Pam, your comment was chosen at random from all commenters. You are the winner of a free "Learn to Crochet Ripples" class from Annie's. Congratulations! Please send me your email address so I can get you the code to access your class. Thanks!
On set in Berne, with the five "Crochet Ripples" projects
Enter for a Chance to Win "Crochet Ripples" class!
Ta-da! I am pleased to present to you my first online class with Annie's, "Learn to Crochet Ripples." Click here to see information about the class. You can click on "Meet the Instructor" to view a brief interview with me if you are so inclined.
The class includes five projects--washcloth, scarf, tote bag, cowl, and afghan--using various ripple techniques. I'm blown away by the production quality, but I shouldn't be surprised. The professionalism and expertise of the crew when we filmed in February was superb.
A video class allows me to reach many more crocheters than I could in person. As someone who loves to teach, I'm very happy to have that opportunity. I look forward to "meeting" my students through the miracle of modern technology!
You can enter for a chance to win a free "Learn to Crochet Ripples" class! Leave a Comment on this blog between now and 11:59 p.m. EDT Monday, May 23, 2016. One winner will be chosen at random from all commenters; I will post the winner's name on Tuesday, May 24 and will need the winner's email (we can correspond privately so you don't have to reveal that to the masses!). Annie's staff will provide a code to give the winner free access to "Learn to Crochet Ripples."
So: Leave me a comment. Check back on 5/24 to see if you won. Good luck!
Lavender and Lilac Chevron Scarf from "Learn to Crochet Ripples"
New website, new blogging tool
My old website was just that: old! The design was done seven years ago and was due for some brightening up. Categories needed to be redefined and reorganized, new books and patterns needed to be added, I wanted to be able to link to my videos, and I was desperate for a blogging tool that was less balky than the one I was struggling with. Most of all, I wanted to improve the user experience, whether you're coming to my site from a PC, phone, or other mobile device.
Photo from upcoming class
FolioFLY Website Solutions listened to my goals for the website and came up with a complete redesign (they had done my previous site and were familiar with my work). They migrated me to SquareSpace and developed a nice, clean look. We went back and forth many times over the last 4-6 weeks honing each page to perfection. One really great feature is on the books page, where you can click on "Sneak Peek" and see photos of all of the projects in a book.
A crucial thing for me was the blogging tool. I would have blogged more regularly if it hadn't been so frustrating trying to position photos in WordPress and getting the text to wrap properly. (If you love WordPress, feel free to blame me for any issues I had with it! Suffice it to say that even after much instruction and many attempts--including working with the html code--it was not the right platform for me.)
And now the big day is here: my first blog post using SquareSpace! Let me bring you up to date with the news.
One-Skein Baby Projects has received several published reviews. Marty Miller wrote about it on Not Your Granny's Crochet, Kristine at Ambassador Crochet blogged about it here, and Sue at Crochet Addict UK posted her review here. Even I got into the act with a guest blog for Leisure Arts in which I talked about the design process.
Meanwhile, things keep moving through the pipeline. Easy Afghans will be released next week!
Cover photo of Easy Afghans
The class I filmed for Annie's will be live on May 17th! As soon as I get the go-ahead, I'll share the details with you.
And Crochet Cowls is making its way through production. I've started talking with some yarn shop folks about doing release events, book-signings, and master classes.
Green Fields Capelet from Crochet Cowls
Due to popular demand I am finally creating some instructional videos. I learn something new with each one, and continue to improve the lighting and editing. If you're interested, please subscribe to my YouTube channel here. Let me know if you want to see a particular stitch demonstrated. So far I've been concentrating on Tunisian crochet, but I'm not going to limit the videos to that branch of crochet.
I still have a lot to learn about how my new website works, and how I can update it myself. For now, I'm thrilled with the way it looks and works, and I'm very grateful to FolioFLY for their immense patience with me as we went through the redesign process!
A Heartwarming Thank-You Note
One of my goals for the indoor-outdoor yarn art exhibit I did at the Delaware Museum of Natural History in 2014-15 was to engage with the community from start to finish. The centerpiece of the work was a 40-foot yarn snake, dubbed "Yarnboa," to complement the exhibit "Titanoboa: Monster Snake!" I created a pattern for a yarn segment and invited crocheters to participate. From Delaware to Hawaii, they responded! Because I didn't specify a color, I received a rainbow of yarn segments, which I then assembled between the head and the tail. Yarnboa was stuffed with recycled plastic bags crammed with newspaper. The plastic bags kept newsprint off the inside of the snake, and also made for a smoother look. The names of everyone who provided a snake segment appeared on the signage next to the display.
Read MoreTeaching for Annie's
After months in the works, I had the opportunity two weeks ago to fly to Indiana and film an online class for Annie's. Most of you crafters will know Annie's for their catalog and craft supplies. They also have an impressive and growing line of classes. Instructors that have worked for them include Lily Chin, Ellen Gormley, Patty Lyons, and Rohn Strong, to name just a few. Anyway, late last summer I was approached by Susan Sullivan. Susan is now president of the Crochet Guild of America, and she works as a producer for Annie's. She and I met several years ago when she was with Leisure Arts; thanks to her, LA has published several of my crochet titles. Susan wanted to know if I was interested in submitting a proposal for an Annie's class that would be available online and via DVD. (You have probably guessed by now that I can't yet reveal the name of the class--sorry!--as soon as I get the okay I'll share the content with you.)
Read MoreBook Review, Hooked to Heal
When is a crochet book not exactly a crochet book? When it focuses on process and personal growth rather than patterns and projects. That’s the objective of Kathryn Vercillo’s new volume, Hook to Heal: 100 Crochet Exercises for Healthy, Growth, Connection, Inspiration, and Honoring Your Inner Artist. It’s a 254-page creativity exercise book that offers ways to use crochet to improve your life and develop your inner artist. Chapter topics include things like “facing fears” and “creating abundance.” Along the way, Kathryn shares her life and her research as a graduate student studying Integral Counseling Psychology, then she shares relevant exercises. For example, learning a new skill is a symbolic way to face one’s fear of change. Trading projects with a friend can be a way to cement connections. Each chapter ends with “Yarn for Thought” questions for readers to ponder or journal about. The focus of the book is to help you learn more about yourself and make strides in personal growth.
The exercises are derived from Kathryn’s experience into using crochet to heal. In a previous book, Crochet Saved My Life, Kathryn wrote about how learning to crochet helped her through a debilitating battle with depression. Since then, she has done extensive research into the ways that crochet helps people through myriad issues and life circumstances.
Read More