I have noticed quite a few retro-inspired crochet designs lately, and I have to admit that I’m loving them — puffed sleeved tops and even granny square garments.  A few days ago, I mentioned Tangled magazine, whose current issue is themed “Modern Vintage.”  Tangled states, “Tangled May be New, but Our Fall Patterns are Inspired by the Fashions of Times Past.”

Then there is the recently-released Knitting it Old School: 43 Vintage-Inspired Patterns* by Stitchy McYarnpants and Caro Sheridan which features modern interpretations of vintage crochet styles of the 1940s through the 1970s.  This is not just a book of retro knitting patterns.  There are also sewing and crochet patterns such as the Go-Go Granny dress by Maryse Roudier, which is reminds me of the granny square crochet dress which was worn by Cate Blanchett on the red carpet at the Screen Worlds event in Australia.

Although the designs in this book are vintage-inspired, they manage to look both retro and modern at the same time.

As I said before, I’m loving the resurgence, but some people don’t seem to be feeling the retro trend, especially the return of the granny square crochet garment. There is a long discussion on Ravelry about the Go-Go Granny dress called Granny Dress or “My Eyes!” where many people pulled no punches when it came to their opinions.

I don’t know if retro design is a passing trend, but I hope it sticks around for a while because I’m digging it.

*Amazon affiliate link

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.

On June 7, Claire Montgomerie officially became the new editor of Inside Crochet Magazine. Claire is a trained textile designer, and her designs have also been published for the past six years. It’s always exciting to see what new editors bring to a publication so I look forward to what Claire will bring to Inside Crochet.

I saw an issue of this magazine once in Barnes & Noble. It isn’t easy to find near me, but I always look at all the designs on Ravelry when they are uploaded.

If you would like to get a sense of Claire’s style and see some of her designs , you can visit her website at www.clairemontgomerie.com.

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

Back in February attended the Afro Stitch Conference here in Atlanta. I was invited by the Awesome Gina-Renay. I’m glad I attended. I met crocheters and wannabee crocheters of all ages. There was even one family that had three generations.

The panelist were Afya Ibomu, Tara Baker, Wendy Jones, and Todd Pasquale. They freely and graciously shared the hows and whys of starting their crochet businesses, and answered questions. Lot’s of good info.

Gina-Renay also spoke on her experiences as a crochet fashion designer, and she presented a mini-fashion show featuring a few of her designs.

I was able to help three little girls (sisters) learn how to begin crocheting. By the end of the day, they all had long chains.

I hope there will be another conference.

First for Women Magazine asked me what were my five favorite sites for free crochet patterns for their December 7, 2009 issue.

Here are my favs:

My Top Five (Ten) Free Crochet Pattern Websites

1.       Crochet Pattern Central
www.crochetpatterncentral.com
Crochet Pattern Central is an online directory of thousands of links to free crochet patterns of all levels.  In addition to the patterns, CPC has links to tutorials and stitch instructions.

2.       Berroco
www.berroco.com
Berroco is a yarn company that also offers free patterns featuring their yarns.  The patterns are stylish and contemporary, and they range in level from this cute Stanley doll, http://www.berroco.com/exclusives/stanley/stanley.html to this jazzy Aruna sweater, http://www.berroco.com/exclusives/aruna/aruna.html.

3.       Ravelry
www.ravelry.com
Ravelry is an online community for fiber lovers to keep track of patterns, yarn, tools, etc.  There are also messageboard forums, a newsletter, and groups.  Users can list their own designs to share or to sell.  There are several thousands of free patterns on Ravelry.  New ones are added everyday.  Visitors have to join to participate.  There is a small waiting period to join, but it is more than worth it.

4.       Lion Brand Yarn
www.lionbrand.com
Lion Brand Yarn has thousands of free crochet patterns for adults, babies, children, teens, pets and the home.  Visitors must register in order to view patterns.

5.       Crochetville
www.crochetville.com

The Crochetville messageboard community features a Free Original Patterns forum.  Members of the community share their original designs.  This is a great place to try new patterns, and there is the added benefit of being able to ask the actual designers your questions.

Honorable mentions:

Naturally Caron, http://www.naturallycaron.com
Interweave Crochet, http://www.interweavecrochet.com/projects.asp
Stargazer’s Crochet, http://home.inreach.com/marthac/links.html
Yarn Lover’s Room, http://www.knitting-crochet.com/crochet/antiquecrochet.html
Free Vintage Crochet, http://www.freevintagecrochet.com

Guess what? I won 3rd place in the Home Décor category. Here is the list of winners:
http://www.crochet.org/pdfs/2009CGOADesignContestWinners.pdf

My entry was called “VictoriAfricana Footstool.” I chose this name because the footstool combines a traditionally-styled stool and fringe with an African-inspired motif and color scheme. I also chose to name it VictoriAfricana because it made me think of Queen Victoria, the style of the Victorian period, and the stories about her alleged African ancestry through her grandmother Queen Charlotte. I think the two different types of elements cause a pleasant friction.

I was so happy when I heard I had won. Thank you to all the judges.