I like the Ocean Pearls Cardigan!  I've always wanted to try a sweater!

I vote for Malabrigo Top by Julia Vaconsin.  All are cute designs.  

2nd choice Ocean Pearls Cardigan by Julia Vaconsin

I love the Ocean Pearls cardigan.  I  voted through survey monkey, but here is the question - what size do the proposed patterns go to?  That makes a difference of whether I will participate or not.

what a co-inkydink! only yesterday i organized all my different crochet magazines into their own magazine holders so i was able (finally) to go straight to the  issue i need! i love it! can't wait to get going.

I, also, vote for the Ocean Pearls Cardigan.  This is already on my list of projects I'd like to do, but haven't yet gotten the yarn.  So, this would be a nice nudge to get going.  (I did vote thru Survey Monkey)  Second choice would be Malabrigo Top, which I would make for my daughter.  Probably wouldn't participate with the Beach Sarong.  Certainly nothing wrong with it and I like the stitch pattern.  But have no interest in making.  Thanks, Cheryl

woould love to join the crocet along but the patterns you chose are not right for my over sized body....a shawl or summer scarf would be nice....any ideas

Linda B in MI

I think its great! My only problem is that most of interweave is made for smaller people and those of us who are larger are left out. I've tried many of their patterns and have to give them to my smaller siblings and in-laws. They have a lot of beautiful items that they never wear because they aren't their style or color. LOL

Great choices!  I vote for the Malabrigo Top, although the Ocean Pearls Cardigan would be a close second.  (I have never actually done a CAL, but these patterns would make me very interested in trying it.)

I vote for the Ocean Pearls Cardigan.

I love the Ocean Pearls sweater.  

Hi All!

To clarify about sizes: The Ocean Pearls Cardigan is sized for 33 1/4 (36 1/2, 40, 43 1/2, 50)" bust circumference. Bott: The pattern stitch would make a lovely rectangular shawl, if you want to crochet-along, but not make the sweater. We can definitely work in a regular shawl pattern in a future CAL! We have some lovely shawls in the upcoming Summer issue :)

The Malabrigo Top is sizes 31 1/4 (35, 38 1/2, 42, 45 1/2)"

Hope that helps in decision-making! Can't wait to get started on whatever you all choose!

Marcy

I vote Malabrigo Top!!

Perhaps I’m naïve. I’ve never joined a CAL, and so when I read the April 19th edition of crochet me I thought I might give this one a try. Interweave Crochet is one of my favorite magazines, and, I guess, if I had to say why it is a favorite, I would have to say, among the factors, first would be the more in depth articles and interviews (yes, I know that sounds like the unbelievable excuse often given by men to explain their reasons for the purchase of other magazines of a more adult nature, but I hope you’ll believe me this time). Next would be the symbols of the minutia of the patterns, and finally it would be the patterns themselves. The reason’s causing the patterns position in the litany would be the preponderance of feminine articles of attire, and I quite understand that, most crocheters are ladies and that proclivity makes sense from a marketing standpoint.  The problems presented by the near exclusivity of ladies patterns,  for those of us men who love crochet, and we are growing rapidly in number daily, is the same problem, only heightened in scale, often mentioned in magazines and other printed matter concerning projects the ladies have making items the men in their lives will actually wear and appreciate. On our side of the equation managing to acquire measurements for the ladies in our lives are much more difficult. A man can be horns waggled long enough for the measurements to be taken. But ladies, how often are you going to allow a man, no matter how good a friend to measure your bust line? Yeah, that’s what I thought. Even asking a lady what size sweaters and blouses she wears leaves us on shaky ground.

Now that I have vented my spleen over the difficulties faced by men who crochet, or that “K” word, I’ll get to the point of my missive. In a nutshell, most crochet-alongs, at least the ones I have paid attention to don’t ask the followers to purchase the patterns. I may be all wet here, and if so I’ll reference my naiveté. And to explain the reason for much I have written here, the “Beach Sarong” looks like it would, quite easily become a shawl or stole and measurements aren’t all that important for such a garment, but on my fixed and very limited income, I’m not likely to buy a pattern for a CAL. Yarn and magazine subscriptions have already eaten up all of my discretionary income, which is not really all that discretional. $5.50 = 2 pots of beans. John Hablinski

Hi John!

Glad to hear from you!

Totally with you on the men's patterns -- I wish I saw more of them!

As far as purchasing the patterns, all the CALs (and KALs) I've seen rely on a common pattern, procured by the CALers in the usual, legitimate fashion. Unless it is an unvetted, unedited, unstyled, free-on-the-Web pattern OR something from a vetted, edited, styled eBook, it will have to be purchased. I don't really see a way around that. (Our current eBooks, btw, are accessories, which don't really have the substance for a Crochet-Along which typically lasts a few weeks.).

And, yes, there is SUCH potential in the Sarong. It can become lots of things --   window curtains, maybe. It's a fun lace pattern. And the patterning in the Cardigan has potential too -- pillows? A throw? A shawl?

If you don't join us on this CAL, I hope you'll keep an eye out for a future CAL.

Best,

Marcy

I've been wanting to make the Malabrigo Top since I first saw the pattern. I was just looking through the magazine again this week and when I saw the pattern was tempted, but ultimately exercised restraint, reminding myself that I pledged to complete some of the many 'works in progress' before beginning a new project. For the first CrochetMe  Knit-Along,  I would make an exception. Hope the Malabrigo Top will be the project!

Ocean Pearls is just beautiful, it gets my vote

I'd love to crochet along. I vote for Ocean Pearls or Malabrigo Top.

Hello!  I really like the Ocean Pearls cardigan and think it would be a good choice because I could make it for myself or a relative or friend as a gift.

Hello Foks.

I am new to your blog site.  I would like to do the Ocean Pearls

Cardigan but being in bankruptcy does not leave me with alot

of "spare funds".  How can i get a copy of the pattern?

Thanks.

Penny (mzunocennt@aol.com)