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New Scarves and a Skirt

turquoizblue — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 20:31:53 +0000

New scarf designs and a skirt are coming soon. The skirt probably won’t be available until around Spring, though. This is a sneak preview of one of the scarves.

I haven’t submitted anything for publication in a while, but I’m going to start again. I miss doing that.

I am teaching crochet at Yarning for Ewe in Atlanta, GA, If anyone in the area has questions about the classes or the store, send me an email.

The Crimson Cape is now available for purchase in the Interweave Store. I’ve seen some awesome versions of the cape on Ravelry.

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New Book: Plus Size Fashions – An Interview with Jill Hanratty & Giveaway

turquoizblue — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 05:18:56 +0000

This is the second stop of Jill Hanratty’s blog tour to introduce her new book, Plus Size Fashions. This is a collection of fashion garments that Jill has designed for the plus-sized woman. Yesterday, Jill began her tour by visiting with Ellen Gormley of Go Crochet, and in addition to asking great questions, Ellen was kind enough to give us Jill’s background and also to share a photo of Jill. Be sure to visit Go Crochet if you missed the first day of the tour.

Plus Size Fashions is a collection of five fashion garments. The collection contains two jackets, one short-sleeved tee, one long-sleeved pullover and one sleeveless shell top. I am giving away a copy of Plus Size Fashions. If you would like to be included in the drawing, please read the interview and share a comment about Jill’s book before 6pm EST on Friday, November 19. I will randomly select the winner. Good Luck!

Swinging Pearl Jacket

The green, classy jacket featured on the book cover is the Swinging Pearl Jacket, and I have a set of questions for Jill about the jacket.

TB: This is an elegant jacket that can be worn to work or to dinner, but it is still relaxed enough to be worn casually with jeans. It can really be dressed up or down depending on the accessories chosen to complete the look. How did you see this jacket being worn, and who did you see wearing it?

JH: My taste generally runs to classic designs. If you put the effort into making a garment, it is nice to be able to wear it in 10-15-20 years and still look great! In fact, this jacket is one that I can envision wearing over and over and over, because it is so basic! The style is not limited to any one age bracket, either, so that adds to the design’s timelessness.

TB: I really love the fit of the Swinging Pearl Jacket, especially the set in sleeves. One of the biggest complaints I hear from plus-sized women about crochet patterns is that a lot of designs for plus-sized women have drop shoulders, but they want the option of set-in sleeves. When they do find a pattern with set-in sleeves, they sometimes have issues with the placement and depth of the armholes. How do you determine your armhole placement so that your garments fall from the shoulders and have proper drape?

JH: It drives me crazy to see ill-fitting armholes in plus size garments! Of course, not every woman is built the same, but I do try to shape armholes so they will lay properly on the body. Keeping the shoulder width of the design within the range of normal shoulders makes a difference. I then try to use increases to add width at the sides rather than adding too much depth (length) to the armhole. I also like to use a shorter, wider sleeve cap, and add length to the sleeve underarm. This helps to free the sleeve to move without pulling the garment away from the body.

As a back-up to my theory, I prevailed upon two plus-sized friends who were kind enough to let me measure some of their clothes to compare with my calculations. They even let me take my tape measure to the clothes they were wearing on a few occasions!

TB: What makes this a pattern for a crocheter with an intermediate skill level? Are there any advanced techniques that are needed to complete this design?

JH: This is an intermediate pattern because of the shaping throughout the jacket. There is nothing very advanced at all in the pattern. In fact, it might be a good pattern for someone who is looking to move up from an easy pattern for the first time. The stitch is simple and even the scalloped edges along the jacket fronts are part of the jacket, rather than a trim stitched on at finishing!

TB: What type of technique do you recommend to sew the seams to assemble the jacket?

JH: The mattress stitch is my favorite way of seaming: keeping the pieces to be joined adjacent to each other, working on the right side of the garment, and stitching back and forth between pieces with rows or stitches aligned. The benefit of working with the right side facing is seeing that the seam is turning out well. I LOVE Knit Klips as an alternative to pins to hold the pieces together while I work!

TB: I am really intrigued about the bamboo/wool yarn that you used for this jacket. The stitch pattern you used produced a solid fabric, but the fabric still contains a nice drape and appears to be lightweight. Can you describe how the yarn cooperated with this design?

JH: This jacket needed great stitch definition because it is such a solid fabric. The Red Heart Bamboo Wool was perfect for that—the stitches pop and the fabric has nice body and drape at the same time! (—and this yarn comes in such amazing, rich colors!)

TB: I have to say that I believe this will be one time where the smaller ladies will be jealous of the plus-sized designs. Do you have any plans to create these same designs in smaller sizes?

JH: Thanks, and I have to agree! I certainly would do so if the demand arises!

Thank you for answering my questions and allowing me to share your new book, Jill.

Please follow Jill through the remainder of her blog book tour to read more about
Plus Size Fashions. The schedule for the remainder of her tour is below.

Day 3 (Nov 17): Shannon Mullett-Bowlsby — http://www.shibaguyz.com
Day 4 (Nov 18): Jennifer Cirka — http://www.jaybirddesigns.com
Day 5 (Nov 19): Lisa Gentry — http://hookandneedle-designs.blogspot.com

If you missed the first day, here is the link to the first stop of Jill’s tour.

Day 1 (Nov 15): Ellen Gormley — http://gocrochet.blogspot.com

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How to Construct Eliza’s Felted Bag – The Breakdown

turquoizblue — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 12:57:53 +0000

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.

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New Pattern: Belle Cloche crochet hat pattern for This Is Crochet

turquoizblue — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 11:27:18 +0000

I wanted to quickly introduce my new crochet hat pattern – Belle Cloche.

One hat, multiple looks.

This asymmetrical cloche is worked in the round in single crochet. The increased length on one side is created by adding half-double crochet. Two columns of eyelets grace one side through which either the self-tie or purchased ribbon can be threaded, or wear the hat without any embellishment as a simple cloche. Weave the self-tie vertically through the eyelets, draw up the self-tie and make a bow to create “pillbox” or “turban” looks. This pattern is available here on This Is Crochet and also at Knitpicks for a reduced price.

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Eliza’s Felted Bag – Interweave Crochet Accessories 2010

turquoizblue — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 20:44:02 +0000

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.

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What Happens Behind the Scenes at an Interweave Crochet Photoshoot?

turquoizblue — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:14:00 +0000

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!

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Party-Girl Skirt

turquoizblue — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:02:03 +0000

Lots of cute ruffles for little girly-girls. This would be so cute done in all white. Look for this in the upcoming August 2009 issue of Crochet World Magazine.

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Mulled Spices Pattern Now in Interweave Store

turquoizblue — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:17:44 +0000

I’m excited to let everyone know that the pattern for my Mulled Spices Afghan is available for purchase in the Interweave Store.

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Gardener’s Apron CAL – Come Join Us

turquoizblue — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 12:00:59 +0000

Would you like to crochet an apron? Well, come on and join us!

A CAL for the Gardener’s Apron from Crochet World Magazine is being held on the We Love TurquoizBlue group on Ravelry. The CAL will begin on March 1, 2009 and run through April 30, 2009. This will be a quick and fun project to do for National Crochet Month, which is the month of March.

If you’d like to participate, stop by the group and let everyone know, and when you begin your project just add the tag — ApronCAL — so we can find each others’ projects. You can also use the following banner on your blog/website to link to the CAL if you’d like to share with others. Just please be sure to copy it and upload it to your own image host. K’ thanks!

I’m going to make one to use in the kitchen.

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We Love TurquoizBlue!

turquoizblue — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 18:41:50 +0000

There is a crochet group on Ravelry that is dedicated to discussing my designs and whatever might come up with. Some of the ladies on Ravelry were kind enough to create a group, and I am extremely honored that they would think that a brand new crochet designer like me should have her own group. The group is called We Love TurquoizBlue. Can you all believe it?

I will work on coming up with some creative things to do in the group. Some fun stuff, and I have to work on self-publishing some of my crochet designs.

For those who have asked, I promise I’m going to work on recreating the Webbed Top. I’m going to have to design the crochet pattern from scratch because I crocheted it so long ago.

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