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

My Bag in Vogue Knitting Crochet 2013!

I said I'd post a photo of my bag design today, so for the ones who haven't seen it, Ta Da! 

Mary Jane Hall's Drawstring Bag in Vogue Knitting Crochet 2013

My own photo - Drawstring Bag in VK Crochet 2013

My tasseled bag (titled Drawstring Bag in the book) measures 15" tall x 11" wide. It has a double lining, so the right side of the lining shows from the outside but also from the inside. Actually the outside that's showing is a light teal color, and the inside fabric is brown with small teal swirls. I added a pocket on the inside. Even though I suggested to the publisher I thought the bag would look good in ivory, I plan to make my own bag  soon in a different color. I'm thinking of a darker taupe, a dark sage green or maybe even a plum. They chose a wool yarn, but I'm going to make mine in a thick, sturdy cotton, and will add more pockets. You can never have too many pockets!

Sun and Sand Crochet Tote Bag - Tutorial to Make Rings from Plastic Tubing

How to Make Round Plastic Rings from Tubing at Lowes 

Design and Tutorial by Mary Jane Hall

The Sun and Sand Tote is my original design which was in a back issue of Crochet Today! magazine. When I first had this bag design in mind, I ordered metal rings online. But when they arrived in the mail, I decided the combination of 14 rings I needed would make the bag WAY too heavy. I had to get an extension because of being in the hospital for 16 days (having emergency surgery) and needed to come up with a quick solution. Actually, a friend was visiting me in the hospital when we both came up with the idea for making rings out of tubing. I had IV's in me with tubing everywhere! Putting these rings together was very easy and inexpensive! There was no room in the magazine to put the tutorial for the rings, so they put the instructions on their website. See the full tutorial on Crochet Today!'s website here.

 

Earth Friendly Tote - Market Bag in Crochet Today! Magazine

I just wish you could see the stitch pattern up close on this market bag. It has raised popcorn stitches all over the bag. The stitch pattern is pretty easy but this is not a real quick project. The result is worth it though. They had me use Eco Ways Yarn, the recycled cotton yarn from Coats and Clark.

3 Designs in Sept 06' Issue of Crochet! Magazine

I started designing crochet wearables in 2005, and had 11 designs accepted by DRG that same year. The following 3 designs were actually not published in the magazine til Sept 06. Publishers already know at least 9 months before the publication date the patterns that will be in the magazine. Most magazines know now (Nov. 11') what designs will be in their holiday issue for 2012. These 3 designs were my first ever in a magazine. I know they aren't big items, but I started out with accessories, then in 2007 I started designing garments like sweaters, shrugs, skirts and tops.

Photo in Crochet! Magazine

Striped Belt and Key Ring Bag in Crochet! Magazine

Sun and Sand Tote - Beach Bag in Crochet Today! Magazine

This tote was published in the July/August 2009 issue of Crochet Today! Magazine. I had to have emergency surgery on my ripped esophagus and was in the hospital for 16 days about the time this beach bag was due. I had planned to use metal rings, but they were way too heavy. Then I looked for plastic rings, but they were too thick. When I was in the hospital, on Morphine, and wondering what I was going to use for the rings, a friend looked at the tubing used for my IV's and suggested I look for plastic tubing at Lowe's and that's exactly what I did! It was inexpensive and pretty easy to cut and put together. Crochet Today magazine put my instructions on how to do the rings on their website, but it's no longer there, so I'm posting those instructions below. I really enjoyed designing this bag!

Photo from Crochet Today! Magazine

Four-Button Jacket Design in Crochet! magazine (March 2011 issue)

I designed this Jacket / Sweater (w/ 3/4 length sleeves) back in the summer of 2009. I made it and sent it in for the design contest at the CGOA conference, called Chain Link. It did receive Honorable Mention in the garment category. But Cari Clemont of Caron International yarns told me they were interested in buying this design, and wanted to know if I would restitch it in Naturally Caron Spa. Of course I said yes, and assumed it would be shown on the Caron website. But the tech editor (I believe K J Haye) told me it was due to be in Crochet! magazine. So it's finally been published! This is an intermediate project, but not that difficult. The Cross Stitches used just take a little more time, but the final result is worth it. I love lace so I wanted to incorporate lace into the classic double breasted design, for an updated look. The sleeves are set in and the buttons are crocheted around metal rings. Notice the buttons on the sleeves also. You could makes this longer if you want by adding more rows before you start the underarm area. Sizes small-3x. I absolutely LOVE this yarn! It's a blend of bamboo w/ acrylic, and feels like silk. Very nice to work with!

I will be adding photos of more designs in the next few weeks! Please check back.