More of a good thing

You know I'm a huge fan of Japanese crochet and knit books and I know many of you are too!! This fires up my research antennae and I'm always on the look-out for new suppliers and sources for our obsession.

Yesterday, while browsing the lovely French crochet blogs that I have listed on the right side of the blog, I came across these lovely bags. I particularly loved the zing of citrus colours that these were made up with. The patterns were, of course, Japanese and that got me thinking that I needed to feed the addiction and see if I could track down some more supplies.

There are certainly plenty of shops on Etsy who have lovely selections. All you have to do is pop Japanese craft books in the Search window and away you go. I wanted to see what else was out there and Bingo! up came Select Yarn and how pleased I was. As well as patterns Norie (the founder) also stocks Japanese yarns and many are the selections for the patterns. I love the way you can 'look' in the books to see the patterns. It all helps with the choice.

At the moment, I'm enjoying crocheting a vintage 30's sweater but as soon as that's finished I'm going Japanese!!!

Nice touches

It's happened again! I've been purchasing Japanese craft books again!! This time the offending book is a lovely felting book with lots of ideas for my felt workshops in the summer.

Etsy is wonderful for the number of businesses in Japan who supply books, fabric and notions that all have that wonderful delicacy that is so typical of many Japanese products. I find that the delivery is fantastic from Japan to the UK. That's a long way and anything I order seems to arrive super-quick.

This week, however, came with an extra, and really beautiful surprise! Everything I've received so far from different suppliers comes beautifully wrapped with lovely little thoughtful touches. A ribbon here, a special bag there but the book I ordered this week came with a very special present. My own orgami swan. Neatly tucked in a wee envelope with Miss Bee on the front. Fabulous. I was completely charmed. Could we start a trend? Surely it could certainly cheer the world up as much as it did me.

Here's a list of my favourite sellers on Etsy for Japanese products -

The orgami bird and felt book came from Rocobee

Pompadour's Craft Cafe

My Etsy Shop

CottonBlue

Matatabi

A Little Goodness

Saucy Louise

Now you can see why it's a bit of an obsession of mine. Have fun browsing!

This one I saw earlier

In an earlier post I wrote about A Stitch in Time by Jane Waller and it's enduring appeal. It's the only book of it's kind that collected such a diverse selection of vintage knitting and crochet patterns over a 60-70 year period. For all us vintage fans that's quite a book to have in one's library. The problem was that for a long time it had been out of print since it's publication in the 1970's. It had become a collector's piece with a price tag to match. Now, hurray, the lovely people at knitonthenet have revived this grand old lady and spruced her up with new colour shots of the patterns and it is perfect. Even better is the price you'll have to pay, about £28 direct from knitonthenet. Their introduction sums it all up beautifully, 'This book is inspirational not just to the knitter but also to the designer, collector, fashion student, dress historian, stylist and anyone in love with yesteryear.'

If you are a lover of all things vintage then the internet will really cater for your needs. crochetpatterncentral is an ever-changing and increasing collection of many of the vintage patterns out there and is worth checking regularly.

My usual port-of-call is ebay and there are several sellers there who have regular sales of vintage knitting and crochet patterns through from the 1930's to the present day. If you're beginning to want to spread your wings into more challenging patterns then you can't go far wrong with a pattern from an earlier time. The 1940's and 50's patterns use techniques and styling that is sadly missing from many of the present day fashion patterns. I really recommend a visit.

I've included a couple of images from my collection of patterns from 1940's USA. Chic!!!

As a footnote to last weeks 'rug' posting take a look at this picture. Isn't this a great way to bring the floor to you!!! And, of course, you recognise the design from last week from the wonderful Paola Lenti.

Just to remind you

Thank you for all the nice comments you leave about the blog and my creative musings. It's really terrific to know that there are people from around the globe that like to read all about crochet.

While I was pondering on the next post I was still thinking about the last and I suddenly realised that there was a great example of what I'd been talking about, and right under my nose! Vintage Crochet by Susan Cropper at Loop with, of course, many wonderful designs (and some by me!!!).

The one that I was particularly recalling was the Picnic Blanket and the lovely picture that Kristin took on the gate into our neighbouring field. Lots of nice memories and I was especially pleased with how the blanket turned out. With a central panel crocheted in fabric and outer motifs in a combination of fabric and linen yarn from Texere, this was a project that worked out really well. The book is now in it's second print-run so it seems there are many crocheters who love it too.

Before you do anything in 2009

The reason I set up this blog was to keep the crochet community informed. It all started with my classes and an attempt to capture the enthusiasm I found there. I figured that if people loved crochet they'd love to read about it and extend their new-found knowledge.

I don't know if that worked out but I did find out that I really enjoyed the research and I found lots of crochet-crazees like me. It might not be the most read blog in the world but it did seem to be exactly what it says at the top. It has become a creative chain of like-minded people.

The important thing is to keep growing. If you love crochet as much as me, then check out these places for many hours of happy browsing. First off, Etsy, a terrific gathering place to buy and sell the handmade. I bought a ton of presents this year for Christmas and I was confident that what I was buying was a product of the designer. As far as crochet is concerned, apart from the many creators of crochet products, there many designers on the site who offer great pdf patterns for us to take a peek at.

Stitchdiva (one of their patterns is pictured here) is a treasury for the crocheter and knitter and I go there for any queries or info that I need. They love their crochet and there are tons of patterns on offer there and any amount of advice and help. Knitty (the lovely earring picture is at the top of our posting today) and Ravelry come into the same category. Ravelry is huge and you'll find many designers publish their ideas and patterns here. You have to submit for membership but that is a formality and once you're there then it's happy reading and discussing.

OK, that's a start on your journey and if you want to spread your wings a bit and have a good look at the chatter out in crochet land then you need to follow the chain. I find that there are a few really good general sites that I visit alot. Crochetinsider has some interesting interviews with crochet designers which will give you some idea of the process involved in design. Craft magazine is for all the craft skills but is a terrific resource for crochet ideas and links. In the same stable comes craftystylish which lets you into all sorts of crochet secrets. Last, but not least, Lion Brand yarns have free patterns and advice galore.

So now we begin another year and I'm ready with my hook to teach a few more to enjoy the skill as much as I do and to inspire more interest in its craft and design. Happy New Year!!!!!

A Toy Taster

Just to start with a cute little character to start off our Christmas ideas list. Gourmet crochet is a buy-online pattern service and they have some neat projects to get you going. I'll be featuring lots of ideas in the coming weeks but let this be the entree to a perfect meal! Just go to Dolls and take a peek.

Don't worry, be happy

It seems that the air is filled with concerned voices and fearfulness. I know it sounds superficial but sometimes you have to go back to basics to get your confidence back.

All of this made me think that Christmas this year should be an opportunity for investing more time (not money) in creating gifts that have more meaning and value because they have a personal creativity. I'm not alone. There are books being published every day and discussions in every paper and I spotted this article by the Sunday Times writer, India Knight. Her book, The Thrift Book: Live Well and Spend Less pretty much tells us what our mothers knew best. It's about time we learned some lessons from it. I've just completed another well-attended beginners' course of crochet classes and I can tell in my own little field that there's a hunger to pick up some long-forgotten skills. Learning was never so fun and potentially so profitable.

The internet is a-buzzin' with ideas and projects and I'll be looking at a few in the next few weeks. Before then, I wanted to alert you to a nice publication from the States (good luck to all of them today, by the way) which you may, or may not, already know about.

Craft: magazine is choc-full of ideas and projects and lots of crochet. I love this hanging decoration from Emilie Friday.

A digital version is available which is useful for international customers. There is an excellent blog which picks up on the magazine and it's contributors and it gives hours and hours of happy browsing. In addition, if you want to really enter the digital age, there are podcasts of patterns and projects. For more ideas there is a Flikr Craft: pool which features finished projects and work in progress. I love this one from Feltroterapia. There isn't much crochet there so...

...get to work!!!

Motifs and a pattern

The Japanese craft books are the greatest discovery I've made and I'm always seeking out new ones to add to my collection. At the moment my favourite is an Ondori book (ISBN978-4-277-17217-2) whose title I, sadly, cannot translate! Anyway, from the cover you can see why I mention it as it's full of nice 'granny motif' projects made beautiful by the careful choice of colours. I buy the books from Saucy Louise who has both a store of her own and an Etsy shop. If you're looking specifically for motif patterns she's got a several books. Another way to resource these wonderful books and magazines is through various web-sites and blogs. The two most useful I've found are Japan Craft Journal and Crafting Japanese.

I've also had a few requests for the pattern for the shirt-dress from my 1970 book 'Make It Crochet'. With great pleasure I'll post it for you here!!! Happy crochet!

Fa-Fa-Fa-Fashion

It's the start of a new chaincreative term and we're already here with our uniform pin-sharp and our new cutting-wedge haircut so no fashion disasters anticipated!!! That's because we're in a well-dressed frame of mind and looking forward to the Chaincreative Fashion Week A/W 2008 (I know, it should strictly be S/S 2009 but, er, I don't care).

I'm going to put up the flags for fashion - and I don't mean anything shapeless and drapey - and say that it's time to put fit back into crochet clothes. It's difficult for us Fashy victims who want to crochet to find anything contemporary which doesn't perhaps belong in the dressing-up box. Until now that is,...

...the publishers are beginning to wise-up with wonderful books like Susan Cropper's Vintage Crochet (selling fast, I'm glad to say) and the growing interest in vintage patterns (check out the web-sites on the right column).

The big problem is that the fashion herd move swift and unpredictably so it's hard for the published material to keep relevant. That leaves the yarn manufacturers and they aren't always the most responsive. I'm going to give a qualified hurrah for a few companies here and urge you to pester them for more thoughtful and challenging designs.

I think it goes without saying that Rowan have long served us well but the number of crochet patterns is heavily out-weighed by knit. Amongst the manufacturers that I've scanned on my radar, two US yarn suppliers, Lion and Berroco have moved into view. For those outside North America this isn't a problem; patterns are either free or are often available as downloadable PDF.

Berroco have a small selection of crochet clothing and these two patterns caught my eye. A simple little vintage jacket called Iota and for the sewing bees, Nell, a cute crochet yoke for a dress.

Lion Brand yarns are really quite intriguing. Last week, as you know, I had alot of fun browsing and chatting at Prick your Finger, and Rosemary showed me a couple of designs she was working on for Lion. Now that made me wonder if they're opening their design eyes a bit wider.

This is confirmed to some extent in their fashionshow in the Spring for their Fall/Winter collection at the Craft and Hobby show which revealed their lastest designs. Very interesting. I really liked the direction they're going in. There's a comprehensive list on Craftzine and more pictures on Natalie Zee Drieu's Flikr pages. My favourites are the adaptions of interior accessory patterns, Intarsia Brocade Afghan (the jacket is at the top of the post) and Jolt of Colour Afghan. Both have been adapted into garments which are totally within one's range of skills I think.

Make One Yarn Studio have a nice little collection too and the creamy sweater is very nicely shaped. NaturallyCaron.com have this sweet Aqua Aloha Top which is our third picture of the post.

The last word can go to a book I've been eyeing up, Double Stitch, from Interweave Press. The patterns from here could keep me safely tucked up for the winter!!

A day in country - July 2008

This weekend saw chaincreative's first 'A Day in the Country' of 2008. This was an opportunity for former students of mine from Loop to get together in lovely surroundings (my garden) to crochet, chat and swap experience of the yarns, patterns, glitches etc of the past few months. It was fabulous to see how complete beginners could become such amazingly skilled crocheters in a matter of such a short time! Everybody was able to bring finished and 'in progress' work to the table to compare and contrast and it was fascinating to see where everyone was going on this. In fact, each person had chosen a different path; interiors, fashion, embellishment, accessories and toys.

We started the day with...tea and coffee of course! Then on to some stitches that we rarely find in written patterns - loop stitch, spike stitch and cross stitch. That didn't give us too much trouble so, after lunch, it was on to a workshop on filet crochet. Not challenging in itself, it was interesting to scale down to the needle-thin hook and see just how skilled a professional fileter is in using such a small canvas to create their work. We had fun using the untraditional Coats Floretta in juicy pinks and yellows which really gave the style a trend zing. I thought a more extensive post on the subject is long overdue. Watch this blog!!!

The rest of the afternoon (there wasn't much of it left) was devoted to the basics of Tunisian crochet which is a personal favourite of mine, and very much to the rest of the group.

I'm glad that I can pass this skill on and get an enthusiastic response to it. I think it's really neglected and needs some updating of patterns and a wider profile.

Finally, after much happy talk about the lovely day, we displayed and admired the work that everyone had recently completed and said goodbye for now.

Name checks for all the lovely work.

Stacey - sad and sweet little bunny from Erika Knight 'Essential Crochet' Rowan Cotton Glace

Sarah - beautiful raspberry pink cardigan with ribbon from London Bead, Company. Yarn Rowan Cotton Glace

Kate - dress with crochet trim, designed and made by herself. You go, girl

Kim - Irish lace cushion cover in Sublime Cashmerino Silk DK from Crochet in No Time by Melody Griffiths

All yarns were from Loop London

Freeform crochet

I will confess that this is an area that I have very little experience in so I'll leave it to the experts. After Friday's post on the couture of Bjork I realised that freeform crochet is a huge area of expertise for many people and worth chaincreative taking a peek at.

I mentioned a designer Ana Voog who designs vast ranges of hats and Prudence Mapstone whose blog gives a guide on how to 'scrumble' or freeform crochet. There are numerous examples of the technique on her website and she gives workshops and arctic cruises too!!!

It looks to me as if there is alot of fun to be had if the spirit moves you on this and even some serious creative impulses for some. I'll leave the last word - or image to be precise - to Nicki Hitz Edson and her Czar head-dress.

A Stitch in Time and Jane Waller

Today is a holiday in the UK so I'm going to be a little bit lazy and post some info rather than patterns for your enjoyment. Mind you, this info comes with a gilded lining as there is just a chance that a lost treasure might be returning in an accessible (cheaper!!!) form.

For many, the definitive collection of 20th century knitting and crochet patterns was A Stitch in Time by Jane Waller. Published in the 1970's it contained 336 pages of patterns spanning the period of the 20's to the 40's and all for the price of £8.50. Sadly, I had to pay a ten times that amount for my copy 3 years ago and at the moment you would have to do the same. E-bay, Amazon - they all tell the same story. This is an extremely collectible book and with good reason. The patterns are published in their origingal form, with a small selection made up for the book in contemporary representations. The man's swimming suit is divine!!! The crochet patterns are outnumbered by the knitting but their are some gems and I particularly love the 'Wool Lace Party "Pretties"'.

Now the good news. There are plans afoot to republish this classic from knitonthenet with a publication date planned for September of this year. The author, Jane Waller, is a prolific writer and has many publications to her name. Like me, she's fascinated by her collection of vintage patterns which she tells about in an interview with knitonthenet. To spike your interest in the wonderful design and creations of this period, you can trawl the e-waves through the links in my pattern links.

Buying patterns on e-bay is also a sinch and I have a number of sellers who regularly have fabulous patterns in their auctions. Buying in the US market affords greater choice and the design of post-war America was wonderful. They really got Paris!!!

Japanese pattern books on Etsy

Imagine the excitement when this package arrived all the way from Japan! Three neat pattern books with fabulous photography, worthy of any style mag. Even if you didn't want to make anything, they would still be a pleasure to flick through.

But, hey, that just isn't the case. You want to make everything, and in those colours, those yarns, everything!! Bags, scarves, throws, slippers, the list is endless. Instructions are in Japanese, but with clear symbol diagrams, pictures and images, so completely multi-lingual.

I bought these from SaucyLouise's Shop on Etsy. Lou Eytalis may be saucy, but she certainly is efficient and the books arrived in double-quick time. The books she lists on Etsy are her current collection but you can also check her web-shop for the full list and for those she has listed but which are sold out. She will try and source books for you as well, which is great as I still haven't worked out how to 'break into' Amazon Japan! Any suggestions would be gratefully received.

Welcome back, Alicia

Alicia has very kindly allowed me to publish some of her pictures to support this post so now you can appreciate her skill and dip into some of her creativity yourself. Like many other designers out there, Alicia publishes patterns for us to enjoy and purchase, and so is perfect for our Pattern Monday here on chaincreative.

On rosylittlethings Alicia taps into a strong memory of mine as a child. Being an only, I seemed to have many spare hours just playing around with needles and pins, making my own clothes, knitting and, lately, crochet! As Alicia says, she 'dreams in calico and crochet hooks', and now that my daughter is studying fashion design, I'm back to those days too.

I adore her ice-cream pink 'Snowbunny Hat' and the crispy-crunchy blue of her 'Cecily Baby Cardigan'.

If you're a frequent visitor to Loop in London, then you'll see some of her work on display and, of course, she is there for all of us to enjoy in Vintage Crochet by Susan Cropper (you'll even find some patterns of yours truly!).