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

Serrato Purse in Crochet One Skein Wonders

Hip, hip, Hooray! After two years, the book is here! And my pattern Serrato Purse is in it!

Named for its serrated appearance achieved by the use of the crocodile stitch, this small bag may be dressed up or down depending on the yarn used.
It may also be sized up or down depending on the yarn and hook combination used.

The body is worked flat and then seamed with a slip stitch, then the circular bottom is crocheted. The top flap is made as a separate piece and attached, as is the strap.

 

 

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.

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

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

Ravelry

http://www.ravelry.com/designers/akua-lezli-hope/patterns

Free Patterns

Single-Crochet Based Maple Leaf

Akua's Daisy 

Crocheted Knitted Leaves

Hope's Birds

My store at Etsy includes my creations as well as my patterns:

http://www.akuadesigns.etsy.com

 

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.

Free Pattern March 3-5:  Pockets and Pillows Motif

Two of my favorite texture stitches emboss and figure this circular motif.  An intermediate-level pattern, or a challenging introduction to some of yarns stuffing and shaping possibilities for a beginner http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pillows-and-pockets-motif

CrochetSavvy

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