jeanette in Noro
Read More
Crochet

Jeanette

It has been an Aunty Jan type of week. I named this scarf for her.  My Auntly Jan’s real name was Jeanette. She was the one that stockpiled knitted baby jackets and blankets to be given out whenever there was a new bub arriving and I mentioned her in my first post of the year. She was my Dad’s baby sister and had a zest for life, living, laughter and family that was uplifting. I would love a little dose of her right now.

Sorry, now back to my story; I thought I would write an E- book called Necks Generation using the wonderful Noro yarns with scarves, shawls and anything else you could wrap, tie or attach to your neck. And one simple book turned into turned into 36 patterns. So instead of one E-book I ended up doing 6 books with 6 designs in each. Some were old designs that were great. My definition of great is if people commented on them when I wore them, if they immediately wanted the pattern to make one themselves or if they were my first choice when I wanted to feel special. When they become a favourite then they are GREAT.

Also Noro’s colour ways get to me. They talk to me and I love what they have to say.

So, if I may, let me introduce you to Jeanette, in Necks Generation book 5 where I put all the designs that I called Quirky. It is a rectangle that is joined weirdly and is immediately transformed into a statement piece. And I love the colour of it.  It matches my eyes, he he.  Super simple stitching with an 8mm hook  gives instant flair. It uses 4 balls of Noro Silk Garden

P.S. about Aunty Jan

She actually dared to make a Canberra Raiders blanket in opposition to our football team when it was Mum who showed her how to do it. That was more than a bit cheeky we thought! And seemed to throw down the gauntlet.  So, I had to make one for the Broncos team. This  friendly duel initiated the self-publishing my first book The Footy Rug Book (translated as stadium blankets for those of you in USA) which was printed in 1997.

bakers dozen in wren
Read More
Crochet, Get Squared, Top News

Jenny Wren- Get Squared in all its new Glory

While on official Australian Crochet Guild business I saw a yarn so colourful and enticing that I just had to go and get  it. I bought 1  ball  in 6 colours  home with me and laid it on the table.  I was hoping that it would tell me what it wanted to be.

I  just couldn’t wait for it  to talk to me. The vibrancy of the hues were so inviting. I decided that all those colours look great on me so I chose to make it a  Get Squared /Baker’s Dozen sampler top.

I’ve only just worn it once but I felt FABULOUS, and that is every girls’ dream HUH?

I started with the original Get Squared stitch until the first ball ran out.  With each ball I changed  to another stitch from the Bakers Dozen e-book. Not in order as that is not how this brain works. Most  stitches were interchangeable. I used the 6mm (J) hook throughout.

The only problem I had was that the mock moss stitch was a bit firm on the bust, as it is the nature of the stitch, as it is a bit more dense, so I added 4 chains when joining the underarm.

I will post up later the colours I selected.

The Wren is 100% cotton is not  mercerized and has a stringy look.  “Stringy “may not be the best word to describe it. Perhaps natural, organic and  rustic would be better as it is really soft to work with. The yarn is Fiddlesticks Wren 100%cotton with 125m/50gm ball. I used 2 balls of most of the 6 colours as I needed it in Jenny size and long enough to reach my crotch.

I thought I would share my fun incase this makes you feel like experimenting with all the lovely colours in your stash and with both the magic and confidence of the fit that is Get Squared and  then add to that all the possibilities of the Bakers Dozen if you have them both. I had an absolute ball doing this and I hope you will too! If you are in the cold you know you could make it long sleeved in bright winter chasing wool either.

As a youngster I was called JennyWren so this seemed an  appropriate  name for this design. I hope you Love, Love, Love the concept as much as I do.

 Disclaimer : I purchased this yarn at full retail price and all opinions I have for it are my own. I liked it so much I used the last 2 extra balls for a Fairy Floss baby cardigan for  Little baby Emma and I  bought the Cement colour for another Get Squared  cardigan variation for Me. When it is done I’ll show you I promise.

kids squared barry (6)
Read More
Crochet, Kids Squared

Simple Satisfaction

Little baby Emma needed a jacket in a hurry and  the first design that came into my head was “Fairy Floss”  from the Kids squared range from 2017. Fairy floss or cotton candy for those of you in USA is the junior version of a Get Squared garment. I got the  pattern out  to begin and I wished that I had Symbols to save me reading the words.I hate reading crochet patterns, even the ones I have written. So today I grabbed out Jasmin Jones “Crochet Cypher” and started to draw them. Now Lily Chin, and I’m names dropping here, told me that I could do this on the computer and  she is right, but please  don’t tell her I said so . For  me it was quicker to use the Cypher. So today I took out my trusty, well brand new pens that I bought  on New Years Eve , ready to start the new year drawing symbols. I did my first attempt  in the hope that next time I follow this pattern I will be able to SEE what I’m doing instead of Reading what I am supposed to do.It is not perfect, but it is pretty. I used  lots of colours.

The Fairy Floss cardigan can be made with 1 ball of Scheepjes Organicon for a 12 month old.  This ticks all the new Mum boxes; soft , natural, organic and ever so cute.

For me it is going to be my no brainer & perfect  carry along project because it fits  neatly in my handbag and I can get it done in no time.  Sometimes I just need to feel the satisfaction and sense of control I get with rhythmic crochet that is not too boring and not too overwhelming. and the quick results are wonderful.  I think I will stockpile these like my Aunty Jan did for whenever a baby gift is needed.

I wonder will this make me a fairy floss machine?

lily front
Read More
Events

Lily the Pink

Do you remember that old song” Lily the Pink, the Pink, the pink” she invented a drink.  This  drink was some amazing compound that made everything better, Or am I showing my age?( the song can be found on  hey Google called Lily the Pink from 1998. Just listening it to will make you smile)

Well I think I discovered what  that amazing compound is for me. lily colour

For me it is Colour !  I realised that  it actually makes my heart sing. And there is evidence that working in bright colours actually lifts your spirits. So I’m introducing you to my Lily the Pink class. Lily will be available in other colours, she will be available in Noro, she will be avaible in Cotton or Wool and kits can be dropped shipped to you in Australia, USA and Canada with the help of some of my friends in the industry.

If you need chase some shadows  away the you can join me in  a series of 5 classes online  via zoom to make a Lily of your choice.

Lily’s sizing is up to 3XL too.

I’m setting up my studio so please check back in August for class times. You wont need to travel but we can get together and hang out. 5 classes for $50 plus kit.lily tiger

 

 

lemoncello Get squared new stitch (4)
Read More
Get Squared, Top News

Lucky 13 is a Bakers Dozen

When we shifted from cold Canberra to sunny Queensland 25 years ago we moved house on the 13th year of our marriage into a house numbered 13, and it turned out that in the street grid for power of that street was number 13 too. Our baby was born on the 13 th day of the month. So it seems only fitting that I should launch a Baker’s dozen on Friday the 13th  March 2020 while it is a full moon. We figured that all those thirteens had to be a lucky combination. So it is with great fanfare that I announce the Get Squared Baker’s Dozen E-book  of 13 patterns is now available. Now if you don’t feel as lucky with both a full moon and a number 13 celebration you can buy it tomorrow. Enjoy

IMG_1527
Read More
Events

An Epiphany

You’ve heard me mention my neighbour who is new to crochet, I call her Neighbour Jenny, not Jenny from the Block or Crochet Jenny to which I’m often referred. She loves my designs but she doesn’t love my patterns. But I still like her.

IMG_1527 What she does love is Lyndall’s pattern writing.  My dear friend Lyndall gave her a simple sheet with instructions, no photos, and “neighbour Jenny” has made blanket after blanket using this stitch. She Loves it! I call it the  Lyndall’s stitch.  The stitch may have been around for a while, but not the way Lyndall has written it.  Neighbour Jenny asked me why can’t I write patterns like Lyndall. It got to thinking ………………. This is me thinking.

I had and epiphany this morning when looking at the amazing Wool and the Gang and looked at their instructions.  They are not in a traditional format and I liked it, really, really liked it. Coincidently their yarns have just recently appeared in Murwillumbah, of all places, and this is also where Lyndall lives. Coincidence, there is no such thing as a coincidence I’ve been told. So really this seems to be all about Lyndall, and it is. Lyndall is a teacher, but she was a student first and when she teaches she notices better than me where students may need extra help. So she offers advice about stitch markers and such to ease their pain. When I looked at Wool and the gang’s pattern and was as if Lyndall had been there to make it easier to read.

This makes sense if I tell you that I really dislike writing patterns and I really dislike reading patterns but  I love, love, love to teach. I realised that I don’t say in my patterns what I say when I’m teaching, that is the epiphany part. I have always written my patterns in a traditional way. I have been published internationally and I format my patterns the way that is traditionally recognised for each particular publisher. I did do it my way at the beginning, back in 1998. I had commas everywhere, and Jenny isms but as soon as you are paying for the printing the writing gets smaller and it all gets condensed.

Now I want to go back to the drawing board and I will take a leaf out of both Lyndall’s and Wool and the Gang’s book and try writing my instructions in steps explaining how I would if I was teaching you in class. And we are working on simple videos to help.  We being my new film crew( my husband whose previous work was  seen in “Shawlsational the video”) They won’t be high tech at all but hopefully they will be more like me in class.DSC04194z

I’m all buoyed up after receiving my class evaluations from Crochet Guild of America in July and I’m floating on a cloud, floating because my head is swollen perhaps. Thank you to those students who spoke their minds.

I’m going to see if I can use what I know to share my love of crochet taking everything Neighbour Jenny says on board and rethinking my instructions .Watch this space!!!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Read More
Events

JKD yarn has got to go!!!!!!

I’ve always wanted to say STOCKTAKE SALE. I know ,weird huh? Now here is my chance. amy

What is happening in our house is that yarn has taken over my daughter’s bedroom, Anthea’s room, as it used to be known  is now called the YARN room.

lenvelopeNothing wrong with that I hear you say.

 

 

 

 

 

My problem is that the longer I keep the yarn the more attached I am getting to it and I had it made especially  to sell it, apparently. origami cardiganin stonewash (5)

And I  also promised her that I would have the yarn  gone before she needed it again.

And that hasn’t happened. So the yarn HAS TO GO. collette (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

So  how  this will work?

The deal is two for one. So for every ball of  JKD yarn you order from me for this month only, yes before June ends, or until stock runs out, you will get one exactly the same free.

This is for Fantasy, Embellish and Stonewash. You order 1 and I will send you 2 for the same price, if you order 4, I will send you 8. You get the picture.

My mother always said first in best dressed and this time she is right. mrs vesitile (3) I have made lots and lots of lovely wearables in my yarns.dove cardigan (7)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have tons of patterns here  online.

If you go to the  search button on the home page and  type in Embellish  all the patterns using Embellish will come up. It is the  same for the other 2 yarns.sallys best (3)

Anyway all  these yarns will work with any 8 ply pattern.

The only drawback in all this is for overseas customers. Shipping is the killer so the deal is great but up to 500gms(10 balls) prime yarn will cost $20 shipping. The only good news for this is that it is in Aussie$$$$$

 

 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

 

 

 

 

 

So rip that band aid off quickly please and help me get the yarn GONE.french pink (1)

 

chevron classics (8)
Read More
Events

Katies Baby Blanket

Sometimes the new young Mums don’t like crochet things, or so I thought.

My Niece Katie is expecting a baby in 6 weeks, so I thought I’d ask if she wanted something crocheted. It’s a random thought as sometimes the new young Mums don’t like crochet things or so I thought. But 2 days before  asked I  her I noticed a young Mum who was camping close by who had a  a crocheted blanket on her 6 month old boy. When I asked her if she liked it she said she loved the fact that crochet is so breathable with its holes she was reassured that it if ended up covering her little boys face during the night he would be able to breathe. That is not something I would have thought of as a positive for a crocheted blanket. I love crochet in all its forms. The slow fashion aspect, the love in every stitch and having something made by my hands would have been on the top of the list though. But never the safety angle.  I don’t have time to make a blanket before Katie’s baby arrives as I’m designing things for the CGOA conference in USA , making samples for classes that I’m teaching,  and I’m emceeing for the opening Mardi Gras night so I have to make something in Purple green and gold to wear, and  I need to finish that thing I promised I’d make for Scheepjes yarns as I’m meeting up with them at the conference too.   So for now I’ll look at ideas that she has sent me, gather the yarn supplies and pick a design that is a TV watching project so that once the conference is over and I’m sitting on the plane back home  I can start. She wants a bright coloured blanket and her favourite colour is yellow, which is great as we don’t know whether she is having a boy or girl. What fun to go searching for ideas and choose the colours. So far she likes the idea of a chevron, otherwise known as a ripple blanket. And a bobble one or a checked one. She has been on Instagram I think so I’ll go and check this out. Apparently crocheted blankets are really trending. Yeah! Doing a happy dance. I’m off to explore more ideasrainbow rug in biggan

amy (3)
Read More
Events

Churchmouse Yarns

There are so many times when I’ve received an email from Churchmouse Yarn( This is store on Bainbridge Island WA in  USA that one day I hope to visit)  only to see that we have very similar tasteamy (3). They knit in Yummy yummy yarns  and I Crochet.

https://www.churchmouseyarns.com

 

Today in my inbox was  their  Modern Wrapper and it reminded me of the Amy cardigan. The Amy cardigan has a band around the outside edge which changes it slightly but the concept is similar. It is meant to be open at the front to show the garment underneath to give that longer line. Or  that taller feeling that I’m always hoping to achieve.

 

They also have the Two Point Cowl which is similar to my Collared Ponchocollette (1) which is an adaptation from my Collette which was an adaptation of my Diamante poncho back in the day. Supre (a clothing store here in OZ)  had a poncho that shape and I chased a girl down in the shopping centre to find out where she  bought it. I think I still have the original tucked away in a cupboard here.  I can’t bear to throw anything away. The shape was so  Modern and as it turns out so classic and timeless.

You will notice most of my garments are lacy  and open. When the sun is shining here in tropical Queensland  and the humidity is horrendous with temperature in the 90’s  , I wish I was somewhere like Bainbridge Island feeling   cool enough to put on a wrap.

Perhaps I live in the wrong place.???????????

Maybe Churchmouse would like to swap places too when it is in the middle of winter. I’ll have to ask them.

Once you hit on a great design you can keep on  making it in every yarnponcho 001 and in all other stitchescity chic poncho (2) Snowy lace (2). I need to work on my photos but gradually I’m getting better.

I’m better with a hook than a camera  for sure.  So if you knit where it is cold go visit Chruchmouse.alana poncho (3)

 

covers
Read More
Events

Front and Back Cover

Sometimes I feel like Robinson Crusoe. There is amazing talent here in Australia especially in the crochet world and I’m delighted to say there is so many talents emerging with the aid of the internet. But when I first travelled to USA on my own in 1999 to attend a Crochet Conference some people thought I was brave. As far as I was concerned it was a job that had to be done. If I was serious about Crochet I  just had to go. The internet was still dial up then and most homes didn’t even have computers.

So on one of these necessary adventures I had the pleasure and delight to room with the author of this book, Susan Huxley. Sadly Susan is no longer with us  but her legacy remains. Susan was a book packager as one of her many “hats”. She contacted Martingale Publishers and with the help of the CGOA committee they put together this book. I was the only Australian member of the Guild who was invited  to design for this book. covers (2)And if that wasn’t a thrill enough,  2 out of the 3 designs were selected to be on the  Cover. This book was published in 2003. That was a day for much cheering from my island paradise.

Since then I have had my designs on many front pages. Here are a few dating from  2003 to Christmas 2017, some more sensational than others.covers (1)covers (10)covers (8) covers (7) covers (6)covers (5) covers (4) covers (3)