Learn to Crochet!

My new Annie's Online Class is LIVE!

I know you all already know how to crochet, but here's a comprehensive class for beginners. Give it as a gift! Watch it to test your knowledge base.  All those friends who tell you, "I'd like to learn" and "Will you teach me?" Send them my way! Watch it to get FIVE crochet projects, full instructions both written and symbols. Lefties, don't be shy, I demonstrate stitches for you too!

http://www.anniescatalog.com/onlineclasses/detail.html?code=CDV01

Crochet Potpourri

Our winner of the Texting Mitts booklet giveaway, has NOT come forward.... Gina P from San Antonio needs to email me by Friday 6:00pm EST or I'm going to choose a new winner on Saturday.

There will be a special SATURDAY post here on the blog to celebrate National Crochet Month.

The next issue of the Monthly newsletter comes out on Friday!  If you want to get it in your inbox, make sure you subscribe before then. (on the right side bar of this blog page, under the Annie's ad).

You knew about the Wintergreen Cowl CAL right?  I have mentioned it here!  It's going well, many people are participating.

 

Here's the Bruges Cowl in Pink

 To Learn Bruges Lace Crochet, check this out!

Claremont Tunisian Shawl Revealed!

I think I gave you a peek at the Claremont Tunisian Shawl before, but it's finally time to tell you about it! Here's the link to the peek....
It's the Claremont Tunisian Shawl and the construction... 3 big squares... was inspired by my friend, Vashti. (Waving, Hi Vashti!)

 I knew that I wanted to make a shawl. I knew I wanted it to be Tunisian.  I wasn't thrilled about using a really long flexible cable afghan hook. I wasn't thrilled about making REALLY long rows.... This pattern was perfect because I was able to make THREE squares. That's it. Three squares. It's a treble crochet stitch. Then, after the squares were made, on the edging, I crocheted them together.

 Joining them "as you go" makes this gorgeous lattice detail shown on Robyn's arm here....

 When I saw the Yarn Love Yarn in this glorious color, I knew it was going to be one of my favorite designs of all time. It's the "Amy March" dk. It comes in many solid and multi colors.  It's 100% Merino.

The EASY Tunisian pattern is available as a KIT through MyCrochetKits .  Here's the link to the Ravelry page so you can read more details and "Favorite" it if you like!

Knit and Crochet Now.... Did you see?

The new season of Knit and Crochet Now began this past weekend... did you find it?

Check your local listings on the PBS Create channels.  Linda found it in Sacramento, Renee found it in Arkansas... How about you?

Knit and Crochet Now!

Circles Play Mat Revealed!

It's my first appearance in Crochet 1-2-3 Magazine! I'm in issue #4 with my Circles Play mat.  Editor, Cari Clement even mentioned the pattern in her 'From Your Editor' column. :)

It's Four big squishy soft motifs that make a perfect play surface for baby.  Made of washable Lion Brand Baby's First yarn it's a great accessory for the on the go diaper bag.  Lots of soft bumpy textures will please babies hands and knees as they explore their world.

Book Review: Wiggly Crochet

Years ago, we stayed for several weeks with my Mother and Father-in-law.  In their kitchen towel drawer I found the most fascinating little dishcloth I had ever seen.  It was clear it was crochet, it was clear that it was textured in a way I had never seen before.  I now know that it was WIGGLY Crochet.  Over the years, designers have reintroduced fun techniques just as Tunisian crochet is enjoying a recent revival of popularity.

Last year at the CGOA conference in Reno, I was able to see Susan and her new patterns in Wiggly crochet.  It just begs to be touched. It's so tactile and fascinating, sculptural and graphic.... and yet it is all basic stitches!

I'm so glad that Susan has brought this fun technique to the forefront again in her new Annie's booklet, "Wiggly Crochet Dishcloths". The booklet is $8.95 for 6 patterns. All the patterns use the Omega Sinfonia Light yarn. Each pattern comes with a placement diagram that illustrates where the surface ruffles go. The ruffles are basically crocheted on to a background of flat filet mesh that is made first.

Go here to order your copy of Wiggly Crochet Dishcloths (print and download available): http://bit.ly/TmGVrZ

Go here to “Like” the Annie’s Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/AnniesCatalog

Winner! Texting Mitts Book Giveaway....

Gina P from San Antonio!

Gina, asap, please send me an email at     Ellen @ GoCrochet dot Com     with your postal address.

Thanks to everyone who entered!
 

Crocheting at the Doctor's office....

It's been a busy few days.

Chickee broke her foot on Thursday. Read tomorrow for the winner of the Texting Mitts book giveaway! 

Texting Mitts Giveaway!

Crochet your own Texting Mitts!  Did you read the review I did on Tuesday of Andee Graves new book, "Texting Mitts".  If you missed it, go back and read it because then you'll want to enter this giveaway for sure! 

If you can't wait for the book you can buy it for $9.99 from Leisure Arts. or get it IMMEDIATELY as an e-book for the same price! Also, follow either link to see more photos of the rest of the patterns.

Leisure Arts is going to award one lucky US reader a copy of the booklet!  Yay for crochet! Now we too can use all the lovely, colorful sock yarns the knitters have enjoyed for years. Leave a comment on THIS post by 11:59 pm EST Monday night, February 18th. In your comment leave:

your first name,
last initial and
a location or city of some kind.
Also, tell WHO you would make a pair of texting gloves for.

Good luck!
On Wednesday, February 20 I'll announce a winner here on the blog and ask the winner email me at Ellen at GoCrochet.com  with your mailing address.

Valentine's Day!

Today, Babukatorium an international fiber blogger, is offering a GIVEAWAY of the GoCrochet Afghan Design Workbook.  Read her post on Facebook and enter to win.  I think you have until 2/28.  Her blog and color sense is amazing. Go visit her, I think you'll find a new friend!

Happy Valentine's Day, dear readers!  Here are the Valentine's that Chickee and Chief made for their classmates this year.

 Chickee chose a multi-layer approach to paper crafting and integrated her love of sewing by using her machine to sew the hearts to the paper.  We were inspired by a photo online. Grandma Glenda will be so proud!

Chief chose a scholarly approach choosing to make bookmarks for his classmates using the classic red theme and using rubber stamps and ink. I love the personal touch of his handwriting and hand-drawn hearts with the stamps.

Wintergreen Cowl CAL

Say that three times fast! Now that everyone had so much fun crocheting the Saturday Beret CAL, it's been proposed in the Ravelry group that the next CAL could be the Wintergreen CAL!  Check out this thread on Ravelry if you want to join in.

Here's the link to buy the pattern from Interweave if you don't already have it.  It comes with 3 other beautiful winter themed patterns in a booklet called "A Snowflake Story". 

Here are past posts about the Wintergreen Cowl and Bruges Crochet:

Bruges Lace
Bruges Trend
Wintergreen Cowl's Debut

Book Review: Texting Mitts

A new Leisure Arts booklet written by Andee Graves!  Andee asked me to review her new book and sent me a copy. These very trendy mitts in sock weight yarns will make great gifts this season.  The book has 8 patterns, everything from shells to cables, clusters and post stitches. There is a variety of yarns used and most of the patterns are written in small, medium and large!  In the back is a handy (get it?) tip about sizing.  The coolest part about the sizing is that the sizing numbers are printed in DIFFERENT colors within the pattern!  No more highlighting or circling the numbers for your size. Very clever.

And even more clever, something I've never noticed in other books... every new or special stitch has a little video camera icon next to it.... you can go to the Leisure Arts website and see a video clip of that stitch if you need a refresher. Brilliant. You can either go to the Leisure Arts website and search the video clips (left or right handed) by the name of the stitch, or you can search their videos by publication. Here is the page for the Texting Mitts page.

Here's one of my favorite pairs of mitts in the book.  In addition to the fun funky ones on the cover, I like these terracotta ones.  "Twisted Cable Columns Mitts" are written in 3 sizes.  I love post stitches and the cable crochet construction makes these mitts look like they would fit very nicely!  The band of stitches near the fingers looks like it would keep the mitts in place securely. 

With 8 patterns to choose from, you could make them for all the teachers and friends in your life and sample them all. 

Knit and Crochet Now!

New episodes are AIRING this month!  Go here, to the Knit and Crochet Now blog, to enter your zip code to find out which stations and when it is airing in your area! 

Wheek! Wheek!

It has been a busy WHEEK!

This is Piglet saying, "Did I hear the produce drawer?"

National Crochet Month Blog Tour!

All March long designers will be hosting posts for National Crochet Month!  I'll have a post here on March 2!

:) 

Also coming up in the next two weeks... At least TWO book reviews....

A Thursday night in March I'll be teaching Introduction to Tunisian Crochet at Silk Road Textiles in Cincinnati.  Here's the link to find out when and how much... Silk Road Textiles Calendar.

TNNA Long Beach

I didn't GO to TNNA, but I was THERE.... larger than life!  LOL

Thanks to Robyn for sending me the photo of the booth backdrop! Here I am on the set of Knit & Crochet Now with Brett Bara.

Photo Friday

It's Newsletter Day!  Check your inbox! Check your Spam folder just in case.  It should go out to everyone at 8:00 am EST. 

Apollo and his owner stopped by the other night.  I didn't get a photo of Ranger, who also came by with his rider.

Apollo is a Paint. And you can't tell, he's a little downhill from Chickee. But he is a BIG horse. He's so big that he completely blocks the view of our full-size pick-up truck behind him. Below is Friday, the dog, who came along for the trail ride.