Heavens and Earth by Larkspur Studios

Heavens and Earth
Originally uploaded by Larkspur Studio

Wow this HOOKILICIOUS piece is by our CLF member LarkspurStudio!! Wowie!!

This nifty piece was made with sterling silver wire, and assorted cool beads..

Hook on my sister hook on!

mzundercover's Fish

fish1
Originally uploaded by mzundercover

Mzundercover you have been awarded the SET MY PICOT FREE AWARD for converting the pointy stick fishies into crochet masterpieces!

I can't wait to see the baby blanket!!

AWESOME!

Oh YES zeeblebee you have Set our PICOT FREE!

DSC00433
Originally uploaded by zeeblebee

A tea cozy? That's right! A tea cozy! Nothing beats having a functional and beautiful cozy to put around the pot o' tea!

Zeeblebee you have been awarded the SET MY PICOT FREE award!
Outstanding work!!!

Hookiliciousoso

fancykette01
Originally uploaded by babbelgum61

Wow! This is one BEAUTIFUL necklace!! Just gorgeous! Well done to our CLF member Heathergems!

WOWOWOWOWWOWOWEE!

Beautiful work, Madame! You have been awarded the HOOKILICIOUS award for artistry in CROCHET!

And Now For Something Completely Radical

My fellow crocheters, what I am about to write in this blog post is, indeed, controversial. It is also inflamitory. It is, also, my opinion. Before I make the wide, and sweeping statements I am about to make, I want you, the readers to understand something. I have considered this post very carefully, what to say, when and if I should say anything at all, how much and how harshly? I am a woman of principle, truly, I would rather say what is unpopular and true, than to lie and smile to get ahead. That is just me, however I am also no idealist, I am a pragmatist.

Those of you who have read my posts on our board on Ravelry, will have noticed that I am a proactive person. I am not one to whine, whimper and grumble unless I have a solution. So as you read this post, keep that in mind. This is not merely a rant; what is written today is the beginning of a solution.

My friends, fellow hooksters, crocheters, yarnies, designers and handworkers;

We have been bound by chains that do not serve us. There are those who claim that copying of patterns is what keeps those who design under employed and overworked. There are those who further complain that publishers are wanting in their choice for patterns. And there are those who claim that the yarn companies have used our skills, knowledge, and creativity with little in the way of compesation, while building profit upon our carpel tunnel syndrome, RSI, and arthritis.

I say, all of this is true. And yet, we as women (as the majority of those who design/crochet...and yes I recognise you males out there, you too deserve fair compensation) have allowed ourselves this very servitude. To paraphrase Ms. Eleanor Rooseveldt "No one can take your power from you, unless you allow it."

It is time that we stopped allowing this usurping of our due.

1. Pattern Theft: This must stop! Those of you who copy, or pass along patterns because you find them too expensive, understand this: You are stealing food from the mouths of those who design. It takes time, effort, and skill to make patterns.

As women we must support each other, not grumble over resources. If we are constantly fighting over the space, and resources, we divide ourselves, and allow the manipulation and poor wages that have historically kept us vulnerable. This is 21st century, it is time for a new way forward, a time to group together in support. When you purchase a pattern from someone, know that you can use it many times...It takes an inordinate amount of time to come up with patterns (consider all of the sizes involved!), it takes creativity, motivation, and skill! It costs money to produce the patterns!!

2. Publishers: It is time that you stopped only offering patterns for beginners, and wised up that there are those who want to see more, and do more. Listen to the message boards, ask people for what they want.

We recognize that you cannot make everyone happy in each issue, but we indeed call you out for more! We have begun to see articles on technique, and enhancement of skills, this is a good sign that you are moving forward. We salute such moves, and we beg that you accept meatier patterns, and find new ways to market yourself. We beg you to offer (as you have begun to do) more lucrative renumeration for those who create the designs that sell your publications.

3. To the Yarn Companies. Without patterns your yarn will not sell as well. You pay a pittance to those who use their bodies into a burdened state. This is not the 1950's, we are not little hausfrau's asking for egg money (nothing wrong with being a hausfrau, the term is being used to indicate an archaic and mysogynist attitude). We are professionals, we deserved to be paid as such. We deserve credit for our labors, just as lyricists and musicians gain credit for their work.

Finally to we the crocheters... I, too, once suffered from the delusion that crochet was "just something I did", I took for granted my skills thinking them beneath my many other skills that had paid the bills. After all they were just "domestic", and of "lesser value" than my ability to negotiate a million dollar contract, or to manage a team of 12 men in a warehouse, or keeping the inventory of 20 multinational corporations. That was until I studied the matter, and paused for thought. How is it of less importance?

It is our cultural heritage. It is not a sign of repression, of "lowly women's work", first of all women's work has never been lowly. How many of you work full time or part time outside of the home, but to return home to cook/clean & deal with children? Very few of our male counter parts have to endure such an exhaustive schedule. My great grandmother was of a repressed generation, she was denied higher education, she worked long hours cooking, washing and cleaning, long before the modern convieniences of life arrived on the scene. Crochet, knitting, and tatting (and reading) were her salvation from the average life of a woman. She delighted in her skills, they represented LEISURE time to her!

When I thought on these very ideas, my attitude changed. My husband never has looked down upon my handwork. Rather he is amazed that I can, "Take that fuzzy string and make into something useful, or pretty...it's like watching magic happen!" Those are his words...I used to laugh at his amazement, "How silly!" I mean, really I had learned as a child, it was child's play in my mind! That was years ago...today is a different story entirely. I realise that the hook my hands weild is a legacy. It is historic, it is skilled, and it is worth notice.

In what other industry can you have 20 or 30 or 40 years of experience and not be considered a professional worthy of a living wage?! Yet until we see own selves in such a light, nothing will happen. Nothing can change without our own perceptions evolving.

When you make something for a gift for someone else, a cardigan for your child, a hat for your head, you are doing something that has economic value. As much as cook, a plumber or mechanic.

See your value, see your worth! Demand your worth, demand your time and skill be respected, respect your fellows, purchase their work, offer to support their work. As long as we are scrambling for crumbs, we shall be the last served at a glorious banquet. It is time we sat firmly at the table, and enjoyed the whole 10 course meal.

It will not work if only one or two people become names, and raise the ladder, it will only work if we in all our varied glory from new crocheter to advanced, from pattern user to pattern tester, from editor to owner, clasp hands and hold firm.

It is time for a new economics, one built on support not divisiveness.

Nice rhetoric if you can get it? No, join me on Ravelry on the board...I've got a journey planned, and I want you to join me on this path. Maybe it will be a magic carpet ride, maybe it won't...we won't know if it works if we don't try!

Our next book seminar is Jan 30th 4pm PST (7pm EST) and the final will be on Feb. 9th at 2am PST (-8gmt) you don't have to be American, you don't have to be female, you don't have been published or not published...Join us...

We're going to change things...

What to do with Noro Scraps?!?

What to do with Noro Scraps?!?
Originally uploaded by karend325

Well this is what you do! Karend325 made this lovely vest with scraps...

Karend325 You have been awarded the SET MY PICOT FREE award!

Nice shaping! (And way to use the noodle!)

Lotus Bag

Lotus Bag
Originally uploaded by smr61754

This is absolutely HOOKILICIOUS!

Thanks to Sandyhook, another uber talented CLF member!

Wow...I love the relief work.

You have been awarded the Hookilicious award for outstanding beauty.

Amazing!

Ok minions! I'm flabbergasted, astonished, and well down right tickled pink!

I was just toot toot tootin' our horn less than three weeks ago for having 800 members? Well, dang, on Ravelry we have at this time (1/23 at 4:36pm PST) 902 members!!!

WOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWEEEEEEEEEEE!

That's more than a lot of email groups! That's cool.

What's even cooler, we have kept the tone, and flavor of our Rebellion...

Hooks Raised! CLF SALUTE!
(Get light sabres ready folks...we've got events coming up!!!)

"Marbles" Bracelet by ICrochet

"Marbles" Bracelet
Originally uploaded by Shade Tree Arts

This lovely wire and bead bracelet is a design by our very own ICrochet! You can find tout more about the pattern
in Ravelry, and more about the design on her blog http://www.shadetreearts.com/crochetblog/?p=80

ICrochet you have been awarded the Hookilicious award for crochet beauty!

Crocheters of the world UNITE

Ok folks, that's it... Where the heck ARE you! Come join us on Ravelry, we're out numbered, and out gunned...BUT the CLF is holding her own...

If you aren't on Ravelry, yet then sign up today! It's worth it, it's a brilliant website, wonderful folks, patterns, a place of whimsy and inspiration...plus you can join the CLF and join in on the mayhem on the CLF Headquarters message board...

I know you are wondering on whether or not I really am an Alien...the only way you will ever know for sure is if you JOIN Ravlery...

Hooks UP! CLF Salute!

Rose Garden

Rose Garden
Originally uploaded by Nangellini

Absolute FREE FORM loveliness!
Congratualtions to Nangellini a CLF member, and CROCHET FRIENDLY LYS owner!

You have been awarded the HOOKILICIOUS!! Award for outstanding crochet artistry!

I love this hat!

If you all get a chance to check out Nengellini's projects, you'll see how hard it is to choose just one to blog!

HOOKS RAISED! CLF SALUTE!

Fitted Beauty!

turquoise orchid just finished
Originally uploaded by pyogazel

This lovely piece was crocheted by CLF member Pyogazel. She modified the Orchid Top from Lily Go.

Take a look at her project notes on Ravelry!

Pyogazel, this is beautiful! Fantastically made, wonderfully fitted!

You are awarded the SET MY PICOT FREE!! Award for outstanding crochet skills!

Hooks raised! CLF SALUTE!

The Bobby Awards!

Wow! This is quite cool, some moderators on Ravelry got together and created the first official
"Bobby" Awards for outstanding achievements on Ravelry. From the funniest "Ugh" project to most educational crochet (and the pointy stick folk have a category too)...



The CLF and several of it's members have been honored by being nominated in many categories. I was going through the list and well, it was more than I could handle on dial up to get the whole list of people and categories on it!

I think we should all feel proud that so many CLF'ers are nominated in so many categories!

Don't forget to vote for our group! Both in the Best Name category and in the Banner!

CLF RULZ!

Angel Wings

angel_wings_2-1
Originally uploaded by indialucia

This beautiful new born baby dress was made by CLF member Indialucia!
The pattern is called Angel Wings by Maxine Gonser from Bev's Country Cottage.

Truly beautiful! Certainly award worthy!

It makes me wish I could write in Spanish to say how exquistie I feel this piece is (our dear member hails from Argentina!).

In French, I will say, "C'est manifique, tres douce, gentille, et fait bien!"

You have been awarded the Set My Picot Free! Award!

Dare to Create and Create Daringly...

This Sunday evening I was at my cousin's house, as we meet each week to have dinner, and play games. Since childhood she and I have often sat at table over a game of cards and tried to solve world problems.

This week the conversation turned to the Crochet Liberation Front. I am still amazed, and tickled pink about the reception of the idea. We discussed how we were both so annoyed at how most of the industries in this country have forgotten where their bread is buttered. Customer service is almost a thing of the past, supply has nothing to do with demand, and being empowered to dream the dream and live the dream is all but dead, if not buried.

As we were speaking on said topics, I pointed out how many people were willing to help produce the CLF First Ever Book, just to get something we all have been craving for years! I also brought up, that though I have many offers to help with editing and pattern testing, that almost all of the offers to help also had note attached that read something like this:

"I'd like to submit something, but I don't know that I'm ready for you to reject me."

That makes me really and truly sad. I see it in more than just crochet, people (women especially) are so used to being over critiqued and judged that they are willing to forgo trying verses being torn apart in the process.

One of my goals with the CLF is to empower EVERY single member to do more, be more, and at the very least feel proud of what they make, even the mistakes.

Since when did making sweaters mean you were better than the person who makes face cloths? Face cloths have a purpose! So too, do tea cozies and book marks, and headbands!

In today's world where time is at a premium, very few have the luxury to work on time intensive projects. Why feel less competent? If you don't have time for more than hats and scarves, so what? Do you enjoy making them? Then feel proud of what you do!

I scan CLF Members' projects at least twice a week on Ravelry. I have seen nothing that is substandard in my mind. I have seen functional things, beautiful things, silly things, and the completion of projects from wonderful, creative minds.

I am tired of our society judging every action so harshly, so what if you miss a stitch now and then? Big deal, you can tear out the row and re do it...or if it's decorative yarn who will notice?

Submit your designs because you want to try! You don't know what I'm looking for, heck right now I only have a vague idea of what I am looking for! Over the course of the discussions about the book I have had four other ideas about other CLF publications! If a design doesn't get chosen for one, you may be asked to have it published in another!

For me, high school was a very long time ago, I didn't do cliques then, I don't do them now. You don't have to be my best friend to get into the book. I want to see old and new faces, I want to hear what you have to say. The Liberation of the HOOK is now, and it is your hand that weild's the hook. In liberating the hook, we liberate ourselves!

Dare my friends, dare to be creative, and create daringly.

A little crochet compassion

I say this all the time on our board on Ravlery.com, but we crocheters know we are cool. We know that we make cool, funny, funky, beautiful creations.

But do we? I find on occasion there is a talented person out there who just doesn't know that they are indeed truly gifted.

That's one of the reasons I started blogging photos of other people's wonderful creations.

Crochet can be bumpy, lumpy, smooth and sweet.

There are no limits in crochet. It doesn't matter what "conventional wisdom" may say, because frankly the powers that be...whoever "they are" tend not to know all that much about the subject.

The mission of the CLF is free the hook. Free us from persecution, free us from myths, and enable those who wield the hook to feel proud of their work and their wider community.

Crocheted bellydance top

Crocheted bellydance top
Originally uploaded by sriyana

This lovely piece comes from our CLF member Sriyana! WOW what a lovely top! And she says it's not quite finished...well the part that is finished is simplly lovely!

It's her own design...My goodness, that looks like something she needs to write into a pattern! Wonderful!

You get a Hookilicious Award my dear!

羊 あみぐるみ (Wolf or sheep?)

羊　あみぐるみ
Originally uploaded by mikahirano44

Ok this bit of loveliness comes to us from miquraffreshia! She is indeed a CLF member...

You get a SET MY PICOT FREE! Award!

Wow now this is well made, briliantly done...and well...funny as hell!

This little guy is definately gonna help us reach our goal of global domination!

Hookilicious Face Cloth

facecloth
Originally uploaded by crochetchick2

Now that's a face cloth! The design is by Kim Guzman, this piece was crocheted by Crochet Leah...

Crochet Leah, you are one hookilicious babe.

Awesome use of fillet :)

Hookilicious! And they say they can't be done...

stonepathhat
Originally uploaded by sfgwife

When I heard that certain publishers won't accept patterns with crocheted cables, I had to ask why? The response was that said publishers felt that crocheted cables can't be done well...

SO HERE'S A FINISHED OBJECT that says "IN YOUR FACE CROCHET CABLE NAY SAYERS!"

Totally hookilicious! Beautiful work! This article was made by sfgwife who is indeed a member of the Crochet Liberation Front on Ravelry.

I had such a hard time deciding WHICH one of her projects to blog, until the hat jumped out at me!

HAH! Yes, crocheted cables can be awesome! Here's the proof!