Knit Out and Crochet 2009 - Day 1 Random Shots

Brett Bara from Crochet Today magazine and the Knit and Crochet Today TV show.

Samples on display at the Knit Out 2009.

My Mom Audrey and Steven, owner of the Yarn Garage.

Knitting with beads = beautiful!

Cis from 3 Kittens Needle Arts, at their booth at the Knit Out.

My mom Audrey and I at the Knit Out and Crochet 2009 event.

Mom is wearing a knit sweater she made for herself with wool from a Canadian yarn shop. Mom and I (along with Aunt Ruth) drove up to Canada back in 1979 to get the wool and the pattern, and the sweater is still in style in my opinion! I'm wearing my Knotty Cable Cardi crocheted in Lion Brand Homespun. We had a great day together, the event was great!

Knit Out and Crochet 2009 - Day 1 Fashion Show

I just got back from the Knit Out and Crochet Event 2009 where my Mom and I spent the day at the mall, went to every booth, saw a bunch of friends, made a bunch of new friends, and had an all around excellent time. Below are......

Fashion Show highlights from the Knit Out 2009 at
the Mall of America in Minnesota.

Shell Stitch Scarf Pattern

Shell Stitch Scarf Pattern (revisited!)

I had created a Fan Stitch Scarf pattern a few years ago that needed some re-fining, this pattern is super easy, in the pictures below the pattern you'll see I created 3 scarves using this pattern but not the same yarn weight and hook, check it out.

I love the shell stitch, I love soft yarn too, combine the two and I'm ready for winter. Below I have the details.

The cream colored scarf is worked with Mirasol Sulka yarn and an K-10 1/2 (6.5 mm) crochet hook.

The scarf in the middle I created using Twinkle Handknits Kid Mohair in Carnation (16) with a E-4 (3.5 mm) crochet hook.

The red scarf is created using Lion Brand Suede in Scarlet using a K-10 1/2 (6.5 mm) crochet hook.

I combined the cream colored shell scarf and a beret I made a while back, there was light snow today in Minnesota, I think I'll get some use out of this real soon!

Thank for stopping by Knotty Generation!

Strapped for Bags, Vol. 1

I am so proud to announce that another e-booklet with fabulous crochet patterns from some of the best crochet minds, is available now. Straight From Today's Designers has completed another pattern booklet, this one is all about hand bags (this is volume 1, look for volume 2 and 3 in the future!)

BUY THE E-BOOK NOW!

• Carrie A. Sullivan - Casual Mosaic Shoulder Bag
• Christy McMahon - Felted Fringe Purse
• Gwen Blakley-Kinsler - DIY Art Crochet Purse
• Margaret Hubert – Bow Tie Bag
• Myra Wood – Eco/Shopping StashBag
• Noreen Crone-Findlay - Filet Crochet Dancing Lady Market Bag
• Pam Gillette – Suede Bag

Strapped for cash? Need a new handbag? We have the solution for you. 7 fun and stylish crocheted handbag patterns straight from today’s designers into your inbox for $10.00!

• 16 pages with color pictures, schematics, charts, and tutorials
• 3.5MB file size
• Opens in Adobe Acrobat 7.0 or later

I worked with crafting suede, a leather hole punch, and created an interesting combination where you can use your crafting skills along with your crochet skills. Below is a picture of my hand bag for this e-booklet, The Suede Bag. I've played with crafting suede and crocheting around it for a few years now, then I'd put it aside, work on another one of the many WIPs. Then suddenly find it again, and think ..."wow, I've got to do something with this!" So finally, a place where this technique can be utilized! Check out the bags, the crochet designers, and check back for the next 2 volumes of the Strapped for Bags series from Straight From Today's Designers.

Falling off the face of the earth

Oh gosh, no I didn't actually but in some way, kinda.

This summer I've focused on the family, especially my kids. My crochet design career has taken a backseat, with no regrets. I've spent every single day with my kids, we've had breakfast, lunch and most dinners outside, we swam in our pool everyday until we were water logged. We played with every friend in the neighborhood, twice. We went camping, we flew in an airplane and went to the ocean. We took long bike rides, we played in the fort, we painted cool pictures with watercolors, we practiced addition, subtraction, worked on division and learned more about our solar system.

I will update you a bit about what I've been up to with yarn (and wood!) I crocheted several purses and little cosmetic bags, I crocheted a shrug, a tank top, I did towel toppers, (yep the old fashion kind!) I crocheted a little teddy bear, a few washcloths, a few scarves, several baby booties, and a couple baby cardigans. Not one item was for a magazine, book, or for sale, I totally crocheted the last 2 months for gifts and for myself. EXCEPT 1 purse, that is for an upcoming e-booklet from Straight From Today's Designers. (I'll post more info on that when the time comes.)

OK, back in June, I was "tagged" by Vashti , sorry it has taken me so long, please forgive me! Here is my quicky version:
- 10 years ago: I was working in the software industry as a software quality analyst, I was getting married, crocheting as a hobby.
- On my non-work to do list: Read more, try yoga, contact old friends.
- Snacks I enjoy: Chocolate, cheese & crackers, olives, and wine.
- If I were a billionaire: This could be too long to list, but basically I'd go shopping.
- Places I've lived: Southern Minnesota, Southern California, Central Minnesota.
- Jobs I've had: Museum tour guide in my home town, skating rink supervisor, film projectionist at a movie theater, maid at a motel, bartender, music store clerk, waitress at a fancy nightclub, register's office in college, software quality analyst, crochet designer and crochet teacher.

Wow, trip down memory lane, that was fun, thanks Vashti! Now on to some highlights of what I've done this summer.

I have a friend who just had twin girls, I crocheted these matching little cardigans. I'm working on this pattern, it is all written, I'm testing it, tweaking the shell stitch increase and so hoping to get this out this summer, but somehow summer vacations, kids playdates, and life in general has gotten in the way! Someday....

I recently added to my stash! I LOVE these colors, I'm thinking of working on the long overdue pattern for my circular stash bustin coat. Long list of to dos and wanna do....

I made myself a crochet hook! This is by no means a new hobby, I just had to do it once.

***this photo added Aug. 14*** This is my new crocheted towel topper, a few of us in my crochet class wanted to make these and they all turned out great!

Life is flying by, my kids are growing up so fast, my oldest is going into 2nd grade, my youngest is going to start kindergarten, I'm looking to go back to work in the software industry and will only do crochet design when I can, so big changes for me.

I'll try not to be such a stranger here. As always, thanks for stopping by Knotty Generation. -Pam

Straight from Today's Designers

I'm thrilled to be involved in this, below the press release says it all.

NEW DESIGNER PUBLISHING GROUP ANNOUNCES INNOVATIVE FIRST RELEASE:
CROCHET BELTS FROM THE HIP: Raw, Uncensored Designs Straight From Today’s Designer

STRAIGHT FROM TODAY’S DESIGNERS (SFTD), a designer-based self-publishing group, announces a new venture that heralds the future of crochet patterns: designers going direct to their public. With its first release entitled “Crochet Belts from the Hip: Raw, Uncensored Designs Straight From Today’s Designers,SFTD offers eighteen original belts from top designers–a veritable treasure trove of wearable art and innovative stitching. The thirty-four-page booklet is available for instant download from www.SFTDonline.com.

The list of participants includes some of the best-loved names in contemporary crochet, as well as talented up-and-coming designers. In alphabetical order, along with their projects, they are:

Amie O'Neil Houck-Chain Ripple Belt
Angela Best - Beaded Lacy Sash
Gwen Blakely Kinsler - Yummy Licorice Belt
Vashti Braha - Barbed Wire Belt
Robyn Chachula - Bubble Sash
Doris Chan - Hip Hemp Belt
Noreen Crone-Findlay - Autumn Leaves Belt
Pam Gillette - Waist Cincher Belt
Lisa Gentry - Beaded Hip Cable Belt
Kim Guzman - a-Maizing Ribbed Belt
Mary Jane Hall - Feminine Lace Belt
Tammy Hildebrand - Easy Beaded Belt
Margaret Hubert - Freeform Belt
Christy McMahon - Lilac Waves Belt
Marty Miller - Spiderweb Sash
Dianne Moyer - Circle on Circle Belt
Dora Ohrenstein - Popcorn Medallion Belt
Carrie A. Sullivan - Pretty Tunisian Knit Stitch Belt
Mary Beth Temple - The Felt Belt

Belts were the project of choice for this launch, as they are a must-have accessory, quick projects with no complex shaping, and ideal for experimenting with new yarns and techniques. The beautiful designs in Crochet Belts from the Hip use a variety of techniques, including freeform crochet, felting, lace, beading, cables, Tunisian crochet, surface embellishment, motifs, and much more. Yarn choices range from perennial favorites to the adventurous, such as hemp, jelly yarn, ribbon and wire.

Each designer writes “straight from the hip,” creating instructions in her own voice, free of editorial agendas, imposed formats or word count restrictions. The personality of each designer shines through in these pages, providing a unique opportunity for crocheters to get to know their favorite designers better.

SFTD is a new model representing the wave of the future in crochet publishing: designers making their own assessment of what crocheters will enjoy making and wearing, eliminating middlemen, and cutting costs by distributing patterns via the web. This new business model also allows designers to realize sales income directly, a promising alternative to the depressed design fees paid within the industry. The savvy designers behind SFTD have combined their considerable expertise in technology, graphic design, marketing, and packaging to bring the project to fruition. Layout and graphic design of the booklet is by crochet designer Amie Hirtes.

Purchasers can buy Crochet Belts from Hip by credit card at www.SFTDonline.com for the price of $15.

Embellished Bracelet Purses

I wanted to show you how easy it is to take a basic pattern and make it uniquely yours.

Pattern: My Hot Pink Bracelet Purse pattern (free here on Knotty Generation)
Yarn: scraps!
Hook: H-8 (5mm)
Embellishments: Pink Purse has black suede I-cording, the Cream Purse has cowrie shells sewn on, the Black Purse has a purple silk ribbon woven in.
This bottom one was a favorite to create, I added this flower with surface crochet, it pops out off the crochet fabric, has a 3-d look, with great texture.

Thanks for stopping by!

Baby Cardigans

My Mom has saved buttons for years, so when I need buttons I don't go to the fabric store, I call Mom! I had unlimited access to my mother's button collection, mind you this was only her white button collection, I have had access to the black button collection and the colored button collection, they are all very impressive!

I ended up picking some solid white buttons for the pink cardigan and creamy buttons for the cream color cardigan, but I'm hesitant to put buttons on baby items, I'm thinking of doing a little tie front or make bobble buttons instead.



This pattern was so fun to design, I'm still testing the pattern, working out which neck line I like better and sizing it. Crocheting baby items are so satisfying because you can completed them quickly. I liked this cute cardigan style so much I'm making an adult size of this, I'll fill you in on that later!

Thanks for stopping by Knotty Generation.

Project Little Lambs

3 Kittens Needle Arts has sponsored Project Little Lambs, which is sponsored by Cornerstone, whose mission is to prevent domestic abuse by providing services to adults and children that help build sustainable self-reliance and revive the human spirit in the face of domestic violence.

3 Kittens set a goal of 50 baby blankets by Aug. 1st.
Below is my first contribution.

It took me awhile to get this going, I reviewed my stash, I collect yarn that met the washable criteria, after looking at what I selected I was sure that these colors would not go together. But after starting a very simple repeating ripple, changing colors every 2 rows, I was pleasantly surprised. I love how this turned out. There is some pink Ella Rae Amity, orange Bernat Satin, a little bit of teal and lime green Caron’s Simply Soft, peach Reynolds’s Utopia and other yarn that I have no idea where its from or what it is. (I'm lucky to have inherited some yarn recently.) Then after I was done, I found a lonesome tiny ball of fluffy white yarn which added the perfect boarder (with only an inch to spare!)

My little 'ripple rainbow', hopefully it will provide a little comfort to someone in need.

Cropped Boucle Cardi

Cropped Boucle Cardi

Pattern: My own, designed just for me. I used the repeating pattern from my Spring Scarf. I made stripes of repeating pattern then whip stitched them together, it is very boxy but has great drape because of the big hook.
Details: Peter Pan collar, 3/4 length sleeves, front tie at bust line, cropped at waist.
Stitches Used: ch, sc, dc, tc
Yarn: Bernat Boucle
Hook: K-10 1/2 (6.5mm)

Who said brown and black can't go together? Well in the latest issue of In Style magazine, they clearly stated that fashion rule can be broken!

Lacy Mohair Shawl is done!

My Lacy Mohair Shawl is done! I used 2.5 skeins of Twinkles Kid Mohair in #16 Carnation, and a G-6 (4mm) crochet hook. This shawl is light as a feather, barely weighs an ounce, perfect for a little white sun dress.

It is long enough to be tied in the front.

Or it can be draped over one shoulder.

I had to hold it up to the light so you could see the airy stitch!

The length is fingertip to fingertip.

I have noticed a lacy shawl trend, both knit and crochet. Have you made a lacy shawl? Do you have a favorite shawl pattern? I loosely followed a pattern called Seraphina.

Basic Black Tank Top

Basic Black Tank Top

Pattern: My own, designed just for me
Stitches Used: Seed Stitch Body and Shell Yoke
Yarn: Caron's Simply Soft
Hook: H-8 (5mm)

This basic tank is going to be my favorite when the weather gets warmer, the yarn is soft, the length is "just right" not too short and not too long. The shell neckline is delicate but not too frilly for me. The straps are slightly thick (to hid stray bra straps.) I was tempted to make a little cap sleeve but stayed with a tank design.

Lacy Mohair Shawl

The Quest for a Lacy Mohair Shawl - Part 1

On Wednesday nights I host the Crochet Studio at 3 Kittens Needle Arts in St. Paul. We have a great group of ladies with various skill levels and various projects going on all the time. There were a few who really wanted to crochet a lacy mohair shawl. We searched for pattern but couldn't find the "right one". The search continues; here I'm using Twinkle Handknits Kid Mohair with a G-6 (4mm) crochet hook, shells stitches, a few double crochets, a chain here and there, and that is about it. I loosely followed a shawl pattern called Seraphina.

I love Twinkle's Kid Mohair, it is soooo soft but terrible to rip, so I suggest you make sure you know exactly what you're doing before you begin. In this case, I knew I want to make this shawl so I was confident in starting it. I have a tendency to crochet, rip, repeat!

This is my first lacy mohair shawl, I've gone from chunky yarn and my P hook, to this, and honestly I love all crochet; big hook, small hook, chunky yarn to mohair, its all good.

Tank Tops and friends

Today is April 11th and we are getting snow in Minnesota today, BUT I'm thinking of spring and summer designs. I swatched and ripped, then crocheted the whole tank top and then ripped again, ahrrr....(knit and crochet designers does this sound familiar?!)

The bottom Round Neck Tank Top looks too close to another design by another designer, so I ripped it. Then I played with the Square Neck Tank, with a key hole center. But hey, I'm getting smart, I didn't weave in the ends yet, I might rip again!

Square Neck Tank with Key Hole Center

Round Neck Tank Top

Here is Karen (one of crochet students at 3 Kittens)
and her fab scarf, you can't see the bottom design but it is beautiful!

The Fantastic Ms. Kay and her lovely version of my Fuchsia and Blues Jacket that was in the winter issue of Interweave Crochet Magazine. Ms. Kay works at my son's pre-school, she knits, crochets, and is constantly in a good mood!

Thanks for stopping by the Knotty Generation!

Spring Scarf Pattern

Noro Silk Garden Lite

I love Noro Silk Garden Lite, I purchased a ball from my LYS for swatching purposes, I have an idea for a garment design, so the sketch pad is out, the perfect yarn is at my fingertips, and I swatch and swatch, and then rip, and swatch and rip and swatch and rip.

I ended up crocheting this scarf after my swatches didn't match my design idea, so it is back to the drawing board. But hey, at least I'll have a super cool spring scarf!

Have you ever knit or crocheted with Noro Silk Garden Lite? The colors are stunning!