Which is Easier? Crochet or Knit?

Being one of the top AOL Editor's Picks for the week has introduced many to my Journal that may otherwise never have found it.  I have been very happy with all the positive comments left in my Journal, and have enjoyed all the emails as well.

So I thought, as I plan on camping in front of my TV for the next day getting updates on Hurricane Frances and abandoning my PC, that I'd answer a question that was posted by Nettie, who's journal, JerseyGirl, ranked #1 this week:

She asked: "I used to crochet when I was younger........but would have no idea how to even start now.........I completely forgot how to do it!  Is crocheting more difficult or knitting?"

Nettie,  I'm delighted that you visited with me and asked this question.  I do want to confess that I am very biased; I am devoted to crochet.  So of course I'm going to say that crochet is easier.

Now lets see if I can back up my bias with some facts:
     * Crochet is done with one hook instead of two needles
     * Crochet is done one stitch at a time
     * Crochet can change directions, patterns, size with ease at any time one wishes it to
     * Crochet is more forgiving when mistakes are made ... one can "fudge" or rip out work and rebuild easier
     * There are more books, videos, websites out on this topic now than there has ever been in the past

And based on the review of Melissa Leapman's new book, "Cozy Crochet" that will soon be released, the ratio of crocheters to knitters is 3 to 1.  And I think with numbers like that, it says a lot about crochet's ease to learn.

So, if you're just learning, or want to get back into crochet, there are ways to learn.  If you want to go it alone, and try to learn from a book, then you may be interested in reading my Journal Entry from August 27 (click here) where I discuss various book recommendations for the beginner.

Then, I suggest you visit websites such as:
... the Crochet Guild of America's (www.crochet.org) -- be sure to check out their table on turning chains!

... the Craft Yarn Council of America's (www.eachoneteachtwo.com) -- check out the learning graphics!

... the website known as StitchGuide (www.stitchguide.com) -- just click onto the crochet option and sit back and enjoy the little free video clips you can watch right on your PC!

If you want to learn from an instructor, then I suggest you start with a search on the Internet ... using words such as "Crochet Teacher Classes" or "Crochet Instructor Classes" and adding the state you live in (Crochet Teacher Classes Connecticut) should net you results of finding classes in your area.  If there are no hits for your area, check with your local yarn & craft shops, religious institutions, YMCA's, and libraries.  There's usually someone around that knows the basics of crochet.

Finally, Coats & Clark has a CD Rom you can purchase called "Crochet Made Easy" -- it can be found in some craft stores, and at times on ebay.

And for those that are following Hurricane Frances, you may want to check out this link that shows the latest satellite images: http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/TROP/DATA/RT/float2-ir4-loop.html; I'll be watching the areas of Melbourne, St. Augustine, and Jacksonville where I have family.

Color in our Lives

For most of us, color is a major part of our lives.  Our holidays are marked with colors, such as Red and White for Valentines, Orange and Black for Halloween, and Green and Red for Christmas, and experts tell us how color effects our appetites (the color blue helps suppress hunger).

Regardless, we all have our favorite colors and we usually stick to them when we decorate our homes, our wardrobes, even the automobiles we drive, and especially when we crochet something for ourselves.

Me? I'm the queen of plain. I tend to like neutral colors like cream ... but I like details. The more detailed and neutral the color, the happier I seem to be.

But I've noticed something in the past couple of years ... I'm being driven to purple.  Purple!  Purple!  Purple! 

Now there's absolutely nothing wrong with purple.  In fact, I'm told that purple is the new 'black' and everyone should have purple in their wardrobe.  But what's driving me to it?  Why not green, blue, orange, or yellow?  They're great colors too, right?

Well, apparently, I've found my answer through colorstrology.  It appears that Lilac is my birth color, and since lilac is part of the purple family, it's all now starting to make sense.  When I visited the website www.colorstrology.com and looked up my birth month, it stated "...for the month of February [your color is] Sheer Lilac.  Inspiring and imaginative, this color invokes the qualities of humanity and kindness."  There's more to it, and it goes on to also say that I should wear it to "...enhance [my] spirituality and compassion."

So the next time you see a lady passionately ogling over purple fibers in your local yarn shop, don't worry.  It might be me plugging into my spirituality, and I'll be compassionate enough to leave a few skeins behind.  J

Hooks for a Cause

In the Special Edition magazine I wrote about yesterday, Interweave Knit's Crochet issue, there's a section that discusses Crochet Hooks from the past (page 11) which I found very interesting. But it's a small blurb to the right, on page 10, that raised the eye brow of potentiality ... meaning, potentially there is an opportunity to add another hook, two, or three to my growing collection!

Crochet hooks can be made of nearly any material ... as long as the tip has a notch for grabbing yarn/thread and pulling it through loops already waiting on the hook, and as long as the user can be effective with it, then it counts. In my collection, I have them of various ages, of various metals, acrylics, woods -- even glass.

So what does this have to do with the blurb I saw in the magazine? It's what I call an "awareness" blurb -- where there are hooks that although are unsized, they're hand carved (BEAUTIFULLY, if I might add) that are being sold to help encourage women's economic independence in Nepal. And, for being hand carved, they're a steal listed at just $16.95 each. You can see these hooks listed on the website at http://www.paradisefibers.com

Yes, I plan on making an order. I just have to decide on which hook(s) I'd like to add. (Since I have been such a good girl this year, perhaps I can persuade "Santa" that my stocking would really appreciate being stuffed with these hooks that are for a good cause. I mean, if we really think about it, the holiday season is only about 16 weeks away, and that's plenty of time to place an order & await for shipping, right? LOL)

So, the next question is, do I use all the hooks in my collection? I do, almost. When I get new hooks, and this includes antiques, I do take them on a test drive by working up a small sampler square. I make a mental note if the hook works with my crochet technique. If it does, then I do use it again. If it doesn't, then it gets set aside to one day be mounted & framed.

My favorite hooks are those made of wood, with some girth to them. This is because my crochet technique has me rolling the hook between my fingers, rather than having my wrist doing all the rolling motion. If the hook is too skinny, or has a flat thumb/finger rest, then I can't crochet comfortably. My favorite hooks thus far are those known as Graydog (you can find them listed on the auction site known as ebay) as they balance in my hand beautifully; even those of which that are jeweled (go to my "Crochet In the News" webpage on my website and you can see one of my jeweled hooks).

The best advice I can offer, is that you try every hook you come across and make your own mental notes. What works for me, may not work for you. It's a preference thing, and it's worth the time to find what tools work best for you. And who knows, maybe you'll get hooked on collecting crochet hooks too. J

Magazine Review: Interweave Knits "Crochet" -- Special Edition

There has been, as I've discussed before in my Journal, a long time rivalry between crocheters and knitters. I've never understood it, but I have felt the cold shoulder from some that believe that only knit is worthy of one's time and fiber, and that crochet is only for those on a shoestring budget.  That generalization can't be further from the truth!

As I understand it from the CGOA's Professional Group, at the National NeedleArts Association (known as the TNNA -- of which I'm also a member of), they had a Fashion Show showing both knit and crochet garments ... and it was the crocheted garments that stole the show.

I witnessed this myself when I was at the CGOA's National Conference this past July, I attended a Breakfast Fashion Show which also featured both knit and crochet -- and my own personal observation was that flash bulbs went off far more times for the crocheted fashions than those of which were knitted. (to see images of the fashions, please go to "view older entries" option in my Jounal and go to the month of July)

This being said, Interweave, a company known for producing books and magazines of various gorgeous art forms, opted to take it's KNIT magazine and do a special issue on Crochet.  It officially hits the retail market on September 7th, so this is like a sneak-peak preview...

Pam Allen, the editor of this issue, states as she describes about her staff learning about crochet, "As we discovered more about the history and innovative uses of crochet, it became clear that we were only sampling a smidgen of what crochet has to offer." (Welcome aboard, Pam; we've been waiting for you!)

This special issue is packed not only with patterns by top notch designers for items from sweaters, hats and bikinis for children (and more!), but also various articles that are interesting ... such as Lily Chin's on growing up as a Crocheter, and Bethany Lyttle's on tapestry crochet.

I'm also impressed that they put time into the little details ... and by this I mean the advertising! The advertisements are just as yummy -- and they reflect crochet from page, to page, to page!

Now, since I have a copy, and since you probably want one now, lets get into where you can get one too.  I've seen online groups discussing that our local Barnes & Noble have it; and since Borders carries the normal Knit version, they may have it too.  Your best bet is to call your local Yarn Shop (not the craft stores, but the YARN ones since this is what they specialize in).  If you're local to me, I understand that the store in Bethel, CT, known as "A Stitch in Time" has them in.

If you cannot get it locally, then you may want to order it directly from Interweave themselves. But be warned, the shipping is a bit hefty ($4.50 for the first issue, $0.50 for each additional). You can learn more about this magazine by visiting their website (clicking onto the magazine image above will take you to Interweave's website).

But remember, if you want to subscribe to their magazines such as Handwoven, Beadwork, Interweave Knits, Piecework (I subscribe to this & love it!), Natural Home, or Spin Off (I also subscribe to this one too), then you may want to order through BlueDolphin and save yourself some bucks. 

So what happens now?  Will they produce another issue?  I don't know.  The best thing we can do is to write them and let them know our thoughts.  As I understand it from the CGOA's Professional Day at the National Conference, they need our feedback ... constructive criticism and raves all help shape future publications. J

More Luck

As luck would have it, compaired to yesterday, Lady Luck is sitting with me today. :)

My husband's car started; I got the kids to school on time; I received the issues of Interweave Knit's special Crochet edition I ordered for my Crochet Club (I'll do a review on it tomorrow); and there was no waiting in the Doctor's office when I went for my physical therapy today.  (I got to go right in! )

Then I see that I made it as #3 on the Editor's Journal Picks...

So, as long as Lady Luck is sitting with me, I decided to go to ABC's website and print out the form for an Extreme Home Makeover ... hopefully as I take pictures of my home to submit with the application, they'll realize that my yarn stash is also used as "extra insulation"...

As luck would have it...

Ever get the feeling you've been everywhere, but nowhere in particular?  That's me today! 

This morning my husband's car broke down, and it was also our children's first day of school.  It was also our day for "Coffee, Crochet & Chat" at our local book store in Brookfield ... eye ya-ya-yie!  If only I had a super hero cape!!

I got the kids up, got them dressed, shoved everyone into the vehicle and zipped hubby off to work; then we dashed back home and as the kids finished getting ready for school I did my journal entry for today and printed out one of the upcoming class schedules to turn in.  With no time for a shower, we flew to the school just in the nick of time -- snap, snap -- got two quick pictures and chased them into the school to ensure they were on time.  Then I raced back home, jumped in the shower; ignored the constantly ringing telephone; dressed; grabbed my crochet project and was back out the door in 15 minutes flat.  Twenty minutes later I smiled as I saw my best friend, Patti -- gosh, I've missed her!  She joined us for our Coffee, Crochet & Chat session ... and then just as I was ready to go order some Carrot Cake for breakfast, Ruth, who was also there, said, "Hey Dee, knowing how your morning went, I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't have any."

Jinx.

They didn't.  (Arg!)  So I settled for a banana nut muffin and sat and enjoyed the slow pace of great conversation & crochet ... ah!

Afterwards, I went back to the school to get my wee-ones and off we headed to Dunkin Donuts to get their "First Day Back To School Celebratory Donuts" ...

Now, if you've been paying attention to my story, then you'd know that something "badish" would happen ...

And it did.  Dunkin Donuts was closed for renovations.

And if you've really been paying attention, then you'd know that something "goodish" would happen.

And it did.  Starbucks was open.  We went in and found a Mom from the school with her kids.  We got "Celebratory Cookies" and sat outside and had a nice chat.  Then we headed home ...

And the children declared, "We have no homework!! Yea!!!"

Please, a moment of silence as you know the "badish" is coming ...

Yes, the children have homework for me.  They took out about 500 pounds of text books that "need to be covered with X, Y, or Z" and two reams of paper marked "forms needing to be filled out and returned by tomorrow."  And I read the "homework paper" for the rest of the week ... apparently, I'll be assigned more homework for the next two nights.  Eish!

I can't allow this to cut into my crochet time tonight, especially since I've still got to fly across town and pick my husband up from work ... so I've decided that I'll fill out one set of papers, put the duplicate ones for my other child into the printer and "copy" them!!  (Whoo hoo!)

Now as I sit here all proud of myself for coming up with some sort of solution, I receive an email from AOL (don't worry, it's good news) ... apparently they like my journal and have opted to feature it on their Hobby page.  This means, right now -- I'm featured on two of their pages (Keyword: Books  and  Keyword: Hobby) ... you gotta love that!  :)

And it seems, right at this moment, I just received another notification from AOL ... and you guessed it ... they want to highlight my Journal as  one of their "Editor's Weekly Picks" (keyword: journal) ...

So, apparently, I am everywhere, and still have the time to do what I enjoy most ... enjoying my family & friends while getting in some stitches now & then.

Book Review: Freeform Knitting and Crochet

There's a new book that's hot off the press called, "Freeform Knitting and Crochet" by Jenny Dowde, and I have a copy in my hot, little hands!  Let the drooling begin!

  For several weeks, members of the online freeform group have done nothing but rave about this book.  And so, I decided I needed to get it and check it out myself, and I'm glad it did.  It arrived in yesterday's mail ... I'm astonished that B&N got it to me so fast!  Whoo Hoo!  

If you're not familiar with what freeform is, then let this be your formal introduction.  Journal Reader, meet freeform.  Freeform, meet my Journal Readers.  There, now that that's out of the way, it's time to learn a bit of what freeform is so we can get back to this new book I'm enjoying...  

 Freeform is also known as scrumbling ... in a nutshell, it's a method of taking your fiber and breaking all the rules.  You can mix your colors, your stitches, your fibers, and your directions to create truly unique pieces of art.  James Walters & Silva Cosh are the "God Parents" or "Grand Parents" of the freeform movement that began many years ago; only now is it catching on like wildfire.   

Jenny's book pays tribute to Margaret Hubert (www.margarethubertoriginals.com) -- who happens to be one of the ladies that helped introduce me to this concept. The other lady, my first impression of freeform, was through Prudence Mapstone (www.notjustknitting.com) when she visited NYC a few years ago.  

So, now, here I sit, leafing through this book and I can see it's going to be a long-term love affair.  Jenny discusses what it means to "scrumble," discusses the basics of color theory (which is a huge section of the book!), and offers "instructions" on various projects to get you started.  There's a list of suggested reading, and a page dedicated to sources -- how delightful!  

 If you're looking to learn new things about crochet too, then you may want to consider adding this book to your personal library too. (for more information, you can click onto the image & it will take you to the B&N website where I do most of my book shopping).  I know I'm going to enjoy this book for years to come.