About.com Crochet

Crocheted Heart - Wordless Wednesday Photo Post

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 01:01:59 +0000

Find more info about this crocheted heart
Get the free chart for crocheting this heart
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Crocheted Heart - Wordless Wednesday Photo Post originally appeared on About.com Crochet on Wednesday, February 10th, 2010 at 01:01:59.

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Yarn Bargain Alert - Caron Rhapsody Yarn

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:20:55 +0000

Not-Quite-Wordless Weds

I found this yarn at the Dollar Tree store today for $1.00 per 2 oz skein. The name of the yarn is "Rhapsody" and it bears the Caron label. It's a medium-weight yarn. Fiber content: 80% acrylic, 20% polyester.

I just wanted to pass along the info, because I know many of you are Caron fans. I have no idea how widely this yarn is available, and I wouldn't advise going out too far out of your way to look for it. I am not sure if many stores have the yarn in stock. The store close to me didn't have all that much of it on the shelf when I arrived, and now they have even less.

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Yarn Bargain Alert - Caron Rhapsody Yarn originally appeared on About.com Crochet on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010 at 18:20:55.

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Crochet Challenge - Decorate a Heart Shape

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:10:30 +0000

Think of this crocheted heart shape as not just a finished project, but also a crafty "building block." Sure, you can use it on its own, but you can artistically transform it into your own creation as well.

Crocheted Heart Shape - Photo © Amy Solovay.

This month, I'd like to challenge you to decorate a crocheted heart and make it into something useful. It could be either functional or decorative - art or craft, or somewhere in between. You could make it as simple or as complicated as you like.

You are more than welcome to use my heart pattern, heart chart, or beaded heart, or you could use any other heart pattern that appeals to you. (If you use one that isn't mine, please credit the pattern designer appropriately in your challenge entry.)

Use any supplies of your choice - yarns, threads, fibers, fabrics, ribbons, trim, beads, edgings, flowers, paper, chipboard, leather, acrylic, metal, plastic, or whatever else strikes your fancy. You can also incorporate your hearts into finished items like hatboxes or bags.

After you've made your project, you are invited to share your creations in a new "Show & Tell".

Creative Challenges at About.com

Some of the other Guides here at About.com do regular challenges:

Ginny Wiehardt hosts fiction writing challenges.
Marion Boddy-Evans hosts a painting project.
Jennifer Kyrnin, the Guide to web design, has asked other designers to join her in an ambitious daily design challenge.

This isn't an exhaustive list. There are also Guides who do occasional challenges, quarterly challenges or annual challenges.

I have been giving some thought to the idea of doing monthly crochet challenges. I think it's a fun idea - do you? On the other hand, I am not sure how it will go, so let's just try one challenge for starters. If there is significant interest, we could continue with doing more. Also, if you have suggestions for future challenge themes you'd like to try, please be sure to leave a comment.

Ideas for Getting You Started With the Challenge

There are many different ways you could use this heart in various craft projects. I've thought of several ways:

Use it as an applique.
Crochet two hearts and stitch them together to make a potholder. (You could easily add a loop of chain stitches for hanging.)
"Love note keeper" - Crochet two hearts. Decorate and embellish one of them lavishly. Leave one of the diagonal sides open but stitch the outside edges together. To the open side, add several buttons or toggles with loop closures. Store folded notes inside.
Transform the heart into a baby bib.
Crochet the heart in soft organic cotton and use it as a baby washcloth.

Now let's see your ideas! When you've finished your project, please be sure to post it to the challenge page. I can't wait to see what you will come up with!

Crochet Challenge - Decorate a Heart Shape originally appeared on About.com Crochet on Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010 at 15:10:30.

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A Brand New Look for About.com's Crochet Newsletter

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:03:52 +0000

Starting with Monday's upcoming edition, About.com's crochet newsletter will have a whole new look. If you've been subscribing to the needlecrafts newsletter for awhile, you've already seen the revamped layout by now; the crochet newsletter, along with all the other newsetters at About.com, will be formatted like that one from here on out.

I'm really excited about the new look! I love the new layout - I think it looks clean and fresh and contemporary. I really hope you will share my enthusiasm for it, but I won't hold it against you if you don't.

So, what do you think? Please don't be shy - if you love it or hate it, it won't hurt my feelings either way. (I didn't work on the layout redesign, by the way, so I certainly can't take credit for it!)

More About Newsletters at About.com

Subscribe to the Crochet Newsletter - When you subscribe, you'll receive weekly updates with links to the latest free crochet patterns and tutorials that have been posted that week. The newsletter also occasionally features links to vintage patterns, news about what's happening online and offline in the world of crochet, and other items of interest to crochet enthusiasts. We also occasionally post free crochet videos, and when you subscribe to the newsletter, you'll be updated about those as well.

Subscribe to the Needlecrafts newsletter - this newsletter is geared to the crafter who has a wide variety of interests in the needle arts. You can expect to find updates about crochet, knitting, cross stitch, needlepoint, beadwork, quilting, and other crafts. I subscribe to this newsletter, and I really enjoy it. If you enjoy working with fiber in any way, shape or form, I think you will like it too.

Subscribe to the Knitting Newsletter - this newsletter is written by Sarah E. White, About.com's Guide to knitting. Sarah fills her newsletters with all sorts of interesting tidbits - from reviews of all the latest and greatest knitting supplies, to free knitting patterns, to noteworthy knitting news and items of interest. If you knit, you won't want to miss out on her updates.

Other About.com Newsletters: There are many other outstanding newsletters you can subscribe to as well. So, if there's a different topic you'd like to stay updated about, check this list and then click to the topic's main page. From there, look for the signup form at the top right-hand side of your monitor.

Unsubscribing: In the unlikely event that you don't enjoy your newsletter(s), you can easily unsubscribe at any time.

Thanks so much for your interest in our newsletters! And thanks for sharing your opinion about the newsletters' new look.

A Brand New Look for About.com's Crochet Newsletter originally appeared on About.com Crochet on Friday, January 29th, 2010 at 17:03:52.

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Crochet Colorwork Terminology - Wordless Weds Photo Post

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:05:17 +0000

These unused strands of yarn have a name. Do you know what it is?

If you don't already know the answer, find out here.
See more "Wordless Wednesday" blog posts on other topics at About.com
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Crochet Colorwork Terminology - Wordless Weds Photo Post originally appeared on About.com Crochet on Wednesday, January 27th, 2010 at 16:05:17.

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How Crochet Enthusiasts Can Help Haiti's Earthquake Victims

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 08:35:29 +0000

Rain Blanken, About.com's Guide to DIY fashion, blogged about innovative ways that crafters can help Haiti's earthquake victims. Crochet enthusiasts are invited to read about the handmade for Haiti efforts she described in her post, as some of you may be interested in participating.

Many of us are already busy with various charity efforts. But if you're not, and you want to be, now is a great time to get started. Rain's got some fantastic suggestions.

More About Haiti

What happened in Haiti?
Miles for Haiti - Donating frequent flier miles to help Haiti
Ten important facts about Port au Prince, Haiti's capital city

How Crochet Enthusiasts Can Help Haiti's Earthquake Victims originally appeared on About.com Crochet on Friday, January 22nd, 2010 at 08:35:29.

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Crocheted Flower Applique - Wordless Wednesday Photo Post

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 12:15:07 +0000

See the project overview, which includes yarn information and other important details about the flower
Find the crochet instructions for this flower applique
See another work-in-progress photo of the flower, which will give you an idea of how it looks before the finishing touches have been added
Visit our index of free flower patterns for crochet
See more "Wordless Wednesday" blog posts on other topics at About.com
Discover more "Wordless Wednesday" posts from all over the Internet

Crocheted Flower Applique - Wordless Wednesday Photo Post originally appeared on About.com Crochet on Wednesday, January 20th, 2010 at 12:15:07.

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New Crochet Granny Square Pattern

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:42:57 +0000

Bored with traditional granny squares? Here's a newly-published granny square that looks a bit different, but is still similar enough to be recognizable as a granny. This one is created using V-stitches.

Pink Crocheted Granny Square - Photo � Amy Solovay.

I've crocheted my sample in fuzzy pink acrylic yarn, which is perfect for creating a girl's baby blanket. You can, of course, make this in just about any yarn or thread you want to.

More About Crocheted Granny Squares and Afghan Blocks:

New Crochet Granny Square Pattern originally appeared on About.com Crochet on Monday, January 18th, 2010 at 00:42:57.

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Cuteness Alert! Twinkie Chan's Free Lollipop Brooch Pattern

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 10:45:58 +0000

Twinkie Chan designed an adorable lollipop brooch. The free pattern is published in a web 'zine known as Snippets.

Fantastic things about this pattern:

Did I mention that it's cute?

If you don't want to use the lollipop as a brooch, you can adapt it for other purposes: barrettes, appliques, 'fridge magnets, or whatever else strikes your fancy.

This lollipop would be great for accessorizing kids' clothes, but you don't have to be a kid to wear it.

This is an excellent way to use up scrap yarn (although I wouldn't advise mixing fibers, as Twinkie Chan did, if you can avoid doing so.)

If you've ever wondered how to crochet a two-color spiral, Twinkie Chan's pattern will show you how to get one started.

More Lollipops and Sweet Things:

Valentine's Day arrangement with lollipops and flowers - a mixed media crochet and craft project

Snowman lollipop dispenser

Crocheted watermelon scarf photo at DIYFashion.about.com

Cupcake earrings at Familycrafts.about.com

Cuteness Alert! Twinkie Chan's Free Lollipop Brooch Pattern originally appeared on About.com Crochet on Monday, January 11th, 2010 at 10:45:58.

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Crochet: Which Hand Should Manipulate the Yarn?

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:44:37 +0000

Sarah Hall submitted the following to the page of crochet tips from our readers:

Just Beginning
I'm just learning to crochet but find it easier to have the thread in my right hand with the hook and use it a bit like in knitting has anyone else found that. I don't seem to be able to co-ordinate my left hand to deal with the thread. Any thoughts!

Hi Sarah, thanks for dropping by! This is a great question, and I am sure other people are wondering this as well. Since this appears to be as much a question as it is a tip, I took the liberty of moving it over to the blog so that we can all have a conversation about it.

My first thought is this: whatever works well for you is fantastic!

I recently invited left-handed crocheters to explain how, exactly, they hold their hook and yarn. (Perhaps I should offer a similar invitation to right-handed people too?) Quite a few people responded.

If you take the time to read through the responses, you'll see that many of them use both hands to some degree. There was at least one person who mentioned using the same hand for holding the hook and manipulating the yarn. (Read Shadowarrior's response.) So, you are definitely not alone, although the majority seem to work a bit differently.

I do tend to think that you'll be able to work faster if you can get both hands to cooperate with what you're doing. It will take some practice to get there, but I'd encourage you to try it.

How Important Is Your Non-Dominant Hand?

Think about it like this: I write with my right hand, but my left hand isn't entirely left out of the picture; I use it to steady my paper. I comb my hair with my right hand, but I use my left hand to smooth it as I comb. If you think about all the activities you do in a day, you'll realize that both your hands work together to accomplish your objectives. (And I don't know about you, but sometimes I wish I had a third hand, and maybe even a fourth one.)

Learn by Watching Other Crocheters

If you have the opportunity to watch other experienced crocheters to see how they hold their work, I'd highly recommend doing so. Watch enough people, and you'll begin to discover that everyone has their own unique way of working. I really don't think there is any single "correct" way of holding the hook and yarn. Any way that works for you is "correct" in my opinion.

But, having said that, there might be better ways than the one you are currently using. You won't figure that out unless you try some other ways. You might find a way that would speed up your process, or fatigue your hands less, or improve your crochet in some other way.

If you don't have any friends or relatives who crochet, and there aren't any crochet classes in your area, you can at least watch some crochet videos to see how others are holding their hooks and yarn. We've prepared several videos that can help you with this. Edna Kurtzman is our instructor, and her videos will be really helpful because the camera is zoomed-out enough that you can see how she is holding her hook, how she's working with the yarn, and even how she is sitting. You don't have to do it like she does it, but I think it would be helpful for you to at least take a look.

Crochet VS. Knitting VS Tunisian Crochet

In my experience, people generally agree that crochet tends to be faster than knitting. (If anyone out there disagrees, please don't hesitate to say so, though!) I haven't done any detailed analysis of why that might be, but I do know that they are two very different skills. Some people lump them together, because they have similarities, but they really are different.

Tunisian crochet, however, is a technique that borrows elements from both crafts. The hook used for Tunisian crochet is long, like a knitting needle, and if you already know how to knit, you can hold it in much the same way you'd hold a straight knitting needle. So, if you're a knitter looking to make a comfortable transition from knitting to learning crochet, try Tunisian crochet! You might really enjoy it! (I've posted plenty of free Tunisian crochet patterns for you to try.)

In the end, it's up to you to figure out the best way for you to hold your hook and thread (or yarn.) If it works for you, and gives you results you are satisfied with, then I'm all for it.

Questions for Crochet Enthusiasts

I'd like to open the floor for comments from other experienced crocheters:

Would you recommend holding your hook and manipulating the thread / yarn with the same hand, as Sarah suggests?

If so, why? If not, why not?

Do you have any additional insights to share with her, and with others who might be wondering the same things she is?

Crochet: Which Hand Should Manipulate the Yarn? originally appeared on About.com Crochet on Friday, January 8th, 2010 at 12:44:37.

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