All our crochet work is done! Now we move on to the blocking and see the magic it can have on a finished piece.

You may want to weave in your ends before blocking but don’t trim them yet, let them settle into the new shape with the blocked shawl and trim them when everything is dry.

Here you can see that I’ve pinned the top edge, using blocking wires to keep it nice and straight. Then I pinned the bottom section of the shawlette with another wire and I have a third wire in the center so I can keep everything even.

Once the center section was pinned I was able to pin out the angled increase and decrease sides with a pin in each bobble, here you can see that in detail.

We have a great video with Dena showing you the blocking process. While she is blocking a knit shawl the principles and process are the same.

Once the shawlette is dry you can unpin, trim any ends that may have popped out during the blocking process, and wear!

Thanks for crocheting along with us! What was your favorite part of this project?

Get your copy of the pattern here and join in the CAL at any time! Week 1, Week 2, Week 3

Rohn Strong has put together a great collection of crochet designs featuring some of our favorite Malabrigo yarns in his new book, Hooked on Malabrigo!.

Inspired by the classic color blocking of Mondrian, Rohn has designed 7 different pieces, from accessories to garments, with strong stitch details and striking colors.

The deceptively simple color work of the Linda crescent scarf really shows off the shine and drape of the Silky Merino.

Malabrigo Arroyo looks light and airy in the Kristin tank, a perfect summer layering piece.

The Robyn cowl features giant crochet cables that really showcase the colors of Rasta.

Not only is this collection full of great additions to your wardrobe but it’s available in 2 size ranges; the Petite Collection: Small to XL, or the Plus Size Collection: 2X to 5X!

Which piece do you think you’d make first?

Deb is an incredibly well rounded artist, and expresses herself through crocheting and knitting, as well as drawing, painting, jewelry making, singing and even creating her own puppet. My absolute favorite creation of Deb’s is her currently un-named owl puppet, with eyes that bring his personality to life the instant you see him. If Deb weren’t working with us at WEBS, she’d be banging down the door at Jim Henson’s Creature Shop for a job. (Her favorite Muppet is Pepe!)

You can read more about how Deb’s owl came to life in her interview below.

What is your favorite yarn to work with?
I love anything with alpaca, merino, and yes, even Nylon. Berroco Vintage is a favorite, along with Madelinetosh and Dream in Color yarns.

What fiber crafts do you do? Do you have a favorite?

Crochet is my go-to, but I also knit and spin on a drop spindle occasionally. I’ve also wet-felted beads. I get inspired by the raw materials, the fiber or the yarn.  Usually it tells me what it wants to be.  For example, if a yarn colorway reminds me of a semi-precious stone color, I try to utilize it in jewelry.  Mesh-tube constructed yarn is really fun to experiment with!

How long have you been knitting and crocheting? 
My mom had been trying to teach me to crochet for years. (My father’s mother had taught her how to crochet when my father was stationed with the Army in Vietnam, to use up nervous energy.)  About 8 years ago while watching my favorite holiday movie “Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas” with my mom,  I noted that one of the Muppets was wearing a granny square scarf, and that I wanted one.  The next thing I know I have a bag of yarn in my lap and a hook in my hand.  Within a few days, I finished my first project!

Left: Deb and her Owl puppet smile for the camera. He’s made from Prism Plume yarn, paint, and Shrinky Dinks.
Right: Deb’s paintings of Bill Murray, Steve Buschemi, Christopher Walken, and Steve Martin in progress. Painted on small wooden tiles. 

What fiber project are you working on right now?
I am racing to finish a yarn bombing project!  Basically, “yarn-bombing” is fiber-art graffiti. My project is part of an art festival in Holyoke, MA, and will be installed on a bench outside of the public library on the second floor of their city hall.  I am crocheting morning glories to cover this bench that sits in front of beautiful stained glass windows.

Do you have a favorite fiber project? 
I’m proud of the Nevermore Window Panel that appears in the Sock Yarn One Skein Wonders book.  It was my first published pattern, and though it took a while, it was really fun to chart out and watch it come to life with the Malabrigo Sock yarn.

Nevermore Window Panel from Sock Yarn One Skein Wonders

How else do you express yourself artistically?
Everything I do is an artistic expression!  I majored in visual art in college, I have been drawing and painting all my life.  I make jewelry, crocheted with wire.  I’ve done some scrapbooking, paper-making, and sewing.  I love mixing mediums!  My paintings will sometimes include fiber or collage, my crocheted items will have beads…

Oh!  And I’ve started to build puppets.  Basically, my dream job for years has been to work for Jim Henson’s Creature Shop.  My current project is an owl.  There is paper mache, Prism Plume yarn, paint, and Shrinky Dinks involved in its construction!

Do you have a favorite non fiber related project you have completed?
Well, I guess my favorite one(s?) of the past few months is my series of tiny portraits on wood tile beads.  Bill Murray, Christopher Walken.  It takes a few sessions for each one to get to the point where I’m satisfied with it.  I still have a few in progress.

Left: Rings made by Deb
Right: Deb’s design; Around-the-Post Hat from Crochet One Skein Wonders

Deb has been working with us at WEBS for about five years now, and loves to talk about color with our customers. Her talents don’t stop at the arts. She’s recently taken on the challenge of training for roller derby. She says, “I’ve never been athletic, and it’s different from anything I’ve ever done. It’s a challenge in a whole new way.” She’s managed to find some parallels between derby and her comfort zone of the arts. Learning how to crochet is all about building muscle memory, learning to skate is the same idea. Keep building muscle memory. She boils it down really well, it’s all about practice. “When I can’t hit a note in a song, it’s just more practice. When you try anything new, all it takes is just more practice.”

 

We’ve got the first three rows of the edging done! They might have felt a little difficult at times but they set up the rest of the edging so everything else moves along pretty smoothly from here.

Here we have a video showing you the key steps from Rows 4 and 5.

In Row 4 you begin to shape the edging by decreasing sections with dc3tog (double crochet 3 together) stitches, and increasing in others with chain loops. The FPtr stitches in Row 5 of the edging are worked around the FPdc from Row 3 and are a bit easier to place because it’s very easy to see those post stitches.

Row 6 will be familiar with it’s combination of dc3tog and chain loops, like in Row 4.

Row 7 has the seemingly tricky FPtr5tog (Front Post Treble 5 together) stitch, this video shows you how simple it is.

Row 8 is another combination of chain loops and bsc stitches with the added interest of a bobble at the top of each of the triangles created by the FPtr5tog stitch that you did in Row 7. Once you’ve completed Row 8 of the edging you’ll have just a bit more work to do along the top of the shawl before you’re finished.  You’ll need to thread  beads for the last time before you begin this section and REMEMBER you’ll be working along the wrong side of the shawlette for this top edge so the beads align on the right side.

Now, you’ll sc along the side of your beaded edging to neaten that edge and bring it in line with the top edge of the shawlette. Then you’ll work alternating sc and bsc along the top edge in the same way you did for Row 1 of the edging. Regular sc will be worked along the other side of the beaded edging to mirror the first side. Finally you’ll slip stitch back along this edge to finish it off.

Next week we’ll have a finished shawl and share some blocking and finishing tips. Have you enjoyed the pattern so far?

Get your copy of the pattern here and join in the CAL at any time!

This week, the staff at WEBS is buzzing about…

I have been loving my Schacht Zoom Loom over the last week! I used Tahki Cotton Classic for a coaster and a Noro yarn that’s been sitting in my stash for a while to make a coaster and then a trivet by sewing 4 squares together. The Zoom Loom is easy to use, and the finished squares are versatile. You can use them as coasters, pockets, tech cases, or washcloths. Then, sew them together to make potholders, blankets, purses, scarves, or even add a knit or crocheted border to a finished square! > Jackie V.

(Left) I have been having a lot of fun crocheting coasters with the 8/2 Warp Linen. It works up such a nice rustic and sweet little project. It would be kind of fun to go even further with this idea and make a couple doilies or placemats. They’re perfect for coffee coasters because it doesn’t show the stains. You can find the pattern here or at www.greenkri.com  > Kristin L.

(Right) I have a new cowl pattern, Fluvial, that I’ve been working on for a bit and I had to try it in a few different yarns to find the right one. I was most happy with the Rowan Felted Tweed in the Peony. It’s a DK weight with a great halo and tweedy pops of color and just enough body to hold up in an open stitch pattern. > Sara D.

Now that you’ve finished the main body of the shawl you can move on to the beaded edging.

Picking the right beads for your project can seem like a big task but you really, almost, can’t go wrong! Here you can see I’ve swatched with 4 different colors, they’re each appealing in their own way. The tonal color combo gives just an extra bit of shine, the darker amber gives more of an autumnal feel, while the iridescent green beads say Spring to me. My shawl will be worked with the grey beads, I’m on a bit of a yellow/grey kick lately.

Linda offers some great advice in the pattern that directs you to string only as many beads as you’ll need for a particular row. This way you don’t have over 600 beads that need to be pushed down along your yarn as you work the edging, 150-200 beads at a time is much more manageable.

We’ve put together a quick video showing you the bsc stitch from Row 1 and how to transition to Row 2

The edging is worked along the bottom of the shawl and Row 1 is worked with the wrong side facing you. It’s worked this way because when you bring up a bead for the bsc, beaded single crochet stitch, the bead sits on the back of the stitch. I like to work with about 10 beads at-a-time in my left hand, then I can get a bunch of stitches done before I need to dip down and grab more beads. You’ll cut the yarn and fasten off at the end of Row 1 and rejoin your yarn at the other end to begin Row 2,THEN you’ll turn the work over and work in the opposite direction for Row 3.

Here we also have a video showing the FPdc stitch and how to keep track of it’s placement in Row 3.

Next week we’ll tackle Rows 5-7 of the edging. Have you done any beading with your crochet?

Get your copy of the pattern here and join in the CAL at any time!

It’s the first week for our CAL (crochet-a-long)! We’re extending some of the love from National Crochet Month in March into April!

Everyone was very excited when we saw Linda’s Sugar Sparkle Shawlette so it was an easy decision.

For the CAL you’ll need:

* 775 yards of a light Fingering weight yarn: the pattern calls for Malabrigo Sock, but you could also use Valley Yarns Charlemont or Valley Yarns BFL Fingering. I’m using a coned wool that I’ve had in my stash for a few years but the color makes me happy and I’m getting gauge!

* US size D/3.25mm and US size C/2.75mm hooks, I’m using the Addi Color coded hooks. You won’t need the smaller hook till you get to the border.

* 675 size 6/0 seed beads.  If you’re lucky enough to be local to our store the Northampton Beadery has a great selection of colors in this size!

* you’ll need a beading needle and a yarn needle, for weaving in ends.

I’m also going to suggest locking ring stitch markers, it’s always a good idea to have a few of these around.

The main body of the shawl is worked sideways from point to point with all the increases, and subsequent decreases, happening along the same side. You may want to place a marker, every couple rows, on the side with all of your increases. It can be easy to loose track of which side that is when your work is just a few, short rows and it will remind you what side the decreases will happen on when you get to them! You can also keep a small notebook handy and tick off each increase/decrease row as it’s made.

Here you can see my shawl, Mary’s(Sweet Georgia Tough Love Sock in Raspberry), and Tina’s(Valley Yarns Charlemont Kettle Dye in Purple Passion), all just beginning the decreases.

This center section is fairly easy and moves along quickly. Next week we’ll look at bead choices, stringing your beads and working the first 2 rows of your border.

What yarn will you be using?

It’s the last week National Crochet Month and we’ve been so happy to share some of our favorite crochet techniques and trends. This week’s focus is on shawls.

You can play it simple or really complicated with shawls, stick with a beloved stitch pattern and an easy rectangle shape or change it up with crescent shaping and bunch of different, but related, stitches to create something really beautiful and fun.

The Pin Cushion Moss Shawl, made with Southwick, is a simple triangle that grows outward from the center back so you could just keep working the pattern until it is the size you desire.

The Daisy Wrap from Blue Sky Alpacas is a simple rectangle shape with undulating rows of soft waves and floral clusters. Crocheted in Blue Sky’s Metalico, you’ve got a great palette of neutrals to work with.

The Sumac Berry Shawl, worked in Hand-dyed 2/14 Alpaca Silk, has a super simple center section and all the Wow is in the border.

The Piquant Shawl by Lily Go is also worked with a fairly easy center section but a very detailed and delicate border.

Finally, I’m very excited to say that we’ll be running a CAL over the next few weeks with Linda Permann‘s Sugar Sparkles Shawlette!

Our first post goes up tomorrow and we’ll guide you through everything you’ll need to get started, then check the blog each Thursday to follow along with our progress.

Have you crocheted any shawls? What are some of your favorites?

It’s National Crochet Month and we’re excited to share some of our favorite crochet techniques and trends happening in 2013. This week we’re focusing on crocheting with luxury fibers.

Being able to work with luxury fibers is something every crocheter looks forward to. Thankfully you don’t have to win the lottery to indulge in a little high-end crochet. One skein and a simple project can keep the cost down but allow you to add a little something to your wardrobe to makes you feel extra special. And when everyone ask you about it you get to say it’s silk or cashmere or even mink!

Start with a nice small project like this simple Crochet Necklace by Creativeyarn but go luxury by using Artyarns Beaded Pearl and Sequins yarn.

  

Try something a little larger like the Julie Cuff from Robyn Chachula‘s wonderful book Blueprint Crochet but work it in a skein of Mimi by Lotus Yarns which is 100% Mink!

 

If you’re ready for a slightly bigger project why not go for Julia Vaconsin‘s gorgeous Phoenix Mitts and work them up in the luminous Ensemble Light from Artyarns, an amazing blend of silk and cashmere!

  

When you’re ready for a bigger project with lots of impact visually, but not on your wallet, try a scarf or wrap like our Crocus Lace Stole. A single skein of the Silk Cashmere from Jade Sapphire would feel amazing around your shoulders and neck, and since this is an easy 1 row pattern you can just keep working till you run out of yarn.

Have you worked with any luxury fibers? What’s been your favorite?

It’s National Crochet Month and we’re excited to share some of our favorite crochet techniques and trends happening in 2013. This week we’re focusing on Amigurumi, or small crocheted animals.

With Spring only a week away and Easter at the end of the month you have just enough time to create some great little gifts for the children in your life.

Amigurumi Cosy by Lan-Ahn Bui and Josephine Wan has some wonderful seasonal animals from bunnies to sheep and even an adorable snail.

Amigurumi World by Ana Paula Rimoli is one of my favorites! I’ve made tons of the Happy Eggs and the tiny duckling is adorable.

We have our own versions of these little stuffed animals, try the free Valley Yarns patterns for a bunny, lamb, robin and chickens!

Valley Yarns Valley Superwash and Valley Superwash DK are the perfect yarn for projects like these, they’ll be soft and washable and you have a great range of colors to choose from.

Have you crocheted any stuffed animals? What’s your favorite?