Enter to Win a Free Craftsy Class!

Recently, Craftsy contacted me about participating in a fun giveaway they are doing. They have picked a handful of bloggers who are Craftsy members, to promote the contest. The entries from all of the blogs will be combined, and 5 winners will be randomly chosen and given a Craftsy Class of their choice!

I personally love Craftsy classes because they have a great range of classes, you can watch them as many times as you want, whenever you want, and the instructor will answer questions you may have. Anyone in the world who has internet service can take classes! I seem to collect classes, and have a few saved for  days when I am between projects. If you have never taken a Craftsy class, try one of their interesting FREE Mini-Classes. They also have a You Tube Series with some quick projects and free patterns. You can also give the classes as gifts. The recipient gets to choose any class they want!

Click on this link to register to win a free Craftsy class between August 1-14. If you would like to know what classes Craftsy offers, see this list on their website. Good Luck!

Inspired Crochet: Tiara Trim Meets The Babette Blanket

I am so thrilled that I came across another use for the Tiara Trim pattern I designed for Interweave Crochet Magazine, on the I Love Pom-Poms Blog. This clever and creative crocheter, completed the amazing Babette Blanket designed by the fabulous Kathy Merrick, and decided to use the Tiara Trim pattern as her inspiration to edge the blanket. She used the middle rows from the original trim pattern and changed the last row to make the trim wider. Bravo for her creative use of this trim!

Project Photos from I Love Pom-Poms Blog

Original Trim Sample

Intriguing Crochet Inserts

Photo by Free People

Recently, I came across some lovely examples of crochet insertions in clothing by Free People. They really are masters of this technique and their use of crochet is so inspiring! Seeing these photos makes me want to cut up some of my old shirts and transform them with crochet! 

These ideas could be a great use of those random skeins of yarn in your stash. A skein or less could completely change the attitude of a garment. 

I found an interesting tutorial done by Craft Stylish, on how to embellish with crochet, in case you want to try your hand at it.

Photo By Free People

Photo By Free People

Carrying on with the theme of my last blog post, a little crochet motif can be inserted into a curtain to let light through and change the look of the curtain.

Also intriguing, is the idea of inserting objects into your crochet. This crochet and button necklace by Jean's Handmade Things, on Etsy is a great example.

Photo By Jean's Handmade Things

Adding Crochet to your Home Decor

A little crochet can transform an everyday item into something new and interesting. I was thinking about this concept when I designed the Geometric Splash shower curtain for Crochet Me. A plain shower curtain becomes exciting when embellished with crochet. A few simple motifs combined can be very effective. I decided to go one step further and cover the shower curtain rings as well! This is a fun project that requires very little yarn and the small motifs can be crocheted on the go. These motifs give the curtain a modern look. If you prefer a more traditional style, why not use vintage doilies and/or trim you might have inherited or found at a flea market. For some simple redecorating, try adding a little crochet to your home!

Seeing the Beauty in Filet Crochet!

For a long time Filet Crochet didn't catch my interest, and I always quickly passed by the pages in my vintage crochet books. Lately, I have been looking at it with new eyes and can see so many possibilities for the technique! Its beauty is its relative simplicity; if you can graph it on a chart, you can make it in Filet Crochet. I was excited to see the article Linda Dean wrote for Crochet! magazine on translating Filet Crochet patterns into Tapestry Crochet. True crochet innovation!

Last night I was going through my grandmother's crochet books and I came across a real gem: Priscilla's Filet Crochet Book No 2, published in 1914. It is full of beautifully intricate filet designs. Below are some of my favorites:

Vintage Filet Crochet was mainly used on home decor items and as trims. I would really love to see some fresh, modern Filet Crochet used in new ways...The wheels in my head are turning!

How Ravelry Crocheters Make the Ruffles Scarf!

One of my most versatile patterns to date has got to be the Ruffles Scarf. I have already posted here about a dozen ways to wear the scarf, and how to make a cowl and a wristlet from the pattern. There are currently 37 projects listed on Ravelry, and I love what crocheters are doing with the pattern! From using variegated yarn and different weights of yarn, to adding a pin or weaving a ribbon through, each crocheter adds a bit of their own personality. I chose some of my favorite projects, and all of their creators have graciously allowed me to show their work here on my blog. I hope these photos will inspire you to make your own version of the Ruffles Scarf!

My First Book: Crocheting Clothes Kids Love!

This past year has been so exciting for me and my Crochet Career. The absolute highlight was writing this book with my co-author, Ellen Gormley. Our editor recently sent us this photo of the final cover, so  I finally get to reveal it! I love the creative freedom you are given when designing for children, so I was thrilled when Creative Publishing International asked me to write this book. It was 7 months of solid hard work, and thanks to the support of my family, I was able to pursue my dream of writing a book. It was such a pleasure to collaborate with Ellen, and I am excited for you all to see the fun we had designing the projects! The book will be out in February 2014, and late this summer I will begin talking about it. Bit by bit, I will be able to introduce and describe my projects and make suggestions for additional ways to use the patterns. Stay tuned for details!