Knit and Crochet Now Update!

Robyn Chachula asked me a few fun questions for the Knit and Crochet Now update. Since Robyn has been a dear friend for so long I knew chatting with her would be fun! Here's the result of that quirky conversation. Find out why not making the Junior year volleyball team was a good thing. Find out my deepest thoughts about fringe. Also, read exactly how I started running.

I'm trying to embrace my new "reader" glasses. Channeling my inner librarian? School teacher? Editor?

My Car Talks to Me

And it's telling me to RUN.
It figures. I've been super productive with my 40 designs in 40 days challenge (getting closer to on-goal again). I've made good progress toward other crochet project goals but I haven't had time to run.  It seems like I can never create a balance of both. When I'm productive with one, the other suffers. Tomorrow I will run. I will run long on Saturday and home to create some sort of balance. Hopefully my crochet productivity won't lag in the process.

I do know that when I am productive, I feel better about myself and feel more optimism than when I am stuck. That is why I try hard to give myself credit for the things I DO, and not beat myself up for the things I didn't get to yet.

Maybe that is why I love the final edging on crochet projects so much! I get to fasten off and complete a project! That when FO stands for 'Fasten off' and not, uh... go away... FO. heehee

Show Up!

Show up. If you show up on Monday the rest of the week feels doable. It's just like making your bed in the morning. Theories say that making your bed in the morning is not important because of having a neat room. It's important because the first thing you do in the morning sets the tone for the rest of the day. Making your bed is symbolic of starting the day with accomplishment. Whatever happens after that, they day is not a total loss because at least you made your bed. ;)

Let's show up today, shall we? For me, I'm going to work on the Yarn Trends Newsletter that I write for Annie's, I'm going to work on the family budget, I'm going to run at least 30 minutes, I'm going to check in with a friend who had surgery, and then I'll crochet on the secret project, and pick up groceries that I ordered last night. And yep, I made my bed.

How are you showing up today?

Sneak Peek! Go For It!

I'm offering a sneak peek today, but first, a random dog photo.

I know how you all like dogs too, not just cats. This is Henry my Sister-in-law's dog. Isn't he sweet? 

And here's the sneak peek!  I just can't stop thinking about my love/obsession with Bruges Lace, so why try? Go For It.

The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly?

Welcome to the crochet edition of the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly!

First, the GOOD! Many of you found motivation in my post from Monday. If you missed it, check it out here: Give Yourself 15 Minutes. One of my favorite things about fitness is being able to say 'I Did It'. A little bragging, when it's true, is very empowering. If you want to brag about how YOU spent 15 minutes on your well-being... comment and brag to me about it!

Here's my brag:

I did a trail race in January and it was 5 degrees. FIVE. Crazy. To a runner, "crazy" is a compliment. (PS, I do NOT have a thigh gap, I was focused on the snow and my new trail shoes and stood funny because I didn't want to mess up the snow for my photo. A thigh gap is not something I encourage.) (Have you done anything crazy lately?)

The BAD... Ok, so my 40 designs in 40 days challenge is not going so well. (Read about it here if you missed it).  I was off to a great start the first two weeks. Then I sold a couple of the early designs and got busy stitching... which meant that I put my 40 days binder to the side and ignored it for ... two weeks.... (eek).  I pulled it out today and sketched out 3 ideas. So, I'm trying to have renewed effort on my goal.  It happens. We fall off our goals all the time. The key to success is renewing our efforts. (What effort would you like to renew?)

The UGLY... Ugly is such a subjective thing, don't you think?

Sometimes, when I'm tired, I think HILLS are ugly. But then I remember that they are just 'mounds of opportunity.'  (Insert eye roll here...) Corny, but true.

Give Yourself Fifteen Minutes

Let's talk a little bit about motivation and discipline, shall we? 

In the crochet business, it seems like 95% of jobs are freelance work-from-home type jobs. It takes a great deal of initiative and follow-thru to accomplish tasks when you are the boss, the designer, the shipper, the marketer, the manager, the supply manager, the communications manager, the accountant, the buyer, all in one. These tasks don't get done unless YOU do them.

Running and fitness and well-being also take discipline and motivation to accomplish. In running there is a common phrase, 'Never judge a run by the first mile'. And it's so true. If you never push through the first mile, you'll never know which mile is your favorite... (hint, it's ok if the mile takes more than 15 minutes).

If you can just give yourself 15 minutes to a task, motivation is usually 15 minutes down the road. I can tell you right now, motivation does not usually reside on the coach. It lives somewhere 15 minutes into a project.  You have to have faith that if you start, motivation will join you. 

So, even if it is a crochet task or chores around the house...don't expect that motivation will come grab you off the couch and say, 'hey let's play'. Commit to 15 minutes. If after 15 minutes you want to quit whatever you are doing, then quit. Most of the time though, I find, when I get 15 minutes into cleaning my office or doing chores or a long run, that I'm in a 'groove' and I'm motivated to finish the task or keep going a little longer. 

Worst case, you have made 15 minutes of progress, which is more than when you started. 

 Also, people are motivating! That's why podcasts are so awesome when you work from home or run alone most of the time. It's awesome to know that there are people out there doing the same thing you are doing at the exact same time! Even if they are miles apart. These are folks from my running tribe. They are every shape and fitness level. Every age from all over the US and several countries. Everyone has their own issues for why they do or don't move. It's a ton easier if you know they are just real people putting in 15 minutes at a time.

What will you do for 15 minutes today to get closer to your goal?

Gotcha Day

Today would have been my mom's 70th birthday. We are nearing the amount of time where I have had to live without her as long as I got with her. My mom died when I was 24 and she was 50. The fact that Tom just turned 50 is a surreal feeling and brings home just how short of time we had with her.

I have only a few photos on the computer of her because I didn't really go full on digital until a few years later. Here is me and mom at my college graduation.

Mom had craft ADHD. She would get super excited about all sorts of craft projects then rarely finish them.  She liked every type of needlework including candlewicking and needlepoint, knit and crochet. She also loved animals and was a little 'over the top' about giraffes.

Last year, when it came time to find a new pet, I knew Mom's birthday would bring us extra luck. It did and we adopted Theo exactly one year ago today.

Here's an old post from 2009 when I showed an unfinished blanket of my mom's.
Here's a photo of the blanket Mom and I made together for my Nanny's birthday when I was a teenager. It's in a blog post way back.

Pretty Woman Moment

So, I guess since I had fun playing with the projects from the summer issue of Crochet! that maybe you'd still like to see them? They shouldn't go to waste, right? Playing with the projects from amazing designers was really one of the ultimate best parts of the job.

Please support the amazing designers!

Pop Up Poppies Revealed!

I had so much fun with this join-as-you-go blanket! It reminded me of sea glass along the ocean.

The Pop Up Poppies blanket is made of Berroco Comfort DK.

Natsu Summer Scarf REVEALED!

Well, I guess today is a bittersweet day. Disappointment with a tinge of pride.

The Natsu Summer Scarf is revealed! In the summer issue of Crochet! magazine.  Get your copy printed or digital HERE. 'Natsu' is Japanese for 'summer'. Chickee and I spent a great deal of time this past summer watching a beautiful anime show called, "Your Lie in April". Really, really beautifully drawn, the music is amazing and the storyline is compelling and moving. Here's a screenshot from the show that gives a glimpse of how I was inspired:

Natsu summer scarf is an asymmetrical triangular one-ball scarf made in Cascade Sunseeker. It has a thread of metallic but it's still very soft!

I designed the scarf on the way to Ireland, beginning at the point, integrating the edging as the rows were worked. 

Here's the first attempt at the scarf as I worked out the edging.

Here I am working on the draft while on the tour bus from Galway to the Cliffs of Moher. 

I'm so happy to be able to share with you such a clear story of inspiration to final project. 

The summer issue is my last issue as editor of Crochet! 

RIP Tip!

It happens to the best of us... you need to rip out stitches back to fix a mistake. Here's a quick rip tip...

Remove your hook from the work and insert it in the stitch that is wrong or next to the omitted stitch if you missed one. Let your hook dangle there. Rip the work with wild abandon until you get to the hook. Then stop. Now you know you have ripped back to the exact correct spot.

This is a row pattern and I missed a ch-1 space. I inserted the hook in the row below, exactly where the ch-1 should have been. Then I unraveled the current row until I got to the hook. At least with crochet I usually find the error on the next row, so usually I don't have to rip back more than two rows total.

Edging Tip

I've been thinking a great deal about crochet edgings lately.  Can you see what's happening here? I have my first foundation row of a project complete (on the left in dc). Before beginning row 2, I have grabbed a second skein of yarn. On the opposite side of the foundation I have worked Round 1 of the edging I am considering (on the right). I can't turn the corner yet but at least I know that the width of the project is exactly right. When it comes time to determine the side edging... It will be much easier to add or subtract rows in the body of the project to make sure I have the exact number for the proposed edging that I already know works for the first side.

What are your likes and dislikes as it pertains to edgings? Do you like to turn them? Do you like complicated edgings or do you just put a round of reverse single crochet and be done? What's your favorite edging?

Skill builder Help

Hi! If any of you have my Go Crochet Skill builder book and have anything nice to say about it, please consider leaving a review on the Interweave site!  Thank you,

Useful Baby!

What do you think are the most useful crocheted baby items?

People want booties... in your experience do people use them? I can pass up a great versatile 36" x 36" blanket. You can use it as a blanket, a nursing cover, warmth for a car seat, a play mat on a floor... good stuff.

What about bibs and burp cloths? I think those are awesomely useful and quick and easy to make. And of course... HATS.

Toys? Sweaters only fit so long, one season at best...

What is your go-to baby item that you think gets the most USE?

Since we are talking about babies, here is my nephew, Blake and cousins Molly and Abigail.

Give me the Down Low...

So what do you all think of these color changing yarns?

Lion Brand Mandala,



Premier Sweet Roll  

Caron Cakes  

Premier Sweet Roll seems to have more subtle color changes, but I haven't worked with any of them yet... so where do I start?

Which one do you like the best?

Does Red Heart have one too?

Mile a Minute

The Design Binge is going well! Theo won't let me turn the page on my color card book.

When you think of Mile a Minute afghans... what do you think? Do you like them? Do you like joining the strips or would you rather crochet them as you go? Are the awesome long portable motifs to you?

Design Binge!

Let the Lenten Design Binge Begin! This year I'm going for goals: Body, Mind, & Spirit. My Body goal will be related to running. My Spirit Goal will be, well, spiritual. My MIND goal is to design 40 ideas in 40 days... starting TODAY. It will be amazing to see what happens when I release myself from the final outcome but instead brainstorm.

Prep and Talk!

I'm preparing to get back in the studio this spring. Swatches are happening, math is happening, binders are filling up. Here's a photo from Season 7 behind the scenes at Knit and Crochet Now. (Before the glam...)

I'd really LOVE to hear more about YOU though... what do you like to make? How often do you crochet? How long have you been crocheting? Are you a designer or a happy maker? What questions do you have? What can I do here on the blog to provide you with inspiration?  :) Write me a letter, drop me a note. Comment below if you like!

Weekend Crochet Challenge!

Tell me to get working.

I had a productive morning but then I took a "break".

There is still time to crochet something.

If I promise to work on 2 design ideas between now and Monday...

what will you challenge yourself to do?

LET'S GET MOVING! 

Yarn Love Challenge

Have you been following the YarnLoveChallenge on Instagram? If not, here are a few of my highlights:

My handmade home... We have about 11 crocheted afghans at last count, that are in active use in our home. This blanket above is from BEFORE I started designing. It's still holding up!

#Gratitude My first book, translated into Chinese. Chickee's boyfriend speaks 4 languages and was able to read the dedication back to me the other day. When I wrote this book, I had no idea all the wonderful blessings that I would have in this day.

Random photo of Theo because he's so darn cute. He is in the hanging chair that is in Chief's room. 

Here is about half of my yarn book library. I have an additional two shelves on the other side of the room and random books scattered around the house with projects and a stitch dictionary in the car... ya know, in a design emergency.