Delicate Crochet weeks away for publication! Plus fall events and classes

October 15, 2018

With the return of cooler temperatures, things in my crochet world are heating up! The most exciting bit of news is that Delicate Crochet will be out next month. Here is a sampling of pre-publication comments from librarians and other qualified reviewers:

“This is an extremely well-planned and organized book. The patterns are delightful…”

“As expected, there are wrap/shawl/scarf designs and several tops/sweaters/cardigans, but also a pretty skirt (with directions for optional lining), a beaded necklace and a very fun cowl done in Tunisian crochet.”

“This is a lovely book that does a lot to show just how versatile and beautiful crochet can be..”

The book, with 23 original patterns including written instructions and charts, came in at 176 pages. Besides my own designs, there are patterns from Kristin Omdahl, Vicky Chan, Karen McKenna, Vashti Braha, Rhonda Davis, Robyn Chachula, Amy Solovay, Katya Novikova, Jude Butterworth, and Marty Miller. With two Canadians and a Russian in that group, it truly is an international cast. I’m honored that the contributors agreed to be part of this project. Thanks also to photographers Daniel Shanken and Alan Wycheck, and the models who showed off the garments to stellar advantage: Alexis Lebo, Nina Magnani, Aron Rook, and Shay Strawser. Not to mention Candice Derr, Emily Cable, Caroline Stover, Tessa Sweigert, Judith Schnell, and Kristen Mellitt from Stackpole Books.

For a sneak peek at the projects, click here. If you’re interested in purchasing a copy, you can do so here.

Meanwhile, the Wall Hangings book from Leisure Arts is getting some good press. Here is today’s review courtesy of Ambassador Crochet. I really had fun designing and crochet those projects. You can see all of the designs here and purchase the book here.

I’m really looking forward to a weekend in Virginia, teaching for the Crochet Guild of Prince William County. Four classes are on the schedule for November 10-11: Beaded Crochet, Tapestry Crochet and Basket, Crochet Patterns Demystified!, and More Techniques in Tunisian Crochet. If you’re in the area, the workshops are open to non-members as well. Here are registration details.

The first week in December I have two Delicate Crochet book-signings and fashion shows set up (I’ll have all 23 items with me): Tuesday, December 4th, 7 p.m. at my home library, the West Chester Public Library in West Chester, PA, and Thursday, December 6th (don’t know the exact time yet) at the Lion Brand Yarn Studio in NYC! More information about both of those events will be coming early next month.

I hope your autumn has gotten off to a warm and cozy start!

A busy spring with new classes, new projects, and a new book coming!

June 10, 2018

My February trip to Indiana to film two online classes for Annie's went great! The weather even cooperated and it was much warmer than when I was there two years ago. Both classes are live now, so I can reveal that they are "Tunisian Crochet: Beyond the Basics" and "Learn to Crochet Pineapples." Each class has two projects; here are some pictures.

The projects for the Tunisian class are a two-texture scarf and a lacy shawl. The ones for the Pineapples class are a fringed lap blanket and a lacy half-circle shawl.

As usual, the crew was terrific. It's amazing how many people are in the studio, all working to make sure the class is professional and polished. Three camera operators, the producer, director, editors, stylists...no wonder Annie's classes are such high quality.

I was invited to one of my favorite yarn shops, The Knitter's Edge in Bethlehem, PA, to celebrate Local Yarn Store Day on April 21st. What a fun afternoon! The owners, JoAnne and her daughter Amanda, should be used as role models for any shop owner. Their store is spacious--with dedicated classrooms!--well-stocked with yarn for every budget, and staffed with knowledgeable, caring people. They set me up in their beautiful bay window to do a book-signing and some Tunisian crochet demos. I met all sorts of nice people who had come from nearby, and from as much as several hours away. (That goes to show you how valued The Knitter's Edge is.) One of the women I met that day has since invited me to teach two introductory Tunisian crochet classes at the Middletown Thrall Library in New York state in August. A lovely surprise to have that work out.

I'm looking forward to my trip up there. Not sure if I will have time to visit Manitoga: The Russell Wright Design Center then, but I certainly hope so. I have been on the travel/architecture beat recently for The Hunt Magazine. My article about the National September 11 Memorial & Museum just came out in the summer edition; in the fall, features about Ladew Topiary Gardens and the Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise will be published; for winter, I'm covering Hollyhock House (a restored Frank Lloyd Wright site in Los Angeles) and Grounds for Sculpture in New Jersey. Manitoga would fit right in.

I'm excited to report that Delicate Crochet is listed for sale! Check out the "Books" page and the "Sneak Peek" to see photos of the 23 projects included in the book, and the names of the designers who contributed patterns. Amazon has the publication date as 12/1 but it should actually be ready to ship in late October/early November. If you are going to TNNA or CGOA this summer, look for Stackpole Books and some of the designers showing off some sample garments.

Book Review: Baby Afghans in a Weekend, by Karen McKenna

July 6, 2016

Karen McKenna certainly has been busy! I reviewed her gloves and mittens book recently, and now she has another book out. This one is from Annie's, in their "In a Weekend" series: Baby Afghans: 12 Adorable Quick-to-Finish Throws for Boys and Girls. (Note: I was given a copy of the book to review; that will not influence the content that follows.)

There is a very nice variety of afghans in this book, which retails for $8.99 in the US and $10.99 in Canada. I was not expecting to see so many different stitch patterns. Ten projects are rated easy, one intermediate, and one experienced. The experienced one is a hexagon that uses post stitches to create a cabled look. Some other techniques are spike stitches (or long stitches), chevrons, shells, ripples, and textured stitches. There is one version of a granny square.

Each pattern is written for baby afghan size, with directions for smaller blankets (car seat, small cradle, security) in parentheses. I'm used to seeing the smallest size first, but there's no reason it can't go the other way! The cradle sizes are long, like the afghans, but just a little bit skinnier. Make sure you check the measurements the pattern has for the blankets before you choose which one to crochet.

I made the "Wild Child" as my test blanket. The directions were easy to follow. I really appreciated the symbol chart; when I had a question about whether a skipped stitch was supposed to be the first stitch on a row or the next one, the chart cleared that up for me immediately.

Here is my practice piece:

Ignore the eye-watering colors; I used yarn from my stash

It took me about 2.75 hours to make the smallest size blanket, which is 41 stitches wide x 25 rows, plus side edging and two rows of trim. You could definitely complete a full-size blanket in a weekend.

Here's what the "Wild Child" from the book looks like (the blanket, not the baby)

You folks know I am very particular...so it is a relief to find a well-written, beautifully photographed book that leaves me nothing to criticize! I do have two suggestions (more for the publisher than the author):

Why break the patterns into sections for boys, girls, and neutrals? Seems a bit arbitrary. Most crocheters know they can change colors or alter trim to suit their nursery decor.
I'd like to see a few sentences at the beginning of each pattern to give an overview of what to expect. Something like, "This pattern uses alternating shells and V-stitches in three colors."

I recommend this book for anyone who wants to make something quick and fun. The patterns are complex enough to hold your interest, yet not so intricate as to drive you crazy. There is a nice variety of solids and stripes/blocks, with one pattern that uses variegated yarn. Blankets can be made in four different sizes. Instructions are clear, charts are a plus, photos are adorable.

If you're lucky enough to be going to the CGOA conference, Karen McKenna will be be signing copies of Baby Afghans in the Crochetville booth Friday at 10:30 and 2 p.m. Saturday. She'll also be signing at Hooked for Life (booth #118) at 12:30 p.m. Friday.

You can also buy her book from Amazon here.

Book Review: Formal Jewelry

January 27, 2015

I had the opportunity to review a new Leisure Arts title by Karen McKenna, Formal Jewelry. (Full disclosure: I also write for Leisure Arts, and Karen recently reviewed my Tunisian Shawls book; you can see that review here.)

I like crocheting with beads. One of the HGTV "Uncommon Threads" episodes I was on with my two crochet pals Julianne and Naomi was "The Need to Bead." We demonstrated a beaded wrap, a bracelet, and a round container. Several of the patterns in my private line are beaded shawls. I'm always glad to see people using beads creatively in crochet projects.

The book has twelve projects, all rated Easy, and will let you adorn yourself from head to toe! I mean that literally: there's a headband, necklaces, bracelets, a garter, and barefoot sandals. No earrings, though. Detailed technique instructions are included, as is information about supplies. Karen uses the pre-stringing method for all of the projects. (There is another way to incorporate beads by actually putting the hook through each bead and pulling the thread through, but that's a lot more time-consuming and requires removing and replacing the hook every time you want to add a bead.)

It was fun to browse through the pages and think about special occasions for these projects. I can definitely picture them at a wedding or prom. Wouldn't it be nice for a bride and her bridesmaids to get together and make their own jewelry?

Some of the projects have instructions for multiple sizes. It's very helpful that each size is color-coded, minimizing the possibility that a crocheter will read the wrong line somewhere in the middle.

I chose the "Sparkle Necklace" for my test project.

The colors and sizes of the beads appealed to me. My local JoAnn's didn't have exactly what was specified in the pattern, so I bought a variety of beads to get close to what Karen's finished project looked like.

The instructions were clear and understandable. Some of the beads didn't have large enough holes to fit onto the elastic. Rather than risk fraying the cord by forcing the beads on, I omitted those. Information about the size or inner diameter of the beads, or the name of the specific "variety pack" used in the sample, would be a good addition to the supplies list.

Video instructions provided by Leisure Arts were helpful. It had been so long since I did single crochet with beads that I couldn't remember whether to snug the bead up before the stitch or after the first part of it was complete. Good to refresh my memory on that.

My one question about the pattern as written is how to get a long strand of cord at each end. If you start with a chain, Row 1 and all odd-numbered rows work back toward the initial tail. If you end after Row 5, the final tail will be on the same end of the necklace as the starting tail. That doesn't leave you with a long tail on each end for securing the clasp. Have I misunderstood something?

The beads I chose were probably chunkier and heavier than the ones Karen used. Two beaded rows were enough for me to get the look I wanted.

I'm very happy with the way my Sparkle Necklace came out! As you can tell, due to my bead choice my finished version isn't nearly as tailored and formal as the one in the book, but it suits my taste and lifestyle (do I actually have one of those?) perfectly. I'm going to try the headband next.

I recommend this book to anyone who likes to crochet and wants to try some fun projects that are easy to make and fun to wear. Most of the projects are one-size-fits-all, which makes them ideal for gift-giving. If you have a special occasion coming up, consider making your own jewelry to dress up your look.

The models are lovely, and the photographs throughout the book are inspiring. I would have liked seeing a view of the back of one of the necklaces; the clasps aren't shown in any of the pictures.

Congratulations to Karen on this new publication. She has also designed for Cascade Yarns, Windy Valley Muskox, and Red Heart, and her work has appeared in Crochet!, Crochet World, and Crochet 123. She is an Associate Professional member of the Crochet Guild of America.