DragonFly

I’ve been wanting to make a dragonfly for a long time, so the CAL in the Irish Crochet Group on Ravelry provided just the occasion. 
When they appear in my part of the world,
it’s usually July, so making this is a harbinger of warmth that 
still hasn’t arrived.

I studied this image of their anatomy before creating my design. 

AkuaLezliHope's DragonFly

Underside

AkuaLezliHope's DragonFly

Volumetric, 3-D Leaves From Sheru

Crochet Leaf Pattern 56

https://www.sheruknitting.com/learn-to-crochet/crochet-le...

LOVE love love this, dimensional leaf ---tall stitches and short row Tunisian for shaping….

I fell in love with a new-to-me form. It’s a 3-dimensional/textured, volumetric leaf. Though, when I made some, they bloom into flower forms.

They are only two rows and their cleaver construction suggests an approach that I have to find other uses for…. I’ve done it for a flat leaf -- that is the short row/regular hook stuffed with stitches approach to Tunisian. This volumizes/textures the fabric and done unsupported, lays flat. Also in that flat leaf form, the shape is determined by hand, by graduated strand height pulls. The inexactitude can be annoying -- it is for me. The last strand can be longer than the first, but the ones in-between don’t always have neat increments.

This is the leaf I’m talking about, which when I found it, it also blew my mind at the time: 

I eagerly applied the approach to shell making, to texturizing, to scrumbling, without making the easy leap  to solving the even graduated height increment challenge -- smacking forehead--- I/we’ve used it to make wings and spirals and other things -- graduated stitches. 

This new leaf  So simple -- so these are graduated stitches, with the tunisian overlay and this Voluptuous Fruit form of a leaf emerges-- aI want to try to apply it to a flower. 
Anyway, this is from the brilliant and educative SheruKnitting.com, which has a treasure trove of Russian/Ukranian forms a vocabulary that continues to inspire.

 And there's another one -- simpler, still packs tons of drama! Oval Crochet Leaf 55.

Summer Birthday Sweater Made While Waiting

My fingers craved production, desired yarn flowing through them. I saw an airy  chained creation and thought of  drop stitch crochet and broomstick lace. I ordered a hook from Amazon that arrived after the substitute project was finished and yarn that has yet to arrive from Knitpicks. Instead of what I thought I would make using an airy sportweight, I redirected my urge, grabbed the thick utilitarian  aran weight at hand, sized up the hook and  improvised a summer sweater.  Fits me to a tee and looks lovely.

POETRY HAT

Them Gone, my collection of poetry, debuts in June. The Book Party was a magical occasion on March 28th at 171 Cedar Arts Center. I created the Poet Hat  for the event and wore my Bird Jacket and also created Poet Shoes.

Happy National Crochet Month!

It's been a rough winter for me. I've sent a lot of time in and out of the hospital and doctors's offices. Crochet helped me through it all. It was a comfort to complete new hats and little purses to gift nurses and beloveds.

That I could create while waiting, and in that time when I couldn't sleep -- that there was the wonderful feeling of yarn flowing through my fingers and evolving into new things, was most precious and healing.

So I wish you all joy as you explore the offerings of the other fabulous creators in this tour.

My gift to you is  my heart pouch for free for the next three days if you use the code NCM for National Crochet Month.

 http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/akuas-heart-pouch

GIFT-A-LONG 2016

The Independent Designer Gift-A-Long is an annual event where independent knit and crochet pattern designers have the opportunity to showcase some of their creations and inspire others to make them.  The Gift-A-Long is essentially two events:

A Sale:  Each of the designers has chosen 5 – 20 of their favorite patterns and will offer them at a 25% discount from 8 p.m. Nov 22 – 11:59 Nov 30 EST when you use the code giftalong2016.  There are over 300 designers participating this year which means there are thousands of patterns on sale!

The GAL (gift-a-long):  an opportunity to knit and crochet at the same time with other like-minded crafters and have the chance to win amazing prizes!  ALL patterns created by the participating designers can be made during the GAL, however only the non-free patterns will be eligible for prizes. 

The GAL begins Tuesday November 22, 2016 at 8 pm (EST) and ends December 31, 2016 at 11:59 pm (EST). While you are waiting, make sure you join the Indie Design Gift-A-Long group.  That is where all the chatting, friend-making, showing off of finished projects and prize awarding will take place.

Speaking of prizes … free patterns, pattern books, amazing yarns, yarn and pattern kits, stitch markers, project bags … there are hundreds of prizes this year! I've donated a book, the Crocheter's Companion, beads, crochet hooks and stitch markers.

You may make as many projects as you want.  There will be separate threads for 8 different categories:

• giftalong2016head
• giftalong2016hand
• giftalong2016feet
• giftalong2016kids
• giftalong2016garments
• giftalong2016shawls
• giftalong2016neck
• giftalong2016other

There is even a special prize category you can enter if you complete at least one project in each of the 8 categories listed above.

There will be more information appearing in the official Ravelry group as we get closer to the start date.

2016 International FreeForm Arts Guild Challenge

My work, for the 2016 International FreeForm Arts Guild Challenge — Flora and Fauna — is published.

You can see my, and the other artists' work that is included in the book here:

http://freeformfiberart.blogspot.co.nz/2016/06/2016-akua-lezli-hope.html

Art Made in March

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.

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:

http://crochetville.com/the-crochet-express-2016-natcromo-blog-tour-daily-giveaway-schedule/

Daily Designer Schedule

http://crochetville.com/2016-national-crochet-month-blog-tour-designer-schedule/

Crochet Friendly Local Yarn Stores

http://crochetville.com/the-crochet-express-2016-natcromo-blog-tour-local-yarn-store-schedule/

Yarn Company Schedule

http://crochetville.com/the-crochet-express-2016-natcromo-blog-tour-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.

http://www.ravelry.com/groups/party-for-ravelrys-international-crochet-month

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

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tiny-circles-in-squares.

 They were created to fill in those small spaces in crochet fabric in an interesting way.

Wishing you all joy in the making!

Native Flora and Fauna: International Freeform Challenge

This year’s theme for the International Freeform Challenge is native flora and fauna.

So far I’ve designed the NYS official bird, a blue jay, a red cardinal, trees, squirrel, black bear, bison, and  moose. 

I've written patterns for all of these and have tested the red cardinals, black bear and squirrel.

I'm considering adding a beaver, coyote and owl.

Heart Package, Heart Pouch

Valentine's Day, my play niece, and an ad for a class on creating felt pouches led to a new creative series. (Really? does one need a class on that?) I though I would go one better and made heart envelopes/ pouches out of felt, stamped them, layered them, sewed on glass beads and stitched them with delicious Rowan wool cotton yarn.

Then I thought -- why not crochet them. I began by designing intarsia hearts -- one in a rectangle and the other in a graduated flap and then created a textured body. They're about 5" x 3.5" and feel lovely.

Black Bear: Flora and Fauna

The International Freeform Guild holds an annual challenge that results in a book  whose sales are donated to charity. This year's theme is Flora and Fauna.
So thinking about the indigenous and area specific wildlife I might include, I thought about the second largest animal around: black bears. They wander the hills above my home at the edge of this town called a city. They crossed a friend's yard.
I looked at pictures of bears, but one particular drawing gave me the way in to creating this appliqué.

I'm testing the pattern and hope to offer it for sale by the end of the month.
My first finished design of the new year. Happy New Year!

Little Gnomes Healing Hurt

My deep holiday blues were lessened by creating a lovely gnome. I was inspired by these rather large elementals to design and make my own versions. The pattern has been tested and just now released. My brother requested the Crone Gnome, so she's departed, and my bff asked for a little bearded guy. They have brought me some measure of equanimity in a time of pain.

Gift-A-Long 2015

The Indie Design Gift-A-Long is a 6 week long KAL/CAL of holiday gifts made from patterns designed by 335 independent designers.

SALE

From November 19th at 8pm (US-EST) through November 27th at 11:59 pm (US-EST) these 335 indie designers will be discounting between 5 - 20 of their patterns 25% for this event.

KAL/CALs

There are eight KAL/CALs to participate in, prizes of all sorts given out, games, and generally a lot of fun! The Gift-A-Long KAL/CALs will run from November 19 at 8pm US EST through - December 31, 2015 at 11:59pm US EST. All patterns by the participating designers are eligible for the KAL/CALs and all not-free patterns by the participating designers are eligible to win prizes.

Location:

http://www.ravelry.com/groups/indie-design-gift-a-long

Once you’ve got your Gift-A-Long patterns, you’re invited to join a relevant KAL/CAL! (For instance, if it is a cowl, please join the cowl KAL/CAL.) To join, simply write a post in the KAL/CAL thread you want to join, including the pattern name you will make and a link to your project page. KAL/CAL participants are eligible for lots of lovely prizes but you gotta post to win!

There will be games, tons of prizes, great conversation, and a lot of fun.

Here is a handy shortened URL to search the sale bundle:

http://ravel.me/giftalong2015

Gift-A-Long 2015 Designer Map:

https://www.zeemaps.com/map?group=1723338

My Patterns on Sale:

http://www.ravelry.com/bundles/gift-a-long-2015-556