So, I've crocheted some moving boxes, packed up the posts, and am working on making sure all the links are set (you know how much I hate them), so that the Official Liberation Front Blog will have a nice new home.
Yup...moving to wordpress. Why?
Cause I have other blogs over there, and I prefer wordpress from a technical standpoint.
I will leave this baby up but as of tonight this is the last NEW post here...
The new blog? http://www.crochetliberationfront.wordpress.com
Yup...Now to get all the feeds and linkages finished.
Sorry to be a bother and all, but really, it's just that much easier to do it all over there, besides the webcrawlers like wordpress better, including Googles!. Isn't that Ironic?
ABOUT THE CLF
- Fearless Leader of the CLF
- Everywhere, No where
- I started the CLF as a joke on Ravelry, back in July of 2007. The joke was on me, we're a real group, that seeks to liberate ourselves from stereo types about our craft and ourselves. Other than being called "Fearless Leader", I'm a designer, mother, editor, wife, hand spinner, yarn addict, incessant reader, and over all geek in the coolest of geeky ways.
Beware Defamers of the Hook!
Like Joan of Arc, and the Scarlet Pimpernel we are here to seek Justice!
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Showing posts with label Cool Crochet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cool Crochet. Show all posts
Friday, June 12, 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009
Set My Picot Free Award Winner!
So, I was doing a search for belly dancing costumes...and what do I find?
http://www.crochetkitten.com/ she has tons of patterns she's made, and they are so totally awesome.
I contacted her on Ravelry.com and asked if I could use her images here because they are just too nifty. She wasn't a CLF member at the time, though she might be now, and I'm not gonna check because well..it just doesn't matter...I'm awarding her the Set My Picot Free for some awesome crochet representin'!
Josephine Scarf Front
Originally uploaded by Selena K
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Fearless Leader in Crochet Today!
Ok, I've said it was coming, I really did, but I didn't realize the July/August Issue of Crochet Today was out in June! Egads!
There is an article about yours truly, and the Crochet Liberation Front and I hear it's pretty good ;) It was a fun interview (which of course happened months ago), and now I need to hunt down me a copy! It's like trying to catch a rabbit in a brier patch in these parts, I may have to take a 40 minute drive to my nearest Fred Meyer's (store) to see if they have a copy.
It's always kinda funny when these articles happen, I know it's gonna happen, I did the dang interview over the phone, but until you see it in print, it's not really real. It feels weird when you see yourself or read your quotes, and you think, "Did I really say that?" sometimes I think I sound silly, and other times I wonder at how those words came from me!
It's kinda fun to see all of this happen, especially since it started out as a joke. We're obviously not a joke any more, but I like to pretend we are, because then I don't get all nervous like...cause really folks, I'm kinda shy ;)
Oh, and look at the bottom of the page. I put up our store on Zazzle.com, we have all kinds of CLF goodness. I'm working on coming up with more bumper sticker ideas. I kinda like the "Stash" one, it made me chuckle, and would work for those who enjoy crafting in general :) LOL
Remember every little bit adds up and helps this Fearless Leader keep working on CLF stuff!
There is an article about yours truly, and the Crochet Liberation Front and I hear it's pretty good ;) It was a fun interview (which of course happened months ago), and now I need to hunt down me a copy! It's like trying to catch a rabbit in a brier patch in these parts, I may have to take a 40 minute drive to my nearest Fred Meyer's (store) to see if they have a copy.
It's always kinda funny when these articles happen, I know it's gonna happen, I did the dang interview over the phone, but until you see it in print, it's not really real. It feels weird when you see yourself or read your quotes, and you think, "Did I really say that?" sometimes I think I sound silly, and other times I wonder at how those words came from me!
It's kinda fun to see all of this happen, especially since it started out as a joke. We're obviously not a joke any more, but I like to pretend we are, because then I don't get all nervous like...cause really folks, I'm kinda shy ;)
Oh, and look at the bottom of the page. I put up our store on Zazzle.com, we have all kinds of CLF goodness. I'm working on coming up with more bumper sticker ideas. I kinda like the "Stash" one, it made me chuckle, and would work for those who enjoy crafting in general :) LOL
Remember every little bit adds up and helps this Fearless Leader keep working on CLF stuff!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
My Bestest Crochet Friend...Stitch Dictionaries
I crocheted for over 25 years before I could really read a crochet pattern. Before that time, I copied my grandmother’s handwork (and other family members old doilies, table runners, and garments), and if there was a really good picture I could copy the stitch patterns. Granted, until about 15 years ago I wasn’t a “serious” crocheter, I dabbled here and there with the hook, always having it in my craft things, making “doodads” mostly, and of course copious amounts of edging for pillowcases, and hankies. I used to make those things for friends as we started out in life.
Before I was a “serious” crocheter, I was an embroiderer. Embroidery was my very first fiber love, I learned to hold needle and thread when I was very young, maybe four or five, and had French Knots mastered by seven or eight years old. I had little iron on patterns, though I never was much good at following inside the lines, I always preferred “eyeballing” my designs, as they turned out better. What can I say, I can’t and don’t want to color inside the lines either.
One of my first crafty related gifts, besides the kiddy craft kits, was a “stitch dictionary.” My great-grandmother presented me with one when I was about 10 years old. In this little tome of embroidery related goodness, I found all the inspiration a needler could want.
So, it was only logical as my craft life evolved and continued, that I sought out such things when I got more serious about crochet. Whereas, written patterns mystified me, stitch dictionaries for crochet gave me boundless inspiration.
I didn’t think of myself as an expert anything, for many years into my crafting life. I don’t know why, maybe it’s because it was just something I did, without too much thinking about it, I just made things. Sometimes they turned out, and sometimes, well…we’ve all had those projects now haven’t we? One of the reasons I didn’t feel expert was my inability to read patterns. I had never thought that I was doing the design work as I made up hats, scarves and little sweaters, dolls, purses and ornaments. I even made up my doilies straight from my own devious mind. Funny how you never take yourself seriously. I can tell you when I finally did think of myself as an expert crocheter, it was 2005 (not long ago eh?) when I was in a local craft store. Someone had a crochet question, and the owner called to me from across her store, “Laurie can you fix this?” she hollered, and then said audibly to the other person, “Laurie is our town’s crochet expert!”
As I whipped my crochet hook out of my bun (yes, I used to secure my then very long hair with a hook) and went to see how I could fix whatever hooking problem was out there to fix, I nearly stopped in my tracks…Expert? Me? Really? But, I wasn’t half as good as my late grandmother! If I can fudge weaving in ends, I do. I hide my mistakes, she didn’t make them. I mean, really … internal chuckle, expert! Hah! Sure.
I walked away that day thinking about what the lady said, and I asked a crafting buddy what she thought, and of course she told me that “Duh, of course you are.” When I protested she eye balled me, with a very loving but steely eye and said, “How can anyone do something for as long as you have and NOT be an expert?”
Well, heck and darn I hadn’t thought of it that way… Then I found the CGOA, and when I said I didn’t use patterns (and said it apologetically) I was admonished by some lovely people who said, “Oh, you’re a designer then!” (Truthfully I thought they were nuts at the time…but I knew they were well meaning nuts).
Now, do I say I’m an expert? Well, not much, but I know I am. I don’t really need to say it to know it’s true. I’m confident in my skills and my limitations. What can I say…but let me tell you, beyond the hours of creating lace as a young person, my stitch dictionaries have been my bestest crochet buddies. They are what are most responsible for my crochet expertise. (Well, that and hand spinning, because knowing your fibers is very important, but that’s another post).
To be honest, I’m still not much of a pattern user, at least not a pattern user in the keeping it inside the lines kind of way. I use patterns for ideas for shapes, and dimensions, flow and drape, I think I’ve managed to follow one to the letter, I can’t help it, I just can’t color inside the lines. When I write patterns, I secretly hope people tweak them to their own satisfaction. I like to give good construction and dimension information in the patterns, hoping to inspire someone to make the pattern their own! But hey, that’s just me.
For those of you who are beginning your crochet journey I highly suggest finding yourself a stitch dictionary. They are hardly ever entitled “Stitch Dictionary”, they are entitled things like “Bertha’s guide to 500 crochet stitches” (joke title), one of my personal favorites is the original James Walters & Sylvia Cosh, Harmony Guide to Crochet Vol. 1. I own many many stitch dictionaries, some of them small leaflets, and others large tomes of hooky goodness. They are my base line, there are the books I have closest to hand in my craft room.
Just as I can’t stand to follow patterns or color inside the lines, I don’t think I’ve made too many projects (other than those for which I write patterns) with only one or two stitches. When I make things for personal use, or gifts, I use at least four or five stitches per project! I love to mix colors and textures, as well as raised and relief stitches.
Oh and while you’re at picking up stitch dictionaries, get some books with great motifs in them! (Some people call them granny squares, but we have so much more than that available to us!)
Before I was a “serious” crocheter, I was an embroiderer. Embroidery was my very first fiber love, I learned to hold needle and thread when I was very young, maybe four or five, and had French Knots mastered by seven or eight years old. I had little iron on patterns, though I never was much good at following inside the lines, I always preferred “eyeballing” my designs, as they turned out better. What can I say, I can’t and don’t want to color inside the lines either.
One of my first crafty related gifts, besides the kiddy craft kits, was a “stitch dictionary.” My great-grandmother presented me with one when I was about 10 years old. In this little tome of embroidery related goodness, I found all the inspiration a needler could want.
So, it was only logical as my craft life evolved and continued, that I sought out such things when I got more serious about crochet. Whereas, written patterns mystified me, stitch dictionaries for crochet gave me boundless inspiration.
I didn’t think of myself as an expert anything, for many years into my crafting life. I don’t know why, maybe it’s because it was just something I did, without too much thinking about it, I just made things. Sometimes they turned out, and sometimes, well…we’ve all had those projects now haven’t we? One of the reasons I didn’t feel expert was my inability to read patterns. I had never thought that I was doing the design work as I made up hats, scarves and little sweaters, dolls, purses and ornaments. I even made up my doilies straight from my own devious mind. Funny how you never take yourself seriously. I can tell you when I finally did think of myself as an expert crocheter, it was 2005 (not long ago eh?) when I was in a local craft store. Someone had a crochet question, and the owner called to me from across her store, “Laurie can you fix this?” she hollered, and then said audibly to the other person, “Laurie is our town’s crochet expert!”
As I whipped my crochet hook out of my bun (yes, I used to secure my then very long hair with a hook) and went to see how I could fix whatever hooking problem was out there to fix, I nearly stopped in my tracks…Expert? Me? Really? But, I wasn’t half as good as my late grandmother! If I can fudge weaving in ends, I do. I hide my mistakes, she didn’t make them. I mean, really … internal chuckle, expert! Hah! Sure.
I walked away that day thinking about what the lady said, and I asked a crafting buddy what she thought, and of course she told me that “Duh, of course you are.” When I protested she eye balled me, with a very loving but steely eye and said, “How can anyone do something for as long as you have and NOT be an expert?”
Well, heck and darn I hadn’t thought of it that way… Then I found the CGOA, and when I said I didn’t use patterns (and said it apologetically) I was admonished by some lovely people who said, “Oh, you’re a designer then!” (Truthfully I thought they were nuts at the time…but I knew they were well meaning nuts).
Now, do I say I’m an expert? Well, not much, but I know I am. I don’t really need to say it to know it’s true. I’m confident in my skills and my limitations. What can I say…but let me tell you, beyond the hours of creating lace as a young person, my stitch dictionaries have been my bestest crochet buddies. They are what are most responsible for my crochet expertise. (Well, that and hand spinning, because knowing your fibers is very important, but that’s another post).
To be honest, I’m still not much of a pattern user, at least not a pattern user in the keeping it inside the lines kind of way. I use patterns for ideas for shapes, and dimensions, flow and drape, I think I’ve managed to follow one to the letter, I can’t help it, I just can’t color inside the lines. When I write patterns, I secretly hope people tweak them to their own satisfaction. I like to give good construction and dimension information in the patterns, hoping to inspire someone to make the pattern their own! But hey, that’s just me.
For those of you who are beginning your crochet journey I highly suggest finding yourself a stitch dictionary. They are hardly ever entitled “Stitch Dictionary”, they are entitled things like “Bertha’s guide to 500 crochet stitches” (joke title), one of my personal favorites is the original James Walters & Sylvia Cosh, Harmony Guide to Crochet Vol. 1. I own many many stitch dictionaries, some of them small leaflets, and others large tomes of hooky goodness. They are my base line, there are the books I have closest to hand in my craft room.
Just as I can’t stand to follow patterns or color inside the lines, I don’t think I’ve made too many projects (other than those for which I write patterns) with only one or two stitches. When I make things for personal use, or gifts, I use at least four or five stitches per project! I love to mix colors and textures, as well as raised and relief stitches.
Oh and while you’re at picking up stitch dictionaries, get some books with great motifs in them! (Some people call them granny squares, but we have so much more than that available to us!)
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Saturday of the Crochet and Knit Show
Ok, so it's officially Sunday early AM right now, it was a really long day, and I should be in bed right now, but you know me...le sigh :)
Anyway, this morning at "bleary eyed o'clock" I had Myra Wood's Advanced Free Form class. I loved every minute of it! Now, I already knew most of the stitches, but I didn't take the class to learn a new stitch, that's what my stitch dictionary collection is for! No, I took the class to be in Myra's aura, her creative spirit and energy is vast and glorious. I have never met a person, yet, who has taken her classes and left disappointed!
I got inspired to do some very useable art...yes, useable art. Art for artsake is freakin cool, but I have this real practical streak and I like to use my art...it is both amusing and fullfilling!
After class, my dear friends Gabrielle and Thomas Chavez, met up with me, and I went to the Portland Raw Food Meetup's potluck. That was a great deal of fun, and met a lovely lady who knits, and told her about the show, and showed off a little crochet goodness, she may now be tempted by the hook ;)
After that little bit for Crochet-Evangelism, I came back to the hotel with daughter and we relaxed for a while. WHOOT...
Then came the dinner and fashion show. Oh my, what a nice show it was too. Garments both crocheted and knit festooned our evening and tickled our eyeballs (and brains, lots of inspiration).
What was the coolest part of the show, to me, was how many crocheters there were! In fact when the "raffle prizes" were drawn folks were asked for their preference in the prizes! "Knit or Crochet" was the call about half of the lucky winners were heard to shout proudly and in a distinguished manner, "Crochet!" I had to root and cheer for each one! YAY for Crochet!
I am too tired to take photos off camera and get them on the blog at the moment, but I will most definately be doing that either later this morning, OR Monday :)
Tomorrow holds checking out from the hotel, seeing if I have enough cash to do one last dash through the market, and then off to the Museum of Contemporary Crafts because of this exhibit!
Then it's to the Batmob... I mean the train station and back to Camano Island where my hubby, son, cats and dog are waiting for us!
It was sure fun (if not a little too warm for me)...but it was a HOOKALICIOUS convention, I'd say it rates hand over fist from last year! Live and learn I always say, but thank you Portland you were a fabulous host as always!
Anyway, this morning at "bleary eyed o'clock" I had Myra Wood's Advanced Free Form class. I loved every minute of it! Now, I already knew most of the stitches, but I didn't take the class to learn a new stitch, that's what my stitch dictionary collection is for! No, I took the class to be in Myra's aura, her creative spirit and energy is vast and glorious. I have never met a person, yet, who has taken her classes and left disappointed!
I got inspired to do some very useable art...yes, useable art. Art for artsake is freakin cool, but I have this real practical streak and I like to use my art...it is both amusing and fullfilling!
After class, my dear friends Gabrielle and Thomas Chavez, met up with me, and I went to the Portland Raw Food Meetup's potluck. That was a great deal of fun, and met a lovely lady who knits, and told her about the show, and showed off a little crochet goodness, she may now be tempted by the hook ;)
After that little bit for Crochet-Evangelism, I came back to the hotel with daughter and we relaxed for a while. WHOOT...
Then came the dinner and fashion show. Oh my, what a nice show it was too. Garments both crocheted and knit festooned our evening and tickled our eyeballs (and brains, lots of inspiration).
What was the coolest part of the show, to me, was how many crocheters there were! In fact when the "raffle prizes" were drawn folks were asked for their preference in the prizes! "Knit or Crochet" was the call about half of the lucky winners were heard to shout proudly and in a distinguished manner, "Crochet!" I had to root and cheer for each one! YAY for Crochet!
I am too tired to take photos off camera and get them on the blog at the moment, but I will most definately be doing that either later this morning, OR Monday :)
Tomorrow holds checking out from the hotel, seeing if I have enough cash to do one last dash through the market, and then off to the Museum of Contemporary Crafts because of this exhibit!
Then it's to the Batmob... I mean the train station and back to Camano Island where my hubby, son, cats and dog are waiting for us!
It was sure fun (if not a little too warm for me)...but it was a HOOKALICIOUS convention, I'd say it rates hand over fist from last year! Live and learn I always say, but thank you Portland you were a fabulous host as always!
Friday, May 15, 2009
Crocheters go to Voodoo Doughnuts in Portland
Ok, so last year I missed out on the Voodoo Doughnut experience, this year I was determined (especially after seeing the place on a Foodnetwork TV show) to make my way to this very bizarre store!
Sara and I, went with Jorel and Melanie Gill (aka Mel), into this tiny little place on NW 3rd in
Portland. OMG, this is a riot! It took us a while to figure out what we wanted, well ok I knew I wanted the voodoo doll shaped doughtnut 'cause that's too hilarious ;)
So, here's the girls making up their mind, and Jorel and her lovely smile outside the bakery...
Sara got the Tex-Ass mongo sized doughnut!
I got the voodoo doll ;) And I liked it.
Oooh and I gave them CLF Postcards, because one of the girls there is crocheting up a dozen doughnuts! ROCK ON! The hooks shall rule the UNIVERSE!
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Off to the CGOA Regional in Portland, Oregon!
I'm excited!
Tomorrow morning my daughter and I head up to Mt. Vernon, WA. in order to take a train to Portland, Oregon. Our destination is the CGOA Regional event at the Doubletree Hotel in Portland, Oregon. It's also called the "Knit and Crochet Show" and well, I have protested the name in the past (what else who you have me do), but the name of the show has nothing to do with the Crochet Guild of America, the "show" is owned by Offinger Management. But, they've done better listing crochet in their literature, and class notes. So, I give them a crochet nod.
I am taking a class on broomstick (jiffy) lace from Jennifer Hansen of Stitchdiva Design Studio, and a class on advance free form with Myra Wood.
I am also looking forward to going to Voodoo Donoughts because even though I grew up in the Portland Area, I have never been there, and I don't know how on earth I ever missed such a place! I mean donoughts shaped like voodoo dolls? With red "blood" filling? I mean really! Me, who loves the first Shrek movie specifically because of the "Gingerbreadman" getting tortured? "No, NO! Not the MILK!"
I digress.
So, it's a good thing that as part of my last minute preparations for the trip, that I have double checked what I need for the class. Um...Yeah. Sure I had it memorized, NOT!
So, I don't think I have the correct sticks for Jennifer's class, nor do I have the kind of yarn Myra called for in her class. Sigh...I barely EVER work with worsted weight yarn, so now I have to go digging through my stash one more time.
Yes, I will blog from the event! Yes, I'm taking pics! Yes, I have cool stuff to wear! I even made special elven slippers for crocheted yarnie goodness to wear in the halls ;)
Tomorrow morning my daughter and I head up to Mt. Vernon, WA. in order to take a train to Portland, Oregon. Our destination is the CGOA Regional event at the Doubletree Hotel in Portland, Oregon. It's also called the "Knit and Crochet Show" and well, I have protested the name in the past (what else who you have me do), but the name of the show has nothing to do with the Crochet Guild of America, the "show" is owned by Offinger Management. But, they've done better listing crochet in their literature, and class notes. So, I give them a crochet nod.
I am taking a class on broomstick (jiffy) lace from Jennifer Hansen of Stitchdiva Design Studio, and a class on advance free form with Myra Wood.
I am also looking forward to going to Voodoo Donoughts because even though I grew up in the Portland Area, I have never been there, and I don't know how on earth I ever missed such a place! I mean donoughts shaped like voodoo dolls? With red "blood" filling? I mean really! Me, who loves the first Shrek movie specifically because of the "Gingerbreadman" getting tortured? "No, NO! Not the MILK!"
I digress.
So, it's a good thing that as part of my last minute preparations for the trip, that I have double checked what I need for the class. Um...Yeah. Sure I had it memorized, NOT!
So, I don't think I have the correct sticks for Jennifer's class, nor do I have the kind of yarn Myra called for in her class. Sigh...I barely EVER work with worsted weight yarn, so now I have to go digging through my stash one more time.
Yes, I will blog from the event! Yes, I'm taking pics! Yes, I have cool stuff to wear! I even made special elven slippers for crocheted yarnie goodness to wear in the halls ;)
Friday, May 8, 2009
25 Reasons I love Crochet...
1) I can make anything I can imagine with a simple instrument (hook) and something that can wind around it (fiber, wire, plastic, roving, feathers, yarn, string, twine, fabric).
2) I love the reactions I get from others when I wear my hats, scarves, sweaters.
3) I love the reactions I get when I gift my loved ones with my "latest" and "greatest" creations.
4) In less than 10 minutes I can mystify a child by making a wiggly worm or a hair scrunchy.
5) I love how my husband watching me as I take yarn and hook, and whispers "It's like magic when you do that..."
6) I love how it eases my stress levels and gives me yoga like levels of relaxation.
7) I love that when I was a struggling single mother of two small babies, I could afford some thread and a steel hook and make their Christmas happen. (I couldn't afford ornaments for the tree).
8) I love that now I can afford exotic fibers and get to use my glass hook with my camel/silk yarn...and it feels orgasmic as the hook slides through the soft, delicate fibers.
9) I love that I am never bored.
10) I love that I can whip up an instant gift when I have a birthday/wedding/anniversary/baby gift I've forgotten to buy.
11) I love that young children ask me to teach them how to crochet...
12) I love that I can make socks that look like socks, feel like socks and act like socks.
13) I love that crochet has helped me meet some of the most generous, creative, talented, and loving people.
14) I love that I am doing something that women have done in my family for more than four generations.
15) I love that I taught my daughter and she loves crochet as much as I do.
16) I love that my daughter and I had the common ground of crochet to get through the worst of the early teen snarky stage without killing each other.
17) I love that each time I pick up a hook, I feel like I'm sitting with the woman who first put one in my hands. My great grandmother.
18) I love that I don't have to use a pattern to have something turn out fabulous.
19) I love that I can use a pattern if I'm feeling lazy.
20) I love that with over 32 years of crocheting experience that I can still learn something new.
21) I love crochet because it taught me patience, perspective, and helped me find my artform.
22) I love crochet because it allows me that "me" time, I wouldn't normally take in my daily life.
23) I love that I can make son laugh by making him puppets.
24) I love the feel of a hook in my hands.
25) I love knowing that I am doing something she did, even though I never got to meet her, her work inspired me to be every bit as good as she was...
Who is she? My grandmother, Grace Rogers, she died in 1956 when my mother was 8 years old. People say I look like her, sound like her and act like her, she was only 36 when she died. When times were hard crochet helped feed my uncles, aunt and mom. I have some of her things, they have always inspired me. She is one of my favorite reasons that I love crochet, because through the hook I have a connection to the woman I supposedly resemble in many ways, but never got to meet.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Come on crocheters, get with it!
Ok, crocheters, hookers, babies, dears: Listen up.
We need more of a web presence. Don't leave it all up to your beloved folks on the blogosphere, and on twitter...Come out, come out where ever you are: Stand up loud and proud, be counted.
I mean really it's not that big a deal. Get a Twitter account, and tweet away about your pretty projects and fun things. I would love you to outnumber the weirdos selling weird things with not real photos of "models" (or porn stars, at least that is what they look like to me)... Join and then follow me, I'll follow you I promise and we can sing great crochet music online together! I'm Camanomade on Twitter as well as on Ravelry.com.
Don't forget to join us on Ravelry either!
Oh and one more thing, I want to see mega hookin' representin' in Portland! Let's show em a good time folks!
We need more of a web presence. Don't leave it all up to your beloved folks on the blogosphere, and on twitter...Come out, come out where ever you are: Stand up loud and proud, be counted.
I mean really it's not that big a deal. Get a Twitter account, and tweet away about your pretty projects and fun things. I would love you to outnumber the weirdos selling weird things with not real photos of "models" (or porn stars, at least that is what they look like to me)... Join and then follow me, I'll follow you I promise and we can sing great crochet music online together! I'm Camanomade on Twitter as well as on Ravelry.com.
Don't forget to join us on Ravelry either!
Oh and one more thing, I want to see mega hookin' representin' in Portland! Let's show em a good time folks!
Friday, April 10, 2009
So it's spring, now what?
For many of us Spring has sproinged. One of the very well worn myths about most needlework in general is that it is soley a winter activity.
Why put away the yarn and hooks just because the days are longer and the sun may (or may not) be peaking out a little more.
You can always make a fun cardi for spring! The above was a free form ditty I made up a few years ago to wear to a spring art show in which my friend Bec Thomas was exhibiting. It was a simple and easy project, using left over bits of handspun exotic yarns, and a skein of lovely black acrylic (to help support the more fragile yak and kid cashgora yarns), I made the sleeves lacey to provide some well needed air conditioning!
With Eastertide upon us (or passover or Spring celebrations), now is the time we have furiously (or will do so tonight and tomorrow if you're like me) crocheted our little mitts off to make some presents for loved ones.
Why put away the yarn and hooks just because the days are longer and the sun may (or may not) be peaking out a little more.
You can always make a fun cardi for spring! The above was a free form ditty I made up a few years ago to wear to a spring art show in which my friend Bec Thomas was exhibiting. It was a simple and easy project, using left over bits of handspun exotic yarns, and a skein of lovely black acrylic (to help support the more fragile yak and kid cashgora yarns), I made the sleeves lacey to provide some well needed air conditioning!
With Eastertide upon us (or passover or Spring celebrations), now is the time we have furiously (or will do so tonight and tomorrow if you're like me) crocheted our little mitts off to make some presents for loved ones.
Some last minute ideas:
- Egg shaped soap bags (soap savers)
- Restorative Eye-pillow covers (you can get eye pillows as health and wellness stores or pharmacies, why not crochet something with some lovely soft cotton to cover it up?)
- Crochet some lace around plastic Easter Eggs
- Floral themed wash cloths or dish cloths (you can never have to many of those)
- Bunny Slippers!
- Crochet an easter basket out of roving and felt it (doesn't take more than an hour to make :) )
For spring tide crochet ideas:
- Use cotton, bamboo, linen, and blends of such lovely materials to make tops, lacey over skirts, sun hats, socks, and sandle socks (ok for those of you who dismiss said things, remember some of us live where it can be sunny AND rainy at the same time!), take some anklet cotton socks and add funky trims, make jewelry, baskets and so much more!
There is always time to make pretty things out of pretty yarn... I'll leave what's pretty up to you!
And remember, when gift giving, don't bother giving your gifts to people who do not appreciate them. What is hte point? Save it up for the folks that do...
Well, I'm off, I have to make some cute little Easter themed hair clips for my neice :) She's just at that fun age! I can spoil her with all kinds of frufru things!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Hookalicious Yarn!
Curious Creek Yarn owner, Kristine was on Getting Loopy, Monday night with Mary Beth Temple...
I so enjoyed listening (via telephone, because of my damned dial up situation!) that I had to call in and award her a HOOKALICIOUS award!
1) Because she learned crochet and loves it for awesome reasons!
2) Because she gave honest and great information about "handpainting" yarn.
As you may or may not know, I'm a handspinner and dyer, and I have often gotten annoyed when people try to claim that handspainting isn't dyeing. Yes, it is. It's just a matter of definition and techique, and when Christine said the MAGIC words of "It also makes it sound prettier"...I wanted to hug her ;)
So check out her site here! http://www.curiouscreek.com/
AND DON'T FORGET TO TUNE IN TO GETTING LOOPY! MONDAY NIGHT, MARCH 16th at 9pm Eastern/6pm Pacific! FOR THE FLAMIES! 2009 Crochet Awards!
I so enjoyed listening (via telephone, because of my damned dial up situation!) that I had to call in and award her a HOOKALICIOUS award!
1) Because she learned crochet and loves it for awesome reasons!
2) Because she gave honest and great information about "handpainting" yarn.
As you may or may not know, I'm a handspinner and dyer, and I have often gotten annoyed when people try to claim that handspainting isn't dyeing. Yes, it is. It's just a matter of definition and techique, and when Christine said the MAGIC words of "It also makes it sound prettier"...I wanted to hug her ;)
So check out her site here! http://www.curiouscreek.com/
AND DON'T FORGET TO TUNE IN TO GETTING LOOPY! MONDAY NIGHT, MARCH 16th at 9pm Eastern/6pm Pacific! FOR THE FLAMIES! 2009 Crochet Awards!
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
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!
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!
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Crochet Awards 2009
We were going to call these the 2008 Crochet Awards, but it's 2009, so I'm thinking we'll do like the Oscars!
Currently, dedicated CLF minions are working with me to create criteria, and a format for nominations and voting to get the first ever CLF awards up and running...We hope to have everything nominated, voted on and ready to roll by March 15! Beware the Eides of March I tell you!
Why that date? It amused me, AND March is the (Inter) National Crochet Month!
While we're on that subject, it's less than a month away, what are you doing for National Crochet Month?
Blog about, play with us on Ravelry, we certainly plan to have another rockin' Natcromo Party like last year, make your crochet public, start a group, donate to a worthy charity, better yet teach a friend or two to crochet!
Get schemeing minions! We've got our reps to uphold !!
Currently, dedicated CLF minions are working with me to create criteria, and a format for nominations and voting to get the first ever CLF awards up and running...We hope to have everything nominated, voted on and ready to roll by March 15! Beware the Eides of March I tell you!
Why that date? It amused me, AND March is the (Inter) National Crochet Month!
While we're on that subject, it's less than a month away, what are you doing for National Crochet Month?
Blog about, play with us on Ravelry, we certainly plan to have another rockin' Natcromo Party like last year, make your crochet public, start a group, donate to a worthy charity, better yet teach a friend or two to crochet!
Get schemeing minions! We've got our reps to uphold !!
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Modern Twist Flapper Hookalicious!
Modern Twist Flapper
Originally uploaded by tallybates
Wow! This is one sweet hat! CLF Member Natemmab (Natalie Bates) has designed this cute little flapper hat!
Now only do I love the shape, I adore the simple, but elegant use of the button...simple and elegant always a winning combo!
Check out her pattern in her Tallib Etsy Shop and it's also available on Ravelry.com
Congrats CLF Member Natemmab! You are duly awarded the Hookalicious Award for seriously well designed crochet! (That and fearless leader is a hat fanatic, so this totally rocks my world!)
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
What's Up at the CLF!!??
Here's what's up :)
First of all we are busily planning the our First Annual Crochet Awards, possibly to be held in March, but we're still in the whole planning committee stage and working on exact details, you know little things like where it will be, and how are we going to accomplish this! We have some fairly good ideas, but just so you know we're working on it, you'll be the first to know when we have all the details set!
Secondly, a reminder to potential contributors to the CLF second book...I start accepting
submissions January 14th until Feb 20th of 2009. You can get the writers guidelines HERE.
We're looking at a possibility of several titles, I have a working title set, but don't like it much, and I think I'll do a poll or something to decide on the official title. Oddly enough I just can't think of everything, amazing isn't it...and you thought I could...oh you didn't...PHEW...
Thirdly...is there a thirdly? Um...Sure. Thirdly I'm working on putting all of the CLF survey data together, and will make it available for all and sundry....especially the sundry.
First of all we are busily planning the our First Annual Crochet Awards, possibly to be held in March, but we're still in the whole planning committee stage and working on exact details, you know little things like where it will be, and how are we going to accomplish this! We have some fairly good ideas, but just so you know we're working on it, you'll be the first to know when we have all the details set!
Secondly, a reminder to potential contributors to the CLF second book...I start accepting
submissions January 14th until Feb 20th of 2009. You can get the writers guidelines HERE.
We're looking at a possibility of several titles, I have a working title set, but don't like it much, and I think I'll do a poll or something to decide on the official title. Oddly enough I just can't think of everything, amazing isn't it...and you thought I could...oh you didn't...PHEW...
Thirdly...is there a thirdly? Um...Sure. Thirdly I'm working on putting all of the CLF survey data together, and will make it available for all and sundry....especially the sundry.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Setting our Picot Free!!!
top
Originally uploaded by anna_maranta
Our first Set My Picot Free Award of 2009 goes to CLF Member Maranta, for her "Crazy Summer Top"...
You have got to go onto Ravelry.com and check out this project, it is amazing! The flowers are crocheted, the top is crocheted, it's well made, beautifully and artistically composed, and is just the BEST of what crochet can be....and it's FUN!!! I LOVE THIS TOP!!
I am actually going to break from my normal habits and actually post several views of this from her project notebook on our blog because it is too dang fun! And you MUST see the details!
Gorgeous work...
CLF Member Maranta you are duly awarded the Set My Picot Free Award for outstanding crochet skill, composition and beauty! Congratulations!
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
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!
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!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Giving it away...
I know 'tis the season of giving, but I want to have a chat with you about this...Yes, you...Because this isn't about making gifts etc, this is really about how so often we just "give it away."
Women tend to be the worst about giving "it" away, whether "it" is their time, talents, patience, caring...After look at all the somewhat traditionally female job roles those that involve creative nurturing (nursing, teaching, seamstress work, childcare, elder care) almost all of these kinds of jobs are low paid, certainly lower paid than the traditionally male job roles.
So, let's look at our making things and designing things...I have been to so many bazaars where crocheters have made BEAUTIFUL things and had them priced at dime store discount prices, often the price didn't even cover their materials, let alone their time. And the plethora of free patterns on the web, I'm not talking about the simple scarf, or the basic hat, I'm talking about dresses, and skirts, and large table cloths, and baby sets with intricate color work or stitch patterns....Why are these free patterns?
My friends when you sell below the value, you cheapen it for everyone, especially yourself. In fact you are sending the message, "It doesn't matter to me, it's just something I do, why should I get paid?" It is NOT greedy to want compensation, everyone deserves compensation. It is greedy to charge a billion dollars for a pattern, but it's not greedy to charge $7, why? Because the base cost of printing, then mailing, not to mention the design time, graphing, charting, frogging, testing, and marketing....Giving all of that away? For why? For what reason? You are not a bad person for wanting to make something in return for your talents and time...
Why? Because it does matter, you matter, I matter, the designers matter, the yarn companies matter, the publishers matter, we're all in this mess together, and if we get into this get it cheap or free mode, we do what we fear most, hit rock bottom financially.
This whole drive to be known, or published and get out there for FREE is driving down the economics for all of us. In fact, here's a grand REAL LIFE example.
Right now Time Magazine is soliciting photographs from people on Flicker and stating that they can't pay the photographers for their photos that they want to use in their Year End issue....Excuse me? Time/Warner can't afford to pay for photos? Give me a break, of course they can, but some people will fall for it and submit just so they can be in Time Magazine...They are just get credit and retention of their copyright...Hell I did better than that giving contributors copies of the book they submitted to and I'm doing this out of my personal bank account, I have not been listed as one of the 50 biggest companies in the W H O L E F R E A K I N world. (For more on this subject check out Bec Thomas's Blog .)
Ok, so how does photography fit into what I am saying for we who crochet? Because it's the same dang difference. Folks if we all work together to support each other at a fair level of compensation, not Oil Company CEO style, but more like Farmer's Market style, then we're ALL better off...Cause here's the real deal, we'll lose the great designers who do sell their patterns, if people choose to go the freebee route and not purchase the patterns...And if you do make great patterns charge SOMETHING for them, anything is better than free...
And for those of you who make items for sale, charge something that gives you a profit! And if you make gifts for people don't give them to people who are snarky about it, just make things for people who appreciate the gifts!
Why? Self Esteem people...What we do is a SKILL, do you here me!???? A skill is something that takes time, practice and talent to achieve, it's not just something you're born with, and that skill has value....
As long as we give it away, who's going to value it?
Women tend to be the worst about giving "it" away, whether "it" is their time, talents, patience, caring...After look at all the somewhat traditionally female job roles those that involve creative nurturing (nursing, teaching, seamstress work, childcare, elder care) almost all of these kinds of jobs are low paid, certainly lower paid than the traditionally male job roles.
So, let's look at our making things and designing things...I have been to so many bazaars where crocheters have made BEAUTIFUL things and had them priced at dime store discount prices, often the price didn't even cover their materials, let alone their time. And the plethora of free patterns on the web, I'm not talking about the simple scarf, or the basic hat, I'm talking about dresses, and skirts, and large table cloths, and baby sets with intricate color work or stitch patterns....Why are these free patterns?
My friends when you sell below the value, you cheapen it for everyone, especially yourself. In fact you are sending the message, "It doesn't matter to me, it's just something I do, why should I get paid?" It is NOT greedy to want compensation, everyone deserves compensation. It is greedy to charge a billion dollars for a pattern, but it's not greedy to charge $7, why? Because the base cost of printing, then mailing, not to mention the design time, graphing, charting, frogging, testing, and marketing....Giving all of that away? For why? For what reason? You are not a bad person for wanting to make something in return for your talents and time...
Why? Because it does matter, you matter, I matter, the designers matter, the yarn companies matter, the publishers matter, we're all in this mess together, and if we get into this get it cheap or free mode, we do what we fear most, hit rock bottom financially.
This whole drive to be known, or published and get out there for FREE is driving down the economics for all of us. In fact, here's a grand REAL LIFE example.
Right now Time Magazine is soliciting photographs from people on Flicker and stating that they can't pay the photographers for their photos that they want to use in their Year End issue....Excuse me? Time/Warner can't afford to pay for photos? Give me a break, of course they can, but some people will fall for it and submit just so they can be in Time Magazine...They are just get credit and retention of their copyright...Hell I did better than that giving contributors copies of the book they submitted to and I'm doing this out of my personal bank account, I have not been listed as one of the 50 biggest companies in the W H O L E F R E A K I N world. (For more on this subject check out Bec Thomas's Blog .)
Ok, so how does photography fit into what I am saying for we who crochet? Because it's the same dang difference. Folks if we all work together to support each other at a fair level of compensation, not Oil Company CEO style, but more like Farmer's Market style, then we're ALL better off...Cause here's the real deal, we'll lose the great designers who do sell their patterns, if people choose to go the freebee route and not purchase the patterns...And if you do make great patterns charge SOMETHING for them, anything is better than free...
And for those of you who make items for sale, charge something that gives you a profit! And if you make gifts for people don't give them to people who are snarky about it, just make things for people who appreciate the gifts!
Why? Self Esteem people...What we do is a SKILL, do you here me!???? A skill is something that takes time, practice and talent to achieve, it's not just something you're born with, and that skill has value....
As long as we give it away, who's going to value it?
Monday, October 13, 2008
Back from Vacation and to work....egads...
Hey there folks...
Ok, I'm still sick, but finally recovering. Had a great vacation, I even got to crochet! WHOOT! And as I wait for the PDF to finish distilling I will be uploading the revised book, with all the necessary changes. Hopefully tomorrow AM our beloved Technogoddess will upload the new version of the book cover...which should me a better thumbnail on Amazon.com....YAY...
Some of the very nifty changes that we made since we were redoing things anyway was to include page numbers...They would have been in the first version but unfortunately my computer was not cooperating, and I was stressed and tired and opted to live without it versus killing my laptop.
In a more relaxed frame of mine I have included these things so that they actually show on each page (long story), and now have a table of contents that reflect the page numbers (time consuming by worth it)...Also, Carol Ventura granted permission to flip the skull chart for the Tapestry Crochet UFO Bag so that lefties don't have to flip the chart in a mirror! YAY...I'll try to get that posted on the errata page tonight for you wonderful lefties who already purchased the book!
So hopefully in a day or so I can approve the book to be a go again, and we'll be on our way to Crochet History!
Ok, I'm still sick, but finally recovering. Had a great vacation, I even got to crochet! WHOOT! And as I wait for the PDF to finish distilling I will be uploading the revised book, with all the necessary changes. Hopefully tomorrow AM our beloved Technogoddess will upload the new version of the book cover...which should me a better thumbnail on Amazon.com....YAY...
Some of the very nifty changes that we made since we were redoing things anyway was to include page numbers...They would have been in the first version but unfortunately my computer was not cooperating, and I was stressed and tired and opted to live without it versus killing my laptop.
In a more relaxed frame of mine I have included these things so that they actually show on each page (long story), and now have a table of contents that reflect the page numbers (time consuming by worth it)...Also, Carol Ventura granted permission to flip the skull chart for the Tapestry Crochet UFO Bag so that lefties don't have to flip the chart in a mirror! YAY...I'll try to get that posted on the errata page tonight for you wonderful lefties who already purchased the book!
So hopefully in a day or so I can approve the book to be a go again, and we'll be on our way to Crochet History!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
#17 and rising!!!
Wow! I just checked where the Crochet Liberation Front First Ever Book stood on Amazon.com's list of Crochet Books! We come up #17 in the search! WOWOWOWOWOWOWEEE!
That's beyond cool guys! The more books we sell, the more we can do in the future...I'm hoping the Christmas season influences our "market" a little so that I have money in the bank when we finally get to the place for submissions with book #2 that I can pay for patterns...We're getting there!
Did you notice the ticker? The $880 is what I need to reimburse my grocery money for contributor copies of the book ;) After that we get to start the ticker towards 10,000 books! If we get to 10,000 copies I will write a gift check to each person who contributed!
Like I have said repeatedly I will not be satisfied if I am the only one who benefits, it must benefit as many as possible!
That's beyond cool guys! The more books we sell, the more we can do in the future...I'm hoping the Christmas season influences our "market" a little so that I have money in the bank when we finally get to the place for submissions with book #2 that I can pay for patterns...We're getting there!
Did you notice the ticker? The $880 is what I need to reimburse my grocery money for contributor copies of the book ;) After that we get to start the ticker towards 10,000 books! If we get to 10,000 copies I will write a gift check to each person who contributed!
Like I have said repeatedly I will not be satisfied if I am the only one who benefits, it must benefit as many as possible!
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