Lacy Crochet Pullover by Mary Jane Hall

This lacy top was originally published in Crochet! Magazine and is now being sold as an individual pattern for anyone interested who does not receive the magazine. It's one of my favorite designs that I've created, simply because I love open lace! A # 2 sport weight yarn was used to create this and since it is an open stitch pattern, it goes pretty fast!

Monoco Lace Crochet Top by Mary Jane Hall

I found the unique stitch pattern in an old Russian crochet magazine. Since I don't understand Russian, I followed the chart they had. If you look at thus closely, you'll see that it looks like upside down Eiffel towers! I really had fun making this!

Monoco Lace Top by Mary Jane Hall

A # 2, sport weight yarn was used to make this and since the pattern is open, it goes pretty fast. To purchase the pattern go to the Annie's Craft Store here.

To see more of Mary Jane's designs, go to her Ravelry designer page here.

https://www.anniescatalog.com/detail.html?prod_id=132694&cat_id=24

Isabelle Sleeveless Tunic in Colorful Crochet Lace

The Isabelle Sleeveless Tunic is an easy pattern that uses my signature Graduated Stitch Method of making crochet garments without increases or decdeases. I wrote the pattern for sizes xs - 3x. The beginning chain is at the side so you can make it longer or shorter, depending on your mood. It would look great as a maxi dress too! I used Rowan Panama (A sport weight yarn) which is 50%cotton and 50% linen  This design is an easy one that would work up pretty quickly with the size "I" recommended hook!

Isabelle Sleeveless Tunic by Mary Jane Hall

To order Colorful Crochet Lace, click on this link which takes you to Amazon. For your info, the book has been on at least 2 Best Sellers Lists and also # 1 in Hot new releases for several days now and it's not even officially released yet! It's not a pre order anymore though. If you order it now, you will get it right away.

Au Naturel Cropped Top from Colorful Crochet Lace

 The next project I want to feature from my new book is the Au Naturel Cropped Top. So far this seems like a favorite with Ravelry members. The designs are all listed there. I used a DK #3 weight cotton-linen yarn (Farm Zooey by Juniper Moon) and the pattern is written for sizes SM - 3X. Top is worked in 2 pieces from the bottom up and seamed at the sides, leaving an opening for the armholes. Then a pretty lacy edging is added to the neckline, cap sleeves and bottom edge. There are no increases or decreases in this one either!

Hope you like it. If you missed the navy blue Unique Tunique Pullover I posted, please see my previews post.

Au Naturel Cropped Top in Colorful Crochet Lace

Unique Tunique Pullover from Colorful Crochet Lace

The time is drawing near! The Colorful Crochet Lace release date is not until July 24, 2015, but I have been given permission by the publisher (Interweave Press / F+W) to go ahead and start posting some of the projects in the book.

 The first one I want to share is the Tunique Unique Pullover. We did a French theme for the book and decided to give the projects French names or words. I love the outdoor setting of the book. Photo shoot was in Denver, Colorado at various places - gardens, coffee shop and a sidewalk cafe. This top will be flattering on anyone - I wrote the pattern for sizes XS -3X & there are NO increases or decreases! # 2 Sport weight yarn (Rowan wool / cotto fingering), was usedan for this projet. Let me know what you think!

Pullover design by Mary Jane Hall /  image copyright by Joe Hancock

Outstanding Crochet: My Designer Friend, Natalia Kononova

I am so excited that my dear friend, Natalia Kononova, talented crochet designer won 1st place in the design contest for the 2016 Crocbet Calender! She found out the good news on her birthday and you can read all about it at the link below. Congratulations Natalia! Your top design is beautiful and you deserve it!

                 

                          Natalia wearing her beautiful design that won the contest

Outstanding Crochet: Nice surprise for my birthday - to be selected as ...: and receive $500 prize from  Kniting & Crochet Pattern-A-Day Calendars The winning design is a Swing Top pattern: The top is embe...

Fishnet Sweater for Adult and Child

Fishnet Sweater in Positively Crochet!

Some people may look at this sweater and say "What? That's not a sweater! It has holes and would never keep anyone warm!"  That's where"trendy" comes in. It's not always practical and may be a little funky. Back when I was sketching design ideas for my first book, Positively Crochet, I was set on doing trendy crochet designs. That was my goal because I knew there was a shortage of trendy designs in books.  I looked at designs from the runway, and found a fur poncho made with an open fishnet pattern. That's where I got my idea for this top. (see photo below)  I originally thought this top would appeal to only teens but I've been surprised that older women like it as well. They want to be trendy too!
I used an extra bulky yarn and tall stitches so you can crochet this in 2 - 3 hours. Using a smaller yarn and smaller hook will result in a child's size. (below)

Open Weave Poncho from the Runway

Use smaller yarn for small top

Magazines tend to have trendier designs because they can get the magazine to the buyer a lot sooner than a book. Also, a design used to be a one time thing - only shown in the magazine. But time has changed with the computer age and publishers are taking advantage of that by selling designs online that have already been published in their magazines. It makes a lot of sense because everyone doesn't buy magazines. Some are now even offering the designer royalties from their online sales, which to me is very fair.
 This pattern is a "top down" project, which makes it easy to fit as you go along. You can add to the length by adding more rows. Another idea would be to weave a wide ribbon through the top row and tie it into a bow!.

Another view of the Fishnet Sweater which is in Positively Crochet! at right. This book contains 50 designs with a huge variety of projects!

Cloverleaf Top

Jamie Hall Vaduva - Cloverleaf Top

Isn't she beautiful? Yes, I'm proud to say that's my daughter, Jamie. Krause Publishing hired professional models to be photographed for Positively Crochet!, but I was thrilled that Jamie was asked to model a few items.

We anxiously traveled to the state of Wisconsin in January, 07' for the photo shoot of my very first book, Positively Crochet. Jamie went along because I had convinced the publisher to allow my 2 granddaughters to model the girl's projects in the book. Jade11, and Sophia 8, were 2 and 5 back then, and I have to tell you, even though it was one of the most exciting times of my life, it was the coldest time of my life. I had no idea Wisconsin got as cold as it did!

One night the wind chill was 45 degrees below zero!! I'll never forget it. Jamie pulled out a wet wipe to clean Sophia and they were frozen even though they had been in the heated van for hours! Now that's cold!

 Aside from that, we had the most wonderful time and Krause publishing treated me like royalty! They put me up in a special cottage especially reserved for their authors. It was fully equipped with food, TV, and everything we needed. I didn't have to cook though. They took me out to eat at special restaurants.

The Cloverleaf Top has spaghetti straps and an attached band of dangling clover leaves. I wove an elastic thread through the top row of stitches to keep the band from falling down.

 This is an intermediate pattern with instructions for sizes xsm - 2x. By the way, the long beaded necklace, which  takes about 10 minutes to make, is a free pattern here on this blog. We just didn't have room to put it in the book. If you've never worked with thread, this would be a good project to get you started. It's not as hard as you may think. I avoided making anything with crochet thread for over 30 yrs, just because I didn't think I'd be able to see it very well. But all you need is a good light!

If you'd like to order the book this top is in, click on the front cover of Positively Crochet in the right column and you'll be directed to Amazon. $15 is a great price for a book with 50 crochet projects! (garments and accessories)

To see more and other crocheter's version of this top go to Ravelry and your see my page on this project.

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!