Book Review & Giveaway: 50 Sunflowers to knit, crochet & felt

50 Sunflowers to knit, crochet & felt by Kristin Nicholas is a book that I have looked forward to with much anticipation. I just couldn't wait to see what Kristin would come up with next.

Kristin has already authored several really beautiful books like: 
Color by Kristin: How to Design your own Beautiful Knits
Kristin Knits
Knitting for Baby
Kids Knitting
Kids Embroidery
Colorful Stitchery
Knitting Today's Classics
Knitting the New Classics

All of her books are rich with her signature color talent. All her books can be found here. She even has her own line of yarn that can help you get that same saturated color style. Her yarn line is called Color by Kristin and is distributed by Classic Elite.

 And now....

Sunflowers is a natural subject matter for Kristin. She and her family have a sheep farm with a popular blog following. On the blog she photographs all the elements of farm and home life including the sheep, her whimsical interior decor and the landscape that encompasses it all.... including the iconic sunflowers.  All of it can be found on her blog, Getting Stitched on the Farm and in products: photos, knitting and crochet patterns, notecards, and wall coverings. 

There are crochet stitch diagrams for the crochet projects. There are actually many more than 50 items in the book because she throws in as a bonus: creatures (butterfly, Robin, bumble bee, etc) and 15 projects that include a pillow, market bag, summer hat, brooch, grapevine wreath, wall art, a lampshade, a cardigan and more.  ANY of the 50+ flowers and embellishments can be used on the projects. The projects can be made exactly as she described or you can mix and match the elements from the first part of the book in any configuration on the projects.

The crochet ladybug is especially adorable. Some of the flowers are full 3-D with a stem and everything. Really awesome for "real" bouquet feel.   There are several petals for the flowers (and each are NOT counted individually... so MORE bonus items).  I'm partial to the Bi-color gem flower on page 89, and Autumn Beauty (#52 on page 90).

It's 128 pages of soft-bound bliss by St. Martin's Press. To win a free copy of 50 Sunflowers leave a comment on THIS post by Monday night, May 27 at 11:59pm. Please consider visiting her shop HERE and posting a comment on this post about something that impresses you about Kristin and her products. A winner will be drawn at random from the comment entries on this blog post and the winner announced on Tuesday May 28 on this blog.  The giveaway is limited to US residents. Please leave a post with your First name, Ravelry name if you have it or a city to help me identify you.  If you are the winner, email me at ellen@gocrochet.com or Ravelry message me at GoCrochet with your mailing address by Friday May 31.

Purchasing ANY of Kristin's products including books, patterns, notecards, etc, directly from her shop supports her family farm even more than purchasing her items elsewhere. Shop small business even on the internet :)

Of course, you know that Kristin is one of co-cast members on the PBS Show, Knit and Crochet Now!

Little Prince Hat Crochet Pattern Revealed

It's the little sibling crochet crown!  The Little Prince Hat Crochet Pattern.

Do you remember my Princesses & Heroes Booklet for Red Heart?

 Well now there is a crown sized down for even smaller wee ones! 

The Little Prince Hat is a Free pattern offered by Red Heart Yarn.  Thanks Red Heart!

Crocheting Clothes Kids Love

Here's the OFFICIAL cover....  of Crocheting Clothes Kids Love by Shelby Allaho and Ellen Gormley, coming in February, 2014.

What was I thinking? Mystic Fog Scarf

 The Mystic Fog Beaded Scarf is one of the 6 Crochet projects in my Annie's Online class, Crocheting with Beads.

What was I thinking?  I was thinking about the fog we get here on the River in Southern Ohio. Universal Swiss Mohair was the perfect yarn for this project. Warm and weightless both substantial and airy at the same time.  For this scarf, you will pre-string the beads and they will hang on the yarn like droplets of moisture on the curtain of fog.

In my online classes, I always want to teach as much as I can. So in addition to learning  how to crochet the beads on to double crochets (for this project), this scarf also teaches how to read a symbol diagram.  I'm thinking, after learning the technique, you might also know how to put a keyhole in other row projects.  

 I was thinking with this scarf, that I wanted an easy to memorize stitch pattern.  I wanted a pattern that you could customize and place the keyhole wherever and whenever you want it.  It would be very easy to make the scarf longer.  I love the ascot length though.  It's very instant gratification. Also, beads do add weight to a project. When you have a light (not heavy) yarn, you don't want to pull it down too much and take away it's lofty nature.

That's 6 projects and all the techniques you can use over and over in all your crochet projects for $24.95. In other projects, beads are added to single crochet to hang on both the wrong side and right side of the crocheted fabric.  I also teach "hitched on" beading when you add beads to the crochet as you go instead of pre-stringing them. I like that technique too and liken it to "painting" with beads.

Would you like a few more details about the project? See the Ravelry project page for the Mystic Fog Scarf.  For more details on my two online classes, Crocheting with Beads and Learn to Crochet ($19.95) go to AnniesCatalog.com and click on "online classes".  Photos of all the projects and a preview of the classes are there.

Crochet Couch Office

Back hard at work...

Last week, Chief and I ran in the Flying Pig 5k race....

 As it turns out... Chief is super fast.  :)

Knit and Crochet Now TV

Thanks for being patient. I've been away taping more new episodes of Knit and Crochet Now. I'm so confused which season we are on... and probably you are too!

First the show was called 'Knit and Crochet Today'.  Later, for sponsor-ship reasons, the show was re-named Knit and Crochet Now.

There are NEW episodes now airing on PBS Create channels across the country. Check your local listings. I know that a few of you are starting to actually see the episodes, so I know it's true. Some markets will begin airing episodes May 13.

There are also new posts on the Knit and Crochet Blog and the website has been updated.

My first appearances on Knit & Crochet Now are now available at AnniesCatalog. 
The past season DVDs are also available. The DVD's also include all the patterns from that season on a CD-Rom. (OH! As I am looking this up on Annie's website, if you put "DVD" in the search box, my online classes are also AVAILABLE as a DVD! I didn't know that! cool).

I JUST got home from taping.  We tape in "shifts", so Kristin Nicholas and I were there together with Brett Bara and Candi Jensen and the team for the first two days, then Robyn Chachula and Maggie Pace come in to do their turn with the production team. The good news is that we all usually "overlap" for dinner in the middle. :)

 Here I am with Brett in the Wardrobe/make-up room. (I made her take a self-photo with me in the mirror, she was the smart one who looked at the camera!)

Here I am with Maggie Pace in the Production room.  That's the "back stage" room where we work in between taping and we have a monitor so we can watch each other as taping is going on... looks like the hands of Kristin Nicholas.

I was freezing, so I kept putting my jacket on between each shot. Thank goodness goose-bumps don't show up on camera (or so they assured me...)

You may find it interesting that we have the same camera crew/production team each time we tape. I get confused with their official titles, (I wish I knew them, because they are impressive) but we have Fred (who manages the "floor"), Cathy, Eric and two more camera people, then there is a "control room" where the Director, Alex, Carlotta (with an impressive title that escapes me) and a bunch of other technicians monitor the lighting and "choreograph" which camera and angle is being used each moment.  Also, Amanie, our Make-up and Hair Artist extraordinaire sits in the control room too (when she is not making someone up).  She likes to see how the hair and make-up are looking on camera under the lights so she can come to the floor and help us when we get "smudge-y" :)  It's not unusual for the "Head Honchos" of the tv station to make their rounds while we are taping, asking questions, getting ideas, and brainstorming.

Do you have any questions about how this stuff all works?  I'm still the newest member of the team, but I'd be glad to answer questions.

Crochet Waves

The Crochet business is such an ebb and flow business!  January and February always seem slower. Then business gets more busy.  I'm happily swamped right now.  I just shipped a package of projects off for a book deadline. Not the final deadline for this book, there are still to come, but every package shipped is a significant step closer.

Also, it's hair, nails, and prep season.  I'm deep in show preparations for Knit and Crochet Now.

The May GoCrochet Monthly Newsletter went out this morning. I'm so proud that I got it out on time.

And all of this while I had the flu for a few days a couple of weeks ago. I'm co-coaching Chief's volleyball team, training with him and the school for this weekend's 5K race, and doubling my volunteer hours at school because they had a sudden need.

But, I do not know a single person who isn't just as busy as I am. Better to be busy than bored :)

 Gotta love this photo of the Captain and our Niece as he shows her a photo on his phone at Easter. I named the 'Blushing Erin Neckwarmer' after her :)

Kelley's Island Cardigan Revealed

Another design in Margaret Hubert's new book, Runway Crochet! This one is on the front cover of the book, Fourth from the left.

It shows one of my fascinations of 2012... ruffles!  I just love the texture.

Magical Motifs Wrap Revealed!

The new issue of Crochet 1-2-3 is out! Issue #5 includes my Magical Motifs Wrap. 

It's made in Lion Brand Tweed Stripes. More details can be found on the Ravelry pattern page.

Here it is in solid gray.  I wore it last year in Reno. 

Crochet Book One Pattern Giveaway

Congratulations to JANET!  Janko on Ravelry is the winner of the Crochet Book One pattern giveaway.  Janet, you are also entered to win the whole book and Rebecca Velasquez will let us know the winner of that giveaway at the end of the blog tour.

Tomorrow, another Reveal!

What a busy week!

Flame Scarf Revealed!

The stitch pattern... fun.
The yarn...gorgeous.
The project... The Flame Scarf in Margaret Hubert's new book, Runway Crochet 
Crocheted in Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport in Gold Hill, the yarn is really great to work with.

It has excellent drape and feel.  

Don't forget! You have until 11:59pm tonight to enter to win a pattern from Rebecca Velasquez's new e-book "Crochet Book One".  (See last Tuesday's post for full info)

Also, I'm still looking for JoKaren, the winner of the Crocheting with Beads online class. JoKaren, tick tock, time is running out! Contact me by Friday to claim your prize.

'Crocheting with Beads' Giveaway Winner!

The winner of the 'Crocheting with Beads' Annie's Online class is.... JoKaren!

JoKaren, please contact me. You can either comment again leaving your email address (and I won't publish it) or by email at Ellen@GoCrochet.com or through Ravelry message box with your full name and email address and I'll send it along to Annie's to hook you up with your free class. Please email by Friday, 4/26/13.

I have more reveals for you but I want to wait for the official photos. I'm hoping to have a milkshake tonight... you know what that means... I'm going to finish a project today! Woohoo!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Catawba Lacy Shrug Revealed!

Today, the first of THREE projects I have in Margaret Hubert's new book, Runway Crochet. It's in stock now on Amazon.

I'm thrilled that I got this project back. It will look FANTASTIC over a simple dress for some of the events we go to for Tom's work. (And I'm always a little chilly at those things, so Viola'!)

If you like show-stopping projects, you'll love this book.  More reveals for my other two projects maybe tomorrow and next week.  Don't forget to enter Monday and Tuesday's giveaways!

Reveal! Blushing Erin Neckwarmer

The new book, Crochet One-Skein Wonders is now out.  It took a long time to come to print because it has 101 projects in it!  Edited by Judith Durant and Edie Eckman, this is a thick book.
In the 286 pages, the projects are separated by yarn-weight from thread to bulky.

My Blushing Erin Neckwarmer (named for my youngest Niece...) (p. 154) Is in it. The book is so big, I thought I'd better tell you the page number... Not all the projects have stitch diagrams, but mine does! It's totally easy, can be done in one day, and uses less than one skein of yarn.  This model is made of the very luscious Blue Sky Alpacas Hand-dyes.

The book is available either in softcover or Kindle version through Amazon.

Don't forget, there are TWO giveaways this week, check Monday and Tuesday's posts for more information.

E-Book Review: Crochet Book One and Giveaway

It's a modest little title for a sweet new book. "Crochet Book One" This e-book, five crochet projects, designed by my friend, Rebecca Velasquez and produced for Quince & Co yarns.

Beginning with this showstopping shawl, the book contains a shawl, a hat, a keyhole scarf, a sweater and pair of fingerless mitts. The Queen Anne's Shawl is made of simple stitches beautifully photographed by Carrie Bostick Hoge. The Shawl is crocheted in 2 skeins of Sparrow yarn, which is a nicely priced Organic Linen that comes in 13 colors. 

Each pattern is written in the e-book with both written text and symbol diagrams. 

The Pauline Hat is both crocheted and knitted using just one skein of the nicely priced Chickadee yarn. It's an American Wool and comes in 41 colors!

The Marigold Sweater is sized from size 36" to size 52" bust and is crocheted in Finch. Another economical yarn!

Each pattern is available individually or they are available as a whole collection.

Leave a comment on This post by Monday, April 22 11:59pm EST with your NAME and an identifying location or Ravelry name and you will be entered to win a free pattern from the collection.  You can enter this giveaway also on other blog reviews. In May, among all the entries from all the blogs, a winner will be chosen to receive the whole collection by PDF.  (So you have Multiple chances to win!)

Follow Rebecca for more details on all the dates and blog stops.
Twitter @RebecaVelasquez (for Twitter, she has to take out a "c" to make her name fit...)
Ravelry: RebeccaVelasquez

Crocheting with Beads Class Giveaway!

I have been spending more and more time TEACHING lately!  It's very exciting to see students inspired to crochet, try out new skills and create handmade projects.

Locally, I teach at Silk Road Textiles.  It's a terrific, large, bright fabric and yarn store with classes on all things sewn and stitched. They also carry my books and have many of my book samples on display.

June 13-15, I'll be teaching in Sharonville, Ohio (North of Cincinnati) at the Original Creative Festival.  I'm scheduled to teach Introduction to Bruges Lace Crochet and Introduction to Tunisian Crochet. For more information, check out their website. 

You may know that I teach on many of the new episodes of Knit & Crochet Now! Found on PBS create and past seasons (before me) are available on DVD.

Also, if you can't travel to Cincinnati, or get Knit and Crochet Now, or you can get all of that and still want more... you can see me at Annies Catalog/ Online Classes Most of you already crochet, but if you want to see the basics or get the FIVE patterns included in the class, you can with the class "Learn to Crochet"! 

Or, if you are ready to go beyond the basics and learn 5 beading techniques shown on several projects, you can get the class "Crocheting with Beads".  You can also see Tunisian classes at Annie's by Kim Guzman and Thread crochet classes by Susan Lowman.

I'm allowed to give away a FREE "Crocheting With Beads" class!  YOU can enter to win.  A bit about how these classes work.... You create a free account with Annie's. Likely you already have one. Then when you buy the class (or maybe get it free!) when you log into your account, there is a tab that says, "My classes" and that is where your class will be.  It's there, waiting for you any time you want to watch it. You can watch it over and over. You can pause or just watch sections. You can watch it 5 minutes at a time or watch it straight through.  There are written pdf project materials available for you to download and print if you wish. You can even ask questions.

More than just crochet, Annie's has classes on knit, papercrafting, quilting, sewing, and beading & jewelry.

To enter to WIN your free "Crocheting with Beads" Class, please leave a comment on THIS post by midnight, Friday, April 19, 2013.  I'll randomly choose a winner from entries and announce the winner on Friday, April 19.  The winner will need to email me with your email so I can get you hooked up (get it?) with your free class. The winner must email me by Friday April 26th, 2013.

PLEASE in your comment, give your first name, last initial, and some kind of identifying location, city, town, etc.  PLEASE comment with your favorite way to learn, what you'd like me to teach you, what event you'd like me to attend, or anything about learning crochet. :)

Fasten off coma

Generally after a really tough project or deadline I go into a "Fasten off Coma", where after I have fastened off, I fall into a "I-don't-feel-like-doing-anything" spell.  This one, I have actually made 3 more projects since the BIG deadline passed for Book 3. But I have fallen out of blogging.  Sorry. I haven't had much I'm allowed to say, and working on books leads to less "reveals" for magazine work.

Anyway, I'm still here.  Plugging away on Book 4 and getting caught up on all the stuff that had to be put aside the week I turned in Book 3. 

Book 3, by the way.... there are clues on the internet about Book 3, that can be found if someone tried to look.... but I'm not ready to share just yet here. But I can't help it if people went on a scavenger hunt...

I have a few book reviews on my to-do list, at least one of which will have a prize attached to it, so don't give up on me yet!

Oh! Check out on Ravelry, the projects made for the Departure Bracelet from my book, Learn Bruges Lace. Someone made one out of wire!  Clever!

Photo Friday

 White lions

White tiger!

White was the theme of the Spring Break Zoo trip. 

April Newsletter

We had a little bit of relaxation and family fun this weekend for Easter. It was made even better knowing that I shipped the remaining projects for the THIRD book this past Friday.  (yay!)

Also! Today the April Go Crochet Newsletter went out... if you didn't get one, here's the link to see it and decide if you would like to be on the mailing list for future issues. April Newsletter.

Photo Friday