Filet Crochet: January 9 meeting preview

Filet crochet is a technique that can be used to make lovely lacy patterns, as simple or intricate as you like. Best of all, it uses only a few stitches - mostly double crochet and chains! At this month's meeting, you'll get a chance to learn the basics of filet with a simple project - a small square with a heart.

The meeting will be Saturday, January 9 at the Textile Center of Minnesota, 3000 University Ave SE, with the following schedule:

• 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM - Open Crochet
• 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM - Announcements and Show and Tell
• 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM - Crochet Education
• 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM – Open Crochet

To get the most out of this meeting you'll need to bring:

• A few ounces of thread or yarn; light or medium colors are easiest to work with. Although filet crochet is most often associated with fine threads, it can be worked in any weight of yarn or thread.
• Appropriate sized crochet hook for the thread or yarn.

If you're new to Crochet Twin Cities, you can join us by downloading our membership form and bringing the amount shown on the form to the meeting or you can pay the non-member fee of $5 for attending one meeting.

Meeting time change beginning January 2016

Crochet Twin Cities will continue to hold our education sessions on the second Saturday of the month at the Textile Center of Minnesota, 3000 University Ave SE, with the following schedule:

• 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM - Open Crochet
• 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM - Announcements and Show and Tell
• 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM - Crochet Education
• 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM – Open Crochet

Note that our starting time has changed to one hour earlier from 11:00 AM to 10:00AM. Open crochet will be offered at both the beginning and the end of our meeting time. The time after the education program can be used to continue working on the education topic or your personal projects.

If you're new to Crochet Twin Cities, you can join us by downloading our membership form and bringing the amount shown on the form to the meeting or you can pay the non-member fee of $5 for attending one meeting.

Our meetups on the fourth Saturdays of the month will continue unchanged from 9:00 AM to noon at various locations around the Twin Cities. Locations will be given in a blog post prior to the day. Meetups are our informal gathering each month - open to all crocheters with no fee for attending - with a special welcome extended to new crocheters. Bring a project to work on - or not, if you just want to chat or ask questions - and come when you can and stay as long as you're able.

4th Saturday meetup: December 26

It's hard to believe but it's almost time for for our last 4th Saturday meetup of the year. Our meetups are very informal gatherings we crochet and chat - and most of us treat ourselves to a cup of coffee and a little something to munch on!

Meetup this month is Saturday, December 26 from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Bruegger's Southtown (Bloomington, 494 & Penn).

We hope you can join us!

Member News: 2015 Year In Review

2015 was a tremendous year for Crochet Twin Cities. Our membership grew to over 50, and we participated in some amazing outreach activities in addition to our regular education meetings and 4th Saturday meet-ups.

Julie, Maxine and Rosemary taught a Tunisian Crochet class for the Textile Center in March. We also participated in the Textile Center booth at the American Craft Council in April, the Hennepin County Fair in June and the Fall Fiber Fest in November. In August, we staffed our first demonstration booth for one day at the Minnesota State Fair in the Creative Activities Annex. Several members also participated in the Minneapolis satellite reef of the Institute For Figuring’s worldwide Crochet Coral Reef project.

2016 will bring changes in leadership and program details. Incoming officers were confirmed at the December Annual Meeting.

• President: Lisa
• Treasurer: Joy 
• Recording Secretary: Judith
• Programs: Carla
• Communications: Kendra
• Newsletter: Tracy

In addition, the following chairpersons will supervise important programs:

• Outreach: Rosemary
• Charity: Virginia
• 4th Saturdays: Theresa
• Buddy Program: Kathy

Check the blog for announcements each month about upcoming meeting details.

If you're new to Crochet Twin Cities, you can join us by downloading our membership form and bringing the amount shown on the form to the meeting or you can pay the non-member fee of $5 for attending one meeting.

Annual Member Business Meeting: December 12 meeting preview

Can you believe that another year is almost over? Time does fly - and so have our crochet hooks!
With December comes our Annual meeting - time to recap and reflect on the activities and accomplishments of our chapter this past year and  review plans for the next year. Then after the business meeting, we'll have our annual holiday celebration, including our destash.

As you can tell from the description above, the December meeting is a bit different than normal. Like all meetings it will be held at the Textile Center of Minnesota, 3000 University Avenue, with the following schedule:

• Open Crochet  -11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
• Member meeting  - 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM

However, this is a member-only meeting - and we hope all members can join us on December 12.

Watch for an announcement on the blog for 2016 calendar and activities.

4th Saturday meetup: November 28

It's meetup time again - Saturday November 28 - when we gather for crochet, chat, and coffee. This month we're back at a spot that offers even more fun - a great selection of craft books - the Cafe at the Barnes and Noble at HarMar Mall in Roseville.  The meetup will be from 9 AM (when the store opens) until  noon - the cafe is in the center of the store and we'll be the crowd with the crochet hooks.

Meetups are our informal gathering each month - open to all crocheters with no fee for attending - with a special welcome extended to new crocheters. Bring a project to work on - or not, if you just want to chat or ask questions - and come when you can and stay as long as you're able.

We hope to see you there!

Tapestry Crochet and CAL IV: November 14 meeting preview

The CAL vest project is almost complete so this month's topic is a change of pace - Tapestry Crochet - another of those simple techniques that looks complex and produces beautiful results like this selection. We can't promise that you'll win ribbons like Carla has, but we do promise that you'll have fun!

The meeting will be Saturday, November 14 at the Textile Center of Minnesota, 3000 University Ave SE, with the following schedule:

• 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM - Open Crochet
• 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM - Announcements and Show n Tell
• 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM - Crochet Education (Tapestry Crochet)

To get the most out of this meeting you'll need to bring:

• At least two colors of light to medium-weight yarn - a few ounces of each color; light or medium colors are easiest to work with. 
• Appropriate sized crochet hook for the yarn

If you are participating in the CAL and need individual check-in with the CAL leaders, be sure to bring along:

• Completed vest pieces
• Any questions you have
• Your printed copy of the Level 1 Crocheted Vest

If you're new to Crochet Twin Cities, you can join us by downloading our membership form and bringing the amount shown on the form to the meeting or you can pay the non-member fee of $5 for attending one meeting.

Roving Crochet Reporter: Our Very Own Crocheted Satellite Reef

Here's a report from two of our members, Judith and Kathy, about an exciting community project that is being exhibited through November 21, 2015.

Presented by the Minneapolis Institute of Arts (Mia), the Minneapolis Satellite Reef-- a part of the worldwide Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef Project created by Margaret and Christine Wertheim for the Institute For Figuring in Los Angeles--debuted on Sunday, August 23rd. The Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) held a thrilling pre-opening event for the contributors and their family and friends. The entire lobby of the beautiful new MWMO building has been transformed into a gallery showcasing the Minneapolis Satellite Reef in a sensory delight of fantastical crocheted coral pieces in all imaginable designs, shapes, sizes, and brilliant colors. But at the core of the project are hyperbolic shapes, best demonstrated by these crocheted forms. The reef is art, an exploration of topology, and at its heart an urgent plea for humanity to stop pouring poisons and trash into our seas.

The 1300 individual pieces are mounted in undulating sections, including a magnificent center focal point of corals in orange and multiple other colorways, an elegant bleached white coral reef showing the tragedy of dying corals, and a trail of brilliant blues with hanging green "kelps" dangling from the ceiling next to a rising mound of yellow corals. A blazing sea-wall of red corals meets the viewer at eye level and above.

Also included in the gallery are other manifestations of sea-life. Not far from a group of hanging jellyfish, a video monitor runs continuously to show the installing of the Satellite Reef from Day 1 through completion, followed by the TED Talk by Margaret Wertheim, co-founder of the IFF, explaining how the concept of a crocheted coral reef first came about in 2005. There’s a chalkboard explaining the mathematical principles of the non-Euclidian shapes that the hyperbolic crocheted forms represent. Finally, a large wall plaque credits each individual contributor to the Satellite reef by name, honoring this exceptional community of crocheters of all ages and skill levels who came together to create the Minneapolis Satellite Reef.

List of contributors

Since January, Mia has invited the community to participate in the making of a Minneapolis Satellite Reef, part of the Institute For Figuring’s ongoing Satellite Reef program. Citizens of the Twin Cities and beyond were encouraged to create crocheted corals to contribute to the reef through the end of July 2015. More than 400 people attended crochet workshops during that time, with over 180 contributing works, including some mailed in from Hawaii.

Plarn - plastic yarn

Organized by Mia and created by the community, the Minneapolis Satellite Reef will be exhibited at the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization Community Facility, 2522 Marshall Street NE Minneapolis (http://www.mwmo.org) from August 24 to November 21, 2015.

All photos are personal photos of the Minneapolis Satellite Reef, a part of the worldwide Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef Project created by Margaret and Christine Wertheim for the Institute For Figuring in Los Angeles, made by over 180 individual contributors.

Thanks for the very information report, Judith and Kathy. And thanks for the pics Judith, Kathy, and Lisa. We hope everyone takes time to see the satellite reef before the exhibit ends - click here for a google map to the MWMO facility.

Fifth Saturday: No event on October 31

It's been a busy month with lots of activities for Crochet Twin Cities members. Since this fifth Saturday is Halloween we decided not to have a special event or outing. So enjoy your own trick or treating with family and friends and we'll see you in November!

4th Saturday meetup: October 24

Time flies; we're nearing the end of this month, and that signals Fourth Saturday meetup. If you're new to the group, meetups are held at rotating locations around the metro where we can grab a cup of coffee and sit and crochet and chat. It's all very informal - but lots of fun! You can drop in any time and stay as long as you're able.


There's no charge to attend a meetup so it's a great way to meet us and ask questions about the group, particularly if you're new to crochet. We'd love to meet you!


This month's meetup is Saturday, October 24 from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Bruegger's Southtown (Bloomington, 494 & Penn).

We hope you can join us!

(And, yes, it does seem earlier than usual this month - that's because October has five Saturdays!)

Crochet tools review: Rowenta Ultrasteam Hand-Held Steamer

At our next meeting we'll be talking about blocking techniques. Several of our members use this tool for blocking so we asked if they would give a product review.

How did you find out about this tool and where did you purchase it?
Maxine: I first read about steam blocking acrylic in this blog article - the before and after pictures are pretty impressive - so I looked for a steamer and found this model at Target.
Thersa: I found out about it at a CTC meeting and purchased mine online - from amazon.


How often do you use it and what do you use if for?
Thersa: I don't use it that often - but when I do, it works great - especially when I have a project that won't lie flat. I wish I had taken it with me on my last business trip - I could have used it for a pair of pants that I had to press!
Maxine:  I really became a believer in this steamer when I used it for the Purple Majestic Vest. True to my nature,  I finished this project on the way to work one morning (as rider in my car pool) and it was very puckered and sad-looking. I'd packed the steamer but I was not very hopeful that it would help. Wonder of wonders, it make a huge difference in the look of the garment - smoothed out all the puckers and uneven edges. So now it's my go-to blocking tool for everything I can - motifs to completed projects.

What are the strong points of this tool?
Maxine: I think the brush attachment is one of the strong points (and I leave mine on the tool at all times). If you put the brush on the piece you're blocking, you're just the right distance for the steamer to be concentrated but you don't damage the fabric. A friend of mine has a different hand steamer without a brush and she says hers doesn't really do the job.
Thersa: It's simple to use, it's inexpensive, it works really well. For what I do, there's was no sense in getting an expensive floor-model steamers that cost four of five times the cost of this tool.

Are there any are flaws or weaknesses in the tool that others should be aware of?
Thersa: You might have to refill the water container several times for a larger project. I always use distilled water just so there isn't a chance for build-up - I just keep a container of distilled water nearby so that I'm prepared.
Maxine: Same here. - not really a complaint because the container is the exact right size for the tool.

Would you recommend this tool to other crocheters?
Maxine: Oh my goodness yes - it's one of the most important tools I own.
Thersa: Yes!

Thanks for the tips!

Finishing Techniques and CAL III: October 10 meeting preview

Our CAL project is nearing the end and one of the biggest challenges in completing a crochet project is how to finish it professionally. At this month's meeting you'll get a chance to learn tips and ticks for three of the most common tasks needed to finish crochet projects: blocking, seaming, and finishing edges. Even if you aren't participating in the CAL, everything you learn in this meeting can help in other crochet projects.

The meeting will be Saturday, October 10 at the Textile Center of Minnesota, 3000 University Ave SE, with the following schedule:

• 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM - Open Crochet
• 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM - Announcements and Show n Tell
• 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM - Crochet Education (Finishing Techniques)

To get the most out of this meeting, you need to bring:

• Two to four prepared swatches (at least 4" square) to practice finishing techniques
• Extra yarn to practice techniques
• Appropriate size hook for the yarn
• A tapestry needle

If you are participating in the CAL we'll have a quick check-in so you'll need to bring:

• Completed left front piece (Steps 5 and 6 of the pattern)
• Any questions or problems you have
• Your printed copy of the Level 1 Crocheted Vest

If you're new to Crochet Twin Cities, you can join us by downloading our membership form and bringing the amount shown on the form to the meeting or you can pay the non-member fee of $5 for attending one meeting.

What's on your hook? Rosemary's top

Rosemary has been working on this top for quite a while and it's such a lovely color and a beautiful lacy stitch pattern that we wanted to know more.

Rosemary, can you tell us some basics about the pattern and yarn you're using?

The pattern is Quartz Lace Top by Dora Ohrenstein; it was originally published in the Winter 2013 issue of Interweave Magazine but can ordered electronically as an individual pattern. For the yarn, I swatched different yarns and hooks but ended up deciding to use the recommended yarn, Malabrigo Merino Lace. For hooks I am using Clover Amour - size B (2.25 mm) and C (2.75 mm).

Who is this top for and how long have you been working on it?
I’m not making it for anyone in particular – I just fell in love with the pattern and wanted to make it. I've been working on it off and on for a year. I don’t recommend this approach when working on a complex pattern such as this because continuity of gauge and pattern instruction interpretation is important. I have kept extensive notes which are helpful.

I am having a lot of fun making the top and learning a lot along the way. Dora’s pattern is brilliant - an intricate design with clear, concise and easy-to-follow instructions, charts and schematic. I keep wondering what her thought process was as she developed the pattern.

What challenges have you had with this project that you'd like to share with us?

My journey making the top hasn’t been without challenges which have, of course, turned out to be learning experiences:

The shade variations in the yarn - part of its charm - caused blotches of darker shades here and there

in the crocheted rows which don’t work to my advantage on a small garment with tiny stitches. I frogged the large middle section once to cut out long sections of yarn to keep the color shade consistent. I also frogged the middle section a second time because I had crocheted it too tightly and redid the section using one size up hook. Considering each round in the body of the top takes about 20 minutes to crochet, redoing 24 rows 2 times has added considerable time to the project. 

Although a dream to work with, the yarn is inconsistently spun with thick and thin sections (I think I just got a bad batch of yarn) which are very conspicuous when using a small crochet stitch and an intricate pattern. I’ve been picking out extra unspun wool fiber in the thicker yarn and do my best to camouflage the skinny spun sections, sometimes needing to cut these sections out.

Half done, I decided to use my battery-operated fabric shaver to remove the yarn ‘bloom’ in the first finished areas which have occurred from normal handling. It was going well until I noticed that the shaver had cut the yarn a couple of times within crocheted shells and in chain stitches between shells. I have used a stitch marker to hold these stitches together to prevent unraveling until I can fix them. What I think I’ll do is use a loose piece of yarn to tie the cut ends, trim the extra yarn, and hide the mending inside the crocheted shell. I may need to rehook a couple of stitches where the yarn was cut. Another learning experience…

Would you use this pattern again?

It’s likely I’ll crochet this pattern again and, having worked out the kinks in the first run, I’m sure the second pass would be a breeze.

Thanks Rosemary, can't wait to see it when it's done! To check out more photos, see Rosemary's Ravelry page (DancingKatz).

4th Saturday meetup: September 26

Meetup time just around the corner! We hold meetups every month on the fourth Saturday, at a spot in the metro where we can grab a cup of coffee and sit and crochet and chat. It's all very informal - but lots of fun! You can drop in any time and stay as long as you're able.

This month's meetup is Saturday, September 26 from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Panera Bread in Eagan. (It's located at 1260 Promenade Place, near 35E and Yankee Doodle Road.)

There's no charge to attend a meetup so it's a great way to check out the group and see who we are.

We hope you can join us!

Tips for crocheting short rows

One of our members has recently added two free patterns to Ravelry that feature crochet short rows and we've asked her to give us some tips for this technique.

Maxine, could you first define short rows?
Short rows are deliberate partial rows that you work back and forth to shape your work. These partial rows are called short rows because they contain fewer stitches than the surrounding rows. Short rows are a fairly common technique for knitting but, until recently, have not been used very often in crochet designs. For one thing, they are more difficult to execute successfully in crochet than in knitting.

Why are short rows harder to do in crocheting than in knitting?
Because crochet stitches are so tall you have to take extra care that you don't leave gaps or puckers in the fabric when you use short rows. On the other hand, knit and purl stitches are very short so the transition from short row to regular row is easy to hide.

So just how do you work short rows in crochet?
Let me show you using the Pike Pumpkin Patch pattern as an example. In this pattern, after the initial single crochet row, you work a 3-row repeat that is two short rows followed by a regular row. In addition, the pattern uses stitches of varying heights within the row for shaping - most stitches are single crochet but some are slip stitches and one part of the pattern uses a chain stitch that actually counts as a stitch. So you're able to practice two shaping techniques - short rows plus varying stitch heights - and end up with a cute holiday decoration.

To get the most out of the rest remaining part of this blog post, you must download the pattern because I won't be including every step that's in the pattern here. (The pattern is free for anyone with the link; you don't need a login to Ravelry to download it.)

To start, make the first row of 21 sc as instructed in the pattern.

The photo below shows the completed first row. Note for all the photos - I'm a right-handed crocheter.

Turn and work the second row of 18 stitches as instructed in the pattern.

• The first four stitches are back loop slip stitch (BLslSt).
• The next thirteen stitches are back loop single crochet (BLsc).
• The last stitch is a BLslSt.

The photo below shows the completed second row, with three stitches from the first row left unworked. Notice that I have placed a stitch marker in the first stitch of the row - and I'll move up this marker as work progress. Slip stitches at the beginning of a row can be difficult to locate and it's critical that you keep the stitch count accurate in this simple project. The last stitch of the row is a slip stitch to help "taper down" the height of the short row so that it's easier to eliminate any gaps or holes in the fabric when you work the regular row (the fourth row).

Turn and work the third row of 18 stitches as instructed in the pattern.

• The first stitch of this row is a chain (ch) and it counts as a stitch.
• The next fourteen stitches are BLsc.
• The last three stitches are BLslSt; if you do this row correctly, the last BLslSt will end up in the stitch you marked at the beginning of the second row.

The beginning of this row is critical. This photo shows the beginning of the third row - just after you have completed the second row and turned (but in this picture I have not yet made the chain 1). Make sure that you work the second stitch of this row (the first BLsc) into the stitch indicated by the green arrow so that you skip the stitch indicated by the blue arrow.

The photo below shows the completed third row. Notice that I have placed a stitch marker in the first row of stitch of this row as well - and that the chain is counted as the first stitch. Yes, counting the chain as a stitch is completely different that normal - but the reason is to continue the "tapering down" in preparation for the regular row.

Turn and work the fourth row of 21 stitches as instructed in the pattern.

• The first eighteen stitches are BLsc; if you do this row correctly the eighteenth BLsc will end up in the stitch you marked at the beginning of the third row.
• The last three stitches are BLsc but are worked into the unworked stitches from the row below (the first row).

The photo below shows the completed fourth row. The tapering that you did at the end of the second and third rows is to make the "jump down" between stitch #18 and stitch #19 as smooth as possible.

Are short rows always worked like this?
No, there are other methods of working them as well. For example, the Simple Christmas Stocking pattern (also a free pattern on Ravelry) starts with a small number of stitches on the first short row and gradually adds additional stitches to each row. There are probably endless variations of how you can work short rows, limited only by imagination!

Where can I learn more about short rows?
I haven't found a lot of general information available about this technique; for the most part, you learn about it by trying patterns that use short rows for shaping. However, this is one book that I would recommend that contains a nice introduction to short rows, plus it contains a wealth of other useful crochet information. That book is The Crocheter's Skill-Building Workshop by Dora Ohrenstein; it's available to member for check-out from the Textile Center Library and was recently reviewed here on our blog.

Thanks Maxine - this sounds like a really exciting technique and we can't wait to see projects from our members that use this tips!

Holiday Decorations and CAL II: September 12 meeting preview

This month we have a fun topic planned - Holiday Decorations - that will also help you learn short rows and several other techniques for shaping crochet pieces. We'll also include time on the agenda for check-in on the CAL vest project for participating members.

The meeting will be Saturday, September 12 at the Textile Center of Minnesota, 3000 University Ave SE, with the following schedule:

• 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM - Open Crochet
• 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM - Announcements and Show n Tell
• 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM - Crochet Education (Holiday Decorations and CAL II)

To get the most out of this meeting you'll need to bring:

• Two to four ounces of yarn in holiday colors - some of the decorations will be fall decorations like those pictured and others will be Christmas decorations - so choose your palette as you prefer!
• Appropriate size hook for the yarn

If you are participating in the CAL, you need to bring:

• Completed vest back piece (Steps 1 - 4 of the pattern)
• Any questions you have
• Your printed copy of the Level 1 Crocheted Vest

If you're new to Crochet Twin Cities, you can join us by downloading our membership form and bringing the amount shown on the form to the meeting or you can pay the non-member fee of $5 for attending one meeting.

We hope you can join us!

CAL vest corrections

One of our members has already completed the Crochet-a-long vest pattern and has noted a few corrections for us. 

This pattern was written pretty well but I did notice a few minor problems - typos in some of the stitch counts - and I wanted to let everyone know about them so that they don't become frustrated.

Correction in Step 6, Row 1:
In this step you shape the armhole for the left front. The stitch counts are off by 1 as noted below.
Pattern is written:
Ch 1, turn, sl st in first 7 (7, 8, 9, 9) sts, ch 2, hdc in next st and in each st across, hdc in top of beg ch - 17 (19, 20, 21, 23) hdc.
Pattern should be written:
Ch 1, turn, sl st in first 7 (7, 8, 9, 9) sts, ch 2, hdc in next st and in each st across, hdc in top of beg ch - 16 (18, 19, 20, 22) hdc.

Correction in Step 7, Row 1:
In this step you create the right front and shape the armhole for the right front. The stitch counts for the shape armhole instructions are off by 1 as noted below.
Pattern is written:
Ch 2, turn, hdc in next st and in each st to last 5 (5, 6, 7, 7) sts; leave last 5 (5, 6, 7, 7) sts and beg ch unworked – 17 (19, 20, 21, 23) hdc.
Pattern should be written:
Ch 2, turn, hdc in next st and in each st to last 5 (5, 6, 7, 7) sts; leave last 5 (5, 6, 7, 7) sts and beg ch unworked – 16 (18, 19, 20, 22) hdc.

Thanks for the corrections Maxine!

MN State Fair: August 29 Fifth Saturday Outing

It's a wonderful thing when August has five Saturdays - because that means we can once again hold our August Fifth Saturday outing at the Great Minnesota Get Together where there's a whole building dedicated to fiber arts and other creative endeavors!

As usual, several of our members have entries in the fair - so we'll be very excited to see the ribbons. But what's also very exciting is that a few days after this outing (Monday, August 31) our group will be doing crochet demos all day in this very same building - so Saturday will be a good opportunity to check out the demo area in a little more detail.

For the Fifth Saturday outing, here are the details:

• Saturday August 29 9:00 AM to approximately 11:00 AM
• Gather at the entrance to the Creative Activities Building - it's at the end of the building near the main fair entrance on Snelling Avenue. There's some benches close to the entrance, we'll meet there promptly at 9:00 AM to step inside.

Once we start our "tour", we'll be very informal - plan to enjoy the sights at your own pace or with a few others. The end time is only approximate and we're going early enough in the day that you can stay and visit other parts of the Fair (corn dogs anyone?) or leave after you've been inspired by all the crochet and fiber arts wonders.

Here's the direct link to the State Fair Express Bus service page - but be sure to click around on the entire Minnesota State Fair site - lots of good information to help you plan your visit!

4th Saturday meetup: August 22

Can you believe that we're nearing the end of August - summer sure has flown - but the end of the month means that meetup time is just around the corner! For this month's meetup, we be back the Barnes & Noble Cafe in Eden Prairie Center (it's at the west end of the mall, lower level). We'll be there Saturday August 22 at 9 AM when the store opens until noon.

If you're new to the group, meetups are our informal monthly gathering where crochet, chat, and have coffee or a bit to eat. There is no fee for coming to a meetup and you can drop by for the whole time or just a few minutes, whatever your schedule allows.

We hope you can join us!

Book Review: The Crocheter's Skill-Building Workshop

There are many great crochet books out there but most of us have a limited book budget. Remember that one of the benefits of Crochet Twin Cities membership is checkout privilege from Textile Center Library. The book featured in this blog post is a new addition to the library and Nancy Mambi, Textile Center Librarian and enthusiastic CTC member, provided the review.

Book: The Crocheter’s Skill Building Workshop: Essential Techniques for becoming a more versatile, adventurous crocheter.

Author: Dora Ohrenstein
Publisher: Storey Publishing © 2014
ISBN-13:  978-1-61212-246-5

General description:
The purpose of the book is to cover a broad range of techniques commonly used in crochet; to provide fundamental knowledge for crucial matters such as choosing yarns and fibers; to practice more advanced skills like miters, shaping with complex stitch patterns, construction, texture and color changing.

What I like about the book is learning about:

• Choosing yarn for a project ply, drape, density and height in a swatch
• Controlling tension
• The process for working each stitch by looking at the outstanding photos for every process
• Shaping motifs, working in the round, how to add texture to your work, and color changing, and finishing the project

Overall recommendation:

This book is an outstanding reference source for any questions you might have beyond the basic information found in beginning crochet books.

Thanks Nancy, for letting us know about this book. It's definitely on my reading list!

Crochet-A-Long (CAL) Vest Kickoff: August 8 meeting preview

This month's topic will be our Crochet-A-Long kickoff - where we'll discuss yarn selection as well as other prep work for making the Level 1 Crocheted Vest that was voted the winner for our CAL project. We'll cover yarn substitution and swatching, measuring and choosing pattern size, and techniques for dealing with gauge problems. Even if you're not participating in the CAL, this session will provide general information that can be used in other projects.

The meeting will be Saturday, August 8 at the Textile Center of Minnesota, 3000 University Ave SE, with the following schedule:

• 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM - Open Crochet
• 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM - Announcements and Show n Tell
• 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM - Crochet Education (CAL Vest Kickoff)

To get the most out of this meeting you'll need to prepare as follows:

• Read through the blog article on substituting yarn and come prepared with any specific questions; we'll be reviewing this article at the meeting.  
• If you plan to participate in the CAL, please print a copy of the vest pattern and bring it with you so you can make your notes on it.
• If you've already chosen your yarn for the CAL vest, be sure to bring it. (If you haven't chosen your yarn yet, we'll have the sample swatches from the yarn substitution blog article that you can look and feel to help in your decision.)
• Bring sample yarn to use for the class exercises - you can use the same yarn as you're using for the CAL or a different yarn; this yarn does not have to be bulky weight.
• Appropriate hooks for the yarn.
• You'll need a calculator for some of the exercises - and we're betting most of you have a calculator function on your phone, tablet, or laptop.

If you're new to Crochet Twin Cities, you can join us by downloading our membership form and bringing the amount shown on the form to the meeting or you can pay the non-member fee of $5 for attending one meeting.

We hope you can join us!

P.S. - We've moved our short row discussion to September - when we'll discuss short rows and other shaping techniques.

Hints for substituting yarn for CAL vest

When it comes to substituting yarn some pattern resources are very encouraging and give you suggestions while other resources predict dire consequences if you crochet with a different yarn than the designer used for the pattern. We're ready to start our second Crochet-A-Long (CAL) with the pattern Level 1 Beginner Crocheted Vest L40222, a free pattern available from Lion Brand Yarn. Rosemary and Maxine have been making test swatches with several types of yarn and have some tips for everyone on substitute yarns that you might want to consider. Even if you don't plan to participate in the CAL, the information in this article will help you next time you're thinking of making a yarn substitution and the source you're using does not offer suggestions.

Rosemary and Maxine, why are you thinking of substituting yarn for this pattern?
The recommended yarn for the pattern is Lion's Pride Woolspun which is 80% acrylic / 20% wool bulky weight (#5 in Craft Yarn Council yarn weight standards). The yarn has a lot of pluses going for it:

• It's sold exclusively through Michael's so it's ready available at several locations in our area and very affordable.
• It's very soft and cushy and feels wonderful.
• It's available in a wide variety of colors - this photo shows two of the colors. Maxine chose the light olive green on the right for her swatch and Rosemary chose the darker blue green on the left for her swatch. (As an aside, this also shows the difference between two crocheters - Rosemary made her swatch with a size K hook and Maxine made her swatch with size L - and both achieved gauge.)

On the minus side, Woolspun does not have a lot of drape. So visually, it looks bulky and some of us do not need to add extra bulk to our silhouettes!

But won't all yarns that are classified as #5 be bulky yarns?
Yes, it is true that all #5 yarns are classified as bulky but that does not mean that they are all exactly the same size. Some bulky yarns are, well, bulkier than others. You can't just look at the classification number of a yarn and automatically substitute any yarn with the same classification number.

How do you determine which yarns might be suitable for substitution?
The classification number is a good starting point. For example, for the CAL vest pattern, you could not easily substitute a #4 yarn because it would be almost impossible to make gauge. (Although if you're ready for some advanced work, see "Can't I rework the pattern to another yarn weight?" later in this blog article.)

For now let's assume you've found another bulky weight yarn that is a candidate for substitution. The one that we'll use to illustrate the process is Bernat Alpaca, a blend of 70% acrylic and 30% alpaca. The first step is to look at the yards per ounce and see if it's close to the suggested yarn. You shouldn't have to purchase the two yarns to do this comparison; Ravelry or the yarn manufacturer's website will usually provide this information.

The two yarns we're comparing are very close in yards per ounce, so Bernat Alpaca is a good candidate for substitution.

• One skein of Lion's Pride Woolspun is 3.5 ounce, 127 yard = 36.3 yd/oz
• One skein of Bernat Alpaca is 3.5 ounce, 120 yard = 34.3 yd/oz

The second step is to determine the wraps per inch (WPI) for the two yarns and compare them. (See "Can you explain more about WPI?" below.) This step is optional but extremely useful. Unfortunately, yarn companies do not typically put this information on their websites so you'll have to purchase a skein of each yarn to do the comparison. Like the first comparison, if the WPI for the two yarns is similar, the yarn is a good candidate for substitution because if two yarns have similar WPI, then they should work up to a similar gauge.

The two yarns we're comparing differ in WPI. The Bernat Alpaca is definitely a lighter, less bulky yarn than the Lion's Pride Woolspun but, in this case, that's exactly what we wanted. This difference in WPI means that the Bernat Alpaca may take a larger hook then the LP Woolspun to achieve the same gauge.

• Lion's Pride Woolspun has 5 WPI
• Bernat Alpaca has 6 WPI

The third step is absolutely necessary: Make a test swatch. If necessary, remake it with a smaller or larger hook - and repeat until you make gauge.

Once you have achieved gauge, there is a fourth and final step that makes a huge difference in your final result. Ask yourself: Do I like the feel of this fabric for the item that I'm making? If the answer is yes, then congratulations, you've found a good yarn for substitution. If the answer is no, then you're wise to keep looking rather than spend time working with a yarn that is not suitable for the project.

This photo shows the two swatches side by side - you may not be able to tell it here, but the Bernat Alpaca (purple) has much more drape than the Woolspun (green). Much as Maxine likes the soft, cushy olive green (her favorite color) Woolspun, she prefers the feel of the purple Bernat Alpaca fabric for her vest.

So what are some of the yarns you tried as substitutions for this pattern?
Altogether, Rosemary and Maxine made swatches with nine bulky-weight yarns and were able to achieve gauge with them all. Look below the photo for their comments.

Note: If you click on the picture, you'll see that each swatch has a number that corresponds to the number in the table below.

Yarn	Comments
Lion's Pride Woolspun (1) 80% acrylic, 20% wool	Good color choice, easy to work with; not as much drape as some other yarns
Bernat Alpaca (2) 70% acrylic, 30% alpaca	Good drape and feel, not a huge number of colors to choose from
Paton's Classic Wool Roving (3) 100% wool	Good drape but feels a little scratchy; single ply so good stitch definition; striking colors
Paton's Shetland Chunky (4) 75% acrylic, 25% wool	Good selection of colors; very soft with good drape
Paton's Shetland Chunky Tweed (5) 72% acrylic, 25% wool, 3% viscose	Small but sophisticated selection of colors; nice drape and very soft texture
Loops & Threads Woolike Chunky (6) 85% acrylic, 15% nylon	Feels springy and spongy but does not have good drape; limited selection of colors
Lion Brand Jiffy (7) 100% acrylic	Soft fuzzy yarn, the lightest weight of all the bulkies (so it required a larger hook to get gauge); nice drape, excellent color selection
Lamb's Pride Bulky (8) 85% wool, 15% mohair	The luxury yarn of the group, available at several LYS in a wide variety of colors; nice feel but not as much drape as some of the others
Deborah Norville Serenity Chunky Tweeds (9) 97% acrylic, 3% viscose	Fairly good drape and feel; color selection very limited

Can you explain more about WPI?

This photo shows a handy little tool in action, the WPI Tool Kit - ask for it at your local yarn shop. The idea is to place the yarn on a flat surface and carefully roll the yarn around the tool without stretching the yarn. You wrap the yarn so that each wrap lies next to each other without squishing and without gaps (the wraps in this picture are not really close enough together). You then count the number of wraps for each inch. It's best to roll it around several inches (the tool has 3 inches marked on it) and then measure in the middle. You can use a round dowel, or wooden crochet hook or knitting needle if you can't find the tool. No matter what tool you use, measuring WPI takes a little practice.


Can't I rework the pattern to another yarn weight?

There are two approaches to this question. The first approach is to try to achieve a gauge that is exactly twice as many rows and stitches as the pattern gauge. Rosemary was able to do this with one #3 (sport weight), Caron Simply Soft Light - the front yarn in this photo. Since the row count and the stitch count are both exactly twice of the suggested gauge, she can double the stitch count and row count in each and every step of the pattern, thereby converting the pattern as she works.

She was not able to make gauge with the other yarn, Bernat / Vicky Howell Cottonish (also a #3); she was able to double the row count but not stitch count. This highlights what we said earlier - you can't assume two yarns will behave exactly the same just because they share the same weight classification number.

The other approach is to completely rework all stitch and row counts to the gauge of any weight yarn. You have to be willing to do a lot of calculations - and you have to be willing to experiment, knowing that experiments sometimes fail! These are the steps at a high-level for this approach:

1. Make a generous swatch in the yarn you'd like to use, using the hook size that you feel makes the best fabric for the project. This is where some of the willingness to experiment comes into play - you may have to try several hook sizes.
2. Note the stitches gauge and rows gauge that you achieved (traditionally over 4 inches).
3. Look at the pattern to see if the schematic shows exact dimensions for each piece. If no dimensions are given, then you need to figure out the size (in inches) of each piece based on the gauge given in the pattern.
4. Once you know the dimension in inches, divide those inches by gauge inches you achieved and then multiply by the gauge count. For example: If your back vest piece should be 20 inches wide and you achieved a gauge of 14 stitches and 12 rows over 4 inches, then you would perform the following math: 20 / 4 * 14 = 70 stitches.
5. Repeat step 4 for every dimension; be sure to multiply by the row count for the vertical dimensions. 

As a final note, just remember that if you do use a substitute yarn for this or any other project, your finished result may not look exactly like the result envisioned by the designer. But that's all right, because it will be uniquely yours!

4th Saturday meetup: July 25

It's meetup time again - Saturday July 25 - when we gather for crochet, chat, and coffee. This month we're back at a spot that offers even more fun - a great selection of craft books - the Cafe at the Barnes and Noble at HarMar Mall in Roseville.  The meetup will be from 9 AM (when the store opens) until  noon - the cafe is in the center of the store and we'll be the crowd with the crochet hooks.

Meetups are our informal gathering each month - open to all crocheters with no fee for attending - with a special welcome extended to new crocheters. Bring a project to work on - or not, if you just want to chat or ask questions - and come when you can and stay as long as you're able.

We hope to see you there!

And the winner is.... CAL Vest

For those of you who weren't at Saturday's meeting, the CAL vest winner is (drum roll please!):

• Level 1 Crocheted Vest (Lion Brand) L40222

For more information about the Crochet-a-Long, see the blog post from May 29.

We'll be posting an article next week (approximately Thu, July 23) with yarn selection and substitution tips for this pattern - Rosemary and Maxine have been swatching like crazy and we'll have picture of our their swatches to give you ideas!

Crochet book review: Edward's Menagerie

There are many great crochet books out there but most of us have a limited book budget. Remember that one of the benefits of Crochet Twin Cities membership is checkout privilege from the Textile Center library - and this book is just one of many great crochet books available!

Book: Edward's Menagerie: Over 40 Soft and Snuggly Toy Animal Crochet Patterns

Author: Kerry Lord
Publisher: David & Charles
ISBN-13: 978-1446304785


General description:
This book is aptly described by its subtitle, a book that includes 40 patterns for crocheted animals. The book is beautiful, with photos of each toy made from DK weight alpaca in a variety of natural colors. All of the crocheted animals were designed by the author and made for her young son Edward - what a lucky kid!

What I liked about the book:
There are many, many things I liked about this book, here are a few specific points:

• Forty different animal patterns may seem daunting but the author has done a great job in organizing the patterns so that what you learn from making one helps with the next. She includes instructions for standard body and leg as well as the standard way to increase for the heads, then notes variations in each specific animal pattern.
• Another thing the author has done to help is to divide the patterns by difficulty level. Level 1 patterns, for example, use only one color and three basic crochet stitches. Level 2 and 3 animals add more color changes and additional stitches.
• The book includes a technicals section with basic crochet instructions as well as assembly instructions for those of us who have never made stuffed crochet animals.
• The book uses photos wisely - not too many, not too few. I particularly appreciated the photos of an overstuffed toy - or I'm sure I would have made that mistake!
• Even though the book is written in British crochet terms (British dc = U.S. sc), the author notes the difference up front with instructions about how to convert to U.S terminology.

What I disliked about the book:
It's not exactly a dislike but the one thing that was a bit distracting to me was the introduction that the author gives to each animal. She talks about them as if they were human. For example, the intro for Richard the Large White Pig starts out "Richard does not have a mobile phone". I'm sure that some consider this as one of the endearing parts of the book but I must admit I am still not sure

Overall recommendation:
I would definitely recommend this book, the patterns are really cute and easy to follow. I have already made one animal from it and plan to make more. In fact, I saw on Amazon that the author is releasing a companion book in September, Edward's Menagerie - Birds: Over 40 Soft Toy Patterns for Crochet Birds. You can bet it's on my wish list!

Thanks for the review Maxine. CTC members, don't forget you can earn extra raffle tickets by volunteering to write a book review - and Maxine and Nancy, the CTC librarian, are working on a list of book suggestions. Send a note to ctclist@gmail.com if you're interested in helping out.

CGOA Forum and Freeform Crochet: July 11 meeting preview

This month, we have two exciting topics!

First, you'll get a chance to learn more about our "parent" organization, CGOA (Crochet Guild of America) from a panel of our members. They'll give a brief talk about the Crochet Master's program, the CGOA "Chain Link" conference, and benefits of CGOA membership.

After the panel discussion, you'll get to try your hand at Freeform Crochet - a technique that allows you to play with your yarn and hook and make items like these pictured. We'll have samples and photos to inspire you - as well as some exercises to bring out the creativity in everyone!

The meeting will be Saturday, July 11 at the Textile Center of Minnesota, 3000 University Ave SE, with the following schedule:

• 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM - Open Crochet
• 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM - Announcements and Show n Tell
• 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM - Crochet Education (CGOA Forum & Freeform)

To get the most out of this meeting you'll need to bring:

• Two or three different types or colors of yarn; small amounts (an ounce or two) work fine - freeform is the perfect stash-buster type of activity!
• Appropriate hooks for the yarn

If you're new to Crochet Twin Cities, you can join us by downloading our membership form and bringing the amount shown on the form to the meeting or you can pay the non-member fee of $5 for attending one meeting.

Freeform is a technique for all skill levels. We'd like to extend a special welcome to beginners and ask that you identify yourself at check-in so that we can pair you with a more experienced crochet buddy to assist if needed.

We hope you can join us!

Roving Crochet Reporter: Crochet Sightings

We thought we'd have a short light-hearted post this week - pictures from some of our members about crocheting sightings in and around the metro. We'd love to hear from you if you've seen others!

Bossy the County Fair Cow

This sighting has a story behind it. Last year, CTC was fortunate enough to be able to demo crochet at the Hennepin County Fair and we were asked back this year. So all year long, two of our members have had a yearning desire to yarn-bomb Bossy, the County Fair Cow.


This year they asked permission to deck Bossy in crocheted regalia - and the fair organizers said yes. So here is Bossy with her very own ripple crochet afghan. Quite a knockout, isn't she?

Bossy's new outfit was quite a  success with the attendees and drew many comments and compliments. You think we're joking, don't you? We aren't - the fair contacts we worked with liked Bossy's outfit so much that next year they want to have contest between the demonstrating guilds to see who can dress Bossy the best!

Funny Feet!

This crochet sighting is one that a member spotted last week at a strip mall in the eastern suburbs. If you look closely you'll see that the mailbox has developed feet!

Furthermore, the feet look very sturdy, they have padded toes and look like they are gripping the edge of the concrete so that the mailbox doesn't topple and fall.









Whoever has done this has taken great pains to make sure the feet stay fastened securely.

This isn't the first time this mailbox has developed feet - about a year ago it was decked out in purple and gold Vikings feet, same careful construction.







As a final word, please remember if you plan to decorate / yarn-bomb an object, be sure to check with the property owners first! We want everyone to have fun with crochet and stay out of trouble!

4th Saturday meetup: June 27

Time flies; we're nearing the end of this month, and that signals Fourth Saturday meetup. If you're new to the group, meetups are help at rotating locations around the metro where we can grab a cup of coffee and sit and crochet and chat. It's all very informal - but lots of fun! You can drop in any time and stay as long as you're able.

There's no charge to attend a meetup so it's a great way to meet us and ask questions about the group, particularly if you're new to crochet. We'd love to meet you!

This month's meetup is Saturday, June 27 from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Bruegger's Southtown (Bloomington, 494 & Penn).

We hope you can join us!

What's on your hook? Joan's arm warmers

At our May meeting, we learned all about using variegated yarn in crochet projects and members brought in both completed and work-in-progress items made with a variety of variegates. Joan brought in one of the most interesting projects, still in progress, so it seemed the perfect "on the hook" story.

Joan, this yearn is lovely! Can you tell us more about it?
I thought it was lovely too - it's yarn I found at an LYS in Port Townsend WA while I was visiting one of my daughters. The shop is called Bazaar Girls Yarn Shop & Fibre Emporium; they carry a wide variety of locally spun and dyed yarns and this yarn is one of those so it's not a national brand.
Note: In the class, we learned that yarn is a wonderful example of a special spinning technique called fractal spinning.



What are you making with the yarn?

I'm making hand-warmers, from the Tussie-Mussie Arm Warmers pattern by Yumiko Alexander, found in Interweave Crochet Accessories 2011 magazine.

I did have to make a modification to the pattern to get the colors to work. Because the color repeats are so long, I could tell I wasn't going to like the result if I made continuous motifs like the pattern was written. So I am making each motif separately and then will join them together in a color sequence that I like.

How in the world are these little circles going to end up making a hand warmer?
I know, it is a very unusual pattern, Let me show you how the construction works. The warmers are for my daughter but my hand is close enough in size to hers that I can be the model.









Joan, this is a wonderful example of using variegated yarns, we can't wait to see the finished result!