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A Month of Knitting Love

Categories Creativity, Humor, Knitting2 Comments on A Month of Knitting Love

Okay, I know that title might be startling a few of you. Afterall, I am a crochet designer.

I can knit. But I’m absolutely garbage at it. All my own fault. Lack of practice is entirely to blame.

I taught myself to knit about 3 years ago from one of those kits at JoAnns. It was the first time I had gotten very far with knitting. Shortly after that I discovered Ravelry and became so distracted with all the wonderful crochet groups on there my knitting needles have been gathering dust. 

So I’ve decided to attempt a little experiment, starting on Valentines Day I am going to knit for 1/2 hour every day thru March 13th. These will be very small knitting experiments, fragments really. 

The lovely Sarah (who is a talented knitter)  gave me a set of the Interweave Knitting Stitches Cards last October.  In there is a wonderful card that clearly illustrates the various methods of casting on, binding off, increasing and decreasing. 

I will be keeping that card with my “Knitting Teacher” book and some appropriate yarn /needles for doing small bits of knitting in a project bag. Each day I’ll create and photograph a seperate little swatch that will eventually be used in a combo crochet/knit freeform piece. 

This all sounds grand in theory, but one will see if I succeed in fact.  I figure that if I can knit for 1/2 an hour everyday for 30 days that I will either overcome my ineptitude with knitting or I shall forever surrender to it.

Anyone want to take bets on how it all turns out? Leave a note in the comments and we will see what happens.

Tomboy Lace

Categories Crochet, Crochet Design, Humor1 Comment on Tomboy Lace
Lace Embrace Shawl

You know it’s really quite the question.  How did such a tomboy end up being a designer who loves to create lacy crochet projects?

Alpaca Hug Neck Cozy

Those who have known me for a significant portion of my life are a bit surprised when they see some of my designs.  Afterall, as a girl and young woman I was quite the tomboy.

I grew up in the middle of Kansas farm country and hard work was the watch word of the day.  My dear mother despaired of me ever staying neat and ladylike for more than 10 minutes.  She has been known to tell folks to this day that if there was a mud puddle to be found I would find it.

Most of my days were spent trying to keep up with my older brother.  Tramping about “exploring” the wooded areas around our pastures.  Climbing trees or on to the roof of the barn.  Horseback riding, bike riding, later on a bit of motor bike riding.

Somehow in the midst of all of that I did manage to learn to crochet, embroider  and sew.  I even grew to have a fondness for feminine and pretty clothing, though wasn’t much of a frou-frou person.  I’ve always loved draping flowing looks in garments though.

When I moved to Colorado in my early twenties I was in heaven.  There were lots of opportunities for a gal that likes the outdoors to stretch her wings.  I dressed during the week in appropriately feminine attire for the office, but my weekends were filled with hiking or skiing.

Fast forward nearly 20 years and I am living in a house in the wilderness with my husband and 2 kiddos.  Between my husband, son and our pets (both males) there is a lot of testosterone in my household. I am definitely needing more estrogen.

So it is fitting actually that I now seem to gravitate designing crochet items that use Lace and Open-work as a main feature.  Part of it is I have a love of creating fluid garments and lace or open-work is a good match for that, as well as being very yarn economical.

Little Wing Shawlette

I’m sure that over time there will be many other stitch styles I’ll utilize, but I’ll always enjoy exploring my “Tomboy Lace”.

A Hook Named Houdini

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This is my Favorite Hook these days, but it has some very bad habits.

I have named this hook Houdini because….it is an escape artist.

There is not a project bag, work-basket or work-table that this hook has not escaped from.  The number of times I have torn apart my work area and my car looking for it are past counting.

This is where Houdini is supposed to live.  But I get clever and I think if I keep the hook with the project of the day it won’t go missing.

Yesterday evening I finished a project with Houdini.  During the 3 days I had been working on the project, this particular hook had gone missing 4 times.

When I finished the project I set Houdini down on my work table and was counting my last row to make notes in the pattern I was writing.  I heard a mysterious thump. Houdini was off and running again.

After a lengthy search today involving the moving of my work chair and all the surrounding project bags and baskets I located Houdini this evening wedged in the edge of a basket.

Now, my usual rule of thumb for my favorite style and size hooks is to have more than one. Of course this was before I fell madly and utterly in love with the Tulip Company’s Etimo hooks.  Which used to be very difficult to obtain in the US.

My first Etimos were purchased at the August 2009 Chain Link show in Buffalo, NY at the Tulip Company’s booth.  Then I purchased my set in the case above from Ms. Julep on Etsy in October of that year. 

I’m thrilled to bits that Caron is now the American distributor of these hooks. I love their yarns and the hooks. 

Currently they have the Etimo hooks on sale and I am sorely tempted to go purchase more size I hooks. I have a duplicate J-hook and it always stays put.

Though I have to wonder. Harry Houdini was an Escape Artist as a form of entertainment and personal challenge.  Does this mean that Houdini the hook will continue to make escapes to entertain its self?

The 11th Day

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Today is the 11th day of 2011. Being I like alliteration and I have not managed to blog yet in this New Year I thought I would try to get something in here today.

It’s been very cold and snowy up here on my mountain since the beginning of 2011.  In fact, due to the crummy weather, we chose to stay home for New Year’s Eve.  I was up all on my own til midnight, the rest of my family having gone to bed hours before.

I ushered in the New Year the way that I’ve been spending it ever since. Crocheting.

In fact, so far, 2011 has been all about crocheting and writing crochet patterns.  I knew that it was going to be a busy year, but this is even busier than I had expected.

As always happens when I am so busy, my brain seems to go into overdrive with ideas for crochet designs.  The cold weather is helping in some ways as I am really wishing I had finished the Alpaca mittens and hat that I have planned for myself.

I find Alpaca to be one of the warmest fibers I’ve ever worn. Even living on a mountain it is often too warm for me to wear.  So when the thermometer drops below freezing it is a great opportunity to get out the extra warm fibers.

Of course, all is not lost.  This is only the beginning of the freezing cold temperatures this year, so I’ll have other chances to wear my Alpaca goodies.  Now, all I have to do is find time to make them.

The Importance of Being Needed

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The end of the year always marks a time of reflection for me.  While I may not necessarily come up with resolutions for the coming year, I do re-evaluate what I have accomplished in the previous one.

2010 is nearly over and it has been an amazing year for me as I have moved from working part-time to full-time in my efforts as a crochet designer.

I have sold 10 designs this year to various magazines and yarn companies.  Some that will not be published until 2011 and others that are currently available to crocheters.

I have spent countless hours swatching and sketching design ideas for submissions to magazines and yarn companies. As well as working on designs for publishing in my independent line of patterns.

I have discovered that I was actually doing much more work in my life before going back to “work” than I realized or credited myself with.  The fact that my time is taken up with “work” work instead of those other tasks has made that abundantly clear.

I love to design.  I love to teach about crochet and healthy crafting.  I love to crochet for myself, gifting  and charity.  But I am also realizing the limits on my time and energy as well as the importance of being needed.

My children are quite young still.  They have made it rather clear in the past few months that they still need me and my attention.  The last 8 years have gone by in a flash and soon enough, they will be far too independent.  So I am looking at how to find balance between what they need from me and what I need to do as a designer.

The next 4 months will be about finding greater balance with my work and home life.  That may mean focusing more on my blogging and Independent Pattern line.  Possibly the opening of my Etsy shop.  All things that allow me flexibility with my deadlines.

As much as I enjoy working with editors and creative directors in the Magazine and Yarn business the deadlines are often quite tight.  If one of my children becomes sick or my husband has to travel for business it can really make it challenging to meet those deadlines.

Being a re-covering Perfectionist I get very stressed if I can’t meet a deadline.  I hate to let down editors or others that are counting on my project to be in on time.

The interesting thing is, slowing things down is in many ways an act of faith.  Faith that my skills will continue to grow and that I will find the opportunities that I need at the right time.  I hope you, my friends and readers will join me in this journey of faith.

The importance of being needed is key, especially what we need from ourselves.

Ooooo Sparkly!

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This past weekend included another Saturday night spent (or is that mis-spent?) at the LambShoppe with my stitching friends.  Admittedly the amount of actual stitching I got done was minimal.  But I did do some damage shopping for yarn and consuming yummy food.

Yummy Yarn

Everyone brings a dish or nibbles to share.  My contribution was a Smoked Salmon Cream Cheese ball.  Even me, with my severe culinary challenges, can manage to mash up smoked salmon with cream cheese and shape it into a ball.  I also provided gluten-free crackers to eat with it.

When I wasn’t being a social butterfly visiting with the friends there I was having fun cruising about petting yarn and filling a shopping basket with balls that needed a home.  Some of this yarn is destined to be sent away as gifts to stitching pals further afield.  Much of it is for me to play with though.

In particular is this gorgeous stuff. Lang Yarns’ LanaLux (40% Merino, 28% Polyamide/Nylon, 32% Polyster).  Anita, one of the owners of the LambShoppe actually helped me find this yarn at the last PJ Jam. I was on the hunt for seriously sparkly yarns.  You have to admit, this is seriously sparkly.

It is also really fun to stitch with.  I made up a couple of my Little Christmas Wreaths in it and was quite pleased with the way the yarn performed as well as the beauty of the finished wreaths.  I may have to come up with some other fun designs using this yarn.

I keep visualizing an open work FreeForm Lace style capelet.  Worn over a black shirt it could make for a wonderful bit of dazzle and warmth for New Year’s Eve. The more sedate version would be to use one color.  But the wild woman in me is seeing something using every color.

So on this jaunt I was determined to acquire every shade they had available to experiment with.  There will also be a few more wreaths made as gifts for family and friends this holiday season.

Twas the Week before Christmas

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7 days and Counting

I hear you all out there scrambling to finish gift projects.  You are crocheting (or knitting) like mad fiends in every spare moment you can find.  Meetings at work are viewed as an opportunity to get a few rows done.  And that long train/bus or subway commute isn’t too bad if you can find a stable spot to sit or stand and stitch.

You are staying up late. You’re stitching for hours on end.  And very likely you are ignoring those twinges and aches in your shoulders, neck, arms and hands.

I know I’m not going to persuade you that you should stop tormenting yourself.  Heck! I’m in a similar boat.  But I’m doing okay because I’m adding in a few ways of taking care of myself.

I like to listen to music or watch movies when I am working.  Sometimes my TV shows are on.  I make sure to set some sort of interval that I am going to stop for a moment and do something else.  Every time the commericials start or at the end of a certain song or scene. 

Yes, that is a sneaky way of saying I take a break.  Remember the rule with breaks is, you don’t have to go do yoga in the corner.  Get up and move! That’s it.

Go switch the laundry from the washer to the dryer.  Get a drink of water. Run to the loo.  Just move your body in a way that is different from crouching over your crafting.

Of course, I’m also reminding myself regularly not to “crouch” over my project. Keeping my shoulders and neck relaxed really gives me more energy and efficiency when stitching.  So between my “Get up and Move” breaks I take little mini-breaks.

Mini-breaks are just a quick moment to take a deep breath, relax my shoulders, maybe look up at the ceiling or gently twist my neck from side to side.  Anymore these are such a habit that I do them without thinking.  I can even keep stitching often times.

I know it seems counter-intuitive that taking time for a break of any sort will speed up the progress of your project, but it really works.  Those little breaks add to your overall energy level and improve your chances of working “smarter” instead of “harder”.

Also a reminder. If you are still looking for some quick gifts for some of the folks on your list my first pattern “Little Christmas Wreath” is very speedy.  You can make it as a brooch or a fun little ornament for the tree.  Even makes a great Fridge magnet.

Take a look over at my Happy Holidays post to get the coupon code for a complimentary copy.

Friends I am Thankful For

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The Thanksgiving holiday is almost upon us here in the US.  Amongst the mayhem of preparing to have guests for dinner at our house, I have been thinking about all the wonderful blessings in my life this past year.

Warning – This post may become a bit mushy for those of a less sentimental nature.

The last 12 months have been an amazing whirlwind of growth for me as a designer and a small business owner.  Opportunities that I thought would be years down the road have come far more quickly.

So I think it is very fitting to give some public “Thanks” to those who have helped me find my way into this amazing career path and are my continuing support system.  I’ll try to keep some order to this list, but no promises (after all, I’m generally typing quite late at night for these entries).

First on the list must be my Mother.  I’m sure she never imagined that putting a crochet hook in my hand all those years ago would eventually lead me to become a crochet designer.  Though she has commented many times that I never followed patterns in my crocheting or sewing efforts.  So I’m guessing she really isn’t that surprised.

The slew of friends that have stuck by me over the years, despite a propensity for drama and other growing pains.  Particularly on my mind tonight are my friends, Terie and Melodi.  They have both known me over 20+ years and somehow held fast despite some real stupid times on my part.

My wonderful family.  My dear husband, who has never complained about my incredible expanding yarn stash or the ever-growing collection of crochet books, hooks and knitting needles.  My 2 kiddos, who have an insatiable curiosity about mom’s yarn and have learned that they need to wait til the end of the row to ask a question.

The talented Doris Chan and especially her book “Amazing Crocheted Lace”.  I find myself still very inspired by Doris’s take on design and the lovely pieces she keeps cranking out.  When I met Doris in person it was a joy and each time I see her at conferences I am still delighted.

My good friend Tessa who introduced me to the world of online resources that eventually led me to Ravelry.  Tessa doesn’t crochet or knit, but is an encouraging and loving friend that tolerates my obsession with compassion.

A very big Thank You to Jess and Casey Forbes for creating Ravelry, since everything else that has happened was because of connecting with other crochet and knitting enthusiasts on their wonderful site.

Laurie Wheeler of the Crochet Liberation Front.  Laurie’s group on Ravelry was a revelation and reward all in one.  To converse with others who loved crochet and yarn like myself was a freeing and joyful experience and one that lead me on to other groups on Ravelry that would change my Life.

Jenny Dowde whom I met thru Ravelry as well.  Her FreeFormations group was a fun place to learn and explore the world of Freeform stitch work and opened my eyes to using fiber arts in my other artwork in ways that I will be exploring for the rest of my life.  Her 3 books on FreeForm techniques are still favorites on my shelf.

It was also because Jenny was coming to the US to teach in Portland that I discovered the CGOA and attended my first ever Knit and Crochet Show.

The Lovely Sarah, who has become a cherished friend and one of my most staunch supporters in my efforts to create a career path that matches my ethics and creativity.  Getting to meet her at that first show in Portland after having met her on Ravelry was a real treat.

My dear friend Pam, whom I first met in Portland in one of Jenny’s classes.  Her grounded approach to life has been my rock when I feel like I am flailing about in my life roles.  Whether it is the challenges of being a mom and self-employed, or just deadline madness…she always has the right words to help me find my sanity again.  Pam also was the one that told me about Mary Beth Temple’s podcast “Getting Loopy”.

Dear Bonnie Pierce, who adopted me at the Portland Knit and Crochet Show.  Her generosity in including me in all the madness with the FreeForm group that was represented there was so kind (plus she introduced me to “Moonlight Chocolate”).  The further invitation to join the online FreeForm Yahoo group has also been a blessing and inspiration.

Then of course, is the talented and dynamic Mary Beth Temple. Listening to her podcast I heard about her class, “Designing for Print Publication”.  I took it in March 2009 more out of curiosity than anything else.  It was online and only 3 weeks, so I figured I could fit it into my life.

As part of the class Mary Beth had us create a design proposal and submit it.  I sent mine off fully expecting to  be rejected, so it was with some amazement that I sold that first design.  She has cheered me on every step of this mad journey.

Zoomie, who I meet in the “Getting Loopy” chat room.  When I found out she lived in the Denver area we made arrangements to get together.  Now, we see each other once a month  and go play at one of my favorite yarn stores The LambShoppe.

Thru Zoomie I met all the lovely fellow yarnies at the LambShoppe’s monthly Pajama Jam.  Many have become good friends and we get to have other yarn adventures together like going to the Estes Park Wool Market.  They are also great about cheering me on in my design adventures and have even offered to help me with my knitting attempts (unsuccessfully so far, but that is a reflection on my failings as a student and not their’s as teachers).

My official CGOA mentor, Karen Ratto-Whooley.  Karen has been so generous with her time, advice and encouragement.  Our time as mentor/mentee is drawing to an end, but our friendship will last a lifetime.  Sometimes the most help has just been the laughter we share at the craziness of living the busy life of designers and moms.

Janet, another fantastic acquaintance from that first Portland show.  Over a year later we ended up rooming together at the Chain Link show in Buffalo.  We had such a lovely time being roommates that we vowed to do it again.  So we shared a cabin at the recent CLF Retreat.  It probably isn’t legal for friends to laugh so hard and long, but we sure enjoy ourselves.

The fun and sweet Cozy.  So talented and entertaining, as well as very understanding about the madness my life is.  Someday soon we have promised ourselves to meet in real life.  Meanwhile online, email and the telephone will have to suffice.

All my other fun online friends, especially those on Ravelry.  Whether you know it or not, all of you lift my spirits with every post and message.  Having a chance to share ideas, encouragement with learning new techniques, or just drooling over yarn is so much fun.

Thank you to all these friends and more.  I’ve likely forgotten to name someone who should be on this list, but you are all in my grateful heart this Thanksgiving Day.

Crochet At Cama – The First Ever CLF Retreat

Categories Celebrating, Crochet, Humor, Wood Crafting6 Comments on Crochet At Cama – The First Ever CLF Retreat

Just got home to Colorado this past Sunday after spending an inspiring, exciting and hilarious 9 days in the Pacific Northwest.  My trip began and ended in Portland and the entire trip was quality time with the Lovely Sarah.  My main reason for scheduling this trip was the CLF Retreat – Crochet at Cama, that was held at Cama Beach State Park (October 17-21) on Camano Island, Washington.

I flew into PDX the afternoon of the 15th, and Sarah and I spent Saturday shopping and cooking in preparation for our journey north to Camano Island.  Sunday morning I managed to pack Sarah’s little red car fuller than it has ever been before.  In fact Sarah really didn’t believe all the stuff we were taking was going to fit in there (I confess I had my doubts too).  Especially as we were picking up the Brilliant Janet at the Sea-Tac Airport on our way.

Despite a late start beginning our trip north all things worked out perfectly.  The car was certainly filled to capacity once we added Janet’s suitcase and bags to the mix, but we all fit and we traveled safely onward to our destination at Cama Beach State Park.

First descriptive for this lovely stretch along the Puget Sound is Wow! When we saw our little cabin and how close the water was to our front porch we were delighted beyond description.

The next 24 hours passed in a bit of a blur.  Sarah, Janet and I got moved into our cabin, grabbed some dinner then headed over to the Firehall to join up with the rest of the folks arriving for the retreat.

Monday morning I had an informative and interesting class with Laurie Wheeler about Yarn.  The next thing I remember is a lovely dinner with our friends Jim (Jimbo) Price and Karen (KRW Knitwear) Whooley.  I was getting a bit antsy at that point as later that evening was to be my debut doing a presentation on Crochet Ergonomics and Hand Health.  My dinner companions jollied me along and helped me set up for the presentation.

Once I was in front of the group and started talking about my subject the audience was a blast.  There were many faces in the crowd that I knew and could call on by name (and my friends refrained from flinging tomatoes as had been threatened before).  Everyone was very interested in the topic and Laurie Wheeler (Fearless leader of the CLF) extracted a promise from me that I will teach at least one class at the retreat next year.

Sad Little Partial Sock

Tuesday morning I was in Karen Ratto-Whooley’s Toe Up Sock class, where I demonstrated my poor pattern reading skills.  My sock did not turn out well. But I had loads of fun and am hopeful that my next attempt will be better.  I’ve decided that it will take lots of stitch markers for me to find the right stitches to work into.  I really want to make sock/slippers for my family for this Christmas.

Karen, as always, was a fun and well prepared teacher.  She even managed to help me figure out what I had done to create such an oddly shaped sock.  The picture was taken after I frogged the 2nd part of my heel flap.

Walking back to our cabin after the class I hiked around and took some pictures of the gorgeous shoreline and scenery.

Close up of my Bullions

That evening Jimbo held an auction for a chopstick Bullion hook that he developed with Bonnie Pierce.  Bonnie had signed the hook.  The bidding was fun and Janet and I joined forces to win the bidding.  Using the hook that evening (and with some coaching from Bonnie) I successfully made my first ever bullions.

Jimbo Teaching

Wednesday morning was my Hook Whittling class with Jimbo Price.  Another fun teacher and an informative class with lots of students.  I got my hook looking like a hook during the class and did some further shaping of it once I got back to Sarah’s house after the retreat.  I wanted to try and create a hook with a similar shape to the Etimo hooks from the Tulip Company.  I’m still having fun shaping this hook and am not 100% sure I’ve finished carving and sanding on it.

I’ve been playing with wood carving for about 20 years, but I still learned many new things and different ways of approaching the challenges of making the wood into the object you visualize.  As well as new ways of looking at how I hold my hook and what shape is best for my style of crochet.

My Cherry Wood Hook

That evening was the Good-bye party where Deb and Don Burger gave a wonderful musical performance.  Then it was visiting til we were getting too tired and silly.  The next morning was misty and cold which seemed fitting as final hugs and good-byes were shared.

Our Last Morning at Cama Beach

I am looking forward to next year’s CLF Crochet at Cama Retreat.  Mark your calendars and save your pennies to join us there. October 16 – 20, 2011.