New Product Weekly
May 25th: BlogHer.com (Kathy Cano-Murillo)
CraftyChica.com (Kathy Cano-Murillo) + JustCastingOn.net (Deb Steenhagen)
June 10th: Craftzine.com (Ladybug Outfit Pattern by Vickie)
June 11th: StephanieJapel.com
5.30.2011
For a bit now, I have had this great inspiration to gaze at while I have been writing the books. It is Vickie Howell and Caron Yarns newest collaboration, Sheep(ish). I LOVE the name. The yarn is a little bit wool and a little bit acrylic, like a little bit country and a little bit rock n roll, hence Sheep (ISH). The yarn you can get directly at buy.Caron.com or in Joann stores (to find exactly where check out this app); which means it is affordable and who doesn't love that?
Details
Weight:
Worsted Roving Yarn
Content:
70% Acrylic, 30% Wool
Yardage:
167 yds, 153 m in a 3oz (85g) ball
Suggested
Hook size:
H-8 US
Care:
Machine wash cold on gentle cycle. Dry flat
My Take
The yarn is a single ply of soft halo yarn. In crocheting a number of swatches it had not split once. I would recommend trying a larger hook size if you are a tight crocheter like me. I have been using a J/10 (6 mm) hook for the swatches (to the right). For blocking, I would try machine or hand washing in cold water, the full immersion is wh
at the yarn wants. It will behave very well for you after a cold bath.Project Ideas
It is a bulky yarn for crochet. It would make quick and fun accessories, toys, or afghans.
But that is my take, Vickie was nice enough to sit down and answer come questions I had about the yarn. Here's our chat:
RC: The first thing I noticed with Sheep(ish) was the colors. What was your color inspiration when designing the yarn?
VH: I worked really hard on getting the palette just right, so it makes me happy when people notice the colors. Thanks for mentioning it! First and foremost, I wanted to be ab
le to bring some of the amazing colors you find in higher-end yarns to the mass market. Affordable doesn't have to look cheap. It was really important to me that the grays and browns in the line looked rich and luscious. I'm inspired by shades from the 5
0's, 60's & 70's, so in the line I went for super-saturated, retro-chic colors. Each Sheep(ish) color is meant to bring some pop to otherwise plain outfit or room, giving your existing wardrobe or home furnishing pieces more milage.
RC: You live in TX and this is a worsted weight wool blend yarn. For me, I love it but I am in Pittsburgh; for you how did you decide on a wool medium weight?
VH: I live much of my knitting & crochet life in denial, really. Just kidding. Honestly though, we don't wear much of the stuff I make because it's so hot here a good portion of the year. That's a drag, but certainly doesn't stop me from loving working with wool blends. I love 'em!
RC: The yarn has this great halo while having this really shiny sheen. What projects would you be drawn to making from it?
VH: Thanks--the halo is from the wool and the sheen from the acrylic--they work like Wonder Twins together! Because of the aforementioned combo, Sheep(ish) works great for kids items, comfy hats, gloves & sweaters, and home decor items. It's pretty versatile.
RC: The yarn is also silly soft, much softer then you think of when you think wool. Was that a key item for you?
VH: Absolutely. Kids won't wear things that aren't soft, so as a mother of 3 that factor was important to me. Also, softer yarn is more enjoyable to stitch with--I want people to love working with it as much as they dig their finished projects!
For some other project ideas, check out the free patterns on Vickie's pattern page.
To hear what others have to say, here is the full tour schedule:
5.25.2011
Little Crochet Winner
I forgot to mention....
Congratulations to Andrea, you are our winner of Linda Permann's Little Crochet.
(send me a email with your address and i will get it out this week)
New Product Weekly
I have a bunch of really really cool yarn and books surrounding me in the studio, so many that I hope to weekly show them to you. To inspire me and hopefully some of you to give them a go.
Up first is an amazing yarn that I have already dove into and made a project for the new book (uh, the last secret book that is- I don't know, number 6, I think.)
Anyway...
Details
68% baby alpaca / 10% extra fine merino / 22% silk109 yds in 50g hanks
I'd recommend using a K/10.5 hook
From the website:
A modern take on 1970’s neon and natural, the line includes seven groovy pop colors perfectly balanced with six granola-lover neutrals. Modern technology makes Techno a feather-weight genius: baby alpaca is blown into a mesh tube of silk for really fast knitting with literally no
splitting.
My take
Everything above is 100% true. It is a really fun yarn to crochet with, it doesn't split like they say. You can see in the picture of the yarn cakes that there really is no ply, so there is nothing to split. Clever, no? The yarn also gives this cool halo around pretty defined stitches. It and project are ridiculously soft. I mean, silly soft. So soft that CJ has taken my project and run off with it so many times I can't even count to cuddle with while she is reading.
Project ideas
Since it is pretty bulky for crochet, I'd use it for accessories. Especially since it is so soft, I would wrap your face in it. Scarves, cowls, hats, ascots, shrugs; are totally up its alley. Plus, the color range is so much fun you could make the best pillows and toys from it too. A little bit retro and totally funky. I really had a blast envisioning what to make with the neutral and neon bright colors. My project for the book uses Rogue, Cha-Cha Red, and Tonic Orange; just those names alone bring a smile. That being the case, this yarn is definitely something you want to do with a stitch pattern that has color work in it. It will make it jump off for sure.
Overall, I think it will make a fabulous yarn this winter. Not only is it soft and warm, it is bright and cheerful for those gray cold days. Definitely something to keep in mind, when shopping in the future.
encyclopedia preview
encyclopedia preview
Originally uploaded by rchach
Just another peek into the new book. 
These are from the color chapter. That chapter I am quite proud of. It includes a bit of everything. Slip Stitch embroidery, charted designs, and mosaic designs. Besides just being super colorful and cheerful too.
These are from the color chapter. That chapter I am quite proud of. It includes a bit of everything. Slip Stitch embroidery, charted designs, and mosaic designs. Besides just being super colorful and cheerful too.This last one is from the cable chapter, another chapter that I love. It should look familiar, it is the stitch pattern from the Rainy Day's Vest in Crochet Today a few issues ago. The Cable/ Texture Chapter I packed with cables from around the world, pulling inspiration from even knitted cables. There is also a lot of classic stitch patterns in there, because I feel like you can't call it an encyclopedia unless you touch on the basics and classics too.
I'll try to pull some others from the lace and granny motif chapters too to give you another peek inside. That is if my brain remembers!
encyclopedia preview
encyclopedia preview
Originally uploaded by rchach
Moving at a snail's pace, I am getting there on the encyclopedia. All the stitch patterns and technical stuff is written; and all the swatches are turned in and photographed. Just down to reviewing edits (since we are on a crazy schedule I am getting them next week- usually I see edits like 3 months after I turn in a book) and writing an introduction.
Since I am currently reviewing the last edits on Simply Crochet, before the book designer does her magic and lays out the book to make it pretty, and am writing another secret book which was due (oh 3 weeks ago); I have NO brain power left. I usually like to write intros last so I can summarize everything in case I decide to go in a different direction while writing the book. In this case, I am kicking myself.
I do have the book cover now too I can share, which is super fun too; and a few more peeks at the patterns (once I can coral CJ and upload the photos). Hope you all have been doing great. I feel so out of it, since I have only been either working or taking care of CJ.
5.19.2011
Pam's Comfort Cables
A while back our world of crochet designers was rocked with the crummy news that one of our beloved was diagnosed with breast cancer. It is pretty funny, but us crochet designers are quite a tight knit family and always are there to support each other, even though in most cases we have never met in person. I know first hand, when CJ was born, the designers got together and sent me a present for CJ nearly every day for a month. All were handmade. They have no idea how much that meant to me, since they did not even know until later that I had a really rough time recovering from my C-section. Their support really made a difference for me. But that is just how sweet of a group they are. When one of them (and I can't even remember who) wanted to make an afghan for Pam, I leaped at the chance to help. Of course, us being us, it snowballed. Instead of just making an afghan, we wanted to really try to make a difference for her family. Which lead us to....
It is a booklet of 24 cable designs. All the proceeds go directly to Pam to help with her medical expenses. The booklet is a great price at only 5$. It is like a mini stitch dictionary of cables. Each one is more unique then the last. I was floored by what some of my friends came up with, just blown away. We used Comfy Worsted by KnitPicks, which had nice definition to make those cables pop. Plus, it is a nice weight between the cotton and acrylic. You can see a preview of the booklet in the picture below. My block has a stitch diagram, but I am pretty sure the rest do not just so you know.
It is definitely something you will want in your library when it comes to cables, plus you can feel good about making a difference for a fellow fiber friend too!
5.10.2011
Busy Girl
I know you guys know by now that I have been a busy girl, which is nice because I am slowly being able to show you what I have been working on. Another project of mine just came available....
It is available at Interweave as a video download right now, or as a DVD this July. I am thrilled to be able to do these with Interweave. Basically, we are taking my classes and taping them, so for those of you who can't get to my classes you can get the next best thing. Each video (download or DVD) includes the a PDF worksheet (that I packed with as much information as I possibly could) and free patterns to test out the techniques we learn. In the hat workshop, the Bobble Beret and Street Smart Hat are the free patterns. They are advanced beginner level for those of you who want to test out the method before you go crazy on your own version. If you are a chart person, you will not be disappointed. I show how to use crochet symbols to your advantage when working out that sometime funky math. Please let me know if you do make a hat from the workshop. I would love to make a gallery of finished hats!
Hope you enjoy!
Here's a preview:
Here's a preview:
Totally on a side note, I am thrilled at the price of these. Not that I have any control over them, but they are priced so reasonably, I am delighted. Just another reason I love working with Interweave. And if hats aren't your thing, the next one will be on baby sweaters. Even if babies are not your bag, you can use the techniques to make women's sweaters easily.
5.05.2011
Book 5 Revealed
So about a week ago, Amazon listed the book I am currently writing! Usually they are listed on Amazon when I have finished writing and we are in some form of editing. Not this time!
So since the secret is out....
Here's what I have been working on feverishly the last few months....
It is part encyclopedia, part stitch dictionary, part crochet anthology. Basically I tried to touch on every form of crochet I could think of, and I am sure I missed one or two. But besides touching on them, I tried to highlight what makes them unique and special. There are 350 stitch patterns from around the world in the book. I pulled techniques from Japan, Belgium, France, and Russia. I dive into patterns from today and from Victorian times. Some will be really familiar and some will be totally new. I included all my favorites, so there are lots of motifs and lace. You'll find cables, edgings, and Tunisian as well.
I am down to the every last chapter, meaning just 25 patterns left. I need to get them turned in by Saturday. Why? Because I need to hop back on the other book I am writing and get that finished and turned in 2 weeks from today. (meaning I have 5 projects there left to write, plus around 30 diagrams to draw.)
I can't wait till June when I will be able to breath. More on both books soon, well when I can think straight. It has been a lot of late nights (and I mean A LOT).
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