Lesson 5

I have finally completed lesson five on my way to being a certified crochet instructor.  The first four lessons are in the hands of my assigned reviewer, and I'm anxiously awaiting her  feedback.

In lesson five the emphasis is on working with finer threads and filet crochet. Triple crochet is also introduced

The essay portion of this assignment covered how to teach triple crochet, and filet crochet and common problems.

Published - (Almost)

Very exciting news to share. Quick and Easy Crochet Magazine has accepted my CurlyQ hat and scarf for publication in either the Sept/Oct or Nov/Dec 2011 issue of the magazine. The editor has seen photos, and if she likes the finished model "in person" as well as she likes the picture the deal is done.

Now I have to crochet a model to send to the editor, and write up the instructions.  I know the instructions are written on a legal pad somewhere around here. Now where did I put that legal pad, and I need more yarn.  Hobby Lobby here I come.

Here is a picture of the set.

A New Book In My Library

Have you ever wished that you could sit down with a Master Crocheter, and learn at the knee of the Master?  Well I have, and  I think I have found  the next best thing, The Crochet Master Class, Lessons and projects from Today's top crocheters by  Jean Leinhauser and Rita Weiss.

This book is not for beginners, but crochet artists that want to stretch themselves by learning new techniques like hairpin lace, tapestry crochet, woven crochet, tunisian crochet, filet crochet, double-ended crochet, overlay crochet, bruges crochet, painted crochet, free-form crochet,  bead crochet, Fashion crochet,  Irish crochet and wire crochet. The bullion stitch are tassels are also included. It makes me tired just to list them all.

Some of these techniques I am familiar with like filet crochet, and tunisian crochet, but I have limited to no experience with the others.

The book includes pictures and stories about the featured artists along with their patterns.I want to experiment with all the techniques, but haven't made up my mind where to start. What a nice problem to have.  So much yarn, so little time.

I definitely recommend this book for your crochet library too.  I found my copy at a local Barnes and Noble store, but it is also widely available online.

Lesson Four

While watching the movie Wall Street last night, I finished Lesson Four in the Craft Yarn Council's Certified Teachers Program. Now I'm ready to submit my lesson plan book for evaluation and review.


Lesson Four is the last lesson for this session. and consisted of working a square motif, a hexagon motif, and designing a beginner spiral project with written instructions. My spiral beginner project is a ski cap.  I hope you like it. There is still plenty of winter left so make a couple, one for yourself, and one to give away.

As promised, I'm sharing pictures and the written instructions for the ski cap. This project can be completed in an evening, maybe two for beginners.

Spiral Ski Hat

Vanna’s Choice Yarn, Grey Marble – 2 skeins

H hook

Skill Level : Beginner

Size: will fit an average size head 21 to 22 inches in circumference

Gauge: 14sc = 4 inches, 16 rows = 4 inches

Stitches used:

sc – single crochet

dc – double crochet

Special Instructions: Do not join rounds. Place a stitch marker at the beginning of each round, move the stitch marker up each round as it is worked to mark the first stitch in each round.

ch 6 join with a slip stitch to the first chain to form a ring

Rnd 1. Work 10sc in the ring. Do not join. Place a stitch marker in the first sc (10sc)

Rnd 2.  2dc in each stitch around (20dc) (NOTE move the stitch marker to first stitch in the 2^nd round to mark the beginning of the new round. Continue to move the marker in this manner for all remaining rnds)

Rnd 3.* sc in first stitch, 2sc in next stitch, repeat from * around (30sc)

Rnd 4. *dc in next 2 stitches, 2dc in next stitch, repeat from * around (40dc)

Rnd 5. *sc in next 3 stitches, 2sc in next stitch, repeat from * around (50 sc)

Rnd 6. *dc in next 4 stitches, 2dc in next stitch, repeat from * around (60dc)

Rnd 7. *sc in next 5 stitches, 2sc in next stitch, repeat from * around (70sc)

Rnd 8. dc in each stitch around (70dc)

Rnd 9. sc in each stitch around (70sc)

Rnd 10-28 repeat Rnd 9 (70sc)

Rnd 29. sc in each stitch around, join with a slip stitch to first sc and finish off.

Weave in ends. Fold bottom end of ski cap up 2 to 3 inches  to form a cuff around the cap.

Curly Q Hat and Scarf

A few weeks ago I completed a scarf and hat using Red Heart's new Curly Q yarn. The other day, I talked my sister into modeling the set so that I could take pictures for the soon to be written pattern. The pattern is already written, but it is written on a yellow legal pad. There is danger that if I don't transcribe the pattern soon, I won't be able to decipher my own notes.

 

My plan was to self publish, but while driving home from the photo shoot, I decided to submit the hat and scarf to Red Heart for publication.  The submission is on its way to South Carolina as we speak.  Wish me luck.  If Red Heart  doesn't agree to publish, then never fear, the pattern will be available in my Etsy Store, and in my Ravelry Patterns.

The wait begins.

Lesson 3

It's been a while since I've posted about my adventure with the Craft Yarn Council's Certification Program. The reason is lesson three had quite a few pieces to complete.

If you have ever tried to substitute one yarn for another you will get a sense of what this lesson is about. For this lesson I completed six swatches in a variety of stitches, using everything from baby weight yarn to bulky weight yarn computing stitch and row gauge for each five inch square swatch. It was fun making the squares using: single crochet, half double crochet,  a cluster stitch, a popcorn stitch, a shell stitch and a ripple stitch.

Lesson three also covered the hdc stitch, methods of teaching this stitch, and common problems associated with teaching this stitch.  In the picture, the large red swatch is an example of using hdc increases and decreases.

I'm looking forward to lesson four, which will cover crocheting in the round. One of the assignments is to work a "beginner spiral project".  I'm thinking a stocking cap will be the perfect project for this assignment. Stay tuned. When I have the assignment completed, I'll post a picture and the instructions.

In Search of "Inspiration"

There are several crochet designers that I admire, but two that are my super heroines are Kristin Omdahl, and Kim Guzman.   I was curious about what “inspires” these crochet designers, so I read some of their interviews.

Kristin lives in Florida and one of the things that inspires her is the beautiful Florida landscape, but she can also be inspired by an outdoor café table top.

Kim Guzman receives her inspiration from photographs of pottery, and also by looking through  European fashion catalogs.

Since learning more about what inspires these two ladies, I have made a conscious effort to be on the lookout for ideas to inspire my own creativity. I now find myself looking through magazines and catalogs with new eyes. I even took a picture of a pedestal of a café table that has an interesting design; if it worked for Kristin Omdahl it  just might work for me too.

Here is a picture that I took at the local Bass Pro Shop yesterday of a sweater.  I love the design in this sweater, and when I saw it, I didn’t think about buying the sweater ( well maybe a little bit) but I mostly thought about an afghan, and how I might incorporate the diamond and seed like stitches. You gotta love it when you feel “inspired”