Tomorrow the world!

I know that some of you out there in crochetland have learnt your skill and maybe you've hidden it away or decided that it just wasn't enough for you. I certainly feel that way about alot of things (strangely hockey was one of those things for me!!!).

However...I absolutely know that some of you are literally 'hooked' and want to make and learn more about crochet every day. The trouble with that is there is only so much room in a home for all the cushions, scarves, pins and doilies and the frustration comes when the space gives up. At the same time maybe the items you make are getting a bit of a following and friends (and even interested strangers) are asking where you got those gorgeous crochet items from. When that happens, have you thought of marketing some of them?

There are a multitude of ways - local markets, e-bay, your own web-site; but often that involves an initial outlay which might not be in your business plans just yet.

I'm a devoted fan (not a participant yet, but that's because I just haven't found space in the day yet) of Etsy, an online market-place for those who are truly keen to get their items to a larger public. To sign up is very simple and then you can 'own' and manage your own shop and offer to a world-wide market. Just click on etsy and away you go. I've spent many happy hours browsing all the talented people out in the great wide world and there's no reason why you shouldn't be there too!!!

Another arena are on-line shops which do require you to invest more than just your skills but will do alot of the very necessary promotion work that goes into telling everyone about yourself. I have a 'shop' with a great e-department store called notonthehighstreet.com and if you want to see what is expected of the potential crochet business then do check out my homepage I've posted a few of the projects that sell well and which have become a bit of a stock-in-trade for me.

Anyway, off you go!!!

Curiosity!!!

Well, thanks to a surfeit of curiosity just days before Christmas I've been unable to post any news - crochet or otherwise - as I broke my leg whilst rushing outside to watch fireworks!!!! I've missed not pondering on all things wooly and now I'm sort of back to a normal life I realised how long it is since I posted anything. I'm walking almost normally but that's pretty much thanks to my 'big boot'!! Everything has slowed right down - well, mainly me and so I've been doing loads of crochet. I'm really excited at the moment as I've got a little project brewing and I hope to be getting really involved with alot of the vintage patterns I've collected with a view to publishing them. So...I'm really excited with all things 50's - nipped-in waists and beautiful collars. Just wait and see.

At the same time I've been spending lots of time looking for beautiful design on the internet and I've stumbled on a wonderful pair of blogs that I know you'll love. They're not directly connected with crochet but, hey, we don't want to be narrow-minded.

Anyway, the first is a site so diverse and interesting it puts me quite to shame. This, to me, is the mother and father of all blogs - design*sponge - and there are hundreds of wonderful postings and links so please, please go there.

The second is also a lovely, chatty blog that is very similar and is obviously more connected with print and textiles - print and pattern - but here too you'll find gorgeous things to inspire and lots of links. All these skills including crochet are so interlinked and we can all benefit with a little dip into different 'professions'.

Now I'm back I'll post some more stitches this week and a pattern so please keep checking.

Telling secrets

Here's a little confession - I am seriously addicted to bidding for vintage crochet (and some knitting) patterns on E-bay. E-bay.com to be precise. The US market is a positive treasure-chest of wonderful patterns and books from the 1940's and 50's with a heavy european influence. If you're interested in the buzz around the couture exhibition at the V & A, you'll recognize the wonderful design that goes into many of these patterns; and they're there for you to make!!!

Now for the secret!! In order to get me over this addiction I thought part of my 12-step programme (or maybe 1-step!) would be to tell you of my favourite 'sellers'. This is a little piece of gold for you if you really want to get into crocheting clothes for yourselves so don't miss it.

bethm4767

domesticbliss*boutique

kate_e_didit

mon_vintage_mode

There - it's done - I feel soooo much better.

Let me know if you have any success!!!

The picture is from one of the recent sales.

Vintage Crochet at Loop

I had a lovely afternoon at Loop on Sunday (that's buying yarns!) at the book launch of Susan's beautiful new books, Pretty Knits and Vintage Crochet. Of course, Vintage Crochet is my personal fave and there are tons of 'must do' patterns including 7 of my own!!! I know you'll be dying to try the gorgeous things featured and I'd love to hear of your results so don't forget to post pictures or comments. Take a look - it's available in the shops and on Amazon so there's nothing stopping you!!!

Slouchy beret 1947

Louis Vuitton got it right this season with a generously warm and stylish beret - I love hats because I get such cold ears, so I'm hoping to get this made before it gets much colder. As you can see this lovely one is made in felt but I reckon a nice double knit in one of the new shades (deep berry purple!!! Mmmmm) should look divine. If you do go for a DK then use a 4mm hook. This should give should give the right amount of drape without getting too floppy than sloppy!

This pattern is taken from a wonderfully titled publication of 1947, 'Woman's Day Crochet Annual'.

Starting at centre of crown, ch 3. Join with sl st to form ring.

1st rnd: 9 htr in ring. Place a marker to indicat beginning of rnds. When working the rest of this beret, care must be taken to pick up the 2nd loop on back so that the 2 remaining loops of each hrt will appear like one continuous chain.

2nd rnd: Picking up the 2nd back loop of each htr, make 2 htr (an increase) in each htr around (18 htr).

3rd rnd: *htr in 2nd back loop of next htr, 2 htr in next loop. Repeat from * around,.

4th rnd: * Htr in next 2 htr, 2 htr in next htr. Repeat from * around.

Continue in this manner, increasing 1 htr in each 2 htr group, until 24 rnds have been completed.

UNDERSIDE OF BERET: Now dec 1 htr - to dec 1 htr, work 2 htr as 1 htr - over each increase (9sts decreased on rnd). Repeat the last rnd 14 more times, having the decreases fall over each other on each rnd.

Next rnd: dc in each htr around.

Following rnd: dc in each dc around. Repeat the last rnd 5 more times. Break off at end of last rnd.

Good luck if you do decide to try your crochet hands at this. Let me know how you get on!!!!

Simple techniques to create an effect

Well, it's been a touch chaotic here in the Bee Home what with new kitchen and new project. That brings me neatly to this new post. I've been gathering a collection of fashion patterns together, from the host of vintage crochet and knit books I've collected over the years, for a possible book plan. It's still early days but it led me to think about adapting knit patterns to crochet. As we all know, the two skills differ in many ways and, certainly, there are certain techniques that only knit knows how!!! However, crochet has a few tricks up it's very trendy sleeve and it doesn't need to go snivelling to big sister knit all the time.

Creating rib patterning is just one of those occasions. Obviously, knitted rib is unique but if you do want to work an area in crochet there are several ways to achieve a 'rib' affect. I have in my pile of books a rather funky 'how to' book called From Needles to Hook (The Needlecraft Shop) with many examples of 'how to adapt' pieces.

Some of the examples are outrageous and I wouldn't suggest taking everything to heart. Anyhoo, there are some ways of achieving rib I thought I'd pass on.

First, Back Loop double crochet. Measure the height of the rib section you wish to crochet and chain the number equivalent to this plus one. Dc into 2nd ch from hook and dc to end; ch 1, turn. Dc into the back loop of each dc to end. Continue in this manner on each row until piece is the desired width or length of your project. You'll achieve a sort of 'train track' effect.

Another method is to use front and back post trebles across the width of the piece to achieve a raised rib. Basket weave is another texture which combines back loop and post stitches. Check it out.

Jack Frost bags

As you probably are well-aware I am a fanatical collector of post-war American knitwear patterns. They are really chocfull of fabulous designs with a relevance to fashion today. The Jack Frost company was one of the real leaders in this and their pattern books are shot in such a wonderfully 'noir' way that gives everything a great retro quality. Bag patterns in the late 1940's were everywhere and JF produced several in this tradition. I'm passing just a few patterns on to you but I have many more where that came from!!!!