Since the beginning of this year, I have been thinking long and hard about what direction I want to take with my crochet business, and I decided to pump the breaks on everything until I figure this out.

I haven’t submitted any designs to publications in a long time (sorry you won’t see anything from me in Interweave Crochet or any other magazine for a while).  One of the reasons for this is that I am revamping how I create my patterns.  Organic crochet design only truly works when I am designing one-of-a-kind items.  Yes, I can document the entire creation process and turn my notes into a working pattern, but I think it leaves more room for errors and actually requires more work.  It’s true that the initial creation process is faster for me because I have a creative flow happening.  I can visualize what I want to make, pick up my hook and yarn, and usually create exactly what I envisioned, but when it time to explain technically how I achieved the design, some things are just difficult to explain in writing for me.  Also, when drafting multiple sizes, some things just don’t work for all sizes, and there may be no work around solution.

This is just one of the thoughts I’m working through right now.  I’ll come back later to add more on this.

Don’t worry, I am not giving up on crochet design.  In fact, I am working on a design for an upcoming project, and as soon as I am free to discuss it, I will share the news.

Also, the AfroStitch Crochet Conference that was held in February was wonderful.  I haven’t been back to blog about it so I owe a post or two about that one.

Interweave Crochet Winter 2010 is available for preordering, and I just found out that my design is on the cover. Thank you, April.

It is the Crimson Cape shown on the cover shot below. I am so excited!

© Interweave Press

Eliza’s Felted Bag

Eliza’s Felted Bag is a Tunisian crochet bag that is crocheted in one flat piece, including the body of the bag, the handle and the closure. The sides of the bag are created by using an entrelac-type technique. There is no cutting and rejoining yarn to change colors. Just carry the unworked color along the side of your work and switch when instructed.

When felting this crochet bag, I recommend using a hot water wash cycle. I put my work inside a pillowcase and tie the end of the pillowcase closed. This keeps little felt balls from clogging your washing machine. The felting should produce a THICK and HARD fabric. If your bag is still soft, do another wash cycle.

After the crochet bag is felted, the bag is pin blocked to the correct dimensions while it is still wet and the side panels are folded inward to create permanent creases while blocking. When the bag is still slightly damp, fold it in thirds to create permanent creases that will become the edges of the bottom of the bag. I like to put a heavy book on top and weights on top of the book. Let your crochet bag dry completely.

Once the crochet bag has dried, I dampen the folded creases. Then I cover with a pressing cloth (or towel) and use an iron on wool with steam setting to press along the creases. This gives the creases nice crisp edges. This completes the blocking.

Now, it is time to sew the side triangles together to make the sides of the bag. With wrong side facing, use a tapestry needle to seam each triangle to the next triangle along both sides. Be sure that your stitches do not show through to the right side of your bag. Fasten off and weave the ends into the fabric of your bag. Turn your crocheted felted bag right side out and enjoy your new crochet purse.

The previews for Interweave Crochet’s Accessories 2010 issue is available, and well, it turns out that Eliza is a little girl who carries a felted crochet bag. Maybe even two little girls.

They are too cute!

Eliza’s Felted Bag is a small, felted Tunisian crochet handbag. Honestly, when I designed this crochet bag, I did not envision it for a little girl, at all. I conceived it to be a small, crocheted wrist bag that could hold essentials. It was only after I had mailed the samples for Interweave and made two more bags that I thought it would also be cute for a girl. Looks like that’s what the Interweave Crochet stylist thought, also.

Either way, Eliza’s Felted Bag is perfect for the grownup and also the grown-up little girl.

You can now preorder the upcoming issue of Interweave Crochet Accessories 2010.  43 designs!  Over 100 pages!

I have a design in there. It is called Eliza’s Felted Bag. I cannot wait for the preview to see the photos. I hope the bag photographed well. As you can tell from the name, it is a felted crochet bag.  Felted crochet bags are very trendy right now. That’s all I can share about it, but I’ll say that it is really cute. I don’t know who Eliza is, though, but I hope she’s a stylish, swanky-type chick who loves a cute, felted crochet purse.

As soon as I saw the preview for the Fall issue of Interweave Crochet magazine, I knew there was going to be talk about the amount of knitting featured. People are weighing in to give their opinions about the knitting being combined with crochet on both Ravelry and CrochetMe, and a lot of crochet-only folks are not happy because they believe the combo patterns mean there are seven less patterns they can use. The love on Ravelry for the patterns in the Fall issue seems a little low. Are you going to buy this issue? I predominately crochet, but I do know how to knit. I have yet to try a pattern that combines knit and crochet. Maybe now is the time for me to give crochet and knit together a try.

On the flip side, the latest issue of Tangled magazine is up, and it is getting rave reviews.   Tangled Online Magazine’s tagline is “Proud to be Bicraftual,” and it gives equal love to knit and crochet.  The theme for this issue is Modern Vintage.    My favorites are the Cross-Threaded skirts “Zan” and “Jayna.”  I love the colorful yarns used in this issue.

It’s time again for the Interweave Hurt Book sale. This is a great way to get books if you’ve been wanting and saving up to get them. The books I’ve gotten were always in great shape. The sale ends on June 22nd.

The preview is up for the Summer 2010 Issue of Interweave Crochet magazine. I really love the cover of this issue. The blue and yellow is so crisp and bright!

Interweave Reorganizes Into Two Divisions
CEO: New structure evenly distributes value of crafts publisher’s properties.
Jason Fell FolioMag.com
05/31/2010

Interweave Media has reorganized into two units: the Fiber Division and the Art & Jewelry Division. As a result, the publisher’s Quilt + Paper group, Specialty Fiber group and Yarn group will merge to create the Fiber group, which will be led by vice president and publisher John Bolton. The division will include Interweave Knits, Interweave Crochet, Quilting Arts, Cloth Paper Scissors, Spin-Off, Handwoven, Fiberarts and PieceWork magazines, as well as online communities KnittingDaily.com, QuiltingArts.com and CrochetMe.com, and related video products.

click here for remainder of article

I received my copy of the Interweave Crochet Spring 2010 issue. This is a very nice issue. Lots of wearable garments for Spring.

A few items I would love to make if I can find time. One of them is the Devon Cardigan by Margaret Hubert. I think this would be cute with a little skirt. I’d like it to have some navy blue in it.

(c) Interweave Press

The other two items are the Kiki Dress by Annette Petavy and Bella Dress by April Garwood. I want to make both of these for my granddaughter.

(c) Interweave Press

(c) Interweave Press

Also in this issue are my Looking Glass Curtains. The curtains are made of one large motif and one small motif that contains two small mirrors enclosed in crochet cotton. To me, the curtains I made for Interweave Crochet look more antique, but these curtains are actually very adaptable to lots of different types of styles.

(c) Interweave Press

I think they would be beautiful done in a neutral, sandy color. Great for a beachy/cottage look. Also, dark red, burgundy, eggplant or even black for something more dramatic. Pastels would be pretty for a girls room, too.

I want to make a pair for myself, but I have to decide where I’m going to use them. It will be for curtains in my bedroom or either curtains for the windows or for french doors for my office/studio.