Hello dear friends!

So sorry it’s been awhile. I’ve been swamped with projects for publication, so much so that I almost forgot to post about my latest published pattern, the Sunrise Necklace in the May/June issue of Crochet Today! magazine.

This is a chunky, modern necklace made of interlocking crocheted rings. It’s much simpler to make than it looks, and it works up very quickly!

It’s an honor to be published in Crochet Today! It’s such a bright, fresh publication that I always enjoy getting in the mail.  This pattern and many, many more are featured in the current issue, on newsstands now! Check it out!

Hello fellow yarn lovers!

In today’s crochet quickie we’re learning how to work the double crochet decrease, abbreviated dc2tog. When creating the decrease you’ll learn to work two double crochets into one. It’s a great skill, essential for most patterns involving shaping. Do you like working patterns with shaping or do you prefer the straight and narrow? Let me know!

Happy Spring!

This has been the most incredible week in Chicago–warm, sunny, glorious! Just in time for spring, the new issue of Interweave Crochet arrived on doorsteps this week. It’s been an issue I’ve been waiting for for months, because it features two of my patterns! Introducing the Cherry Blossom Top:

With this top I was trying to create a structured, yet softly feminine sweater that was drapey and flattering. It has stripes of pink and beige and a tiny cap sleeve.

I really love the structure of this design. I’d love to wear it myself, but I sent the only one I made to the magazine!

This is a great project for crocheters just starting out with shaping. It’s completely double crochet and has minimal shaping with maximum impact!

I was fortunate enough to have a second design accepted for publication in this issue, the Yin Tank:

This pattern is a variation of my Talman Tank. It features a strip of hairpin lace atop a ribbed tank. It’s also very easy to crochet, and it’s a great project to try out hairpin lace for the first time.

Check out the new issue of Interweave Crochet in your local yarn shop now and let me know what you think!

Hello!

If you’ve ever seen the crochet abbreviation Sc2tog and were totally confused, today’s tutorial is for you. Today we’re learning how to work a single crochet decrease by working two single crochets together, hence the abbreviation sc2tog. Increasing and decreasing are the most basic forms of shaping a garment, and they’re the first step to more advanced crochet projects. I hope you find today’s video helpful!

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

Today’s tutorial is a quick reminder of the simple yet essential slip stitch. Its main function is to join rounds or a chain into a loop, but it can also be used as a pattern stitch. Either way, you’ll need to know it at some point, so remind yourself with this quick video!

Hey Y’all (I’m from Chicago…I can’t pull that off, can I?)

What are you crocheting today? I have several exciting projects for publications I’m working on that I’m looking forward to sharing! For today, though, I have a new quickie for you. The double crochet! Once again, these quickies are short videos designed to refresh your basic skills. I hope you enjoy this one! Come back anytime you need a reminder.  Have a great day!

Hello Everyone!

Today I’ve posted the second in the Crochet Quickies Series, the half double crochet. This is a great way to quickly remind yourself how to work the half double. I’d love to know if this is helpful to you! Happy Hooking!

Happy Valentine’s Day, my friends!

Today I’m introducing a new tutorial series called Crochet Quickies. The Quickies are a series of short (less than one minute) videos on basic skills you can reference any time you need a quick refresher. Today we’re doing the most basic stitch, a single crochet.

What skills would you like to see in a Quickie video? Let me know!

Hi Friends!

Happy Tuesday! Today we’re going to learn how to work the Adjustable Ring, also known as the Magic Loop. This is a great shortcut to starting your projects in the round. There’s no foundation ring and there’s no hole at the top of your projects! With this method you can pull the beginning loop as tight as you can to make a solid top for, say, amigurumi or other spherical projects. It’s an awesome trick, so add it to your toolbox today!

Hi Friends!

Introducing the first new pattern of 2012, the Kinzie Earwarmer! This is a cool, quick project that’s great for practicing your Tunisian colorwork. It’s worked in Tunisian Knit Stitch and features a 3 chevron pattern. It buttons in the back so you don’t even have to mess up your hair! I really love this one and I hope you do to! Let me know if you make it! Pattern available on Ravelry here.