Crochet Today!

Is this thing on…? Sorry, it’s just been a little while since I’ve blogged! There’s a reason, I promise! I’m nearing the end of a long journey I’ve been on. You know, just writing a book. The writing part was the hardest, I think. Making sure everything makes sense, is put together in an easy to follow format, and gets my point across at all–that’s tough! So now I’m almost done with the fun part: crocheting up all the stuff that’s going to be in the book! I can’t WAIT for you all to see. I’ve posted a few sneak peeks over on the Crafty is Cool Facebook page. Have you seen them?

The main reason I wanted to check in here is because something happened this month that I just can’t believe! There’s a full page article all about my work in the July/August issue of Crochet Today! I’m beyond proud. The awesome writer of the article did a great job. Thank you LeeAnne Jones!

Crochet Today July/August 2012

If you haven’t seen it yet, you won’t be disappointed. Crochet Today always has a fun mix of wearables, home stuff, and toys, and this month is no exception! I’ve bought a couple of copies at Wal-mart, and plan on buying several more when it hits newsstands at Jo-ann’s right up the street.
Bear with me over the next couple of weeks as I get down to my deadline. I’m loving every busy, crazy, stressful, yarn-filled moment!

Book Review and Giveaway! Crocheted Softies!

** Thanks for all the entries! Out of 123 comments, the winner was #51, CuCuCreates, who wants to crochet a crocodile! I bet it will be awesome! Thanks for playing!

I’m sure I’m like most people that crochet. When I started, it was all about gifts. I gave away pretty much everything I made, either to my kids or other people’s kids. I loved finding cute patterns for stuffed toys that  made great gifts. Gifts for kids, particularly stuffed animals, are so fun to make and usually take a lot less yarn and time than bigger projects (like afghans or sweaters!).

Win this! Keep Reading!

In Stacey Trock’s new book, Crocheted Softies, you will find patterns for 18 adorable animals from around the world! These aren’t just the typical teddy bears and bunnies, but awesome patterns with texture and detail that kids will love on for years. She starts off the book with a thorough introduction to crochet. You’ll learn all the basics, plus special stitches Stacey uses for adding character to her crochet designs. I especially love the details she gave regarding making the toys child-safe (like crocheted eyes), and her diagrams for assembly are some of the best I’ve seen (and I’ve read LOTS of crochet books!).

She starts off with a basic animal shape, then elaborates with different animal patterns (her elephant is especially adorable) and goes all the way around the globe (continent by continent!) and then into outer space! Check out her hilarious alien! What little boy wouldn’t think that was totally cool?

Zork the Alien! from Crocheted Softies

Another thing about the book that is really cool is just the way Stacey crochets. See how her creations have little ridges all around? That’s because she crochets into the back loop of all of her stitches. Her book says that it helps hide stuffing. By doing it this way she can crochet with a larger hook, and I’m guessing it makes her toys larger in the end too. Interesting! I like the texture it gives to her toys!

My absolute favorite pattern in the book is Salty the Crocodile! It reminds me so much of a vintage handmade crocodile toy a friend had. All those nubby crocheted bobbles in rows on his back and those cartoonish eyes just bring this little guy to life. Love him!

Salty the Crocodile from Crocheted Softies

Stacey has done a great job using natural fibers throughout this book. You’ll be inspired to try out new textures and materials when you’re crocheting, I’ll bet. 

So now that you are all clamoring to get this book, who wants to win an autographed copy? I’m going to give away one copy of the book, which Stacey has signed, to one lucky winner. This would make a fantastic gift to anyone, since the projects are a great introduction to crocheting! 

All you have to do to enter is to comment with an animal you’d love to crochet! Make sure you also leave your email address so I can contact you if you win. I’ll pick a random entry this THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15th, around 5 pm central time, and ship the book asap so you can wrap it up or keep it for yourself! (But you better get some yarn because you’ll want to make one of these cuties for the holidays!)

EDIT: Here’s a list of animals inside!
elephant
giraffe
orangutan
panda
crocodile
kiwi
owl
snail
penguin
walrus
moose
crab
alpaca
snake
fish
jellyfish
alien
macrobe
microbe

First Friday Free Pattern and BIG surprise!

Happy birthday to my husband! It’s a milestone birthday, and a big deal, so this post is dedicated to him. Did you know it was his idea to start writing my patterns? He’s the one that suggested I make a Conan! I owe him a lot, and he’s given me a precious little family along the way. So happy birthday, Paul! I love you and you are an amazing husband and father.

In other news, it’s Free Pattern Friday again! I’ll tell you the truth: I’ve had this pattern and little book made for weeks, just itching to post it, but I want to stick to my schedule, so here she is!

This is no ordinary little crocheted book. She has a face, super cute lining, and even  little pages inside. You can personalize your little stitch-a-book however you want. Is it someone’s birthday? Stitch, “Happy Birthday, Paul!” Someone get a new job? “Congratulations, Kendra! You’re awesome!” Tired of waiting on your boyfriend to pop the question? “Marry me already, won’t ya?!”

Whatever you make and whatever message you put inside, could you PUH-LEEEEZE post it on the CraftyisCool facebook page? I’d love to see them and I’m sure others would too!

My own? My Stitch-a-book has a special message for you all…

Yes, I’m writing a book! Since I started writing patterns it has been my long term goal, and now it’s happening! I can’t give you too many details, but it is going to be amigurumi (duh), it is being published by Lark Crafts (hi Thom!) and it won’t be out until Fall of 2013. That seems so far away, huh? That’s the way things work in this business, apparently, and I can’t complain. I will have plenty of time to make sure it’s the best book we (Kate and Thom and I) can come up with! I’ll still be putting out new stuff all the time, free patterns and tutorials, designing and blogging. I can’t wait! Thank you all for your support and helping me get where I am now. Totes ‘preciate it. 😉

Now here’s that pattern…

Stitch-a-Book

Here’s what you’ll need:

Materials:
Worsted weight yarn (I used Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice Baby in Aqua
White, black and red felt
Coordinating fabric for lining and matching thread
Black embroidery floss

Tools:
Size E crochet hook (or your favorite size)
Yarn needle
Embroidery needle
Craft glue

Key:
ch: chain
sc: single crochet
sl st: slip stitch
FLO: crochet into front loops only
BLO: crochet into back loops only

Book Cover:
R1: With E hook and yarn, ch 15. Sc into 2nd ch from hook and next 13 ch (14)
R2-13: Ch 1, turn. Sc into next 14 st (14)
R14: Ch 1, turn. Sc into FLO of each st (14)
R15: Ch 1, turn. Sc into BLO of each st (14)
R16-27: Ch 1, turn. Sc into both loops of each st (14)
* You will now crochet along the outside of the book cover to make a clean rounded edge.
R28: Work 2 more sc into the last st of 27, turning. Sc into next 26 st along edge, work 3 sc into last st, turning. Sc into next 13 st along edge, work 3 sc into last st, turning. Sc into next 26 st along edge, work 3 sc into last st, turn. Sl st into next 12 st, fastening off at last st. Weave in ends.

Lining:
Lay book cover out flat. Cut a piece of fabric a little smaller than the cover, rounding the corners. Pin to inside of cover and stitch or glue around edge.

Pages:
Cut two long rectangles slightly smaller than the book lining. These are the pages of the book. After embroidering your message you will glue or stitch them together to hide thread ends.

With a pencil or very faint pen markings, write your message on the inside pages or the outside of the bottom piece of felt. Use black embroidery floss to straight stitch your message.

Glue or stitch the layers of white felt together. Using the thread that matches your fabric, stitch the pages together at the center fold, then stitch them into the cover of the book along the inside spine.

Cut two small circles from black felt and glue to the front cover. Cut one half-circle from red felt. Glue to front cover. Ta da!

Hope you like this one! It’s very dear to my heart 😉