Cover Girl!

This really makes me smile that I have been lucky enough to grace another cover of Crochet Today. This is especially true since I have had to reduce my work load a bit. (And I know you all know why! That little cutie can't take care of herself.)

I am tickled that they got the retro feel (see the intro), since that is exactly what I was going for. I was inspired by Anthropolie's traveling retro line from a few season's ago. Actually I have had pictures of their catalog pinned to my inspiration board for a while now, and am so delighted that it must have finally seeped into my conscience.

I started this project right after I finished the book projects. I wanted to jump right into more work to unwind from the craze of the book. (yes, I realize most people would take a time-out, but for me to work on one project was enough of a break. I think of it like a cool-down after crazy mental exercises from the new book.) Actually I only finished this project in early Feb. I think that is the fastest I have seen a project go from my fingers into publication, which is pretty neat.

The yarn is Red Heart Heart and Sole, a fingering weight yarn with an F/5 hook. If you want to make it, be sure to get something fine; since the lattice stitch pattern really can open up on you the thicker the yarn. I know working with fingering weight can be a pain, but trust me it will go fast with the stitch pattern. I think I crocheted this in 2 weeks and that is with taking care of CJ who was 4mths at the time.

Here are some more pics over at flickr. And my sneak preview from Feb.

I think the issue comes out in a few weeks. Be sure to check out Linda's cute baby dress and Roxana's bridal headband, too!

Adopt a Designer: Annie Modesitt

Continuing in our series on supporting fellow designers is a woman who single-handedly is changing the game for all working professionals. She is a force, and some one that I am proud to call my friend. I just adore her, and I know you do too.

Annie Modesitt
anniemodesitt.com

Annie is a mother, author, amazing teacher, designer, voice of our industry.

She is someone you can not just help but love. She speaks the truth and makes no bones about it. All while designing some of the most recognizable knit and crochet. (Like the Trellis Shrug on the right from Crocheted Gifts) Speaking as a sleep deprived mom, I truly have no idea how she has the energy to do it all and I really admire her.

Annie is without a doubt the best teacher I have ever taken a class from. Her energy and love of knitting and crochet sing through her classes. I mean years after I have taken the class, I still remember how to cable without a cable needle (and that's with only knitting here and there throughout the year). Which brings me to mention, if you are ever in the area that she may be teaching, run to sign up! She is just that awesome. Plus, now she is doing online classes too. Trust me they will be worth every minute to learn from this amazing designer and my good friend.

Interweave Crochet Spring 2010

The new spring issue is now up for preview over at Interweave Crochet. The theme this issue is all about shells. I am chuckling to myself because I didn't know that there was going to be a theme, and I am guessing a lot of the designers did not know. Which means that we all just thought- ooh spring, let's do lacy shells.

My design is the Lucine Tunic. The shape came from one of my favorite pregnancy tops. It was just a simple vest that had a thin little belt under the bust. And I thought, move the belt down and it easily could be for any woman. The tunic is constructed in 2 stages. First you make 2 panels for the top half, then you seam them together by crocheting on the belt section. Lastly, you crochet the bottom section to your desired length. It is actually quite simple in construction. The berry stitch pattern gets memorized pretty quickly after doing it row after row.

This project holds a special place for me. It was the project I took with us to the hospital when CJ was born. We had to spend a couple of days there since I had a c-section, and it was so nice to be able to snuggle her and crochet while we were there. It also makes me chuckle since it took me 6 weeks to crochet, which is an eternity in my world. Most of my projects take 1-2 weeks for me to crochet, so that was long for me.

I have some other pictures of it over at flickr if you want to check out my photos. Or the sneak preview from November.

You should check out the issue. There are a number of great designs in the issue. I am partial to Annette's Kiki Dress and Kristen's Flame Scallop Cardi.

Adopt a Designer: Ellen Gormley

Next in our Adopt a Designer series is someone that I really admire. She not only works hard at designing and publishing, but she volunteers to keep the industry moving forward. She is my savior with the professional development program over at the Crochet Guild. And she is a Cincinnatian just like us. Let me introduce you to...

Ellen Gormley
Go Crochet

Ellen is a mother, designer, teacher, volunteer, and soon to be book author.

Ellen and I met in a really funny way. I was at a wedding and chatting to a guy on my right. He asked what I did and I said, "I'm a structural engineer and a crochet designer." And he said, "Oh, our good friend does that." I looked at him like he was nuts, since how often do you meet someone that knows the difference between knitting and crochet and that knows another working crochet designer. But he was completely right. Right after that, I got Ellen's email from him, and sent her a note; mainly because I always think it is funny when things like that happen. We met for coffee, and I knew immediately that we would be good friends. We share the love of all things fibery, and how can you not connect over that?

I first noticed Ellen's designs in Crochet Today. She made these beautiful afghans that made me wish I had more time on my hands. I loved her play with color as well. It has been a joy to watch her lately. The designs she has been publishing recently are just adorable. (Check out the little girl's dress to the right, it was published in Crochet Today March/ April.) Which brings me to mention her book again, with her on such a designing tear, I really can't wait to see her book next spring. You can catch up on that and other crochet tidbits on her blog.

Speaking of, she had this great link to a Today Show's interview with a knitting designer. They truly captured what I am getting at with Adopt a Designer series. Designers design for the love of designing, not for the income, we make very little to live on. Luckily though, we love our work and makes us rich in joy.

Calling all Aspiring Designers

Interweave Crochet is looking for you. They are starting a new project in the next 4 issues of IC and will need your help.

Chain Reaction Afghan Project is a really cool idea. They are getting 10 designers to create one of a kind blocks and publishing their patterns in the Summer and Fall issues. Then while that is going on, they are asking readers to make their own original block and post a picture of it in their gallery. They will choose their favorites, then let the readers vote. The top ten will be featured in the Winter and Spring Issues. Fun right? You can see all the details here.

Sounds like fun to me!

Work Table

If you have been following me on twitter or facebook, you know that I was worrying a bit about my workload for the rest of March. Well, as most things in our life, it is either fast or feast, and usually comes in 3.

My 3 from early last week? One assignment from a crochet magazine that was a bit of a challenge for me to come up with something that fit the bill and also be something I would be proud of. One assignment was a switcheroo for another crochet magazine. On the day the project was due, the yarn still had not arrived, so we changed course and came up with a new project with yarn I have here (the aqua balls in the picture). I had them saved for a project for CJ this summer, but I am happy that they will be going to good use. Lastly, the new book edits are starting to trickle in which are wonderful (because it means the book is moving along) and awful (because now I get to see first hand how bad my baby brain was while writing the book). [Note to self: Do not write another book while in your last trimester and newborn stage of baby. Ouf, do we have our work cut out for us in editing!]

But speaking of moving along, look what I found on Amazon. I think that's the earliest I have seen a new listing go up, I was shocked to find it there.

So for me the next 2 weeks will all be about, editing during CJ's naps (lets cross our fingers together that she will nap) and crocheting during playtime. It will be quite the short period of time, since at the end; we will be flying solo (just babe and me) home for Passover. Thus starting the spring holiday extravaganza. Passover on Monday in Allentown, PA; Easter on Sunday back in Cincinnati, then to Pittsburgh on Thursday for the last Penguins game in Mellon Arena (Mr CBF is a hockey nut). Yes, that's 3 weekends booked with family fun. It should be great, as long as I finish my work. So I guess I better stop delaying and get at it!

Oh, and I almost forgot to mention. That other project in the photo (the sneak preview) is another CBF pattern that I hope to release in April. It just needs a border and a name. Any suggestions? I'm thinking of something to do with lace, or queens, or fruit.

Vote Now

The 2010 Crochet Awards need your vote now.

Here's the link

The Flamies are in their second year of recognizing talent in the crochet world. In the spirit of my Adopt a Designer, please take a second to vote for your favorite designers, teachers, yarn companies, and projects from this year. You can read more about the projects nominated over at the CLF blog. I'm running off now to vote for my favs.

Adopt a Designer: Julia Vaconsin

I first noticed our next designer while flipping through Interweave Crochet. I usually can spot a designer's project pretty quickly, since we all seem to have our own unique style. When I first spotted, Julia's work, she made me stop in my tracks. Her designs are fantastic. They are always incredibly wearable and make you take a double take to say, "Wow, is that crochet?". I just love that feeling as a fellow designer, when another person's work makes me stop and smile. It just makes my day. And that's what Julia Vaconsin's work does.

Julia Vaconsin: www.juliavaconsin.com
Mother of three (and just like me recent arrival this past fall- so super busy with baby), crafter (her sewing skills make me jealous, b/c her brood let her have time to sew), and fantastic designer.

If you have picked up an Interweave Crochet in the last year, you have probably seen her designs gracing the cover. In fact she's had as many covers as most veteran designers have their whole career. And she just started working with Interweave in 2008. You can see what I mean by her Fall 2008 yoke sweater. Now doesn't that look store bought knit. Incredible.

Julia is great because she has patterns published over the pond and here in the states. She has patterns for sale and patterns for free. The mittens are for sale on her website.

My only wish is that there was a time warp machine, and that she could have it. So that she would have time to write a book, because I know for sure the crochet world would adore it.

New Look

Well after 4yrs with the pink on the blog, I decided it was time for a change. I moved some things around a bit, and just basically did some spring cleaning. Nothing major. I am working on a new header, but other then that, nothing too drastic. I just didn't want to confuse you guys. Sorry for the short notice.

Yarn Sweepstakes

Taking a look around the studio, I thought it was time for a little fun. All this month, every time you purchase a Crochet By Faye pattern, you will be automatically entered into my Yarn Sweepstakes. I am giving away yummy crochet friendly yarn to 4 lucky winners. The yarn is all extras from projects of mine, whether they are from here at CBF or from my books or from magazine work. I know first hand that they are fun to work with and will make beautiful crochet projects. See below for one of the 4 prizes that you could win.

Here's what you could win:

Yarn from New Book Group
2 hanks of Dyed Cotton by Blue Sky Alpaca
2 balls of Allegoro by Classic Elite
2 balls of Eco-Ways by Redheart
Valued at 60$


Magazine Yarn Group
3 balls Sublime Cashmere Silk Merino DK
4 balls Baby Bamboo by Sirdar
Valued at 60$





Blueprint Crochet Yarn Group
1 Hank Louet Gems
1 Hank Lorna's Laces Swirl
1 Hank Lorna's Laces Shepard Sock
1 ball SWTC Bamboo
2 balls Lily Chin's Chelsea
Valued at 45$



Crochet By Faye Yarn Group
2 Hanks Susan by Schaefer Yarn Company
Valued at 60$


How to enter:
Simply purchase any Crochet By Faye pattern from March 1 to March 31 and you will be automatically entered to win. More patterns you buy the more times you will be entered.

Winners will be drawn by CJ on April 1 and announced on April 2nd.

Good Luck!

Pop Jumper

Break up winter’s dull days with this bright warm tunic jumper. Dress can grow with baby by changing out the collar to become a vest.

Pop Jumper

Yarn:
Filatura Di Crosa Zara (CYCA #3), 100% Lana Extra Fine Superwash Merino, 136.5yds/ 50g:
MC: #1794 Deepest Teal, 3, 3, 4, 5, 5 balls
CC: a: #1797 Bright Aqua, b: #1790 Mustard, c: #1794 Coral 1 ball ea

Hook:
H/8 (5.0mm) hk or hk needed to obtain gauge

Notions:
Blocking pins &spray bottle
(2) 1 1/16” dia buttons

Stitches Used:
ch Chain
sl st Slip Stitch
sc Single Crochet
dc Double Crochet
fdc Foundation Double Crochet
t-ch Turning Chain
yo Yarn Over

Gauge:
16 sts x 12 rows= 4¼” x 4” in pop stitch pattern

Sizes:
Dress is sized for 6mth, 12mth, 18mth, 2yr, 4yr (S, M, L, XL, 2X). Chest circumference is 16.5”, 18”, 19”, 21”, 23”. Shown in 6mth size.

Notes:
1. When substituting yarns be sure not to use a heavy yarn (like cotton) or the dress will hang wrong. Good substitutes to the wool are acrylic and bamboo blends.

More Photos at flickr.



6$, PDF Download Only

Fine Print: To use the PDF, you will need appropriate software such as Adobe Acrobat Reader. By purchasing this pattern, you are granted a limited license to download the pdf file to a single personal computer and to print out a hard copy of the pattern, solely for personal non-commercial use.

Adopt a Designer: Kristin Omdahl

First up in this new series, is someone that I truly admire. She creates works of wearable art in my opinion. The way her mind comes up with new crochet ideas is completely inspiring to me.

Kristin Omdahl
styled by kristin

Kristin does it all. Mother, crochet and knitwear designer, tv personality, blogger, author, teacher. Her designs truly are nothing that you would have ever seen before.

You can see her latest work in Tahki Stacy Charles new collection, Tahki Yarn City Crochet Collection. It is a booklet with some of the best crochet designs I have seen in a while. Kristin's shawl wrap is the cover project.

Her new book comes out soon titled, Crochet So Fine, and you can pre-order a copy at Interweave today. Just look at that cover. Doesn't it make you want to run out and learn how to crochet like that?

She is truly a gift to the crochet world. Her work is beautiful and inspiring.

Thank you for everything you do, Kristin!

Adopt a Designer

In honor of National Crochet (and Craft Month), plus teaching CJ how to turn negative things* into positive things, I am creating Adopt a Designer.

Craft Designers do have awesome jobs. They get to use their creativity every day to make beautiful, zany, and fun projects. Then they get to share their projects and in most cases connect with other creative people. It can be a completely amazing job. The biggest downside is the income. The big secret in being a designer is that you work overtime everyday for minimum wage income, if you are lucky, and have no health care or any other financial benefits. Think about that for a minute. Think about how much they truly love their job to work for so little.

So to honor craft designers, every week this month I am going to do my part to support a designer I truly respect. If you want to join me, here's a couple of ideas:

1. Buy a pattern from your favorite designer. Most patterns are just a few dollars, so the commitment is really minimal. Then don't forget to tell your friends where they can buy the pattern too.
2. Tweet/ Facebook about a project you are making and include a link to the designers website. Designers have to take like to promote themselves, so taking a minute to tweet for them can really help.
3. Write a review of one of your favorite craft books including a link to the designer's website and where to buy the book. Even though some designers do not get royalties on their books, by including a link to their website will help them with advertising that they could greatly use.
4. Buy a piece of artwork or jewelry from them on Etsy then tweet or blog about it. A number of really talented designers are over on Etsy and just taking the time to tell them you care can go a mile.
5. Talk them up at your local yarn store or crochet group. Most designers sell their patterns to yarn stores too, so just by telling your LYS that you love them can really help. LYS owners are super busy people too and do not have time to hunt down new (or new to them) designers, so you are helping both.
6. Take a class. A lot of designers teach online and off. Teaching is a real help to their income, so go a ahead. Plus you get to learn something new, and who doesn't like that.

And those are just a few ideas.

In these economic times, it really takes all of us to support each other. And if you love a designer, show them. It does not have to be a grand gesture or cost a lot of money. It just takes a minute to adopt a designer. And in that minute you can help them stay in business and keep producing those crochet and craft projects that you love.

If you can think of other ideas, please feel free to drop a note in the comments section. I'd love to hear it. If you like the idea, please feel free to spread the word. I'd like to be able to show lots of designers how much we appreciate them!

--------------
* This came from an incident that happened yesterday. In my 5 minutes of downtime (while CJ was sleeping and I was taking a minute away from working), I was surfing the web and found a blogger who was giving a pattern she purchased from me away for free to anyone who wanted it. Since the pattern was only 4$, it was ridiculous to me that she was giving it away. Yes, she was violating copyright by sharing it with her friends. But just on principal, she was stealing. It happens daily to designers and it really is upsetting. I know first hand how hard we work and how little we make in income. We definitely did not get into this line of work to make millions. We do it because we love it. So when you share a pattern that is for sale for free (even to one person) you are stealing from the designer. It all seems counter intuitive to me. If you love the patterns the designer creates why would you steal from them? So instead of dwelling on that one blogger, I wanted to show CJ that you can take something negative that happens to you and turn it into something positive for others. That is why I am starting this series. I think it is important to help designers I respect to be able to keep producing amazing designs.

Pop Jumper

Pop Jumper
Originally uploaded by rchach

This weekend was quite the bummer for us. We were all excited because we were going to fly home for a family reunion and a friend's baby shower. But with the big snow storm in the East, Philly airport canceled all flights for 2 days, and we couldn't get a flight out after ours was canceled. So instead of CJ's first flight and getting to see out extended family, we stayed home and Skyped everyone. (Thank goodness for Skype.)

Since we didn't have plans, I got a chance to finish a project I have been working on for the baby. It is a vibrant fun jumper dress. I used some of the extra yarn from the new book, which made me feel so great. I always have so many 1/2 balls left from the books, and I never know what just I want to do with them. Then it hit me, Baby! Baby projects take so little amount of yarn that I hoped it would work out, and it did!

I made this dress from Filatura Di Crosa Zara, it is a lovely washable merino. I really enjoy crocheting with it. And CJ seems to love to play with the yarn, she's pretty darn smart that one.

The shape is one of my favorites for her. It is a sleeveless jumper. I have found that they are perfect for baby girls since they can be dresses when they are little and vests when they are older. For this jumper, I made it easy to change out the neck, so that she can wear it next winter with a larger neck as a vest.

I am working on the pattern now. I am hoping that she lets me type it up this week, so I can have it for you all soon.