Why I Teach

This is the hexagon baby jacket a friend of mine made, starting in last Sunday's class.
 
Finished and gorgeous. Love, love, love seeing student FO's.

Proud Teacher

I love teaching others to crochet - and I really love when they have FO's to show off. I taught my niece Breanne to crochet several years ago. She did a couple of things and then put it away. I thought she'd given it up until yesterday when I received this photo - That's Garrett, holding the shawl Breanne crocheted for his mother. I'm so proud. Didn't she do good?

About a year ago I taught a shawl class based on a pineapple doily pattern. It was a complicated project and most in the class never finished their wrap. But last Tuesday, one student brought in her completed shawl. It's hard to tell in these pix, but the yarn - Blue Heron's Metallic Rayon - has a subtle sparkle. And Laura's *very* tight gauge worked really well with this yarn. I thought the colors would be too busy with this pattern. Wrong. It's drop-dead gorgeous and has a soft, flattering drape. I offered to block this for Laura, since she doesn't have a blocking board - and since it gave me a chance to get a couple of photos to show off. My self-appointed assistant, Lily - ended up getting booted and locked out of my studio shortly after this. Seems someone likes pulling out the t-pins I use to hold the shawl in place. And then chasing them around the room. Yeah, just what I need - sharp pointy objects hiding in the carpet.Someone is quite a pain in the b*** for being so cute.

Shawl Class

The second Pineapple Shawl class went well Tuesday night, although nobody is even close to being finished. We're having a third session in December, hoping to get through the final third of the pattern.It always amazes me - it's one of my favorite things about teaching - to see how items from the same pattern can be so different. Sometimes I like it, sometimes not; and occasionally I'm almost green with envy and wish I'd thought of it first.

Which was the case Tuesday. I thought a solid color yarn was essential to this pattern; too much color, not to mention glints of metallic, would conflict with the intricate pattern.

Wrong.
One of the ladies did her shawl in Blue Heron's Rayon Metallic in a blue/green and I'm in awe. Stunningly gorgeous.

D**n it. Now I'm going to have to make another one of these.

Tour de France KAL

After all the fun I had last year, I decided to join this year's Tour de France Knit-Along (Go Team CSC!) and was fortunate to get in before all the spots were taken. I'm competing for the Polka Dot Jersey aka King of the Mountain. The goal is to choose a challenging project to work on during the tour - and that can include challenging yourself to finish an FO or two.

Goal #1 - completing the 'Craving for Cables' sweater, aka Dusty Miller, by the July 18 deadline to enter it in the Fair. The back and both front panels are done; I just need to crochet the sleeves and put the whole thing together.

Goal #2 - ply the Gotland singles I spun and crochet a shawl. To make it more challenging, I'll probably Navajo ply these. I love the technique but I'm not all that comfortable with it. By the time I'm through plying a pound of Gotland, I'll either be comfortable or suicidal. Not sure what pattern I'll use for the shawl. The Perfect Spring Shawl would be fast but been there, done that (a bunch of times.) I'd like to find something more challenging, but with the same deadline as the sweater, I may go with fast and pretty rather than challenging and 'not sure how it will look'.

Goal #3 - since the Tour will still be running after the Fair deadline, I'm hoping to make a knit sweater for Matt and Chris's baby girl (current top name choice - Leia Kalisa. Kalisa is a combination of the grandma's names - Kathy and Elisa. I love it.) Baby's not due until August 20, but the shower is July 27 . . . I'm not betting I'll have it finished by then, but hopefully by August.

And before all that, I need to finish the next three squares for the crochet block-a-month class I'm teaching. July is entrelac - August is a starburst stitch - and September? Probably using math to determine stripes from the class I took at TNNA. I'm mathaphobic, but that was interesting and fun.

The squares will go together in an afghan for Dick. Maybe a contender for next year's fair??

CBAM

I've probably mentioned it before, but I love teaching crochet classes and my favorite of all is the crochet block-a-month class. It's a small group of fairly new crocheters and it's exciting for me when they "get" a new technique.

Rather than teaching 'pretty' squares like last year, I'm concentrating on techniques and stitches that can be used in other things. Like sweaters. Or shawls. Or anything else they want to make. Sort of like Crochet 102.

This month's block was pretty complex - the Celtic braid square.(This is the smaller test version I'm using for my afghan. The class project was bigger, with crossed cables on each side.)

For next month, I want to do something a little easier, so I'm basing the square on a stitch pattern I found in a vintage magazine - I'm calling it the Starry Eyes Square. Can you see the eye in each little star?It's pretty, it's unusual and it's easy. The perfect combination.

FO!

I finished weaving in the ends on this project while watching the Super Bowl. This is the store sample for the entrelac scarf crochet class I'm teaching in April. The interlocking diamonds are worked length-wise using a variation of Tunisian crochet. Once you get the hang of it, it's a fairly simple, fun process. I love that the blocks look almost woven. The project is feltable - I used Cascade 220 and Noro Kureyon wool yarns - but I wasn't sure if I wanted my scarf felted or not. I'd like to show my students an example of 'before' - unfelted - and 'after' - felted - and give them an idea of how much shrinkage to expect, so I made a small sample 15.5" long by 5.25" wide and gently felted it in the washing machine, checking every 2 minutes until it lost most of the stitch definition but was still pliable. The resulting sample is now 14" long by 4" wide. I like the felted texture but I'm still undecided on whether or not to felt the big scarf. I think I'll wear it awhile - at least until after the class - and then decide.

This was my first entrelac project and I like the process so much, I've started a baby afghan for little Miss Anna Michelle, who's due in mid-March. It will give me something to do on the plane to Colorado next Thursday and I'm using up stashed yarns. Bonus!

C-BAM

The next round of crochet block-a-month classes begin in February. This year, rather than teach 'pretty' squares (flowers and such), I want to concentrate on stitches and patterns that can be used in other projects - like cables and bobbles and shells (oh my!)

It's hard to see in these photos, but the first block is a honeycomb pattern using front and back-post cables. I think the second month will be this 4-point diagonal square, a variation of the stitch I learned in class at TNNA. Last up is a Celtic knot pattern. This one's tricky but so pretty I couldn't pass it up.
Tech specs: Yarn is Cascade 220 Heathers with an "H" hook.

Classes

The winter schedule for my favorite yarn store should be out shortly and I'm teaching four classes, the monthly CBAM (crochet block-a-month), plus two rounds of beginning crochet. I love teaching beginners - get 'em early, addict 'em fast!

Snow Bobble Hat - Tuesday, January 8, 6-9 pm
Planning a trip to snow country – or to the blustery beach in January? This cute hat will keep head and ears toasty warm. The pattern is for a child’s hat but is easily customized for adults. Working in the round, you’ll learn to make bobbles (much easier than in knitting!), crochet in the front and back loops, and more. For this class you need to know basic crochet stitches (slip stitch, chain, single and double crochet). Skill level: Advanced Beginner. (similar to the one pictured.)

Crocheted Socks - Tuesday, February 26 & March 4, 6-9 pm
Take advantage of all the beautiful new sock yarns and join us for a crocheted sock class. These custom fit, in-your-shoe socks are crocheted in the round. You’ll learn about shaped toes, heels, gussets and more. With a few tricks and a little practice, we’ll have you making socks in no time. No prior sock making experience is necessary, but you need to know basic crochet stitches (slip stitch, chain, single and double crochet). Skill level: Advanced Beginner.

Entrelac Scarf – Tuesday, April 1, 6-9 pm
Crochet and entrelac - together? You bet! Entrelac is a technique used to create a diamond pattern resembling basket-woven strips of fabric. You’ll learn this easily mastered process while making a multi-colored scarf that can be felted if desired. Knowledge of Tunisian crochet is helpful but not required for the class. You need to know basic crochet stitches (slip stitch, chain, single and double crochet). Skill level: Advanced Beginner.

Perfect Spring Shawl – Tuesday, April 29, 6-9 pm
Be prepared for those chilly spring and summer evenings with this easy to crochet wrap. The Perfect Spring Shawl sits lightly on the shoulders and tapers slightly at the edges for a touch of elegance. The pattern is easily adjustable for a shawl that fits you perfectly. For this class you need to know basic crochet stitches (slip stitch, chain, single and double crochet). Skill level: Beginner.

Crochet Block-a-Month - 3rd Tuesday of each month, beginning January 15, 6-9 pm. We'll do a variety of squares, concentrating on cables and popcorns and bobbles, oh my!

Beginning Crochet
1 - Tuesday, January 22, 29, and February 5, 6-9 pm
2 - Saturday, February 16, 23, and March 1, 4-6 pm

I think I'm going to be busy!

FO's!

First up, the scarf I made from the silk/tencel yarn I bought at Morro Fleece Works during our mini-vacation. The best thing about this scarf is that I discovered I can crochet on road trips, as long as I don't have to be really precise in my hook placement. Give me a big, open pattern and time in the car just flies. The pattern is your basic "V" stitch; with the lumpy-bumpy nature of the yarn, it's really hard to see individual stitches. I still love the yarn but the further I got into the skein, the thicker and thicker the white silk strand became. I'm choosing to believe that was what the spinner intended . . . and not that this was their first effort. (a possibility)

This is the most accurate color.

I'm a bit behind in getting samples to the shop for my crochet block-a-month class. This is September's block, which I'll be teaching in less than 2 weeks. It's a thread crochet pattern from 1946 that I tweaked a little. I love how it looks. This one was made with Misti Alpaca Worsted (100% baby alpaca) in color #4388 (a plumy-purple) using an "H" hook.
And this is Addy's version in Bernat CottonTots 100% cotton, also with an "H" hook. The colors in this photo are really dark but it shows the pattern best, I think. I have 8 blocks done for Addy's blankie. I hope to get 4 more done and the blanket pieced together before she arrives on September 6. Anybody want to take that bet?

Beaded Purse

The class sample is done and in the shop. I designed this one from scratch - couldn't find a pattern anywhere that I liked or that taught the techniques I was looking for. I'm pretty pleased with the way it turned out. These are cr*ppy photos; I'll try to get a better one tomorrow during spin night.
And because I'm compulsive, I made a second sample with sparkly beads. I love this one. It's hard to see in this photo, but the white yarn has round white beads and the red yarn has really pretty red beads. This would make a great around-the-neck passport carrier or purse for essentials at Fourth of July events.

Tech specs: Sample 1 uses 1 hank sportweight Euroflax Linen in 'Sage', Size 6 beads, and an "E" hook. Sample 2 was made with 3 colors of Tahki-Stacy Charles 'Cotton Classic' 100% mercerized cotto in ‘3003’, ‘3488’ and ‘3870’, Size 6 beads, and an "E" hook.

Working On a New Project

I've finally put together a design I like for July's beaded crochet purse class. I couldn't find anything I liked - that would have been too easy - so I'm working on my own pattern. So far, I've ripped it out eleventy-seven times. I think - I hope - the eleventy-eighth time will be the charm. My goal is to take the finished sample to the shop when I go to my knitted lace class on Sunday. No pressure.

Remember the top I made to wear to Bre's graduation? The one that didn't fit me? A couple of people asked how it turned out . . . as you can see, it looks great on Wenona. Which is why it now lives in her closet. I have a bunch of that ribbon yarn left; I said I was going to make another top to fit me (the book only has one size) but I changed my mind. I'm probably going to make a shawl instead. I'll get a lot more use out of that, I think.

Crochet BAM

PAL Update: We took in $5886.94 yesterday! I think that's the best day-of-event total ever for raffle tix, silent auction prizes, the casino hole, putting contest, and - for the first time - a drinks cart. All the bills aren't yet paid so I don't know what our profit will be, but so far we've taken in over $41,000! Hooray!

Today's crochet block-a-month class is brought to you by the Crochet Dude. Drew was kind enough to give me permission to teach his Cat Tracks block. His only request was that I send him pictures afterward. So here you go, Dude - Cat Tracks! (My digicam battery died after the first shot so the others were taken with my cell phone.)