Crochet Queen: Royal Ramblings

Three lucky winners can enter for a chance to win a copy of the brand new, DIY Holiday. Add your email on my blog where it says “follow” and email me a note that you did so. US addresses only , please, by December 1 at midnight. Good luck! I don’t usually expect to find consistent pattern quality in a magazine that is stretched in as many directions as this Premiere Issue published by Interweave/F + W. However, the editors, Amber Eden and Karin Strom, have proven me wrong! Included are 25+ hand-crafted projects for the holidays and you will find familiar names among the designers across many genres: crochet (4 projects); Knitting (4); Quilting (4); Modern Sewing (4); Needlework (2); Jewelry (4); Mixed Media (3); and Weaving (2). Shisha Ornaments by Susan Haynes Opdahl Designated “Cool Crafts on the Cheap,” several projects were also chosen in mind for cost conscience crafters. DIY Holiday  has everything one needs to take on a new craft, including downloadable patter...

The only way to describe Maki’s new book is just plain “Cute!” There is a sweetness about each and every one of the 30 patterns she has created that keeps the crocheter moving through the book to make almost every one! I previously blogged   a positive review of Maki’s previous book, Simply Adorable Crochet. She has outdone herself with this 2nd installation for Craftside Publishing. Maki is an extremely talented artist whose animal figures are realistic yet approachable due to the cheery colors she uses to add a splash of whimsy with  adorable accessories such as a miniature scarf, flowers and a water ring to tell us something about the animal’s personality. The easy-to-follow patterns provide step-by-step instructions with diagrams and colorful photographs. Download  a free pattern and see for yourself! The binding on the book allows it to lay flat and stay open for the convenience of hands-free crocheting. These must-have projects to make for kid...

November 4, 2014 Taught by Charles Voth Who better to teach a class on Symbol Crochet than Charles Voth, aka StitchStud? Symbol crochet is an international language that is readable no matter which language you speak. By his own admission, Charles is “an international guy.” He grew up in Columbia, South America, speaks Spanish fluently, and currently lives in Canada.  A contributing editor for a London-based magazine and others, Charles translates patterns into Spanish and is a published designer. His skill and understanding is very apparent throughout this online class, See It, Crochet It, Reading Diagrams presented by Craftsy. Sign up by November 15 and you can enter to win the class for free. For a limited time (December 15), you can save 50% on the cost of the class. Charles Voth aka Stitch Stud A lifelong crocheter, Charles learned to crochet at the young age of 4; he is also a skilled knitter. In addition to his love of color and the feel of fiber in crochet, he...