March was National Crochet Month and these are the works I created: Catfish (catghan made for charity), Joy in the Making, Way and Bird. The couch picture gives you a gauge as to their sizes.
Showing posts with label national crochet month. Show all posts
Showing posts with label national crochet month. Show all posts
Saturday, April 9, 2016
Saturday, March 12, 2016
Happy National Crochet Month 2016
Happy National Crochet Month
& Welcome to
Day 12 of Crochetville’s
2016 National Crochet Month Designer Blog Tour
This year’s blog tour includes daily visits with
crochet designers and daily giveaways:
Daily Designer Schedule
Crochet Friendly Local Yarn Stores
Yarn
Company Schedule
Party
on Ravelry
For the past several ears, I’ve participated in the Party for
National Crochet Month on Ravelry, mainly by joining the FreeForm
Crochet-Along, as both participant and designer for a day. I’ve learned
so much over the years from this. The sharing and camaraderie are
amazing. It’s a joy to have an international brain trust of knowing hands
whose efforts, exchanges, and endeavors inspire.
Free
Patterns for National Crochet Month
It’s been a busy new year for me! I’ve created a number new
patterns to use as fabric, appliqués and motifs.
From now until March 31, 2016, my Tiny Circles in Squares and Tiny
Circles in Triangles patterns are available for free on Ravelry:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tiny-circles-in-triangles
They were created to fill
in those small spaces in crochet fabric in an interesting way.
Wishing you all joy in the making!
Monday, March 2, 2015
Happy National Crochet Month 2015!
Happy National Crochet Month
& Welcome to Day 2 of the Crochetville’s 2015
NatCroMo Designer Blog
Tour!
http://crochetville.com/crochetvilles-2015-natcromo-designer-blog-tour/
The Designer
Blog Tour includes:
• A month-long charity drive to collect hats
and raise funds for Halos of Hope, a charity that sends hats to cancer centers
around the country
http://crochetville.com/2015-natcromo-designer-blog-tour-make-hats-for-halos-of-hope/
http://crochetville.com/2015-natcromo-designer-blog-tour-make-hats-for-halos-of-hope/
• Daily Giveaways: a different prize package
valued at up to $25 http://crochetville.com/2015-natcromo-designer-blog-tour-daily-giveaway-schedule/
Halos of Hope, the
charity featured for National Crochet Month, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that
provides volunteer-crafted hats to cancer centers across the country. Its
founder, Pam Haschke, is a survivor of inflammatory breast cancer. Her experience informs her passion to ensure
that cancer patients across the U.S. have access to free, handmade, attractive
hats to keep their heads warm while they undergo cancer treatment. Crochetville
is collecting hats on theirr behalf during National crochet month. http://halosofhope.org/guidelines
********************************************************
Calls for Crochet
100 Women Crochet
Amy Reader seeks crocheted tendrils to install in an art work for her honor’s thesis exhibition at the University of Richmond, VA, USA.
Her goal is
for 100 women to crochet at least one of these wisteria vines and submit them for display in an installation that
will be shown in late April. The aim of this project is to showcase the
strength and individuality of the women who participate. The color of yarn and length of the vine are
left to the discretion of the participants. Each woman will also submit an
index card with their name and hometown on it and the cards will be compiled in
a book that will be displayed alongside the installation. The pieces need to be submitted by April 10,
2015.
Post War Blues
Isabelle Garbani’s Post War Blues addresses the issue of what happens to war innovations after a conflict is over and the possibility of innovating without violence or the threat of violence.
A ribbon of
plastic flowers, crocheted and knitted from recycled plastic bags, bursts out
of the old train car that sits inside the Brooklyn Army Terminal building. The
flowers rise and slowly fall on the tracks in undulating waves, all the way to
the end of the building atrium.
This project is a community-based art installation. She invites folks
to create the flowers out of used bags
illustrating that in spite of our differences, we can work together and
make something meaningful and beautiful for peace.
********************************************************
Party on Ravelry
For the past
several ears, I’ve participated in the Party for National Crochet Month on
Ravelry, mainly by joining the FreeForm Crochet-Along, as both participant and
designer for a day. I’ve learned so much over the years from this.
The sharing and camaraderie are amazing. It’s a joy to have an
international brain trust of knowing hands whose efforts, exchanges, and
endeavors inspire.
********************************************************
It’s been a busy new year for me! I’ve created a bunches of new patterns to use as fabric, appliqués and motifs.
Cat Motif Collection
My collection of cat motifs is 50% for the next week. I use them, as I use most of my motifs and appliqués to make fabric. I used them in my freeform Cat Vest.
To get the discount, use the code NatCroMo
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cat-motif-collection
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cat-motif-collection
Circle Birds, Little Parker and Chick Webb, Spiral Birds,
and Zora Birds
These birds formed the fabric for my Bird Bolero. The three patterns
are also on sale for the first week of National Crochet Month. To get the discount, use the code NatCroMo: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/spiral-birds
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/circle-birds-little-parker--chick-webb
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/zora-birds
Crochet Poetry
I've created a collection of poems on crochet and am now in search of fixed format conversion so it can be read as an ebook. Along the way, inspired by Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, I've also written light verse - limericks.
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/circle-birds-little-parker--chick-webb
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/zora-birds
Crochet Poetry
I've created a collection of poems on crochet and am now in search of fixed format conversion so it can be read as an ebook. Along the way, inspired by Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, I've also written light verse - limericks.
A striking young woman from Cannes
was able to hook any man
It’s not what it seems
to have the prince of her dreams
she crocheted him according to plan
Crocheting is what we must do
wielding hooks, we find something true
despite piles of objects half done
this is how we have fun
try it, perhaps you will, too.
Akua Lezli Hope
Live long and Prosper!
* Circle Birds collection is free for a few days with the code
Free
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Happy National Crochet Month 2014!
My month started off with fanfare as I
won Elann.com's monthly drawing! As a designer with limited funds, the gift of
yarn is a great gift. Thanks Elann, your
Peruvian Highland Wool was among the first yarns I designed in and with – the
extensive palette and great price made it my go-to yarn. This line is being retired, but I hope it
will return.
Party
on Ravelry
For the past several ears, I’ve
participated in the Party for National Crochet Month on Ravelry, mainly by
joining the FreeForm Crochet-Along, as both participant and designer for a day.
I’ve learned so much over the years from
this. The sharing and camaraderie are
amazing. It’s a joy to have an
international brain trust of knowing hands whose efforts, exchanges, and
endeavors inspire.
Charity of the Month
Crocheting for charity helped me when I
was in rehab. Being able to create for others, was affirming and stimulating, Crochetville has selected
Halos of Hope as the feature charity for this month.
Halos of Hope is a 501c3 not-for-profit organization committed
to providing volunteer-crafted hats to cancer centers across the country. They prefer soft, seamless washable, headwear. http://halosofhope.org/guidelines
Mailing Address:
Halos of Hope, 20987 N. John Wayne Pkwy, #B104-432, Maricopa, AZ 85139 or you
could find a local center through this link:
Blog Tour
My post today, is part of Crochetville's
2014 Blog Tour for National Crochet Month. Crochetville’s blog tour will
feature about two designers each day of the month. All designers participating
in the blog tour are professional or associate members of the Crochet Guild of
America. For more information:
http://crochetville.com/national-crochet-month-2014-designer-blog-tour/
New
Leaf Collection
My
new leaf collection is 30% off for National Crochet Month. I love flowers and leaves
as motifs, applique’s embellishments, but particularly for use in creating
freeform fabric. This is my second
collection of leaf patterns and includes: Big Little Leaf, Circle Leaf, Embossed Leaf, Flame Leaf, Floral Leaf , Fruit Leaf, Heart Leaves, Houseplant
Leaf, and Medium Leaf. To get the
discount, use the code NatCroMo or this link: ravelry.com/redeem/akuadesigns-2?code=NatCroMo
Free
Patterns
I created a number of patterns for National Crochet
Month. Each of these will be free for
seven days beginning with Five Year
Flower, so stop by next week for the
link and code for the other patterns.
Five Year Flower is inspired by Irish Crochet. It’s named
for my personal numerological year and
petals – both of which are five, the number of change. To get it free,
use the code FREE or this link http://www.ravelry.com/redeem/akuadesigns-2?code=FREE
Crochet Book
Most of these have been published singly, but not collected. Next month is
National Poetry Month and it seems a good way to connect the dots, to connect my passion for creating with words and with fiber.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Food Mourning Scrumble
The day's prompt at the NatCroMo Freeform CAL was about food.
I’ve been a nonmeat eater for 41 years, now. I’ve been
vegan, vegetarian, macro, lacto-ova, pesco-veg. Sadly, I haven’t had ice cream
for 15 years, when I became lactose-intolerant. Since I’m from NYC, I’ve
enjoyed expresso/cappuchino/lattes from teenage onward. My great treats were to
go to Greenwich Village and sit in the beautiful Italian cafes, write, watch, muse,
flirt. The grandchild of West Indian immigrants, avocados, mangos, plantains
and bananas are part of my soul food. We are rice people – my first potatoes
were sweet and plain yams. My other starch — boiled green bananas —are an
unexplored taste treat. And as a child of the great metropolis, I’ve eaten
outside our root cuisine all my life as monthly treats included Chinese food,
Italian food, or trips to the Jewish deli.
My high school sweetheart and I discovered Indian cuisine and came to
love falafel, stuffed grape leaves, moussaka, hummus, tahini at our favorite
haunts. I cooked to earn money in college, both freelance and as the cook for a
house. My Algerian friend taught me
cous-cous – now a part of my staples. I love Pad Thai as much as sushi and miss
injera and wat, foo-foo and jook, sfogiatelle and hammentaschen, West Indian
bun, rotis and gazadas – delights that
none of my neighbors know. Though the mega grocery store now has a sushi stand,
so something has reached these hinterlands and they import panettone in season.
Still no mooncakes, rugelach, or decent
cannoli, no place to order blackbeans
and rice with kingfish, no service, codfish and ackee, or revoltillo bacaloa,
until I get a care box from the city. So,
loving so much so widely, I decided to hook about loss.
This piece is about the hole in my heart when goat milk
turned on me last month as have caffeine-coffee, soy, nuts, and raisins. It is about bereavement missing
long-lost cheese, whipped cream, fondues, grilled cheese sandwiches, omelets. No
more the joy of dark brewed liquid swirled with light.
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Of Elephants and Inspiration
There is a National Crochet Month Party going on at Ravelry and I've been partying.
This has meant several low-sleep nights and lots of time on the net, looking, pinning new discoveries on my Crochet Inspirations Pinterest board, chatting with crocheters I haven't written since last year's blow out. It's like an artist's retreat
without the physical relocation. But in the same way that the right poetry prompt seeds your next unfolding and the doing it with others fuels creating, as does the dialyness of effort, well there are all the ingredients for new growth and learning spurt.
Last year yielded so much work that still needs to be finished. This year promises more of the same.
The prompt was to look up from your computer and consider what you see. Above me is an elephant that my younger brother sent me. He remembered me and I was so deeply touched that in a time when most have abandoned me, he hasn't. So it is both what it is, an evocation of creatures that I admire, and an embrace.
I collect elephants and he's the first person in my life to ever give me one ( and since getting her, someone else has given me several).
She is covered in leaves, so I looked for a leaf like those on her. It was an opportunity to try some patterns. And then I made several elephant heads.
Then I worked on a pattern which I've named Elephant Love:
60% of this pattern's sales will go to Elephant Conservation, because these beautiful beings are under threat.
This has meant several low-sleep nights and lots of time on the net, looking, pinning new discoveries on my Crochet Inspirations Pinterest board, chatting with crocheters I haven't written since last year's blow out. It's like an artist's retreat
without the physical relocation. But in the same way that the right poetry prompt seeds your next unfolding and the doing it with others fuels creating, as does the dialyness of effort, well there are all the ingredients for new growth and learning spurt.
Last year yielded so much work that still needs to be finished. This year promises more of the same.
The prompt was to look up from your computer and consider what you see. Above me is an elephant that my younger brother sent me. He remembered me and I was so deeply touched that in a time when most have abandoned me, he hasn't. So it is both what it is, an evocation of creatures that I admire, and an embrace.
I collect elephants and he's the first person in my life to ever give me one ( and since getting her, someone else has given me several).
She is covered in leaves, so I looked for a leaf like those on her. It was an opportunity to try some patterns. And then I made several elephant heads.
Then I worked on a pattern which I've named Elephant Love:
60% of this pattern's sales will go to Elephant Conservation, because these beautiful beings are under threat.
Friday, March 1, 2013
Happy National Crochet Month
Welcome and thanks for visiting during National Crochet Month!
To celebrate, I’m offering a stitch tutorial
and, for three days, a new free pattern.
Charity of the Month:
Project Night Night
Project Night Night is a 501(c)(3) non-profit
organization that provides over 25,000 Night Night Packages to homeless
children each year. Each package consists of a new sturdy tote bag with a
new security blanket, an age-appropriate children’s book, and a stuffed
animal. These comfort objects help to reduce the trauma of homelessness.
Both the handmade blankets and stuffed animals provide the children with
objects of love and security.
You can help Project Night Night by
making and sending in a new crocheted blankets (50” x 60” or smaller) and/or
making a financial donation. I love that it lists the shelters it serves, so if
you prefer, you could find one in your community or hometown to support.
Here’s where to donate goods: http://projectnightnight.org/DonateItems.html
Here’s where to donate money: http://projectnightnight.org/Donate.html
Here’s where to donate goods: http://projectnightnight.org/DonateItems.html
Here’s where to donate money: http://projectnightnight.org/Donate.html
The Crochet Guild of America
I’m an associate professional member of
the Crochet Guild of America (CGOA), which offers two national conferences each
year with an extensive list of crochet classes, an annual Design Competition,
and a Master of Advanced Crochet Stitches and Techniques program. I’ve benefited greatly from the community, as
there is none locally to sustain and encourage me.
Crochet Tour Details
Here’s a link to the Crochetville blog post with the full list of participants: http://crochetville.com/a-tour-through-crochet-country-natcromo-blog-tour/
March 3 Phyllis Serbes Mona Muhammad
March 4 Amy O'Neill Houck Akua Lezli Hope
March 5 Mary Jane Hall Lindsey Stephens
Check out my patterns at
Free Patterns
My store at Etsy includes my
creations as well as my patterns:
Stitch
Tutorial: Orange Wedges
Regular crochet meets Tunisian in this stitch called orange wedges, which creates little wedges/scallops/shells. This adds raised texture and dimension to your work. It’s an elevated fan, a fiber Mohawk, a waving shell. I love it for it’s quirkiness a quick decorative effect.
From where you are (or want to be) on a piece, chain 9. Turn, and starting with the second chain from hook, working in the back/bump of the chain, pull up a loop in each chain, keeping each loop on the hook. Yarn over and pull through all the loops on the hook. Chain 1 to secure. Sc in next stitch, or make more right there by putting a couple of chain spaces between and repeating ( this takes you further off the fabric). You may vary the number of chains and thereby the size of your wedge – my next favorite number is 12.
Regular crochet meets Tunisian in this stitch called orange wedges, which creates little wedges/scallops/shells. This adds raised texture and dimension to your work. It’s an elevated fan, a fiber Mohawk, a waving shell. I love it for it’s quirkiness a quick decorative effect.
From where you are (or want to be) on a piece, chain 9. Turn, and starting with the second chain from hook, working in the back/bump of the chain, pull up a loop in each chain, keeping each loop on the hook. Yarn over and pull through all the loops on the hook. Chain 1 to secure. Sc in next stitch, or make more right there by putting a couple of chain spaces between and repeating ( this takes you further off the fabric). You may vary the number of chains and thereby the size of your wedge – my next favorite number is 12.
Free Pattern March 3-5: Pockets and Pillows
Motif
I’m assistant editor at http://www.crochetsavvy.com/HOME.html. I'm looking for poetry about crocheting, and invite folks to send their creations. Launched in May 2012, Crochet Savvy Magazine features up-and-coming crochet designers, bloggers, and yarn spinners. CSM goes behind the scenes of crocheting by providing tutorials, book recommendations and how-to’s. CSM promotes new designers and yarn spinners to the huge community of crochet fans and supporters who want fun, fashionable, trendy patterns and looks. In addition to its web presence, CSM is also available by digital download via iBooks through the Apple App Store/iTunes.
Joy in the making!
Akua
Lezli Hope
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