Crochet Me

Inside the Spring 2010 Photo Shoot

Toni Rexroat — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:47:00 GMT

As the daylight hours lengthen and the early buds of springtime flowers peek through the brown earth, I eagerly begin planning my newest addition to a growing collection of crocheted garments. The Kristy Cardigan (left) by Dora Ohrenstein is at the top of my list. As you browse the preview of Interweave Crochet Spring 2010, I think you'll find that this batch of garments, paired with a tank top or long sleeve shirt as the weather dictates, is perfectly designed for the mild temperatures of spring.

My first opportunity to view the Spring 2010 projects modeled and styled was at our Spring photo shoot on January 4th and 5th. That's right, a spring photo shoot in the middle of winter. I snapped plenty of pictures as we transformed this snowy landscape into a breath of springtime for the Interweave Crochet Spring 2010 issue.



We all arrived at the shoot in northern Colorado armed with thick socks, coats, hats, and gloves. Several inches of snow blanketed the ground with chilly temperatures predicted the first day and snow showers the second. Our models bravely stilled their shivers and smiled, radiating a warmth that didn't come from the thermometer. Despite the chill, they embraced the fascinating textures and luxurious fibers of the garments.



On the second day the downy snowflakes began to fall. You can shoot around a blanket of snow but you can't create a sunny spring day with a confetti of snowflakes. So we moved indoors to a magical salon seemingly transported from the stories of Dr. Seuss, a fabulous retro diner where the ambiance was as appetizing as the food, and several other charming shops.

Thank you for joining me on an inside look at the Spring photo shoot. As I write this I am preparing for our Summer photo shoot next week. We are looking forward to beautiful weather and being able to showcase another issue of garments and accessories to add to your growing queue of must-make projects.

Best wishes,

The Warmth of Wool (and Natural Gas...)

Kim Werker — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:18:00 GMT

June Gilbank just tweeted a link to this video of a behind-the-scenes look at the making of a Belgian commercial for natural gas. Most of it's knitting, but there's some crochet in there, too. Mmm. Warm.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Enjoy the Interweave Crochet Spring Preview!

Marcy Smith — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Spring is here!

Out in the yard, I see daffodils, as well as purple and white crocuses. Leaves are budding on the tips of branches. Cardinals are chasing each other from tree to tree.

But the surest sign of spring is the new issue of Interweave Crochet, blooming with bright designs.


Winkle Vest by Tracy St. John	Chloe and Clarity Cardigans by Doris Chan	Wisteria Shawl by Kristin Omdahl

Shells patterns are the highlight of this issue.

Here's what we love about shells: They are a pure celebration of crochet, an alchemy of crochet chains and solid stitches that creates a fabric made of fiber and air. Shells are the basis of granny squares, the square root of all crochetness. Shells are also the basis of cutting-edge crochet, creating garments with incredible laciness and drape. Shells can be as simple as two stitches joined by a chain or as complex as an exuberant alternating-fan pattern.

The true marvel of shell patterns is that they are as individual as the designer. By adding a stitch or a row, a designer can create a wholly new stitch pattern that translates the beauty of the image in her head to a crocheted design.

Lucine Tunic by Robyn Chachula

In this Spring issue, we have seven designs that celebrate shell patterns -- from lacy cardigans (Clarity and Chloe Cardigans by Doris Chan) to a simply elegant tunic (Lucine Tunic by Robyn Chachula, at left) and a vest that's as easy to make as it is to wear (Winkle Vest by Tracy St. John, below).

Doris Chan explains the structure of shells and explores their shaping possibilities in Beyond the Basics, with plenty of swatches to demonstrate differences in design.

By adjusting the scale and size of the shells, the designers in this Spring issue have created garments that hug the figure without clinging, with the built-in ease that only shells create. Shells love every shape, and we think you'll find a shell pattern to love in this issue.

And there's more to love in this issue: You'll find a profile of Kristin Omdahl, who dishes on her crochet inspiration (Hint: it involves subtropical plants, the Pythagoreum theorum and running shoes). Kristin also gives a tour of crochet-friendly yarn shops in South Florida.

We also have four mod designs for the home (including Kaleidoscope Eyes Curtains by Rhonda Davis featuring totally retro little mirrors crocheted into the motifs), two dresses for girls and three lovely shawls – including a Tunisian wrap by Vashti Braha that you can make in a weekend, even if you've never done Tunisian before.

To make learning Tunisian even easier, we've created a series of videos on Tunisian techniques at CrochetMe.com. Go to Videos and slide down to Crochet Techniques.

While you're at CrochetMe, you can find even more details about a project we introduce in the Spring issue: The Chain Reaction Afghan Project. In this yearlong project, we'll bring together squares designed by your favorite crochet designers and squares designed by you, our CrochetMe readers, in a single afghan that will be auctioned for charity. We hope to inspire you to make this afghan and consider sending it to your chosen charity. In the Craftivism column, Betsy Greer offers several ideas for charities that could benefit from your crochet work. And we get you started with designs for two crocheted squares.

To see the full preview, visit our magazine gallery. It's an abundance, my friends. Get in there and start picking your favorite blooms.

Best,

Marcy

Preventing the Twist: Working with Two Colors

Toni Rexroat — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:35:00 GMT

If you have ever worked a project in more than one color without fastening of, you know how quickly your yarns will twist around each other and how frustrating that twisting can become. If you are new to working with 2 colors, hopefully we will be able to save you the angst. Here I am working the Lotus Circle motif from the Harmony Guides: Crochet Stitch Motifs.



When you are working with 2 colors one yarn ball will always be in front of the other ball. It doesn't matter which color you have in front. I worked with the green ball closer to me and the pink ball behind the green ball or farther away from me.

When changing colors in the middle of the round from the green yarn to the pink yarn, wrap the pink yarn (or yarn farthest away from you) over the top of the green yarn (or yarn closet to you) capturing the green yarn between the yarn over and the project.

When changing back to the yarn closest to you, do not wrap the yarn around the pink yarn (or yarn farthest from you). Simply drop the pink yarn, yarn over with the green yarn, and continue working in single crochet over the top of the pink yarn.

Now you can spend more time crocheting and less time untangling your yarn. If you have tips for working with multiple colors share them in the comments section below.

Best wishes,

Quick and Easy Color Change

Toni Rexroat — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:30:00 GMT

With all of the information on colorwork this week, I thought it would be interesting to explore the technique of changing color, especially in the middle of a row. After a pleasurable 20 minutes browsing through the Harmony Guides: Crochet Stitch Motifs, I fell in love with the Lotus Circle. This motif is a perfect practice for changing colors in the middle of a row or round—you will change colors 18 times per round—but is actually quite simple to work.

When working with multiple colors you can either fasten off the previous color after you have begun the new color or work over the top of the unused color. When working with only 2 colors, as I was here, I prefer to work over the top of the unused color-fewer loose ends to weave in that way. If you are working with 3 or more colors, you may want to fasten off when you would need to work over the top of more than 1 color.

Let's walk through the steps of changing colors in the middle of a row or round.

		To change colors in the middle of a row or round, work the stitch before the color change until there are 2 loops left on the hook. I am working in single crochet so I inserted my hook in the next stitch, did a yarn over with the green yarn and pulled up a loop. Now I have 2 green loops on my hook.

	Now drop the old color (here, it's the green); yarn over with the new color (pink) and draw through the 2 loops of the old color on your hook.

Congratulations! You've successfully changed colors in the middle of the round. That was easier than you thought wasn't it? Tug on the now-unused yarn to tighten the stitch just a bit. Work in the new color to the next stitch before the color change and repeat the process. (For tips on preventing the yarns from twisting, see my blog.)

Now to decide what to do with my motif. I am thinking of making this motif the crown of a hat or the base of a little project bag. Do you have other suggestions? Let me know in the comments.

If you are a visual learner, check out this video by Kim Werker on changing colors or yarn in the middle of a row.

Best wishes,

Crochet Tuffets and Limpets

Marcy Smith — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 06:11:00 GMT

I love color.

So, it's no surprise that pretty often I pull Kathy Merrick's Crochet in Color off my bookshelf.

My copy of the book is festooned with sticky notes (you know those stickies, right? The ones that holler out, “I want to make this and this and this.”)

The project that first jumped out at me and still teases me is the Triangle Tuffet. Not only does it include all the colors of the rainbow, but also it's a tuffet! Sit on it, rest your feet on it, pose the cat on it -- it's all good.
And don't you love the clever design? The tuffet wedges are simply shaped with stitches of increasing sizes, with color changes as you go along, leaving very little seaming work. This is just fun crochet.

And what I love about Kathy Merrick is that, for all her love of color—she is, after all, the creator of the fabulous Babette Blanket—she understands that not everyone feels the same way about color.

So for each design, she offers you options for making the project your own by suggesting other colorways.
With the Urchins and Limpets Blanket (available for free download here), she offers specific colorways to change the look of this blanket.

The design here is lovely: Clever pairings of chain-and-single-crochet motifs gives this blanket movement, so it's not a heavy cover-up. It's a perfect blanket for spring and summer.

The design that really mesmerizes me is the Tiny Motif Sweater. Not for the faint of heart, this sweater uses four colorways of hand-dyed wool to create a gorgeous painterly sweater. You can pick out your own favorite colorways to create a whole different look.

The wee motifs are joined as you go, and you can work over the tails to reduce finishing time. And when you are done, you will have a work of art to wear. It's perfect over a cami or tank, or a long-sleeved shirt.

Dive in and festoon the book with your own stickies. Then go crochet some fun.
Now, I have to go get started on that tuffet.
Best,
Marcy

p.s. When you go to download the Urchins and Limpets Blanket at Knitting Daily, you can use the same username and password as you use at CrochetMe! We've switchd to a Single Sign On system for all Interweave websites. So you can play at Spinoff.com, KnittingDaily.com, BeadingDaily.com, ClothPaperScissors.com, QuiltingArts.com and ArtistDaily.com with a single password.

Working on the Edge with Crochet

Toni Rexroat — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:38:00 GMT

Crochet edgings are a quick way to add a finishing touch to just about any kind of fiber project, whether it's felted, knitted, woven or crocheted. Edgings, which can range from simple single crochet to elaborate lace, add more than elegance. They also stabilize and hide an unattractive or otherwise boring edge.

Here are a few things to consider when working a crocheted edging.

Gauge and stitch placement:

Go find your gauge swatch created for the project. If, for some crazy reason, you don't have a gauge swatch, whip one up. Work the same edging around your gauge swatch as you will around the project. If the edging ruffles, use a smaller hook and/ or try skipping stitches instead of working into each stitch. If the edging puckers, try a larger hook.

As you crochet, note the distance between stitches and the depth you insert your hook for the best visual effect. Don't pull the first row stitches too tight as you may buckle the fabric.

When working into a knitted cast-on edge, try working the crochet stitch between knitted stitches.

For fabric or felt, use a metal hook with a sharp point at the tip of the hook. The sharper tip and added strength of the metal hook helps pierce felt and fabric. Or you can pre-punch some holes into the fabric if you want to use a larger hook. Insert the hook far enough down into the fabric that the stitch will not pull out and rip the fabric.

Where to work the edgings:

		You can work crocheted edgings along a neckline, sleeve edge, or hemline, but don't stop there. Elissa Sugishita's Buttercup Baby cardigan and pants (shown above) feature a crocheted panel worked on a knit foundation. Then the designer picked up stitches and knit several more inches. The edging is elevated to an internal design feature. In the Pink Frosting top (at left), Elissa worked a crochet edging first around the hem of the sweater; then she worked a second layer of crochet edging several inches higher. She joined the edging with evenly placed single crochets in the knitted fabric.

You can step up the crocheted trim by using crochet to create sleeves, collars, or the lower bodice such as in the Josephine Pullover, Beachcomber Tunic, and Mélange Turtleneck.

As a multi-crafter I love to both knit and crochet so I've pulled out my UFO of the Beachcomber Tunic and am trying to remember my brief knitting lessons. If you don't knit, try working a crocheted edging on a purchased knitted or fabric piece. Or, better yet, learn to knit with our sister publication Interweave Knits or work out a shared design with a friend who knits. If you are searching for the perfect crochet edging to create a unique piece, browse through Crochet Edgings & Trims: Harmony Guides. A Flower Border would look adorable around the hem of a little girl's tank top or shirt.

Best wishes,

Spring Crochet Patterns Are in Bloom

Marcy Smith — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 11:00:00 GMT

Are you totally ready for Spring?

This has been a long, cold, snowy winter just about everywhere, and I am ready to crochet things that are light and airy and just saturated with sunshine and flowers.

We've just sent the Spring 2010 issue of Interweave Crochet to the printer. But it will be a few weeks still before you see it. What to do?

Well, if you don't have last year's spring issue on hand, you could head to the Interweave Store, where we've just released patterns from the 2009 Spring and Summer issues. Among the patterns are these lovely blossoms.

Orphan Scarf by Doris Chan		Orphan Scarf This ridiculously easy scarf is super fun to make. Using sock yarn and a large hook, Doris Chan discovered a clever way to use that leftover ball of sock yarn to create an easy scarf, just right for days that are almost warm enough for short sleeves alone.
Raindrops Broomstick Lace Shawl by Jill Wright		Raindrops Broomstick Lace Shawl If you've been itching to try out broomstick lace, this is a gorgeous garment for learning the craft. It features clever increases for shaping and a richly beaded border.
Summer Petals Cardigan by Julia Vaconsin		Summer Petals Cardigan Perfect for the transition from spring to summer, this pretty cardigan features an engaging petal-like lace design. Wear it over long sleeves for spring, over a sundress for summer.
Malabrigo Top by Julia Vaconsin		Malabrigo Top This close-fitting vest worked in a delicious laceweight is good over long sleeves or short sleeves, at the office or at the coffeeshop. A slim ribbed body is topped by a simple shell top in a garment that requires very little finishing.
Shape-Shifting Shawl by Tracy St. John		Shape-Shifting Shawl It's a shrug! It's a shawl! It's both! Clever buttoning and ribbon ties convert a lacy rectangle to a simple shrug. The very pretty floral lace (just a four-row repeat!) is easy to work. Make it now, and you'll be set for all your upcoming fancy events!

When I was leafing through the Spring 2009 issue, I was surprised to recall that it was my first issue as editor of Interweave Crochet!

Thanks for making it a great year! I'm looking forward to the next year of good things in both the magazine and online at CrochetMe.com.

Best

The February Hat

Marcy Smith — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:00:00 GMT

In my continuing series of the Well-Traveled Hat, I present the February Hat.

I'm all ready with a super chubby yarn called Schulana Grande, distributed by Skacel (100% wool, color 42 turquoise). I'm using a suitably chubby hook, an Addi size N / 10 mm (also distributed by Skacel).

Isn't this the happiest crochet hook you've ever seen? It has glitter in it! (It's embedded in the acrylic, so it doesn't actually move. That would make you dizzy, don't you think?)

OK, and here's the thing with this hat: I do not have a pattern. I am making it up on the fly. As it were.

And if you follow along, by the end, you'll have a free crochet hat pattern!

I start by chaining 3 and working double crochets in the third chain from the hook (first 2 chains count as a dc). I find that 9 double crochets fill out a little circle. So that's 10 dc, counting the ch. Then slip stitch in the top of the starting ch 3. And ch 3 to start the next round (counts as a dc).

On the second round, I need to increase by working twice as many stitches. With this voluptuous yarn, I decide that I'll reduce the heft of the second round by increasing between the stitches instead of working two stitches in one stitch. Here's what it looks like to work between the stitches:

In the second round you work 1 dc in a dc, then 1 dc in the space between that dc and the next dc. Repeat around. At the end you have 20 dc. Sl st in the top of the ch 3.

The third round needs to increase also, but I'm still watching the bulkiness. And this yarn is making the hat grow pretty fast. I should have the right size for the top of the hat at the end of this round, so I also need to have enough stitches for the body of the hat by the end of this round.

I decide to double the stitches in this round, using a lightweight increase method.

Chain 4 (this counts as 1 dc + 1 ch). Work a dc in each dc, with a ch in between each dc.

At the end of round two you have 20 dc and 20 ch-1 sp. This is essentially 40 stitches, but you will be working in only half of them. This will keep the hat from turning into a helmet.

For round 4, sl st into the first ch-1 sp. Then ch 4 and work a dc in the next ch-1 sp. (Ch 1, dc in ch-1 sp) around, ending with ch 1, sl st into top of ch 3.

About the middle of this round, I'm thinking this hat is going to be too dang big.

But by the time I finish Round 4, things are looking good & hat-like. Nice curve.

Here's a close-up of the dc worked into the ch-1 space. I'm on Round 5, which is worked the same as Round 4.

By the time I'm on Round 6 (also worked the same as Round 4), ten minutes have passed since I started Round 4. That's pretty speedy, but I have to say I'm not focusing entirely on the hat.

Because in front of me, up by the ceiling in the aisle is this:

OK, you can't see a thing on that little screen. It's the Drew Barrymore vehicle Whip It, all about the high-speed, high-tattoo world of grrrrrlz Roller Derby. (You may have missed this during the five minutes it was in the theaters, but maybe you can catch it on a cross-country flight sometime. No, this flight doesn't have the nifty back-of-the-seat screens that entertained me during the January Hat flight.)

Despite the distraction of the drama on the screen, the hat is taking shape.

I work a total of 7 rounds (that's 4 rounds of the dc, ch-1 pattern). Then I work a round of sc: ch 1, work a sc in every dc and every ch-1 space. Sl st in the starting ch 1.

And I have this much yarn left:

Rolled into a tidy ball, it looks like this:

I could call the hat done, but — I wonder what I can crochet with that much yarn.

I have no scissors, so I unwind the wee ball and start from the tail end. After a couple of false starts, this is what I end with: Ch 2. *sc in 2nd ch from hook, ch 3, rep from * 4 times. sl st into ch 1. You'll have 5 sc, and 5 ch-3 sp. Work *3 sc in ch-3 sp, sl st in sc, rep from * 4 times.

This will bring you right up to the hat:

Not a bit of wiggle there. But I pivot the flower up and use the tail to attach it to the hat (finger weaving; no needles):

And done.

I love this hat. A lot. I love that I had a ball of yarn and a hook and knew that they would come together somehow to make a hat. But I didn't know how that would happen.

Then, an hour and 12 minutes later, I had this hat (actually, this hat can be made in 45 minutes or less, if you don't stop to cheer on Babe Ruthless or take a trip to the little loo. Oh, and if you have the pattern. Which you have now.)

It needs a special home. It's soft enough for a chemo cap, but a bit airy. I think someone in need of a smile should have this hat.

Please let me know what charity you think I should send this to.

Meantime, crochet on!

Happy trails,

Marcy

Quick One-Skein Projects for Handspun Yarn

Toni Rexroat — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:30:00 GMT

We're all about spinning this week at Interweave Crochet.

I just recently began learning to spin. And as I embark on my spinning journey, I appreciate the amount of time and effort that goes into one skein of yarn.

I have a lovely skein of yarn hand spun by my mother, who has been spinning for 20 years. I'm almost ready to stop admiring it and crochet it into something wonderful. What is the perfect crochet project for this skein of handspun yarn?

When selecting a pattern to work in handspun yarn, here are some things to consider, as with any yarn: the weight, the fiber content and the yardage. I have about 2 oz of worsted weight wool—about 13 yards —so I may need to supplement my little handspun skein with another yarn. My yarn is brightly colored, suitable for an accessory or an accent. The first day of spring is just over a month away and I'm yearning for those warm days. I'd like to make something little and carefree that reminds me of spring's promise.

After scouting the Interweave online store, I've narrowed my choices down to three: the Four Corners Headband, the Breezy Hat, or a narrower version of the Simple Stitched Belt. Now I just have to narrow my choices to one and begin crocheting. Hmm, which should it be? Leave me your comments or suggestions on Crochet Me. Also let me know about your experience crocheting handspun yarns.

I'll let you know what project ends up "winning" and you're welcome to join me in whipping up a springtime reminder project. I'll be starting a Crochet-Along here.

Best wishes,

Yet More About Those Swedish Hats

Kim Werker — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:27:00 GMT

Kids, I made a boo boo in my last post. Annette Petavy had actually emailed me with the info about the designer of the Swedish Olympic team's hats a couple of days before I saw Bernadette@Finally Teatime's comment. In my headless-chicken state these days, I totally lost track of it. I'm sorry, Annette!

In her email, Annette told me about a radio program she heard with Eva Christensson, the designer of the entire line of Olympics clothing for the Swedish team. The line consists of over 60 items, and team members choose among them. (You'll have to run that interview through Google Translate to get the gist of what she said.)

But wait, there's more! This morning I received an email from Eva Christensson herself. Seems the publicists at the Swedish Olympic Committee passed my email inquiry on to the designer, and she was kind enough to reply in English directly to me.

Upon returning to Sweden after spending twenty days in Vancouver and Whistler (had I known she was in town, I would have asked for an in-person interview!), Eva told me she was surprised to discover so much interest in the hat – "even more than in the Olympic games." Because the hats aren't for sale in stores, a crochet frenzy has taken over Sweden. Yellow and blue yarn and large crochet hooks are sold out all over the country and she's aware of all the homemade patterns popping up on Swedish websites. She added that, "a lot of people who never made crochet before are now trying....it feels like the story is never ending."

I asked her why she chose crochet for the hats, when knitting can be done much more easily by machine. You're going to love her response: "Why we wanted a crochet hat is because the look of crochet is much cooler than a knitted version. Knitted caps have a totally different look. In Sweden these kind of crochet hats have been popular over the past winter seasons, especially among the younger generations."

The original team hats were made by Chinese company Li Ning Sport Goods Ltd, which is the clothing sponsor for the Swedish Olympic team. Eva indicated the sponsorship relationship when I asked why the hats were made in China rather than by Swedish crocheters.

So there we have it. A worldwide crochet fad is well underway, thanks to a friendly sportswear designer who knows how cool crochet is, a hat that isn't available in stores, and a community of enthusiastic crocheters who won't stop till they have a hat of their own.

Super Sleuthing Success! Swedish Hats Story

Kim Werker — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:49:00 GMT

As Hugh McGuire tweeted to me the other day as I collected information about the Swedish Olympic team's hats from people all over the world, "And they say citizen journalism doesn't work." Posh.

Crochet Me's own Bernadette@Finally Teatime found the article that cracked the case (you'll have to dump the text into Google Translate to get a feel for what the article says).

"Gold and Silver medalists in the Cross-Country Skiing - Ladies' 10 km Free event, Swedes Charlotte Kalla and Anna Haag" by Flickr user djtomdog

The designer of the hats, and of the entire line of Olympics clothing for the Swedish Olympics team, is Eva Christensson. The hats were crocheted in China, and she didn't indicate any more information than that.

Huge thanks to all the bloggers, commenters, and Twitterers who dug up information about the hats! This was a grand and fun adventure.

Original Crochet Me translator extraordinaire Annette Petavy is working to receive permission to translate the crochet pattern into English. If she's able to, I'll post the translation here. Fingers crossed! For now, start trying to hunt down some Drops Eskimo yarn in those four colours. We North Americans have a Swedish crochet craze to get in on!

Spinning into Crochet

Marcy Smith — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 11:00:00 GMT

It was in aught-four that I first learned to spin.

I was writing a newspaper series on the journey of wool from sheep to finished product. Along the way I learned to clean, dye, spin and weave wool, in addition to knitting and crocheting the yarn I made.

The spinning was nearly my undoing.

The spinning instructor described the process as a dance – a graceful pas de deux between hands and fiber, with the drop spindle doing the magic of turning a bunch of fluff into a sturdy string. (The drop spindle is at left there. You hold the fluff, twist the shaft and release it to gravity, then gently feed the fluff into the movement so that yarn forms in the space between your hands and the spindle. In theory.)

Dancing is not my forte. And neither was spinning.

I focused on drafting, or spreading out, the fluff, twirling the drop spindle, and releasing the fiber. It sounded like this: “Ffff, thunk, @$%^”
Spinners have this old joke about the drop spindle being so named because you drop it a lot. This is kind of funny, unless you drop it all the time.

I took my lessons home and practiced and practiced (* Ffff, thunk, @$%^, repeat from *) I got myself in such a twist that I couldn't spin at all.

Finally, finally, I got it, with help from an expert spinner who told me I needed to twist more. Maybe the instructor needed to focus on a Chubby “Let's do the twist” Checker kind of dance, instead of the whole ballet thing.

Once you get spinning, it sticks with you, like riding a bicycle. Your hands remember the movement, the twist, the weight of the spindle as it drops. And, like riding a bicycle, you can learn new tricks, new speeds. You find your cadence. And, really, it's very soothing.

About the time I was learning to spin, I bought my first issue of Spin-Off magazine. Filled with instructive articles and inspiring projects, it gave me the encouragement I needed to persist in spinning beyond the newspaper story. And, bonus! The magazine wasn't just about spinning, but also about things to do with the fiber you spin.

In my first issue (Summer 2004), I found a story on dyeing with food coloring, and instructions for crocheting a small amulet bag. I took small amounts of my fleece – both spun and unspun fiber -- and dyed them according to the directions. Fun! I crocheted about half the bag, with fiber I spun on a drop spindle (we were friends again).

The turning point in my spinning was when I found a spinning wheel for a ridiculously low price. The wheel is a much happier match with me, and I can spend quite a bit of time turning fluff to yarn. And the most recent issue of Spin-Off can help me make more of this tool, with its story on seven drafting techniques. (Drafting is the method of preparing the fiber before spinning it. The way you draft will affect the kind of yarn you make.)

So what does a crocheter do with hand-spun yarn? That depends.

If you spin a lot of fiber, you can make whole garments out of your handspun yarn. If you spin just a little, you probably want to cherish it a bit. (It's OK to be vain about what you make – it's magic really, that you turned a pile of fluff into a spool of yarn. Embrace that.) Put it in a bowl and admire it. One day, you'll look at it and want to crochet it. In the Spring issue of Spin-Off (on newsstands in early April), you'll find a pattern for crocheted cuffs, perfect for a small amount of handspun yarn.

If you've never made your own yarn, give it a spin. It will enrich your crochet experience.

Enjoy,
Marcy

Super Sleuthing, Swedish Style

Kim Werker — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 07:09:00 GMT

Mere hours after the Olympics Opening Ceremonies last week, I started hearing from people who want to know more about the hats some members of the Swedish team wore during the procession. I snapped this photo today while walking through Whistler Village. That's some hat!

Anyway. Not having any idea where to find this information, I of course asked the internets.

A week later, we still don't know who made those handmade hats, but we're getting closer. Here's how it's gone so far:

Mary-Heather of Ravelry fame dug up a page on a Swedish bank site that seems to be offering the hats as a promotion.

Linda Holmes over at NPR's Monkey See blog wrote about some outrageous Olympics outfits (she didn't write this because I asked the internets, of course. She wrote it because she's awesome. It's just a nice coincidence), and I asked in the comments over there if she'd mind looking into the hats. She commented back that she "reached out to the Swedish Olympic Committee." No follow-up yet from Linda.

Super twitterer @ThingsBright has done some searching and came up with a blog post in Swedish that includes a photo of what seems to be a pattern that may be printed by a yarn company. She also found this video, which Swedish-speaking twitterer @bagatell says doesn't feature the designer or maker of the hats, but features instead a woman talking about how easy it is to crochet them. She also sent me a couple of email addresses for publicity folks from the Swedish Olympic Committee. I haven't heard back from them yet.

So our search for information continues! If you know anyone who might have information to help us find out who made those striking hats, please leave a comment or email me!

Perfect Fit: Crochet Sweater Gallery, Part II

Toni Rexroat — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 13:35:00 GMT

Welcome to Part II of our crocheted Sweater Gallery.
In last week’s newsletter, I explored how the Butterscotch Cardigan fit four women with different figures.
This week, let's look at two more sweaters.

First let’s look at the Aubrey Jacket from the Winter 2009 issue of Interweave Crochet. This jacket is a top-down raglan worked in Tunisian crochet.



This jacket fits Sharon beautifully, though it could be a shade longer. To do so, Sharon could move the waist shaping down or simply add length at the hem.		This is a fine fit on Erin. The waist shaping nicely skims her waist, and the bottom of the jacket ends just above the widest point of her hip.




On Sarah the waist shaping falls perfectly and the jacket ends nicely at her hip. But the bulky yarn and wide collar overwhelms Sarah’s petite frame. Making the collar shorter would reduce some bulk.		On me the Aubrey Jacket is too long, hitting me about 2 inches below the widest point of my hip and the waist shaping begins too far down my torso. I would begin the waist shaping sooner (since it's worked top-down) and make it shorter at the hem.

Now let's look at the Forest Flower Pullover from the Spring 2009 issue of Interweave Crochet. Worked in linked crochet from top to bottom, this garment is shaped at the hem with a clever length of chain.



The length is perfect on Sharon. She would want to alter the circumference of the sleeves.		The motif edge is very flattering on Erin. And with 2" of negative ease, this pullover looks great on Erin. The pullover is a bit short on Erin. To lengthen it, she can add to the number of foundation stitches.



The sleeves on this sweater work perfectly for Sarah. To ease fit at the hip, she can extend the length of the chains at the hem opening.		I love the fit of this sweater! Of course, I'll need to shorten it a bit by working fewer foundation stitches.

Modifying a garment to fit your body may seem scary at first, but it's amazing what even a little tweak can do to create unique garments shaped just for you.

Best wishes,

See What's Showing at CrochetMe!

Marcy Smith — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 13:00:00 GMT


Marcy Smith is the Editor of Interweave Crochet Magazine

The CrochetMe website surprises me almost every day. Not only are there new voices & new pictures, but there's stuff that didn't used to be there.

It reminds me, again, of my house, where shortly after I moved in, I happened upon a closet in the hallway – a whole closet that I didn't remember was there when we bought the house! Almost two years later, I still call this the bonus closet. It's filled with familiar things that used to be stuffed into the back of another closet.

So it is with CrochetMe. For instance, when I clicked on the Video tab, under the CrochetMe videos, I found all the crochet-oriented segments from Knitting Daily TV. Those used to live elsewhere, all mixed in with the knitting segments.

The best way to review these videos, I think, is to click the slideshow. There, little snippets of each video run before you, like truffles in Willy Wonka's candy factory. Below the slide show, the featured excerpt is highlighted. So when you see something you want to view, you just click on the selected video – then the whole segment plays. Yummy.

So then I clicked on Videos again and slid down to Crochet Tip videos and found, um, nothing. But I happen to know that we have a whole batch of videos on Tunisian crochet techniques ready to load up. As soon as this happens, I'll let you know. For now, you can think of it as an empty shelf in that bonus closet that will soon be filled with good and useful things.

I then clicked on the TV tab. Here we have the line-up of all the upcoming episodes of Knitting Daily TV Series 400. So you can set you DVR to record your favorite episodes. And if you really can't stand to wait, you can order up the DVD. You'll find free patterns from all the episodes of Series 400, including 13 new crochet patterns for all levels of crocheters. And that's not all – in case you missed out on the previous series of Knitting Daily TV, you can download all the free patterns from Knitting Daily TV Series 100, 200 and 300 in the online gallery.

Here's one of my favorite videos. This excerpt from Series 200 features readers' variations of a project, in this case crochet and knit scarves. When you're done viewing, download the free pattern for the crocheted Float Away Scarf. And then post your own variations in the Gallery on CrochetMe.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Enjoy. And don't forget the popcorn!

Perfect Fit: Butterscotch Cardigan Gallery

Toni Rexroat — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:35:00 GMT

No two women are built exactly the same. We are each unique, special, and wholly unlike any other woman on earth. Normally I would say this is a blessing, but when it comes to creating perfectly fitting garments it can be a curse. Most crocheted garments are designed to fit the industry created normal woman, who we all know is not normal at all. Her bust to waist to hip ratio and sizing allows her to wear anything and look fabulous in every garment. Like I said, she is not normal at all.

Today I would like to introduce you to four women, myself included, whom I would not call normal, but who each face their own challenges when trying to create a truly personal fit in crocheted garments. Our bust circumferences range from 34" to 36 ½" as the garments I have access to all have about a 34" bust. I hope by exploring our own challenges and possible solutions to garment fitting, you can formulate ideas for modifying your own crochet garments.

Together over the next 2 weeks we will look at 4 garments and determine the modification each person would need based on their particular body. So let's meet our 4 "normal" women.

Sharon at 5' 8" is taller than the average and this has a great impact on fit in her garments. Her back length, from the base of her neck to her waist, is 16 ¼" which makes many garments too short placing the bust and waist shaping too high.
At 5' 5 ½", still slightly taller than the average, I have the opposite problem. My height is primarily in my legs; my back length is only 14 ½". For me the bust and waist shaping are always too low. But my biggest difficulty is the fact that I have an abnormally large underbust measurement when compared to my actual bust measurement. If a garment is fitted at the underbust I generally need to make a full size larger than my bust measurement, which leaves too much fabric at the actual bust line.
Sarah may be only 5' 1" but her back length is 16" which means that despite her overall height, she still finds many crocheted tops too short. Sarah also has an hourglass shape; she frequently has to add extra decreases or darts in the waist shaping. Finally Sarah must pay special attention to the sleeves of her garments. Her upper arms measure 13 ¾", much wider than normal for her size.
And finally Erin. She has the largest bust size of the four of us at 36 ½", but her waist and hip measurements are pretty comparable to us. This means that in order to create a garment that fits in the shoulders, arms, waist, and hips, Erin needs to make about a size smaller than her bust measurement. But in making a smaller size the fabric pulls too tightly across the chest.

Hopefully you have identified a particular problem you also face when creating a crocheted garment. If you need information on finding your own measurement, see my earlier newsletter Get the Right Numbers.

Now let's take that information and look at the Butterscotch Cardigan.

Sharon

Height: 5' 8"

Upper arm: 10 1/2"

Bust: 35"

Underbust: 29 1/2"

Waist: 29"

Hip: 38"

Back: 16"

While this cardigan fits perfectly in the sleeves, the length is obviously too short. Sharon needs to add probably at least 3 inches, moving the bust shaping and waist down. This can be done quite easily by simply increasing the length of the rows. Sharon might even like to go up a size to give her a bit more room in the bust, though she doesn't want more fabric around the waist.

Toni

Height: 5' 5 1/2"

Upper arm: 10 3/4"

Bust: 34 1/2"

Underbust: 30 1/2"

Waist: 29 1/2"

Hip: 37"

Back: 14 1/2"

I really like the fit of this sweater. The pattern may run a bit short in the back as the bust and drawstring waist seem to hit a pleasing point for me. The style of this cardigan is a bit shorter but you could increase the length as for Sharon above. I personally would add a few more rows to the length of the sleeves.

Sarah

Height: 5' 1"

Upper arm: 13 3/4"

Bust: 34"

Underbust: 29 1/2"

Waist: 29"

Hip: 37"

Back: 15 3/4"

The cardigan ends just above the hip on Sarah. I would add about another 2 inches in length, without altering the placement of the bust and waist shaping. For Sarah the biggest problem is the sleeves. When choosing cardigans, Sarah has 2 choices. She could either stay away from any cardigan with a fitted sleeve, but that eliminates so many wonderful garments. She could also increase her hook size through the upper sleeve or add rows or short row shaping through the sleeve with special attention to the upper arm.

Erin

Height 5' 8"

Upper arm: 12"

Bust: 36 1/2"

Underbust: 31"

Waist: 29 3/4"

Hip: 39 1/2"

Back 15 1/2"

Erin would also benefit from adding about 2 inches of length to the cardigan. This cardigan really illustrates Erin's difficulty with garments fitting in the waist and bust. You can see that there is plenty of extra fabric around the drawstring, but the bust is obviously too tight. Erin could remedy this by adding short row shaping at the bust.

I would love to see modifications you have made for the perfect fit. Add your pictures to the member photo gallery.

Best wishes,

Video Explanation of Crochet and Hyperbolic Space

Kim Werker — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 22:34:00 GMT

My friend emailed me a link to this outstanding TED video of Margaret Wertheim discussing crochet's role in mathematicians' understanding of hyperbolic space and her project with the Institute for Figuring to create a crocheted coral reef.

I wish I could post the video here, but our new blogging system won't display it. So, go over there and watch it! It's a great way to spend sixteen minutes.

Free eBook! 6 Crochet Hat Patterns

Marcy Smith — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:15:00 GMT

Today we're debuting our new free eBook: 6 Free Crochet Hat Patterns: Crochet Hats with CrochetMe.

I love hats—both making them and wearing them. The quick and easy styles are perfect for take-around projects. And the engaging patterns are great for practicing new patterns on a small scale. And when you're done, you can make your head or someone else's warm and cozy.

These 6 crocheted hat patterns include:

Extreme Earflap Hats by Tiffany Reynolds: A great crocheted hat pattern for teens, this hat is quick to crochet in a two-color or three-color version. A felted finish makes it a warm and durable hat.

Slanting Stitches Hat by Lisa Shroyer: For the style-minded, this hat has a brim that can be rolled up derby-style or pulled down for a bucket hat.

Hot Cross Slouch Beret by Jennifer L. Appleby: A slightly lacy pattern worked in a lighweight yarn makes a hat that keeps your head warm without mussing your 'do.

Lace Cap by Kim Werker: Dainty and light, this hat shows off a favorite yarn and works up quickly. It's perfect for transitional seasons.

Stone Path Hat by Lisa Naskrent: This richly textured hat showcases crocheted cables. It's the perfect project for practicing with cables before you commit to a larger cabled project.

Flash Beanie by Judith L. Swartz: This is the go-to hat for people of all ages. This pattern is so speedy to crochet that you can make a bunch—so when a hat gets left behind on the soccer field, you have another to replace it.

Whatever your hat style, we've got you covered. I can't wait to get started on these hats as part of the Well-Traveled Hat series. I already have yarn selected for the Hot Cross Slouch Beret and the Lace Cap. And the boys in the house have already ordered up some Flash Beanies.

Download your own copy of 6 Free Crochet Hat Patterns and get started!

Best,

Marcy

Raining Cats and Dogs

Kim Werker — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 17:37:00 GMT

In less than a week, the Winter Olympics will begin here in Vancouver. I was pretty down on the whole thing for a while, but I've managed to let my bitterness go and feel the excitement as our small city gets ready for about the hugest event any city could host.

Now, a topic that's always on tap in this city is the weather, and this month the chatter is pretty much non-stop on account of the record-breaking warmth and rain. Yeah, the same year skiers and snowboarders and ice athletes from all over the world come here, our local mountains are trucking snow in from hundreds of kilometres away so the Games can go on.

But this is not what I want to be writing about. I want to write about local crocheter Howie Woo, who's just done some crochet yarn bombing in Vancouver of the celebrating-rain sort.

Yeah, we Vancouverites take pride in our (often dreary, sometimes nasty) weather, even when it threatens to thwart massive international sporting events.

Hey, speaking of the Olympics, are you doing any crafts-related activities during the Games?

[Hat tip to @RebecaVelasquez]

Learn to Felt Crocheted Projects

Toni Rexroat — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:30:00 GMT

Felting: it's a word that inspires delight and fear, excitement and apprehension. I've washed my fair share of completed wool sweaters and even once was given a vest that, amazingly, fit me perfectly despite the fact that it had been washed and felted and no longer fit its original owner. But I have also experienced the wonderment of creating a project, carefully placing it in the washer and checking it, perhaps too often, to witness its transformation into a dense, slightly fuzzy fabric. If you have never felted before, there are a few things to remember, and I'll share some beginner-friendly felting projects.

Your first step will be to choose a pattern. The swatches I used are from the Bubble Bag pattern found in the Winter 2009 issue. Felting makes wonderful fabric for bags, so I would also recommend the Overlay Felted Tote for the intermediate crocheter or, for something a little different, the Waffle Lattice Shawl for the beginning crocheters.

Next you have to choose a yarn. Synthetic yarns with bases such as cotton, linen, or nylon do not felt. Yarns with an animal fiber base such as wool, alpaca, or mohair make wonderful felting yarns. The yarn should not be superwash, because it is treated so that it does not shrink in the wash.

The most important thing is to swatch. Create a few swatches and play with the felting until you get the desired finished fabric.

The hook size generally called for in a felting pattern creates a very loose stitch. If you are creating your own pattern, a good rule is to go up several hook sizes from the recommended hook size. Notice the looseness of the stitches in the first, unfelted swatch above.

Felting requires supplies you will generally find at home. You can felt in your kitchen sink, but a washing machine will make the work much faster and easier. Place the crocheted fabric in a zippered pillowcase or lingerie bag. This keeps fibers loosened from your fabric out of the plumbing and plumber's bills out of your mailbox. Toss the bag in the washing machine along with a couple of towels or old blue jeans to help with agitation. Set the washing machine to the lowest water level and the hottest water setting. Remember that with hot water, colors may run so don't add towels or jeans that may stain your crochet or towels or jeans you don't mind being stained by the yarn. Add a small amount of mild detergent or soap. Consult your pattern for an idea of how long to felt the project. The longer the crochet is agitated in the washer, the more felting occurs and the denser it will become. The second and third swatches above were felted for differing lengths of time. You can see that the third swatch is much denser and the stitch definition is almost completely obscured. If you are unsure, it is a good idea to check it after the first 10 minutes and then again every few minutes after the crochet begins to visibly felt. Rinse the fabric in cold water to stop the felting process.

Once you know the best length of time for felting your selected yarn, you can begin your project. When it is done, follow the felting instructions above. While the fabric is still wet you can block the project to any shape. Use towels, bowls, or anything else the proper size to form the felting around. In the case of the Bubble Bag, you may want to stuff it with plastic bags until it is the shape you like. Then let it air dry.

Have fun! You can share pictures your finished felted projects in the Gallery.

Best wishes,

The January Hat, Part II

Marcy Smith — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 11:07:00 GMT

So, here's a thing I didn't tell you about the airplane trip: I was not a happy camper until about midway through making that hat (another case of crochet altering one's mood).

Here's the deal: I got up at o'dark-thirty to take a shuttle to the airport. My shuttle driver was exceptionally chipper for the hour. She drove me to the airport by way of the Pacific Coast Highway. This would have been the scenic route, except that 1. It was dark 2. It was foggy 3. My eyes were at least half-shut.

At one point, she said, "The ocean's over there to the right. You can't see it, but, wait, here ..." Then: She. Opened. The. Window. Now, this is Southern California, but the bright Day Star was not yet up and the air rushing through the window was not warm.

When we arrived at the airport, she said cheerily, "Well, now, that took us exactly an hour. If we'd taken the freeway, it would have taken 30 minutes."

Dude.

The fog cleared. But half an hour before the flight, I looked out the window and saw this:

That, my friends, is fog. Flight-delaying fog.

But, they decide to load us on the plane anyway. Even though it's clear—well, so to speak—that we will not be taking off anytime soon.

I find my seat. Shortly thereafter, a mom and her small child find their seat. Right next to mine.

They close the door.
We sit.
At the gate.
For an hour.

I am not happy. The child next to me is happy. She keeps trying to make me happy.

Whatever. I am too deeply unhappy to be cheered. I think about the big coffee I drank. I think about the bathroom at the back of the plane. I look up at the Fasten Seatbelt sign. What is that? Might there be turbulence at the gate?

I think unhappy thoughts. The child reaches out to me. I resist.

Finally, finally, we inch away from the gate. And roll toward the runway, to wait behind the other delayed planes. Ahead of us is a four-hour flight to an airport where I have already missed my connection. I think more unhappy thoughts.

Hours into the flight; hours after the child has cheerfullly cleared my tray of pretzel crumbs, so they don't get into my yarn; hours after she has repeatedly reached out to touch the soft, soft pink yarn; hours after this child has smiled and laughed and not once, not once cried, when I myself wanted to weep and rant, I decide to pay it forward.

I start a little pink hat.

(details: Patons Classic Wool Roving in Magenta (77402) and size K hook)

The plane is over Alabama:

with three rounds done, I have 28 minutes:

The child is 13 months old. The Tahoe Hat is designed for an adult head. I calculate the size by surreptitiously holding it up against her silhouette. I decide that five rounds on top ought to do it, then I start the hdc round:

We're nosing our way over Georgia. ATL is Right There.

Dc flo, dc blo, dc flo, dc blo. Who WROTE this pattern?!

23 minutes:

too busy crocheting to take pictures of the hat:

Good golly! Four rows of that blasted dc flo/ dc blo pattern ought to do it.

No need for that hdc row, d'ya think? Let's go straight to the rev sc edging ...

And score!

Adriana is a happy, pink-hat-wearing girl! Her mom, Tracy, says she usually doesn't like hats at all (probably because she has great hair & doesn't want to hide it). But she's a Southern California girl, headed to New Orleans, where it's cold, because it's cold everywhere this winter. And she likes this hat.

Here's hoping Adriana has a swell time with her Grandma. Thanks for the smiles. You had a tough nut to crack.

Karmic balance is restored.

Happy trails,

Marcy

p.s. The Tahoe Hat is now available for free download here.

Download Your Free eBook Today

FREE Downloadable eBook: Crocheting hats is a great way to practice your stitches with speedy results! Get your FREE eBook: Six Free Crochet Hat Patterns Crochet Hats with Crochet Me! These six hat patterns are from expert designers and will keep you busy crocheting with a variety of styles to choose from! Download your Free eBook Today!

Groundhog Day. BING!

Kim Werker — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:46:00 GMT

You'd think giving myself a month to crochet a wee amigurumi groundhog would have provided time enough that I'd finish the project without rushing. Oh, friends. How long have you known me? Surely long enough to know without my stating it that I started my groundhog right away and left the stuffed body lying around on my kitchen table for weeks. Thankfully I didn't spill anything on it.

So then last night I gathered that body up along with the yarn and pattern and parked myself on the couch for three hours in a mad-dash last-minute effort to give the poor dude limbs, ears and a tail before today.

Meet Ned Ryerson, prognosticator of nothing in particular.

Project specs:
Started: 9 January 2010
Finished: 1 February 2010
Pattern: Groundhog, by June Gilbank
Yarn: Red Heart Designer Sport
Hook: 3.75mm

June Gilbank, designer of the groundhog pattern, has a running round-up of completed groundhogs on her blog.

So now I suppose it's time to spend some quality couch time with that granny square blanket...

Crochet Meets Punxsutawney Phil

Marcy Smith — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 11:00:00 GMT

Here in North Carolina, we're hunkered down awaiting a big snow (we actually spend more time preparing for snow than watching it snow).

So I'm all ready to snuggle into the couch and work on a scarf while watching Kristin Omdahl's Crochet Me Workshop, Innovative Crochet: Motifs on DVD.

You may recall that I'm in need of a scarf. I think I've finally hit on the right one (I know, I know, I could have made five by now.)

A while back, I became fascinated with Kristin Omdahl's Infinity Shawl (Interweave Crochet Winter 2008). It's remarkable to me how you begin on the outside of one swirl and the inside of the other swirl, then work increases and decreases in mathematically precise ways until the whole motif is done. Once I started, I couldn't stop. Soon I had five infinity motifs.

Then somehow the project eased its way across the room, to a corner where it languished until last week.

Worked in many colors drawn from the wool stash, the motifs are worked at a smaller gauge than Kristin's original design—perfect for a scarf.

So I set about working the outer echoes of crochet that join the motifs and widen the piece.

I have high hopes of wearing this very warm scarf when we go out to build a snowman after the blizzard hits.

As for the DVD: Kristin is an expert in motifs large and small. And she is a fabulous teacher who speaks clearly and stitches expertly. And though I have seen in person how speedy she is at crocheting, on film she works deliberately so you can see her every move. Happily, Kristin is now part of the Knitting Daily TV team, as host of Crochet Corner.

Here, you can get a taste of her teaching technique, in a clip from Knitting Daily TV Series 400 that focuses on a motif afghan:

(Please visit the site to view this media)

So settle in and pick your own favorite Kristin pattern to work on (the DVD includes a link to a free pattern for Kristin's Farrah Wrap from Wrapped in Crochet).

Depending on whether Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow tomorrow, you may have your own snow days coming.

Happy crocheting,

Marcy

p.s. In case you need help deciding on a project, here's a suggestion: Featured on cover of the DVD is Kristin's Forest Flower Pullover (Interweave Crochet Spring 2009), which I turned into a cardigan last year. It's an addictively fun pattern to work in linked crocheted, with triangular motifs around the yoke.

Aubrey Jacket Questions

Toni Rexroat — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 13:30:00 GMT

Like many of you, I have begun exploring a series of Tunisian stitches I had never before believed existed. I played with the Twisted Tunisian Simple Stitch when the Aubrey Jacket pattern arrived. The V pattern formed by the stitches is an intriguing texture. Recently I have begun hearing two questions about this classic jacket: where can I can I find a size O (11 mm) hook, and why don't my stitches don't look the same as those in the jacket. So, I am going to try to answer those questions.

1. Where can I find a size O (11 mm) hook?

An online search turned up handcrafted maple Tunisian hook from Stitch Diva. When I contacted Tram Nguyen (the designer), she confirmed that this was where she purchased her hook. It is a beautiful hook! But I understand if the price point is unworkable for some of you.

So, I pulled out my Denise interchangeable crochet hooks. I made swatches using both the N/15 (10 mm) and the 17 (12 mm) hooks. When working this stitch, I crochet loosely so the N/15 (10 mm) hook gave me gauge. Especially since this is a new technique for me, my work was very loose. So take a look at your own stitch tension. Every person crochet differently, and you may need to play to get tension anyway.

2. Why don't my stitches don't look the same as those in the jacket?

If you weren't able to create the "V" in your stitches when working the Tunisian rib pattern, don't worry, you're probably close. To work the Twisted Tunisian Simple Stitch, Tram rotated the hook counterclockwise after inserting it from left to right behind the horizontal bar of the next stitch. After a bit of research I discovered that many people twist their hook clockwise. This produces an interestingly textured stitch but when used in this pattern does not create a V. I took a couple of pictures and attempted to draw on them to help illustrate this stitch.

Insert your hook from left to right behind the vertical bar of the next stitch. Now rotate the handle of your crochet hook counterclockwise (the direction the arrow is pointing; see above).

In this picture I partially withdrew the hook from the stitch to make the angle of the stitch more visible. You can see that, now that you have rotated the hook clockwise, the stitch you worked into slants to the right (the black line illustrates the angle of the stitch before it was worked into). Yarn over and pull up a hook like normal.

I worked the first part of this stitch in the Tunisian rib pattern but rotated the hook the wrong directions when working the Twisted Tunisian Simple Stitch (the black line separates the two ways of working the stitch). As you can see, the V is not created when the stitch is worked this way. This may be what you are getting.

The second half of the swatch is worked rotated the hook clockwise. The V's are now prominently raised.

I hope I have been able to answer your questions. Remember, if you are working on this, or any other projects, we would all love to see how they are coming in the in progress gallery.