Tour Tuesday: Yarn Crawl 101 this Weekend!

I have my busiest few weeks coming up for my LYS Book Tour this month....

First, I have to tell you about the newest Yarn Crawl to hit the Pacific Northwest! What's a yarn crawl you say? Just an excuse to visit every yarn store in a certain area, check out new shops and yarns you may not have seen before, and get to know other crocheters and knitters along the way. You can hit every store on the list or just a few. For Yarn Crawl 101, each shop you visit will enter you for a chance to win a raffle basket (including 50% off any of my patterns on Ravelry). But if you visit EVERY shop, you will be entered for the grand prize basket (including signed copies of BOTH my books!).

This new Yarn Crawl will hit 14 yarn shops from Ocean Park, WA to Brookings, OR in 3 days! Next weekend, I will be taking part in Yarn Crawl 101 by doing a Trunk Show and Book Signing at Coastal Yarns in Cannon Beach, OR. Drop in and see me anytime on Saturday, September 13th between 2pm and 6pm.

I actually did my own mini yarn crawl last summer, driving up Highway 101 from camping on the Coast. So I have visited many of these shops, and had a delightful chat with the owner of Coastal Yarns, who crochets as well as knits. It is a cute little shop on the main road through Cannon Beach. Parking can be at a premium, but there is a parking lot and street parking behind the building.

I will also be doing another Trunk Show at La Favorites in Kelso, WA this coming Sunday. I will have all 10 blanket samples and books to be signed between 10am and 4pm. This is also where the local Crochet Guild of America group meets, so you can find out more about the CGOA!

So, mark your calendars! If you cannot make it this weekend, or happen to live in Northern California, be sure to check out the rest of my events coming up this month: Cannon Beach and Kelso WA this coming weekend; 3 shops near the California Bay Area next week; and signing, teaching and judging at Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival at the end of the month! (check the website out today if you are interested in sending in items for the Crochet Competition! They have to be postmarked by tomorrow - or you can bring them late at the site, before noon Friday, Sept. 26th)

Day 32: The Game's Afoot

The Game's Afoot

This was my last afghan I was still finishing the night before I had to ship the rest of my samples to Interweave (on the way to the airport for TNNA in June 2013). I had planned to make one more row of squares for a total of 20 squares (which would have shown off the pattern even better). But when my contractor did not work out, I simply ran out of time and decided 16 squares had to be enough. At least it is the perfect size for a lapghan!

Found this inspiration pic on The Quilter Magazine website

The quilt that originally inspired this design had the same repeated colors in each of the squares over and over. I replaced the colorful box blocks with the Nine Patch Square, and alternated the colors in those squares. But it was my friend (and end weaver) Carissa who saw me laying out the sample squares and suggested that the “cards” in each Card Trick square should match the colors of the nine-patch square they were pointing to. The pattern within a pattern created by this small change really brought the design together.

A funny story about the title for this one, when I was at TNNA a couple of months ago, Sara Wilson (aka The Sexy Knitter) invited my roommate (Angelia Robinson) and I to go see a play with her one night. She didn't remember the name, just that is was a murder mystery. When we walked up to the theater, I could not believe that the play was called, "The Game's Afoot" just like the blanket in the book I was at TNNA to promote!

It seemed like it was meant to be for me to end up at that theater. They even mention that the name comes from Shakespeare's King Henry the V, which is where I got the name from. I looked for a quote that included the word "card" or "game" and settled on the one that starts off: "Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more.."

And as I wind up the last of my posts about the projects in Reversible Color Crochet, and ponder what my next big project will be, this quote seems particularly appropriate. I cannot believe I made it 32 days without missing a day. I will continue blogging about the book, events, and a lot more. But perhaps not every day (though I already have them planned for the rest of this week, so who knows).

For more information, see: http://www.interweavestore.com/reversible-color-croc...

Day 31: Getting It All Done

Once I had settled on the basic afghan designs and decided on yarn and colors for each of them, I spent the next 4 months crocheting nearly non-stop. I am blessed to have an awesome support system of family, and friends with kids my daughter's age (most of whom are pretty creative themselves and don't mind me crocheting anytime we hangout).

Because Reversible Intarsia is such a new technique, when I started writing Reversible Color Crochet I did not have any contractors who could help me make the actual samples. So, I made the TEN afghans in the book, plus 28 individual squares, all myself.

 

These days I have quite a few trusted contractors I am able to hire to help me with many of the pattern samples I need to make for yarn companies and magazines. But the one contractor I tried to train and hire on to make squares for just one of the blanket projects missed a couple key details about the technique and I ended up remaking all those squares.

On the other hand, her mistakes were just what I needed to photograph for the illustrator to show examples of what the wrong way looks like in the Trouble Shooting Section at back on the book! I wanted to be sure to include examples of common mistakes and how to fix them.

At some point I realized that while I might be able to get all of the crocheting done by my deadline, weaving in ends on that much colorwork was more than I would be able to do myself. Fortunately, I was able to hire my good friend Carissa (who happens to live one block away) to weave in most of the ends for me, or I would not have been able to get them all completed in the time I had.

Because she was so close by, I was able to sit down with her and teach her how I would do it. She mastered all the tips and tricks I use for Weaving In Ends (also included in the Yarn Management section at the back of the book). She is now a marvelous "Finisher" and so convenient!

As the deadline was looming another friend's mom, Judith, spent several days and late nights steaming squares and seaming strips together while I finished edgings on the various afghans. I could not have done it without both of these lovely ladies!

Day 30: Shines So Bright

Shines So Bright Afghan

PETRUCHIO: I say it is the moon that shines so bright.
KATHARINA: I know it is the sun that shines so bright.

This is one of my favorite Shakespeare inspired names. I looked for quotes with the words sun and moon, and this one from The Taming of The Shrew was perfect. I did theater for many years. My grandmother ran a Junior Theater from the time I was in the 3rd grade and always got to play the interesting "character" roles.

When I was in high school, the first monologue I memorized and performed was also from The Taming of The Shrew, also from Kate, " Fie, fie! unknit that threatening unkind brow, And dart not scornful glances from those eyes..." (I always loved practicing my British accent). The one literature class I took in college was on Shakespeare. So I had a whole semester to study all his plays, but this one remains one of my favorites.

As I mentioned in my post about making community afghans, this one was inspired by a blanket made for a new baby by a group of knitters in one of my yarn fiction novels. Worked in a worsted weight yarn, this one could be done with 4 picture squares and 8 solids squares (made by less adventurous crocheters).

My original idea for this one was to make solid squares sewn together between the Moons and Suns. But the Lion Brand Baby's First yarn I used was bulky enough that the individual picture squares turned out quite large. So rather than individual squares, I chose to stitch the four picture squares together without very much seaming, joining as you go.

 

For more information on Reversible Color Crochet, see: http://www.interweavestore.com/reversible-color-croc...

Day 29: Book Launch Party Next Week!

 

Just one week until my Book Launch Party at Twisted in Portland. Join me on July 12th from 2-4pm to celebrate the release of my new book Reversible Color Crochet. Come see a Trunk Show of all the Sample Afghans from the book, so you can see them up close and personal (and see that they really are the same on both sides!)

I will be there to sign your copies of my book (I even told me Dad he has to come to the Launch Party to get his book signed). Twisted will have copies available for purchase of both my new book and my first book. And there will be yummy (mostly homemade) goodies to nibble, including my Dad's "famous" Cowboy Cookies (chocolate chip & oatmeal).

Just for coming you will be entered in a raffle to win various items that have been donated by a number of wonderful sponsors (who I'll be posting about over the next couple of weeks). All raffle items are ones I found useful when working the Reversible Intarsia technique in my book, including Yarn Cozies, Mini Scissors, Wool Wash, Project Bags, and Custom Stitch Markers (A-D to mark your color balls).

There will also be a 1 hour Introductory Class starting at 1pm to introduce you to the most basic change to your color changes that makes your stitches reversible when working this technique. Space is limited, so call Twisted today to reserve your spot!

This is just the first stop of my Book Tour over the next several months. Hope to see you there!

Day 28: Nine Lives

When I began looking for quilt patterns using the blocks I had developed, my quilter friend had sketched out this quilt pattern, using the "Snails Trail" block for the four cat tails, 4 solid blocks, and 4 cat heads with collars. 


Another pic I cannot find the source of, let me know if it's yours!

 

I scoured the internet for this pattern and above is the only example of this particular layout that I could find. The more common "Four Cats" quilt (below) uses a special block for the whole body and head of the cat, but we did not want to add a 29th intarsia block just for the cat, and I prefer the simplicity of this layout. 

Originally I wanted to call this blanket "The Cat Lady's Blanket" for my friend Stephanie Thompson. I first met Stephanie at a Crochet For Cats program she was running at a local used bookstore, making small blankets to donate to the Vancouver Humane Society. She uses the blankets not only to bring comfort to cats, but to encourage kids to read more through the Read Me A Blanket reading program with Kazoodles, a locally owned toy store. A few years ago, we made a bunch of little cat blankets for her project, which is still going strong (though she could use help making blankets to match all the books kids are reading, if you have a little time and yarn).

Flat shot of the whole blanket so you can see the 4 cats.

When I started looking for names from Shakespearean quotes, I was surprised to discover that the phrase "Nine Lives" actually comes from Shakespeare. Who knew! Doesn't everything come from Shakespeare?

Then, during the months I spent working on Reversible Color Crochet, all three of my elderly cats passed away, so I dedicated this one to their memory. The first was Jerry, who sat beside me as I began swatching the squares for the book, but passed away in the spring. Cinnamon, my studio cat, guarded the many boxes of yarn that arrived week after week, but did not make it through the summer. 

Can you see the edge of Outrageous Fortune? I tried to keep
kitty fur out of my work, but had to let her sit where she wanted.

Finally my little Kidget, who I had for the longest, was so lonely without her buddies that she took up residence on the arm of my overstuffed chair, or my lap when I let her, watching over each stitch as I worked. She almost made it to 20 years old, but passed last year on August 9th (the day before Rowan's birthday/anniversary). I am glad this book gave me the chance to just sit and crochet with them for hours in their last few months.

For more information, see: http://www.interweavestore.com/reversible-color-croc...

Day 27: My Book Is Out! Contest #1!

I JUST found out that they moved up the release dates for my book, and yesterday was the official release date! I do not know if that means they are in bookstores now, or they have to wait until the 7th (original date).

But I have decided to run a quick little contest! ! !

You can win a copy of my first book, Rowan's Learn to Crochet Sampler, as well as 2 of the awesome items (recommended in my new book) donated by my raffle sponsors: a handy pair of Hiya Hiya Kitty Snips and a set of 3 Buffy Ann Designs Yarn Cozies (your choice of Left- or Right-handed and colors).  

 

All you have to do to win is Be The First Person To SPOT MY BOOK IN THE WILD:

1. Spot Reversible Color Crochet at a book store or craft store (Exceptions: Sorry, your pre-ordered copy at home doesn't count. If you work at or own the store that is kind of cheating. And Demo copy I left at Twisted in Portland to promote Book Launch Party is out.)
2. Take a photo on your phone or camera
3. Post the photo and location to Twitter and/or Facebook (bonus prize for doing both)
4. Tag me (@ReCrochetions) AND the book (#ReversibleColorCrochet)
5. Then use the CONTACT FORM in the right hand column of my blog to let me know you have posted

Here is what you are looking for...

IF you are the first person to post, I will email you for your address and color preferences, and get your prizes shipped in the next week.

On Your Mark... Get Set... GO!!!!





Note: There will be more contests, so even if you are not the first this time, save those pics. :)

 

 

Day 26: Clouds Removed

Clouds Removed Afghan

Looking for yarn at my first TNNA, I really did not know where to begin with wall upon wall of GORGEOUS yarns of every color, weight, and fiber everywhere I looked. I was instantly drawn to the hand dyed yarns, but knew those were not ideal for a book filled with afghans. On the other hand, when Sabrina of Anzula looked at the colors they had on hand for yarn support and handed be a full bag of each of 3 new colors of their For Better or Worsted (Cashmere/Merino/Nylon - yum!), I was excited to fit those colors into one of the afghan layouts I was planning.

I looked over the various layouts, and chose this one because it is the only one where all of the squares require only 3 colors. But when I began swatching up the 3 gorgeous colors, I realized that the colorwork just was not going to show up in three dark colors.

I ended up requesting a fourth color for a lighter background with green and purple stars, and used the darker grey for the border, with a wavey "ribbon" of green running through it (like the quilt below).

Could not locate source for this pic, please let me know if it's yours.

I spent many hours online looking for quilt pattern ideas, as I love seeing how traditional quilt blocks can be used in different combinations of color and repetition to create marvelous effects. This black and orange quilt was the inspiration for "Clouds Removed".

Although I decided to use the "Eight Pointed Star" block, rather than the block used in the quilt, I included suggestions in the book for doing an alternative layout with the "Double Friendship Star" (like the quilt). Many of the designs in the book include alternative design suggestions, as I hope crocheters will make the projects their own, and cannot wait to see what they will do with my designs.

For more information, see: http://www.interweavestore.com/reversible-color-croc...

Day 25: Dyers In Their Studios: Sabrina of Anzula

Sabrina (left) and her Team (with ABC interviewer in pink)

To tie in with my Month of Blogging about Reversible Color Crochet, this month's Hooked On Hand Dyed Profile is about Sabrina Famellos of Anzula Luxury Fibers. I got to use Anzula's For Better or Worsted yarn for the Clouds Removed afghan, one of two hand dyed yarns I got to feature in my book.

I met Sabrina at my first TNNA, and was thrilled to discover that she is a crocheter! Unlike most of the dyers I have interviewed, Sabrina's business has grown so much that she works with a whole team of helpers! So I am excited to have her share her experiences and inspiration...

 

Background
• How long have you been dyeing yarn?
I started dyeing fiber in 2005 to spin and sell at farmer's markets. I started dyeing full-time in 2009.
• How did you get started dyeing?
It grew from my love of crochet. I was crocheting accessories, and spinning yarn. In the early days of social media, I met some fiber friends on Tribe and we got together one weekend and learned to dye.
• What is your background?
Massage therapy and teaching massage.
• Do you have any special experience with art or science that influences you dyeing? 
Only youthful experimentation.

Your Yarn
• What makes your yarn special or unique?
We choose luxurious and unique bases to ensure an incredible product.
• What is something interesting about your dying process that non-dyers might not know?
Our yarn is really labor intensive. Everyone in the warehouse is involved with each skein – someone has to mix the dye, then someone else dyes the yarn, someone else rinses it, it has to be flipped while drying and harvested after drying, someone else reskeins it, someone else labels it, and someone else ships it.
• How do you choose your colors and name your yarns?
New colorways come from experimentation – I could be trying to create a certain color that inspired me, or I could just have a recipe I want to try and see what happens.
• Where do you find inspiration?
Everywhere! Sometimes new colorways or blends literally come to me in a dream. A lot of times ideas come from traveling and seeing new places and things.

 

Just The Facts

• How many colorways do you have?
Almost 100.
• Do you create seasonal or special order colors?
We do create custom, exclusive colorways for shops – Minty Unicorn for the Yarnover Truck, for example.
• How many and what types of bases do you use?
We have 14 bases right now. When choosing our bases we are concerned with luxury, uncommon blends, and quality.
• Where do your yarn bases come from?
We source all of our yarn from mills in North America.
• Where can we find your yarn? LYSs and online?
We are in LYSs across North America and a growing number of shops in Europe. Several of our shops do sell online.

Your Team
• How has your business grown in recent years?
We are continuously growing, in all aspects of the business. We are adding more dye pots; we recently added another reskeiner. Some areas of the business (like labeling) that used to require only part of a person's work day, now take a full-time employee.
• How many employees work for you now?
We are a team of eleven.
• How does working with other dyers influence your work?
Right now, we don't work with any other dyers, but we are always open to collaboration. We do use each other as sounding boards. We all have different experiences in our industry and we seek out counsel in each other.
• How did you use your Indiegogo Campaign to improve production?
We were thrilled by the support we received through the campaign. Unfortunately, the logistics of putting a/c in our current building didn't work out, for a lot of reasons. The good news is that we are using that money to put an air conditioner in a new building! When the temperature rises next summer, we'll be ready thanks to all of the support we received.

Personal

• What are your favorite colors?
I love the rainbow, which is probably why we will be ever expanding our colorways.
• Favorite fibers?
I just love yak. BFL, silk, camel
• Do you crochet, knit, or spin? What came first?
Crocheting came first, then spinning soon after I was dyeing. I also knit and weave.
• Anything else you would like to share?
I think we pretty well covered everything

Link Up

• Website? www.anzula.com
• Ravelry Group? http://www.ravelry.com/groups/anzula
• Facebook? https://www.facebook.com/AnzulaYarns
• Twitter? https://twitter.com/Anzula

We are also active on Instagram (http://instagram.com/anzulaluxuryfibers) and Pinterest (http://www.pinterest.com/anzulayarns/).

 

Day 24: A World Too Wide

This design was the first to develop when I added the traditional quilt squares to my original learning/geometric squares. After my friend Julia pointed out how the spiral square was similar to the Snails Trail quilt block, I went home and remade the square so new colors start at the center of each side of the square, rather than coming from the corners.

I decided the easiest way to get smooth lines was to run threads through the surface of the stitches on the original square, and make adjustments as I went. I started the threads from the center out and was thrilled to find that I could make even more of a spiral than I had before with just a few small changes.



Snails Trails Quilt Inspiration from The Quilt Index.org
Save Our Stories Gallery

I began searching online for examples of quilts using the "Snails Trail" block. There are various ways of combining the squares to create completely different looks. But I liked this one where the corner colors match up to create a sea of spiral stars. 

When I envisioned this afghan, I wanted warm, southwestern-type colors, trying to break away from the cool blues and greens I tend to go for. The Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece was perfect because they have SO many different colors to choose from. I started off with these 8 colors I picked up at TNNA, and studied the Brown Sheep website, and went in to a couple LYSs that carries a lot of their yarn colors to choose the additional colors.

 

Using the above quilt (found on The Quilt Index.org) as my inspiration, I actually made 6 strips of 6 squares each. But by the time I started whip-stitching them together, I realized the blanket would be more than big enough with just 5 strips. That 6th strip will make a perfect scarf to wear this fall, and show off the technique.

For more information, see: http://www.interweavestore.com/reversible-color-croc...



Day 23: Choosing Yarn for Afghans

Plymouth Encore for
Jen and Ivo's Wedding Quilt

In January 2013, I suddenly had to source yarn for TEN afghans before I could even start working on samples for the book. I quickly made plans to attend my first TNNA (The National Needlearts Association) Trade Show. The show just happened to be in Long Beach that year, near where I used to live so I could stay with friends.

That first trade show was just a little overwhelming, meeting designers, podcasters, and editors I had been following online since I started designing. Some I'd even emailed with, but never met in person. Not to mention so many different yarns I seldom knew where to focus my eyes.

Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece
for A World Too Wide

One of the podcasters I got to meet that weekend was the awesome Mary Beth Temple. Although she was no longer recording her Getting Loopy podcast, I had listened and re-listened to every archived episode, which are still available on Blog Talk Radio. In her podcasts she often spoke about the projects she was working on. When she was writing her book DIY Design It Yourself Afghans, she talked about balancing projects that use higher end yarns found in LYSs with the less expensive yarns found in the 'big box stores'.

A crocheter may pass on a project that uses a yarn they cannot find or simply cannot afford. When it comes to large projects like afghans, you are going to need a LOT of yarn, so cost will certainly be a factor. So I was keeping this in mind as I perused the many MANY booths of yarn on the show floor at TNNA.

On the final night of TNNA, I ended up joining Mary Beth and her friends for dinner. It was so fun getting to hang out with all of these experienced designers and learning more about the business and life of a designer. At the end of the evening, Mary Beth offered to help me figure out which other yarn companies I should talk to who carried reasonably priced, washable yarns that would work for my book.

With her suggestions, I was able to make a strategic plan for the last day of the show and made contact with numerous yarn companies who I might not otherwise have approached. After I got home, I had to request lots of yarn sample cards. I also visited my local big box stores snapping pictures of yarns I wanted to try to balance out the ones I found at TNNA.

Lion Brand Baby's First for Shines So Bright

Day 22: Outrageous Fortune

Now that you've seen and read about all of the individual squares in Reversible Color Crochet, let's check out the test of the afghan projects in the book, and how they all came to be...

Outrageous Fortune

Once we had the idea for the doing a whole book of afghans, starting with my original 12 sampler squares, I spent some time on the computer playing with the squares to see how I could put them together to create larger patterns. I cropped each square down and stacked and rearranged them in a word file until I liked how the colors in the squares matched up.

I came up with half a dozen different combinations using just 1 to 2 blocks each combined to create larger afghan ideas. I printed all of these up and took them to my monthly local stitching group (mostly CGOA guild members, but do a lot more than crochet). I asked them to pass the pictures around and choose their favorite 2 out of all the combinations. By far the 2 favorites were one with the "wave" square (that later became the "Snail's Trail") repeated over and over, and this one.

Outrageous Fortune combines Square #11 and Square #12, Arrows and Bullseyes. The Arrows square is the last of the "Learning Squares" that teaches the 'Reverse Half-Color Double Crochet". Bullseye practices all of the double crochet reversible color changes. So by the time you complete this afghan you will be an expert! Also, the afghan is worked in strips so the only seaming of the blocks is where you join the 5 strips, and you can use one continuous skein of each color as you work them.

For more information on Reversible Color Crochet, see: http://www.interweavestore.com/reversible-color-croc...

Day 21: Making a Community Afghan

Tyler and his blanket

My love of yarn has even influenced the fiction books I tend to read. I did a whole series of blog posts last year reviewing some of my favorite yarn themed fiction series. But it was one of the books in the Beach Street Knitting series by Gil McNeil that inspired me to work together with several other women in my community to make an afghan for our friend's son after he had surgery.

In the third book of the series, several characters are working on squares for a baby shower afghan. They mention that the more experienced knitters are making moons and other picture squares, while the newbies are making the solid squares.

I went one step farther by asking my friends to choose a stitch pattern from my first book that they wanted to try, to give the blanket more texture. Many of them chose a stitch pattern they had not made before, and I helped then make adjustments to the square pattern to fit with all of the others. Even with different gauges in the squares made by several different people, once I added the 2 rounds of single crochet with the same number of stitches around each square, they fit together beautifully.

I was fortunate that I happened to have received a TON of extra Bernat Roving yarn on hand, accidentally sent to me for making the Happy Day Playmat (I think they shipped a bag of 3 for every 1 skein requested, and threw in extras to fill the boxes). I just happened to have all of the right colors, and lots of extra red, which happens to be Tyler's favorite color.

Because we used a bulky weight yarn, the 12 blocks made a nice size blanket, big enough to cover Tyler's bed. When we brought it to him and laid it out on the floor for him to see, he especially liked the squid-like Alien (he loves squids) and the Robot. At the moment I believe it is packed away for the summer months. But his mom told me he still loves his space blanket!

Original Tyler's Space Adventure (back side)

For more information on Reversible Color Crochet, see: http://www.interweavestore.com/reversible-color-croc...

Day 20: Picture Squares: Part 2 - Space

Space-Themed Squares
Today we will have a look at the last batch of squares, then back to the rest of the afghan projects and my whole book writing experience. As with the Learning Squares and the Garden Squares, this group of squares was put in order of easiest to most difficult (starting with the Moon). I cannot believe I'm 2/3 of the way through my Month of Blogging, and haven't yet run out of things to say (although I may be starting to ramble)...

Square #22 Sun

Every square in this book was made at least 2, if not 3 or 4 times before finalizing the pattern for the book sample. This Sun Square was one of the most difficult to design. I looked at various clipart images of suns, tried making one with more curved points going in different directions. After many times of working, ripping, reworking, and starting over, I finally settled on this version. The straight, symmetrical points of this Sun matched the other simple shapes for Grampa Kit's Garden Afghan.

Square #23 Moon

The original Space Afghan we made for Tyler included a Star on the square with the Moon. After making the Sun Square, I just had to make one with just a Moon, because I already had in mind the layout for the Shines So Bright Afghan.

Square #24 Ringed Planet

Another design inspired by my son's drawings, and a great chance to practice the curves and sharper angles possible when you add increases and decreases, and late color changes to your half double crochet colorwork.

Square #25 Rocket

My son's original Rocket picture was red, so I used some other resources for the final shape. But he was very clear that the door should be black. At the time I was making these blocks, Berrocco was out of their Comfort in Black. I searched all the local yarn shops for just one skein for the little details on this and the Robot square. I finally bought a skein of the Black Comfort in Bulky weight, and manually removed 4 plies of the yarn for these squares.

Square #26 UFO

 There are a lot of color changes in this one with all those lights around the bottom. The UFO is one block where I did carry the yarn occasionally. I used a separate piece of yarn for each of the red sections, but carried the green under and over the top of the red stitches (avoiding many of the extra ends you would otherwise have to weave in).

Square #27 Alien

As I was designing these squares, I tried to finish one new square each night after my kids went to sleep. The morning after I made the original alien, my son's first comment when he saw the finished square was, "Good, the teeth are 2 different sizes, and the horns come down on the side". These were apparently very important elements to his design.

Square #28 Robot

Finally the Robot Square. You can see all of my son's original drawings of the Robot here if you missed my earlier post about inspiration. You may note that the square pictured above is missing some of the embroidered details that you will see on the Robot in Tyler's Space Adventure. I realized after I shipped off all of the squares that in my haste, I had missed the embroidered mouth and lines around his control panel (important details from the original sketch). This way you can see what he looks like with and without the extra details (if you want to skip the embroidery), but there is a closeup of the Robot with all these details found with the afghan pattern in the book.

 

For more information on Reversible Color Crochet, see: http://www.interweavestore.com/reversible-color-croc...

Day 19: Just Say No to Single Crochet!

About now you are probably wondering, 'Hey! Isn't most crocheted colorwork done in Single Crochet?' But this entire book uses only Half Double and Double Crochet stitches. There are a few reasons I do not choose to use Single Crochets in my colorwork (although some of these techniques can be adapted to improve the look of your sc colorwork as well).

Firstly, in all honesty, I don't personally enjoy making solid fabrics of single crochet. Although I don't generally struggle with tension, I often find that after a few rows of single crochet my stitches get tighter and tighter. So a solid consistent fabric of single crochet is rather difficult for me, even when I go up a hook size and concentrate on keeping my stitches loose.

Also, I got rather burnt out on single crochets many many years ago after my first full-size afghan project. After completing a giant afghan of row upon row of single crochet, with occasional dropped down stitches, I have always preferred the quick results of taller half double and double crochets.



Heart swatches in Single Crochet and Half Double for "I Love Baby" Blanket.
Just couldn't create as smooth lines in single crochet and the edges curl up.

My first designs that I developed the technique on were worked in Double Crochet, adapting the stitches so they work much like a single crochet grid. With half-color double crochets (introduced in my book) one row of doubles can equal 2 rows of singles. And with the taller stitches you can use increases and decreases to create smoother lines and curves.

My original "Four Square" block was worked in single crochet. But as I worked with the technique more, I discovered that single crochets just do not work as well as half doubles and double crochets. When you work into the top of a single crochet, you are working OVER the top loops of the stitch. Since there are only 2 loops in a single, you only have 1 little loop of color left when you work the next row. But with a half double crochet, that extra yarn over leaves you 2 loops of the color, giving a more distinct stitch of color where you want it.

For more information on Reversible Color Crochet, see: http://www.interweavestore.com/reversible-color-croc...

Day 18: Picture Squares: Part 1 - Garden

Garden-Themed Squares

When we first started talking about adding picture squares to the original geometric squares I had developed, I sketched out a whole page of various flowers, trees, bugs, leaves and other nature inspired items. I came up with the idea to layout the squares to make a flower garden picture afghan and settled on the 5 here, plus the Sun Square (which the editors thought fit better in the Space Square chapter).

Square #17: Tulip

The shape of this Tulip may look familiar if you have seen my Willow Dress in the Interweave Crochet Spring 2013 issue. I saw no reason to reinvent the wheel, and simply made the shape a little bit bigger. If you look at the current Summer issue of Interweave, they included a photo from a reader who made the my dress pattern (that was my first garment pattern).


Square #18: Daisy

The Daisy is a nice symmetrical flower shape for practicing the smooth curved shapes that are possible with this technique (without the jagged edges seen in most crocheted colorwork). The book includes instructions to make both the Daisy and Tulip without the stem, so you can use just the flowers alone in an alternative design.

Square #19: Stem with Leaf

The Step with Leaf is a fun one. Because of the reversibility of the fabric, you can flip every other leaf square over (to put the leaf on the other side) as shown in Grampa Kit's Garden afghan. This one also shows off the smooth lines possible in the technique when worked in simple, upright color changes.

Square #20: Stem with Grass

This square is deceptively the most difficult square in the book! Those 4 rows of grass involve more color changes than any other square. And even with my tricks for avoiding extra ends to weave in (included in the book), there will still be a large number of ends. The biggest trick is managing to weave those ends in ONLY under and through stitches of the same color.

Square #21: Dragonfly

And the Dragonfly is one of my favorites. I started with a Butterfly, Bumblebee, and Ladybug too, but decided the garden would be a little too busy with all those bugs. Perhaps they will fit in the next book. I was also limited on the colors of the Dragonfly, as I wanted to make them work using only the colors I already had for the flowers (to avoid requiring the purchase of extra skeins). But you could make it in any color you like!

For more information on Reversible Color Crochet, see: http://www.interweavestore.com/reversible-color-croc...