Little Bitty Noggins

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When my first child was born she was in a bit of a hurry and arrived 4 weeks before her due date.  She was a tiny little one at first, weighing in at only 5 pounds. She measured a mere  12 inches around her little noggin.

My hands are not very big, but I could cup the entire back of her head in my palm.  I remember being amazed that such a tiny fragile being could be as alive and robust as she was.  She is now grown to be a busy, healthy and energetic young girl.

Many full-term newborns in  impoverished nations around the world are no bigger than my child was, and some are much tinier and far less robust.  There are multiple challenges facing these babies and their mothers.

I wanted to design a special hat pattern to support the efforts for the Save the Children Caps for Good campaign.  This is a program to provide hats for newborns in many countries where keeping a tiny head covered can make a real difference.  A baby that isn’t using energy to stay warm can use that energy instead to grow and gain critical survival weight.

The only payment I ask for the use of this pattern is that you donate at least 2 caps to the Save the Children program or, after February 28, 2011, to a similar program that you know of in your community to help newborns.  Thank you for helping to warm up some babies.

Little Bitty Noggin Cap by Andee Graves

Materials: Yarn – Any  Sport or Light worsted weight  yarn can be used. Samples used approximately .6 oz (56 yards) of  Red Heart Designer Sport, CYCA #3 weight, 100% acrylic. Colors used are Iced Violet (discontinued), Sky (discontinued) and #3820 Denim.  Hook size H-8 (5 mm).

Gauge: First 6 rounds should be 4 inches in diameter.

Stitches used: Chain (ch), slip stitch (sl st), single crochet (sc), half double crochet (hdc), front post half double crochet (fphdc), and back post half double crochet (bphdc).

Special Stitches: Increase (Inc) – hdc thru both loops of next st, hdc  in back loop of same st.

Notes: Cap is worked from the center crown down to brim. Rnds 1 thru 15 are worked spirally. Use a stitch marker in the last st of each rnd and move up as rnds are completed.

Instructions:

Rnd 1: Ch 2, sc and 7 hdc in 2nd ch from hook.

Rnd 2: (Hdc in next st, hdc in bk lp of same  st) 8 times [16 hdc]

Rnd 3: (Hdc in next st, Inc in next st) 8 times [24 hdc]

Rnd 4: (Hdc in next 2 sts, Inc in next st) 8 times [32 hdc]

Rnd 5: (Hdc in next 3 sts, Inc in next st) 8 times [40 hdc]

Rnd 6: (Hdc in next 4 sts, Inc in next st) 8 times [48 hdc]

Rnd 7:  Hdc in each st of round [48 hdc]

Rnd 8 – 14:  Repeat Rnd 7

Rnd 15: Repeat Rnd 7, sc next st, sl st next st

Rnd 16: Ch 2,( fphdc next st, bphdc next st) 24 times, sl st to 2nd ch of beg ch 2. [48 hdc]

Rnd 17 : Repeat Rnd  16, fasten off

Weave in ends.

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.

Scrubbie Scrubbie

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It’s not my usual design project, but last fall I was asked by the lovely Bobbie Matella of Coats and Clark to adapt a 1940s dishcloth pattern for a book they would be releasing.

The book, “Vintage Crochet for Your Home” is now available. My adaptation of Mitered Dishcloths is on page 24.  They are worked in Coat’s Creme de la Creme cotton. 

The citrusy colors are cheerful and the ridges on the cloths make them ideal for getting stubborn bits off the dishes when washing up, or could be great in the bath for exfoliating.

Seeing this design again is reminding me of some other ideas I got while working on it.  I may have to clone myself to get even half of my design ideas done.

Christmas Crochet

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Oh boy, it’s time for some quick work with the hooks.  Christmas gift making season seems to have snuck up on me once again.  Though I had thought about it earlier.  In fact, was happily reminded when the Special Newstand issue of Crochet! Magazine came out the end of August.

It was particularly exciting for me as the hat  on the cover is my design, Roundabout Hat (thanks to Carol Alexander, the talented editor of Crochet! Magazine for the name).

Fortunately, I already have a hat done for my beloved because of this design, the hat below was actually the proto-type and will be one of his Christmas presents this year.

I had the ball of Universal Yarns Classic Worsted Long Print in the Black Heathers colorway for ages, intending it for a hat for my beloved.  When Carol asked me for a warm earflap hat design for this issue my mind went to that yarn right away.  

One thing I really love about this design is the simplicity of the color work as the yarn does all the heavy lifting.  The hat is worked top down in half double crochet for a lovely stretchy fabric.  The earflaps are worked in the round as well so there is a cozy extra layer over the ears, which is super handy in cold winter weather.

I may be making a few of these hats this Christmas as they are quick to stitch up and can be embellished to make them more feminine or fun.   There are loads of other fun gift projects in this magazine as well.  So if you are looking for some inspiration for your gift list, this issue is a great place to start.

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.

Somedays are Blue

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I was feeling a bit blue the other day. Partly due to lack of sleep and my twisted ankle.  But it got me to thinking about one of my very favorite colors. Blue.

Now folks that know me might guess that is my favorite color, as there are subtle hints everywhere in my life and accoutrement.

My briefcase has colors of blue, and a sort of retro thing going on too (which I adore). My poor abused “Better Back” hand bag is a denim blue. I wear blue jeans out and about in my public life (though at home I am more a yoga pants gal, and those tend to be black or gray). I have quite a few shirts that are various colors of blue.

My design office walls are 2 different shades of blue. I seem to have acquired a number of cobalt blue glass items over the years. There are also quite a few glass beads of that hue in my beading supplies.  And of course…there is always lots of blue yarn.

This particular ball of yarn has been tempting me to make something lovely for myself.  I’m not sure that it is the absolute best shade of blue for me to wear, but it is so glorious that I may have to anyway.

I purchased it from the wonderful Gypsy Wools  shop in Boulder.  The owner, Barb Day, dyes the yarn herself and this skein practically jumped off the shelf into my hands.  I have worked with this yarn before in other colors.  Best of all is the name of the yarn: “Andee”.  It is an alpaca and wool blend that is toasty warm. 

I originally made myself a hat in a green colorway (to go with my coat, which isn’t blue).  Sadly I managed to lose the hat somewhere during all my errand running adventures last winter.  I’m looking for a project to work on during my flight next week and another hat would be just the right size.

I’ll have to be more careful if I do make another hat, don’t want to be blue about losing my new blue hat.

Getting something off my Chest

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Think Pink it’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Yes, not a humorous topic, and something that many may be tired of hearing about.  Still it needs to be said.  I now have the privilege of having lived long enough to know a number of Breast Cancer survivors. Their stories can be heart-rending, and a few of them are still battling the big C.

Cancer is scary stuff, expensive to treat and all around not something anyone wants to think about tangling with.  Some folks get a lousy draw of the cards and others are just exposed to the wrong combo of environmental or food influences that cause cancer to visit them.

Any way you look at it though one thing is quite clear.  The earlier cancer is detected the better your prognosis is (Prognosis is basically Doctor-speak for “your chances for survival” which seemed a bit grim for even me).

So ladies, and any gentlemen reading this, take the appropriate steps to be on guard for cancer in its early stages.  Self Exams, awareness of what is “normal” for how your skin and breasts appear.  Regularly visiting your healthcare practitioner for wellness check-ups and appropriately scheduled testing like PAP smears and Mammograms.

And make an effort to learn what you need to know about your family health history and how simple lifestyle changes can position you for optimal health and wellness your entire life.

Now we will return you to our regularly scheduled drooling over yarn, crochet design, chocolate and art.

Fallin’ Behind

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According to the calendar Autumn began a week ago, and according to the Aspen trees in my neighborhood it may have crept up on me even earlier. 

Whatever the case may be, I’m a bit behind on my plans for my independent pattern line.  I’ve said that I would be launching it in Fall 2010.  Now, technically that means that if I launch it before December 21st it is still Fall. 

I’ve benn kept away from working on my indie line by the wonderful good fortune of being busy with designs for magazines and yarn companies.  I am getting caught up though and hope to be back on track with my work on my pattern line very soon. I won’t make any promises of exactly when the launch will really happen, but it will be before the official start of winter.