With the holidays fast approaching, this update is filled with several last-minute gift ideas. So, grab a cup of coffee or cocoa and take a look at our suggestions for quick-to-make crochet gifts and clever stocking stuffers for everyone on your Christmas list!
Our February Issue
Cover Story:
Amazing Accessories
Get Creative With Bobbles
Also Featured:
Gorgeous Thread Pieces
You'll Love to Make!
Plus 16 Timeless Classics
For Your Home
Purchase Select Patterns from Crochet World
Talking Crochet Newsletter |
In the World of Crochet |
|
|
Here’s an interesting fact about the designers whose work is featured in Crochet World and Crochet! magazines: They are talented women and men from around the world. Most designs come from the United States, but there’s wonderful creativity from Canada, France, India, Mexico, The Netherlands, Italy, Great Britain, Australia, Sweden and other countries. You’ve “met” a Russian designer in this column. There’s a lot of crochet work from the countries of the former USSR, so now you’ll get to know another designer, Maria Vlasova, whose pattern is featured in this issue. Maria creates something very unusual: crocheted baby products such as nursing necklaces, rattles and teethers. Allow a baby to safely teethe on a crocheted item?! Yes! She offers a beautiful, colorful array of readymade pieces in her Etsy shop, MaraBooHandmade, and downloadable patterns as well. Read the full article in our February 2022 issue |
Favorite Finds
I don’t know about you, but I am a big fan of stitch diagrams in crochet. Due to the confines of the publishing process, we are not always able to include stitch diagrams in the pages of Crochet World magazine, but that shouldn’t stop you from creating your own. I do this quite often but then find my sloppy drawings are hard to follow at times. While surfing around the internet one day, I came across The Crochet Cypher by Jasmin Jones. Hallelujahs rang through my head! Finally, something easy to use to make my drawings more legible without having to have fancy computer software!
Here’s the backstory for this little gem of a project (as told to me by the creator): “I created my first crochet symbol stencil over 12 years ago, like many inventions it was born out of a desire and necessity. At the time I was wanting to chart some vintage word patterns neatly.
“I thought if only I had a little stencil… so I set about making one using my jewelry CAD program, and it worked a treat! Over the years as I expanded in crochet, so did my little stencil and when I started teaching crochet I sold a few to my students. I thought about marketing it; I talked about marketing it... and I eventually talked myself out of it, as crochet software started to emerge. Lots of time went by, then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and like so many people’s, life was turned upside down. I had time to reflected on a myriad of things and revisit some old ideas. And so The Crochet Cypher was finally born.
“Of course, it’s not designed to replace the software. It’s a simple stencil tool to help chart your crochet notes and patterns neatly.”
This lovely little tool comes in a nice cardboard protector so that you can carry it around in your project bag and use it when you need it. Made of flexible plastic, it is easy to use, lightweight and durable. I tested it by drawing out the stitch repeat for rnd 3 of Square #1, one of the Resplendent Squares patterns by Gemma Owen (see photos on pages 22–24). You can get your own Crochet Cypher by visiting Jasmin’s website, www.thecrochetcypher.com.
Be sure to keep an eye on Jasmin’s work by following her on social media as well.
Follow Us On ...