Sarah Read's Blog

Looking Back, Looking Forward: Crochet Resolutions

Sarah Read — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 23:37:00 GMT

It appears to be January again.
That means it's time to take a look at last year's resolutions, give myself a report card, and set new goals for this coming year. I think I might need an extra cup of hot cocoa to get through this!

Last year's goals:

1. Work from the stash. Grade: C.
I was pretty good at using up stash yarn this year! Unfortunately, I also replaced that used stash so quickly that the space it occupied didn't even have the chance to see sunlight. My one comfort is that if I hadn't kept using up the yarn as quickly as possible, we'd have to move the furniture onto the roof to make room for the new stash.

Goal: Reality:

2. Craft selfishly. Grade: D.
I did make myself a shawl (a BIG shawl, to be fair), and a hat. But...that's it. I did what I always do and made a lot of gifts. I blame this generous crafty nature for the onslaught of yarn (see goal 1). I couldn't make that baby toy out of alpaca lace! I had to go get cotton. My built-in loophole for last year is still serving me well in bailing myself out of this failing grade.

3. Finish projects. Grade: B.
I did, I did! I finished a lot of things. Not everything, alas, but the work-in-progress pile shrunk considerably. I am the proud owner of fewer than 10 WIPS. Ok, that sounded better in my head. However, I have not added to it at all. I would give myself an A, but I cheated a little and ripped out two big projects that I knew would never get done.

4. Spin 4oz fiber/month. Grade: F.
I...don't even want to talk about this one. I seem to have mistaken this rule for acquire 4 oz of spinning fiber a month.

5. Teach someone to crochet. Grade: A+.
I am happy to say that I have taught over a dozen people to crochet in the past year! The + is because one of them is a recovering knitter. I'll continue to convert/teach as many people as possible in the years to come!

Ok, so about this whole 2012 thing. Apparently I need to be more reasonable, as far as what I can really achieve in terms of goal-making. So we'll start there!

1. Be kind to myself. I just want to point out that giving myself huge lists of behavior-improving laws is not the best way to start the year off with this goal in mind!

2. Finish a few sweaters for myself. This is a bite-sized version of my "craft selfishly" goal from last year. That was too broad, so I'm narrowing it down for a better chance of success. Plus, I have two in progress already, so it should be well within reach. Please note the lack of commitment to a specific number of sweaters that must be made in order to achieve this goal. That is key in keeping with goal number 1.

3. Don't pretend like I'm not going to crochet holiday gifts this year, and then realize in October that that's exactly what I'm going to do after all. That was awful. Accept that crafting gifts is just what I do, and start in June. But not before June!

4. Continue to stash bust. This is going to be a lot like last year in that I need to work pretty fast in order to stay ahead of the incoming yarn. I may have slipped and signed up for two sock yarn clubs... So I need to make way for two dozen skeins of yarn that should be landing in the next 7 months. Oops! Basically, I need to make a couple of chunky sweaters. This works well with goal number 2.

5. Crochet less. Yeah, that's right. No need to adjust your monitors. And yes, I know this is in direct violation of goal number 4. What I'm really saying is that I need to spend more time cooking and getting a garden established at our new house, and I'm ashamed to say I know from personal experience that that is really hard to do with a hook and yarn in hand! I get so buried in projects that I sometimes forget that there are other hobbies that I enjoy. So: Crochet smarter, not harder. For the record, I'm calling this now: I am so going to fail this goal. But I'm going to try!

Ok, there are five new craft goals for 2012! Now I can cross "make five craft goals" off of my broader "life goals" list. What are your craft goals for the year? How did you do last year? Shall we commiserate? Please don't tell me you aced everything.

Ok, Now You Can Panic

Sarah Read — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 02:10:00 GMT

We've reached the point where I am no longer looking at the calendar for how many days before my gifts must be finished, but the clock. We're counting in hours now, folks.

So, my gift to you this year is two patterns that can be made in less than four hours. Ready? Get your hooks out!

The first pattern is for a quick vintage-inspired dishcloth.

What you'll need: Size 5 mm hook, two colors of worsted weight kitchen cotton, a button, a yarn needle, about two hours for each cloth.

Ch 3, foundation double crochet 43. Rotate to work in dc edge of foundation.

Ch 3 (counts as first dc throughout), dc in next 19 dc, dc3tog, dc across, turn.

Ch 3, dc to one st before dc3tog, dc3tog, dc across.

Repeat last row until 3 sts remain, turn. Note: Change colors every two rows, and carry unused color up side of work to avoid extra end-weaving.

Strap:

Ch 1, sc across, turn.

Rep last row for several inches.

Ch 5, sl st in last sc (buttonhole). Do not fasten off.

Edge:

Rotate to work in row-ends.

Sc in each row-end of strap, work 2 sc around post of row-end dc (enclosing carried strand of unused color), work 3 sc in bottom corner, sc in first 21 sts of bottom edge, 3 sc in next st, sc across bottom edge, 3 sc in opposite corner st, 2 sc around post of row-end dc up other side of cloth, sc in each row-end of sc on strap, 7 sc in ch-5 sp (buttonhole), sl st in first sc to join. Fasten off and weave in ends. Sew button to cloth. Sneak under the tree when no one is looking.

The second pattern is for a Santa handkerchief doll. It's a great gift for a baby's first Christmas!

What you'll need: Size 4 mm hook, skein of red worsted weight cotton, a small amount of white cotton, a tennis-ball sized bit of fiberfill, one st marker, yarn needle, about 4 hours.

Head:

Note: worked in spiral rounds.

With red, ch 2, 6 sc in 2^nd ch from hook (or work an adjustable loop and work 6 sc in loop).

2 sc in each sc around.

[Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st] around.

[Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st] around.

[Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st] around.

Sc evenly for 5 rnds.

[Sc in next 3 sc, sc2tog] around.

[Sc in next 2 sc, sc2tog] around.

[Sc in next sc, sc2tog] around.

Close head:

Stuff head with fiberfill.

Fold sides of neck opening together, sc across through both thicknesses.

Arms and body:

Note: beg work in rows.

Ch 21, sc in 2^nd ch from hook and in each ch across, sc across neck, ch 21, turn.

Sc in 2^nd ch from hook and in each ch across, sc across neck, sc to last 10 sts of arm, turn, leaving rem 10 sts unworked.

Ch 1, sc across to last 10 sts of other arm, turn leaving rem sts unworked.

Ch 1, sc across, turn.

Rep last row until body forms a square.

At end of last body row, ch 21.

Sc in 2^nd ch from hook and in each ch across, sc across body, ch 21.

Sc in 2^nd ch from hook and in each ch across, sl st across body. Fasten off.

Tie knots in strands for hands and feet. Weave in ends.

Hat:

With white, ch 2, 6 sc in 2^nd ch from hook.

Sc evenly around for 4 rnds. Change to red.

Sc around.

Continue to sc around, increasing as desired in random staggered places, to form a cone stocking cap. Fasten off red.

Join white in any st.

Work 2 reverse sc in each st around, sl st in first st to join. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. With tail, sew hat firmly to head. Weave in ends.

I hope that helps, fellow desperate crafters!

In parting, here is an example of what NOT to do. Sigh.

Quick Holiday Crochet Projects

Sarah Read — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 23:13:00 GMT

		'Tis the season for quick gifts! Here are a hat and cowl that I crocheted for a co-worker over the past two weeks. I used Brown Sheep Lanaloft, which is a great wool: a soft, worsted single with a bit of shine to it, and a 5 mm hook. The hat is a simple one: double crochet in spiral rounds from the top down (as explained in Marty Miller's "Circle into Hats" article from Interweave Crochet Accessories 2010). Susan said she wanted it to cover her ears, so I worked the last few rounds with 15 sts of sc at the front, so it wouldn't also cover her eyes. Then I tidied the edge with a round of loose slip stitches.

		The cowl was worked lengthwise in griddle stitch, then I worked a row of [dc in next st, ch 1, sk next st] across, then worked a [dc, ch 1] in each ch-1 sp for each row, until I had 4 sts left. Then I worked a dc, ch 2, dc in last st to create a larger button loop. I sewed a variety of cute wooden buttons to the end, in random places, so she could button it however she wanted, with the mesh end providing plenty of buttonhole options!

They were fun, fast projects, and she looks so cute in them! I imagine we're all on the lookout for fast projects at this point. Aren't we? Please tell me I'm not alone... Check back tomorrow, and if all goes according to plan, I'll have a few more quick projects to share! Wait...how many days do we have left...?

Antique Crochet Lace Collection

Sarah Read — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 23:13:00 GMT

The scene is a familiar one.
Driving through a small town, far from home, examining the sites through the car window, when all of a sudden, you yell STOP. Because that antique market right there is so full of goodness that it's spilling out of the warehouse and all over the parking lot. Any decent person would stop and take a look, and fortunately, I married a very decent person, and he stopped, knowing his fate was sealed.

It was a sea of antiques and collectibles. Everything from old VHS tapes (are those considered antiques now?) to fancy French tea sets to classic cars.
I knew there had to be needlework.
And oh yes, there was.

On the edge of a sidewalk, near the front door of the building itself, was a table covered in crocheted pot holders. They were adorable and tempting in their own right, but just behind them, scarcely concealed...was an old basket overflowing with bits of antique handmade lace. Jackpot.
I confess, I didn't leave anything behind for the next person.

It's a lovely mix of crochet and tatting and rickrack, about half of it still in complete collar-and-cuffs sets. One small envelope held roughly 5 yards of crochet edging, marked "May Yingling $12.00".

Some of the work has been removed from garments and repurposed. Some cuffs with a bit of damage have been repaired and sewn together to make lovely fichus. Bits have been sewn into different shapes to hide stains. One particular crocheted piece is in thread so fine that I can't even see the individual stitches without a magnifying glass.

It's an absolute treasure trove. I've been having fits of imagination about the woman who must have made all of this, and worn it, and repaired it. Google isn't getting me very far, though I'm not terribly surprised, as (alas) fichus and social media have never coexisted.

My next trip to Pennsylvania will certainly include a trip to the Duncansville town hall, where I hope to pick up the trail of this incredible needlework. Does May have children and grandchildren in the area who have carried on her fine work? Did she do her needlework with a group of ladies and are any of them still around? She obviously sold some of her pieces, but where and to whom? And can I have more?

I'll keep you posted!
Until next time,

River Walk-Along With Me

Sarah Read — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 20:24:00 GMT

		Remember when I dyed that silk lace yarn with tea? Well, this is what I had in mind when I was prepping those lovely fibers! It is the River Walk Wrap by Sharon Falkner, from our Summer 2011 issue, and I've been itching to make it since the day it arrived in the office. I knew it would be the perfect wedding gift for my good friend Awilda, who lives far away and upside down in New Zealand (she insists that I'm the one that is upside down).

This is a pretty irresistible piece of crochet, so I thought there might be a few of you out there that would like to join me in this project! You can never make too many lace shawls, after all. If you'd like to join me, head on over to our crochet-along page and hop on the forum with me!

Hook Safety

Sarah Read — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 20:57:00 GMT

		I had a "necessity is the mother of invention" moment the other day, and I thought I might share it with you. In the last few weeks, finding myself busier than I ever thought busy could be, I've been carrying around my crocheting in the hope that I might find a stray moment here or there to get some work done on a rather large lace project. But every time I packed my project into its little bag and put the little project bag into my backpack, I would have a moment of worry for the safety of my favorite hooks: A 3.5 mm Lantern Moon (bottom, at left), and a 4 mm Dyak Craft hook (top). They've been my lace buddies for several years now. I found myself engaging in slightly neurotic protective behaviors, like refusing to put my backpack on the floor where someone might step on it and break the slender hooks inside, or placing my project bag on the top shelf, safe from the destructive reaches of my family.

		It occurred to me that I needed a hook case. Soon. Immediately. Before I started dragging around an iron lockbox. So, at knit night, when I saw my knitterly friend's double-pointed needle holder, a lightbulb went off, and I decided to appropriate yet another knitting tool into the crochet world. I went ahead and ordered one for myself (along with a few other things...I'm a sucker for free shipping). It's been working great. And I can sleep at night, knowing my hooks are safe.

		I'm about to put it to the ultimate test: Airplane travel. With my 3-year-old. It's like a stress test for the durability of pretty much anything. I'll let you know how it goes! Until next time,

Tea Dyed Yarn Update

Sarah Read — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 17:35:00 GMT

		Success! Well, so far. This morning, I removed the skeins from their tea bath, squeezed out the excess tea, rinsed them off in a bowl of warm water, squeezed out the rinse water, and laid them out to dry. The color should appear a bit lighter when dry, which should give me a really charming shade of ivory!

		I'm rather delighted. This could be habit-forming. PS: As a point of interest, the mercerized cotton thread remains blazing white.

Naturally Dyed Yarn: A Mad Scientist Adventure

Sarah Read — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 21:19:00 GMT

You know how you get so excited when a close friend is getting married, and you can't wait to crochet that special something for her, and you find the perfect pattern in the perfect snow-white silk yarn, get everything ready to start—only to learn in passing conversation that she's going for ivory instead of white? I know I'm not alone.

The good news is that this is actually really exciting news, not bad news at all, because it means you get to try the subtle art of naturally dyeing your fancy yarn! It is a little bit scary to play mad scientist with really nice yarn, but this is a great place to start, as the color change doesn't have to be too drastic or specific. I just need something between white and yellow.

I know just enough about natural dyeing to know that I probably had everything I needed for the job already in my kitchen, but I needed a little know-how, and for that, I needed Amy Clarke Moore, Spin Off editor and fountain of knowledge. She suggested I try chamomile tea, and process it the same way she did when she dyed some yarn with red cabbage. That is to say, put it all in a jar of water and leave it in the sun for a few days (see the Fall 2010 issue of Spin Off if this piques your interest). This sounded like something I could manage!


		So, last night, I decided to get started. The important first step in this process—and every other yarny process—is to do a test run. I wound off a few yards of my yarn, brewed a cup of tea (well, two cups of tea, one for me and one for the yarn), submerged my wee skein in the tea cup, and left it there for 7 hours. I probably should have waited longer, but I peeked at it from time to time, and it looked like I was getting the results I wanted. I let it dry before inspecting the final product.

		Here is the test skein against the original yarn to show the subtle contrast. I'd still like it a shade more ivory, but I think that will easily be achieved with increased time spent in the tea. Google tells me that the color will fade over a long period of time in sunlight, but this crocheted shawl (I'll announce the pattern in a new crochet-along soon!) will be more of a memento than an everyday piece, so I consider this acceptable.

		That means it's time to do this for real. Supplies: Two large jars, one for each skein, filled with equal amounts of hot water (I did 4 teacups per jar); six tea bags, three for each jar (I would have done 4 per jar, but someone drank all my tea); my two skeins of yarn (note that they are tied with white cotton thread every few inches to prevent tangling); the sun; and patience. I submerged each skein in its jar and squeezed out all the air bubbles to make sure the yarn was saturated, then added the tea bags (with their tags removed). I'm hoping the staples on the tea bags won't rust and stain my yarn...

		Here is my concoction, sitting on my patio table, becoming ivory-colored. I'll check on it after work today and give it a swirl, but I expect the weaker solution (three bags to four cups, instead of the 1:1 ratio I used for my test) will take longer to get the color I want. I expect the color won't be strictly uniform, but I think a tonal effect of various shades of off-white will give it a charming antique look.

Wish me luck!
I'll post my results when I have them!

Lace Shawl Blocking

Sarah Read — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 17:15:00 GMT

I think we need a name for the illness that practically requires you to finish a project when you have fewer than three rows left—even though you know that each row will take you more than an hour-and-a-half and it is already past your bedtime. OCD? Obsessive Crocheting Disorder?

In any case, my first Dahlia Shawl is finished! I made it a bit smaller than the original, stopping at 17.5" instead of 20" to 21". It still blocked out to 26.5" from center top edge to point, so it's a decent-sized shawl!

Here are my process pictures with some pointers for you folks making the shawl with me in the crochet-along, or those of you who'd like to make it in the future.


		Here is the start of the shawl! The lacy adventure begins...

		Here it is after I finished the first repeat. It's a great easy-to-remember stitch pattern, so it became a wonderful project for working on while talking with friends or watching TV.

		And here it is finished! Well, almost. This is an unblocked photo, with the wires woven through, just before I stretched it out and pinned it down. I've decided to call this the Daffodil Shawl, because of the lovely yellow yarn.

		Here is a close-up of the edging before blocking. I used seven blocking wires: Two along the top edge, one down the center, one down each edge before the edging, and one on each edge through the chain spaces at the points of the edging. I lightly misted the shawl with my spray bottle, full of water and a little drizzle of Soak, before I stretched it out and placed the pins.

		The wires saved me a lot of time and pinning! But it still took all of my two boxes of T-pins as well as a handful of safety pins to get every chain space pinned out. The pinning process took about two hours.

		I really like the finished size. Bigger than a shawlette but still small enough that it's more of an accessory than a wrap. You may also notice that I've waited to weave in the ends until it is finished blocking. I like to do this with lace, so the woven ends don't restrict the natural stretch of the lacy stitches, and so they won't pull out of place when the fabric is stretched.

		Here is a close-up of the edging after it was pinned. Once I pinned Every Single Point, I sprayed the shawl again, wetting it thoroughly. Now I must wait for it to dry.

		While I wait, I can't help but start the next one. Is that a new illness, or are we still within the criteria for Obsessive Crocheting Disorder? All I know is, if there is a cure, I don't want it! Until next time,

Dahlia Shawl Crochet-Along!

Sarah Read — Wed, 25 May 2011 22:22:00 GMT

		Well, I think I've dabbled enough in other projects for a while. It's time to get back to shawls! I've been frantically finishing up my WIPs for the last few months, all the while glancing at the Dahlia Shawl pattern from Interweave Crochet Spring 2011, not allowing myself to start until XYZ were finished (well...more like TUVWXYZ, but who's counting), and at last the time is at hand! I'm downright giddy to get started.

		Here's what I'm thinking for a schedule: May 25th - June 6th: Get pattern and yarn. June 7th - June 17th: Work first repeat. June 18th - July 15th: Complete repeats. July 16th - July 29th: Work edging. July 30th - July 31st: Block. The info you need to get started: Dahlia Shawl Designer: Lisa Naskrent Finished Size: 70" wide and 35" tall. Yarn: Manos del Uruguay Lace (70% baby alpaca, 25% silk, 5% cashmere; 439 yd [401 m]/1¾ oz [50 g]): L2103 rosetta pink, 3 hanks. Yarn distributed by Fairmount Fibers. Hook: Size G/6 (4.25 mm). Adjust hook size if necessary to obtain correct gauge. Notions: Yarn needle; st marker (m). Gauge: Rows 1–5 = about 4¼" wide (from corner to corner), 2" tall (from marked middle straight down to Row 1), 3" along side of triangle (from middle point to corner), unblocked.

		If you need a copy of the pattern, you can get a copy of the magazine here. I'm staring at the 20 gallon bin of lace weight yarn I have in my storage room, and feeling a slight twinge of guilt at the thought of ordering more just for this project, but the Manos del Uruguay Lace has utterly seduced me. If I try to resist, I'll probably just end up ordering it in my sleep. But the great part about these Lisa Naskrent shawls is that they are easily adapted to different sizes, so I may have to make a smaller version as well, as a gift for a friend. I can stash dive for that smaller one, and appease the Stash Gremlins. So let's start planning and chatting! Join me in the forums and we can get started!

Crochet Amigurumi, Geek-Style

Sarah Read — Fri, 13 May 2011 20:43:00 GMT

I am very grateful to crochet for a lot of things, and one of those things is how well it lends itself to any genre. You can have antique or ultra-modern crochet, or very serious artistic crochet, or silly crochet...any kind at all. This post is going to be a little silly. As much as I love pouring over very sophisticated and elegant crochet techniques, I'm a bit of a geek, and I love to express my geeky love in simple crochet form. I particularly love making geeky amigurumis. I don't worry about keeping track of stitches or writing patterns down (as the characters are usually copyrighted anyway), so each one is like a freeform make-it-up-as-you-go adventure. Here are a few of my favorite creations!

		Fluffy, form Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Made from scrap bits of wool and thread.

		Alice, from Alice in Wonderland. She is only 2.5" tall, all in size 10 thread.

		And the 10^th Doctor Who. Made from acrylic, hemp, bamboo, and thread bits.

Amigurumis are quick, fun, and make great gifts. Especially for geeks. I know there are more of you out there! If you're new to crocheting amis, check out our free crochet amigurumi pattern e-book here! And keep your eyes peeled this fall for the patterns from our amigurumi calendar contest! Until next time,

Antique Crochet Spotlight

Sarah Read — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 03:55:00 GMT

I geek out over antique crochet. I've been known to go into an antique shop and stare at a doily for what my husband describes as "longer than the person spent making it." So when I go visit my husband's aunt Betty at her ranch in Wyoming, I get a little lost. She collects antiques, and every room in her home has antique crochet in it. While the boys go play with the tractors, I go stare at bedspreads. The last time I went, I grabbed the camera, thinking you guys would appreciate a photo montage of some of the really neat pieces she has in her house. I hope you like pictures!

		She also collects dolls, and every one of them has a cute crocheted outfit!

		I kind of want this outfit for myself.

		For every towel, there is a filet crochet edging.

		And the crochet-edged towels are everywhere.

		This wee crochet dress was missing its doll, so it became an ornament.

		A truly amazing filet crochet piece with a lion and shield motif.

		Oh the doilies. So many doilies!

		Cute wee doilies!

		And doilies that were more like tablecloths.

		This kerchief won me over instantly.

		And then there was the crochet thread bedspread.

		Someday, I'm going to make one of these...

		You know...with all that spare time I have.

My relatives were somewhat amused by my obsession with getting pictures of all of these pieces for you, but they've known me long enough to expect this sort of thing from time to time. I hope you like the pictures! If you're as bonkers about crochet lace as I am, check out our Five Free Crochet Lace Patterns eBook here on Crochet Me. It includes my crochet bracelet pattern that was inspired by antique crochet lace pieces like the ones above. Enjoy! Until next time,

My First Sweater

Sarah Read — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 21:00:00 GMT

		Somewhere, in a box in a dark basement or nestled amongst the dust bunnies under a bed, we all have it... our first sweater. I found mine while I was moving, and I felt mixed dread and affection. The dread, because it really isn't a very pretty thing. I made it from a mystery pattern in a battered old pamphlet of beginning crochet patterns sent to me by a friend who knew I was desperate for new patterns (I was living overseas at the time, and had no access to patterns in English). The affection comes from the fact that this sweater marks the turning point where I finally considered myself a true crocheter.

It was my first project that was not a hat or scarf. It was my first project where I did a gauge swatch, and actually listened to it. It was the first project where I picked out yarn specifically for the pattern, and not because it was soft and pretty. It was the first project where I wove in the ends instead of tying a great big knot (this took guts...but they're still woven in). It was terrifying. I had to count. But I was learning to crochet post stitches and seaming and shaping and construction. I also learned a lot about my own habits as a crocheter. For example:

		See that stitch? That one right there? The double crochet stitch that was supposed to be a half double? It's been 10 years, and it still bothers me. I learned that, no matter how tiny the mistake, I really need to just rip it out and fix it, or it will annoy me forever. I don't think I've ever actually worn the sweater anywhere. And when I think back, I never pictured myself wearing it. I just needed to make it. I needed to cross that threshold, because I knew that, on the other side, there was nothing stopping me. I believed that, if I could make a sweater, I could make anything.

It was great for my budding crochet confidence, and I don't think I've ever hesitated over a difficult pattern since. Looking back, that almost seems silly to me, as this pattern was by no means difficult, especially considering the incredible direction crochet has taken since then, but it symbolized something for me that made everything click. So tell me about your own threshold pattern. What were you making when you found your crochet confidence?

Until next time,

Craft Space Update

Sarah Read — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 03:00:00 GMT

Moving is a very crazy business. Moving with a three-year-old is just plain nuts. If I didn't have the yarn room to look forward to, I'm not sure I could have put up with the rest of the madness!
In any case, things are busy and internet is intermittent.
But I wanted to take a few minutes to thank you guys for your great suggestions for how to organize my new craft space! You have some great ideas, and I hope to put a lot of them into action in the upcoming weeks.Here's a picture of the painting progress! I may miss those sweet little clouds, but tiny attic rooms need to be as bright as possible, so I'm painting everything white. I'll keep you posted as I figure out more!
Until next time,

Double Stitch Twins on TV

Sarah Read — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 22:48:00 GMT

		You may remember the Double Stitch Twins, Erika and Monika Simmons, from their Interweave book a few years ago, Double Stitch: Designs for the Crochet Fashionista. They've made a name for themselves in the world of 21^st century urban crochet fashion, and they're still hard at work creating new designs for crochet fashionistas everywhere. To celebrate National Crochet Month, they're appearing on Lifetime, talking about their inspiration for empowering women to relax and be creative. It's a great message. Crochet is a way to unwind and be artistic after a busy day. The crazier our schedules get, the more important it is that we sit down and take some time for ourselves. The meditative nature of crochet makes it the perfect medium for melting away the day's anxieties. And it doesn't hurt that you have something fabulous when you're done! Whether it is an expressive piece for you to wear or a gift for someone special, you'll feel better for having made it. Check out the twins tomorrow! They will be on Lifetime's The Balancing Act. Check here for listings. Enjoy!

Until next time,