Unfortunately, I did not hear from the original winner of "Learn to Crochet Ripples" in time to award her the class. Bobbie is the replacement winner! Bobbie, please confirm your email with me and I will have Annie's send you the code so you can watch the class. Thank you for entering!
(Patricia, please email me through the "Contact" page here so you can help me figure out better ways to alert winners that they need to respond. Thank you!)
Thanks to all who watched the FB live broadcast via Annie's page on Tuesday! If you missed it, you can see it here (I think), or just scroll down on the Annie's FB page until you see it.
The winner of a free "Learn to Crochet Ripples" class is...Patricia! Patricia, please send me your email address so I can have Annie's give you the access code for the class. I need to hear from you by 9 p.m. this evening.
Annie's will offer a project class excerpted from the Ripples class--it's the Go-To Ripple Tote. Should be available sometime today! I'll keep checking and let you know.
It was fun doing the live video. I was overwhelmed with the number of viewers and commenters. I tried to reply to all 500+ people who commented, but I know I won't be able to do that in the future. I have to think of a good way to acknowledge folks while spending my time wisely. I also would like to offer more content. This first live video was mostly a meet-and-greet, with a small amount of instruction, but I think people would like that flipped. All in all I learned a lot, which is always a good thing! Thanks again to all who watched.
I'm really excited about tomorrow! Annie's Crafts has invited me to do a live video broadcast through their Facebook page. On Tuesday, August 16th (12:30 p.m. Eastern, 11:30 a.m. Central, 10:30 a.m. Mountain, 9:30 a.m. Pacific), you can join me in my Pennsylvania studio. I'll talk a little bit about the "Learn to Crochet Ripples" class I did for Annie's, announce a mini-class they're offering, let you in on a giveaway, tell you a little bit about my design process, and give you some tips to help you work evenly in rounds or ovals. I expect the broadcast to last about 20-30 minutes.
Please join me, it would be so nice to "meet" you! Just go to Annie's page on FB at the appointed time and there I'll be. I did a run-through last week and the technology seemed to work okay, so I expect everything to go smoothly.
Click here if you want more information about the ripples class.
Good luck!
I'm excited to have been invited to connect with you through a Facebook Live Video on Annie's Crafts page next Tuesday, August 16, 12:30 p.m. EDT (11:30 a.m. Central, 10:30 a.m. Mountain, 9:30 a.m. Pacific)! I'll be talking about the "Learn to Crochet Ripples" class plus a new mini-class that Annie's is offering. I'll also show you tips for keeping the correct stitch count when you work in the round, and I'll be answering as many live questions as possible. There will be a class giveaway, details to be announced during the broadcast. I hope you'll join me in my studio!
I've watched some live videos that other instructors have done and I've really enjoyed them. It's a fun way to learn something new in an informal way, and to get to know the teachers' styles.
To get ready for the broadcast I purchased this nifty flexible tripod thing to hold my iPhone:
Phone holder
That way the phone is raised up and you won't be looking up my nose! The tripod also holds the phone in position when I use the camera on the back so you can see my hands during stitch demos. Being fairly (well, very) new to the iPhone and its capabilities, I was in a bit of a panic about connecting properly and making sure I would be able to do a quality video. Amy at Annie's was wonderfully helpful and patient; we did a little run-through last week and now I'm confident that I will be logged on at the appointed time without any trouble.
To join the live video, you'll need to go to Annie's FB page. Use the link in the graphic above. I'm looking forward to meeting you there!
At long last, Crochet Cowls has been published! It is my 22nd book overall, and my 13th crochet title, but it is still just as exciting to open the box as it was the first time. I am especially pleased with the photography of the finished pieces on the models--those were taken by Daniel Shanken of Shanken Photography Inc. The styling, makeup, locations, etc. are all top-notch! The models themselves did a fabulous job showing off the cowls. If you're interested in a copy, they are available here.
The back cover. Thanks to Susan White Sullivan for such a nice endorsement!
I'm slowly starting to add the patterns to Ravelry, then Pinterest. As we head toward autumn, the timing is good for doing some events. I'm already scheduled for the official book launch at the Lion Brand Yarn Studio in NYC the evening of October 27th, followed by a Firelight Turtleneck class at the Studio the next day at lunchtime. (If your local yarn shop might be interested in hosting a book-signing/trunk show and/or a class, please put them in touch with me!)
Speaking of Lion Brand, I had the privilege of designing a summer picnic set for them: placemats, napkin rings, a wine bottle cover, and a lidded round container. Here are some photos:
The link to the Lion Brand blog post and patterns is here.
This time of year the flowers are in full bloom. Birds and butterflies come by regularly to enjoy them. I don't put out bird feeders--I know I'm not the kind of person who will keep them filled and clean--but the flowers and the little stream to our pond attract all sorts of birds and other critters. I spotted a hummingbird on the zinnias last week but it didn't stay still long enough for me to get a picture. There have been some other flashy birds including an oriole and a goldfinch. Plenty of frogs and toads. Today I collected seeds from the lettuce and cilantro. I'll plant some of the lettuce this week for a late-season crop, and will save the rest of the seeds for next year.
Butterflies are very cooperative posers!
I hope you are enjoying the beginning of August and are taking full advantage of these beautiful summer days!
I'm very fortunate. Most of the comments I get on my blog, FB page and via email are very respectful and complimentary. When I do receive questions about my patterns or classes. I always try to respond promptly and helpfully.
Sometimes people ask me where to purchase hooks or yarn. Even though I have no more information than the questioner does, I take the time to locate websites where the person might be able to find those supplies, and I forward that information to them. Sometimes I have contacted the manufacturers directly and served as the liaison between them and the crocheter.
I also get questions about patterns that aren't mine; requests to solve a crocheter's general issues that have nothing to do with my designs; and the occasional correspondence that has an inappropriate tone.
When people are having difficulty, I often will ask them to send me a photo of the trouble spot. Then I will send them photos in return. It takes a lot of time to do that, but I want everyone to have a good experience with me and my patterns, so I don't mind. It's part of the cost of doing business.
Occasionally a crocheter will find an error or something confusing that needs to be fixed. Nobody ever likes getting those messages, but I appreciate them--it's the opportunity to make things right. It's nice that people care enough to contact me about those.
What really bothers me is when I ask people to confirm that they received my response and they don't! I don't know whether my information got to them and they just haven't answered, or whether it got stuck in a spam filter somewhere. PLEASE, PEOPLE, INCLUDE YOUR PHONE NUMBER WHEN YOU SEND ME A QUESTION SO I HAVE A WAY TO FOLLOW UP IF YOU DON'T RESPOND TO MY "CONFIRM THAT YOU GOT THIS EMAIL" REQUEST! If email is the only way to reach you, and if your program is eating my email, you might think I just blew off your question--which I would never do. I want to make sure you got the answer you needed, and I also want to maintain my reputation for prompt, courteous customer service. Many a time I have tried to find a person via Ravelry, FB, or LinkedIn so I can contact them a different way. This takes a lot of time and is not always successful. I'm a crochet designer, not Columbo.
In case you're interested, here are some samples of the kinds of questions I get:
"I made a tunisian row by row afghan. I looked in your book on "Tunisian Crochet" and could not find anything that will help with my problem. I don't know what I am doing wrong. My afghan is `lopsided'. When I fold it, it doesn't fold straight. Can you help me with this problem?"
"I would not bother you with these questions but I have ripped the project out twice and my time is very limited with working at the store 32 hours and watching my grand daughter 30 hours a week along with the rest of life." [This was at the end of an email about a shawl that was off 1" in width before blocking. After I responded kindly and thoroughly, the writer apologized to me for the tone of her original question. I appreciated that.]
"Where does one purchase the crochet mesh?" [This was about a filet crochet pattern where one crochets the mesh.]
"I am getting the basic chains and the Foundation Row Return down just fine but, after about two rows of Tss, I seem to have a loose piece of yarn going up the left-most piece of fabric. I have been using a blunt yarn needle like shown in the book to get the last verticle [sic] bar and the horizontal run behind it opened up to make the last stitch but something just seems to be wrong and I have frogged it all out and started over more than 6 times now."
"The only thing I don't understand is when the pattern says: "Tss into last vertical bar and horizontal thread behind it", what thread?" [There's a photo.]
"I was, therefore, particularly aggrieved to find that the instructions did not match the pictured design (even when viewed upside down). I think it is highly fraudulent and deceitful to use false pictures to lure us into buying your book."
"I have completed 3 panels for each of 2 afghan patterns. They need to be sewn together, embroidered and finished. The instructions that came with the patterns [someone else's patterns] show one way of sewing panels together, but I don't like the finished look. I am hoping that you know of a better way."
"I want instructions for a throw."
"Also, I got circular hooks for Christmas to learn Tunisian crochet. How do you make a blanket with the cord?"
I don't mind answering general questions; it's nice that people think of me as someone who has the answers to their crochet problems. I always try to respond in a positive way, thanking the writer for the question and then trying to help. If you send me a question, please help me by confirming that you received my answer! I don't want anyone to feel ignored.