As we anticipate the first day of spring on March 20 and Easter on April 4, now is the time to start crocheting bunnies, treat baskets and spring hat projects. We have lots of fun and fanciful design suggestions for you, so let's get started!
Our April Issue
Cover Story:
It's Spring!
9 More Projects For Spring Stitching!
Also Featured:
Learn to Dye Your Own Yarn!
Our Photo Tutorial Shows You How
20 Colorful Projects To Stitch For Spring!
Purchase Select Patterns from Crochet World
Talking Crochet Newsletter |
In the World of Crochet |
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Every crochet designer has a passion. Some are known for their clothing, others specialize in afghans and there are those who are inspired to create accessories. Among doll designers, the crochet world is fortunate to have Yolonda Jordan, who creates wonderful and unusual dolls of color. Yolonda is a crochet designer, a self-proclaimed "one-woman show." Her dolls are small versions of women, men and children with many hues of brown skin tones and natural hair-inspired hairstyles. As she says on her website, www.myprettybrowndoll.com, "I'm a brown girl who loves the skin she's in, and this is just my small part in making sure that little and not-so-little brown girls see the 'pretty' in every shade of brown." |
Favorite Finds
I came across this pattern book in the library and it caught my eye. As one who knits and crochets, I've experienced the Fair Isle knitting technique and was immediately drawn into Natasja's adaptation of the technique into crochet. As one who prefers to crochet, the vintage style of Fair Isle Crochet Workshop offers lots of gorgeous patterns to make in geometric patterns from blankets, pillows and ottomans to plant baskets, wall hangings and creative bags. The patterns are accompanied by clear color charts and beautiful photographs of the finished projects.
The book begins with a clear explanation of the Fair Isle crochet technique in which several different colors of yarn are used to create geometric patterns. You work with one color and allow the other yarn(s) to be carried throughout the entire piece. In essence, what you're doing is crocheting around the yarn not in use. This results in the finished work being thicker and stronger than normal crochet. If your row is a single color, Natasja suggests carrying the same color yarn across the row by cutting a piece a few inches longer than your finished row in order to maintain texture and thickness. Since Fair Isle crochet only uses one stitch, it is easy to follow the pattern, and a conversion of UK terms to US terms is included.
Two patterns stood out as I paged through this pattern book—the Scandinavian-style Throw and the Clutch Bag. The black and white base colors of these designs are timeless and clean. The crisp lines make the geometric patterns and rows of color pop. Make in the yarn and color choices suggested or adapt them to fit your personal decor.
Go one step further in crochet while opening up a whole new world of possibilities by utilizing the Fair Isle crochet technique (a derivative of mochila and tapestry crochet) to create any of the 15 projects found in Fair Isle Crochet Workshop. These stunning items are easy to make and will add a touch of style to any room in your home.
Fair Isle Crochet Workshop is available at www.searchpress.com and www.amazon.com
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