Lullaby Baby Set

Hello there, yarnies. I'm sorry to report that there won't be a Friday Focus today. I took a little too long to get the ball rolling on a couple of designers I was interested in, so there wasn't adequate time given to expect a response from them by Thursday night. Not to worry! Friday Focus will be back next week and I've got several amazing designers lined up.

The day is not a total loss. In fact, a little greedy part of me is actually a bit happy that I get to post my own work today...perhaps I subconsciously neglected the Friday Focus? In any case, what I have to share with you today is a brand new pattern! I'm really proud and excited to share it with you. May I present the Lullaby Baby Set.

Although the pattern uses basic stitches and could be accomplished by a beginner, the appliques were an intense amount of work to both design and attach. When I was finished I truly felt triumphant. Those who make this set are sure to take pride in their work.

The blanket shows a musically accurate version of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star in the key of G. When I first began designing crochet patterns I knew I wanted to make a baby blanket based on sheet music. It took me a little while to decide which song to go with. Another strong contender was Ode to Joy (for your little bundle of joy!), but I ultimately went with Mozart over Beethoven and selected this children's classic. Did you know that Mozart formally arranged Twinkle, Twinkle at one point? I didn't before I wrote this set! I stumbled across that little tidbit while I was deciding which key and meter to put it in.

 

A few of my appliques ended up a little tipsy, but I think it gives my blanket character. The pattern is available on Ravelry. Special thanks go out to my incredible pattern tester who whipped up her sample in less than a week! She is super duper speedy, I really don't know how she does it. Keep a look out for her upcoming project page on Ravelry. She said that the colors she chose reminded her of mint chocolate chip ice cream. Cute!

Stayed tuned to Illuminate Crochet, folks. Next week we will resume our usual broadcast schedule!

This Honey Just Got A Bit Sweeter

Remember my Sweet As Honey Set? I have some fun news! I showed a picture of it to a very dear friend of mine. Apparently her boyfriend's father has begun to keep bees. How awesome! We need more bees and it's wonderful to hear about people who are looking into beekeeping as a hobby. She and her boyfriend commissioned me to make a scarf based on the Sweet As Honey Pattern for his birthday. Yikes! I was a bit nervous about trying to modify a pattern meant for babies into something wearable by a grown man, but I think I did a pretty good job.

If you like the look of a blanket pattern, chances are you can turn it into a scarf by shortening it and/or adding fewer rows. I really like to snoop through the projects pages of patterns on Ravelry because chances are that someone out there has come up with an ingenious secondary use. Hats become purses, shawls become ponchos, and blankets become scarves. Never be afraid of bending a pattern to your will and making it fit your needs.

By the way, I was lucky enough to receive a picture of the happy recipient and even got permission to post it here. Makes my day :) Happy Hooking!

Sometimes You Just Gotta Put Stuff On Your Head

I really like doilies and motifs. They embody all of the best things about crochet - it's light feeling, airy stitches, and beautiful stitch combinations. However, I have no idea what I would do with a doily after finishing it because I don't have any place to set a doily where it would be safe from little cat claws. Motifs are great...until you realize you need to make about a million of them to finish your blanket/table runner/curtain. Even so, I wanted to practice motif making. I chose one I liked from a book and whipped it up with some yarn that's been sitting around forever. When it was finished I decided to put it on my head.

I finished out my project by turning the motif into a hat. It has kind of a hippie or patchwork feel.

It's pretty unusual, but I like it. Have you ever done something unexpected with a doily or motif? I've seen wedding dresses made out of them! I've also seen folks use very large yarn to make them into rugs. I'm going to keep brainstorming new and exciting ways to use them.

Friday Focus: Trish

I can't believe another week has gone by so quickly! I've been hard at work on a new pattern that I hope to publish in early September. Pattern writing is such a fun and challenging process and becoming a crochet designer is hard work! One of the best things about it is that I'm in good company. There are so many incredible designers coming up with new ideas every day. You know who has some great patterns/tutorials? Today's featured designer, Trish of Genuine Mudpie. Her imaginative objects are both whimsical and pretty. She prefers to post tutorials rather than formal patterns because she likes to focus on the creation and then share the method freely.

Who taught you to crochet? How long have you been doing it? 
My mom taught me to crochet when I was 8 for a Girl Guides project. That means I've been crocheting for 20+ years!!

Why do you crochet?
It's relaxing, straightforward, and rewarding. I can easily undo stitches and correct mistakes, and it works up much quicker than knitting. I do wish I had more patience for knitting though. 

Crochet Favorites
I love designs by Doris Chan. I'm also a big fan of Twinkie Chan and her super cute food-themed accessories. My favorite yarns at the moment are the trusty Caron Simply Soft and the gorgeous yet affordable Mary Maxim Prism.

What are you working on right now? What is your next project?   
I'm working on the Masonry Jacket, hopefully finishing it before fall arrives. [My next project is] my friend Amy's B(ias)³ scarf! :D

A few finished objects...
Katsu the Ninja Squirrel: Katsu was created for my sister to take with her to Hong Kong (she was studying there for a year). The tutorial includes instruction on how to make Katsu a felt messenger bag for his ninja stars. It's tiny but it's a pretty elaborate pattern so I'm quite proud of it :)

Sherbert the Tiny Yeti: The idea for Sherbert came during one of the biggest snow storms last year. He was very easy to make so I thought I would share the pattern. 

Pastel Dress: Aside from tiny plushes and simple accessories I've also ventured into writing patterns for simple garments. This was inspired by a chiffon dress I saw at American Apparel. The top half is crocheted with thread and the skirt is sewn. I'm wearing it to a wedding in the fall! :D

So cute! Trish has a bunch of delightful patterns and tutorials here. She's also on Ravelry, and my personal favorite pattern is this one. She also has tons of adorable tiny food patterns. Thank you for sharing your work with us today, Trish!

Crochet Communities

I love the internet. It's safe to say that I'm addicted to it. When I say I'm addicted to the internet, I'm not really talking about checking my email, playing flash games, or social networking. What really tickles my fancy is the wide variety of resources available on every topic imaginable. The internet has helped me to unclog a sink (all I needed to do was remove and clean the P joint!), practice foreign languages, learn about new scientific discoveries, understand perspectives different from my own, and so much more.

When crochet first emerged it spread from person to person, parent to child, instructor to learner. Eventually crochet books and patterns became more widely available, but access to them was still limited by a number of factors. In my opinion, the internet is one of the best things to happen to the craft revolution. Arts and crafts that may not have been as accessible before have seen huge growth and added variety as a result of the internet. Today I would like to review the popular online crochet communities that I am most familiar with. There are many more out there, but these are the websites I visit on a regular basis.

Ravelry

If you are a crocheter or knitter and you're not a Ravelry member, stop reading this post right now. Go make a Ravelry account immediately! Ravelry is incredible. It is my favorite online crochet community by far. Ravelry allows you to post finished objects for others to admire, save patterns you want to work on in a queue, join groups, follow CALs (crochet-a-longs), catalog yarns, friend and message other users, distribute your own patterns, and so much more! This is my go-to website for patterns. I love that it lets me keep track of the folks I have gifted my FOs to so I don't end up giving the same person a million of the same thing. It is my preferred method of selling my patterns since it is so easy to use and the fees are more reasonable than Etsy. There are users of all ages. I can't really think of anything negative to say about this website.

Hidden Gems: If you click "people" and scroll down to the little "watch FOs live" television on the middle right it will take you to Finished Object Radar, a slideshow of the awesome things people have made and are uploading in real-time. I like to keep this running when I am working on a project that requires too much focus or counting to allow me to watch a movie while I work, something I like to do. It's not too distracting but still provide a nice background atmosphere for crocheting, especially when paired with music or NPR. Also, right above the Radar link is "bah! show me UGHs!". If you are working on a project that is driving you bonkers, come hang with others in the same boat. It will show you posts about projects gone wrong, some sad and some hilarious. Very cathartic.

Reddit's r/crochet

There are good and bad things about Reddit as a whole, and r/crochet is definitely one of the good things. You don't have to be a member to read it, but you do to vote or contribute. This is the best place for browsing. It's easy to click link after link to see what others are making. The big crochet trends roll through here, keeping you in the loop. The user base is on the younger side in general. This is a great place to get opinions on your work and to feel validated by those who know the effort you have put into your item. I use r/crochet to find community in the same way that I use Ravelry to find patterns. However, if you are looking for a place to advertise, this isn't the place for you. This sub-reddit isn't overly fond of links to blog posts and is fairly unfriendly if you post the equivalent of "Buy my pattern!". Feel free to post a picture of an object you made while writing your pattern, but only post the pattern in the comments, preferably only after someone has asked for it.

Hidden Gems: Be sure to check the "top" posts for some funny crochet-related memes.

Pinterest 

This is the perfect place to gather ideas and look at pretties. Since it's very visually focused, you can cover a lot of ground quickly and pause when something catches your eye. Save ideas for later or follow up on pins to find their source. I mostly use Pinterest as a location to store crochet pictures that I find beautiful and want to use as inspiration. However, unlike Ravelry where you are actively finding patterns to work on or r/crochet where you are getting feedback, Pinterest is more about entertainment and less about actually getting things done. This isn't necessarily a bad thing but it is something to keep in mind.

Hidden Gems: For easy pinning that doesn't interrupt your regular browsing, download the handy "Pin It" toolbar button.

Etsy

Etsy is another good place to find and sell paid crochet patterns. Since it is already well know it reaches a larger audience than Ravelry. This is the place to go if you don't actually crochet but appreciate handmade items and would like to support designers and wow your recipients by purchasing finished objects. This is the most commercial of the communities I'm reviewing, and the commercialism does take away from uniqueness a bit. Many crochet shops specialize in one thing and make it over and over to sell in different colors. Also, Etsy is a bit over-saturated with sellers. This makes it hard for newer, interesting sellers to break in.

Hidden Gems: Sort your search results by "highest price" to view antique, vintage, enormous, and highly interesting objects, whether or not you intend to buy them ;)

Crochetville

Crochetville is a great place for crocheters of all ability levels to come together in their love of the craft. This website navigates more like a traditional internet forum. There is a wide variety of content and specialization. The regulars on this site tend to be a bit older than the others I have mentioned, giving you the benefit of access to information passed down from seasoned crocheters. You need to be a member to participate effectively. I currently use Crochetville for casual crochet browsing, but I may become more active in the future.

Hidden Gems: Scroll down the front page almost to the bottom for the "Crochet in the Media" forum section. It's great to geek-out with other members over crochet sightings in popular shows and movies, like the infamous 70s style granny square blanket draped over the couch in Breaking Bad.

YouTube

Itching to learn a new stitch? Confused by crochet and need help? YouTube is here to save the day. The videos posted here allow anyone to take free crochet lessons in the comfort of their own home. Thousands of videos are available to assist you in learning whatever strikes your fancy. However, it can sometimes be difficult to sort out the well-made videos from the not-so-well-made ones.

Hidden Gems: He's not really that hidden, but I totally love Mikey.

What are your favorite online crochet communities?

Tiny Furry Friend

I love mice. Some folks shy away from them because they find them dirty or frightening. My friend Katie is disgusted by their tails. I understand that they do have the potential to spread disease or damage property, but I just can't help loving the sweet little things! Their soft little ears and other cute features melt my heart.

I recently hooked up a mouse who can surely be of no trouble to anyone. This furry friend won't be scaring anyone or spreading disease anytime soon.

The pattern was easy to follow and quick to work up. I found it interesting that the mouse is constructed from back to front rather than from front to back like most amigurumi. I used a 6mm yarn instead of the yarn the pattern calls for, so I also made the tail, feet, and ears a bit bigger. If you've never tried making amigurumi before you might consider starting with this short and simple pattern. It's free, so you've got nothing to lose! Gotta love those free patterns.

Friday Focus: Jade Red

It's been pretty hot and humid in Seattle lately. I like to walk whenever I can, especially when I get to walk around town with my husband, but the heat tends to drag me down. With sweat beads forming on the bridge of my nose under my glasses and my skirt clinging damply to my legs you might think that warm, fuzzy crochet items are the farthest things from my mind. Not so! Alas, the holiday season is just around the corner. Did I really just say that? Yes, and it's true. Since crochet is so labor intensive and time consuming, if I want to finish all of my planned Christmas gifts on time I need to start them quite soon. This means I am keeping my eyes peeled for good patterns.

Today's Friday Focus highlights designer Jade Red. Jade writes both crochet and knitting patterns, many of which would make excellent cold weather gifts. This is certainly appropriate since Jade lives in Australia, where it is currently winter! Her floral and feminine designs caught my eye. She kindly took the time to share a little about her crochet career with us today.

Who taught you to crochet? How long have you been doing it? 
I learned knitting and crocheting from my grandma when I was 5 years old. In fact, for crocheting, grandma only taught me a very basic chain stitch. At that time it was very popular and people were crocheting fisherman's net shopping bags and table cloths. It was hard to find a place that sold crochet hooks. I used a crochet hook with a latch that was lent to me by my neighbor who worked in a knit wear factory. People also used this type of hook to mend stockings. Later, my friend's dad made a metal crochet hook using clothing hanger.

I can still vividly remember the first shopping bag I made - it started with crocheting two round motifs put together as the base of the bag, then making a fisherman's net as the body. Then I folded the bag body into the two motif base to make it smaller and neat to carry. I hope that one day when I find the time, I can replicate it again.

When I was young, I always dreamt of crocheting a beautiful curtain with a butterfly filet pattern. Unfortunately it never happened because mum could not afford to buy the cotton yarn then. 
 
Crochet Favorites
My favorites are Doris Chan's crochet books/designs. She is an amazing crochet designer who is able to create such striking clothes and accessories using simple, basic technique.

What are you working on right now? What is your next project?

My partner has two daughters who will have babies later this year or earlier next year. We are all so excited and I just can't help starting to make something for the babies even though we still don't know the babies' sexes yet. I have just finished a baby blanket with an xmas theme, a dress (matching pattern with my Gorgeous Snow White Baby Jacket listing), and a pair of booties.

A month ago, I finished a hat formed with a cute dress shape. There are quite a few other items I have created in the past few months but I just could not find time to write a pattern. I have been flat out as we are renovating the house, but I have made a promise to myself that I will write at least two patterns in next two months. Next project? There will be lots of baby items in my mind but I just want to wait until I know exactly the babies' sexes are.

A few finished objects...
Butterfly - I love butterflies! They bring me wonderful childhood memories - chasing butterflies, who wouldn't have! This creamy gorgeous butterfly brooch is so lively, as if it could fly away at any time - and it is so easy to make!

Pink Vintage Look Curly Flower Hat - This vintage inspired pink hat can be worn with or without the beautiful curly flower pinned to the side. This hat reminds me of my beloved grandma; a traditional, beautiful, elegant woman.

 
Exquisite Aqua Scarf - This exquisite scarf speaks for itself. This scarf is crocheted using simple basic stitches (chain, single, double stitch) without breaking the yarn to create a beautiful, eye-catching effect. When I started to learn to knit and crochet, my grandma always reminded me not to waste yarn by breaking it. This has reflected upon many of my designs, and this is one of them. Nowadays, it is not so much about saving the yarn, I just love the challenge of thinking and finding ways of not easily breaking yarn.

 

Great patterns! Her work can be found on Ravelry and Etsy. Thanks for sharing, Jade!