Will You Crochet? - A Poem

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As I spend every waking moment with yarn in hand, madly working on the samples for my next book, this little poem has been forming in my brain. I thought it was time to type it out and share. Every one of the places included are ones where I have in fact crocheted (most within the past week!).

Where is the strangest place you have ever crocheted?

Travel Through Crochet Country - Weave In Those Ends!

Welcome to Day 16 of (Inter)National Crochet Month and Crochetville's Travel Through Crochet Country Blog Tour! What a great way to get to know more incredible crochet designers! I recognize so many names from those who I got to meet at the CGOA Conference in Reno last fall, including Amy Shelton who organized this awesome tour. As a new designer, I am honored to be included!

While exploring my attic a few months ago, I came across the very first afghan I ever finished. When I found that pattern on the back of the band of yarn from K-Mart all those years ago, I never imagined I would end up designing crochet patterns, and even writing entire books of afghans!

In junior high, my Campfire leader taught me to crochet granny squares during my near daily visits, on my mile long walk home from the bus stop. Sometimes I would detour to K-Mart (also on my way home) to pick up a snack, and was excited to discover they also carried yarn. Of course it was all acrylic. But I did not know anything else existed, and took pleasure in choosing several shades of my favorite blues.

Now, I am very glad I made that first afghan in a nice sturdy acrylic. Because when I pulled it out recently, I realized that every end was tied in an overhand knot, and cut to about half an inch (if that). Over 20 years later, those tiny little knots are still holding strong, but it could have been a disaster!

You have to understand that this was a pattern where you changed colors EVERY row. Row upon row of single crochet, with drop down "Spike" stitches to create a pattern. What was I thinking? This thing took forever (one reason I seldom design in sc)! And even if the afghan has spent most of it's life tucked away in a closet or attic (let's face it, single crochet and acrylic yarn doesn't make for the most cozy of blankets), I would be heart broken if it began falling apart.

So, the moral of the story: WEAVE IN THOSE ENDS! I have been lucky that those knots did not come out years ago. Some of my other early projects did not fair as well, including those first Granny Squares which became a tree skirt I still use at Christmas. But when those short ends come out in the center of a Granny, what a nightmare!

I realize that many of us are mostly self taught, and if no one every told you to "leave long ends to weave in", how would you know? I sure wish someone had told me back then. So I thought I would include a few tips I have shared with my crochet students over the years.

Laurinda's Tips for Weaving In Ends:

• Whenever you change colors or start a new ball of yarn, it is very important to leave several inches (4-6) of yarn in each color to weave in under the stitches.
• You can use a yarn needle to weave in those ends, and it is a good idea to weave them back and forth in at least 2 different directions to help them stay put.
• You may choose to work over your ends as you continue crocheting, but it is still a good idea to leave some end out to bring back in the other direction with a needle later.
• Try to insert your needle horizontally along the bottom of a row of stitches, or vertically through the center of the stitches to avoid messing up the look of your stitches.
• Longer ends worked in more than one direction will stay put longer and be less likely to unravel all your hard work!

What one thing do you wish someone had told you when you first learned to crochet?

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As part of this Blog Tour, we are supporting Project Night Night, an organization that provides blankets, books, and stuffed animals for homeless children. Since my first book, Rowan's Learn to Crochet Sampler Afghan is full of small blankets designed to encourage people to donate to infants and children in need, I have decided to offer a 20% off Coupon code (HLCL3AVV) good for the rest of this month. There are patterns for 5 different blankets, and a baby hat, all perfect for donating! And don't forget there is a completely Left-Handed Edition, if you happen to be a lefty like me or need to teach them!

Be sure to check out more awesome designers on the tour including yesterday's bloggers: Andee Graves and Kimberly McAlindin, and tomorrow's: Susan Lowman (for CGOA) and Brenda Bourg (three of whom I met in Reno!)

Happy Valentine's Day! Free Pattern!

I was asked to contribute some small pink squares to a crocheted afghan for the friend of a woman in my local crochet group. She gave me 2 shades of pink, so of course I had to do something with reversible intarsia.
In honor of Valentine’s day, I thought I would share the little heart pattern I worked up for that project, as a free pattern. Feel free to make some heart squares for your own charity or gift project, and give Reversible Intarsia a try! Please leave a comment if any questions come up for you. Enjoy!

Charity Heart Square in Reversible Intarsia

Designed by Laurinda Reddig

Special Stitches
Color Change (change to): Work to last loop of last stitch in old color, yo and complete stitch with new color. Flip yarn over to back of work between your hook and yarn, unless otherwise specified.

Late Color Change (late change to): Complete last stitch in old color, drop to back of work, pick up new color and complete next stitch in new color. Top loop of stitch will be a different color than lower loops of stitch.

Hdc-sc decrease (hdc-sc-tog): Yo, insert hook in next stitch, pull up loop, insert hook in next stitch, pull up loop, yo and draw through all 4 loops.

Pattern Notes
·         Stitch counts at ends of rows indicate number of stitches of each color on top of row.
·         When joining new color, loop yarn over hook on first yo, leaving several inches to weave in.
·         When working a late color change, carry new color under last stitch of old color.
·         After working first stitch in new color, give old color yarn a gentle pull to keep loops tight.

 

Pattern
Chain 23 with main color (A).
Row 1: Hdc in second ch from hook and each ch across, turn—22 hdc.
Row 2: Ch 1, hdc in each hdc across, turn.
Row 3: Ch 1, hdc in first 8 hdc, hdc-sc-tog, change to contrasting color (B), 2 hdc in next hdc, late change to A, hdc across, turn—9A, 3B, 10A.
Row 4: Ch 1, hdc in first 8 hdc, hdc-sc-tog, change to B, 2 hdc in next hdc, hdc in next hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc, late change to A, hdc-sc-tog, hdc across, turn—9A, 6B, 7A.
Row 5: Ch 1, hdc in first 7 hdc, change to B, hdc in next 5 hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc, late change to A, hdc-sc-tog, hdc across, turn—7A, 8B, 7A.
Row 6: Ch 1, hdc in first 7 hdc, change to B, hdc in next 7 hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc, late change to A, hdc-sc-tog, hdc across, turn—7A, 10B, 5A.
Row 7: Ch 1, hdc in first 5 hdc, change to B, hdc in next 9 hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc, late change to A, hdc-sc-tog, hdc across, turn—5A, 12B, 5A.
Row 8: Ch 1, hdc in first 5 hdc, change to B, hdc in next 11 hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc, late change to A, hdc-sc-tog, hdc across, turn—5A, 14B, 3A.
Row 9: Ch 1, hdc in first 3 hdc, change to B, hdc in next 13 hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc, late change to A, hdc-sc-tog, hdc across, turn—3A, 16B, 3A.
Rows 10-13: Ch 1, hdc in first 3 hdc, change to B, hdc in next 16 hdc, change to A, hdc across, turn—3A, 16B, 3A.
Row 14: Ch 1, hdc in first 3 hdc, late change to B, hdc in next 16 hdc, change to A, hdc across, turn—4A, 15B, 3A.
Row 15: Ch 1, hdc in first 3 hdc, late change to B, hdc in next 7 hdc, change to A, hdc in next hdc, late change to B, hdc in next 7 hdc, change to A, hdc across, turn—4A, 6B, 2A, 6B, 4A.
Row 16: Ch 1, hdc in first 3 hdc, 2 hdc in next hdc, late change to B, hdc-sc-tog, hdc in next 2 hdc, hdc-sc-tog, change to A, 2 hdc in next 2 hdc, late change to B, hdc-sc-tog, hdc in next 2 hdc, hdc-sc-tog, change to A, 2 hdc in next 2 hdc, hdc across, turn—6A, 3B, 5A, 3B, 5A.
Row 17-18: Ch 1, hdc in each hdc across, turn—22A. Finish off. Weave in all ends under same color stitches.

Edging:
Ch 1, turn, *sc in each hdc across to last hdc, 3 hdc in last hdc to form corner, work 20 hdc evenly across side to corner*, 3 hdc in corner hdc, repeat * to *, 2 hdc in corner hdc, join with sl st--92 sc.

Birthdays, Beaches and a Book!

The past couple months have been a whirlwind! I have been busy with lots of awesome projects, which of course, I cannot share just yet. I took a week off "work" crochet to prepare for my daughter's 3rd birthday. Although I expect I will eventually sell the pattern I developed for crocheted party favors for all the kids to take home. But have not decided where, so sorry no details yet.

Then I had less than a week to prepare for my first trade show, TNNA (The National Needlearts Association), in Long Beach, CA (my old stomping ground). Wow, what an experience! I am still recovering and following up on all the marvelous contacts I made. Not the least of which was getting to meet and hang out with lots of incredible designers I only knew online before now.

My main goal for the weekend was to meet yarn companies and identify possible yarns for my next book! Did I mention that I am writing another book?! This will be my first book with a big publisher, so it is very exciting. I am still figuring out how much I am allowed to share about the project, and am trying to limit my online time while I focus on the book. So I apologize if it is quiet around here for the next few months. You can expect more details soon... but here's just a tiny hint...


My 7 year old is helping with sketches for the book!

My Crochet Year in Review

New License Plates from my hubby were a birthday surprise!

This has certainly been a very exciting and busy year for me. Just the highlights...

January - First Remembering Rowan Project donation of baby blankets in 2012
February - Shipped off my first completed samples to be published
March - Rose City Yarn Crawl with the Crochet Liberation Front
April - Pluckyfluff Art Yarn Spinning "Camp" with Craftwich
May - First published pattern, "I Love Baby" Blanket in Inside Crochet, Issue 30
June - Reversible Rowan Tree Vest won Grand Prize at CGOA Design Competition
July - Showed Rowan Tree Vest and Rowan's Sampler in Bearing Witness Art Show
August - First published article and Butterfly Wings Blanket pattern in Inside Crochet, Issue 33
September - Self published my first book: ReCrochetions Presents: Rowan's Learn to Crochet Sampler Afghan (the Left-Handed Edition has been selling especially well!)
- Celebrated 40th birthday by meeting so many great designers and crocheters at the Knit and Crochet Show in Reno
October - First US published patterns and article on Reversible Intarsia, Happy Day Playmat and Reversible Intarsia Book Cozy in Interweave Crochet Accessories
November - First Book Proposal......
December - Pinebark Scarf pattern in Interweave Crochet Winter
- Awesome Crochet Blog Award for Most Achievements in Crochet in 2012 from Crochet Concupiscence
- Recognized as a Crochet "Professional" by the Crochet Guild of America

Wow, that's a lot of firsts. Did not realize until I saw it all listed. I have to admit I have been eating, drinking, and sleeping crochet for most of the past year. I stay up until the wee hours writing patterns and fall asleep dreaming of what I want to make next. I crochet on my daughter's playdates (have 'hooked' most of my friends), while watching movies (in a dark theater), rocking my little one to sleep (more dark), and even in the dentist's chair (sold 3 copies of my book at their office!). Even the fiction I read is yarn related (mostly knitting since there's only the one crochet series so far).

As I reflect on the past year and look forward to the next, I know I need to make a few changes, before I burn out and stop enjoying my new "job". Now that I know I CAN get some of my designs published, I want to slow down a bit, and enjoy my little one while she is still home with me. Soon enough she will be in school all day along with her big brother, and I can really try crocheting full time. This does not mean I will stop designing, just means I plan to focus on one BIG project, instead of lots of little ones... For now...

Here's to another great year! Hope yours is thrilling as well!

Handmade Holidays

Tree skirt from the granny squares
I learned to crochet on & ornaments
made by my son & grandma

Now that the rush of out of town family and last minute projects has settled, I can finally get in a little writing time. Although I did not plan to make any handmade gifts myself this year we certainly had a lot of handmade gifts under (and on the tree).
The end of school snuck up on me, as it always does, but I had fortunately thought to buy a gift card for my son's teacher when I was near Learning Palace a couple weeks before. I had planned to crochet her a mug cozy for the constant mug of coffee I have noticed she keeps near her desk. So the night before the last day I found myself whipping up a little mug cozy, and of course put her name on it in intarsia. Did you know that a mug cozy makes the perfect wrapping for a gift card? Just add ribbon!

The Monday after the kids got out of school, I hosted my annual Crafty Kids Gift Making Workshop at the local community center, helping 3 dozen kids make 5 gifts each. This year they made Cocoa in a Jar, Candy Filled Cookie Cutters, Mitten Ornaments made from recycled felted sweaters, Beaded Cord Bookmarks, and Glass Magnets. The following day I used up some of the left-over materials by inviting my neighbor to bring her nieces and grandkids over to make more Cocoa and Cookie Cutters in my craft studio. She is always looking for activities to keep the kids busy when they visit during vacation.

When my visiting family began to arrive, my mother brought along a bird house which she had only just begun to cover in bits of glass, beads and charms. After sitting quietly for about half an hour, watching his grandmother work, my crafty 7 year old son spent the rest of the afternoon helping his grandmother finish the project to add to my sister's collection of birdhouses that decorate her living room.

My grandmother arrived first, so she had the whole week to find gifts, and finish plastic canvas ornaments for every member of the family. She quietly asked my husband if he could procure four bricks for her, which we later discovered went into plastic canvas doorstops that look like houses, complete with window awnings and flowers planted along the fronts.

On Christmas Eve my 20 year old cousin, who I taught to crochet when she was 11, remembered one more gift she needed. She asked if I had some yarn so she could make something for my mother in law, and (with just a little help) she whipped up a bottle cozy that night. My MIL tends to walk everywhere she goes, and carries her bottle of coffee with her, so I knew it would be useful.

Finally, the big project for me this year, which I finished and delivered just yesterday, was a group project for the young son of a friend of ours who recently had surgery. Six other moms helped me make squares for an afghan including a few of his favorite things and colors, which should be keeping him very cozy.

Crochet Concupiscence - Give Away & Awards!

Today is the first day of the 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway over on the Crochet Concupiscence Blog. Not only am I one of the sponsors of the Give Away this year (you can win a copy of my Book!), this week Kathryn awarded me with one of her coveted Awesome Crochet Blog Awards of 2012, for Most Achievements in Crochet!

Kathryn Vercillo has her finger on the pulse of the world of crochet. Hers is the one blog I check almost every day. I discovered Crochet Concupiscence about this time last year, and remember seeing her posts about her giveaway and blog awards. At the time I wished I had a product to donate for the giveaway and fantasized that some day I might be included among the Awesome Crocheters she honors each year!

I got to know Kathryn when she interviewed me for her book, "Crochet Saved My Life", about using crochet to heal from physical and mental health issue. She included my story about using crochet to help me through the loss of our daughter Rowan.

Be sure to link over to Crochet Concupiscence all this month, check out the other Award winners to discover awesome crochet blogs, and enter every day until Christmas for chances to win lots of amazing prizes including books, hooks, patterns and yarn from: Crochet Happy, 2nd Look Vintage, A Creative Being, Mel’s Daisy Patch, Too Cute Crochet, By Number 19, AnastaciaKnits, Dly’s Hooks and Yarns, CrochetKitten, Crochet Concupiscence, and me of course.