NEW Crochet Magazine! Crochet 1-2-3 at Walmart Great price!

Great price!

Just found out from Crochet Concupiscence there's a new crochet magazine that just came out this week! 

It's called Crochet 1-2-3. I don't know a lot about it. I think it's sold only only through Wal-mart or by subscription. This is good news for the crochet world!

Can't wait to check it out! You can sign up at the website for their newsletter and for a subscription. 

Walmart used to carry my booklets, Crochet in Style and Crochet Young and Trendy, but I haven't seen them there for a while. Those kinds of booklets (6-7 designs in each) only stay in the stores for about 2 yrs but they can still be ordered from the publisher or other places online.

Belts from the Hip - Straight from Today's Designers

I mentioned in an earlier post (Feminine Lace Belt Pattern for Sale) that this pattern was published in a book of belt designs called "Belts from the Hip". I was able to take part in this publication along with several known designers. As stated by Amy Shelton of Crochetville, "This group is made up of some of today’s most talented crochet designers: Angela “La Vonne” Best, Vashti Braha, Robyn Chachula, Doris Chan, Noreen Crone-Findlay, Pam Gillette, Kim Guzman, Lisa Gentry, Mary Jane Hall, Tammy Hildebrand, Amy O’Neill Houck, Margaret Hubert, Gwen Blakley Kinsler, Christy McMahon, Marty Miller, Diane Moyer, Dora Ohrenstein, Carrie A. Sullivan, and Mary Beth Temple."

This started out as an ebook, but I believe most designers are selling their pattern on their blogs now.  It makes me feel great that my belt pattern is one of the most popular in the book, and has the most projects (of all the patterns) listed on Ravelry. Here's the front cover of the book. You'll see my belt at the far right (4th photo down) 

Of course, I love my belt, but my other 2 favorites are the designs of Margaret Hubert and Amy O'Neil Houck

You can purchase my belt pattern for $4.99 here on my blog

Designer Afghan for Pam Gillette - Designer Friend Battling Breast Cancer

 Pam's "Comfort Cables" Afghan

When some of my designer friends found out that a fellow designer, Pam Gillette, of Knotty Generation, had breast cancer they immediately got to work thinking about what we could do for her that would bring her comfort and help her feel loved. Tammy Hilderbrand headed up the project and came up with the idea of us going together to make a pink afghan, signifying breast cancer awareness. We all loved the idea and even though everyone is busy these days, it was important to me to be part of this special project. Since Pam loves crochet cables and even has a Crochet Cable group on Ravelry, Tammy thought we'd surprise Pam with an "all cable" afghan. As soon as Knit Picks sent us the beautiful, soft yarn they donated, we quickly got to work. We were to each come up with our own cable design in an 8" square, not knowing what the others were doing. We decided on 2 colors, pink and gray to make it a little more interesting. Then Tammy put the squares together and edged the whole thing in black. It came out much prettier than I expected, and I was amazed at the talent of these designers!

Some of the other designers who participated in this project were Vashti Braha, Ellen Gormley, Doris Chan, Drew Emborsky, Amie Bentley, (of Nexstitch) Amy O'Neil Houck, Kristin Omdahl, Robyn Chachula, Lisa Gentry, Margaret Hubert, Tammy Hilderbrand, Tracie Barrett, Jill Hanratty, Kim Kotery, Diane Moyer, Angela Best, Mary Beth Temple, Gwen Blakley Kinsler, Karen Whooly, Dee Stanziano, Bendy Carter, Marty Miller, Annette Petavy,  and Annie Modesit
You'll soon be able to see the patterns for these squares on Knit Picks website.

My cable square is the pink one at the bottom left!   See larger photo of mine below.

Read about Pam's journey with breast cancer HERE. It warmed my heart to know how much Pam appreciated our work and thoughts about her. She is an amazing person!

Mary Jane Hall's Cable Square

.

Crochet and Macrame on Runway for 2011

 I am thrilled that fashion designers are doing crochet and macrame clothing for 2011!!! When crochet came back in style full force 6 yrs ago, some experts were saying, "Crochet is here to stay!" I have believed that for a long time, because the crochet garments of today are nothing like the stiff, boxy crochet of the 60's era. According to Marian Kihogo (a website on Fashion) designers such as Gucci, Dior, Cavalli and others are featuring bohemian-meets-hippie trend of the 70's. I'm happy because not only do I design crochet garments and accessories, but I was really into macrame in the 70's. I made and sold macrame tables, hanging lamps, wall hangings, hanging plant holders, purses and other items. I was obsessed with it back then! About 5 years ago when ponchos became the "in" thing, I made a beautiful macrame poncho, (out of yarn) but could not find anyone who was publishing books on this at that time. I just may try to go for it now! For sure I will be posting my macrame poncho on this blog soon!

Knit and Crochet Now! TV Show - Interview w/ Mary Jane Hall & FREE pattern from Crochet That Fits!

Click on this title to be taken to the TV show's website!


For those of you who have not seen this show, you don't know what you're missing. Grant it, there are many people who have said they don't get this show (based out of Detroit). I've been on the show and I can't even get it in my area! That stinks, but you can watch the episodes or order the DVD's on their website here:

In the photo to the right, I'm standing next to Candi Jensen, crochet designer, author and producer of the show. I've bought her books for years, long before I began my designing career. She's a very sweet and funny lady! At the far right, I'm standing next to Drew Emborsky, the Crochet Dude, who is also a crochet expert on the show. Another fellow designer friend, Ellen Gormley, (of GoCrochet) and I traveled together and have spoken at other crochet events on the same day. I'll do posts and interviews with them in the future. I'm sure you've heard of them and admire their work! BTW, that's Brett Bara, (on the TV), the host of the show. She was the editor of Crochet Today! magazine for about 3-4 yrs. The staff of the show treated us like royalty while we were there! We had a very elegant motel room and they took us out to eat at a nice restaurant. We were tired, because of traveling and being interviewed the same day, but we had a blast!

The episode I'm on is Season 3 # 108. Candi Jensen interviews me about my designing career and crochet books. Myra Wood (fellow designer friend from California) demonstrates how to make the Cap Sleeve Top in Crochet That Fits, my latest book, voted "Best Crochet Pattern Book of 2008" by Crochet Liberation Front's Flamie Awards. In this book, I show how to make fitted and flattering crochet garments and accessories without having to use increases or decreases. It's not that increases or decreases are all that difficult to do. You just have to pay more attention and some people have a mental block against it. Maybe they've made only afghans, washcloths or scarves all of their crocheting days. I have had litterly 100's of emails from crocheters around the country (and the world) telling me they are making garments (sweaters, skirts, tops) for the first time ever and they are SO excited about that. These are the people I dedicated the book to, and it is very rewarding to hear how this method is making people happy and giving them the pleasures of making garments for themselves and for their friends.

If you go to the Knit and Crochet Now! TV show website, you can also download a free pattern for the Cap Sleeve Top, which is my favorite and the most popular pattern in the book. See photo below.

Ellen Gormley's blog: Go Crochet LINK
Drew Emborsky's (the Crochet Dude) website: LINK

Cap Sleeve Top

This top is made with Grand Opera, a # 3/DK wt. yarn, by Westminster Fibers. This yarn has a tiny, shiny metallic thread interwoven and it is some of the most gorgeous yarn I've ever seen. Wish you could see it in person! There are less expensive substitutes that also work well. Some people say this top looks much like knitting. (as are several of the patterns in Crochet That Fits) I try to do that on purpose sometimes, because I love the look of knitting. I learned many yrs ago to knit, but then when I learned to crochet, I thought it was easier and faster, so that's why I stuck with it. If you are a member of Ravelry, you can go there to see many projects of this top made by other people. (other yarns and other colors) Some have made it longer, and some have even added sleeves. Can't wait to see what some of you come up with!

Hot New Trend - Crochet or Knit Cowls

I started noticing big over sized cowls on the fashion runways a couple of years ago, and sometimes it takes that long for a trend to catch on. Well, I'm seeing cowls everywhere now! Some people call them Neck Warmers, Neck Scarves, Snoods, Infinity Scarves, Hoods, or other names, but whatever you like to call them, they are all the rage. Some of my designer friends and I have gotten together and started a blog about cowls. Check out the website, cause you just may find it interesting if you like that kind of thing. We will each be posting our cowl, and may have patterns up for sale soon. I just started my cowl this week and it's coming along pretty well. I'll try to post a sneak preview the next couple of days!