Do you have your copy of the CLF First Ever Book?

Hey gang! A quick reminder that we have the CLF First Ever Book available as a PDF Download on lulu.com, I also have a few of my own patterns and the Secrets of Yarn Guide (which covers fibers, their properties and the "best" craft usage guide. "Best" is a relative term, if you can make it work great :) If you are wondering how a fiber can be best used to it's advantage the list works as a great rule of thumb.

If you want a hard copy of the book it's available from the CLF Website or from Amazon.com (just click on the carosel to your right on this blog!), it's cheaper from my website, but you can get faster shipping from Amazon, you choose!

Another option is buying one directly from me in Portland, Oregon (or bring you book for a signing!), I'll have a limited number of hard copies on my person during the Spring Knit and Crochet Show at the Double Tree in Portland Oregon. I'll be hanging out at the Double Tree from May 14 through the morning of the 17th. I'll have my sharpie ready!

We should have a few of our contributors in Portland as well and they will have a sharpie ready! Collect as many of our signatures as you can!!!

The Flamies: Part DUH

That's what we're calling the Grand Finale of the Finale Process on Getting Loopy this coming Monday Night (March 30th, 9pm EDT/6pm PDT). For those not in the know, the first annual Crochet Awards (known as the Flamies) happened on March 16th 2009. The last eight winners/categories got lost in technoland.

Poor Mary-Beth found that her virtual switchboard had "poof" disappeared, along with the guests...We had odd thoughts that leprochauns had abducted our winners to get at the statuettes...but alas it was merely a technical glitch.

So tune in tomorrow night, Monday March 30th for the CONCLUSION of the Flamies on Getting Loopy with Mary Beth Temple! If you can't join us live, please download the archives...

For some reason she's willing to have me back on the air, and once again I promise to be good, and I'll talk louder...I'm terrible about that, I actually have a rather loud voice and so I tone it down not to blow out speakers and often over correct...sigh...

Anywho...More fun news about the CLF!

We are in the very first issue of the New UK magazine called Inside Crochet! I look forward to seeing what they have to say about us there! (link to come...I'm on dial up at the moment, so it's torturous...Tuesday I'll reblog with all the juicy links)...

The CLF First Ever Book is being reviewed in the May-June '09 issue of Quick and Easy Crochet magazine! That was so exciting I couldn't sleep after I found out!

And...I and several other CLF members have been interviewed by Crochet Today Magazine about the CLF and our wacky ways...That should be out in the July/August '09 issue in time for our Second Anniversary!!!!

Now just in case you think my head's getting too big...think again. I would like to remind you I am the mother of teens...My ego gets dented back into shape on a daily basis ;)

Last Day to Vote, and more March Madness

Hi folks! Today is the LAST day to vote for your favorites in the first annual Flamie Awards :)
As of tonight 12am PST the vote closes and we get to work to make the real fun start!

So if you haven't voted, GO VOTE!

Remember you don't have to be "qualified" you just have to know what you like! If you haven't had a class, then obviously you won't vote for the teachers :) Etc..etc...etc...

NOW here's some real exciting news. The Crochet Liberation Front First Ever Book is now available as a PDF download for only $9.99 now that is a total steal!

I could have released it earlier, but I thought I'd wait for (inter) National Crochet Month!
Enjoy!

Happy National Crochet Month!

Whoot! March is here at last! Yay! That means one thing it's (Inter) National Crochet Month!
National Crochet Month was started by the Crochet Guild of America, and the CLF has made it our business to whoop it up!!

That's why we are sponsoring the Flamies! If you haven't cast your vote, get busy will ya? We end the voting on Tuesday, March 3 2009.

Remember we are announcing the winners on Getting Loopy with Mary Beth Temple on Monday, March 16th! Be there or be square.

Other activities: Check out the many crochet blogs our in blog land, with over 3140 members (we're just growing by leaps and bounds folks!) there are bound to be fun crochet posts all over the net! In fact, why don't you blog your crochet?

If you are on Ravelry, check out the Crochet Party Group! We have ever so much fun, we're all really busy this year, but you can pop your head in say hi, and join in with the crochet sillies! I know you can!

Great things afoot at the CLF

Hey there folks :)

Well we have some lively discussions happening on the CLF Message Board on Ravelry.

Plans, dreams and goals for 2009 abound, we are currently organzing the first ever Crochet Awards (like the oscars but you know for crochet :)) all are welcome to help in the planning, we're shooting to host those in March, which as you know is National Crochet Month (or International Crochet Month, since we decreed it so to not be exclusive of folks outside the US of A)...

We'll have a nominating process up soon :)

We also have ideas of having a "Christmas Present" Challenge for each month so we don't get caught behind again next holiday season (or like we do every year)

We have the yahoo group for file downloads and now have them on Box.net, see the Ravelry thread for more information for the box.net, or join the yahoo group to have access to these great downloads.

I have finally drafted the letter to Michaels Stores Inc, and have a copy for minions to send en masse, you'll have to send it snail mail though, because I haven't had a lot of luck finding email addies for those folks. I have my own letter I shall be sending and will post a copy of it once I have it mailed off...

Finally, the last podcast is finally up...and I promise to do better getting those up in 2009!

A few reminders...

Hey, gang just a few fun reminders...

1) We have a Yahoo Group for the sole purpose of downloading CLF Certificates for Local Yarn Stores, that's right we certify Yarn stores for being LYS Friendly! You can also find a letter to go with the handy dandy certificate thanking your LYS for being so great, and if they aren't or a yarn company isn't up to your fancy and you want more we have a nice letter template for you to use.

I still owe you the one specifically for Michael's and I promiss that will be up and available next week.

2) The book will remain on sale for only $24.50 through Valentine's Day. Click on the link with the book cover to your right on the blog and it will take you to the page!

3) We have a podcast and it is my intention to have a very belated episode up and running next week...fingers crossed.

4) Our group on Ravelry is as busy as ever planning Global Domination, please feel free to join in!

Just some friendly reminders! Oh and I still write on my personal blog, feel free to check that out from time to time.

And what a great year it has been!

We decided we needed a blog of our own in December of '07 and so we started this...and with over 22000 views I say thank you to the readership! How awesome and cool!

I hope all of you have had a fabulous year, a wonderful holiday season, and your stash has both grown and lightened with creative strides!

The CLF has had a remarkable year...January saw us hit 1000 members, and this month we have hit 2765! We grow by leaps and bounds every week, and to that I say WOW and THANKS!

We began our book work in earnest in March of 2008, and saw ourselves in Portland for The Knit and Crochet Show! That was quite the time! We didn't have the books in time for the show but we launched them that week, and we have sold almost 300 since I last checked! Thank you to all who have reviewed the book online, in real life, and on Ravelry!

We even got awesome mention in Yarn Market News, and the Crochet Insider reviewed our book...Frankly I think it's beyond cool...from a joke to this...Where else can we go with the CLF?

What does 2009 hold for the CLF? Well you never know what our collective genius will come up with, but I can tell you these things for sure!

January 2009 will see us begin to take submissions for the "Adult" crochet book...that should be an interesting endeavor! LOL

Our dear member "Crochetgo" (Ellen) suggested we have an 2008 crochet awards, you know like the Oscars? So, we are going to gladly sponsor this activity awarding designers, companies and more ... We'll post more as we solidify information! If you have ideas or want to help out in this process, check out our thread "Crochet Awards 2008" on Ravelry.com.

I will be making an appearance at both the Knit and Crochet Show Spring Show in Portland, Oregon in May...and ta da...I AM GOING TO MAKE IT TO CHAINLINK! WHOOT...Yes, I shall shuffle off to Buffalo! I can't wait, I hope to meet so many of you CLFers there!

I don't know exactly what we are doing, or where we are going, I think our organic approach to life has it's own chaotic charm, and it suits me just fine!

What I do know is this, I thank you for giving me lots of interesting things to do and think about, you've kept me out of trouble by giving me trouble to make...I love you all!

Happy Holidays, Happy New Year...and thank you so much for wanting to help Crochet Dominate The GLOBE!

Happy Holidays CLF

This is the week of turkey eating in the US of A. And I for one am looking forward to making all of the holiday fare...mostly for the left overs, because I love nothing more than an open face turkey/stuffing and gravy sammich....OOOOOOOOh lalala....

Anyway...For the holidays I have a gift for the Crochet Lovers of the WORLD....our book is now only $24.50 at the Crochet Liberation Front Website!. This includes shipping.

I've fixed the paypal button to exclude shipping charges (we had a little glitch, it's all better now :) )

Happy Holidays from me to you!

I'm also gonna be at Pinch Knitter's Yarn Store in Stanwood Wa this Friday from 12-4 signing CLF books for interested parties....and if no one is there, I'm gonna show them stick users what cables really can be :) WHOOT.

See ya there!

Dorky Leader

You know some days I wonder at my level of sanity and then I remember that I never have claimed to be a sane leader, just fearless...

I have been beating my head against a table to try to figure out how we can make the CLF First Ever Book more affordable for members.

DUH... I can do it the same way I am for wholesaling :) LOL.... I know, some days I am a little slow...some weeks I'm down right like molasses... so here's how you can get your copy for LESS than on Amazon! I can only take US orders though...so if you are wanting it and are not in the USA Please PLEASE use our International Distributor !!! (Thanks so much Gail)

So happy HOLIDAYS! The book is a total of $24.50 and that includes the price of shipping (US ORDERS ONLY!) Follow this link!

Crochet Liberation Front...what's on our hooks lately...

First of all I want to remind you all that we have a Website for the CLF where you can find our Crochet Friendly Local Yarn Store List, it covers the globe folks, so please check it out if you are not on Ravelry and don't have access to our Group Page that has the most current list. I will be updating that list on the website soon. Feel free to contact me with your favorite LYS so I can put it up on the website. No one pays to get on the list, it's member driven.

I encourage you to let yarn store owners know you are a member of the CLF and that you are coming to them based off the recommendation. Why? So we get even more support out in the world! Besides, compliments and thank yous go so much further than anything else!

Remember we're working off the theory of abundance here...when you spend local dollars that money goes so much further than when you let it slip away out of your community.

I love my local yarn store in Stanwood, WA...Pinch Knitters, that's right, it has the K word in it, but that's cause the owner has spent years doing commissioned knitting :) She crochets too, and is so wonderful to all of we who love fiber...in fact she's going to carry the CLF First Ever Book...

I encourage you to purchase the book, because that helps our cause...If you are on Ravelry, or enjoy Getting Loopy please use their links because it gives them a few pennies too...

In these trying financial times (which contrary to what the news says, I've seen coming for a long time they are more than a month old) it is important to look at where you spend your dollars. Spending money on items that help you make things for yourself, or support local businesses (your local yarn store) can help the economy...self sufficiency, being able to produce things really does help. Remember our book is printed and bound in the USA, which helps keep a few people in jobs....

CLF Book News

Ok, the books files are all up loaded YAY! It will still be a week or so before things are back up and running the way we'd like them too, but in the mean time Gail's Yarns has 10 copies of the First Ever Printing of the FIRST ever book and a wonderful insert for the errata made by yours truly!

If you are itching for a great book, it's just as gorgeous as the second printing, and the errata is all nice and neatly there for you! PLUS Gail can offer GREAT shipping to International buyers!

So head over to Gail's to get these fabulous books!

Her store for US sales and shipping

International Orders go HERE!! (She can give the BEST deal on international shipping!)

So speaking of Errata...more to come on the website... I missed most of Andee Graves article on how to keep your hands healthy...That's a nice long article I'll give that baby it's own little web page ;) And for some reason, and I think it happened when I resized the book, I missed the end of Jennifer Reeves Dragon Scale Sock pattern... Now if you are on Ravelry, all the Errata for patterns is listed up on our Errata page.... I have yet to get Andee's article up...but it's coming, this afternoon if all goes to plan actually!

So hooks up! Keep hookin'!

More about the book!

Origami Socks by Deborah Berger!

WOW...aren't these nifty! This pattern has full schematics and great instructions! It's in the book!!


Ok folks, if you didn't know that there is a reading of the book on our home page at http://www.crochetliberationfront.com/index.html, well now you do! I'll try to get more up for your listening pleasure as we go along...





CLF Fingerless Glove by Elisa Cleveland Me likey :)

Oh YEAH it's in the book!

One more reason to buy the book! Yavanna Coulter (Datenshi on Ravelry) designed this Totally HOOKALICIOUS tote for the book. Not only is it a very detailed pattern (taking the guess work out of things!) she charted the base and all of the special stitches!

You can now get the book on Amazon.com it qualifies for free supersaver shipping... but remember if you went to the Portland Show and picked up a post card use the Create Space E-store (like wise for CLF members) to get your special discount! It's a $5 savings!