seen how to thread the Knook with it's cord. You know how to chain and load your Knook hook with stitches. You know how to pull the cord out from the base of the stitches, and then push those stitches off the Knook hook onto the cord and bring the cord and stitches around so you can start a new row. You know that you insert the hook from left to right into the stitch, and you don't "yarn over" – you "yarn under". You may have watched the video many times. You may have even Knooked a sampler piece like I did. It sounds complicated, but it really isn't.

Here is the video, in case you haven't seen it. And some of the patterns that you can make with the Knook.

In my sampler, I did a few rows of the Knook Knit stitch, and then I worked one knit row, one purl row, and repeated that for a few rows. Here is what it looks like:

When I Knooked this sampler, I looked at the pictures and read the instructions in the book that's included in the set. But first – I looked at the video on-line. And even then, I missed some points that were made about how to insert the hook into the stitch. I went from right to left, what I'm used to, instead of left to right, which the directions tell you to do. Sometimes I forgot to do a "yarn under" - I did a "yarn over" like in crochet. I should have read each line separately, or stopped the video at each part of each step. Instead, I thought I would remember what to do. And that's why my sampler looks a little "different" in places. Remember, this is my first try at Knooking. And I plan to work at this some more. A lot more, because it's really a lot of fun to do. It's knitting with a hook! The fabric is so much like knitted fabric – if you didn't know how it was created, you would think I used 2 needles, not one Knook hook. I just have to practice!

If you're interested in knitting, this will help you learn. If you know how to knit, this will give you another way to knit. Just remember, it takes practice! And more practice! Remember when you first learned to crochet or knit? You had to practice! But once you got it, you were okay. It's the same with Knooking.

The Knook kit comes with 4 easy patterns to practice with, so you can be making a scarf or baby blanket, spa cloth or lap throw before you know it. I think my first Knook project is going to be the spa cloth. I may even enlarge it to make a scarf! I'll be able to practice my knit and purl Knook stitches, and from there – I can conquer the world!!! Okay – maybe not the world, but at least some pattern that's a little more difficult!

Here are some more Knook patterns that I want to try:

Bottle Cozies - but I'll turn them into Coffee Cozies

Potholders - I'll learn a basketweave stitch and can make a baby afghan!

What are you going to try Knooking first? If you leave a comment about what you hope to make with a Knook, you'll be entered into a drawing, and you could win one of 2 Knook kits that I'm giving away. Write your comment before midnight (Eastern Daylight Time) on Monday, August 8, 2011, to be entered into the drawing! Please include your email address. I'll pick 2 winners using a random number generator.

Good luck, and happy Knooking!!!

Jean Leinhauser - my friend

2011-06-16T15:56:00.000-04:00

Many years ago, when I was living in Chicago, I could have run into Jean L., while she was working there. We shopped at the same big department store/yarn department - Marshall Field's. But I didn't. And even though I had been a designer since the early 70s, when I started designing, crocheting, and selling puppets at craft fairs, and even though I knew the name Jean Leinhauser, because I bought many of the books she wrote and edited, I didn't get to meet her until we both were at the same Chain Link conference about 7 or 8 years ago, I think it was in New Hampshire. She was sitting at a table with her business partner Rita Weiss, and another designer, Tammy Hildebrand. I knew no one at the table, but as I was passing it to go out to the hall (dinner was over), they all stood up to leave. Tammy looked at my name tag, and said something about that she lived in a town that was 1/2 hour from my town. We introduced ourselves - I had heard of Tammy, and was pleased to meet her. It's wonderful to have a designer friend who lives close by! And we became good friends. Tammy also introduced me to Jean and Rita, and I was in awe. First, Tammy got to sit with them - that meant she knew them! And second, Rita took a look at what I was wearing (a poncho - yes, this was the time of the ponchos), grabbed my arm, and shook it while she said to me "Why haven't you submitted this to me?" I stammered something about that I was going to submit the idea for their new book. And Jean said something about it. And this was my first encounter with the 2 legends - the dynamic duo - the doyens of the needle arts. I had a smile on my face for the rest of the conference!
Fast forward a year or so - Jean and Rita published some of my designs in their books. And I looked forward to getting their books, even if my patterns weren't in them. They always had such nice designs, good ideas, and wonderful instructions. One day, I was looking through one of their new books, and stopped at a page where they were explaining how to calculate the yarn needed for a design. I wanted to read what they had to say, and when I did, I knew something didn't make sense. I was a math teacher and a math major in my previous life, and I grew up loving math. I still do love math. So when I saw the calculations I knew that they had made a common error. I read on, looking at some patterns. I saw some more errors in numbers and in directions. Now, when I read books, patterns, etc., I don't look for errors - they just seem to jump out at me (except my own patterns). So, just browsing through the book, I found 4 or so mistakes. I thought I should tell the Legends that there were these errors in their new book, but I wasn't sure how to do it. So I just did it. I wrote Jean an email, telling her what happened. She wrote me back, thanking me, and suggested that I become a tech editor. I really had never thought of that, even though I had edited many papers and articles for my advisors and friends. But when Jean suggested it, I knew she was serious. So - I started tech editing. And the rest is history! This year, I was nominated by the Crochet Liberation Front for a Flamie award as Best Tech Editor for 2010. And I WON!!! Thanks to Jean for getting me started on this branch of my designing career. And thanks to Jean and Rita for their enthusiasm over my first Poncho design for them, and all my future designs for them. I will miss Jean, so much. She was fun to talk to, be with, and always had a positive word for everyone. As her pin that she wore to all the conferences stated: "Old Broads Rule". And she did!

This July, at the CGOA conference in Minneapolis, Jean is going to be the first inductee to the Crochet Hall of Fame. I know she had to be proud of that honor, and I know she'll be with us in spirit. I also know that there won't be a dry eye in the house! Rest in peace, Jean. Know that we love you!

Pam's Comfort Cables Crocheted Afghan

2011-05-21T17:13:00.000-04:00

Last year, some friends and I found out that another dear friend was diagnosed with breast cancer. We all wanted to do something for her, and because we were all crocheters and designers, we came up with the idea of crocheting a comfort afghan for her. We thought about how to do this - we all were in various parts of the country. How could we get together for one afghan? How could we all use the same yarn, same dye lot, same gauge? How could we make the afghan especially for Pam? Well, we thought of doing squares - each one would make one. What kind? Cables - Pam's favorite stitch. What color - her favorites. And Pink for breast cancer. What yarn? Knit Picks graciously provided the yarn for this project. So we set out to do this. We crocheted. All the designers put in time to make one or two original squares. We decided we would like to publish the patterns as a downloadable booklet, so we had to do more. Some of us tech edited the projects. Some donated money for shipping the extra yarn, that the designers didn't use, to Tammy Hildebrand, who not only put the afghan squares together, but also coordinated the whole effort! Thanks Tammy! And then we had to write an introduction to the booklet - Diane Moyer and I did that. We had to have someone with awesome graphic art and layout skills to make this whole thing work. Amie Hirtes Bentley did this. And Knit Picks decided they wanted to sell this on their web site. So here is the site:

http://www.knitpicks.com/patterns/Pam’s_Comfort_Cables_Crochet_Afghan__D11064220.html

Details about the book:

Title: Pam's Comfort Cables

20 pages including front cover, table of contents, and contributor's page

24 cabled designs

$4.99

100% of proceeds go to Pam Gillette

And here are some of the pictures from the book:

This is my cable design. It's an easy one.

The nice thing about this pattern book is that you can use any of the 24 different designs. All of them, or some of them. You can use any colors you want. You can personalize the afghan and learn how to make crocheted cables, all at the same time! We'd love to see pictures of your completed afghans. We're on Ravelry - you can go to my Ravelry page (martyagm), and post your picture.

And thanks for helping to support our friend!

Crochet Flamie Awards - results

2011-04-23T22:13:00.002-04:00

I finally have time to post the results of the Crochet Flamies. Because of all of you who voted for me, I won the Best Tech Editor award! I am so excited about this! I have been tech editing for 6 or so years, and, as I said on the podcast, I started because I found some errors in a book that was edited by a friend - Jean Leinhauser. When I let her know what they were, and how to correct them, she thanked me and suggested that I try tech editing. I took her advice, and here I am! Best Tech Editor for 2010! Wow!

For those of you who are going to be at one or both of the Crochet Guild of America conferences this year, I will be giving an afternoon "breakout" session at Professional Development Day on how to become a tech editor - what skills you need, what to expect, etc., etc., etc.

And here's my virtual statuette for winning:

If you want to check out all the winners, here's the web site:

CLF flamies - winners

Crochet Flamie Awards

2011-03-22T21:06:00.000-04:00

A short note to my readers:
Well, they're doing it again! The Crochet Liberation Front is holding their 3rd annual Flamie Awards - to honor and recognize crocheters for their art. There are many awards that will be given in April on the Getting Loopy podcast. The voting is open now, through March 30. And, anyone can vote. You don't have to belong to the group. So check out the website:

http://www.crochetliberationfront.com/2011-flamie-award-nominees/vote/

Once you're there, you can see who's nominated, and look at their blogs or websites and designs. You can read about the candidates, and then you can vote. And when you do go to the site, you'll see that I'm nominated for 2 awards: best technical (tech) editor, and Lifetime Achievement Award! I would love it if you voted for me!!!!

Thanks,

Marty Miller

Tunisian Crochet Wrap

2011-03-20T12:48:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite techniques in crochet is Tunisian crochet. It used to be popular in the 60s and 70s, and probably even earlier than that. It's coming back now with a vengeance! And the great thing about it is that there are so many techniques and patterns and stitches to discover with Tunisian. One of my first efforts at bringing Tunisian crochet back to the masses is now a free pattern at Caron Connections. Check it out, and see for yourself how easy Tunisian crochet is - even if you are a beginning crocheter, or mostly a knitter. I like to say that Tunisian crochet is a marriage between Crocheting and Knitting. You use one hook, but you load stitches onto that hook like in Knitting, and then work them off.
I'll be teaching two different Tunisian classes at TNNA (The National Needlework Association) trade show in Columbus in June. Come see me and learn so much more about Tunisian crochet.
Here's the link to my pattern at Caron Connections.

Crochet Today! The Ultimate Blankets Handbook

2011-02-26T22:00:00.000-05:00

I have been crocheting for umpteen years - and designing for just about that long, too. And I still am thrilled when I see a pattern of mine in a publication. I tend to remember how easy, or difficult, it was to come up with the design and then to crochet it and write the pattern. I remember how many ends I had to weave in, and any finishing steps I had to take (sewing on a handle to a purse, putting a lining in a crocheted sleeping bag, and then sewing in the zipper, etc.) It's as if I were taking a walk down memory lane when I see my patterns published. Last week I saw the new issue of Crochet Today! The Ultimate Blankets Handbook at the book store, and had to look inside to see if they republished any of my patterns. And I saw that they did! Four patterns - afghans - that I really like. Here are pictures of them:

Big Love Blanket

Green Dream Throw

Homework Blanket

And Single-Skein Blankie

When I first started designing for publications, I never thought that I would enjoy designing afghans as much as I do! I like to see what I can do with different stitch patterns. Or figure out how many ends I have to weave in. When I design an afghan I find that I often push myself to do something or design something that I've never done before. I like to work with motifs, figuring out different ways to join them, and I like to work with solid pieces. I like few ends to weave in, but I like the bragging rights when I have hundreds of ends to weave in. I like to make the motifs when I'm riding the recumbent bike, or riding in the car. I like designing afghans in the winter - they keep me warm while I'm crocheting them. I like designing afghans in the summer - I think of how cuddly they'll be in the winter. I guess I just like designing afghans.

How to Crochet Anywhere - Part One: the Recumbent Bike

2011-02-13T21:08:00.000-05:00

I am a crochet designer, teacher, tech editor, editor, independent publisher of my own patterns, past president of the Crochet Guild of America, and author of 3 crochet books (one is out of print, 2 will be published soon). Sometimes I wish there were 48 hours in one day, just so I can get everything done that needs to be done. But, there isn't, so I have to multi-task a lot of the time. One way I have learned to multi-task is to crochet anywhere and everywhere I can. And "anywhere" includes on an exercise bike at the club I go to. It's a recumbent bike - it has a back rest, and the pedals are in front of, not under, the seat. On a recumbent bike, there are usually hand grips or handles at the sides of the seat, and also handles in front, by the controls. I exercise most every day, riding the bike or taking or teaching a Body Pump class. When I ride, I listen to a pod cast on my iPod, or listen to NPR, or even watch a tv program on one of the tvs in front of the bikes. And I crochet. I thought you might like to see what I take with me to make crocheting on the bike easy to do. The most important thing to have is a tote or a bag to hang on the side handles. This bag will hold your yarn, your hooks, scissors, and directions if you need any. Also, you can add your water bottle (just to carry from the locker room to the bike) and your iPod and ear buds. And maybe some reading glasses, if you need any. I have tried many bags - some I crocheted myself, and some I purchased - but the best one that I've tried so far is my Nantucket Bag. It's a short version that I got at the Chain Link conference in 2010. I also have the full size one, and I know that would work, too. I LOVE my Nantucket Bags! Check out the bags here: The Nantucket Bag
A funny story about Nantucket Bags - my husband and I were at a Boat Show in Philly, a few years ago. We saw the Nantucket Bag booth - the company had just started up, and I think this was their first retail show. We stopped at the booth, and my husband said - what a great bag for boating - well, I'm sure he really said sailing. I looked at the bags, and said - what a great bag for crocheting! And so we both bought one. And I have been a devoted fan ever since!
Here's a picture of the one I'm currently using for my bike crocheting.

Now, the other thing to think about is what kind of projects are you going to work on when you're on the bike. I'm talking from personal experience now. They have to be small - a large afghan, or even the beginning of a large afghan - is going to be too cumbersome to work on. And it might get caught in the pedals. Projects that are made with lots of little pieces may be too "busy", too detailed, to work on. Projects with lots of color changes might be too "busy", too detailed, also. All those different colored skeins can get tangled in the tote, and if you have to use a scissors to end off too often, you might be cutting more than you're crocheting. I also have found out that if I have to concentrate on a pattern, it's better if I don't work on it on the bike, while listening to a pod cast, and talking to the curious person on the next bike who's never seen anyone crochet on a bike! Mindless patterns are best!

So what can you crochet while sitting on the bike? Lots of stuff. I swatch a lot when I'm on the bike. I play with yarns. I make small bowls, dishcloths, and hats. I try out different stitch patterns. I make up my own stitches and stitch patterns. I have fun - and I try not to sweat too much on what I'm making. (That's one reason that I don't work on any project that has to be sent somewhere for publication.) Here's a picture of some of the projects/swatches I crocheted just this past week.

Have you tried crocheting while you're riding a recumbent bike? I'd love to hear from you if you have. And if you have any other hints, please share them.

I will write another post about crocheting in the car during an evening ride, and crocheting in a movie theater. If you have any questions about crocheting in any other "strange" places, please let me know. I'll try to give you some hints about how to do it.

Crochet Geometric Washcloths

2010-09-19T23:34:00.000-04:00

A few years ago I designed some geometric washcloths for a book - and I had such a lot of fun making them! My purpose was to show crocheters how to crochet 3 shapes, a square, a triangle, and a circle, all starting from the middle and working outward. I used cotton yarn, in different colors and different patterns, making 2 variations for each washcloth. I just found out that these patterns are available for free, on-line, here.
You can use these wash or dish cloths for more than washing dishes, though. I have one underneath a basket on my dining room table, because I don't want the table to get scratched. I also keep one on my counter to put various things on, and use one on my table to put under the salad bowl. They're good for coasters, and you can use them whenever you want to protect the finish of a table or countertop. They put a little pizazz into the kitchen. And dining room. You can make them with any colors to match your kitchen, and for holidays. (I have a red, white and blue circle.) They're quick and easy to make, and make great presents, too.
Hope you try them! And if you do, I'd love to see some pictures.

The Crochet Dude(r) - Sunday, September 19, 2010

2010-09-17T23:07:00.000-04:00

If you want to find out about The Crochet Dude (r) and his new book, I'll be blogging and posting about him and it on Sunday, September 19, 2010, on my other blog: the crochet doctor (tm). Well, I may post late Saturday night, Eastern Daylight Time, so check the blog then. Until then, read the other blogs that have posted on the blog tour. Find out about them on the Dude's blog. And get to know all sides of the Dude!

Caron Dazzleaire

2010-09-08T14:14:00.001-04:00

This past weekend I had a pleasant "yarn" surprise. I had been happy to hear a few weeks ago that Caron Yarn had brought back their Dazzleaire yarn. I remember using it back when, (years ago) and really liking it's softness. In fact, one of the first sweaters I crocheted for myself that I actually wore, I crocheted in Dazzleaire. The denim blue color. I wore it so much, I actually wore a hole in the side of it. So when I found out that they brought the yarn back, and in a bulky weight, I had to get me some to swatch with. I was happy to see that the crochet hook they recommended on the ball band was not the same mm size as the knitting needles they recommended. Which meant to me that the company knows something about the crochet stitch – that it's thicker than a knit stitch, and the crochet hook that is used to get the recommended gauge on the ball band should be about 2 sizes larger than the knitting needle size that's recommended. And it was. One point for Caron.

So, on Saturday, I took the skein I had of "Linen", which is an off-white color, and started crocheting with it. With the recommended hook size – an L/11 (8mm) hook. I forgot that I was wearing black. (I was at the gym, on the recumbent bike, where I like to work and swatch while I get my aerobic exercise.) I thought that I would be covered in off-white fuzz when I was through, like what often happens with other soft yarns like this. But – much to my surprise, there was no fuzz. I didn't have to brush anything, no stray threads or fuzz, off of my lap. Yay! Score another point for Caron.

While I was crocheting, I had to do some frogging (ripping out a "design decision"). When I do this with other fuzzy yarns, I have to be very careful, because the "fuzz" tends to wrap together, and it's difficult to undo. With Dazzleaire, however, I found it fairly easy to undo, as long as I didn't try to speed things up and just rip away. I took it slow and steady, and my "design decision" came out easily. Score another point for Caron.

Since Saturday, I've used some other colors of Dazzleaire in swatches, and so far, none of them have left any fuzzy bits. That means it's a super yarn for sweaters and scarves - it won't shed on your clothes.

I am really excited about this yarn. It works up very quickly – so what a great yarn it is for last minute baby or full-size afghans. And hats, scarves, sweaters. You name it! :-D

Check out this swatch I did - look at the stitch definition, which is good, even though the yarn is fuzzy.

And here's a close-up of the same swatch.

Crochet Your New Favorite Sweater

2010-08-23T22:32:00.000-04:00

One of my most favorite sweaters - I call it the Spiderweb Sweater - is also one of the top ten patterns downloaded from Interweave Crochet. And now, it's in an e-book from Interweave.
You can also read a little about the sweater on the CrochetMe blog, by the editor of Interweave Crochet, Marcy Smith.
Here are 3 versions of the sweater that I made for myself. I have many more!

Across The Board Crochet Pattern Booklet

2010-07-16T22:16:00.007-04:00

I recently got back from the Crochet Guild of America's national Chain Link Conference in Manchester, NH. There was a lot happening, and I'll write about all the wonderful events in future posts. But in this one, I want to tell you about something I'm really proud of - the new pattern booklet from the CGOA Board of Directors that we presented for the very first time at the conference. It's called "Across the Board Crochet: Original designs from your CGOA Board of Directors". The seven members of the board each donated one of their designs for this booklet, which will be available for download only, to new and renewing members of the Crochet Guild. This is the cover of the book:

And this is the pattern I contributed. It's a tote bag, of course! :-)

This is the second booklet from the CGOA Board. The first, which was offered last year to new and renewing members, is retired now. These booklets are especially dear to my heart - because not only did I contribute an original pattern to each, I helped tech edit both of them, and I edited both of them.

If you want to know more about joining CGOA so you can get this booklet free, go to the CGOA web site. The information should be available in early August.

Oh - the Board Members are:
Carol ALexander (Vice President of COGA, editor Crochet! Magazine)
Cari Clement (Caron Yarns)
Marty Miller (me - President of CGOA, Emerald Isle Designs)
Jane Rimmer
Amy Shelton (Treasurer of CGOA, Crochetville)
Barbara Van Elsen
Karen Whooley (Secretary of CGOA, KRW Knitwear)

My Crochet Patterns

2010-04-07T23:15:00.012-04:00

At long last - I can tell you the good news that happened at TNNA in Long Beach this past January. Annie's Attic is carrying Emerald Isle Designs - 4 of my crocheted patterns, one of Jane's crocheted patterns. You can download them, or buy a hard copy. Which makes it really easy to get the patterns. The patterns are in the May 2010 catalog, which is on-line NOW. Check it out at Annie's Attic
These are the designs that Annie's Attic is carrying:

These first four are my patterns:
Easy Hat

Not Your Granny's Sweater #1

Go To Sweater #3

Side to Side Sweater #1

This is Jane's pattern:
Sea and Sand Sun Hat, by Jane Schwartz

Click on the Annie's Attic link to find out more about the patterns, see other views, and to place your order. Once you're at the site, look for the current catalog - May 2010. The patterns are on page 4.

March is National Crochet Month!

2010-03-01T21:58:00.009-05:00

I could have called this post "Crochet Resolution", because that is what the projects jumbled together in the above picture are a result of. My New Year's Crochet Resolution. I decided to go shopping in my stash this year. (That doesn't mean that I won't buy any yarn, it just means that I will use some of my stash - to make room for new yarns!) My resolution: each month, at least, no matter how busy I am, I will pick one of my bags or storage boxes of yarn, and crochet something(s) using all the yarn that's in it. It can be anything - a sweater, a tote, a scarf, an afghan. Whatever. I can make it for me, or for my pattern line - Emerald Isle Designs - or for a present. I can do more than one box or bag of yarn a month, if I have time. And, I will try to donate yarn to local groups that make projects for charities. And, I will finish some of my unfinished projects.

The jumbled mess in the picture is what I've done so far. There is a finished sweater on the bottom of the pile. And a finished scarf (soon to be in my pattern line), and two totes that have to be felted. Then, there is another sweater that has to have an edging crocheted on, and the ends woven in, and one more tote that needs the ends woven in, also. (This is slated for my pattern line, too.) The two totes that need felting - they are projects that I had almost completed - and I just had to crochet the straps. The design is in the pattern line - Grab & Go Tote. The sweater that's finished - I started and completed it in February. It's my Go To Sweater #1, from my pattern line. The other sweater is also from my pattern line - Go To Sweater #3. So - I have 2 new patterns, and 6 projects completed, or just about completed. And I donated 3 bags of yarn. Not bad for 2 months!

What, you may ask, does this have to do with National Crochet Month? I'm declaring this year National Crochet Year! I'm going to continue using up my stash, finishing my unfinished projects, crocheting in public whenever I can, supporting yarn companies by buying yarn, supporting designers by buying their books and publications, and promoting all of the needlearts. And I urge you to do the same. Whew! It looks like we have our work cut out for us! :-)

Afghan of the Month!! Big Love Blankie

2010-02-09T17:37:00.005-05:00

It's always a pleasant surprise when I find one of my patterns on-line. This time, it was more than just a pleasant surprise. My Big Love Blankie is the Afghan of the Month at Herrschners.com. The great thing about this afghan is that even though there are a lot of motifs to make, each motif is joined to the afghan as it is crocheted. So when you're done crocheting, you don't have a pile of motifs facing you that you have to sew together. When you're done crocheting, you're done! You'll have the afghan all put together. Nice!

More Crochet Book news- SALE

2010-02-05T22:09:00.006-05:00

I just got an email from Annie's Attic with a list of books that are on sale for THIS WEEKEND ONLY! This is one of them - and that's my afghan on the cover! It's a fun one to make, and you'll learn how to do all sorts of post stitch patterns - most of which I made up! I love designing my own pattern stitches, and this afghan is one of my favorites because of that. It's living on my couch in the family room, right in front of the fireplace. So when it's cold outside, I can sit in front of the fire, wrap up in the afghan, and crochet away!

This next afghan is in another book that's on sale at Annie's Attic. The book is called 50 Sensational Crochet Afghans & Throws. This afghan is also worked in post stitches, in an irregular basketweave pattern. And this afghan is living on my couch in the living room!

This third afghan is from the book Chain Free Crochet Made Easy. This book has lots of patterns, all using types of Foundation Stitches instead of Foundation Chains. This afghan of mine is a Rectangular Granny afghan, and I didn't start it with the usual foundation chain. It's one of a couple of patterns of mine in this book. And it's on sale at Annie's Attic also.

So if you like these afghans, or any of the other ones in the books, now is the time to order them!

Scrap Crochet Book

2010-01-23T22:39:00.007-05:00

I just found out that Scrap Crochet, 30 Great Projects, pubished by Annie's Attic, is now available through the Annie's Attic web site.

The reason I'm excited about this is that I have 2 patterns in there. One is a table runner:

And the other is a tote bag:

Both projects are worked with cotton - the tote is crocheted with Sugar'n Cream Cotton, the table runner with Peaches & Cream Cotton. As you can see, there are no ends to weave in with either project. That's why I liked designing them and making them so much. The great part of each pattern, you really get different looks with each batch of your scrap yarns that you use. And I bet you have a lot, just like me! I can't wait to make the tote and the table runner for myself, with all my scrap cotton yarns!

Go To Sweater #1

2010-01-03T14:53:00.017-05:00

I have been getting many requests for the list of yarn shops that carry my patterns that I am self-publishing under the name of Emerald Isle Designs. The pattern that is most requested is this one - I call it Go To Sweater #1, because I crochet it in all sorts of yarns: cottons, wools, acrylics, silks, whatever yarn I have or see that appeals to me. I must have more than a dozen of these sweaters. Yes - I said one dozen. And I'm still counting. And I'm planning more sweaters. I have 2 or 3 in my UFO (unfinished projects) pile.
Here are two more versions.

If you want to see more of our designs, both crochet and knit, go to Emerald Isle Designs NC. Soon there will be a list posted of yarn stores that carry our designs, but until then, here is the current list:

CALIFORNIA:
SKEIN
1101 E. Walnut Street
Pasadena, CA 91106
626-577-2035
skeinyarns@aol.com
www.skeinyarns.com

FLORIDA:
A-YARN OUTLET
5331 15th Street East
Bradenton, FL 34203
941-756-8915
www.ayarnfabricoutlet.com

GEORGIA:
EWE KNIT
815 Cedar St.
Carrollton, GA 30117.
770-830-6480
eweknit@gmail.com

MINNESOTA:
PLAYING WITH YARN
276 Scenic Drive
Knife River, MN 55609
218-834-5967
judycass@playingwithyarn.com
www.playingwithyarn.com

NORTH CAROLINA:
BELLA FILATI
275B NE Broad Street
Southern Pines, NC 28387
910-692-3528
thebabes@bellafilati.com www.bellafilati.com

GATE CITY YARNS
231 S Elm Street
Greensboro NC 27401
336-370-1233
www.gatecityyarns.com

HILLSBOROUGH YARN SHOP
114 S. Churton Street
Hillsborough, NC 27278
919-732-2128
www.hillsboroughyarn.com

THE SALTY SHEEP YARN SHOP
105-3 West Church Street
Swansboro, NC 28584
910-325-0018
thesaltysheep@gmail.com
www.thesaltysheep.com

YARNS, ETC.
99 South Elliott Road, Suite 2
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
919-928-8810
www.yarnsetc.com

OREGON:
CUSTOM THREADS
1282 Commercial Street
Astoria, OR 97103
503-325-7780

PENNSYLVANIA:
THE KNITTER’S EDGE
1601 West Broad Street
Bethlehem, PA 18018
610-419-9276
www.theknittersedge.com

Try calling or emailing the stores - and ask them to send you the patterns you want. Also, tell your local yarn stores about us, give them our web site address, and have them contact us. And thanks for all your support!

Triple Ripple Baby Afghan

2010-01-01T17:29:00.008-05:00

I just discovered another of my baby afghan designs, the Triple Ripple Baby Afghan, on-line at e-patternscentral.com. And, it's on sale! It's an afghan I designed for a book of patterns using foundation stitches. That means no separate foundation chain. You crochet the foundation chain AND the first row of stitches at the same time. It's a lot easier than crocheting a HUGE number of chains, and then working your first row, only to find out at the end of that row that you have either too many, or too few chains. And you have to frog the entire thing and start all over again. With foundation stitches, you make the exact number that you need. It's a wonderful crochet skill to know.

Here's the picture of the baby afghan.

Afghans in Crochet Today!

2009-12-10T21:49:00.010-05:00

I recently designed two completely different afghans for the January/February issue of Crochet Today! It's finally out on the news stands, and the issue is now on their website. But, I want to show you the pictures of my two afghans - they both were fun to design and crochet.
This is the Big Love afghan.

It consists of hexagons, many hexagons. But - they get connected as they are crocheted. So there's not a lot of finishing. When you're finished with the last hexagon, you're finished. Except for weaving in all the ends. :-)

The other afghan I designed is a baby afghan. What I like about this one - I made it with one skein of Baby Blankie, a new yarn from Red Heart. One skein - only 2 ends to weave in. Oh - I did add a bottom border, so that's 2 more ends. So a total of 4 ends to weave in. The side and top borders are made along with the rest of the afghan. When you're done, you're done. And, did I mention, only 4 ends to weave in? That makes it just about the perfect baby afghan! A friend of mine, another designer (Vashti Braha) called it my "Go To Afghan". And it really is. It doesn't take long to finish so it's a great last-minute present for a shower or a new baby.
Here's the picture:

Of course, it can be worked in other colors, not just pink.
What's great about the Crochet Today web site, if you want to, you can order the magazine, along with the yarn for whatever pattern you choose, right from their site. You don't have to search for the correct yarn - it's right there.

2009-09-01T17:27:00.012-04:00

It doesn't really matter how many times you see one of your patterns in print - even if the same pattern has been offered in a magazine, and then as a downloadable pattern. When you see it again, in a new venue, it's exciting. That's how I felt this week, when I found 2 of my patterns in places I didn't expect. Yesterday, I saw my Granny Square Shrink Vest in the on-line newsletter from Crochet! magazine, as a free pattern! Click here to get the pattern. Remember those "Shrink" vests that were so popular in the '70s? Those vests were my inspiration for this one. I made it in Lion Brand Suede, but any bulky weight yarn would work as well.
Here's a picture:

The next surprise I had this week was when I took a trip to my local bookstore, and found the Fall 2009 issue of Crochet! magazine. It's a special issue, for the holiday season, full of quick projects to make for gifts. I opened it up, and found this:

It's one of my favorite hats that I designed, with one of my favorite stitch patterns. And two interesting things about these two patterns - they are both worked in the same yarn - Lion Brand Suede, and, they both look like spiderwebs. So - they can be made as a set! What a great present to give someone special!

Crochet Edgings and Trims

2009-08-25T09:39:00.012-04:00

I just received the book, Crochet Edgings and Trims, a new Harmony Guide, by Kate Haxell. It has 150 edgings, and lots of good ideas. I know what you're probably saying - what do you need another book for? You like to make up your own edgings and trims and stitches. And don't you have enough books? Well ----- yes, I have a lot of books. (The Crochet Dude told me I have enough books to start my own reference library). But my philosophy is that one can never have too many books. Just like one can never have too much yarn. Or too many hooks. You get the idea.
And I do use my books. I look for inspiration, ideas, older stitch patterns, different stitch patterns, different stitches. I recently found some wonderful old stitches - in some new books. But, I'm digressing. Back to this book - Crochet Edgings and Trims.

I have the old Harmony Guides (300 Crochet Stitches, and 220 More Crochet Stitches) - and still use them. But, for some reason, I like having the smaller books, with the stitches, motifs, and edgings in separate books instead of all together. The older books have a total of 44 edgings, this new book has 150. And while some, maybe all, of the 44 are repeated in the newer book, it still has many more to choose from. And lots of fresh ideas. This book is a good addition to my library.

Now, you may say - who needs all those edgings? Especially when you have your favorite ones that you use whenever you need an edging. My answer -I don't just use edgings as edgings. I look at edgings, and get ideas for other things - scarves, belts, ties, and, of course, regular stitches to incorporate into my designs. And one idea leads to another and another and another. It never ceases!

Books to me are like food - I can't live without them! I'm just glad they're not fattening! :-)

On another note - Noreen Crone-Findlay recently interviewed me for her blog. So check it out to find out more about me and my crocheting!

Crochet Adorned

2009-08-16T15:13:00.004-04:00

One of my favorite things to do is to doodle. When I was in Graphic Design, I doodled with a pencil or pen. Now that I'm in Crochet Design, I doodle in yarns and hooks. One of the ways I doodle is to take "classic" stitch patterns, and change them somehow, to make them uniquely my own. Then, of course, I incorporate them into a design. :-) Or, I just do something different with a basic stitch. Or, I look at stitch dictionaries, and get ideas from them. When I work from stitch dictionaries, I like to work from stitch diagrams and/or clear photos that show the stitch pattern straight on. (Many of the older stitch dictionaries that I have just show the photos, along with the written directions.) But I am always on the lookout for more stitch dictionaries. And even if there are only one or two new-to-me stitch patterns in the book, I must add it to my library. It's worth it to me - I teach classes on various stitches at the CGOA Conferences, and I do research in my own library. And I can come up with new, invented-by-me, stitch patterns to teach my students. So, today, I was at Barnes&Noble, and as usual, I wandered over to the Needlecraft books with my decaf Americano in hand. I really didn't expect to see anything new - I had just been there on Friday, 2 days ago, and there were no new books then. But, I looked there anyway. And, what do you know, I found a new book! Crochet Adorned, by Linda Permann. I thought, oh - just another crocheted flower book. And I almost didn't look through it. After all, I was holding on to my Americano, and couldn't find a space on the shelf to put in down. But then, I saw a space on a shelf below, so I carefully set my coffee down, and picked up the book. And looked through it. And saw it was also a stitch dictionary. And Linda had included some interesting variations on standard stitches, and on not-so standard stitches. And in the first section, where the projects are, there are more stitch patterns. All kinds of motifs, flowers, trims, they're all there. And ways to use them! Plus, the book is a good book for beginners - it has a basic instruction section. It tells you how to read a crochet pattern, what all the symbols mean, and how to read a stitch symbol diagram. I'm going to enjoy having this book in my library!

Chain Link 2009

2009-08-13T09:59:00.020-04:00

This is one of the things that has been occupying my time during the past months. Preparing for the CGOA Chain Link National Conference, held in tandem with the Knit and Crochet Show. I taught 4 classes at the Chain Link conference last week, was in charge of Professional Development Day, edited a book of patterns that the CGOA Board of Directors introduced on Saturday during the day-long Knitting Meets Crochet membership drive (more about that later), and had a day-long board meeting/strategic planning session on Monday. And, of course, I met with friends I hadn't seen for a long time. It was a busy, but fun week. And yes, it was a full 7 days.

I spotted this sign in the convention center, and took my one and only picture of the conference - with Vashti, another member of the CGOA Board of Directors, and designer extraordinaire, standing beside it.

The Knit and Crochet Show - the market place - the yarn market - whatever you want to call it, was amazing. Lots of venders, lots of different yarns to see and touch and want. I saw some Silk Sari Ribbon that I had heard about, and Jelly Yarn in a great silver color - just what I wanted.

And hooks - bamboo and wood were prevalent, but regular hooks were present too. And, after being introduced to ChiaoGoo hooks at TNNA, I was happy to see them here. They make wonderful bamboo hooks and needles. They have regular hooks for crocheting, Tunisian hooks in different lengths, circular Tunisian hooks, and cable Tunisian hooks. The hooks come in all sizes - small to large. They have an in-line shape, and when I used them on a small sample of ribbon yarn, they didn't snag the ribbon. I'm in LOVE!

One of the projects that I was feverishly working on before Chain Link was a free pattern booklet, which is now being offered to new members of CGOA. I edited this booklet of patterns, by 6 of the CGOA Board Members, and we premiered it on Saturday. It is a download - only booklet for new and renewing members only. Here is a picture of the cover, so you can see the designs included. They are by Carol Alexander, Amy Shelton, Vashti Braha, Drew Emborsky, me - Marty Miller, and Lorraine Lucas.

Crochet Today!

2009-07-31T23:27:00.005-04:00

The preview of the Sept/Oct 2009 issue of Crochet Today is on the web site. Check it out here and look at the Ripple Cloud Afghan that I designed for this issue. It was a lot of fun to do, and quick to make. I used bulky yarns, and a large hook, but the best part was that there were no ends to weave in. I incorporated the ends into the fringe! Here's a picture:

I haven't posted a lot lately - I've been busy getting my classes together for Chain Link, the CGOA conference in Buffalo, which is next week. If you're going to be there, come by and say hello. You can go shopping in the yarn market, see the fashion show and all the other festivities on Saturday night (it's CGOA's 15th Anniversary), take classes with some great teachers, and hang out and crochet in the 24/7 lounge. There will also be other special events. On Saturday, we're hosting a "knitters meet crochet" event - come and meet and greet knitters and crocheters. We'll be giving away some great prizes to those who join or renew their membership to CGOA, and there will be a lot of other fun activities going on. Don't miss the Yarn Market Preview on Thursday night. You can check out the program and events and classes by going to Knit and Crochet Show. And stay tuned - after Chain Link, I should have some great news for you! :-)

Crochet Kimono

2009-07-06T20:12:00.004-04:00

I love to find my patterns for sale on-line, and this is the latest one. It's one I designed for Plymouth Yarn, using Plymouth Encore. Encore is 25% Wool, and 75% Acrylic - it's soft, machine washable, machine dryable, crochets beautifully, it has a lot of yardage in a skein, and it comes in great colors! Here's the picture of the kimono:

And here's where you can purchase the pattern:
Annies Attic

Look at all the Plymouth Yarns here:
Plymouth Yarns

TNNA Report - June 2009

2009-06-24T09:30:00.006-04:00

During the last few months I have been working on my pattern line, trying to get it ready for TNNA (The National Needlearts Association) trade show in June. This year, it was held in Columbus, Ohio, so my business partner, Jane, and I were able to drive. We have been going to this for the past few years, but this time, it was different. This time, we were launching our pattern lines, renting a booth, and trying to sell our patterns to the yarn shops. We decided to transport all our paraphernalia for the booth ourselves. Which meant, two cars. Two big cars. My car is too small, so we persuaded Jane's daughter, Amy, to join us, and help us with our booth. And - she has a big car! :-)
We had a great time at TNNA, and our patterns were well received. I will be posting more pictures of our booth, but wanted to first post this picture of Amy - which shows the way we were all feeling after we set everything up.
By the way, thank you to all of our friends who helped us set up, tear down, and schlep everything to and from the hotel. We do appreciate it!
More later.

Green Dream Crocheted Throw

2009-05-05T21:18:00.007-04:00

I just got this in my email - a chance to buy the kit to make this throw! This is one of my designs, published in Crochet Today magazine. And now, just by clicking here you can purchase a kit and you, too, can make this throw. I've made many afghans in my designing career, and this is one of the few that my husband actually commented on, without me prompting him! He really liked it! Really!

It's fun, and easy to make. Just small Granny Squares sewn together. Easy!

Crochet Along starts tomorrow

2009-04-30T21:56:00.007-04:00

I thought I would show you the yarns I picked for the Crochet Along. I went into my stash to find some colors and some yarn that spoke to me, and this is what I came up with - Bernat Handicrafter Cotton, in some of the new colors, AND in huge skeins. That means no ends, unless I want them! I also thought I would see what the Lily Sugar'n Cream yarn would look like with the 2 Bernat yarns. I think the off-white SnC will look good with the blue yarn - called Country Blue - and the fading self-striping yarn - called Meadow. But, I don't know if I'll use it or not. I may just go with the Country Blue and the Meadow. I began crocheting the bag, just to see how the two colors would mix, and I like what happened. The Meadow still self-stripes, but it's more subtle. So, I think I'll just use those two yarns. By the way, the Country Blue has approximately 710 yards in a skein, and the Meadow has approximately 470 yards. The yarn is 100% cotton, and is really soft. I designed another bag using this cotton, and what was so great was that when I was finished with the bag, (and it was LARGE!), there were only 2 ends to weave in!!!!!

So I hope you're ready to start your tote tomorrow. Remember to download the pattern booklet here (you get 6 other patterns from 6 other designers in the booklet), and we'll get started!

Crochet Along will start soon

2009-04-29T22:55:00.005-04:00

Just a short reminder - for those who want to participate in the Crochet Along mentioned in my previous post. One more day - and we'll get started. So choose your yarn, get the pattern, (see the link below), and we'll have some fun!
After much deliberation - I picked some great yarn. I'll show it to you on Friday, May 1, along with the beginning of the tote.
P.S. If you want to participate in the CAL, but are too shy to say so, don't worry, you can still take part. Just follow along with your pattern, as we all make our totes.
Remember - these totes make great bags to carry just about anything - yarn, projects, magazines, books, food - you get the idea! Don't be left out! Crochet your tote along with the rest of us!

2009-04-22T22:40:00.008-04:00

Today, April 22, 2009, is Earth Day. In honor of the day, I used my Scrap Yarn tote (see my previous entry) to carry my yarns and hooks and books and magazines. And I liked using it so much, that I vowed I would use it, and all the other bags that I've crocheted and knit, more and more. I will use them to tote yarn (of course), books, and groceries, and whatever else I can think of. Where ever I go! Tonight, I even used it to hold some yarn that I was working with. The yarn wanted to roll around on the floor, and I put it into the tote, set the tote on a chair. It stayed put, the yarn stayed put, and I discovered a new use for my totes. I also decided that this tote was a "go-to" tote - I'll make it again and again and again, trying different yarns in my stash and in my future stash. It's a great stash buster because you can use just about any cotton yarn. (But it's also a great stash enhancer - because you can use one strand of some new yarn that you just MUST try out, and the rest of the yarn can be from your stash.) I used two strands of Fantasy Naturale, just scraps that I had in my stash. But I want to make one with other cottons, and one with other colors of Fantasy Naturale (yes - that I have in my stash!). You can even make one with one strand of cotton, and one strand of another fiber. The cotton will give it strength, and won't let it stretch. As I was thinking about all the possibilities, and what yarn I'm going to use, I thought that this project would be a great Crochet Along (CAL). So - if you're interested in making one along with me, it's easy to get started. Download the pattern from the website (in the previous post), find some yarn that you want to use - either in your stash or from a store, and we can start working. And, if you work along with me, and have some difficulty with the pattern (I don't think you will - but, you know, it might happen) then, you can ask me about it, and I'll be there right with you! What could be better than that?
Let me know if you want to be in on the CAL. I thought we could get started on May 1, 2009. With just a few hours of crocheting, we can have a new tote in time for beach season! So that gives you 9 days to download the booklet (and there are 6 other great totes and bags in the booklet, all designed by independent designers) and 9 days to gather your yarns. Believe me when I tell you that once you make one of these, you'll want to make more!

Strapped For Bags - Straight From Today's Designers

2009-04-16T20:47:00.009-04:00

It's available! Straight From Today's Designers, their new Bag Book - Strapped for Bags, Vol. 3. Seven fun, original bag designs from seven designers. All for $10.00. That's all. $10.00 will get you seven bags from seven designers - including Vashti Braha, Doris Chan, Noreen Crone-FIndlay, Dee Stanziano, Tammy Hildebrand, Amy O'Neill Houck, and me - Marty Miller. We, the designers in Straight From Today's Designers, put this book, and our other 3 books, together by ourselves - doing all the tech editing, writing, photography, and everything else that goes into producing a book.

This booklet is no longer available - however, the individual patterns may be available from the designers. I know mine is. Check out the pattern at:
Emerald Isle Designs

Hooked for Life - Adventures of a Crochet Zealot

2009-04-13T22:13:00.008-04:00

I have been haunting the bookstores lately - waiting for this book to get published - Hooked for Life: Adventures of a Crochet Zealot, by Mary Beth Temple. It finally appeared this weekend - a week or so ahead of the scheduled publication date, and I grabbed it up. Which was a good thing - because what with the pollen this past weekend, and my itchy eyes and my sneezing, I just didn't feel like crocheting. (I know - when that happens, I MUST be sick!) I read it in no time - devoured it, is more like it. It is funny, interesting, funny, and did I say funny? Whether you crochet, or knit, or both, or do neither, I think you'll enjoy it. Especially if you crochet and think that no one else has a stash as big as yours. Or if you knit, and think that no one else has a stash as big as yours. Or if you are a yarn snob. Or if you aren't a yarn snob and like all yarns. And if you want to learn new terms - I won't give them away here, but there are a lot of them in the book. Read this book! And then, if you haven't already done so, read her previous book, The Secret Language of Knitters. (You can read and enjoy it even if you just crochet! It's all about Yarn!)

Check out Hooked for Life here;

And check out The Secret Language of Knitters here:

Chain-Free Crochet Made Easy

2009-04-11T21:19:00.004-04:00

A great new book was just published by House of White Birches - Chain-Free Crochet Made Easy. If you want to know how to work all different kinds of foundation stitches, this is the book for you! Yes - some of my patterns are in the book - but this is the kind of book that I would acquire for my book collection. Even if my designs weren't in there. :-) The different techniques for making foundation stitches (you make the foundation chain and the first row of stitches at the same time) make the book a valuable learning tool. With the techniques you will learn from this book you can work just about any pattern using foundation stitches. Check the book out here:

Now - as great as the book is, I did find one slight error in one of my patterns - the Rectangular Granny Afghan, on page 66. The directions tell you to make a dc eyelet, but they don't tell you how. So, here is the way to make a dc eyelet:
*Ch 3, dc in 3rd ch from hook. Repeat from * as many times as stated.

Also, the directions don't tell you how many to make. Make 3 dc eyelets.

If you do buy the book, and make any of my patterns, please send me a picture. I love to see what other crocheters do with my patterns.

And check out the close-up pictures of my place mat on pages 148 and 149. These are awesome!

New Issue of Crochet! Magazine

2009-03-10T20:17:00.004-04:00

No - I don't have it yet! BUT - the pictures of the projects are here: Crochet!.
And the very first picture is my project - a bandanna bag.

I started crocheting with bandannas because my husband and I had a bunch of them from our days of hiking and canoeing and kayaking and camping. I even had some bandannas with my son's name on them - I guess he took them to camp. I found all of these one day when I was cleaning out a cabinet full of old clothes. The bandannas were soft and worn; we didn't need them anymore, but I didn't want to give them away. Too much history involved with them. So - I washed them, and cut them into strips, and started crocheting. I had many different colors, and I crocheted with them randomly. I made a great big basket - of course, as with any stashbuster project that's worth it's salt, I had to buy more bandannas to finish it! :-)

The bandanna bag that's in Crochet! is a new design - worked in bandannas of one color. New bandannas. :-)
By the way, one word of warning - crocheting with bandannas can be VERY addicting.

Sugar'n Cream - good old friend

2009-03-05T20:20:00.005-05:00

Every once in a while, I have to go back to visit some old friends. When I was in San Diego, this past January, I did just that. I saw an old friend of mine. We met when we were in grammar school - we took ballet classes together. We stayed friends and kept in touch throughout high school and college. Then - marriage. She moved to the west coast. I moved to the east coast. But, I looked her up some years ago when I was going to San Diego, and since then, whenever I'm there, we try to get together. When we do, it's as if we never were apart! It's so much fun.
So what does this have to do with crochet? Some yarns are like old friends! And every once in a while, I just have to visit them again. That's what I did yesterday and today. I'm working on a project, and I needed to use Chain Store yarns. I wanted something sturdy, substantial, and in my stash already. I thought about Sugar'n Cream, and decided that it would be the perfect yarn for what I wanted to do. So I went "stash shopping". I looked through my stash in the family room, in the storage room, and in my studio. And I found some. I wasn't sure which color would be best, so I picked out a couple of colors that I would have enough of in one dye lot to do my project. I also realized that I had a couple of the gigantic skeins of Sugar'n Cream that are sold as Confectionary Colors - 14 ounces, approximately 710 yards. Yep - that would be enough for my project, AND (and this is a BIG PLUS) there would be no ends to weave in - except at the beginning and the end. (You DO know that I hate to weave in ends, don't you?)
I picked out one color that I had of this yarn - it's called Pistachio - it's a muted green - and I started crocheting. And I didn't want to stop! I loved working with it. The yarn seemed softer than what I remembered. The color was gorgeous. The stitch pattern that I developed worked well - the stitches were well defined, and easy to work. The yarn didn't split. It didn't untwist. It didn't do any bad stuff. It did just what I wanted it to do! I fell in love all over again with Sugar'n Cream.
Check out this sample:

The KnitKit (for Crochet, too)

2009-01-23T17:58:00.006-05:00

I don't know about you - but I am constantly looking for my crochet tools - my scissors, stitch markers, tape measure, and everything else I like to keep with me. They keep falling down to the bottom of my crochet bag. And I would dearly love to pack some in my purse (I already have a bunch of crochet hooks, just in case I see a yarn that I HAVE to try!). But, until now, I just didn't want to put ANOTHER organizer in my purse, to get mixed up with all the other organizers I already have for everything. Really! Enough is enough! But, I just came back from TNNA - the National Needlearts trade show, in warm San Diego, and saw a product there that I absolutely MUST have. (By the way, I left San Diego and the temperature must have been near 80 degrees. When I arrived home, I saw from the plane that it was snowing! And when I walked out, I realized that it was cold! What a shock to my system!)
But, back to this product that I covet! It's called the KnitKit, and you can probably get it from your local yarn shop really soon, because it was the big hit of the TNNA show! Everyone was talking about it! Barbara Berry, who created this, introduced herself to us when she saw us crocheting and knitting in public at our hotel. She told us how and why she came up with this - it was because she was always looking for her knitting stuff, and wanted one place to keep everything. As soon as we saw the KnitKit, we knew it would be a hit!
Here's a picture of it:

You can also check out their web site: theKnitKit

The Glamorous Life.........of a Crochet Designer

2009-01-05T23:20:00.009-05:00

Some people think that the life of a crochet designer and teacher is really glamorous! Crocheting all day long, whenever and whatever you want to, traveling to different conferences to teach classes, meeting all the crochet "stars", getting published in books and magazines, getting to do what you love to do - crochet! What could be better?
Well, there is nothing better! I love what I do - I love to crochet, I love to design, I love to write patterns, I love to teach crochet, I love to plan my classes, I love to tech edit! I love everything about crochet and being a crochet designer and teacher - except one thing! Weaving in ends! As my students will tell you - I don't like that part! If I could, I would forever banish ends from my projects. Or figure out some way to make them disappear.
I am always telling a story about a baby Granny Afghan I made a long time ago - for a friend's baby. It had 100 granny squares - 3 rounds, 3 different colors. 6 ends to weave in for each square. And 6 x 100 is 600 ends! I never finished it. I never wove those ends in. I never gave it to the baby. I still have the blanket, and use it as a throw in my family room. The ends are still there, and I call them a "design decision". :-)
Well, I now have another story to tell about how I hate weaving in ends. But I can't tell it yet - you'll all have to wait awhile for that. But I can tell you that I had MORE ends to weave in. About 658 the way I figure! And I did it! I wove them all in, and I saved most of them. I even took a picture of them, so you can see how many there were. (And how glamorous this designer's life really is!)
Don't bother counting them, just trust me! There were a gazilliion of them. But I did it! I wove them all in!
I think I'm going to save these and put them in a safe place, so that whenever I have ends to weave in, and I'm not looking forward to it, I can look at these ends, and tell myself that I did it once, I can do it again!

The Secret is OUT

2008-12-26T15:29:00.008-05:00

Well, it's not really a BIG secret. I did tell a few of my crochet designer friends. And the people at the workout club where I teach and workout know. At least some of them. But many of them call it knitting. What am I talking about? Well, read on and you'll find out. Or, if you have the Winter 2008 issue of Interweave Crochet click here, you can read all about it in Doris Chan's article, Gauge Crashers.
So this is the big secret. I am a crochet designer, teacher, and tech editor. I also am a group exercise instructor. (We used to be called Aerobics Instructors, but then we started teaching so much more than aerobics, that the "powers that be" changed the name to Group Exercise Instructor.) No, that's not the secret. But it does have a lot to do with it. I have been teaching aerobics and group exercise for years. And years. And years. I sometimes taught two, what we used to call "jump around" classes, a day. Then, I taught Step classes. And Spinning, or bicycle classes. And, I worked out in the weight room. I loved it, but my knees didn't. So, in the past 5 or 6 years, I've limited my Group Exercise teaching to Pilates/core classes, and Body Pump - a choreographed weight lifting class, done to music. While I love teaching these classes, I realized that they were not enough. I had to do some cardio exercise. So I tried the rowing machine. Nope, not for me. I tried the Stair Master. Nope, not for me. I tried an upright stationary bike. Nope, not for me. They all hurt my knees. The only thing that I could do, that wouldn't hurt my knees, was biking on a recumbent bike. So I started doing that. And I read a book, or watched tv. Until the day when I wanted to work out, but I had a crochet project that I had to work on. Well, I thought, why can't I do both? I put my yarn and hooks into a vinyl bag with handles, put some scissors in there also, and paper and a pen for note taking. And made my way to the club. I got on the bike, and started to crochet, and well, the rest is history! That's now what I do when I work out on the bike. I crochet. Oh - I can't crochet everything on the bike. If I have to concentrate, or measure something, or figure out a tricky part in a pattern, I don't do it on the bike. But, if it's easy, mindless, or repetitive, I can do it. Of course, not a big project. Mostly little ones, or the beginning of a bigger one. I usually am on the bike for an hour, and crochet for anywhere from a half hour to the entire hour. And - I get the strangest looks from some of the other members. And also, some interesting comments. While most men and women will ask me what I am knitting, one man knew I was crocheting. He was riding the bike next to me, and when I complemented him on knowing crocheting from knitting, he said he knew how to crochet! Men usually don't admit this.
I know what you're thinking. She must be nuts! How can she multi-task like that? Exercising and crocheting at the same time! Okay - I'll confess something else. I HAVE to exercise. It's what I do - and I have to stay in shape to teach. And it keeps me healthy. But, I LOVE to crochet. So, I combine the two when I can. Sometimes, it's the only time during the day when I do get to crochet. I crochet, or try to crochet, every day. Even if it's just a couple of rounds on a tote bag, while I'm riding in the car with my husband on the way to see a movie - as long as I can make a few stitches, I feel good. I used to think that this was crazy - me having to crochet all the time. But then, I read this book - The Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell.

His theory is that the people who are good at something aren't good because they're born that way. They're good because they practice at it. In fact, he says, it takes about 10,000 hours, over approximately 10 years, to be successful at something. So - even though I have been crocheting and designing for way more than 10 years, I don't want to lose that. So I practice. And practice, and practice some more.

The same goes for teaching. I have taught on the high school level, at the college level (while I was studying for my Masters and my Ph.D.), continuing education classes for group exercise instructors, calligraphy, typography, and of course, crochet. I taught for many years on the local level before I thought I was ready to teach nationally. I still teach crcohet locally, and I am continually learning from my students. I am continually practicing. I never want to stop!

Now you know my secret! I crochet while riding a recumbent bike. I bet there are others like me out there. Where do you crochet?

So, read the article. It's really very good. Lots of info about why you may not be able to get the gauge that the designer got. And visit my other blog - TheCrochetDoctor -
to read what I have to say about gauge! (June 14, 2008, and August 18, 2008, are the two entries.) And if you want to know more about gauge, leave a comment or question here or there.

Sham Wow WOW!

2008-12-07T21:04:00.004-05:00

I reported before about my trip to Houston, and seeing the International Quilt Show. What I didn't tell you about the show was that they had a BIG market place - with lots of quilting equipment and material, there were some yarn stores, and then they also had some side booths selling other stuff. We stopped at one booth selling ShamWows. These are cloths that are supposed to wipe up spilled liquids, and soak up water and other liquids really quickly. So, my friends and I stopped to listen. At first, we laughed - the salesman's patter sounded just like the ads you see on TV. You know - But WAIT. If you buy it now, you can get another one free! Well, that meant we'd get 6 ShamWows (3 to a package). But it was still just a joke! However, I was designing some felted bags at the time, and started to think how this ShamWow would help me when the bags were drying. Maybe it would make the drying process quicker if I stuffed them in the bag, instead of the newspaper I usually used. So, as we were walking away, I asked one of my friends if she would be interested in splitting the cost with me - we'd each get 3 ShamWows for half price. She agreed, and so we told our other friends where we were going, and amidst much of their laughter, we headed back to the ShamWow booth.
Now, fast forward another week. I felted a bag, and stuffed it with the ShamWow and some newspaper to let it dry. It dried overnight! Really! Overnight! I never had that happen before.
Then, fast forward another couple of weeks, to last night - Saturday. I had two more bags ready to felt. When they came out of the washer, I just put a ShamWow on the bottom of each bag. I didn't use any newspaper (my husband had thrown all the papers out just that morning). I followed the directions - wetting the ShamWows first. Then I squeezed the excess water from them and put them in the base of the bags. After a couple of hours, I examined the drying progress. The ShamWows were soaking - the bags were nearly dry! So once again, I squeezed the excess water from the ShamWows, put them in the base of the bags, and set them out to finish drying. This morning, the ShamWows were soaking again, and the bags were dryer. I couldn't do anything with them then - so I once again squeezed the excess water from the ShamWows and put them in the base of the bags. This evening, when I checked on them, the bags were dry, and there was just a little excess water to squeeze from the ShamWows.
So - all of you who laughed at my purchase (and you know who you are!) I have one thing to say. SO THERE!
I have to wait for the handles to finish drying (I didn't ShamWow them on purpose - they were the control!) And when they do dry, and I put the bags together, I'll post a picture of them!
Moral of this story - well, I'm not sure there is a moral. But ShamWows are great!

Crocheted hat discovery!

2008-11-09T20:59:00.005-05:00

I was taking a break today from writing patterns and working on projects, when I decided to visit the Coats & Clark web site. I came across a picture of a hat (the one pictured above) that had my name attached to it as the designer. "Wait a minute," I said to myself. "I don't remember working anything in that yarn! And the only hat I did for Coats was in ......." And then it came to me. The hat I designed was in a yarn that has been discontinued, and Coats is now publishing the pattern in Vision, one of the Moda Dea yarns. And yes - that is the pattern I designed! And good news - you can download it for free. Click here.
But best of all, I have been drooling over some new yarn that I spied in a couple of yarn shops. Self-striping wool! Colors to die for! Lots of yardage in one skein, so I think if I make this hat in the new yarn, I would only need one skein. I just may have to start renewing my stash, one skein at a time.

Added on November 12:
I found some yarn in my stash that I thought would look good as this hat, so I made it today. And, yes, it did take about 2 hours. However, I was following the pattern and found an error in it. At least, it didn't seem right to me at the time. But I was at our Wednesday night Sit and Stitch at our local B&N, and didn't have with me the copy of the pattern that I wrote. I just had the one that is available on the Coats web site. So I wasn't sure how to correct the error - add more row repeats, or just know that the rows were numbered wrong. And I hoped it wasn't MY mistake when I wrote the pattern. :-) When I got home, the first thing I did was turn on my computer, find the pattern file for the hat, and check it out. Whew! It wasn't my mistake. The pattern, as published, has an excess of rows. The row counts at the end don't make sense. So - here is the correction:

Rows 14 – 72: Repeat Rows 2 through 13 four more times. Then repeat Rows 2 through 12 one time.

After you do this, you will have 72 rows all together. Then, follow the directions for sewing the seam and gathering the top.

That Crochet Dude does it again

2008-11-06T15:57:00.004-05:00

I was in Houston last week for 3 events - the International Quilt Exposition, a workshop I was teaching at Yarntopia in Katy, Texas (more on that later), and ...... the launch of the Crochet Dude's new book, Designs for Guys. I've been waiting impatiently for the book to be published, because I wanted to make some of the sweaters in there for ME! But when I was visiting with the Dude, he started crocheting one of the hats that he designed. He told me that you can use any yarn, and any size hook that works with the yarn. And, because I had a single skein of some fabulous yarn that I purchased during one of our field trips to local Houston yarn shops, I thought I would also crochet that hat. I used bulky yarn (I don't have my info with me now - and I don't have a picture of the hat yet, but I'll add all the info and a picture when I get home from my teaching road trip), and I made the hat longer. It didn't take me long, even though I was influenced by some wine, and it may just become my favorite hat this winter. So just because the book says Designs for Men doesn't mean, ladies, that we can't make these designs for ourselves. There is a belt in there that I am going to make for me (and my husband may get one, too) and a hoodie that is just speaking my name. If you want to see a picture of the hats that the Dude has made so far, check out his blog:
The Crochet Dude, and then click on the above picture of the book to get more info and reviews of the book.

Houston - Yarntopia Crochet Workshop

2008-10-27T15:24:00.012-04:00

I'm on my way to Houston! Well, not actually today - but soon. This Wednesday, to be exact. Early! Real early! I may not even go to sleep on Tuesday night. Because I have to get up EARLY! But it will be worth it. I'm going to the Quilt Festival in Houston, and then I'm going to teach a workshop at Yarntopia, in Katy, Texas, on Saturday morning. The Crochet Dude will be at Yarntopia that same afternoon - launching and signing his new book - The Crochet Dude's Designs for Guys. Check it out here.

The workshop I'm teaching on Saturday (from 10 - 1, and the Dude will be signing at 2) is Crochet in Bits and Pieces. (There is still room in the workshop. You can check it out here.) In the workshop, you will learn how to look at things you want to make, and then break down the pieces into basic shapes - circles, triangles, squares, and all of the variations. Then - you will learn how to make these shapes from bottom to top, top to bottom, outside in, inside out, side to side, etc. It's a lot of fun to teach - and I've been told it's a lot of fun to take. (Not bragging, but this workshop received all 10s - the highest recommendation - at the Portland, Oregon CGOA conference in September.) Now, I don't want to give anything away - but here is a picture of a circle, a square, and a triangle. This is where you'll start - and you'll go on from there.

If you are in the area - come to my workshop in the morning, have lunch, and then go to the Dude's signing in the afternoon. What a great way to spend a Saturday! Crocheting with the Doc and the Dude!

Blueprint Crochet by Robyn Chachula

2008-10-16T20:49:00.006-04:00

If you could write a book, any book, that would explain how you crochet, what book would it be? For me, it would be one already written, Blueprint Crochet by Robyn Chachula, designer extraordinaire.
Robyn has written a great instructional treatise on how to use stitch symbols when you crochet. This is something I try to teach my students, because more and more I hear "I just can't read patterns." Or "Why can't they just say what they mean?" So - I usually sketch the pattern out for my students - with stitch symbols and diagrams. And then, they get it! They can see what they're doing because the symbols look like the stitches they represent, and the diagrams look like the fabric they're making.
I also use symbols when I'm planning a design, before I actually crochet anything. I figure out multiples, row counts, increases and decreases, and anything and everything else I might need to do with or to my pattern. I also use stitch diagrams when I'm tech editing other designers' patterns. It's a quick and accurate way to check numbers, etc.
In her book, Robyn explains how to read the diagrams, whether the pattern is in rows or rounds. Once you know how to read them, then you can see from the diagrams how to put motifs together.
The patterns in Blueprint Crochet include sweaters and totes and jewelry, and Robyn tells you the plan for each pattern, what you need to know to make the basic stitch pattern, how to construct the piece, and all about finishing it to make it look it's best! Even if you don't want to make the patterns, the information about working with and using stitch diagrams is priceless, and shouldn't be missed!

Click on the link to find out more about Blueprint Crochet!

Crochet Today!

2008-10-04T22:00:00.024-04:00

I got back from the Knit and Crochet Show in Portland, Oregon a couple of weeks ago, and it's taken me this long to catch up with everything I had to do at home. Well, I ALMOST caught up.........
In Portland, I had one and a half days free before I started teaching my 6 classes, so - I took a class - Myra Wood's Self Publishing class. It was fantastic! And - along with a couple of other designers (the Crochet Dude and the Yarn Adventurer) I went to a few yarn shops in Portland. And - bought some yarn. I'll take pictures of the yarn, and post them soon.
When I come back from the Crochet conferences, I am so excited. I can't wait to try new yarns, new ideas, new designs. I get home and I don't know where to start! But this year, I've been working on some sweater and vest designs, and when I got home I started going through my stash of yarns to find yarns I can use for them. And - I have found so many different yarns, my list of projects to start is getting longer and longer, and my time to crochet in the past few weeks has been less and less. (Of course, this doesn't mean that I've stopped buying yarns!)
I will take some pictures of the yarns I'm using, and how nicely they show the stitch patterns. Keep in contact, and the pictures will soon be posted.
But now, I want to tell you about my afghan pattern that just was published in the new Crochet Today magazine - Nov/Dec 08. I got the magazine this week, and was pleasantly surprised to see the afghan. I just designed and crocheted it this past summer - and wasn't sure when it would be published. It's called the All Angles Afghan, and all it is is Granny Squares and Granny Rectangles - all in different sizes. It was fun to work up, and great to see the picture in the magazine. Check it out:

And there are other great designers with patterns in this issue: Drew Emborsky (the Crochet Dude), Robyn Chachula (Crochet by Faye). Candi Jensen, Kristin Omdahl and Ellen Gormley, to name just a few. And you can look at all the patterns here: Crochet Today

Strapped For Bags

2008-08-31T12:03:00.007-04:00

When I am playing with yarn, one of my favorite projects is making bags - all sorts of bags - totes, shopping bags, purses, carry-alls, etc. I make them in all different shapes and sizes, using all different kinds of yarns and fibers. I felt them, or crochet them with a tight stitch, or make them lacy. It's fun to experiment, and it's fun to use other designers' patterns. And I know that I'm not the only one who does this. And, now, the good news is - the same designers who gave you Straight from the Hip are now giving you 3 volumes (Yes, 3 volumes!) of Strapped for Bags. It's our newest self-publishing venture. Our first volume, featuring 7 designs, is available NOW. We plan to publish one volume a month for the next 2 months. Check out the bags on the cover, and go to http://www.SFTDOnline.com for more info!
Available for downloading now!

beyond the square Crochet Motifs

2008-08-25T20:25:00.010-04:00

If you like stitch pattern books with lots of swatches to look at, if you like looking at lots of well-made swatches, if you like to follow stitch diagrams, if you like to follow well written directions, if you like hints for novice and not-so-novice crocheters, if you like "how-tos" that go beyond the usual, if you like to experiment and tailor stitches and motifs to suit yourself and your designs and welcome some advice about how to do that, if you like pictures and ideas of what to design with all the motifs, if you like help with solving problems, and information about how to solve other problems you might have, if you like a book that will lie flat, if you want a book with a lot of motifs that are not found in other stitch dictionaries, if you want motifs in all different shapes - what are you waiting for? You need to get Beyond the Square, Crochet Motifs, by Edie Eckman, who wrote another wonderful book that I recommend to all my students - The Crochet Answer Book.

If you just look at the cover of this book, you'll see many of the motifs that are presented. Open it up, and you get all of the information above, and more. The motifs are grouped into shapes, circles, hexagons, triangles, squares, and unusual shapes, and each chapter has a color theme. There is much more in the book, though. The beginning is a mini-crochet motif workshop, and includes information on how to join the motifs, how to get them flat, how to make them uniquely your own, how to end the rounds so that you don't see where the ending is, and much more.

I got my copy almost 2 weeks ago, and I've been looking and drooling over all the patterns - wishing I had some time right now to swatch and play. But, alas, that will have to wait! Portland, Oregon, and the CGOA Regional conference is in less than 2 weeks. I'll be teaching 6 classes there - and I have all my stuff to pack and send - class handouts, swatches and samples, and all the other goodies I've collected for my classes. And I'm trying to finish some new garments for me to wear during the week in Portland. That's what's fun about these conferences - seeing what each designer has made for herself/himself to wear! Check out the classes at Knit and Crochet Show, and don't forget, even though on-line registration is over, you can still register for classes at the conference. And don't forget to check out the vendors who will be at the yarn market! Can't wait!

Click below to find out more about Beyond the Square!

R & R and Classes I taught at Chain Link

2008-08-12T21:33:00.000-04:00

I'm on a much needed R & R this week - spending a week at the beach/coast (depending on where you're from, it's called by different names - including "the shore". I call it the beach - does anyone know where I was raised?) But I'm not completely relaxing. I am working - on some projects that need to be finished for certain publications. And to wear at the CGOA/TKGA conference in Portland, in less than 4 weeks. And some tech editing jobs that I promised would be finished this week. The good news is that I'm getting the stuff done. And relaxing at the same time. Take a look at my view from the deck. This is what I am seeing while I'm crocheting!

This picture was taken at twilight -

and this one just a few minutes later - looking at the sunset over the neighboring roofs.

I do want to tell you about the great experience I had in New Hampshire, at the CGOA Chain Link Conference - teaching 7 classes! That's almost a full load. The one time I wasn't teaching, I was at the CGOA Board meeting. I took my camera to classes, but never remembered to take pictures! So I can't share with you any visuals, but I can sure share some memories!
My first class was Crochet by the Numbers, always the toughest class to teach - mainly because so many people are afraid of math. But, I hope, I showed the class that math can be your friend. If you see anyone at future conferences walking around with a "hyper-plane" flower on their name-tag, you'll know that they took my math class.
The next class was Design Your Own Stitch Pattern - always a fun class. I get to see the creativity come out in the students. I loved seeing them just staring into space, and when I asked if they had a problem, they always said "No, I'm just thinking of how to create this new pattern." It was exciting!
And then I taught Crochet in Bits and Pieces. Another fun class - how to make rectangles, circles, triangles, and other shapes, from all different directions - bottom up, top down, inside to outside, outside to inside, corner to corner, etc.
Crocheting on the Edge was great fun, too. I talked about making corners, and showed many variations of the crab stitch, and fringes that were crocheted, and shaped edgings, and lots more.
Foundation Stitches and Linked Stitches is one class that changes people's lives, at least their crocheting lives! Foundation stitches are great to know, to eliminate that dreaded foundation chain. The class learned the basic stitches, and then how to do some pattern foundation stitches. The second half of class was devoted to linked stitches - and then I challenged the class with a project that started out with linked foundation stitches!
Pattern Writing School was intense - we talked about a lot of ways to write patterns, and then I gave them a swatch to write a pattern from.
In my "Going Around in Circles" class (it was my last class, on Sunday afternoon, and you know I was feeling like I was going around in circles!) I taught the students the "rule of thumb" for making circles. And then they made circles with many different stitches, half circles, circles from the outside in, circles using short rows, and spiral circles with one and two colors of yarn. Before I knew it, the class was over. And so was the conference! And the yarn market was closed!
It was time to say goodbye to many of my old friends, and new friends, until the next conference.
If any of my classes interest you, I'll be teaching the same ones in Portland, Oregon, this September, at the TKGA/CGOA conference. Go to The Knit and Crochet Show to check out the schedule and learn how you can take part in this conference. If you have never been to a conference, you don't know what you're missing! If you have been to one, you know what a learning experience it is, as well as a fun time!

Catching up - CGOA Chain Link, Manchester, NH

2008-08-02T17:09:00.015-04:00

I KNEW if I waited long enough, I wouldn't have to post much about the CGOA Chain Link conference - everyone else who was there would do it for me. :-) Check these out: Designing Vashti, The Crochet Dude, Everyday Crochet, and Crochet with Dee. The Crochet Dude was in charge of Professional Development Day, and did a bang-up job! Read about it on his blog. Vashti and Doris tell what it was like to be there. Dee gives a blow-by-blow description of the whole conference, including video of the great fashion show on Saturday night - which included kids, and a "runway strut" by Brian. (One lesson to remember - never follow kids or Brian on a runway!) I was there - but oh, so busy. Seven classes, board meeting, Market preview, Saturday night dinner and fashion show, meeting with the new Professional Development Chair, membership meeting, and many other meetings, including the "Musketeers and friends" meetings. We had one at least every day! Oh, I did get to go to the market, and I did get to purchase some yarn. Many times! But look at our official office sign, along with our official lamp - anybody remember lava lamps?

One thing I didn't do - I did miss out on a side trip to Maine - for the best lobsters, I understand, because I had to teach on Sunday! But - I did get to go to WEBS, twice! Once going to New Hampshire on the way to Chain Link, and once coming back. And, because we drove (well really, Jane drove, I crocheted) we got to visit 2 other yarn shops on the way home. And one even had a 20% off sale on everything in the store. Check out Jane's blog, Yarn Adventures, to find out more about those two shops.

Let me tell you about WEBS.
The outside - well, it was not too exciting. Looked like just another big store. Well, the store WAS BIG! Huge, as a matter of fact.

When I walked in, I was not prepared for what I saw. Rows and rows of yarns, yarns, and more yarns. And, I understand, needles, hooks, and buttons. (I was so mesmerized by the yarns, I didn't even look at the hooks!) This is a view of the store when you first enter it. Notice how the shelves of yarn just seem to stretch for miles!

This is a picture of just one part of one of the aisles in WEBS. Now you can see why I completely missed the hooks, needles, and buttons!

In the back of the store - which was a good distance from the front - there was a warehouse - and it was open to the public. More aisles and aisles of yarns. It was like a candy store! Only better! I discovered their Valley Yarns in the warehouse, and immediately fell in love with the various worsted weight cottons. I'm into cotton yarns right now (maybe because of the hot summer weather) and I was able to get some cones and skeins of Valley Yarns, and other cottons that looked intriguing. And that was just the first visit. On the second visit, on the way home, of course I had to get more. The only thing stopping me was that, between the two of us, there was limited room for more yarn!
This is just one aisle of many in the warehouse!

Grannys on the Go

2008-07-16T23:23:00.004-04:00

Today when I came home, I found a wonderful surprise in my mailbox. No - not more yarn! This time it was a book. But not just any book. It was the pre-publication copy of the new Grannies On the Go, published by Vogue/Soho. It's a book of - yup - Granny Square designs. But not just afghans. No, there are shrugs, shawls, purses, hats, yes - some afghans, and a whole lot more. 19 designs by 16 crochet designers. (Three of the designs are mine!)
The book should be published on September 2, according to Amazon.com. And if you can't wait, you can pre-order there. Here's a picture of the cover, to whet your appetite!

Crochet Motifs

2008-07-10T22:37:00.009-04:00

It's finally available - the Harmony Guide to Crochet Stitch Motifs by Erika Knight. 250 motifs to crochet! I have been waiting, not patiently, for this book, haunting the bookstores, checking on Amazon - it seems like forever!. Finally - today - I got an email from B&N - it was here! I rushed to get it, and so far, just glancing through it briefly, I haven't been disappointed. The swatches are new, according to the introduction - redone for this book. And the stitch diagrams are really clear. When I have some time to breathe, and sit down and swatch, I'll work some of the motifs. One thing that I like about this guide, that I think is better than the old Harmony Guides, there is an index in the back of the book which lists each pattern. So it's much easier to find the one you want, if you remember it's name! :-)

Less than two weeks to the Crochet conference in New Hampshire! And I'm busy getting my handouts ready, and my swatches and designs for the classes all packed up and ready to go. And I can't forget the goodies and surprises for the students! And I have a lot of goodies and surprises. I just got another BIG box of them today. If you don't know what I'm talking about when I say "Crochet conference", check this out: Knit and Crochet Show

One of the fun things to do at the conference is to shop in the Yarn Market! Unfortunately, because of my heavy teaching schedule, (I'm teaching 7 classes) I may only be able to go to the Yarn Market for the Thursday night preview. Unless I skip lunches. (That may not be such a bad idea!) I'll be sure to take some pictures of the whole experience - the Saturday night Fashion Show, Professional Development Day, the Design Contest submissions, the classes I teach, and whatever else I can take, so I can share it with you here. And I'll try to post from the Conference. I promise! :-)

2008-06-28T23:12:00.005-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW DESIGNER PUBLISHING GROUP ANNOUNCES
INNOVATIVE FIRST RELEASE:
CROCHET BELTS FROM THE HIP
Raw, Uncensored Designs Straight From Today’s Designer

STRAIGHT FROM TODAY’S DESIGNERS (SFTD), a designer-based self-publishing group, announces a new venture that heralds the future of crochet patterns: designers going direct to their public. With its first release entitled “Crochet Belts from the Hip: Raw, Uncensored Designs Straight From Today’s Designers,SFTD offers no less than eighteen original belts from top designers, a veritable treasure trove of wearable art and innovative stitching. The thirty-four-page booklet is available for instant download from www.SFTDonline.com for Fifteen Dollars.

The list of participants include some of the best-loved names in contemporary crochet, as well as talented up-and-coming designers. In alphabetical order, along with their projects, they are:

Angela Best Beaded Lacy Sash
Gwen Blakely Kinsler Yummy Licorice Belt
Vashti Braha Barbed Wire Belt
Robyn Chachula Bubble Sash
Doris Chan Hip Hemp Belt
Noreen Crone-Findlay Autumn Leaves Belt
Pam Gillette Waist Cincher Belt
Lisa Gentry Beaded Hip Cable Belt
Kim Guzman a-Maizing Ribbed Belt
Mary Jane Hall Feminine Lace Belt
Tammy Hildebrand Easy Beaded Belt
Margaret Hubert Freeform Belt
Christy McMahon Lilac Waves Belt
Marty Miller Spiderweb Sash
Dianne Moyer Circle on Circle Belt
Dora Ohrenstein Popcorn Medallion Belt
Carrie A. Sullivan Pretty Tunisian Knit Stitch Belt
Mary Beth Temple The Felt Belt

Belts were the project of choice for this launch, as they are a must-have accessory, quick projects with no complex shaping, and ideal for experimenting with new yarns and techniques. The beautiful designs in Crochet Belts from the Hip use a variety of techniques, including freeform crochet, felting, lace, beading, cables, Tunisian crochet, surface embellishment, motifs, and much more. Yarn choices range from perennial favorites to the adventurous, such as hemp, jelly yarn, ribbon and wire.

Each designer writes “straight from the hip,” creating instructions in her own voice, free of editorial agendas, imposed formats or word count restrictions. The personality of each designer shines through in these pages, providing a unique opportunity for crocheters to get to know their favorite designers better.

SFTD is a new model representing the wave of the future in crochet publishing: designers making their own assessment of what crocheters will enjoy making and wearing, eliminating middlemen, and cutting costs by distributing patterns via the web. This new business model also allows designers to realize sales income directly, a promising alternative to the depressed design fees paid within the industry. The savvy designers behind SFTD have combined their considerable expertise in technology, graphic design, marketing, and packaging to bring the project to fruition. Layout and graphic design of the booklet is by crochet designer Amie Hirtes.

Purchasers can buy Crochet Belts from Hip by credit card at www.SFTDonline.com for the price of $15. Ravelry members can purchase it at http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/crocheted-belts-from-the-hip/patterns.

TNNA Report Part 4

2008-06-18T23:14:00.005-04:00

I haven't even begun to tell you about all the new books that were at TNNA. At least the covers! Most of the new ones that I wanted to see haven't been published yet, but I got to view the covers of some of them, and sneak a peak at some of the inside pictures. One book that I did get to see and coveted, but was not able to get a copy of, was Nicky Epstein's new book, Crocheting on the Edge. Nicky is a great designer, and fun to talk to. So when I got home, I checked out my local book store, and there the book was. Of course, I bought it. It's a great book with lots of good ideas for edgings.

Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to work any of the patterns yet - I'm busy getting my classes in order for Chain Link, the Crochet Guild of America's (CGOA) national conference in Manchester, New Hampshire at the end of July. If you haven't yet, check out the web site
www.knitandcrochetshow.com
to see the entire list of crochet and knit classes, and all the other great events that are going on at the same time. Especially the Yarn Marketplace.

TNNA Report Part 3

2008-06-18T09:18:00.006-04:00

If you've never been to a TNNA trade show before, just imagine you are in a HUGE needlework store, with aisles and aisles of yarn and needlework supplies. Such a huge store, it would take you days to walk up and down every aisle and look at all the goodies! Imagine you can touch and feel and pet the yarns to your heart's content. But you can't buy any to take home with you! So it's a bit frustrating, especially when you see a yarn that you simply fall in love with, you simply MUST have! That's how I felt when I visited the Plymouth Yarn Booth. JoAnne took me around, and showed me all their new yarns. She knows I love Fantasy Naturale, and she had a big surprise for me! A new yarn, Fantasy Linen. Yes, Fantasy Linen! It's 72% mercerized cotton, 11% linen, and 17% rayon. It's machine washable and dryable, and comes in skeins of 130 yards. And great, soft colors. Unfortunately, I couldn't get a sample to try at the show, but later that day I ran into the two women from my local yarn shop who were scoping out the new yarns and needlework supplies. I suggested (strongly) that they go to the Plymouth Booth and look at the Fantasy Linen so that they can recommend it to the owner! I wanted to have this wonderful yarn available locally. I know it's going to be a big hit!

Then, this past weekend, I went to the beach, and stopped in to Coastal Crafts in Atlantic Beach. They have all sorts of crafty things there, and yarn! And a lot of Plymouth yarns. And they had Fantasy Linen! So, of course, I had to buy a couple of skeins to try. This is what the yarn in the skein looks like:

And this is what it looks like when crocheted in a stitch pattern:

It has great stitch definition, it's soft, drapes well, and if you look at a close up (double click the picture) you can see a bit of linen threads sticking out. So it looks like linen, feels like cotton, and crochets like a dream!

Check out the Plymouth web site for more information about the yarn. (And ask your local yarn shop owner to stock it!)

TNNA Report Part 2 continued

2008-06-17T23:47:00.005-04:00

As I promised - here's the picture of the swatch I worked up, using the S hook that I got from BagSmith, and 5 strands of Plymouth Fantasy Naturale. I love the 5 multicolored strands together! If you double click on the picture, it will get bigger, and you can see the great stitch definition.

TNNA Report Part 2

2008-06-17T15:32:00.009-04:00

I am a collector of hooks - my basic philosophy is that one can not have too many crochet hooks! So when I saw the Bagsmith booth, and the large (they call them "extreme") knitting needles, I stopped to talk. I wanted to know if they were making "extreme" hooks. The answer was Yes! I just HAD to have one or two. And at the end of the show, I got to buy 2 of them, an S (17mm) and a U (25mm). If you go to BagSmith you'll be able to see the "extreme" needles and the U hook.
In the booth, there were examples of knitted and crocheted pieces. The "extreme" tools are made to work with multiple strands of yarn. So - on the way home, I took multiple strands of Fantasy Naturale, and crocheted a little sample with them, using my new S hook. I'll take a picture, and post it tonight, and you'll see what a great fabric these hooks create!
Meanwhile, take a look at this picture:

From left to right: U hook, S hook, H hook for comparison.

And this picture:

Top to bottom: U hook, S hook, H hook for comparison.

And finally, look at the two hooks, in all their glory!

One thing about crocheting with these big hooks - if you hold your hook with a pencil grip, you probably will have to change to a knife grip to work with them. I found that it was easy to get used to that grip!

TNNA Report Part 1

2008-06-11T17:07:00.009-04:00

I just got back from TNNA - The National Needlearts Association trade show - in Columbus, Ohio. Oh, my! What an experience! So many new yarns to swatch with. So many new gadgets to use! The trade show was three days of wandering around in the biggest yarn store ever! Except, I couldn't buy any - I just had to look, and drool, and think about all the great projects I can crochet with all the yarns.

I want to first mention the new yarn on the block - PolarKnit yarn. It's made of Polarfleece, and it is amazing! Find out more about it on the PolarKnit website. I had heard about this yarn, but had never seen it. It was debuting on the show floor, so Saturday, the first day, I went to check it out! I was in heaven! Soft, warm, gorgeous colors! What more could you ask for? I talked with Taren and Amy, and told them some of my ideas for the yarn. They gave me two balls of the orange - (great color, by the way!), and that evening, I sat in our "office", and crocheted a hat for them. With less than one ball of yarn. The next day, I brought it to them, and they got so excited. They will be offering it soon on their web site. (I have to get the pattern to them.) I also will be designing other patterns for them - keep checking their web site, and my posts, to find out more about that! And look at their Yarn Dots, and enter the contest to create your own Yarn Dot.

5 Cottons, How Do They Fare?

2008-05-08T17:25:00.000-04:00

I'm intrigued with all the new cotton yarns that are appearing in the stores. I love working with cotton to make garments and accessories (purses and totes, especially), and I use a lot of cotton yarns when I make swatches of techniques and stitches for my crochet classes. Cotton usually has great stitch definition, so it's easy to see what I did, and my students can learn how to "read" the stitches. Many of the yarn companies are developing "organic" cotton yarns, and I hope to do some swatching and comparisons with those, soon.

One of the "staples" in the cotton yarns is what I call the "kitchen cottons", and the "big three" - Sugar 'n Cream, Peaches & Creme, and Bernat Handicrafter Cotton have been strong in that field. Lately, they have been joined by two contenders - CoolSpun Cotton, and Creme de la Creme Cotton by Coats.
"Kitchen cottons" are what I think of when I want to make dishcloths and towel, baskets, and strong tote bags. I usually don't think of these cottons when I want to make a baby afghan or sweater. They always felt a little rough to me - too rough for a garment. But - one of my crocheting buddies made a lacy sweater that I designed with another, finer cotton, and used Sugar 'n Cream to make it. And I saw a picture on-line, posted by another crocheter who made the same sweater design in Sugar 'n Cream. Both sweaters looked great! I would have never even thought to try that yarn with this design. And recently, one of my students brought in a sweater that she's crocheting for her grandson, out of - you guessed it - Sugar 'n Cream. And it looks wonderful!

In the past, when people would ask me if they could use these yarns in garments, I would say "No. The yarn is rough, and it shrinks when washed. So it's not the best yarn to use for garments or afghans that need to be washed often. Also, some of the colors fade and may bleed in the wash." (The fading part I knew from some old dishcloths I made, and anyway, I heard EVERYONE say the yarn faded. Same with the shrinking.)

Recently, though, the companies that make these yarns have come out with some great colors. I especially like the stripes, but all the colors are wonderful! And the yarn is inexpensive. And lots of times, on sale. And crocheters love a bargain. More and more people were asking me about the yarns. So...... I decided to see for myself whether the yarns would shrink. And how they would "feel" after being washed.

I happen to have a little (okay, not so little - and growing all the time) stash of these yarns. I had a skein of each of them in white, and that's what I used. (I didn't want to do this experiment using different colors of the yarns. I wanted all variables, that I could control, to be the same.) I crocheted the swatches using the same hook (some hooks, even if they have the same size marked on them, are sometimes different.) I used the same pattern, and the same number of stitches and rows. I washed the swatches together, in a washing machine filled with cold water. I dried them together, also. So most of the variables were controlled. The one thing I couldn't control was my "mood" - whether I was relaxed or tense, or thinking about something else. And mood does tend to influence gauge. So even though the swatches were worked in the same pattern, and had the same number of rows and stitches in each row, the stitch gauges and swatch measurements were different.
This is a picture of the 5 swatches before I washed them. You can see how different their sizes are.
From left to right, top row first:
Row 1: CoolSpun Cotton, Bernat Handicrafter Cotton
Row 2: Sugar 'n Cream, Creme de la Creme
Row 3: Peaches & Creme

A couple of things that I thought were interesting about these yarns: Sugar 'n Cream, Peaches 'n Cream, and Bernat Handicrafter all felt like they were the same worsted weight yarn. CoolSpun felt softer, and Creme de la Creme felt as if it were a little less than worsted weight. You can see from the picture, though, the CoolSpun swatch was smaller, even though it felt like worsted weight yarn. The Creme de la Creme yarn was the largest swatch, even though it felt like dk or light worsted weight yarn.

Then, I washed the swatches. All together, in my washing machine, in cold water. First, though, I knotted the tails with 1 - 5 knots, so I could tell the swatches apart! The picture shows that the relative sizes stayed the same, but the measurements did change.
1. CoolSpun Cotton went from 6.5" x 6" to 6.25" x 5.75"
2.Bernat Handicrafter went from 6.75" x 6.25" to 6.5" x 5.75"
3. Sugar'n Cream went from 7" x 6.5" to 6.75" x 6"
4. Creme de la Creme went from 7.5" x 6.5" to 7" x 6"
5. Peaches & Creme went from 7" x 6.5" to 7" x 5.75"

You can see from the above measurements, that the Creme de la Creme swatch was the largest, and shrunk the most - 1/2" in both directions. Peaches & Creme only shrunk in length, not width. CoolSpun Cotton shrunk .25" in each direction, and the other two - Sugar'n Cream and Bernat Handicrafter shrunk .25" in width and .5" in length.

Next, I put the swatches in the dryer. On a regular cycle - one I would use for cotton. But whenI took them out I could feel that they were not completely dry - so I pulled on their edges a little, and measured them.
1. CoolSpun - dried - 6.25" x 5.75" - same measurements as before drying.
2. Bernat Handicrafter - dried - 6.25" x 6.25" - small in width, larger in length than when wet, (it went back to it's original length.) This yarn was very easy to stretch and block.
3. Sugar'n Cream - dried - 6.75" x 6.25". I was able to get another 1/4" in length when I pulled on the edges. It was also easy to stretch and block.
4. Creme de la Creme - dried - 7" x 6" - same measurements as before drying, and still 1/2" smaller in width and length.
5. Peaches & Creme - dried - 6.75" x 5.75" - same measurement in length, but shrunk a 1/4" in length when dried.

Conclusions:
All these yarns will shrink a little when washed. CoolSpun Cotton, and Sugar'n Cream shrunk the least.
All of these yarns got noticeably softer when they were washed and dried, and I think would be soft enough for a baby blanket or a garment.
These yarns are interchangeable when the gauge is not really important to the design. However, each swatch was a different size, and even 1/4" difference in a 5" swatch, multiplied by 8 (for a 40" finished chest measurement) creates a 2" difference - which could make the garment too big or too small. So, be aware when switching yarns that not all "kitchen cottons" are alike!

The Crochet Doctor is In

2008-04-28T14:48:00.011-04:00

BIG NEWS!
Many of my students, designer friends, and teacher friends, have asked me to do this for a loooooooong time. :-) I finally did it! I have a new blog (don't worry, I'll still keep up with this one!). The new blog is TheCrochetDoctor, and that's just what I'll try to do - answer your questions, give you some "how-to's", and help you fix what "hurts".
If you have any questions for The Crochet Doctor, you can email me at: thecrochetdoctor@aol.com, or post your questions at The Crochet Doctor blog.

(And, in case you wondered, the Doctor title is legit. I do have a Ph.D.)

Quick Stitch Crochet again

2008-03-30T19:06:00.010-04:00

Remember the cover I posted for the book Quick Stitch Crochet on Feb. 23, 2008? I saw the cover on Amazon's listing for the book, and I was so thrilled that my patterns were featured on it. Today, however, Carol M. sent me a message that she got her copy of the book, and that wasn't the cover. But - what was on the cover was another of my designs - an afghan. Of course, I forgot what afghan I designed for this book, so I had to search the web to see it. I found it on Annie's Attic, and here is the new cover:

The book is available now at Annie's Attic or Amazon.

The Knit and Crochet Show 2008

2008-03-06T14:45:00.004-05:00

If you are thinking about attending the summer 2008 Knit and Crochet Show in Manchester, New Hampshire, and want to take some classes there, on-line registration begins March 24th! Classes start on July 24th, and continue through July 27th (Thursday through Sunday.) The shopping starts on July 25th, and goes through July 27th (Friday through Sunday.)
I am lucky that I have been chosen to be one the crochet teachers. I'll be teaching 7 classes! Yes, 7. There are 8 time slots. So, you may be asking yourself, why aren't you teaching 8 classes? Well, during that 8th time slot, I'll be at the CGOA Board Meeting! I'm going to have a busy week in Manchester!
If you've never been to one of these crochet and knit fests, you need to do yourself a favor and come. Not only are the teachers nationally and internationally known designers and teachers, there is also a marketplace,with yarn, yarn, yarn, and even more yarn. Did I say there was yarn? :-)
If you want a list of the classes, and see all the events that will be going on (fashion shows, auctions, kids' programs, Professional Development Day, banquets, 24 hour knit and crochet lounge, and much more), check out
http://www.KnitandCrochetShow.com right now. (Classes fill up fast - reserve a space in the ones you want!)

baskets, baskets, and more baskets

2008-02-23T17:45:00.008-05:00

Sometimes in a designer's life, she/he is so busy meeting deadlines and completing projects, that there is no time to indulge in personal crocheting! Every minute is spent working or thinking about the next design to be finished, or the next proposal to submit, or the next pattern to write. When that all gets done, though, maybe there is a little time for us. What I find, though, is that often I am too tired to think of what to make for me. I want something quick, fun, easy. In the past, I've made scarves (I have a gazillion of them) and hats (ditto!), and North Carolina doesn't often get cold enough to wear hats and scarves for more than a couple of weeks. Maybe. So - what do I crochet? Baskets. Round, oval, square, short, tall, felted, cotton, floppy, sturdy. Lately, I have been able to use my current passion for baskets in my design proposals, and some have been published. Some will be published soon. One book that has just been published, with 2 felted baskets of mine (among other designs of mine), is Vogue Knitting on the Go, Felted Crochet. It's a portable book, with lots of great patterns in it! This is a picture of the cover:

Another book that won't be out until May 25th, is Quick Stitch Crochet, edited by Judy Crow and published by DRG. Here is a picture of that cover:

Now, look closely at the blue basket and the jute basket. And the table runner beneath them. Yes - those are my designs! It is really a thrill to see your patterns in print, but when you make the cover of a book - WOW!

Wooden Crochet Hook

2008-02-17T18:08:00.005-05:00

A friend of mine, who is a retired Oral Surgeon, is studying woodworking in school now. One night at dinner, I kiddingly suggested that he start making wooden crochet hooks. (I do that with everyone I know who works with wood. I'm trying to find my own personal supplier of wooden hooks!) I just happened to have one of my favorite sizes in my purse (you never know when you will need one), so when he said he would consider it because they needed small projects to work on for a certain class, I pulled out my Susan Bates N hook, and gave it to him. (I have many more at home!) A few weeks passed, and I kinda forgot about it. Then, recently, he "gifted" me with his finished project. I was flabbergasted! And thrilled! And even excited!

It is a great hook - smooth and lightweight. I love it - and the best part is, he's making more!

Winter in North Carolina

2008-02-14T09:44:00.005-05:00

While other bloggers are speaking of Spring and Summer weather in their fair cities, this is what we woke up to this morning! 2 1/2 inches (yes, TWO AND ONE HALF INCHES!) of snow overnight! This is in North Carolina! Where it's supposed to be warm! :-)
At least I have a lot of work to do today, so it's a good day to stay inside and do it.
What am I doing? Some tech editing, some crocheting, some pattern writing. A little of everything! So I'll be busy. Until the temperature rises and the snow melts and I can get out!

Crocheting and Sailing in the BVIs

2008-02-03T17:00:00.000-05:00

I recently got back from a week of sailing in the British Virgin Islands. One of the biggest problems I had preparing for this trip was what projects to take to crochet! I had two projects that I absolutely HAD to take - they were due the next week, but I knew that wouldn't be enough. And I had two long days of plane travel to fill, also. From past experience, I knew not to bring fluffy yarns or furry yarns. (One year I tried to crochet a sweater using an eyelash-type yarn mixture, and that was impossible to work with on deck! It kept flying in my face!) So - this is what I choose: Deco Ribbon by Crystal Palace (that's what I'm working on in the picture), Lily Sugar 'n Cream, (I had promised to teach my husband how to crochet, and thought that would be a good yarn to work with, and it wouldn't take up too much luggage space), and, of course, Plymouth Fantasy Naturale (I wanted to work on the Granny Square sweater from my previous post, for ME!)
So here's the report: I finished the two projects. Whew! Big sigh of relief! I taught my husband how to chain and single crochet. He's not ready to go beyond that, yet. We were both exhausted and stressed from a hard day sailing, and then dinghying (is that a word?) over lumpy seas (as the British guy who checked us out with our boat before we left the harbor said the ocean would be) about twenty five minutes to a restaurant, and twenty five minutes back. Don't ask! I played with the Sugar 'n Cream, making baskets, and I worked with the Deco Ribbon, making a tote.
The winds were 20 - 25 knots most of the days we were there, and it did rain every day, sometimes heavy. So the time I could spend crocheting on deck was limited. I had to be ready to do things with the sails, or steer, or whatever was needed. And I didn't want to get the yarn wet. So I worked at night most of the time, when we were anchored. The last two days, though, were sunny during the day, although still very windy, and I did get to crochet a little on deck.
On the plane, (really 3 planes each way!) I also did some tech editing.
And we do have some great sailing stories to share! (Note the "lumpy" water behind me!)

Spiderweb Hat and Finger Crochet Scarf

2008-02-03T11:35:00.000-05:00

I already mentioned that I found one of my patterns, a granny square sweater "Decadent Denim Sweater" on e-patternscentral.com. I just realized there is another one of my patterns there - the "Denim Cloche". It's an easy hat pattern, worked in a spiderweb pattern.

If you haven't looked at e-patterns.central lately, you'll be pleased to know that you can now purchase and download older crochet and knit magazines. Specifically, if you want to know how to finger crochet, and make this scarf:

that was published in this issue of Crochet! and that I wrote about in my post on November 14, 2007,

you can now order the magazine and get the directions!

Two Sweaters Two Hats

2008-01-14T15:08:00.000-05:00

I just got back from TNNA (The National Needlearts Association Conference) in Long Beach, CA! Aisles and aisles of new yarns! What a paradise for a yarn lover like me. And I got to see the two sweaters that I designed for Plymouth Yarn Company displayed in their booth. Here they are:

They are both worked in Fantasy Naturale.

If you got to the Plymouth Yarn web site: http://www.plymouthyarn.com, you can check out all of their new spring fashions.

I have two more patterns there, for hats (made from Fantasy Naturale, of course!) The story behind those hats is interesting. Last winter, my husband and I, along with another couple, chartered a boat in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Our luggage was delayed by a couple of days, so we were left with only what we had in our carry-ons. I, of course, had yarn! I had taken one skein of a multicolor Fantasy Naturale, and three skeins of the denim Fantasy Naturale. I wasn't sure what I would do with them when I put them in my bag, but I knew what to do with them once I felt the heat from the sun, and no sun hat available. I needed a hat quickly, so I designed and made the mesh hat to wear right away. Then, the second day, when I was wearing the mesh hat, I designed and made the denim hat! So both hats are quick! And great last-minute projects.

The Meaning Of Life is Really a Granny Square!

2007-12-31T16:51:00.000-05:00

I belong to an online Yarn of the Month Club. Every month, I get 4 or 5 mini skeins of different yarns in colorways that are all coordinated to work well together. I have been a member for a couple of years, so you know I have lots of mini skeins of yarn around. Recently, I had to swatch some granny squares, and decided to use some of the yarns I received. This is a picture of the two squares I made.

Then, I started to think about Granny Squares, and how much I love them! I have written about them ( Hooked! A Crocheter's Stash of Wit and Wisdom, edited by Kari Cornell) designed with them (many, many projects - both published and not-yet published - more info on that later as the patterns get published) and always try out new yarns by making granny squares! My first encounter with the GS was in 8th grade, when my teacher taught her class how to make them. I already knew how to crochet, so I picked up the GS pattern quickly. We made squares, and put them together in afghans to donate to veterans. When I told my mother what I learned that day, she sat me down and asked me to teach her. (She crocheted, but didn't know the GS pattern.) I taught her, and she took off running - making GS afghans for everyone in the family, all our friends, all the new babies, and anyone else she could think of. She was a fast crocheter (that's where I probably got my speed!) and was able to finish one afghan of 140 squares in 2 weeks, working at night, after working all day at her job!

When I took over as the provider of baby afghans to our family, of course I made a GS afghan. And I haven't stopped making GS afghans and other GS designs since. I often use GSs to work out a pattern, because I can finish one quickly. After the GS version of the design is finished, I can decide whether I want to work the design using another stitch pattern. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. :-)

I am protective of the GS! The pattern I use for the basic square is simple to do, and easy to remember. And, it is the very same pattern that I taught my mother - I can see it in some of the GS afghans and sweaters that she made for me (and that I still have, of course!) I know it shouldn't bother me, but when I see square motifs called Granny Squares, I don't like it! They are motifs that happen to be square and may be worked in rounds, but they are NOT Granny Squares. At least, they are not the Granny Square that I learned oh so long ago!

So, here is the technique I use for the GS. The basic pattern usually consists of groups of 3 dc stitches separated by one chain stitch, except at the corners, where there are 2 or 3 chain stitches. This is supposedly to make a "square" corner. (When you work a corner, you usually put 3 stitches in one, to make it square!) Now, if you are familiar with my designs, you would know that I like to keep things simple and easy to remember. I like non-complicated patterns. So, in the corners of my GSs, I just work one chain. Each group of 3 double crochet stitches is now separated from the next group of 3 double crochet stitches by one chain, and you don't have to remember to add that second chain at the corner. So you can get into your "zen" crochet, and just crochet! Now, what about that rule of "3 stitches at the corner to make a square corner"? Well, you HAVE three "stitches", or groups of stitches. 1. a group of dc stitches. 2. one chain. 3. a group of dc stitches. That is three "things" - so that makes a square corner.

Another benefit of chaining only one at each corner - the granny square you make will be more "together".

Stay tuned for another discussion on how to join the ends of rounds!

Three Cotton Yarns

2007-12-23T11:59:00.000-05:00

I am a big fan of Lily Sugar'n Cream cotton yarn, and have used it in many, many projects. When I need something sturdy, for a tote or bag, when I need something for a kitchen project - such as a dishcloth, hot pad, oven mitt, or kitchen rug, I reach for my stash of Sugar'n Cream. I have also used it for hats and kids' scarves. So, when I went to a lys and discovered some Kertzer yarn, Coolspun Cotton, that looked a lot like Sugar'n Cream, I had to buy a couple of skeins to try. And then, Coats announced that they had a cotton yarn, Creme de la Creme, and I went on a search for that. I found some on-line, and ordered some. (I do like having this blog - it gives me a great excuse for buying new yarns to blog about!) I got the Creme de la Creme a couple of days ago, and put it aside until I decided what to do with it. I had enough of one color to make a small project, and looked in some books that I had ordered and received the same day as the yarn. I'll blog more about these books, because I am going to work on an idea that I got from one of them, and I don't want to spoil the surprise! But - I decided to make a circle shape from the Creme de la Creme. I bought the color Old Bluejeans Ombre, and I wanted to see if the color "pooled". As I was crocheting the circle, I decided to work circles in the other two yarns, to compare them. When I found the CoolSpun Cotton, I discovered that I bought the same color - only it's called Faded Denim. And then I remembered that Sugar'n Cream has a Faded Denim color too, and I was sure I had a ball of that. And I did! So I crocheted circles last night, with all three yarns.

These are the circles I crocheted. From left to right - Sugar'n Cream, CoolSpun Cotton, Creme de la Creme. I used a Susan Bates H8/5.00mm Silvalume hook for all three swatches. And I worked 10 rounds in all three yarns. Same pattern. As you can see, the Sugar'n Cream and the CoolSpun Cotton worked up to the same size. The Creme de la Creme was slightly smaller. The "pooling" of the colors was similar for all three yarns. Now - for the particulars about the yarns:
Sugar'n Cream - Faded Denim, 100% cotton, 2 oz., 95 yards, machine or hand wash, dry flat. Hook: 4.5mm, US 7.
CoolSpun Cotton - Faded Denim, Soft 100% cotton, 1.5oz., 73 yds, machine wash, tumble dry. Hook: 4 - 5mm, G/6 to H/8.
Creme de la Creme - Old Bluejeans Ombre,100% Combed Cotton, 2oz., 99 yds, machine wash, tumble dry. Hook US H8/5mm.

I don't know the difference between 100% cotton, Soft cotton, and Combed cotton, but I could definitely feel a difference between the first two and the last swatch. The Creme de la Creme felt softer. But - I'm sure a lot of that was because the yarn itself is thinner, and so the stitches have more space around them.

Look at this picture of a strand of each of the yarns. From left to right: Sugar'n Cream, CoolSpun Cotton, Creme de la Creme. You can see that Creme de la Creme is slightly thinner. What I find interesting, is that Coats recommends an H8/5.00mm hook for this thinner yarn. Lily recommends a US 7, 4.5mm hook for Sugar'n Cream, and Kertzer recommends between a G/6 to and H/8, which is 4.00mm to 5.00mm. What you should know, if you don't already (and I'm sure you do), is that the smaller the hook, the more firm (rigid, stiff - whatever you want to call it) the fabric is. So with a G6, or a G7 hook, with the first two yarns, you would get a very stiff fabric. Which is okay - if that's what you want!

One other interesting fact - all three yarns say "worsted weight" on their labels. Obviously, some worsted is not like other worsteds, and if you substituted one for another in a pattern, your gauge might not be the same. If gauge were critical, this could pose a problem!

My conclusions: I like all three yarns! Sugar'n Cream has many choices, and is readily available on-line and in stores. And you know I really like the Sugar'n Cream Stripes! CoolSpun has a good start! Nice colors, but not as many choices as SnC. Creme de la Creme looks like a winner, also. Soft drape, good colors. I can't wait until it's readily available in the stores! All three are not expensive, so when you just have to have a yarn fix, or need some yarn for swatching and trying out new stitch patterns, all three are perfect!

Poncho and Sweater Patterns Available Free!

2007-12-20T15:12:00.000-05:00

I just found out that Barnes & Noble has a new website - www.quamut.com - that features projects from some "how-to" books. Two of my projects, from two different Lark books, are now available for free on their site! (WIth my permission, of course.) This first one, from Fabulous Crocheted Ponchos, is called "Faux Sheepskin Poncho. I made it with Berroco Suede and Berroco Softee, to get the sheepskin look.

The second project, from the book New Crochet, is the Fanciful Mesh Sweater. It's made in one piece - no seams - from the bottom up, then the sleeves are added on. And best of all, it stretches! Also, I tell how to customize it to your liking.
Check these two patterns out! And send me pictures if you make them!

Faux Sheepskin Poncho: http://www.quamut.com/quamut/crochet_project_faux_sheepskin_poncho

Fanciful Mesh Sweater: http://www.quamut.com/quamut/crochet_project_asymmetrical_mesh_sweater

Susan Bates Crochet Hooks

2007-12-13T18:44:00.000-05:00

I have HAS (hook acquisition syndrome). I collect hooks. I admit it - it's an addiction almost as bad as YAS (yarn acquisition syndrome) and PAS (pattern acquisition syndrome). Both of which I also have! It could be worse! I have old hooks, new hooks, wooden hooks, hooks with beads, hooks with my name on them, tunisian hooks, cable hooks, steel hooks from my grandmother, plastic hooks, bone hooks, lucite hooks, clear hooks, etc., etc., etc. You get the idea. But there is always another hook to buy. And I recently found some that I am in love with!

When I am crocheting something with the thought that I may propose it somewhere to get published, I always crochet with a manufactured hook, not a wooden one. And my hook of choice is a Susan Bates Silvalume. So you can imagine how excited I was when I found out that SB was producing their Silvalume hooks with a bamboo handle! Yay! A good excuse (as if I really needed one!) to buy more hooks!

I found an M hook at a yarn shop, and the others - G through N, at local craft stores. I got all sizes (except G - I usually don't use a hook smaller than an H, so I didn't buy the G - I didn't know how I'd like crocheting with these. Well, I do, so I'll wait until the next coupon and go get the G!) I crochet with a pencil grip, and these hooks are great for that! But I also tried a knife grip (I use that sometimes with "difficult" yarn), and I found I could use the hooks with that grip. They work just like the regular SB Silvalume - they have the same inline hook. The sizes are: H - 5.00mm, I - 5.50mm, J - 6.00mm, K - 6.50mm, L - 8.00mm, M - 9.00mm, N - 10.00mm. These sizes are the same as the regular Silvalume. The really nice thing is that the larger size hooks, L, M, and N, are not plastic! They are the same material as the smaller hooks. So if you don't like the plastic or the lucite, you now have a choice! And - you can find the L and the M sizes without looking all over!!!

more from the Orlando Needlework Show

2007-12-09T14:48:00.000-05:00

Even though what happens in Orlando stays in Orlando, I had to share this photo with you. Just to show you that Vashti does wear her chaps everyday, not just on the runway! This was taken on Saturday, at the CGOA/TKGA booth. We were checking out the marketplace, one more time, in case we missed anything! (And, we did find some things we missed!) We stopped at the booth to talk to some potential members of CGOA. Check out Vashti's blog (http://www.designingvashti.blogspot.com) to see her modeling these chaps in the CGOA Chain Link fashion show in New Hampshire. (If you notice the mannequin in the background - her arms make a great yarn winder, when you're desperate!)

I finally felted the entrelac crochet basket I made in Darla Fantan's class. I worked it in Noro Kureyon, so I didn't have to change colors! :-) I liked the way it turned out, and I definitely will use this technique again.

365 Crochet Stitches a Year

2007-12-05T15:31:00.000-05:00

This is another stitch dictionary I just got! 366 (including a day for leap year) patterns in a perpetual calendar. There are months and days listed, but no years. So this stitch calendar will last a long time. And with 366 great patterns, it will take a long time to try them all. But that's what I'm going to do. Jean Leinhauser and Rita Weiss are long-time crochet and knit designers, editors, etc. They have so much knowledge between them, and it shows in their books. This one is no exception. Jean said they went to lots of different sources to find patterns, and I can see that by looking through this book. They have lacy patterns - one looks like it could be a drop-stitch knit pattern - shell patterns, picot patterns, variations on scs, ripple stitch patterns, variations on filet mesh patterns and spider web patterns, and many more! They don't give hook size or gauge - you can work these patterns in any thread or yarn, and appropriate size hook. What they do give is the stitch repeat, so you can make the pattern however wide you want it.

There is only one thing missing from this book - stitch pattern diagrams. I like to look at a new stitch pattern, by looking at the directions, the photo, and the stitch diagram. All three used together help me learn the new pattern. And I have been teaching my students to use (or write for themselves) stitch diagrams. But, I will still recommend this book, because of all the new patterns that Jean and Rita present here!

Finger Crochet

2007-11-26T16:54:00.000-05:00

Whenever a designer sees one of their patterns published in a book or magazine, it is a special thrill! I know it's that way for me, and I would imagine it's that way for every one else who designs. The only thing better than seeing YOUR design published, is seeing your granddaughter's first design published! And that's what is in the new Crochet! magazine, Jan.2008 edition. My granddaughter (11 years old at the time she designed her scarf, now 12) and I collaborated on an article and her pattern for a finger-crocheted scarf that is currently featured in Crochet! Did I tell you how proud I am of her? If you are interested in teaching a young child how to crochet, try teaching the finger crochet method first. You can make many simple things - and this scarf is just perfect for this winter! Check the magazine out at your local newsstands, and learn how to finger crochet!

Found: a "crochet friendly" yarn shop!

2007-11-25T20:46:00.000-05:00

Last Saturday, my husband and I were driving home from the coast, and he wanted to stop at a couple of stores in Jacksonville. Because it was Saturday, I knew a local yarn shop that I wanted to visit would be open, so we stopped there, also. I know the owner from CGOA (the Crochet Guild of America), and thought that it would be fun to surprise her, and see what she has in her shop. Well, I was the one surprised! The shop, Phootsy's Yarn Cottage, is in a small house, and yarn has completely taken it over. Even in the bathroom, where the toilet seat cover is crocheted! And of course, there is a cute little crocheted toilet paper cover, and a felted basket with washcloths in it.

What I liked about Freddie's shop was that it had lots and lots of yarn, a really good selection for each brand and type she carried. She also had models that were both crocheted and knitted! So I would definitely call it a "crochet friendly" place. And I knew that I wouldn't encounter that age-old question that out-of-touch yarn shop owners ask designers: "Can you crochet with that yarn?" (A friend of mine, and I, have been making it our mission to check out the yarn shops in NC. At least the ones that are within a couple of hours drive from us. It's been a very eye-opening project - one that I'll write about at another time.)

She had some hand-dyed yarn (she has someone do it for her to her specifications), and I found a hand-dyed cotton - 100% Supina Cotton (I have to find out what "Supina" means. I forgot to ask her.) in just the colorway I love - faded denims. You can see the 4 skeins I bought. It isn't self-striping, it is just variegated, but as you can see from the circle I was swatching, it doesn't pool too much. I don't know what I'll make with the yarn - each skein has 155 yards, so I have plenty to work with. I think I'll just wait until it tells me what it wants to be.

Oh - by the way, the yarn is soft, and doesn't split. It's worsted weight, but there is no gauge or recommended hook size on the ball band. I used a Susan Bates US H-8/5 mm Silvalume hook, and liked the way it worked up. The yarn is called Phootsy's Phyber.

Check out her web site: http://www.phootsy.com

Crochet Border Designs

2007-11-25T15:24:00.000-05:00

If you didn't realize it, I am a book collector. I haunt the bookstores, looking for new crochet and knitting books. I search Amazon constantly, looking to see what new books are coming. Sometimes I'm disappointed in them, when they finally do get published, but most of the time I'm pleased. And I usually buy them.

I have been waiting anxiously for Linda Schapper's new book, The Complete Book of Crochet Border Designs, and was surprised this morning when I went to the bookstore and saw it - it wasn't supposed to be published until January. Of course, I had to buy it! I waited until I was home, having lunch, before I even opened it.

I read the introduction - it was very informative about the layout of the book. Three ways to look at the patterns are included: the picture (very clear, worked in white yarn/thread, and photographed on a colored background - easy to "read"), the stitch diagram, and the written directions. Schapper says to work from the diagram, if you can read stitch symbols (which she provides), or work from the written pattern, and look at the stitch diagram and the picture if you have problems with the written pattern. She also suggests that it would be a good idea to learn how to read stitch diagrams. Then you can "read" Japanese, French, and Russian patterns. In the front of the book she includes basic (and not so basic) stitch directions, with great diagrams by Karen Manthey.

So, I was really anticipating wonderful things when I opened the book to Chapter One. (There are 17 chapters.) I scanned the first two chapters, and liked the patterns I saw. Then, I turned to Chapter 3, Double Crochet, Single Crochet, Chains, & Picots. I saw the first pattern, #28, and it seemed like something that I was looking for, for a project I am doing. So, of course, I looked at it closer. And closer. Something seemed wrong. I read the directions, I looked at the stitch diagram. And then I looked at the photo of the stitches. The directions matched the stitch diagram, but the photo was another pattern. Similar, but not the same. This could be confusing if someone looked at the picture for clarification of the stitch diagram or the written directions. Now, I promise, I was not looking for errors. But I must be cursed, because when I read a book, or look at a pattern book, the mistakes just jump out at me. Except my own! :-)

I finished looking at the rest of the book, without really studying the patterns (there are 342!). I was impressed with the variety, and saw many of them that could be used as fabric patterns, not just edging patterns. So - I do highly recommend this book. And no, this is not one that I was disappointed with, even with that error. I think it will be an important addition to anyone's library of stitch dictionaries. (One can never have too many of those!) But remember to look carefully at the photos and the stitch diagrams, and read the directions.

Crochet Hot Spot!

2007-11-19T22:57:00.000-05:00

What, you may ask, is this bunch of yarn doing, just lying on my couch? I just unpacked it, and thought I'd show you what you missed by not going to the Orlando Needlework Show this past weekend! It was a fun, relaxing weekend. I didn't teach any classes - I TOOK classes. I took two of Darla Fanton's classes on Tunisian Crochet. One was basic Tunisian, and I finally learned how to do a Tunisian Purl Stitch so it will stick with me. The other class was Tunisian Entrelac, and I made a small basket which I'm going to felt. It was a fun technique, and I have a couple of projects planned for it. Then, there was the Market floor, with a lot of scrapbook, beads, and quilting vendors. There were just a few yarn vendors, (2 stores and one yarn company), and the CGOA/TKGA booth. I saw a lot of luscious yarn, but I tried to restrain myself. The past few weeks, a friend and I have been checking out yarn shops in North Carolina that are within a couple hours of us, and I have added a great deal to my stash. (And I wasn't sure I could fit everything in my suitcase!) I did buy a lot, but I think Vashti won this time! One thing I found interesting - I was sure I would be able to find a lot of cotton yarn. This was Florida, after all, and it was HOT! About 80 degrees on Friday. But, there wasn't as much cotton as I thought. Most of the yarn was wool. Gorgeous wool, but wool. And I was in the market for cotton.

The blue blob on the right of the picture is my experiment, crocheting with blue fabric. I found a quilting booth that had fabric already cut into thin strips. Since the cutting or tearing of the material is what I like the least about crocheting with fabric, I thought I would try some of these strips. I got to use my new Susan Bates Silvalume M hook with a bamboo handle that I picked up on one of my yarn shop expeditions, and I really liked the combination.

On Saturday afternoon, I sat at the CGOA/TKGA booth, and talked about crochet and CGOA with the many people who stopped by. In the two days of the show, CGOA and TKGA both got lots of new members. That was great! Florida, we decided, was a hot spot for crochet!

Self Striping Sugar 'n Cream yarn

2007-11-07T22:47:00.001-05:00

I'm on a quest lately to find self-striping yarns. Unfortunately, I don't have to go very far to find them! All I have to do is look in my stash. And I have found a couple of different yarns to sample. So, I will be working up swatches with them in order to see just how they self-stripe. Some questions I want to answer: 1. How long are the stripes in sc, dc, and a pattern like a Granny Square? (Of course I had to use the Granny Square!) 2. Do the colors "pool" at all, as they do in variegated yarns? 3. How abrupt are the color changes? 4. Are the colors repeated in the same order?

The first yarn I worked with is Lily Sugar'n Cream Stripes. It's a 2 oz skein, with about 95 yds, and is worsted weight. It comes in many colorways, and they all appeal to me. The price varies, depending on the store and the sale, but it is approximately the same price as Lily Sugar'n Cream regular yarn. All the qualities that I liked about that yarn (see post on July 25, 2007) I like about this yarn. And more! I really like how this yarn self stripes.

1. WIth sc stitches, I was able to get between 107 and 117 stitches per color, using a Susan Bates H8 5mm hook. With dc stitches I got about 70 stitches per color. With the Granny Square swatch I didn't count the stitches, I just looked at how the square worked up. And as the square gets larger, there will be more colors per round, but there are enough stitches in each color so I don't believe the colors would "pool".

2. "Pooling" usually occurs with short lengths of colors. I would describe it as colors that are "clumped" together for just a few rows and a few stitches. The length of the colors in Sugar'n Cream Stripes is long enough so that I don't think the colors would "pool", even in long rows. However, when you need to start a new skein, you would have to be careful to start it at the same place in the sequence where the last skein ended. (This is something you need to be careful of with most variegated and some self-striping yarns.) Otherwise, the "pattern" of clumps that is set up with the first skein will not be continued, and there will be a glitch in the color.
3. The color changes are not too abrupt. When one color is going to change to the next, the second color is worked into the first color for a few stitches. It blends nicely!
4. The colors seem to be repeated in the same order - so you do have to be careful when you add skeins, to keep that pattern of colors.

Granny Square Jacket

2007-11-05T18:22:00.000-05:00

One of the problems I find with having patterns published in magazines is that after the magazine goes off the newsstand, if someone wants that pattern, it could be difficult to find. I have this happen many times. My students see me wear a garment I designed. They want to make it. It was published in a magazine that is no longer available in the stores. I can't give them the pattern; I can just tell them which magazine it was in, and offer some suggestions about where to find it. One of my most popular patterns with my students is my "Decadent Denim Jacket" that was published in Crochet! magazine last year. I just discovered it's available at e-PatternsCentral.com . This is as exciting as seeing the pattern in the magazine for the first time!

I have worked this jacket in lots of different yarns, and many colors. It's easy to do, (it's just different size Granny Squares) and I get so many complements when I wear one! I am thrilled that the pattern is available on-line!

RWANDA KNITS AUCTION

2007-10-27T11:01:00.001-04:00

One of the most difficult aspects of being a designer is letting go of your design! It's sometimes as bad as seeing your youngest child go off to college. You go through "empty nest" feelings! Sometimes, you know the design will come back - and the feeling is only temporary. But, sometimes, the design doesn't return. The company keeps it. And you never get to see it again. That's what I went through with this design. And that's why I was pleasantly surprised when I found my "loopy" jacket up for auction for the Rwanda Knits Project (http://www.rwandaknitsauction.org/). I designed this for a fashion show, and sent it off to Caron Yarns, not knowing what would happen after that. Then I found out that the pattern was going to be published in a fall issue of Family Circle Easy Knit and Crochet magazine. It would be my first design in a magazine. Later that year, when I found the magazine in the bookstore, I looked through it, not realizing that this was the issue. So when I saw my jacket, I really screamed! Luckily, it was a slow afternoon, and not too many people were around to hear me! I bought the magazine, and when I saw it in another bookstore, I bought it again. And again! (Can't have too many copies! And I soon discovered that the picture was on the subscription card, too!) So I had pictures of the jacket, but not THE jacket.
When I discovered the auction, I knew I was going to bid on it. How could I not? And so, I did. And guess what - I won it! So now my jacket is coming home!

Filet Crochet Book review

2007-10-26T22:41:00.001-04:00

I have to admit, I have a couple of serious addictions in relation to crochet. One of them is to books! (I won't even tell you right now about how I have satisfied my yarn addiction in the past two weeks!) I haunt the local bookstores - on the premise of getting some coffee, but you and I know it's really to look at the new crochet and knitting books. I also look on Amazon.com to see what new books are going to be published soon. So when I saw "Stitch Collection: Filet Crochet" by Betty Barnden on Amazon, along with "Stitch Collection: Textured Crochet" by Helen Jordan, I was intrigued. I usually like to look at a book first, so I thought I would wait until the local book stores got the books. I found the Textured Crochet book at the store, and I bought it promptly (they had just one copy). But they didn't have the Filet Crochet book. So I waited, and waited, and waited, and when they still didn't get it, I ordered it. Wow! It is a definite MUST HAVE! Even if you don't work in thread. (I don't.) If you work mesh stitches, or want to work mesh stitches, this book gives you all the info you need to do it: which stitches to use, how many chains to work between stitches, how to start and end rows with solid squares or squares that are spaces. And much more! And all this info is in an easy-to-read chart, which is worth the money for the book!
There are pictures of different size meshes, also, so that you can see what you'll have as a finished product. The mesh patterns are shown in yarn (or thread), in charts, and in easy repeats. And they are also shown with ideas on how to use the patterns in designs.
This book came just in time - I was trying to work a mesh pattern in a design I was working up, and was running into trouble with it. When I read the info in the book, I started over on my swatch, and it came out perfectly! (Sorry, I can't show it to you right now - it's a proposal for a publication.)
Also, the book is small - 6 1/2" wide x 8" high - so it's portable. I think it's going to live for awhile in my crochet tote bag.

Check it out here: http://tinyurl.com/2yv7yv

Even More Granny Squares

2007-10-20T15:21:00.000-04:00

I have made a lot of Granny Square afghans with Plymouth Encore Worsted, but I only used one strand of yarn. So for this sample, I decided to use two strands and a larger hook (an N 15/10mm). The square worked up really fast, and it still felt as soft and as cuddly as one strand of Encore Worsted. Using two strands is a great way to use up odd colors of stash to make a quick baby or full size afghan! (See my afghan pattern, Gramma & Grandbabies, in 50 Sensational Crochet Afghans and Throws, edited by Bobbie Matela).

This next swatch is Noro Kureyon, a yarn that is not often used for Granny Squares. I love how it self-stripes, though, and I wanted to see how it would look in Granny Squares. One neat thing about self-striping yarn when you work it in rounds. If the number of rounds you work is small enough, each separate piece you make will look different, because the colors are in different places, or they are not repeated in the next piece. This is what happened when I made more Granny Squares out of Kureyon, and you can see a small portion of the other two squares I made on the sides of the middle square. Try it for yourself. One skein of self-striping yarn is all you need, and I recommend one like Kureyon (or Plymouth Bocu). Make Granny Squares of only 3 or 4 rounds. Make at least 3 of them, and see what you get. They all look like they came from different skeins! It's a great way to get lots of color into a design!

More Granny Squares

2007-10-15T20:44:00.000-04:00

I promised more swatches - here they are.
This first one is Crystal Palace Deco-Ribbon (70% acrylic, 30% nylon, 80 yards/50 grams, 3 stitches/inch on 10.5 US). Deco-Ribbon is one of my favorite ribbons. It's soft, easy to crochet with, comes in some dynamite colors! I've done a lot of designing with it - purses and ponchos mostly, and I wanted to see how it would work in a Granny Square. When I do purses with Deco-Ribbon, I usually use an H hook; it gives me the firm fabric I want. So I thought I would try an H with the Granny Square. Yes, the H hook made it firm, perhaps a little too firm for a garment. I probably would go up one or two hook sizes. But I like how the ribbon looks in the Granny Square!

If you have never crocheted with Rowan Summer Tweed, walk - no - run down to your local yarn shop and get yourself a skein of this yarn! Wow! I've used it before in a design with other yarns. I liked it then, I love it now! It comes in some fantastic colors, and they all look good together. Here are the particulars: Rowan Summer Tweed ( 70% silk, 30% cotton, 50 grams, 108 meters, 118 yards, 16 stitches and 23 rows/4 inches on US 8, 5 mm needles.) The squares have substance: they are soft and drapey, but not loose and unstructured. I am becoming addicted to this yarn! I want to make everything with it! And tomorrow, I'm going to be right near the yarn shop that sells it. I know I'll stop in with my checkbook!

One more yarn for tonight (I feel this urge to crochet!). This yarn, Berroco Suede, is not the type of yarn you would think would work well in a Granny Square. But guess what? It does! I used an H hook, and the stitches are well defined. The drape is good, and the structure of the square is solid, not too loose. I can see many uses for this. Here are the particulars: Berroco Suede
(100% Nylon, 1.75 oz, 50 grams, 111 meters, 120 yards, 19 stitches and 28 rows to 4 inches on US 8, 5mm needles.) And, don't worry, I'm not going to buy any tomorrow - I already ordered some today! (Did I mention all the colors that are available?)

Granny Squares

2007-10-14T18:33:00.000-04:00

I'm home from the Knit and Crochet show in the mood to swatch! It's fun to teach classes there, but it's difficult to watch everyone crochet in class, and know that you can't! So, after I was through teaching my 5 classes, I took a class with Jennifer Hansen. What fun! It involved gigantic tunisian hooks, and after class we all rushed down to the Stitch Diva booth on the show floor to purchase one. Jennifer is a great designer, and a superb teacher, and I highly recommend her classes. (Unfortunately, although I did take my camera, I completely forgot about it, so I have NO pictures!)

When I got home from the show, I decided to experiment with Granny Squares. (Did I tell you I LOVE making Granny Squares?) Usually, everyone thinks of GSs made in acrylic, worsted weight yarns, but I wanted to try other weights and other fibers. I had a lot of different yarns left over from various projects that I thought would look interesting worked up in GSs. I went through my stash to pick out some, but of course I had to go to my local yarn stores to buy more!
For most of the samples I made, I used a Susan Bates H hook.
These are some of the samples I came up with:

This first sample is made with Classic Elite Classic Silk.(50% cotton, 30% silk, 20% nylon, 50 grams, 135 yards, 5 sts/inch, US 6 - 4mm- needles, hand wash cold, dry flat) I found this yarn in a local yarn shop, and the manager told me it was a super yarn to work with; it was soft, draped well, great hand, and came in a whole bunch of wonderful colors. She even went onto the CE web site to show me the color card. She was absolutely right! I love the way it worked up into the Granny Square. The stitches are well defined, and it feels wonderful next to my skin. I see some "Marty Cardis" in the near future!

This next sample is made with Plymouth Encore Boucle Colorspun (75% acrylic, 25% wool,100 grams, 3.5 ounces, 101 yards,2.5 sts/inch, US 11 needles). It was in my stash already from a previous project. I loved the yarn then, I love the yarn now! It's soft, cuddly, and just perfect for baby afghans. (It's the yarn I used in my previous post.) Can you tell I really like working with it? Unlike other boucles I've used, it doesn't split, the stitches are well defined, and it's not impossible to frog! I used an N (10mm) hook with it, and was able to see my stitches with no problem.

One more swatch today - made with a new yarn I found at my local yarn store (at least new to me) - Nashua Handknits April (100% cotton, 50 grams, 1.75 ounces, 90 yards, 82 meters, 18 stitches/4 inches, 4.5 - 5 mm, 7-8 US needles) I was most pleasantly surprised with this yarn. It's strong, colorful, and looks great in a Granny Square. It is really easy to crochet with, and has a good hand! I am going to get some more at the lys - I have just the project in mind!

One thing that I've noticed as I've been reading all the yarn labels to post the info about the yarns: all the gauge information is given for knitting. I know that when I try to figure out what size hook to use with a yarn that's new to me, I usually look at the knitting needle size, and go up one or two mm in crochet hook size. Then I work swatches with smaller and larger hooks, to determine which will give me the effect and look I want. If I know the yarn and have worked with it before, I usually know what size hook will work right away. So, while this knitting bias on some yarn labels really doesn't bother my crocheting practice, it does bother me. If the yarn companies want to sell yarn to the greater number of crocheters (there are many more crocheters than knitters) they should start speaking our language, and give us gauge info on their yarn labels!

I'll post more swatches tomorrow!

Are you going to Oakland?

2007-08-15T14:11:00.001-04:00

I've been trying to finish up a bunch of projects - some for publications, some for yarn companies, some for my classes at the Knit & Crochet Show in Oakland in September. I'm teaching 6 classes, and even though I've taught 5 of them before, I always try to add things to them (I call it fine-tuning), and make more samples. So I've been writing up my new class (Crochet Secrets) and getting the others fine-tuned. I heard from Offinger, recently, and was told that two of my classes in Oakland - Design Your Own Stitch Pattern, and Pattern Writing School - were in danger of being canceled if more people don't sign up for them. I premiered these two classes in New Hampshire in July, and they were well received. This is just one comment for Design Your Own Stitch Pattern "This class really encourages you to expand thinking beyond just following the given stitch pattern." And this was from Pattern Writing School - "Great information! Great attention to detail and very thorough." I enjoyed teaching these classes, and hope that more people sign up for them in advance. Don't wait until you get to Oakland!

I've also been working with some new yarns, and will take some more pictures and post the swatches very soon. I'm really excited about what I've been working with! Stay tuned!

What yarn do you think this is?

Catching Up

2007-07-25T22:33:00.001-04:00

It seems like yesterday, and it seems like a long time ago. The last time I posted was while I was at TNNA (The National Needlearts Association Trade Show). It was a fun, tiring, exciting time! A lot has been written about it on other blogs- check out The Crochet Dude, and DesigningVashti. I forgot to bring my camera, so I couldn't take pictures, but we were in Darla's class together. And yes, Drew did finish his washcloth first! (We won't talk any more about that! :-)
After TNNA, I had family visit from Hawaii, and then I visited family in Boston. When I came home, I had projects to finish and send in to various companies, and some tech editing to work on. I also was going to be teaching 6 classes at the Knit and Crochet Show in New Hampshire in July, and I had handouts to finish writing (3 were new classes) and samples to make, gather, and pack. Lots of stuff to do in a short time. (I tend to work better on tight deadlines!) So, my blog, unfortunately, was neglected.
I thought I would be able to start blogging again while I was at the conference, but when I was finished teaching two classes a day, I didn't want to do anything but put my feet up and rest. (We won't tell WHERE I put my feet up, will we?) There were also meetings, the Yarn Market, more meetings, the Keynote Address, more meetings - all happening in the evening. So, no blogging. But check out The Crochet Dude, DesigningVashtiand Nexstitch to find out what was going on. When I came home, I had lots of stuff to catch up with - paper work, organizing, sleeping. But this past weekend, on a car trip to the beach, I was able to swatch!

This is what I did. I wanted to make some post-stitch swatches, and wanted some different yarns to work with. I went to a local Michaels, because I knew they had a good selection of Sugar 'n Cream yarn. I forgot that they were getting ready to move, though, and when I got to the yarn department, I really had to search. Most of the shelves were bare, the yarn was in carts, and all I could see was some old colors of SnC. But I was searching for the new colors. I finally found them, on sale even, at the end of an aisle, one aisle away from the rest of the yarn. I bought a whole bunch of skeins. (Which I felt was justified - I had just given away about 40 skeins of my stash of SnC in one of my classes at the Knit and Crochet Show!) You probably are thinking, why would I want to swatch with SnC, aren't you?

Right before I went to NH to teach, I read a blog post (yarnoverpullthrough)about a sweater design that I had in Interweave Crochet, Spring 2007. My sweater was made with Classic Elite Provence, a great mercerized cotton yarn, light in weight, wonderful to touch. (I promise, I'll swatch with that yarn soon, and write about it more!) The blogger posted a picture of the sweater, and it looked wonderful! It was in a deeper purple than the one I had made. She had written on a message board that she changed the yarn, so I asked her what yarn she used. Her answer? Yes, it was Lily Sugar 'n Cream. I really couldn't believe that! It was cotton, yes, but completely different than Provence, heavier and more coarse. I used SnC alot in the past - for dishcloths, totes, bags, etc. But never for a garment like my sweater. So I was intrigued, and decided to revisit the yarn. Of course, it didn't hurt that I needed to buy some more for my stash - to replace the skeins I had given to my classes! :-)

So - my post-stitch journey to the beach began!
I started with some old variations, but with the new yarn.

These swatches are worked with an H8/5.00mm Susan Bates hook in the new colors; two of them are worked in the "twists" and one is "Soft Ecru". I wanted to see if the "twist" colors would hide the stitch definition, and if the stitches would get lost in the "soft ecru" color. The post stitches that are in these swatches are clearly visible, so the new colors don't hide the stitches. When I was working these swatches, I couldn't help but notice how soft the yarn seemed - much softer than I remembered. And how easy it was to crochet. The "twists" had a little tendency to split, however. I had to be extra careful with them.

These last three swatches are worked in older colors of SnC yarn. The stitches are still plainly evident, but the variegated yarn on the left swatch pools. Sometimes that can be effective. Sometimes it can be distracting. One way to get rid of the pooling is to work with two skeins alternately. One or two rows with one skein, one or two rows with another. If you don't want a gazillion ends to weave in, work two rows of each yarn, and carry the other one up the side. The one thing that I did like, when I worked with these older colors - the yarn was soft, and not as scratchy as I remembered.

I've used Sugar 'n Cream a lot in my crochet. It's good for toys, tote bags, purses, dishcloths, and anything else that needs a firm stitch and a strong yarn. With a smaller hook, G or H, it makes a sturdy fabric. With a larger hook, it creates a drapey fabric. And it's great to swatch with and to try out new stitches and stitch patterns with, because the stitches don't get lost. The pluses - there are so many colors to try, you'll never get tired of it. And - it is inexpensive, (less than $1.50 in my area) and usually on sale somewhere. The minuses - can't think of any. Except I'm hooked on the new colors, and want some more! So - it looks like I may have to go back to Michaels and I don't have the time today! :(

Friday, TNNA

2007-06-02T00:22:00.001-04:00

What a day! I took a class with Darla Fanton - Illusion Crochet - lots of fun, great technique. And Darla is such a good, thorough, helpful teacher. The only problem with the class is that it was EARLY - 8 a.m. One thing that was interesting about the class - a couple of us (Drew, Vashti and I, and another class member) who finished our projects (a crocheted washcloth using the Illusion Crochet techniue) compared the sizes of the washclothes we made to each other's and to Darla's. We used the same size hook (except Drew), but all of our projects were different sizes. Just goes to show!
After class, we were able to relax a bit, have some coffee, and then some lunch, and then we helped to set up the TKGA/CGOA booth. The theme of the booth is a soda fountain, and yarn balls are used as "ice cream". The booth design got a lot of positive comments in January at the San Diego TNNA show - I'm sure it'll be the same here.
We set up the booth, then we went to help check in some of the late arriving fashions for the fashion show. After a couple of hours of oohing and aahing over the great fashions that the yarn companies were bringing in, we were finished - so we sat and relaxed and met and talked with some friends. Then it was time to see the fashion show and all those great fashions. There were 126 fashions, but only 2 1/2 crocheted fashions. That was disappointing!

Stay tuned for more tomorrow!

TNNA

2007-06-01T00:57:00.000-04:00

I just arrived at TNNA in Columbus - and can't wait to see all the new yarns that the yarn companies will be showing! I've been swatching with some new yarns lately - new to me, and new to the market - and I'll be looking for others and I'll be posting about the yarns soon.
We drove to Columbus - about 8 hours in the car - and of course I used the time to crochet. (No, I wasn't driving!) I worked on a sweater, and a couple of other little projects. Got a lot done, and the time went quickly. Once we got here, we caught up with some friends, other designers, had dinner, and talked until the wee hours. I have a class to go to tomorrow - I love taking classes when I can. I'm usually teaching classes at the CGOA conferences, and don't have time to take any there, so it's a real treat for me to take another designer's class. I always learn something!

The market opens on Saturday - so I'll be posting about the new yarns after that!

Up/Down stitch

2007-05-11T17:31:00.000-04:00

Many years ago - I crocheted a sweater in an up/down stitch - it was worked in a soft acrylic worsted weight yarn - Dazzleaire I believe. In Denim, of course! It was my favorite sweater, until I discovered a hole in it - I don't know how it got there. I tried to fix it, but I can still see the hole. Or where it was. It's a fairly easy sweater to make, and I've been looking for the perfect yarn to rework it in. So, in my never-ending quest for that perfect yarn, I swatched Fantasy Naturale in the up/down stitch. Here is what it looks like.

I should have worked this one in denim, because, after all, that's the color I'll make the sweater in. But, it looks good in the light green, and it would probably look good in any of the colors. Even the new colors that look like tweed. I might have to make a couple of these sweaters for me!

It makes a solid fabric, but not a heavy one, and an interesting fabric - not one like a plain sc or dc. This might just have to be my next project!

I have some more projects I want to take pictures of - a couple of tapestry crochet baskets, using Fantasy Naturale. You'll see how the yarn really shows the stitches and the color changes.

I welcome any and all feedback on this yarn - if you haven't tried it, you really should. As I've said before, it's a favorite of mine! It's not expensive - and one skein will go a long way. You can swatch along with me (sal).

I'll let you know the next yarn I pick to swatch - real soon!

Loop Stitch

2007-05-11T17:14:00.000-04:00

Usually, I work loop stitches in mohairs or chenilles. (I have done loop stitches in ribbon yarn and regular worsted weight acrylic, though.) I decided to try the loop stitch in Fantasy Naturale - I can't believe I never tried it before. Here's the result.

I just made a small swatch - but I can tell that this would be an interesting fabric. It wouldn't be as soft as mohair or chenille - but it would make an interesting scarf or shawl, or edging for a sweater or purse.

2007-05-04T23:28:00.000-04:00

This swatch shows a rib stitch in the denim Fantasy Naturale. (Which color do you think is my favorite?) I used post stitches, one front, one back, to make the rib. I like how this looks, and it gives the fabric a little stretch.

2007-05-04T18:30:00.000-04:00

I finally figured out how to upload pictures - so I'll do another one now. And add more later! I still have to figure out how to upload more than one picture at the same time! :-)

This swatch is of a Granny Square - one of my favorite stitch patterns. (The meaning of life is really a granny square!)
I find that the yarn tends to stretch a little at the shoulders of a sweater if there is a lot of material (weight) hanging down, when I use this pattern stitch. But, it doesn't stretch out of shape, and I don't think this detracts from the garment, or the yarn! This swatch was taken from a sweater that I made, and you can see that there is no stretching or distortion here. I will have to do a swatch using linked dc stitches, to see how that looks.

2007-05-04T18:25:00.000-04:00

This second swatch is of dc stitches. They are easy to see, and easy to work into. These are worked in rows, so you see the slant of the stitches in each row. This makes the rows easy to count.

Fantasy Naturale by Plymouth

2007-04-26T17:10:00.000-04:00

The first yarn that I picked to swatch with is Fantasy Naturale, by Plymouth. It's 100% mercerized cotton, and each skein is 100 grams, 140 yards. It's available at many local yarn shops, comes in lots of luscious colors, solid, varigated, and a new tweedy look. (I'm not sure what it's called.) The gauge is 4.5 stitches per inch, on US 8 needles. (They haven't started giving the crochet gauge yet.) I usually use an H 8, 5mm if I want a tight stitch, or an I 9 5,5mm hook if I want a looser stitch. It's a worsted weight yarn. And, I'll confess, it's one of my favorites.

(I have a lot of swatches worked in this yarn, because I play with it all the time.)

Swatch 1 - single crochet, worked in the round. You can see the stitches, and it was easy to work with. I used the H hook with this.