I love the look of bold, graphic quilt-inspired crocheted afghans and there is a great one on the cover of the December issue.

Perfect for the holiday season, the Christmas Star Throw is a great project for hours of easy stitching.  Each two-color square is started at one point and increased to the center where the next color is joined and decreased to the opposite point. Four totally white squares are added to the two-color blocks to complete the afghan.

What gives this dramatic throw its bold look is in the finishing. But this also makes the throw a little bit more of a challenging project. Take it slow and pay attention to the details and you’ll be able to complete this project perfectly. Once each block is crocheted, you add a single crocheted edge making sure the stitch count is the same for each block; an important step to make sure all the blocks go together beautifully! Designer, Deb Arch, provides a little trick to help with this.

The blocks are then joined using a new seaming technique that makes all the difference in the finishing of this stunning throw. Designer Deb Arch, always one to come up with new innovative techniques, has once again found the perfect solution!

Her Layered Edge Slip Stitch or LESS seaming technique is not only the perfect choice for this afghan, but I bet you will find yourself using this technique to join other motifs as well.

Watch the tutorial video here and add this one to your arsenal of crochet techniques for future projects!

Get the December issue with the Christmas Star Throw and over 24 other great projects for gift-giving and holiday decorating at your favorite craft or book store or order it here.

The new December issue is sure to put you in a holiday mood!

Packed with 25 projects for home decorating and gift-giving,

you’ll want to grab your crochet hook and get stitching!

In addition to the Christmas Star Throw on the cover, you’ll find three

more afghans perfect for adding a festive touch to your home.

There are 5 ornaments including both quick and easy designs

and beautiful threadwork.

This issue is packed with projects perfect for gift-giving including

this fun Snowman Basket

and this adorable Holiday Jumper.

Or surprise someone with this cute Christmas Puppy!

You’ll find lots of ideas for quick and easy gifts too!

See all 25 designs here and be sure to look for the

December issue at your favorite book or craft store.

Happy Stitching!

Do you love to crochet? Do you wish you could get together with other crocheters to socialize, learn and just have fun? Do you know about the Crochet Guild of America?

If not, you are in for a real treat! And this month is the perfect time to learn more about CGOA and join during their membership drive at a reduced rate.

CGOA was created when a passionate and determined crocheter, Gwen Blakley Kinsler, began searching for like-minded people who wanted to get together to share “everything crochet!” With a few volunteers in place, they launched the first conference in 1994 with 90 crochet enthusiasts in attendance! By the second conference the attendees voted to become an official not-for-profit.

“The mission of CGOA shall be to create an environment which provides education, networking, resources, and a national standard for the quality, art, and skill of crochet through creative endeavors which preserve the heritage of crochet.”

The organization is now 24 years old is still going strong. In addition to a fun-packed yearly conference, the organization offers many benefits including free patterns, masters program, a yearly subscription to Crochet! magazine (an Annie’s publication), local chapters, and much more!

“The Crochet Guild of America (CGOA) is all about crochet. It is the only national organization dedicated to the craft of crochet with nearly 3,000 members.

RECEIVE. As a member, you’ll receive a subscription to Crochet! Magazine, free patterns, and member discounts.

CONNECT. You can connect with crocheters of diverse backgrounds online or in real time at local chapter meetings and the annual conference.

LEARN. Learn and demonstrate advanced skills and receive recognition.

CREATE. You will be inspired to create amazing, innovative designs using all you’ve seen and learned!”

If you join during the month of October, not only will you get all the benefits of CGOA at a discounted rate, but each week you can enter to win a prize package donated by CGOA sponsors! Enter by October 8 to win the Annie’s prize package worth over $100.00 pictured here.

Make sure to visit the CGOA website and take a look around at all this great organization is doing to promote crochet. And plan to join me at the conference in July 2019 in Manchester, New Hampshire! CGOA will be celebrating 25 years and this is one party you don’t want to miss!

The new fall Signature Designs Collection is here! Just in time for fall, you’ll find over 15 brand new designs for your wardrobe.

Lena Skvagerson, Lead Designer for Annie’s Signature Collection shares her inspiration behind the beautiful designs she has created. “‘Glory’ means magnificence, great beauty, or to take pride in something. That’s exactly what fills my mind when I hear it, and it perfectly describes how great I feel about this new collection.

My goal was to create a collection of fashion-forward garments appealing to women passionate about quality design. The cooling of autumn, sandwiched between blazing summer and chilly winter, offers earlier nighttime arrivals and temperatures dropping. This will be an amazing fall, and I would love to have you come along with me and explore.”

The collection includes patterns for long cardigans, sweaters, shrugs, cowls, shawls, vests, hats and more. Most projects are crochet with worsted weight or chunky yarn making them ideal for our busy lifestyle.

All patterns are available individually with yarn selections for each project available on the same page, so you know your results will be sunning!

Click here to view the entire collection. You’ll also find an adorable baby collection for fall here.

This new issue is filled with colorful confections that are sure to have you heading for your craft store looking for the new cake yarns! Cake yarns get their name from the way they are packaged to look like a round cake, revealing the tantalizing color palette in each skein.

In addition to the new cakes yarns, self-striping yarns with long color repeats are currently trending too; all tempting us to pick up our crochet hooks!

Colorful Crochet is packed with over 40 must-make projects all crocheted with minimal color changes. The yarn does all the work!

Make a pretty wrap just in time for Fall. The Shades of Autumn Wrap is crocheted on the diagonal alternating rows of filet mesh and double crochet which shows off the variation of the yarn beautifully.

The Bandolier Vest makes a great transition piece when the weather starts turning cooler. Crocheted with just 2 cakes of yarn, the colors cascade along the fronts creating a pretty tonal effect.

The Kimono Cardi is crocheted in a self-striping yarn with a tweedy look. This topper is easy enough to attempt for your first garment and quick enough for an experienced stitcher to make in a snap! Cozy and warm too!

You’ll find lots of great projects to crochet for your home in this special issue. Throws, baskets, a pillow and a rug, are included in this collection, all made with today’s hottest self-striping yarns! Fill these Shell Stitch Nesting Baskets with seasonal decorations to add a colorful touch to any room.

Or make the dramatic Slanted Stripes Throw featured on the cover. A solid colored yarn borders the panels for maximum impact.

The Layer of Leaves Pillow is not only fun to make but will add a pop of color that will brighten any room.

We’ve included cute projects to make for little ones too! The Patchwork Puppy is a longtime favorite updated in a new color scheme. Instead of hunting for a bunch of scraps, just one skein of a self-striping yarn does the trick!

The Everyday Hoodie is perfect for cool days. Crocheted from the top down, this seamless project is not only fun to make, but you’ll have it done in no time!

Need a gift for a new baby? The Rainbow Star Baby Blanket is easy to make with just one cake of self-striping yarn! And the results are spectacular!

With over 40 fun, colorful projects you’ll have a hard time deciding which one to make first! Look for Colorful Crochet at your favorite book or craft store or get your copy here.