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So, what happens when the design process of crochetin, froggin, changin, documentin is over? You go to your EDITOR of course!

Unless you are a master crochet editor its always best if someone other than yourself reads through your pattern. The reason for this is simple, when you review you are seeing your personal history of a particular design. A crochet technical editor draws on their vast crochet technical pattern language and experience.

In my experience using a crochet tech editor saves me time in the long run and gives me confidence that what I am publishing can be followed by YOU! This is a great lesson as you perfect your designing skills to use professionals when you can.

The designs I have been working on since my last post in July’2018 are headed to the Editor now, let’s hope she has time now for me – because I can’t wait to share these with you!

Designing is a full time job and boy have I been busy!

Lots, of froggin and rippin as I work on size, a work-in-place crochet flower and where they are to be placed, graphing, stitch changes and so much more on a couple of designs I’m working on.

This is what I do so I don’t get discouraged! If you design too – you KNOW! If you dream of designing this shouldn’t discourage you.

To work out any crochet design the steps are always the path to greatness:

DESIGN IT, MAKE IT, FROG IT, REPEAT IT

Be patient with me, I will be back writing more posts, newsletters, more about Self-Publishing and My Thread challenge series. In the meantime…….

CROCHET ON!

SERIES: Desire to Self-Publish TAKING STOCK

What is your crochet skill-set?

Okay, it seems we all learned to crochet at the knee of our Mother or Grandmother or so it seems in all the BLOGS I’ve read (yawn). But then what happened? What’s the rest of the story?

Are you still crocheting in singles and doubles, blankets in circles and squares? Become a master of Tunisian, Croknit, Broomstick, Filet and Intarsia? Are you reading from patterns or charts? Do you consistently change mid-stream every pattern you do?

The Crochet education never stops.

Someone out there creates another stitch pattern our hand itches to pick up the crochet hook, again.

That is the world of Crochet.

Some say, crochet is too difficult to learn. For me knitting has been a bugger! Maybe because I learned crochet as a young mother and have been intrigued by its diversity. Every time I get into trouble with knitting I can’t easily figure my way out, I equate it to popping a sugar cube in my mouth (melts away, or in knitting RUNS AWAY!). Crochet on the other hand is easy to frog (definition: Rip-in it out without losing all those rows!).

Figuring out your crochet education goals can be fun and there are tons of folks and videos to help. Websites, Blogs and Groups like Ravelry, Craftsy and Crochet Guild of America. If I had to recommend any I recommend all of them.

AND, then there is Self-Publishing. A completely different journey altogether BUT, a natural path to follow if your skills and desires are there.

Thread Challenge

WHAT DOES AI = ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE DO FOR DIY = DO IT YOURSELF

Nothing! And that is a good thing!

Those of us who craft can’t be replaced by a robot. Our minds clearly think and express many boundless items from the simple to the most complex.

In my crochet world I am thrilled that no one has yet been able to create a machine that can replace what my hands can do. Weaving and Knitting can be done by machine. Not so with crochet. Maybe this is why some folks have a hard time picking it up and claim crochet is difficult to learn.

Your Grandmother’s Mother’s Mother’s Grandmother crochet designs are still around today; granny squares, potholders, valances, blankets and afghans and so much more. But, then someone comes along and takes all their knowledge of today and yesterday and creates something like the picture above that takes your breath away. It is a wonderful combination of Crochet and Knit I can only dream of doing.

A machine, no matter how intelligent can recreate what the designer did here.

Get those hands busy and take the Crochet Thread Challenge today!

Thread Challenge

thread challenge

Have you taken the Crochet Thread Challenge yet? Did you peek at all those steel hooks in your Gramama’s or Grandma’s crochet and knitting bag? Scouted out the arts and crafts corner of your local thrift store, with thread on your mind?

I hope you have at least thought about taking my Crochet Thread Challenge and if you haven’t actually acquired a thread pattern yet, your seriously considering it! I’d love to hear from you when you have!

FUN FACT: When is a steel crochet hook not a crochet hook?

ANSWER: When the “hook” is really for hair! I came across an interesting hook in my sister’s steel crochet hook stash called “L’OREAL”. In my mind a big question mark appeared and I thought “when did L’OREAL start making steel crochet hooks for the yarn industry?” So, to the internet I went and found that these hooks are not crochet hooks at all but used to pull hair through the color cap used for highlighting! HA who knew? NOT ME! If you find one, pick it up and crochet something with it, they work just as well, you just need to calculate the gauge by working with it. Maybe finding one will have you taking the Crochet Thread Challenge after all!

Thread Challenge

Worried there are no crochet thread color choices?

Does the Thread Challenge concern you because there might not be enough thread color choices to choose from? Or your local yarn shop or store doesn’t carry but a limited amount of crochet thread? Check on-line! The choices available are just about limitless! I think even you will be pleasantly surprised at the amount of crochet thread choices there are.

Thread options are certainly growing as the market for crochet thread grows. We want solids and multi’s, we want to insert texture with metallic’s and make stunning garments and throws from hand dyed thread made from all over the World.

thread color

Whether you want to use solid colors or combining solids or want metallic threads and hand-dyed threads, there is something out there for everyone…even you!

Push yourself to take the Thread Challenge and become a Subscriber today!

Thread Challenge

Ascending
Descending

Weight: Cotton Thread No. 30, 70

Fine delicate doilies and tatting

Weight: Cotton Thread No. 20, 30, 40 to 100

Trimming; towels, hankies, sheets, lingerie

Weight: Cotton Thread No. 5, 10, 20

Trimming; shelf ends, arm and chair backs, pillow cases

This article is not about choosing yarn over thread, which is easiest to work with, or fiber made from. It is more about my Mother’s suggestion to me to use thread for my “future projects” and what would become God’s Child, Hearts Dress, Priscilla and Aurora. Not so sure it was a challenge suggestion but more of an educated observation as she listened to the direction I wanted to go in.

Hesitant to give up my favorite worsted weight yarn and H-8 (5.00mm) crochet hook, baby blankets and granny squares, I had a lot to think about.

Crochet thread comes in sizes from 3 to 100, as fine as sewing thread for those delicate doily patterns, tatting and lace edgings with size 3 coming in as thick as some yarns. Cotton is an inelastic fiber with little “give-stretching” quality. Perfect for projects that need to maintain their shape and intricate pattern.

Crochet hooks for working with thread are also slightly different then those used for yarn. They will have shorter shanks, smaller hook heads and made from steel rather than aluminum, plastic and wood. Again, a bit more restrictive in the hand.

Working with my H-8 (5.00mm) hook and worsted weight yarn when I was learning to crochet, my hand had to learn the hold and tension needed to create even crochet stitches. I would be learning the same process migrating to thread.

My passion to learn everything crochet, my pure joy in finding vintage patterns leads me in a direction that few are brave enough to travel. Come join my journey – become a Subscriber today.

Color Wheels

Are all they are cracked up to be!

Any artist who works with color probably understands what color wheels are, their importance and use. Color wheels are used in just about every industry like paint, fashion as well as crafts. Not being trained in the use of color wheels, I am color challenged every time! SO, I compensate in other ways with what I have.

I put my creative hat on to choose thread colors for the flowers that would best complement the crochet chain of brown and green.

Diving into my bins of thread balls, I set a bunch of colors on top of a white surface in a circle, laid the crocheted chain across them and what-do-you-know I created my own color wheel! Funny thing the right colors just popped out!

Check out MARIGOLD in Free Pattern Page to see what I chose for the flower colors.

Crafts WOmanship

Women ROCK the Crafting World

Thank you Etsy for allowing us to share our crafty nature along with Crafty Women Internationally!

Etsy has been good to me for 8 years now and I want to thank all those who have purchased my patterns, liked me, shared me, pinned me, tweeted me or just browsed in my Pamela’s Pattern shop.

Sometimes the journey of a crafter is pretty lonely, we’re locked into our crafting space at home or other fav spot to create. Most times no one else is around and if they are maybe just indulging our passion as we strive for excellence. I am fortunate in that my significant other is very supportive … well mostly, he sometimes brings to my attention that I need to come out of my space every once in awhile! My reply is usually “okay – in a minute” ♥

So keep crafting my fellow crafty women, because without us the World would be less beautiful!

I hope you will follow me on my journey and you are welcome to become a subscriber

and receive goodies along the way. Thank you for reading my post and continue to ROCK!

Crochet GOLD Marigold Free Pattern

Another great Free Pattern in Thread! I hope you will give MARIGOLD a try.

If you want to be one of the first to receive my FREE PATTERN DESIGNS right off the design table, become a subscriber!