Latest Project

cj heading home
Originally uploaded by rchach

We did it. Our best project yet! Took about 9 months and was pretty challenging, but quite the reward. (And I'm not talking about the crocheted booties- thank you, Julie!)

CJ was born on Sept 17 at 8:15pm. She decided to come on her own afterall. She takes after me in quite a few ways (of which are being very talkative and assertive), which Mr CBF and I keep laughing about. She was 7lb 5oz at birth (evidently the scale in the operating room was off so our original 6lb 15.5oz was wrong) and 20 in long. She really quite unbelievably cute and quite the flirt (not like me- that's one of her own).

We all are finally at home now and just enjoying getting to know each other. As you can imagine, this first time mom will not be online that often. I will only be checking in now and again when I can tear myself away from all this cuteness. Till we are back in the groove, please check out Ravelry.com if you have a pattern question.

Thanks for all the well wishes you all have sent in. They have really touched our hearts.

Cover Girl

Ok, So I have no idea if this will be the final cover, but I'm pretending that it is for now.

That's my Ghanzi Cardigan on the Fall 09 cover of Interweave Crochet.

I was so excited that I called my mom* immediately over and said, "that's me!"

I'll tell you more about the design when the magazine goes on sale in a few weeks.

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*Since I mentioned my mom being around, I might as well let you know that we are in the home stretch for CJ's debut. She can come anytime now, but will definitely be here on Friday. (I'm getting induced on Friday, so no matter what she'll be here by early Saturday.) Since we are so close now, I'll be offline for a while. I'm going to enjoy these last few days hanging out with Mom and then the first couple of days with just Mr CBF, mom, and CJ. I'll pop back in quick to let you know that we're fine and whatnot, but I'll be pretty out of touch for a while. Hope all your projects are going great and I'll see you on the other side shortly.

What a crochet designer does while on leave...

CJ's First Sweater
Originally uploaded by rchach

She crochets.

So yes, I am taking a break from designing and projects for CBF, the book, and magazines. But that doesn't mean I put down my hook.

I am very lucky that my hobby and job right now are one in the same. And I rarely take a break from work. Usually as soon as I finish one deadline, I'll hop right on to swatching for more submissions and come up with more designs. This time I am really trying hard to sit on my hands from doing that, knowing I'll have no time once CJ comes.

So instead, this weekend I whipped out a little sweater for her. It is my design, not from a pattern. Normally, I would be thinking how to write this up, where I want to publish it, etc. Not this time. I made a promise to not add anything to my work to do list and I am sticking to it. I crocheted this little sweater for CJ and CJ alone.* It was fun for me and hopefully she'll look super cute in it.

Now in full disclosure, I do have a pattern coming out this winter that is similar to this sweater. I used it for the base of this one, so this sweater is sort of like a preview of that one. Granted that one has different yarn, gauge, and style. Ok they only share the same stitch pattern, but it still could be a sneak preview, I think you'll see it too when it comes out.

The yarn I used was Spud and Chloe Sweater. I had a skein left over from a project in the book. The button is a little clay doggie that a friend gave me years ago.

It was really relaxing getting to crochet for the fam and not have to worry about taking notes along the way. I have a couple more projects planned this week to keep me busy while we wait for her little debut. If they come out cute, I'll share them with you.

* I am not writing this up as a pattern, so please please don't ask. This is the first break from writing I have taken in years, and I just want to enjoy it. But do not get mad either, I know for a fact that there are some just as cute baby sweaters coming out this winter that will keep you happy. They just won't be this one or from me. But they will be incredibly cute! I'll let you know when they are out at the newsstand. *

Sneak Preview: New Book 10

This is the last sneak preview I have to show you for a few months on the new book. I turned in half the manuscript and projects this week, and the remaining is not due until the end of the year. I worked out that long of a lead time on purpose for little miss CJ.

With the shipment of the projects out the door, I am officially starting my maternity leave. I plan on taking a month off once CJ comes and doing only things I want/ can do with her (and our lack of sleep). That reminds me, that while I am off for that month (starting whenever she decides to come) I will not be checking my email either. So if you have project questions, you will have to be patient with me. I'll get back to you but it will be slow for a while this fall.

Now that all the deadlines are met, I'm off to play. I have a few projects of my own that I wouldn't mind crocheting and sewing while I have the chance. Hope you are enjoying your holiday too!

Sneak Preview: New Book 9

Working away on getting these projects out the door. At this point I dream of sewing in zippers, snaps, buttons, hook and eyes.

Like I say in class, finishing (edging, blocking, closures) is not really fun; but goodness it transform your projects. I am finding that true every hour of my week this week.

Today's sneak peek is made with Blue Sky Alpaca's new yarn Spud and Chloe Fine. It's a sock weight yarn of wool and silk. Very nice when blocked, even in this single crochet stitch pattern. Definitely worth looking into next time you are at the store. I think Sweater is my favorite of the line, but Fine is great as well for crocheting.

Ok enough stalling for me. Back to sewing. Hope you all have a great holiday weekend!

Sneak Preview: New Book 8

Big week over here at CBF Headquarters.

Half of the new book's manuscript was due yesterday, so CJ and I put a big push on finishing diagrams and editing text the last few days. Now we have to turn our attention to finishing those projects and getting them to the publisher. We have about 5 that need a tweak here, button there, edging here, zipper there (type of stuff). They all are due on Monday (ship Friday) at the publisher. I am definitely surprised how long it is taken me to finish them compared to the last 2 books, but that's what you get for being in your last few days of being pregnant and trying to get a million and three things done at once.

Today's sneak preview is yet again another crocheted frog closure. What can I say? They are fun to make. Plus I really think they make the project stand out. This project is my favorite one in the book at the moment for those frogs and for the bold aqua color mixed with that dark gray green border. This book definitely has some fun color combos and this one makes me smile since it is so bright. The sample really didn't take long to crochet. About a week for me, and that's with numb fingers and all. Again, that makes me happy. I really am trying to have a number of the projects be fast ones in the book, so when it works out it is just icing on the cake.

Back to the finishing zone for me. If you follow me here, on twitter, on facebook, or ravelry; I am going to be quiet the rest of the week so I can finish these projects before CJ decides it's time to make her debut. If you have emailed me questions, it may be a while before I can respond; I'll get to you as soon as I can but I am not making any promises.