>New to Crochet?

Posted on March 19, 2010 by dorischancrochet

>Hokey Smokes! March is flying by and still I have not joined in the celebration of National Crochet Month. You’d think I could come up with something extraordinary to contribute. As a professional designer and author I spend most of my time in my own crochet alternate reality. There are days and weeks on end where I hardly talk to anyone but other crocheters who deign to come out of their own crochet alternate realities. I have to be reminded that not everybody speaks the language.

Chloe and Clarity Cardigans, Interweave Crochet, Spring 2010

So today I am sticking my head out of my timeless tunnel and offering a few words to newbie crocheters. Meanwhile, for any avid crocheters who have ventured this far into the post, I will put up some images of designs I have out this season, sprinkled like fairy dust throughout this long tirade. Hey, I do hope that you are coming to the craft as a result of reading or hearing about NatCroMo, and that the hype has sucked you in, because a lot of people have done a whole lot of work this month just to get to you. Perhaps you are a knitter or other fiber artist and you’re now looking to add crochet to your skill set. Or maybe you’ve never before held a skein of yarn in your hands, but you’re attracted to this thing we do. I have three words to say. Crochet ain’t easy.

Tokyo Vest, Tahki City Crochet

Man, we all hate moments when we are made to feel unbalanced, stupid and foolish. It’s like fussing with the back of your hair or trimming your bangs while looking in a mirror. Don’t you always go the wrong way? Doesn’t it make you feel dumb? Or it’s like tying a bow tie on yourself. It’s supposed to be exactly like tying your shoelaces. But damned if the fact that you’re looking at it from the other direction makes it so much harder. Hey, my guy still can’t do it for himself.

Graceful Lacy Cardigan, Crochet Today, March/April

Our human pride begs us not to go there. Avoid those situations that can only lead to awkwardness. Life is too short to spend any of it undermining your ego. So how can I convince you that my beloved craft is worth it? There is no question that learning to crochet is often frustrating, with agonizing hours spent fumbling around and pitiful little to show for it. At first you have to think about the movements of every fracking muscle in your hands and wrists as you struggle with using the hook and maintaining tension in the yarn. And there’s the hitch. Thinking. What has to happen is that you must remove the cognitive process from the equation and fly on purely physical auto-pilot.

It’s like driving. I can get in my car and arrive at the supermarket and not remember driving there. This is not about being careless, preoccupied, distracted or asleep at the wheel. I am certain that it was uneventful, even pleasant, and that I have driven quite well and lawfully, but the trip was on total auto-pilot. I am so used to my vehicle and the route to the destination, so accustomed to performing the actions of steering, braking, accelerating and adjusting for traffic and conditions, that I don’t actually think about any of it. I just do it.

Marseilles Jacket, NaturallyCaron.com

Not having taught crochet a great deal, and with limited experience teaching absolute beginners, and not the slightest memory of actually learning to crochet as a girl (it might have been by osmosis!), I can still feel your pain. I am the world’s worst student. That rascal Dee Stanziano, in her class Pushme-Pullyu, forced me to examine my so-called skills from a different perspective. She made us crochet backwards, first with our other hand (for me that’s the left) and then with our regular hand. It made me feel as though I didn’t know how to crochet. At the time I am sure I cursed Dee and the devilishness of it all. But it turns out the embarrassing experience in that class gave me a greater appreciation for what it must be like for a newbie.

The hands are eloquent when the brain is mute. The moment your body “gets it” and your brain stops thinking about each tiny motion and nuance, and you let go of the beginners’ mantra going round and round in your head (I particularly like “hook up, hook down, pull through”, but each teacher will dispense her own), that’s the epiphany. The goal and the ultimate reward is getting to that point where your hands “know” what to do, smoothly and automatically.

Kylara, Crochet Lace Innovations, April 2010

So what will it take? Another brand of teacher might admonish you to practice, practice, practice. Wax on, wax off. That makes it sound so boring. The word practice has such negative connotations. Visions of working back and forth and back and forth with the same stitch though a gazillion yards of yarn. Sort of like {shudder} swatching. I prefer to say play. Take up your hook and yarn and play, play, play. The more you play the closer you’ll get to nirvana.

Melisande, Crochet Lace Innovations, April 2010

And then you can start feeling cocky. Don’t worry about what you think you know or what skill level you’re at. Pick a project that appeals to you. One that has you drooling. Try it. Wing it. Fly. So what if you mess up. So what if it’s not perfect. So what if you have to learn stuff as you go. There are all kinds of ways to find help, online tutorials, pattern support from designers and other crochters. I hear all the time from fans on my forum at Ravelry, Doris Chan: Everyday Crochet (where I lurk), that sometimes the first time through one of my patterns is the learning curve. They work and rip, work and rip some more and beat themselves up all the while. But, watch out! The second one be brilliant.

As for how long will it take, it depends. I have taught knitters to crochet in 15 minutes. On the other hand it might be better for a student to approach crochet without any particular yarn experience or bias. No habits to unlearn. But here’s my belief. If you can tie your shoelaces, you can crochet. And when crocheting feels as natural as tying those laces, then you’ll understand what all the fuss is about. Do you trust me?

>Cotton Classic Lite

Posted on February 14, 2010 by dorischancrochet

>For decades the cornerstone of the Tahki Yarn collection has been the Cotton Classic family; first Cotton Classic, the long-time DK weight favorite, and later Cotton Classic II, the worsted weight big sister. For as many decades I have been waiting for the little sister to be born. Congratulations, it’s a sport weight!

New this season, Tahki Cotton Classic Lite is everything I could want in a cotton yarn; it is a versatile, crochet-friendly sport weight, comes in a huge palette of brilliant mercerized cotton colors, features a sturdy Z-twist cable construction, with a non-pilling, non-shedding, smooth drape, is sensibly priced and easy care.

I think I’m missing a shade or two, but you get the picture. Many cool colors are available. Here’s a look at the label, so I don’t have to type out the specs:

Look for a plethora of crochet designs featuring Cotton Classic Lite coming out for spring and summer 2010, including a new crochet book from Tahki titled City Crochet. This top, Paris Tunic, is one of the designs I contributed.

Cotton Classic Lite substitutes beautifully for a number of other yarns, and works for most sport weight applications. For example, I would swap it as a classier step up from Patons Grace or Red Heart Lustersheen, I’d use it as a non-wool alternative to medium sport weight sock yarns, or as a more affordable sub for super high-end fibers like Tilli Tomas silk Plie.

>BACKSTORY: Zen Jacket

Posted on January 31, 2010 by dorischancrochet

Zen. Such an evocative name, a peaceful, tranquil sort of name. You’d never guess that the prototype of this design was born in the aftermath of a wild and daring midnight airport rescue.

It was July 22nd, 2007, and the Crochet Guild of America Chain Link National Conference was about to begin in Manchester, New Hampshire. The usual suspects, having hauled ass all afternoon setting up for the next day’s opening event, Professional Development Day, were gathered at the venue’s only restaurant/watering hole, in the mood for some serious unwinding. Spirits were high that night, perhaps due to the spirits that were flowing, but mostly due to the joy of meeting up with good crochet friends and getting to eat dessert for dinner. Don’t ask.

But disaster was brewing, in the shape of massive storm delays and rumored airport worker strikes that would ground countless critical flights up and down the East Coast. One flight in particular, the one that was supposed to deliver two friends from Atlanta to Manchester, was unceremoniously canceled, leaving Jacqueline Kurman and Vashti Braha stranded until the next morning. Jacque was beat, having spent the entire day traveling from the West Coast and was on the verge of despair. Vashti had just flown into Atlanta from Florida, so was the clearer-headed of the two and also the more desperate of the two. Vashti was scheduled to teach during PDDay and was going to make it to Manchester no matter what she had to do.

The no matter what she had to do proved to be calling us. It was around 8 pm, I had just scarfed down my chocolate cake, and the gathering at the bar was a little loud. Although it was difficult to hear, comprehend and then share the news about Vashti’s lousy luck, eventually it was decided that Plan B would be put into action. Plan Boston. Vashti would get Jacque and herself on the next flight out, which would land them at Logan in a matter of hours. From there they would find a way up to Manchester. Yeah, right.

“What, are you NUTS?”, I must have ranted, “Logan is no place to be wandering around in the middle of the night looking for a ride. You’ll be fifty miles away. What are you expecting to find at that hour? Taxi? That’s absurd.”

And then, before I had time to think about it, the words came out of my mouth. “I’ll drive down and get you.” Done deal.

It was the logical decision. I had driven to the conference that day and had my car with me. Why not? It might be fun, in a surreal kind of way. So I ordered some coffee and asked who was coming along for the ride. The night was drizzly. Although I knew how to get to Boston, I hadn’t been to Logan in ages. I could really use a navigator. The gathering grew ominously quiet. Not one of our buds volunteered. All were either too tired, too preoccupied with preparations for the morning, too waffled to care. All except one.

Amie Hirtes. We had only met that evening, and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to spend a hour in the car with somebody I’d just met riding shot-gun. I even told her as much. Good thing Amie’s such a good sport. Anyway, turns out I shouldn’t have worried, since she showed herself to be funny, outspoken, companionable, and totally uncritical of my driving; my kind of shot-gun.

The spotty drizzle made my windshield horribly streaky, but otherwise it all went splendidly. The drive back to Manchester that took us well past midnight was a strange relief and a happy ending for all. Vashti, ravenous, munched on some chocolate I had stashed in my bag. Practically in tears, Jacque, poor thing, simply could not believe that anyone would go out of her way to perform such a rescue, and was grateful beyond words. So grateful that, a few weeks later, she sent me a thank-you surprise, a bag of wonderful yarn that she had brought back as a souvenir from a trip to Australia.

By the time the usual suspects met up again at the 2008 CGOA conference, again in Manchester, I had turned Jacque’s gift yarn into a lacy wrap-with-sleeves and made sure I modeled it for her to see.

That garment was the prototype for what would become, a few months later, beautifully re-envisioned and re-made in NaturallyCaron.com Spa, the Zen jacket. The pattern is available as a free download from NaturallyCaron.com.

I have since mounted other airport rescues, but none as daring as that night’s. And I have designed many other lace garments, but none with such a memorable backstory.

>CGOA 2010 Design Competition is a GO!

Posted on January 12, 2010 by dorischancrochet

>So I raised my hand. Volunteered. What was I thinking?

I am the chairman of the CGOA 2010 Design Competition Committee, the point man for what could become a controversial event. I welcome the brou-ha-ha. HA-HA! As long as you enter, you are allowed to grouse all you want about it. 🙂

Here’s the official announcement, FYI:

The CGOA 2010 Design Competition needs your creativity. Here’s a chance for the Guild membership to show the world the best of what crochet can do. Whether you are a published or professional designer, a talented amateur hobbyist, or a total crochet-a-holic, you are invited to enter your most amazing original creations for consideration. Judging will take place on Thursday evening, July 8th, at the gala Awards Ceremony during the CGOA 2010 Conference in Manchester, NH. You don’t have to be there to win, but you’ll definitely want to be part of the excitement and see the eye-popping display of entries.

Thanks to generous grants from our sponsors, including Coats & Clark, Boye Needle, DRG Crochet! Magazine, Interweave Crochet, and Caron International, we have thousands of dollars to be awarded: one grand prize of $1,000 plus, in each of six judging categories, $300 first prize, $200 second prize, $100 third prize, and special awards to be announced.

This year’s categories are more inclusive than ever:

–Fashion, Adult Eveningwear and Special Occasion, including gowns and dresses
–Fashion, Adult Daywear (for women and men), including sweaters, tops, skirts, jackets
–Baby and Kid Stuff, including clothes, toys and other small wonders
–Accessories, generally small pieces, including wraps, socks, scarves, hats, bags, jewelry
–Home Décor, both functional and decorative items, including afghans/throws, wall hangings, kitchen/dining accessories
–Thread Crochet

The competition is open to CGOA members only. All entries must be original designs. All crochet techniques are encouraged, using any materials you like. Other fiber, needle and crafting arts may be incorporated in your design, but the overall impression must be crochet. Entrants will not be required to furnish written patterns. Please see the official entry form and information package for complete rules and details. Entries must be shipped to arrive at the collection location between June 1 and June 15, 2010. So grab that hook and get to it.

Download your entry packet from the CGOA web site or the CGOA Now blog .

DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES IS JUNE 15, 2010

Email questions to: DesignContest@crochet.org
Submitted by Doris Chan, Chairman, 2010 Design Competition Committee

The entry package is not quite posted yet, but in a day or so you’ll be able to download that pdf and then you can start wingeing.

If it smells good… hang it on the tree

Posted on December 19, 2009 by dorischancrochet

>I really love cinnamon. It annoys the heck out of everyone because I could sprinkle it on everything, even foods that don’t go with cinnamon. But who wants to eat food that doesn’t go with cinnamon, anyway? I am convinced that, of all the aromatic components in cinnamon, there’s one that is totally addictive. When I first read Frank Herbert’s Dune, I was sure that the novel’s fictitious spice had to be cinnamon-ish. Cinnamon-y. Cinnamon-like? Whatever. I can see myself with blue-in-blue eyes.

Among the four types of cinnamon I’ve had the pleasure to have known, my favorite is China Cassia. The purists and most Europeans might prefer “true” cinnamon, the Ceylon type, but I find it pales in comparison, being wimpy to the point that the flavor disappears. Gimme that cassia bark, with a bite like a cinnamon red hot.

There are times I’m tempted to dust the dog with cinnamon. Just about anything would improve the scent of my dog, but I am loathe to waste all that spicy goodness on the little brat.

On the rare days when I am not crocheting or writing about crochet or researching in order to write about crochet, or traveling to places to talk about crochet… you get the picture… I can be found in the kitchen baking stuff. Yup. Stuff with cinnamon in it. Don’t you just love the way the aroma of sweet, spicy baked goods coming out of the oven permeates the entire neighborhood? Almost as good as the smell of fresh baked bread. OMG. Cinnamon buns.

Along with millions of other bakers, I am a Christmas cookie freak. The holidays can’t begin until I pull the first fragrant batch from the oven. I used to obsess over elaborately shaped and decorated ones, or multiple layer confections with unusual flavors. But I noticed that nobody ever ate the ones that took hours to create. It never failed that the sweets that flew off the tray fastest were the easiest to make: 1) chocolate chip cookies, 2) brownies, and 3) my personal favorite, Snickerdoodles, a Pennsylvania Dutch cookie that is crisp on the outside but chewy inside, rolled in (what else?) cinnamon sugar with a touch of nutmeg. So I have stowed away all my fancy cookie cutter shapes, gingerbread molds, sculpting tools and rolling pins and just keep it simple.

Well, that’s not entirely true. I still use my Christmas cookie cutters for the most awesome holiday treat that you can’t eat. Cinnamon ornaments. The dough is equal volumes of ground cinnamon and apple sauce. I am not joking. Say, two cups of cinnamon and two cups of apple sauce. You squish the mixture around until it balls up and holds shape. Let it rest for a few minutes. Some recipes call for the addition of a bit of white school glue (Elmers) but I never go there, in case my dog ever gets a hold of one. Roll out the dough no thinner than 1/4″, cut into shapes, poke a hole near the top with a drinking straw, transfer them carefully to a baking sheet. The ornaments need to dry out completely, which will happen naturally if left on the counter for a couple of days. But I prefer the baking method, where you stick the trays in a slow (200 degrees F) oven for a few hours. WOWSERS! Talk about making the whole house smell festive.

Once they are hard and dry, you can smooth off the odd wonky bits with a little light sanding if you want. Thread a ribbon through the holes you so thoughtfully provided. Hang and enjoy. I have one suspended from the rear-view mirror of my car. And a dozen on my Christmas tree. The scent is driving me mad and I wish I could bite one just to satisfy the cinnamon craving. Is it too late tonight to bake some Snickerdoodles?