Inside Interweave Crochet

Join the Solar Wrap Crochet-along

Sarah Read — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 22:00:00 GMT

Hello Crocheters!

When bombarded with irresistible crochet projects, I find the best solution is to just start. Dive in. So I did. Join me?


Solar Wrap by Daniela Nii

I'll be making the Solar Wrap, designed by Daniela Nii. It's an adorable motif wrap with a fun construction, working a row of partial motifs then wrapping back around to finish them, just like a swirling sun storm. The wee motifs are addictive-I keep picking it up to work another without even thinking about it.

I wanted to try a new yarn for this wrap, and fell in love with CoBaSi by Hikoo, from Skacel. It's a cotton, bamboo, silk blend wrapped around an elastic core, which gives it great drape and movement. This pattern will work well with just about any yarn, any weight or fiber. You could work it in worsted weight with fewer strips for a fun scarf, or if you need a bite-sized version, work the Soleil Lariat, also in the Summer issue, which uses the same motif for a great accent necklace. Dare I say, it would make a lovely thread bedspread? I had to talk myself down from that one...

I'll try to wait to crank out any more tiny motifs until the start date. No promises, though.

Best,

Sarah

Interweave Crochet Summer 2013 CAL: Solar Wrap by Daniela Nii

Getting Started:

Finished Size: About 141/2" wide and 65" long.

Yarn: Austermann Algarve (100% Mako cotton mercerized and gassed; 155 yd [142 m]/13/4 oz [50 g]; CYCA #1): #0036, 6 skeins. Yarn distributed by Skacel.

Hook Size: E/4 (3.5 mm). Adjust hook size if necessary to obtain correct gauge.

Notions: Yarn needle.

Gauge: 1 motif = 21/2" square worked through Rnd 5 of long strip; blocked.

Schedule:

June 20-30: Pick out yarn.

July 1-31: Make long strips.

August 1-15: Make short strips.

August 15-31: Join strips, block, dance party.

Pop-Hop Sleeves: Joining Motifs

Marcy Smith — Mon, 27 May 2013 14:00:00 GMT

In the Summer 2013 issue of Interweave Crochet, you'll find a nifty pattern for crocheted sleeves by Natasha Robarge. This little tutorial should help you create, assemble and join the motifs. Joined, the motifs form cap sleeves that replace fabric sleeves on a jersey shirt.
	Each sleeve calls for a large flower, a half flower, and three leaf pieces: a one-leaf piece, a two-leaf piece, and a three-leaf piece. In addition, you'll work a very charming rick-rack-type edging that is super addictive. This goes around the sleeve cap and the sleeve edge. Note that when you initially work the edging it will be all twisty, like a corkscrew. Just hold a steam iron over the edging and give it a little blast. It will straighten out right away. In fact, you'll want to steam all the pieces before you join them. You'll notice, too, that the big bloom has some wonkiness on one of the petal edges. This is because I missed a TURN. This is all explained below. (You know, continuing on in my tradition of making mistakes so you don't have to.)
	The flower motif has an interesting construction that may give you pause for a moment. Here's a walk-through. Make the chain as described, leaving a pretty long tail as instructed. Work over this tail as you crochet around the circle.
	Now, here's the part you may not have done before: Crochet around the tail as instructed.
	Then chain as instructed. Right there in midair without joining first (no picture of this--sorry). THEN you TURN the work and slip stitch into the backside of the circle. (Pay attention to the TURNS in the pattern. I missed a turn in my first bloom, shown in the top photo.)
	TURN, and then crochet up the chain you just made. There will be naked chains at the top when you're done with the stitches. This is OK.
	When you work all your blooms, chain as instructed, then join with a slipstitch in the first bloom.
	TURN, and then crochet over those naked chains as instructed.
	TaDa! When your blooms are done, lay out your pieces on the sleeve template as described in the pattern. NOTE: I have worked my pieces in a heavier weight cotton because my wrist is unhappy and I am unable to crochet thread at the moment. Therefore, I did not do a sleeve template because I don't have a sleeve large enough. So, if the pieces look big to you in relationship to the size of the hook, that's because they are. And we'll just carry on with the whole joining thing as if these are lovely wee bits of cotton thread.
	After you have laid out your motifs as desired on the template, turn them wrong side up, with spaces between. The pattern allows for using the very long tail of the motifs as a joining thread. I have used a separate joining thread. I started at the edging. Working in a zig-zag pattern, work 3-4 chains, and then join to the motif with a sl st, inserting hook back to front; work 3-4 ch, then join with sc to edging, repeat until you come to a place where you would need more than 3-4 ch to join.
	At this place, chain twice as many ch and join a little ways down the edging (skipping 1 rick on the rick-rack is about right). Repeat this until you get to a place where you can join to the next motif with just 3-4 ch.
	Sc in new motif, ch 3-4, then work sc in larger ch space.
	Then work 3-4 ch and join to same motif.
	Ch 3-4 and join with sc in the next big loop. At this point, you are close enough to the first motif that you can ch 3-4 and join to first motif.
	Continue on in this way, joining motifs and filling space as necessary. This is an inexact thing—let your eye be your guide. Note the thread awkwardly caught in the space between some chain loops because SOMEbody didn't remember to pull it round to the working side. Don't let this happen to you.
	This is it, flipped over, right side up. It looks a little disheveled, but a blast of steam and a bit of pinning will straighten it right up.
You can apply these motifs in other ways as well -- use them to fill a scoop-neck tee or dress. Or use them as an insert in the back of a tee. Try them to add a flirty hem to a dress or skirt. Let us know how you use this technique to create your own designs! Happy crocheting! Marcy

Ennis Shawl: Tunisian Tall Stitches

Toni Rexroat — Mon, 27 May 2013 13:00:00 GMT

If you have ever crochet a project using Tunisian simple stitch, Tunisian knit stitch, or Tunisian purl stitch, you have probably noticed that they have some in common. These three stitches are all relatively short, closer in height to a single crochet stitch.


	Ennis Shawl by Vashti Braha

The height of these Tunisian stitches creates a thick, warm fabric perfect for sweaters, hats, scarves, and bags. But these popular Tunisian stitches, like single crochet, are slower than taller stitches.

But you can work Tunisian double crochet, Tunisian treble crochet, and Tunisian double crochet stitches as well. These gorgeous stitches have more stability and structure than their counterpart, non-Tunisian stitches. Take advantage of the benefits of both tall Tunisian crochet stitches as well as the more conventional simple, knit, and purl Tunisian stitches to create unique projects like the Ennis Shawl by Vashti Braha from the Interweave Crochet Summer 2013 issue.

The Ennis Shawl uses a tall Tunisian stitch called the Tunisian Twisted Double Treble. This stitch is worked into a row of Tunisian stitches. To work the stitch follow the steps below.

Chain to the height of the Tunisian stitch. Yarn over 3 times.

Insert hook from left to right behind the vertical bar of the indicated stitch.

Pull up a loop. There should be 4 loops on your hook.

Yarn over and draw through 2 loops 3 times. One loop should remain on your hook. Leave this loop on the hook and work the next stitch. Just like with Tunisian's other stitches, one loop for each stitch will be kept on the hook on the forward pass.

The return pass is worked as normal. Yarn over and draw through 1 loop on hook, *yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook; repeat from * until only 1 loop remains on the hook.

So grab your hook and favorite spring yarn and learn how to create tall Tunisian crochet stitches with the Ennis Shawl.

Best wishes,

Back Page Summer 2013: A Reef Grows in Denver

Marcy Smith — Mon, 27 May 2013 12:30:00 GMT

On the Back Page of the Summer 2013 issue of Interweave Crochet, you'll find a stunning photo of stunning crochet. Here's its story. The Denver Art Museum just opened a very cool exhibit: Spun: Adventures in Textiles (it's open until Sept 22, 2013). You can read all about initial impressions on our sister site Spinning Daily. The Spun show is an extensive array of all things textile, including the Institute for Figuring's Crochet Coral Reef project. You've probably heard about the Crochet Coral Reef project—it's been around since 2005. But the remarkable thing about this reef is that it keeps growing!
	On its site, CCR notes: The Crochet Coral Reef (CCR) is a project by the Institute For Figuring, a non-profit Los-Angeles based organization that pioneers creative new methods for engaging the public about scientific and environmental issues by putting people and communities at the core. The CCR is a project that resides at the intersection of mathematics, marine biology, handicraft and community art practice, and also responds to the environmental crisis of global warming and the escalating problem of oceanic plastic trash. It has been exhibited in art and science museums worldwide, including the Andy Warhol Museum (Pittsburgh), The Hayward (London), the Science Gallery (Dublin), and the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History (Washington D.C.) Seen by more than three million people, the CCR is one of the largest participatory science + art projects in the world. Through its Satellite Reef program, the Institute's team has held lectures and workshops on five continents to teach the techniques of reef-making, and the related science and math, to local communities. Since 2005 the IFF has continued to build this global network that now includes more than 7000 active citizens.
	One of those citizens is one of our favorite crochet designers, Linda Permann. Linda created the pieces shown on the Back Page (with details of pieces shown here). Linda is the designer of several projects in Interweave Crochet and elsewhere, as well as author of Crochet Adorned and Little Crochet. As such, she usually crochets with a hook in one hand and a pen in the other. Here, she tells us about the experience of creating these delightful contributions to the Crochet Coral Reef project. Working on pieces for the reef was really fun. I start each one with a ball of yarn and a general idea (long tubes, or pods, or brain corals) and just get going. Knowing that I'm never going to have to write down how I did something means I can put my hook wherever I want, whenever I want, try weird things and keep them or rip them out, and crochet without worrying about symmetry, simplicity or efficiency. It's also been a really good excuse to play with my novelty yarns. They are crazy and perfect to create the little hairy edges to these lifelike forms. It's also liberating to know that no one is going to pick at how they turn out, they are just for me, for fun, and—well, until the writing of this article—a totally anonymous contribution.
	I actually have a lot to learn when it comes to crochet sculpture, structure and strength, because it is really all about the form and less about the stitch pattern. I rarely use solid single crochet in any of my designs but it happens to work best for reef sculpture, and although I might find it boring to work an entire shawl in it, it's actually quite meditative to make these little tubes. I don't have to think about them, I just keep hooking and hooking and before I know it I have another tube. As a designer, it was easy to forget to take the time to play and experiment. Every time I start something new, I ask myself if I should write the pattern. It's been easier to let go of that now that I have a day job, but, it's still an impulse. The Crochet Coral Reef project has been a really nice creative break from all of that.
The exquisite photography of these exquisite pieces was done by Jon Rose. Visit his site to see more of his work. Be sure to check out his Found photography. Have you created pieces for the Crochet Coral Reef Project? Or created crochet for the sake of creating? Please share your own crochet creations in our Member Photo Gallery. Happy creating! Marcy

Ventura Vest Lace Pattern

Sarah Read — Mon, 27 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

One of the most enjoyable parts of our pattern process is getting to swatch all of the fun designs as they come in. I know swatching is generally described as anywhere from "tedious" to "despised" by many stitchers, but it's a great opportunity to tear one's eyes away from the computer and pick up some yarn for a while.


Ventura Vest by Robyn Chachula

Some swatches are fairly straightforward, used only to gauge measurement, and some swatches are more complex, an almost necessary practice of the stitch. And some are like frolicking through the meadow with ribbons in your hair.

For me, the lace stitch pattern from Robyn Chachula's Ventura Vest in Interweave Crochet Summer 2013 was of the meadow-frolic variety. Its charming petal cluster construction and natural bias kept it interesting and fun to construct. It took some concentration, though.

Robyn creates fantastic diagrams, and we never can fit all the ones we want into our limited number of pages, so I thought I'd share the extras here (fine them below the pictures below) , along with a pictorial swatch-along. The swatch instructions are slightly different from these diagrams, which show actual parts of the garment, but working with either the directions or the diagrams will be great practice for this stitch. And may induce frolics.

~ Sarah Read

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

End of Row 1

Beginning of Row 2

Row 2 Step 2

Row 2 Step 3

End of Row 2

Beginning of Row 3

Row 3 Step 2

End of Row 3

Beginning of Row 4

End of Row 4

Beginning of Row 5

Beginning of Row 6

Row 6 Step 2

End of Row 6

Beginning of Row 7

End of Row 7

Extra Small/Small Top Back Panel

Stitch Diagram Key

Extra Small/Small Top Front Panel

Medium/Large Top Back Panel

Medium/Large Top Front Panel

Extra Large/2 Extra Large Back Panel

Extra Large/2 Extra Large Front Panel

Yarn Spotlight Summer 2013

Marcy Smith — Mon, 27 May 2013 11:40:00 GMT

In the Summer 2013 issue of Interweave Crochet, we review six silk-blend yarns. Here are seven more—because we just can't get enough of them! Love! Silk, a delicious, crochet-friendly fiber, is well suited for year-round wear, absorbing moisture in warm weather and keeping warm air close in cold weather. Scrumptious against the skin, it is smooth and soft without being slippery. All-silk fibers require a bit of care. The fiber is inelastic, so when it's stretched, it's stretched forever. This makes all-silk fibers terrific for shawls, which are lovelier still with the lace opened up. For other garments, look for yarns that combine silk with other, more elastic fibers. In these blended yarns, silk's characteristics play out in increased drape, as well as a delicate sheen that amplifies the beauty of the other fibers. In hand-dyes, the silk takes the dye differently, adding a subtle depth of color that further enhances the fiber. Here is a gathering of various blends of silk to fold into your own wardrobe. For fun, we've paired each fiber with a Hollywood star who best exemplifies the yarn's characteristics. The swatches are worked in the Starfish motif (page 90) in 150 Knit & Crochet Motifs by Heather Lodinsky (Interweave, 2011).
	HiKoo CoBaSi (dist by Skacel) CONTENT: 55% cotton, 16% bamboo, 8% silk, 21% elastic nylon PUT-UP: 220 yd, 201 m/1.76 oz, 50 g CONSTRUCTION: 3 plies of 2-ply CARE: machine wash cold, dry flat COLOR: 008, natural olive HOOK: F (3.75 mm) Sally Field: Think Gidget on the beach for this bouncy yarn. The bamboo lightens the cotton to create a very lightweight fabric with a slight glow from the silk. The elastic nylon gives the fabric a bit of stretch, perfect for garments worn with some negative ease. The yarn has plenty of texture on its own, so take advantage of a quick-working, simple solid stitch for maximum impact with minimal labor. PERFECT FOR A CLOSE-FITTING, FINE-STITCH SUMMER COVER-UP.
	Colinette Tao CONTENT: 100% silk PUT-UP: 127 yd, 117 m/1.75 oz, 50 g CONSTRUCTION: singles CARE: hand wash cold, dry flat COLOR: 173, sweet dreams HOOK: H/8 (5 mm) Michelle Williams: It looks sweet and it's soft as a whisper, but this yarn is tough and ready to stand up to use in your favorite summer stole or even a tank. The color interlinks playfully up long stitches. The fabric has great shine and a smooth finish. PERFECT FOR A SUMMER TANK OR LIGHT STOLE.
	Berroco Fuji CONTENT: 38% silk, 25% cotton, 22% rayon, 15% nylon PUT-UP: 125 yd, 115 m/1.75 oz, 50 g CONSTRUCTION: thread chained around core CARE: machine wash cold in bag, dry flat COLOR: 9238, stormcloud HOOK: G/6 (4.25 mm) Sandra Bullock: This yarn acts rugged, but is very sleek. It works up with excellent stitch definition and has a smooth finish. It has movement, but not a lot of drape. With the various fibers taking the dye differently, it is colorful without being garish. Look out: here comes another Miss Congeniality. PERFECT FOR A SUMMER CARDIGAN.
	Zitron Kimono dist by Skacel CONTENT: 54% merino new wool, 46% silk PUT-UP: 328 yd, 300 m/3.5 oz, 100 g CONSTRUCTION: 3-ply CARE: handwash cool, dry flat COLOR: 4004, wild berries purple HOOK: G/6 (4.25 mm) Susan Sarandon: There is a beautiful earthiness to this yarn that will work into long-wearing garments you will reach for again and again. Great stitch definition and a rustic silk combine in a yarn with depth of hue. The resulting fabric has terrific drape and texture. PERFECT FOR AN OPENWORK OR SOLID-STITCH SUMMER SHELL.
	Mango Moon Dharma CONTENT: 100% silk PUT-UP: 150 yd, m / oz, g CONSTRUCTION: singles CARE: handwash cool, dry flat COLOR: 9401, apricot HOOK: H/8 (5 mm) Gwyneth Paltrow: This eco-friendly, socially aware yarn is handspun and hand-dyed from recycled saris and sarongs by women in the Nepali Women's Empowerment Group. Sales help provide the women and their families with shelter and education. Each skein of slightly bristly thick-and-thin yarn is unique, with the colors showing best on leggy stitches. The fabric is beautifully rustic. PERFECT FOR ACCESSORIES, A COWL, OR A SCARF.
	Noro Taiyo CONTENT: 40% cotton, 30% silk, 15% wool, 15% nylon PUT-UP: 218 yd, 200 m/3.5 oz, 100 g CONSTRUCTION: singles CARE: handwash cool, dry flat COLOR: 40, blue, white, purple, red HOOK: I/9 (5.5 mm) Shirley Temple: This chubby cloud of a yarn can go up to a J or K hook to give room for the cotton to bloom. You'll find yourself humming "On the Good Ship Lollipop" as you watch the long repeats unfold—perfect for bloom motif work, where each bloom would be a different color. This charming yarn has wisps of raw silk and sparks of color. PERFECT FOR A SUMMER MOTIF COVER-UP OR A SOFT BABY ACCESSORY.
	Rowan Summer Tweed CONTENT: 70% silk, 30% cotton PUT-UP: 131 yd, 120 m/1.76 oz, 50 g CONSTRUCTION: 2-ply (slub) CARE: handwash cool, dry flat COLOR: 542, mango HOOK: J/10 (6 mm) Dame Maggie Smith: This yarn has a rugged look, but works into a beautiful fabric. The tweediness makes it a bit hard to read, much like Lady Violet Crawley when she is getting her way with quiet firmness. The slubby silk makes it sturdy with some movement; the drape is minimal, but the color variation is delightful. PERFECT FOR A SPRING PULLOVER.
Have you crocheted a project something with a silk-blend yarn? We'd love to see it! Please share in the reader's gallery. Happy crocheting! Marcy

Palm Tunic: Attaching Motifs

Sarah Read — Mon, 27 May 2013 11:30:00 GMT

Summer is a great time for motif projects. The bite-sized elements are light and easy to work, and they come together quickly into stunning garments. When you can join those motifs together as you go, you get the added pleasure of a quickly-finished piece without the fiddly frustration of seaming it all at the end. Cristina Mershon's lovely Palm Tunic from Interweave Crochet Summer 2013 is made up of triangle motifs that are joined as you go. She uses two kinds of joins: a picot join at the corners and a chain-2 join in the center of the edge. Here's a quick picture guide to these clever joins. You work your first motif as it is written in the pattern, and fasten it off. For your next motif, you will work all but the last round exactly as written, and work the joins on the final round. When you reach the tip of a triangle point, you will work a picot join. This join begins the picot, then slip stitches to the picot on the adjacent motif, then completes the picot on the working motif.


Ready to join	Picot join step one	Sl st at end of picot join

When you reach the center chain space on the triangle's edge, you work a chain-2 join, where you chain, slip stitch to the chain space on the adjacent motif, then chain again, and continue on the working motif as written.

		At the next point, you work another picot join. That completes the joins for one edge of the triangle.
Ready for ch-2 join	Two completed joins

	When you're working the garment pattern, you will most often be joining more than one motif at a time, and frequently will be working a join in every corner and edge space around. The layout order of motifs is shown for each size, so you'll know exactly where to join for each piece. You'll see a sweater emerging before you know it. Enjoy your motifs and lovely summer sweaters! Best, Sarah
Three completed joins

Back Page Spring 2013: Beanie Bonanza, Part 3

Marcy Smith — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 10:32:00 GMT

In previous blogs, I told you the story behind the beanie on the Back Page of the Spring 2013 issue of Interweave Crochet. The first installment of beanies can be found here. In this third and final installment, nine crochet beanies show their stuff. Note that, as with the crocheted beanies in Part 2, I was working from stash yarn, which can be anonymous or unavailable. Where possible, I've provided links. Also, not all the beanies follow a pattern precisely. Where possible, I've described the variations. Where the pattern is not available, I've made a note. Many of the available patterns are free downloads; just click on the name. I hope the variations inspire you to crochet your own great beanies!
	Pattern: Beaufort Beret/ freelance flower Yarn: Lamb's Pride Worsted Hook: P for hat; 8mm for flower Notes: Three strands (one each of three colors) are held together for hat; two strands (one each of two colors) are held together for big ol' flower.
	Pattern: Five-Spice Hat by Dora Ohrenstein Yarn: Bravo Big Hook: P Notes: Love this hat! Love the color, the yarn, the pattern. It took only 45 minutes to makes and it's machine washable.
	Pattern: Acorn Cap by Dora Ohrenstein (variation) Yarn: Lion Hometown USA Hook: N Notes: Hat is worked sl st blo only, instead of incorporating sl st flow as pattern directs.
	Pattern: Beaufort Beret Yarn: Anonymous Hook: P Note: I love this yarn. I wish I knew what it is—or rather, was, for it is certainly discontinued now. This crocheted beanie took only 20 minutes.
	Pattern: Lace Cap by Kim Werker Yarn: Cotton Classic Lite (colors 4725 & 4702) Hook: E Note: I actually made this cap a while back, whilst traveling. You can read about that here. I mentioned in a previous blog that I altered my mode of transport so that I no longer have long layovers (to wit: I now fly direct on Southwest whenever possible), which adds up to happier travel, but less crochet time. And also: It really is nice have a little stash of hats! This one teaches a thing or two about lace and interesting increases.
	Pattern: Tahoe Hat Yarn: Lamb's Pride Worsted Hook: J Note: This hook is a bit large for this yarn, as you can see by gappiness between stitches. But there's no such thing as a bad hat—it will be just right for someone.
	Pattern: Freelance Yarn: Lion Chenille Thick & Quick Hook: /lost track of this info. It's big/ Note: Cray-wha? But, as it happens, I was making this in a coffeeshop near a gaggle of teen-agers. And they liked it.
	Pattern: Acorn Cap by Dora Ohrenstein Yarn: Lamb's Pride Bulky Hook: L Note: You'll notice that Hedi (the mannequin) is not in this picture. This hat sits on her head like the hat on Mr. Potato-Head. But, reference above: no such thing as a bad hat. This will be great for a kid. But if you want to make it for a grown-up, use a bigger hook with this yarn.
	Pattern: Acorn Cap by Dora Ohrenstein Yarn: Lamb's Pride Worsted Hook: N Note: The ombre effect of this beanie (the one featured in the print issue) is achieved by using two strands held together, subbing out the lightest color for the next darkest every four rounds. For this hat, and several others, I used a very cool wood hook designed by Katherine Kowalski. If you're in the mood for a treat, check out her very awesome crochet hooks.
I can't wait to see the beanies you crochet! Share them in the Member Photo Gallery. And let us know about your favorite go-to beanie patterns in the comments below. Happy crocheting! Marcy

Back Page Spring 2013: Beanie Bonanza, Part 2

Marcy Smith — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 10:22:00 GMT

Last week, I told you the story behind the beanie on the Back Page of the Spring 2013 issue of Interweave Crochet. Here's a closer look at some of those beanies. Please note that I was working from stash yarn. Because of this, some yarn is no longer available. Some of it is not even identifiable. Where possible, I've provided links. Also, in the course of my beanie-making frenzy, I sometimes deviated from the pattern or just invented something on the spot. Where possible, I've described the variations. Where the pattern is not available, I've made a note. Many of the available patterns are free downloads; just click on the name. I apologize in advance for any frustration this causes in your own beanie-making ventures. My hope is that you'll find enough inspiration here to crochet beanies of your own design as well.
	Pattern: Tahoe Hat Yarn: Manos Maxima Hook: L Note: This hat was super big when I finished it. So I gave it a whirl in the washer with hot water and a little soap. Now it's felted and fine to wear.
	Pattern: Tahoe Hat Yarn: Lamb's Pride Bulky and Manos Maxima Hook: P Note: This beanie also took a hot bath.
	Pattern: Beaufort Beret Yarn: Bravo Big Hook: P Note: I re-created this beret from the hat I got in Beaufort. It's speedy—only twenty minutes. I can't share the pattern I came up with, because it belongs to the original designer. But if you experiment with working between stitches, I bet you can come up with something similar that works. The exuberant flower is also a freeform design.
	Pattern: Acorn Cap by Dora Ohrenstein (Variation) Yarn: Lion Wool-Ease Thick n Quick Stripes (popsicle) Hook: N Note: I worked sl st blo all the way up, instead of incorporating sections of sl st flo as the pattern directs.
	Pattern: Acorn Cap by Dora Ohrenstein (variation) Yarn: Manos Maxima and Lion Wool-Ease Thick n Quick Stripes Hook: P Note: For the body of the hat, I worked the alternating sl st blo / sl st flo pattern through the crown, rather than incorporating a strip of sl st blo as the pattern directs. The edging is a round of sc, then a round of rev sc.
	Pattern: Freelance Yarn: Lion Landscapes (discontinued) Hook: K Note: Freeform all the way, working with a sc / ch 1 set-up. It's more of a slouch than a beret, with three rounds of sc solid to hug the head.
	Pattern: Hot Cross Slouch Beret by Jennifer Appleby Yarn: Manos del Uruguay Serena Hook: G Note: I blogged about this in the Well-Traveled Hat Series here and here.
	Pattern: freelance Yarn: A medley of stash: variegated plied with eyelash, Lion Homespun, Manos Maxima. Hook: Q Note: This is a sturdy cap with a bit of attitude. It ate up a lot of yarn pretty fast and makes a statement, for sure.
	Pattern: Five-Spice Hat by Dora Ohrenstein Yarn: Reynolds Smile (discontinued) Hook: P Note: It's too bad this yarn is discontinued. I love how this looks like a snow-covered mountaintop—just right for Colorado, its new home.
	Pattern: Tahoe Hat Yarn: Patons Classic Roving and Manos Maxima Hook: K Note: Well, here's a funny thing. This is not this hat. But it looks exactly like it.
Whew! There is the first installment of hats, to get you started. Come back next week for the third and final part of the Beanie Bonanza! Happy Crocheting! Marcy

Vickie Howell: Rock on! in the Kitchen

Marcy Smith — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 11:11:00 GMT

In her Parenthook column in the Spring 2013 issue of Interweave Crochet, Vickie Howell designed a fabulous apron to make cooking even more fun. As a bonus, she's sending along her secret family recipe for Vegetarian "Beef" Chili. If you haven't made it yet, you can whip it up while the chili simmers in the slow cooker! Here's Vickie to show you how to Rock On! in the kitchen.
	Now that you've made our Apron Strings project, it's time to wear it! Vegetarian "Beef" Chili is a staple in our house. It's hearty, low in calories, easy to make and super delicious. It's also one of the recipes that consistently opens non-vegetarians' minds to incorporating some meat-substitute options into their regular, meal line-up. Our chili recipe has evolved over time and is by no means an exact science. Experiment with spice amounts and enjoy! Oh, and have I mentioned how much I heart slow-cooker cooking? Well, I do. Why, you ask? Because less time in the kitchen cooking, means more time crocheting!
	Super Yummy, Vegetarian "Beef" Crockpot Chili 1/2 of large onion 1 Tbs minced garlic 1 bag Morningstar Meal Starter Grillers Recipe Crumbles (75% less fat than ground beef!) 2 Tbs chili powder, or to taste 2 tsp cumin, or to taste 1/2 Tbs dried basil, or to taste 1 Tbs dried oregano, or to taste 2 (10 oz.) cans Rotel (pick the heat and flavor you like!) 1 (15.5 oz.) can black beans 1 (15.5 oz.) can kidney beans 1 can corn 1 (6 oz.) can tomato paste 1/4 cup ketchup 1/4 cup red wine (optional) Pinch of salt 2 dashes cinnamon (optional) In a slow cooker, combine garlic, onion, Crumbles, chili powder, cumin, basil, and oregano. Stir. Add Rotel, beans, and corn, including all of the juices in the cans. Add tomato paste, ketchup, and wine. Stir. Add a pinch of salt and a couple more shakes of cumin, chili powder, and oregano. Let cook on Low for 5-7 hours or high for 3-4. Stir occasionally (you need to take a break from crocheting to stretch your hands!), adding more spices, wine or ketchup to taste, if desired. Serve topped with skim milk shredded cheddar.
Craft.Rock.Eat, Vickie Interested in more, yummy vegetarian meal ideas? Check out Vickie's collection of recipes from across the web-o-sphere on her Pinboard. Need Bernat Handicrafter yarn to make Apron Strings? Order it here! Get more kitchen related pattern ideas from Bernat.com btw: Vickie Howell is a designer, author, on-air personality, founder of Purple Stitch Project and International Spokesperson for Bernat Yarns. She lives in Austin, TX with her husband, 3 children, 2 cats and dog. For more information on any of her projects, go to www.vickiehowell.com and www.bernat.com/vickiehowell

Back Page Spring 2013: Beanie Bonanza

Marcy Smith — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 11:00:00 GMT

What's behind that beanie on the Back Page of the Spring 2013 issue of Interweave Crochet? Step into the time machine—I'm taking you back a couple of months, to the dawn of 2013.

On the cusp of this new year, I had two familiar goals: 1. Clear the tables, start fresh. 2. Do more good. I am often challenged to find the time to follow up completely on either goal. I was determined, though, to make the time this year.

I took a look around and thought about how I could improve both my world and somebody else's world. My eyes fell upon the yarnyarnyarn everywhere (you know, not draped from the chandeliers, but filling enough tidy little bins to make itself known in a room). I could open up my space a bit if I crocheted up some of that yarn. And I could crochet it into something that could help others.

After a moment or two, I lit upon an idea: make beanies. Fast beanies. In fact, how many beanies could I make in a day, whilst still getting my work done? (three, as it turns out). For the quickest gratification for both missions, I stuffed two bins' worth of my chubbiest yarn into a bag, along with a handful of patterns and my biggest hooks. I was ready for a mission.

In two weeks, I made 15 beanies. I added to this my stash of airplane beanies from the Well-Traveled Hat Series for a total of 19 beanies. (What ever happened to the Well-Traveled Hat series, you ask? I started flying Southwest exclusively. Most often, I have a direct flight to my destination, so no layover time. And SWA is very low drama, so there are very few delays. This adds up to happier travel, but less crochet time).

Now, what to do with that pile of beanies? (Because sometimes I make a thing to give away and it never actually makes it out the door.)

I happened upon the link to Urban Peak, which provides shelter and other assistance to homeless youth in Denver and Colorado Springs. The shelter in Denver was seeking donations of beanies, among other things. After a few calls and emails, I sent the beanies off to Urban Peak

Shortly after I received an email from Steven Hughes, manager of volunteers at Urban Peak:
Hey Marcy,
The beanies arrived today! And immediately a homeless young lady at our drop-in center began to "oohh & ahh" at them and found one that she loved! Thanks again so much for this great donation in helping and supporting the homeless youth here!!
Be well, Steve

Now that is instant gratification.

One other note: In the Strands column of the spring 2013 issue, I mention a hat that saved my cold head when I was in Beaufort, NC one weekend. Here's a bit about that hat.

First, here it is:

The Beaufort Beret is keeping my head and ears warm while I watch kiteboarders cavort in the wind and waves near the ferry terminal in Cedar Island, NC.
Here is the crocheter who made the beret:

This is Lexan Blanchard. aka CrimsonMosquito on Etsy com (see that puffy coat, along with her own crocheted hat and scarf? It really was cold.) Lexan has rarely been without a crochet hook in hand since she learned how to crochet five years ago. We had a little exchange of money and goods and we were both happier at the end. (She may have been even happier a bit later, because no fewer than three people stopped me on the sidewalk to ask where I got that hat.)

Yeah, I know. We're all hoping to not need hats pretty soon. But what if you whipped up some beanies now? Say, one a week? Come winter, you'll be able to make some heads warmer. Lexan makes her hats from multiple strands of yarn from her stash—it's a great way to use up bits of yarn left over from larger projects.

Come on back next week for a gallery of beanies, with patterns and yarns.

And, if you've been able to check off some of your own crochet / charity goals for 2013, let me know in the comments!

Happy crocheting,

Marcy

Back Page Winter 2013

Marcy Smith — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 11:00:00 GMT

In the Winter 2013 issue of Interweave Crochet, we wanted to frame our designers' beautiful garments amid the dark burn of the summer's wildfires. So we set up at Tip-Top Guest Ranch in Rist Canyon, site of the High Park Fire, one of the worst wildfires in Colorado history. The setting was perfect, if you define perfect as an area where the trees were completely destroyed. Framing the area, as it turns out, was the easy part. Actually navigating this devastating landscape was another story. As we walked through the area, our feet sank without warning into the dirt where the roots had burned into the soil, leaving hidden cavities. We set up the first shot so that the entire background was black soil and black trees, ideal for showing off Kathy Merrick's Mica Pullover. Winds gusted relentlessy, defining the path of the fire and churning up black soot that fought our eyelashes and hampered the camera equipment. Before we even got the first shot properly set up, our model was felled by a cinder in her eye. While she went back to the staging area for treatment, we were left without a model. Caleb of Harper Point, our intrepid photography team, began snapping pictures of the area. The resulting images are hauntingly beautiful. I decided to try to capture them in crochet, to bring together the images and our purpose for being there. At first, I crocheted a single scene--one that shows the new growth amid the burn. (This is the scene that appears in the issue.) But I wanted more. Those acrylic Polaroid photo cubes came to mind. Remember those? It's An acrylic cube sized to hold Polaroid photos. (Plastics were all the rage in the late 60s and 70s). So, I selected five more images and set about crocheting them. I "cropped" the photos into a square so that I could add the iconic white Polaroid frame. (Note: the beautiful images below are by Harper Point Photography. The not-so-beautiful snapshots of the crochet are by yours truly.)

Caleb laid flat on the ground to take this image of tiny new growth in the burned soil. It was the start of a long day of becoming intimate with the soil. Just beyond the black trees, you'll see brownish trees. This is "yellow burn," and it frames the black burn. Some of these trees have black trunks, brown needles, and at the top, a burst of green needles.

Shot from below, this tree stands stark against the impossible Colorado sky. Sunlight kisses the bark as the limbs cast shadows on themselves. The interplay of light and shadow was tricky to capture in mere yarn.

The full vertical of this image (which also appears on pages 58-59 of the magazine) reveals a rainbowish reflection at the top. Yarn is not up to the task of capturing the variance of light as it threads through the branches of the trees. The sun seems to be bestowing hope upon the forest.

The heat burned the bark off this branch, exposing the vulnerable center. Next to it, new growth is bursting forth. The earth appears black/brown here, but if you squint, you can see a glint. The ground was sparkling with mica; it was as if we were treading in a fairyland. To reflect this, I used a very special yarn: It is llama fiber spun with stellina by Elaine Sipes of Your Daily Fiber in Fort Collins. Elaine's farm near Livermore, CO, was the location for the Winter 2011 issue of Interweave Crochet. It is near the site of the High Park Fire. On June 14, Elaine wrote to me: We are still 12 miles from this fire, although we evacuated a week ago for a fire 1 mile to the east. All was well, all animals and the place is fine, and we now have some experience on how to do this. I hope we don't need it!  We are just praying for rain and less wind, and the llamas are getting used to wearing their halters all the time just in case.

New growth springs up tenaciously next to a rock, casting a shadow. Throughout the shoot, a phrase danced in my mind: "A terrible beauty is born," a line by William Butler Yeats that summarizes this experience so well.

We were at the burned area for a large part of the day, so we were able to see how the sunlight played with the landscape. Here a tiny tree, just coming up at the time of the fire, stands black, casting a shadow larger than itself. In the image, it's difficult to discern where the tree ends and the shadow begins, bringing to mind another line from Yeats: "How can we tell the dancer from the dance?" And still, that new growth springs up all around, giving green hope against the long shadow of destruction. And there, my friends, is my memory cube of the Interweave Crochet Winter 2013 photoshoot.
	A few notes on the crochet elements here: The cube is largely freeform crochet. The background is the same number of stitches and rows, worked in hdc flo to provide a solid, flat background. For some scenes, I crocheted a plain background, then worked surface crochet stitches and embroidery on it. Some have backgrounds crocheted in more than one color, incorporating intarsia at points. I drew on stash yarns for this, most in DK or light worsted. The extensive palette I used for an earlier Back Page project was a great source. I used Elaine's yarn for the sparkling ground, as noted above. Manos del Uraguay gives a nice tonal look to the greenery and bark. I stuffed the cube with orts. I keep a Mason jar in my work area to capture these little yarn ends and, well, it was full (curiously, even after stuffing this cube, it's still full—those things fluff up!)
I hope this installment of Back Page inspires you to your own crochet awesomeness. What event would you like to keep ready at hand? You might combine the earlier Back Page on crochet portraits and crochet a cube of portraits. Or mix portraits and landscape in, say, a beach memory cube. You could even make a cube with team logos on it for throwing at the TV during games. You could leave off the photo frame and work the images right to the edges. it's your cube after all. We'd love to see what creative paths you are inspired to follow! Please share in the Member Photo Gallery. Happy crocheting, Marcy

Great Projects for Tiny Yarn Balls

Marcy Smith — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 11:00:00 GMT

Yarn Spotlight in the the Winter 2013 issue of Interweave Crochet features Yarn Muffins—tiny balls of yarn, bundled as a sampler packs. The yarns featured include Knitwhits Freia Handpaints Miniskeins; The Natural Dye Studio miniskeins, Cephalapod Yarns mini-skein palettes; Apothecary Yarns Bumble Kit; and Lion Brand Yarn Bonbons. (For an indulgent mini-skein experience, check out Lorna's Laces Mini-Skein Kits and Koigu mini-skeinette bags. These would make a lovely motif-based garment!)

Anyhoo, I figured I'd have them all used up in no time.

Not so!

In fact, I've tasted only a fraction of them so far, and I've crocheted up a bounty! And I haven't spent any of the balls! (though the Lisa Loo wings below came close to using up the sparkly pink).

I'll be keeping these little gems close by for quick little projects throughout the year.
Meanwhile, here are some ideas for using your own little bits of yarn.

(oh, and if the preview tempts you with its abundance of rich wintry designs, you can find the Winter 2013 issue at your local yarn store or in the Crochet Me Shop as a print version or an instant electronic download. There's also the only mitten pattern you'll ever need--and you can use wee balls of All the Colors to adorn those mittens.)

Wee Gnome

I do have a gnome thing going on this year. This little gnome can be brightening your day in a jiffy. He's a tad smurfy, maybe, but I can make him in 40 other colors, too! You'll find the pattern at Elsa's Design; scroll past the other cuteness until you get to the gnome.

It's in Swedish. Unlike the big gnomes, this pattern is a tad difficult to follow without some sort of translation, so run it through Google Translator and just intuit what this means: Attach a small wire in luvspetsen so you can hang the plot.

Bullion Bloom

Perhaps you saw the great Beach Bullion Blanket by Donna Kay Lacey in the Summer 2012 issue? And you thought, "Hoo boy, that's a lot of bullions!" Donna just loves bullion stitch, so she created a smaller project, the Art Nouveau Bullion Necklace, for the Winter 2013 issue and you can work it up lickety-split.

To help select from among the gazillion colors I had, I dipped into Design Seeds and found a flower I like (Design Seeds is a great color tool when you just can't make up your mind or if you need a boost selecting colors that are happy together.)

(btw, check out In the Loop in the Winter 2013 issue to meet two readers who finished the Beach Bullion Blanket!)

Eureka!

The Holiday Lights Garland by Linda Permann is super-fun to make when you have 16 glittery Bonbons on hand! The shimmery yarns make the bulbs look like they're already lit up. Stitches of varying sizes create the iconic shape, and it's very difficult to stop with just a few.

You'll find the pattern in the 2012 Interweave Crochet Accessories issue (available in the Crochet Me Shop in print or a digital download)

Fairy Wings

I used the sparkly pink bonbon to make wings for Lisa Loo by Brenda K. B. Anderson. These fairy wings will be a great ornament while the rest of Lisa Loo is under construction.

If you haven't met Lisa Loo yet, you simply must. She likes to snitch socks from the laundry! (yup, she's the one who's been doing that).

The pattern for Lisa Loo is in the 2012 issue of Interweave Crochet Accessories.

Amazing motifs

ohmygosh! These little blooms—I just can't stop. They're more addictive than those Heffalumps the knitters are all crazy for—and so much speedier! You'll find the pattern in Clever Crocheted Accessories: 25 quick weekend projects by Brett Bara. Look for the Amazing Motif Bag by Regina Rioux.

I did reduce the petals by one stitch, because they were just crazypuffy at full size in this tinier yarn. I think these blooms worked full-size in a heavy yarn would make a terrific throw.

Oh, and what will these be? As the Wizard of Oz said, "I'll have to give the matter a little thought. Go away and come back tomorrow."

Meantime, happy crocheting! Share your own wee projects in the member photo gallery!

Marcy

New Free Crochet Patterns: The Final Clones Lace Motifs

Toni Rexroat — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 16:09:00 GMT

Have you tried any of the clones lace motifs from the Interweave Crochet Fall 2011 through Fall 2012? I know people who have created stacks of these delicate motifs, and I can't wait to see what they create.

But if a shawl or garment created entirely of little thread motifs seems a bit intimidating, why not try crocheting them in yarn or embellishing with these traditional motifs. Interweave Crochet Assistant Editor Sarah Read created a beautiful placematt embellished with the Clematis motif.

Here is Sarah to tell you about the newest Clones lace motifs-available in a free download:

New Clones Crochet Motifs

At last! Sound the fanfare: the final Clones motifs are now available for download! We're sorry for the delay on these ones, crocheters. There were some unforeseen complications in the works, but we're thrilled with the enthusiasm you all have for preserving this art and translating what has so far been an oral tradition into modern media for everyone to enjoy. We're so eager to see all of your finished projects! Be sure to post them in the galleries here on Crochet Me, or email them to us directly at crochet@interweave.com.

I've been hooked by this new Clematis motif, myself. I think every project is improved with a flower!

Happy crocheting,

Sarah

A Pigment of Your Imagination: Color Your Crochet

Sharon Zientara — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 15:59:00 GMT

In the upcoming Fall issue of Interweave Crochet, we give you a zillion reasons to love color in your crochet projects. There is a feature article about swatching on a large scale to practice colorwork in Superswatch (to the rescue!). Back to Basics has you covered with all the surface crochet techniques used in the issue. New & Notable gives you the tools to make your crochet colorwork experiences go smoothly. But how about choosing colors? How do you know which colors will be happiest together? How do you pick the best, most wham-bam color combinations every time?

Start by taking an image or object that has colors that speak to you. We'll use a beautiful shot of the Chevron Scarf that appears in the new Fall issue. It's from one of my favorite color-lovers, Kathy Merrick:

Chevron Scarf, Interweave Crochet Fall 2012

Next, find a color palette generator. A simple web search will return tons of free sites to try. One of my favorites is kuler.adobe.com. Kuler will ask you to upload the image from your computer and VOILA! All the colors of the image are automically pulled out by the program and into a palette you can use for yarn inspiration!

You can use your cursor to manually adjust the colors you want to isolate in the image, or kuler can automatically choose the mood and tone of the colors as well. Here is the same image, but with a more muted palette:

kuler.com also allows you to start with a base color that you like, and then the program chooses its complementary colors for you. You can also browse thousands of color palettes created by other users. Once you're done, you can save your color palette to your computer or in your kuler "library", or print it off and bring it with you to the yarn shop!

Another website to try is called ColorHexa. Here's the abridged version of how ColorHexa works: all colors on your computer monitor have a code, or a numerical representative. ColorHexa is basically the dictionary for every single one of these codes. You can generate your own color codes, then get their color friends and all the tones of that color. You can browse through their library of color codes to find your favorites, and find their complements, too.

Enjoy playing with color on these sites. But be warned: once you start, you may not be able to stop!

Happy Stitching and don't forget to pick up the new Fall issue of Interweave Crochet, chock full of color inspiration!

-Sharon

P.S. How do you draw color inspiration? Leave a comment below and tell us!