Double-Ended Crochet: July 13 Meeting Preview

Last month everyone got a chance to learn Tunisian basics and this month it's Tunisian with a twist! Or maybe Tunisian that's twice as nice is a better way to describe it. Double-ended crochet is a technique that uses a double-ended crochet hook and two colors of yarn to create a unique reversible crocheted fabric that is wonderfully soft and cushy with a different look to each side.

If you've ever seen double-ended hooks and wondered how they are used, you'll get a chance not only to learn but also to practice your new skills at this month's meeting. We invite all Twin City crocheters to join us Saturday, July 13 from 1pm to 3pm at Prospect Park United Methodist Church.

Carla will give us tips and ticks for working double-end crochet plus provide us with a resource list of patterns, books, and videos - which will be great because finding information about this technique can be a bit challenging! Everyone will then have a chance to practice with a washcloth project where we'll learn the two basic stitches that are absolutely necessary for mastering the technique. To prep for this meeting, you'll will want to brush up on your Tunisian if it's been a while for you.

You will need to bring the following materials to this meeting

• Two solid colors of smooth worsted-weight yarn - light or medium colors are easiest to work with. Dishcloth cotton such as Sugar n Cream by Lily would work wonderfully for this project but wool or wool/acrylic blend (such as Encore by Plymouth) would alos be a good choice.
• A double-ended hook, size I (5.5 mm) or J (6.0 mm) - if at all possible. If you aren't able to find a double-ended hook but are interested in this this technique, please come anyway - we'll have a few extra hooks on hand for "loaners". If you do want to purchase one, Clover makes a bamboo double-ended hook - you can find these hooks in many of the local Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft stores or perhaps at your local yarn shop. If you have a Denise Interchangeable Crochet Hook kit, you can assemble a double-ended hook from the kit.
• Tapestry needle and scissors

One last note: this class is for working flat double-ended; in other words crocheting in rows rather than in the round. The instruction leaflet that comes with the Clover hook illustrates double-ended in the round, which is a more advanced technique - and one which could be a future topic if there is interest.

We hope to see you there!

Highlights of our Textile Center Tour

According to the Roman philosopher Cicero, "If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need." He would love the Textile Center, they have both - and more. They have an fabulous library with books and magazines that are nothing short of inspirational. And they have a dye garden - flowers and plants that can be used to dye fabrics and fibers. But they also have galleries with displays of fiber arts and a gift shop with handcrafted items and classrooms with lots of light and a co-tenant (the Weaver's Guild) with thread and yarns for sale and a dye lab that you can learn to use and then rent.

Our tour started in the Textile Center Library where Nancy welcomed us with our library cards as well as a selection of treats. She showed us how to use the online catalog and told us about the library checkout policies. Then she went over how the collection is organized and pointed out the section where there are extra books and magazines for purchase. After that, she explained the layout of the Textile Center so we could take a self-directed tour of the other parts of the facility. We lingered and lingered after that - reading books and magazines, wondering through the galleries and shop and Weaver's Guild, relaxing in the sitting area.

It was a wonderful outing! I know that I personally enjoyed it so much that I completely forgot about getting any pictures for those of you who couldn't come; so the only photo I have is a picture of the book I checked out and the instructions about using the catalog for the rest of the members. (Which reminds me: members who weren't able to come, watch for an email from ctclist about your library card.)

We have very talented members, many of them multi-craftual: crocheting is just the start, many members also sew, spin, weave, knit, quilt, or do other crafts. It feels absolutely wonderful to be a part of the Textile Center where we get a chance to be around other like-minded fiber folk!

Textile Center Tour: June 29 5th Saturday Outing

If you missed the last meeting, you missed a big announcement: Crochet Twin Cities is now an organizational member of Textile Center of Minnesota! And to celebrate, our next 5th Saturday excursion will be a tour of the Textile Center on Saturday, June 29 from 1pm-3pm.

If you've never been to the Textile Center, you'rbe in for a treat - the center includes a gallery, gift shop, classrooms, library, and dye lab - plus the Weaver's Guild of Minnesota shares the same building. During the tour you'll have a chance to look over the facility and ask the Textile Center staff questions about the Center itself and about the activities that are held there. (Now that we are a member, there are future possibilities of joint programs with the other organizational members and also the option of renting space at the Center for our own events.)

A real highlight of our visit will be the tour of the Pat O'Connor Textile Center Library, which includes more than 26,000 books, magazines, and publications. When we joined the Textile Center, we joined as a guild with library membership privileges - meaning that everyone who is a CTC member now has a library card and checkout privileges at the largest circulating library in the country devoted to fiber arts! Members can pick up their cards during the tour - plus learn all about how to locate materials (including an online catalog) and check out materials.

The Textile Center is located at 3600 University Ave SE in Minneapolis  - click here for map and directions. There is some parking available in the rear of the building but be sure to heed the signs in the parking lot and the sign on the rear of the building (just to the left of the back door) about which spaces really are available for Textile Center parking. The Textile Center is actually just a few blocks away from our regular meeting location at Prospect Park United Methodist Church so parking in the Pratt School lot is also an option - just hang a right as you come out of the parking lot and keep heading downhill and to the right until you reach University Avenue.

If you walk down the hill or come around the east side of the building to the front door, you'll see these really colorful metal bicycles next to the building. Not sure if they are meant to be sculpture or bike racks but they are definitely a sign-post that you're at the right place!

As with all 5th Saturday outings, we welcome all crocheters to join us - there is no meeting fee. (Please note,however, that the library portion of the tour is geared to CTC members only; while non-members can listen in, only members have checkout privileges.)

We hope you can join us!

Meeting Highlights: Tunisian Basics

It is official: Crochet Twin Cities has joined the Textile Center.  CTC members will find out about the benefits of membership at our June Fifth Saturday meeting, which takes place at the Textile Center.  See separate blog post for more information.

Do you know something about anything?  Have you an interest in some technique and realize that you've gleaned a few tips that maybe others don't know? If so, we need you! We are starting to plan next year's meetings and need to know who is willing to help others learn. Don't worry about coming up with handouts, patterns or swatches--we can help you with those. But we do need you to lead the class sessions. To volunteer, just email ctclist@gmail.com.

Some of you might read Carol's blog and are familiar with her humorous post on "fuzzy fat stuff," a popular chunky yarn. Well, she finally delivered two large bags of the stuff to the meeting and our members got to fight over the spoils.

The topic for the June meeting was Tunisian Crochet Basics, lead by Julie. Tunisian is enjoying a resurgence in popularity with many new project and stitch patterns readily available (check out this month's project gallery for a good example--a Tunisian entrelac afghan crocheted by Hilary).

Here are some points to remember:

• Stitches are worked in two-pass rows, rather than one stitch at a time
• With Tunisian, the right side is always facing you as you work
• A longer hook (sometimes with cable attached) is usually used, but a regular hook can be used for something small and delicate like a bracelet worked in thread.
• The resulting fabric is very thick and can have a tendency to curl--but it can also be light and lacy, depending upon the hook size and stitch used.

Project Gallery June 2013

There is nothing like the feel of a luxury yarn around your neck.  This shawlette by Maxine is a prime example, made of hand-dyed yarn that is 60% wool and 40% silk.  The pattern is the Isolde Shawl from the Spring issue of Crochet! Magazine.  The pattern gives you have the option of making the plainer shawlette or adding a deeper lace edging to turn it into a shawl.

Joan made this shawl from another luxury yarn, this one a discontinued line from Osterman Yarn.  It is a silk, linen and viscose blend, which gives the shawl a wonderful drape.  The pattern is from Interweave Crochet's 2011 Accessories issue.  This interesting pattern works the opposite of what you'd expect, starting with the lace edge and finishing with the body.  Here's a close-up of the lace edging.

Hilary made this afghan from a Berroco yarn that is half cotton, half acrylic.  This entrelac design is worked in Tunisian crochet from a design in the Robyn Chachula book, Unexpected Afghans: Innovative Crochet Designs with Traditional Techniques.  Wonderful color combination!  The afghan was a gift and purple and green the recipient's favorite colors--Hilary came up with the rest.







Call this item a Jen trunk special--as in, the trunk of her car, where this lap blanket usually resides.  She made it eons ago from some mystery yarn but it still looks great.  And the colors--wow!

Melanie made these two baby sweater sets, one in pima cotton and the other in a microfiber acrylic. Any baby would be proud to wear these sweaters, and the parents would be pretty pleased as well.

Melanie also made this vest from something in the Willow Yarns line-up.  She says she's not terribly pleased with the length of the garment, but you must admit it fits very well, the color and type of yarn show off the stitches well and has a suitable drape--what's not to like?

Vi made this scarf from Noro yarn.  You have to love how the vivid colors progress through the length of the scarf; a simple stitch pattern really shows off the color changes well.  This wrist bag can be used to carry a ball of yarn while you crochet or tat.