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.

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

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

Marcy Smith presents a behind-the-scenes look at the photo shoot for the Summer 2009 issue of Interweave Crochet magazine.

Hair, makeup, accessories and clothes! See how Marcy sets the mood and chooses the locations for each design.

Did you see my Mimosa Dress in next to last photo!

Yarn Market has put together everything you need to make my Mulled Spices Afghan, from a copy of Interweave Crochet Magazine to the Berroco Comfort DK (great price!) yarn to the Tunisian hooks and needles for finishing.

Check out the Mulled Spices Afghan Bundle.