Meet Cherie Bernatt, our featured designer in the August 2019 issue of Crochet World.

Her Popcorn Valley Throw featured in the August issue is a fun twist on the traditional chevron design adding popcorn stitches and lacy areas, creating this stunning one-color throw.

Popcorn Valley Throw
Crochet World Magazine
August 2019

Although Cherie has been crocheting for over 20 years, her designs have recently been appearing in Crochet World and Crochet! magazines.

Knotted Fringe Pillow
Crochet Home
Crochet! Special Issue
April 2019

Cherie says, “While I was in elementary school my mom taught me to crochet, and by middle school my first full-size afghan was finished. By the time I was in my thirties and had a family of my own, we were settled in Florida, where the heat made traditional afghans, heavy sweaters and winter hats almost useless. And yet I still wanted to crochet— it relaxed me! So, I experimented with thread crochet and loved it! I began designing earrings, necklaces, lace-weight tops, inserts and anything else that could be made with thread and still be enjoyed in a warm climate. Of course, I still played with yarn, but my love of thread just made sense.

Spring In Your Step Topper
Crochet! Magazine
Spring 2019

Through the process I discovered I love designing as much as—if not more than—crocheting itself. So, I started Crochet Mon Cherie, began sharing my patterns online and in print, and started my career as a freelance designer.

Sandy Shells Dishcloth Set
Crochet! Magazine
Summer 2019

Today, my favorite parts of crochet are hosting crochet-alongs (the crochet community is so fun and supportive!) and admiring a finished project—what a feeling of satisfaction! I am currently working on the third volume of my earring collection, and I still get totally excited every time I finish a new design!”

You can find Cherie on Ravelry, Instagram, Facebook and Etsy.

For patterns featured here go to Annie’s and search by magazine title.

The August issue is now available as a digital download and will soon be on the newsstands, so let’s take a look at some of the great projects in this new issue.

This issue seemed like the perfect time to explore new ways to use filet crochet. With warmer days still ahead, filet crochet is perfect for light and airy garments like the Southwest Sunrise Shawl featured on the cover,

and the Drifting Tee crocheted in sport weight cotton yarn.

You’ll also find beautiful filet projects to make for your home such as the Double Diamonds pillows, the Infinity Edge Table Runner and the Diamond Posy Throw.

With summer winding down and thoughts turning to cooler weather, we have included a whole chapter devoted to sampler-style afghans.

Featuring a variety of stitches and techniques, each afghan is a fun way to learn something new, with the added benefit of a gorgeous project to show off or give as a gift when completed.

With over 20 designs, I am sure you’ll want to add a few new projects to your crochet ‘to-do’ list! If you love thread crochet, you’ll find four projects to tempt you including the Fall Blossoms doily.

There’s an adorable baby blanket perfect for self-striping yarns.

and the perfect poncho for cooler nights to come.

See all the projects here and look for your copy at your favorite book or craft store beginning June 25!

You know how excited you get when beginning a new crochet project? The joy of picking up your crochet hook and trying a new stitch or yarn? Recently I learned of a young boy who is all about spreading joy and happiness through crochet. At the age of 11, Jonah Larson has become a crochet ambassador, spreading his love of crochet with a big smile and a big heart.

Touted as a crochet prodigy and master crocheter, Jonah first picked up a crochet hook at the age of 5 when his aunt dropped off a bag of craft supplies that she no longer used. Jonah found a crochet hook and asked his mom what it was. When Jonah informed her that he wanted to learn to crochet, she found a YouTube instructional video for him to watch, as she does not crochet herself. After watching dozens of videos, Jonah taught himself to crochet and made a dishcloth as his first project—perfectly, according to his mom! And, as Jonah will tell you, from that moment on he was hooked!

Jonah went on to make hundreds of hats, dozens of afghans and scores of his signature cowls. It seems any conceivable project that can be crocheted, Jonah has made successfully, at least once! Over time Jonah gained confidence, speed and the ability to look at any pattern or crocheted item and re-create it. As a matter of fact, at age 11, Jonah can crochet through almost 25 skeins of yarn a week, all while attending school and maintaining excellent grades!

These would be amazing accomplishments for anyone, but there is more to this story. Jonah began life as an abandoned infant in Ethiopia before he was adopted by the Larson family. And that may be just the reason for Jonah’s big heart and desire to see others succeed. Jonah donates money from his crochet business, Jonah’s Hands, to help support Roots Ethiopia, a nonprofit organization that focuses on improving schools, educating children and creating jobs. Through his Instagram feed, which his mother manages, Jonah takes orders for his creations and then works on his crochet projects after school.

Jonah clearly loves to crochet, but he also enjoys spreading the joy by teaching others. He has shared the craft of crochet with state politicians, his teachers and classmates, and through numerous local and national TV guest appearances. He even has his own YouTube channel where you can watch tutorials on his latest projects.

With all the social media attention, not just crocheters are taking notice. Jonah recently became a spokesperson for Yarnspirations and is writing a book about his life (so far!), which is slated to be published this summer by KWiL Publishing.

But all the fame and notoriety has not changed Jonah’s generous nature and quick smile. Jonah is not only an ambassador for crochet, but he is keen to share kindness and joy with everyone he meets. True to his life philosophy, the title of his soon-to-be-published book sums it all up: Hello, Crochet Friends! Making Art, Being Mindful, Giving Back: Do What Makes You Happy.

You can learn more about Jonah on his Facebook page, Instagram or YouTube channel by searching for Jonah’s Hands. Look for more about Jonah’s book at anniescatolog.com and watch for an exclusive pattern designed by Jonah in the December 2019 issue of Crochet World!

Photos of Jonah courtesy of Jennifer Larson.

Where to begin! I love every project in this issue, so showing you just a few sneak peeks of the June issue is going to be hard. But you can go here and see them all!

I am partial to all shades of blue. I always think of the beach and the ocean – favorite summer places to go.

First on my to-do list is new designer Debra Lea’s Beach Walk Scarf. This pretty turquoise bamboo fingering weight yarn from Kristin Omdahl Yarns is perfect for summertime crocheting and wearing. The beaded trim adds a touch of sparkle and weight to the flirty fringe!

The Summer Breeze Throw is so perfect! This throw is sure to give your beach cottage, front porch or sunlit bedroom a summery feel all season long.

And I love this award-winning Tunisian shawl from designer Karen McKenna. The Caribbean Blues Shawl will win you over with its pretty texture and just the right amount of beads at the scalloped edging.

With over 9 projects to choose from in the Summertime Blues chapter, I bet you’ll find a project to add to your crochet to-do list too!

We’ve also included 7 Grab & Go projects perfect for taking along on road trips and summer vacations. I never leave home or travel without a project along. It makes travelling so much more enjoyable! And I have to admit crocheting at the beach watching the waves ebb and flow is one of my favorite summer pastimes!

And don’t forget to make the Perfect Project Pouch first so you can take along your latest crochet creation!

In this issue, you’ll also find two projects perfect for summer weddings,

a Crochet Angel to watch over your stitching time,

part 1 of Layers of Lace, an award-winning table mat,

a Long & Lacy Vest and so much more! 26 summery projects in all!

Get started now with a digital download here. Or get your copy at your favorite book or craft store April 30th!

Michele Wilcox is our featured designer in the 2019 issue of Crochet World. As a matter of fact, her Spring Cottage Kitchen Set is on the cover!

You’ll also find an adorable Baby Bunny designed by Michele in the April issue too!

Michele’s whimsical style and crochet expertise make her patterns recognizable and some of the most popular patterns with crocheters and knitters alike.

The Noah’s Ark Blanket which originally appeared in the May 2008 issue of Crochet! magazine has over 500 finished projects listed on Ravelry and was recently featured the Crochet World newsstand special, All-Time Favorite Afghans.

Michele shares with us, “I learned to knit around age 5 from my wonderful grandmother. I immediately fell in love with knitting and made many scarves full of dropped stitches! Over the years I continued to knit, but it was not until the birth of my second child that I taught myself to crochet. My first try was an adorable puppy pattern and, not realizing it, I crocheted the whole thing inside out! It turned out to be a cute project and I was excited to try more patterns.

I started designing because, growing up, I wanted to be a fashion designer and always loved to draw and paint. Once I started crocheting, I guess it was just meant to be, and now I love what I do. I sold my first design to Annie’s Publishing in the early 1980s and now have more than 500 designs that have been published by Annie’s, as well as hundreds of additional designs printed by many other companies.

My favorite things to design are toys, afghans, hats, pillows and scarves, but I’m always up for a challenge when a new idea presents itself!”

If you especially love Michele’s whimsical and heartwarming stuffed animal designs, you may want to check out her Annie’s online video class, Learn to Crochet Amigurumi .

In this class, beginner through experienced crocheters will learn dozens of Michele’s tips and tricks for crocheting, stuffing, assembling and adding embroidered accents to create adorable toys. And that is sure to make someone smile!