tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320921172024-03-08T16:17:31.918-05:00DesigningVashti: The BlogCrochet is my altar to beauty and access to
the great river of cosmic ch'i.Vashti Brahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439436949166577608noreply@blogger.comBlogger187125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32092117.post-7055781180208596152018-12-12T13:02:00.000-05:002018-12-12T13:20:18.834-05:00New Book of Crochet Patterns<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirrQlupd0_4u4r6-6qWKKySoAN8CQgbV-VLD2gVXUdj4lkay0DAyYpQqkEqSyuB_MFDF89_cSor_MEh4b-N4wJXsXKsLhsdh6tgrIyWs2cEnnMBhflerKMO1g5GfIURBa7eU6tZw/s1600/Delicate+Crochet+front+cover+350w.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="350" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirrQlupd0_4u4r6-6qWKKySoAN8CQgbV-VLD2gVXUdj4lkay0DAyYpQqkEqSyuB_MFDF89_cSor_MEh4b-N4wJXsXKsLhsdh6tgrIyWs2cEnnMBhflerKMO1g5GfIURBa7eU6tZw/s200/Delicate+Crochet+front+cover+350w.png" width="154" /></a>I'm popping in from <a href="https://designingvashti.com/blog/">my other crochet blog</a> with a crochet yarn & pattern update.<br />
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The new <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Delicate-Crochet-Pretty-Designs-Shawls/dp/081171988X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1544627878&sr=8-1&keywords=delicate+crochet+silverman"><b><i>Delicate Crochet</i></b> book</a> is out! It has 23 new crochet patterns designed by ten different designers in a lovely range of projects. Our <a href="https://designingvashti.com/product-category/yarns-kits/designingvashti-lotus-yarn/">Lotus yarn</a> is featured in the book along with two new Tunisian crochet designs: <b><i>Yveline Wrap</i></b> and <b><i>Ziggy Vest</i></b>!<br />
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<i><b>☛ Sharon Silverman did a superb job creating stitch close ups and photo tutorial steps.☚</b></i></h2>
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<b>Using This Book in December</b></h3>
I have December versions of <b><i>Yveline</i></b> and <b><i>Ziggy</i></b> in mind, see below. December is the perfect time for a crocheter's first browse through this book. Some projects could actually be finished in time to give as gifts, and some are perfect for <a href="https://designingvashti.com/holiday-crochet-project-habits/" target="_blank">relaxing amidst the busy holidays</a>. I also see projects in this book that I'd enjoy trying just after Christmas.<br />
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<b>For Post-Christmas Crocheting</b></h3>
<b>Every year, from January and into February</b>, I crave delving into a clever new crochet skill. (I know I'm not alone in this because of emails I've gotten over the years from crocheters. In fact maybe there's the seed of a newsletter topic here...)<br />
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<b>Yveline</b></h3>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh055FBrWawr7yEu15pUS11PQ8R0DDmnQOYBhAwjiu5lzebCyTsddEnq8JXI4GeR7_ONi7CVBkoGXr_voKhpcnuH8X63wrzPDOyBifAjDnABtj3-4bN85aoN7Ry5zjme57_xji2Wg/s1600/Yveline+%25C2%25A9Daniel+Shanken+500w.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh055FBrWawr7yEu15pUS11PQ8R0DDmnQOYBhAwjiu5lzebCyTsddEnq8JXI4GeR7_ONi7CVBkoGXr_voKhpcnuH8X63wrzPDOyBifAjDnABtj3-4bN85aoN7Ry5zjme57_xji2Wg/s400/Yveline+%25C2%25A9Daniel+Shanken+500w.png" width="358" /></a>The <b><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/yveline-wrap">Yveline Wrap</a></b> is crocheted in simple offset rows, then surface-crocheted with love knot frills. It may be the first time I've seen love knots (lover's knot, Solomon's knots) with Tunisian crochet in the same project!<br />
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What could be breezier than little love knot bubbles? (Faster to crochet, too.) Unexpectedly, they also give a lean, urban chain-link look to a frill embellishment.<br />
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I tried single crochet stitches to make petite ruffles for Yveline's earliest swatches but they kept coming out too heavy for the light Tunisian net background. For example, see light green photo <a href="http://ravel.me/vashtirama/y1" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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<h3>
<b>A December Yveline Idea</b></h3>
During December I'm going to try a <a href="http://ravel.me/vashtirama/yw2" target="_blank">smaller <i>cowl</i> version of Yveline</a> in fine wintery yarns. Right now I'm eyeing a buttery merino wool-silk blend for the background, and lace weight mohair for the surface-love.<br />
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This way the mohair is not actually against my skin but still traps warmth! Also, <a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/lovepod-boa/" target="_blank">love knots in mohair have always made me swoon</a>. When it's underway I'll add a link to it here.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUF4jaB_71C6RjvBQAgvZJ0AxJZ-uxRlP7YjSoyNg40IrxHzJ1PPhr8gqt1eOcuo8zlia5LJr4kTbGKhd-gSmACRm-fQDd45TDy_mbm-RODSHknaOGIy0JDU9wlMrXyA88cEPAEQ/s1600/Lean+In+Cross+front+wrapped.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="432" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUF4jaB_71C6RjvBQAgvZJ0AxJZ-uxRlP7YjSoyNg40IrxHzJ1PPhr8gqt1eOcuo8zlia5LJr4kTbGKhd-gSmACRm-fQDd45TDy_mbm-RODSHknaOGIy0JDU9wlMrXyA88cEPAEQ/s200/Lean+In+Cross+front+wrapped.png" width="135" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pre-frills Yveline.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyjiYnUBLMpQtAJcWt-C1TPY11rbmQqNGoUTGkRX-GKeGR9T3O7bEwxmB4Hs4d80JzzxB_9a7uH7p8PduRVH_ZTkmrqqcqGQjVzwPH7IxAZV_ScDigeToP-QbQCcmzb_ydtcXblA/s1600/Lean+In+Scarf+drape.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="374" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyjiYnUBLMpQtAJcWt-C1TPY11rbmQqNGoUTGkRX-GKeGR9T3O7bEwxmB4Hs4d80JzzxB_9a7uH7p8PduRVH_ZTkmrqqcqGQjVzwPH7IxAZV_ScDigeToP-QbQCcmzb_ydtcXblA/s200/Lean+In+Scarf+drape.png" width="116" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pre-frills Yveline.</td></tr>
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Another December idea for Yveline is to do just the full-size background for a quicker sleek wrap—oh my gosh try a soft color-shifting yarn! Every row is the same so it's a good TV (mindless) crochet project. It's a versatile shape with lots of drape no matter what yarn you use.<br />
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You can always add the frills later (in January?).<br />
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<b>A December Ziggy?</b></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHSf7AuT0V_XtT2K6dc4AI7Qvx5u8hpBC0MmD435D7zo9qlEpoBmCcxUFvb4DMuDNS3JAcx0RgML8p3hq3VROpE4_bsPFtatwzfJ4LZHy8cKuKL1s8WV9XY5hdg5ZCHDqCk13Ng/s1600/Ziggy+Vest+collage+700w.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="700" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHSf7AuT0V_XtT2K6dc4AI7Qvx5u8hpBC0MmD435D7zo9qlEpoBmCcxUFvb4DMuDNS3JAcx0RgML8p3hq3VROpE4_bsPFtatwzfJ4LZHy8cKuKL1s8WV9XY5hdg5ZCHDqCk13Ng/s400/Ziggy+Vest+collage+700w.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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The <b><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ziggy-vest">Ziggy Vest</a></b> is a simple rectangle of an airy Tunisian ripple stitch that I love. Create the armholes <i>after</i> the rectangle is done. (This kind of vest, which can be draped and worn several ways, is often called a "slitted stole" or "waterfall vest".)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid5frNlCjUwlVWAUQ-qUm_tVrA23jAw0NpIf1zJ1-aoGKyYv80kP766Xt5_5pCRfttq8W5XCj6gsAKLb1crraAOeIYLqs3236T85P5yBKUFedWmikmli0vcRALqoLuCZk890Em_g/s1600/Ziggy+widthwise+scarf+700w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="574" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid5frNlCjUwlVWAUQ-qUm_tVrA23jAw0NpIf1zJ1-aoGKyYv80kP766Xt5_5pCRfttq8W5XCj6gsAKLb1crraAOeIYLqs3236T85P5yBKUFedWmikmli0vcRALqoLuCZk890Em_g/s200/Ziggy+widthwise+scarf+700w.jpg" width="71" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Widthwise.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9XG5PXMmnrNvn8qlMiAvWCVgkT39fYLcsmV2uEPRMnM1BXZoH_Lft8Aw-UjT0dANqjAUJ9WJ7As56NfxBe_LivqiXMEgPo5m_v2j-CaeQlUUx8pWAZV6mEfpIxwiTnqxmG4v5A/s1600/Ziggy+Lengthwise+Scarf+700w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1547" data-original-width="700" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9XG5PXMmnrNvn8qlMiAvWCVgkT39fYLcsmV2uEPRMnM1BXZoH_Lft8Aw-UjT0dANqjAUJ9WJ7As56NfxBe_LivqiXMEgPo5m_v2j-CaeQlUUx8pWAZV6mEfpIxwiTnqxmG4v5A/s200/Ziggy+Lengthwise+Scarf+700w.jpg" width="90" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lengthwise.</td></tr>
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I'd love to see this stitch pattern as a warm scarf. This is what I'm musing: if I do the rows lengthwise and change colors for stripes, I can fringe the scarf ends: zero ends to weave in.<br />
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I love the pearly sheen the Lotus yarn gives Ziggy's stitch pattern so that's making it hard for me to picture it in warm wools. I guess this means I need to sit with my yarn stash and start swatching.<br />
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Since Ziggy's stitch pattern is <i><a href="https://designingvashti.com/why-self-healing-crochet-stitches/" target="_blank"><b>self healing</b></a></i>, I can decide later (after December) whether to turn it into a keyhole scarf. Or even a <a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/pullover-shrug-slip-stitch-crochet/" target="_blank">pullover shrug</a>! (Fold in half lengthwise, seam at each end for sleeves, and cut a head opening slit in the center. Without the head opening it would be a standard shrug which is cool too.)Vashti Brahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439436949166577608noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32092117.post-67002074309342585832015-02-28T14:44:00.003-05:002018-10-29T07:52:04.246-05:00Crochet Yarn "Put Up": Part 1 of 2 (Yarn Company Journaling Series)<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I've been <a href="http://designingvashti.blogspot.com/2013/11/on-becoming-ayarn-company.html" target="_blank">slow-blogging a series</a> about what it's like to start a yarn company...as a crochet designer. Below is entry #8. I last checked in with <a href="http://designingvashti.blogspot.com/2014/11/designingvashti-lotus-yarns-at-12-month.html" target="_blank"><b>entry #6</b></a> at the end of 2014, on my yarn's first anniversary. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Where's entry #7? Yesterday I accidentally journaled <a href="http://designingvashti.com/blog/designing-vashti-lotus-yarn-designer-gallery/" target="_blank">entry #7</a> at a different blog. </b>I couldn't help it. It's about what it's like for three involved parties—designer, yarn company, and magazine editor—to use a new yarn for a magazine design.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yarn Put Ups: </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When the Priority is on Managing <i>Weight</i> and <i>Length</i> </span></b></h2>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0iL_l_ziCsOTwWrlbObFcRQ62gtmWT9nTxEQjBRsa_V41V4_YEybuzvuW37P249w6q-w6_qHKw-QSoXQakKlFz6NztY0CHmbYeDpb5541SsavAJ0aoV8Xb_w7lJ39VabKjmAZdw/s1600/Fabric+Fusion+Tote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0iL_l_ziCsOTwWrlbObFcRQ62gtmWT9nTxEQjBRsa_V41V4_YEybuzvuW37P249w6q-w6_qHKw-QSoXQakKlFz6NztY0CHmbYeDpb5541SsavAJ0aoV8Xb_w7lJ39VabKjmAZdw/s1600/Fabric+Fusion+Tote.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>This new magazine pattern brings to my mind <br />some thoughts I've had about yarn put ups.</b><br />
Fabric Fusion Tote by <a href="http://celticknotcrochet.blogspot.com/2015/01/fabric-fusion-tote.html" target="_blank">Jennifer E. Ryan</a>.<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Pattern and article in <a href="https://www.anniescatalog.com/detail.html?prod_id=122699" target="_blank"><b><i>Crochet! Magazine</i></b> Spring 2015</a>.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://designingvashti.com/designing-vashti-lotus-yarn-designer-gallery/" target="_blank">Several new crochet designs</a> using </span><a href="https://designingvashti.com/product-category/yarns-kits/designingvashti-lotus-yarn/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">DesigningVashti Lotus</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> are</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> coming out in spring 2015 pattern magazines! At right is one that pertains to today's journal entry, because <i>two different Lotus put ups are ideal </i>for it. <a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/our-lotus-yarn-33g-snack-size/" target="_blank">Smaller Lotus Snacks cakes</a> would be perfect for the yellow and pink stripes of the tote. (Also possibly the teal.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>The "yarn put up" is how yarn is wound into a convenient product</b>. Terms like <i>skein, hank, </i>and<i> ball</i> refer to the final <b>shape.</b> Each has advantages. (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://evinok.com/?p=4309" target="_blank">Here's</a> a beautiful post about these types.)</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The <b>amount</b> of yarn is also part of the put up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>You could say that yarn put ups manage chaos. </b></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Most yarns are packaged in amounts of one hundred yards or more. These lengths require careful organization to prevent tangled messes. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When I was deciding on the <b>optimal length of my Lotus </b></span><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/designingvashti-lotus-color-sample-set" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank"><b>yarn samples</b></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, I found I had to stay under two yards to avoid tangles.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicG7vPBSCdjszv73V-3xBdtSPYDJLfDIaIQa-57N8CKLxhUC-MJ6_o3jL6cxo3aRrGRtan31n3SAxuVmco9k7SzCfc5QOsCr-e4flKsy8X98YlUwBZqlb5HsjmQJK3ST27Ty8nhg/s1600/Lotus+Snacks+Grenadine+sizes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicG7vPBSCdjszv73V-3xBdtSPYDJLfDIaIQa-57N8CKLxhUC-MJ6_o3jL6cxo3aRrGRtan31n3SAxuVmco9k7SzCfc5QOsCr-e4flKsy8X98YlUwBZqlb5HsjmQJK3ST27Ty8nhg/s1600/Lotus+Snacks+Grenadine+sizes.jpg" width="275" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/lotus-yarn-large-100g-ball/" target="_blank">Original double-sized</a> 256-yd (100g) Lotus cakes <br />
are stacked behind two of the <a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/our-lotus-yarn-33g-snack-size/" target="_blank">Lotus "Snacks,"</a><br />
which are one-third the size (85 yds, 33g).</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>We all prevent yarn chaos on a smaller scale with our own yarn stashes.</b></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> As a child I used to untangle my mom's yarn basket periodically. The fastest path to yarn chaos for me, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">no matter how careful I am,</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> is </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">crocheting </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">from an unwound "hank."</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> (I've tried this in hotel rooms after buying yarn at crochet conferences.) <span style="font-size: x-small;">See how my friend <a href="http://www.lindadeancrochet.com/blog/?p=183" target="_blank">Linda Dean reckoned</a> with hers.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yarn shops will wind your purchased yarn hanks into balls for you. <i>Even practiced employees using a motorized winding system risk tangled mishaps!</i> </span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A yarn company manages the yarn chaos on an even bigger scale. </b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">t</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> takes careful planning to package yarn in the best size and shape. Manageable skeins need to be both <i>consistent</i> and <i>convenient</i>. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The <b>original</b> <b>put up amount</b> for <a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/lotus-yarn-large-100g-ball/" target="_blank">my Lotus yarn</a> is 256 yards (234 meters), which weighs approx. 3.5 ounces (100 grams). The <b>put up shape</b> is my favorite, a <i>cake</i>. This is a type of center-pull ball that sits flat, and I make sure that it's easy to find the yarn end in the center. I</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">t won't roll around whether you</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> pull the yarn end from the center, or from the outside of the ball. It also stacks and stores well.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLnmZ2Q06Y_Tcee_HmYmDVV_Q-V_LqUumea3SF5v7nw6yxf4-jJMtJ9aTFXlfZlXWLCOtllihUbP_IXOqAqeCKacltvXWC7kqg343-nsxCrCakEiQ7kc0sDGf3Xk_v5MULeBt4oA/s1600/mohair+hank+pile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLnmZ2Q06Y_Tcee_HmYmDVV_Q-V_LqUumea3SF5v7nw6yxf4-jJMtJ9aTFXlfZlXWLCOtllihUbP_IXOqAqeCKacltvXWC7kqg343-nsxCrCakEiQ7kc0sDGf3Xk_v5MULeBt4oA/s1600/mohair+hank+pile.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A pile of hanks; in the center is one<br />wound into a "cake". This is lace wt<br />mohair yarn, only 25g; 315 yds<br />of fuzzy chaos to manage per hank! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">This yarn crocheted: ♡<i><a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/aery-faery-tunisian-crochet/" target="_blank">Aery Faery</a></i></span>♡</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Why 256 yds?</b> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">t falls into the <i>standard 100g double-sized skein size</i> for the fashion yarn market. This makes it easy to compare its yardage with other yarns of its "sport weight" thickness.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I also chose it because t</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">he larger the skein, the fewer the yarn ends to weave in later. I consider that to be a particular value to crocheters. It's not too large to keep it from from being convenient and portable, though. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>The disadvantage of a large put up</b> is that sometimes you only need a small amount, for contrast stripes maybe, or a small project such as jewelry. Or, for a large project when you come up a little short. Maybe you know you have <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/127301594/t-shirt-transfer-sable-stash-amassed" target="_blank">enough yarn to exceed life expectancy</a>, but you still want a just a<a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/our-lotus-yarn-33g-snack-size/" target="_blank">...snack</a>. <i><a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/lotus-snack-six-pack-any-colors/" target="_blank">Assorted Snacks</a></i>, even!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A disadvantage I've weighed <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(so to speak)</span> is that the price might seem high if a person doesn't realize that Lotus equals <i>two</i> of the more common 50g put-ups. Or, that craft yarns often don't hold to the 50g and 100g skein sizes at all, so you have to calculate number of yards per gram for an equal comparison. (Some craft yarns be crafty at making you think you're getting more yarn than you are. Just sayin'.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In yarn shops, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">watch out for fine, expensive yarns, such as lace weight cashmere, that look like 50g balls but are 25g or 30g (under one ounce) instead!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFid6dUjWf7R3XN7YkPJxOC4PIGe8tJutibecrSm93m73j83n7LaowW0TDB3BMtNZuJn8kGB41xNgo9i65syx0HbGjHHa22Dbo2Jv57zJRH_Qyys8yCChAWubzunYAJxDSlJtN3A/s1600/1lb+cones+Lotus+Z-Bombes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="519" data-original-width="640" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFid6dUjWf7R3XN7YkPJxOC4PIGe8tJutibecrSm93m73j83n7LaowW0TDB3BMtNZuJn8kGB41xNgo9i65syx0HbGjHHa22Dbo2Jv57zJRH_Qyys8yCChAWubzunYAJxDSlJtN3A/s400/1lb+cones+Lotus+Z-Bombes.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My new put up size of Lotus is a one-pound cone!<br />
That's over 1,100 yds or about 4.5 100g balls.<br />
I call it "<a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/lotus-cone-1lb/" target="_blank">Lotus Z-Bombe</a>" 😃</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I've had yarn "put ups" (yarn packaging choices) on my mind since I last blogged.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <a href="http://designingvashti.blogspot.com/2013/11/on-becoming-ayarn-company.html" target="_blank">Click here</a> for earlier yarn journaling entries.</span></span></b></div>
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Vashti Brahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439436949166577608noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32092117.post-51947208726574704342014-11-22T15:36:00.004-05:002018-03-01T11:44:00.533-05:00DesigningVashti Lotus Yarns at the 12 Month Mark<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Hi! I have updates about my crochet blogs: </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><b>1. You're at my oldest blog, where I've been posting a </b><a href="http://designingvashti.blogspot.com/2013/11/on-becoming-ayarn-company.html" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">series about becoming a yarn company as a crochet designer</a><b>. Below is the 6th installment in that series. </b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><b>2. I'm blogging <a href="https://designingvashti.com/blog/" target="_blank">at my new Designing Vashti blog</a>.</b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>I first posted about becoming a yarn company one year ago!</b></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJ1WWi6rtXmGPtav-VE5wRRwDLRwTZSBU-I6QlkjRpGeuWLYqXQCtGTvVism3kyBhIt45XG4_srur3BROG4H4R2u3SOW47tJvq8DLrs3dwbEXUh6OjotqOFpiEpJC0zWzAMb70w/s1600/DV+yarns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJ1WWi6rtXmGPtav-VE5wRRwDLRwTZSBU-I6QlkjRpGeuWLYqXQCtGTvVism3kyBhIt45XG4_srur3BROG4H4R2u3SOW47tJvq8DLrs3dwbEXUh6OjotqOFpiEpJC0zWzAMb70w/s1600/DV+yarns.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A gazillion yards of <a href="https://designingvashti.com/product-category/yarns-kits/designingvashti-lotus-yarn/" target="_blank">DV Lotus yarn</a>! (These are giant cones)</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What an amazing year. I remember <a href="http://designingvashti.blogspot.com/2014/04/birth-of-yarn-company-about-five-months.html" target="_blank">posting halfway through</a> that <b><i>the experience has a lot in common with the first year of being a new parent</i></b>. It's a vivid memory because I didn't realize it <i>until</i> I sat down to blog about Lotus that day. The realization has helped me ever since! Putting words to feelings is a powerful thing.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>This is the sixth post in this series. </b>I'm surprised a whole year has gone by, and this new post causes me to notice it LOL. My next reaction is that I have "only" six posts, and yet I also feel proud of having a six-post series. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Basically it means that every other month I took a moment to check in and reflect on this new experience. This seems like a healthy rhythm for this type of product startup to me. When my son was under a year old, I was too crazy-busy to even think of reflecting on it every other month.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>Two changes since the last post: </b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">FREE SHIPPING to all US addresses, and yarn in more put-ups!</span></b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>The free shipping thing</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">It's the solution to a pressure that I see now was building all year as yarn orders steadily increased. I use a full-featured shopping cart platform, but until this year I only had downloadable items. Configuring it for a mix of products and shipping options is so much simpler with a site-wide free shipping policy. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2o-H1JcJAMtuw8hpDclo9pCcAseIlKSBe-778Cn0esfXQrK4d1zXj8E1_KZzpSCEMsg-xiaEo188vt-pbILISxqA0TjsO-GMBB5Exly0Ycc-zDZrBs307ynZ14NSC8bxLNucABw/s1600/Lotus+Snacks+Basket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2o-H1JcJAMtuw8hpDclo9pCcAseIlKSBe-778Cn0esfXQrK4d1zXj8E1_KZzpSCEMsg-xiaEo188vt-pbILISxqA0TjsO-GMBB5Exly0Ycc-zDZrBs307ynZ14NSC8bxLNucABw/s1600/Lotus+Snacks+Basket.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These li'l <a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/our-lotus-yarn-33g-snack-size/" target="_blank">Lotus Snacks</a> remind me of cupcakes.<br />
Each packs 85 yds.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">What a relief that decision was. I've wanted to have free shipping all along anyway. (I was initially nervous because most other yarn sites don't offer it, or only in a limited way.) As a shopper I <i>love</i> free shipping!</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>"Put-ups"</b> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This refers to the variety of ways a yarn can be wound or packaged: <a href="http://blog.joyuna.com/2010/11/yarn-putups-explained.html" target="_blank">cones, pull-balls</a>, <a href="http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/types-of-yarn-packaging.html" target="_blank">skeins, hanks</a>, sausage skeins, </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">reels, cards; by <i>weight</i> (commonly </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">1.75 oz/50 g or 3.5 oz/100 g) or <i>by the yard/meter</i>. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicLwGhCIs4Ygfz5tOdzFM4_SBOmdWmxKbeYW2lQFtbxkT9O3YKoixYKrnwmgGkkWHZu8GTiRX50m0pymS9R3FkQd_hKW48gaUU5ftDb8et9bZnt5b-lk7HAIB9cKkmGID3kk8Eqg/s1600/Lotus+Yarn+Sample+Skein.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicLwGhCIs4Ygfz5tOdzFM4_SBOmdWmxKbeYW2lQFtbxkT9O3YKoixYKrnwmgGkkWHZu8GTiRX50m0pymS9R3FkQd_hKW48gaUU5ftDb8et9bZnt5b-lk7HAIB9cKkmGID3kk8Eqg/s1600/Lotus+Yarn+Sample+Skein.jpg" width="147" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/designingvashti-lotus-color-sample-set" target="_blank">Lotus color sample pack</a>.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Folks, the put-up decision is a big deal for a company and I'm realizing it <a href="http://designingvashti.blogspot.com/2015/02/crochet-yarn-put-up-part-1-of-2-yarn.html" target="_blank">deserves a separate post</a>! <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(That's me making a mental note.)</span> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Over this past year I've come to<b><i> love the freedom I have to offer <a href="https://designingvashti.com/product-category/yarns-kits/designingvashti-lotus-yarn/" target="_blank">Lotus in several put-ups</a></i></b>. For decades I've crocheted a gazillion different kinds of projects, from tiny (<a href="https://designingvashti.com/product-category/yarns-kits/lotus-yarn-patterns/?orderby=price" target="_blank">jewelry charms</a>) to massive (<a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/q-star-coverlet-star-stitch/" target="_blank">multi-stranded blankets</a>). Ideally I want to buy a small amount of yarn to make a tiny thing, and for giant things I'd want a <a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/lotus-cone-1lb/" target="_blank">cone</a> (unless I'm doing <a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/lotus-snack-six-pack-any-colors/" target="_blank">portable multi-colored motifs</a>, yum). Not only do I want to save by buying in quantity, I just can't stand weaving in more yarn ends than necessary.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">I finally figured out a <a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/lotus-cone-1lb/" target="_blank"><i>Designingvashti</i> way to do cones</a> :-) so those will be up on the site next. </span></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: purple;"><b>This post is part of a series about what it's like to start my own yarn company, as a crochet designer. </b><a href="http://designingvashti.blogspot.com/2013/11/on-becoming-ayarn-company.html" style="color: #5e53fb; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><b>Here's the first post</b></a><b>, where you can also see a list of the other ones in this series.</b></span></i></div>
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Vashti Brahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439436949166577608noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32092117.post-11114305322527035462014-09-04T09:19:00.001-05:002018-03-01T11:56:56.053-05:00My Lotus Yarn in Magazines: What It's Like!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKP11ST5e5EAjH5-gSz-mhmPN6shLLAMRl7CU3hKMul96pCe0wp1aHri7h634usLbFC9ClxnRy3mkA-VotJCWmUl4JR6SB6JOcSWIdXOYdAr1gS8cjHw0FJ-XQ_O8JBHNnQOCVHg/s1600/Crochetscene+Dora+Cardi+side+300x450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKP11ST5e5EAjH5-gSz-mhmPN6shLLAMRl7CU3hKMul96pCe0wp1aHri7h634usLbFC9ClxnRy3mkA-VotJCWmUl4JR6SB6JOcSWIdXOYdAr1gS8cjHw0FJ-XQ_O8JBHNnQOCVHg/s1600/Crochetscene+Dora+Cardi+side+300x450.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.interweave.com/store/pin-setter-cardigan-pattern" target="_blank">Pin-Setter Cardigan</a> by Dora Ohrenstein</span></b><br />
(Scroll to the end of this post for the hook size needed and other details.)<br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">Photo © 2014 Interweave Press.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>I get to see my yarn brought to life by other designers, and </b><b>then showcased in magazines!</b> </i></span></h2>
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<a href="http://crochetinsider.com/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Dora Ohrenstein</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> chose </span><a href="https://designingvashti.com/product-category/yarns-kits/designingvashti-lotus-yarn/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Lotus yarn</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> for her retro-stripy "Pin-Setter Cardigan." It's in </span><a href="http://www.crochetme.com/blogs/specialissues/archive/2014/06/23/crochetscene-2014.aspx" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Crochetscene</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, a new special issue from Interweave Press.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8dILALyWsQ-qzQjwrfKOhXklfyHoagFEI3eSyCiBZ4WJIHm90Ssos94ARyjqi63w2J6Ghi1TxF0Xs-AcEh8POuS1bRau-9ocnKl7PNPVjlbHWssaG6kMl0MIhw5dS4AKuYhnig/s1600/Lotus+3+color+group+Dora.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8dILALyWsQ-qzQjwrfKOhXklfyHoagFEI3eSyCiBZ4WJIHm90Ssos94ARyjqi63w2J6Ghi1TxF0Xs-AcEh8POuS1bRau-9ocnKl7PNPVjlbHWssaG6kMl0MIhw5dS4AKuYhnig/s1600/Lotus+3+color+group+Dora.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/lotus-yarn-large-100g-ball/" target="_blank">Pearly Pearl, Peachy Sheen, Sapphire</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's a fun chance for me to see the Pearly Pearl, Peachy Sheen, and Sapphire colors together in one sweater.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I still remember when I met Dora: we became friends when we sat next to each other in Lily Chin's Crochet Tips and Tricks class at a CGOA conference. That was in 2004, when we were both new designers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Ten years later</b> I get to see Dora interpret her design sensibility with my first yarn, so it has special significance for me. I also love how this magazine issue fitted the design and yarn colors in its throwback bowling alley theme - especially the model's beehive hairdo!</span></div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs4NYU_YOs5eaaipWPwkbxaKdhoR2MElr8mkLycubg3ec7epo1YNAByIScxk15T2hcG5j_yWk-gUJmSr3g4whcJzX3MfwLOtZSlPYgsnb5Rx0Km5QRCRtTEcvPoynPFDk2zuEsGQ/s1600/Dora+original+cardi+swatch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs4NYU_YOs5eaaipWPwkbxaKdhoR2MElr8mkLycubg3ec7epo1YNAByIScxk15T2hcG5j_yWk-gUJmSr3g4whcJzX3MfwLOtZSlPYgsnb5Rx0Km5QRCRtTEcvPoynPFDk2zuEsGQ/s1600/Dora+original+cardi+swatch.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Dora's original swatch in </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/lotus-yarn-large-100g-ball/" target="_blank">White Blaze, Teal Glimmer, </a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/lotus-yarn-large-100g-ball/" target="_blank">Grenadine</a>.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>I'm grateful to the editor of Interweave's crochet magazines, Marcy Smith, for her interest in DesigningVashti.com Lotus yarn. </b>Her encouragement means so much for a startup yarn company like me<i>. </i></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://designingvashti.com/about/about-doris-chan/" target="_blank">Doris Chan</a> designed lace boxer shorts and long pants in Lotus yarn f</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">or the </span><a href="http://www.crochetme.com/blogs/interweavecrochet/archive/2014/04/22/summer-2014.aspx" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">summer issue of <b><i>Interweave Crochet</i></b> magazine</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. (I have more to post about those later!) </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgp8BxjTHOt6legGfRyn5xZnwS5qi1_sj1QxP71b9Gl6da4SzCO7fqf5JOZoRA2sBnm60uLGEj8zPEXLKFAaJXjVFCdNF71W1H1YpgFxeo4QXmneBKLcWpJTiLF5Hg9skg3M43kA/s1600/4760.Crochet-2014-Glamping-0240.jpg-550x0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgp8BxjTHOt6legGfRyn5xZnwS5qi1_sj1QxP71b9Gl6da4SzCO7fqf5JOZoRA2sBnm60uLGEj8zPEXLKFAaJXjVFCdNF71W1H1YpgFxeo4QXmneBKLcWpJTiLF5Hg9skg3M43kA/s1600/4760.Crochet-2014-Glamping-0240.jpg-550x0.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="text-align: start;">Doris used <a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/lotus-yarn-large-100g-ball/" target="_blank">Pearly Pearl</a> for </span></b></span><b style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: start;">the </span></b></span><br />
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/gypsy-boxers" style="text-align: start;" target="_blank">Gypsy Boxers</a> </span></b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Ravelry link)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">Photo © 2014 Interweave Press.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><b>Designers</b>: </i></span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyone is welcome to submit design proposals using Lotus to Marcy</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. Not just Marcy! <b>Other editors too! </b>I'm not at liberty to give details yet, but I'll let you know when designs in Lotus appear in more magazines, and books... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Can you imagine how immensely relieved I am to learn this? Designs using new yarns by new companies have a chance to be published in magazines. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4AwCbFAkI8M_OzoVrVOHD2a2D8D-BV_8l7PydJod_wEri9ldhVdVLUz9GTgKyH-l9_0QhN3AdcxUi6XRkDv5ng1cztQqajm8-Xdd0vNZsGBeBQlYtNo4DX-E7qUOQ21DIkXE7jQ/s1600/7888.Crochet-2014-Glamping-0206.jpg-550x0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4AwCbFAkI8M_OzoVrVOHD2a2D8D-BV_8l7PydJod_wEri9ldhVdVLUz9GTgKyH-l9_0QhN3AdcxUi6XRkDv5ng1cztQqajm8-Xdd0vNZsGBeBQlYtNo4DX-E7qUOQ21DIkXE7jQ/s1600/7888.Crochet-2014-Glamping-0206.jpg-550x0.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/gypsy-pants" target="_blank">Gypsy Pants</a> in <a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/lotus-yarn-large-100g-ball/" target="_blank">Satin Grey Lotus</a>. </b><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Ravelry design page) Photo © 2014 Interweave Press</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As a crocheter, I'm glad too. I've been an avid crochet magazine reader (and collector!) for over ten years. I don't remember thinking much about the yarns used in the designs. If asked, I'd want to see a refreshing range of different yarns. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSPlidNXc4KNQ7RyksJEt-IbI5b8U6DKjXx2uDkoaa9BJzlEpsQ11V2PInTkQK4nqnTBBFcwPniiGvyq3uNX8IuKLYe2aD8V9RjyHZ3vnG6ulYESoiTUKoP7qfVbYSlAYKQ3N0OA/s1600/Lotus+Satin+Grey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSPlidNXc4KNQ7RyksJEt-IbI5b8U6DKjXx2uDkoaa9BJzlEpsQ11V2PInTkQK4nqnTBBFcwPniiGvyq3uNX8IuKLYe2aD8V9RjyHZ3vnG6ulYESoiTUKoP7qfVbYSlAYKQ3N0OA/s1600/Lotus+Satin+Grey.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>One of my favorite Lotus colors: </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/lotus-yarn-large-100g-ball/" target="_blank">Satin Grey</a> </b></span><b style="font-family: inherit;">used for</b><b style="font-family: inherit;"> <a href="http://www.crochetme.com/media/p/149525.aspx" target="_blank">Gypsy Pants</a>!</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A familiar crochet stitch pattern can look so different sometimes, depending on the yarn, color, dyeing process, fiber content, thickness. Yarns can make the same design look different with a change in drape, stretch, luster.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For a polished summery drape that would also hold up to wear, Lotus is Doris' first choice for skirts and pants. For the lace shorts she </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">used the same Pearly Pearl color that Dora did, and</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Satin Grey Lotus for the pants.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: purple;"><b>This post is part of a series about what it's like to start my own yarn company, as a crochet designer. </b><a href="http://designingvashti.blogspot.com/2013/11/on-becoming-ayarn-company.html" target="_blank"><b>Here's the first post</b></a><b>, where you can also see a list of the other ones in this series.</b></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b>About the Pin-Setter Cardigan pattern in <i>Crochetscene</i>:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(For more, click <a href="http://www.crochetme.com/media/p/150457.aspx" target="_blank">here</a>):<i> </i></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>A great first sweater project, this classic cardigan is worked top down with raglan sleeves. Stripes in alternating colors keep it interesting, and picots embellish two stripes.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Yarn</b> DesigningVashti Lotus (52% cotton, 48% rayon; 256 yd [234 m]/3½ oz [100 g]): pearly pearl (A), 5 (6, 7, 8, 9) balls; sapphire (B), 2 (2, 2, 3, 3) balls; peachy sheen (C), 1 (1, 1, 2, 2) ball(s).</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><b>Hook Size</b> D/3 (3.25 mm).</span></span><br />
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Vashti Brahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439436949166577608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32092117.post-42600577239019846312014-08-05T12:08:00.005-05:002018-03-01T12:17:18.163-05:00How (Not) to Sell New Yarn at a Crochet Conference<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #990000; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><i><b><span style="line-height: 14px;">This post is the fifth installment in an <a href="http://designingvashti.blogspot.com/search/label/YARN%20Designing%21" target="_blank">ongoing series</a> about an exclusive yarn I developed with my friend Doris Chan. </span><a href="http://designingvashti.blogspot.com/2013/11/on-becoming-ayarn-company.html" style="line-height: 14px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">This is the first post</a><span style="line-height: 14px;">. </span></b></i></span><b style="color: #990000;"><i><a href="http://designingvashti.blogspot.com/p/designingvashti-yarns.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">New tab I created about </a><a href="http://designingvashti.blogspot.com/p/designingvashti-yarns.html" target="_blank">everything Lotus</a>.</i></b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZDwJXK9rRSWsi1ajytE2DcI2injNWy74zr5burdQAFpn1MCeEURHCuyHHueJJ9PLQaPdcf-Y5vaEvqrOOZrkF8T0N9mId_myjLYFi69XNjXFDM7LMSS0J4DPB7dr9Jexyw7lYQ/s1600/V+Kathryn+Haley+jul2014+NSmith.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZDwJXK9rRSWsi1ajytE2DcI2injNWy74zr5burdQAFpn1MCeEURHCuyHHueJJ9PLQaPdcf-Y5vaEvqrOOZrkF8T0N9mId_myjLYFi69XNjXFDM7LMSS0J4DPB7dr9Jexyw7lYQ/s1600/V+Kathryn+Haley+jul2014+NSmith.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">L to R: Kathryn White, Vashti, <br />Haley Zimmerman. Photo: Nancy Smith</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;"> © 2014 Manchester NH</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I've just returned from a spectacular crochet conference blow out! (The <a href="http://www.crochet.org/default.asp?" target="_blank">CGOA's</a>'s 20th annual <a href="http://www.crochet.org/?page=ConferenceHistory" target="_blank">Chain Link conference</a> in Manchester NH, July 23-27 2014.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>This was the first crochet conference I've attended as a yarn company owner</b>. </span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's the fifth one I've attended as a <i><a href="https://designingvashti.com/learn/vashti-crochet-classes/" target="_blank">teacher</a></i>. Six months or so of <a href="https://designingvashti.com/crochet-conference-prep-aftermath/" target="_blank">class prep</a> led up to this event! I taught eighteen hours of six large classes in three days. It is a blur to me now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'm gently teasing myself with the title of this post. Throughout the conference I'd suddenly see this or that <i>missed</i> <i>opportunity for <a href="https://designingvashti.com/product-category/yarns-kits/designingvashti-lotus-yarn/" target="_blank">my yarn</a></i> and could only shake my head at myself. For example:</span><br />
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<li><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I could have had a <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/designingvashti-lotus-color-sample-set" target="_blank">yarn sample</a>, coupon, SOMETHING in the goody bags!</span></i></li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PtTetzMkbNHxeh3N41FD6uzgEqPrlTpq7WnWBPtPyzOPhroVFvuCo03hnEx1G1bdNvEew2CNIpIQRwSNSzRPLmnxrRMu0PgFwI62FJl2477EcDyxrPfJCO0BGhatTgFKiyGkWw/s1600/DVLotus+SNACKS+Label+mono+Red.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PtTetzMkbNHxeh3N41FD6uzgEqPrlTpq7WnWBPtPyzOPhroVFvuCo03hnEx1G1bdNvEew2CNIpIQRwSNSzRPLmnxrRMu0PgFwI62FJl2477EcDyxrPfJCO0BGhatTgFKiyGkWw/s1600/DVLotus+SNACKS+Label+mono+Red.jpg" width="233" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">One of the printing pages I created <br />of yarn labels ("ball bands") <br />for 60 sample Lotus balls.</span></td></tr>
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>I could have printed up the simplest <a href="https://designingvashti.com/product-category/yarns-kits/designingvashti-lotus-yarn/" target="_blank">Lotus</a> yarn thing for people to pick up from the info table at Registration.</i> A ball band with a URL, a yarn snip, whatever, right? After all, I designed the yarn ball bands. I might think that's cool if a guild member I knew did that.</span>
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<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>I could have shipped <a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/lotus-snack-six-pack-any-colors/" target="_blank">bags of Lotus</a> to a market vendor!</i> Wouldn't it be fun for Lotus to be a part of the market excitement? Plus, I'd have a booth number to tell all the people who asked about Lotus. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>In truth, a few "missed opportunities" occurred to me months before</b>, and I had to set them aside as too complicated or impractical for this conference. Ship Lotus to a vendor? Well, this is wholesaling. My costs are not actually low enough yet for me to be able to wholesale Lotus. (By the way, another way of saying this is that <i><b>the price of Lotus at my website is below full retail!</b></i>)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Why not just bring an extra suitcase of Lotus and </b><b>sell it in my hotel room, in class, or in the crochet lounge?</b> </span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Seems like an easy solution, doesn't it? <b>Nope</b>. Not only did I sign a contract prohibiting this, it's unwise. I wouldn't want to risk creating a bad impression of a seller or product instead of good.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbXo4r1oSyA_TnUpeRMRSCwUD7i1dZiUaAMtRHaHWPoWBfPBIBLk0Jd9DM5YC_Q_B1pKDFV_P_FHogQd_lzZ35G-NTDH3TPYDY8dq5v085-uRnU5f46_MZPTGrk8mxfb2VHOzRJg/s1600/LotusSnacks+Deb+Seda+jul2104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbXo4r1oSyA_TnUpeRMRSCwUD7i1dZiUaAMtRHaHWPoWBfPBIBLk0Jd9DM5YC_Q_B1pKDFV_P_FHogQd_lzZ35G-NTDH3TPYDY8dq5v085-uRnU5f46_MZPTGrk8mxfb2VHOzRJg/s1600/LotusSnacks+Deb+Seda+jul2104.jpg" width="185" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I spy <a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/our-lotus-yarn-33g-snack-size/" target="_blank">Lotus Snacks</a> sample balls! You're<br />
also seeing one of my favorite attendees,<br />
Janet Bates, and part of the portable full<br />
spectrum lamp she brings to conferences.<br />
<i>(Cropped close up of classroom photo by<br />Deb Seda © 2014, Manchester NH.)</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As a guild member and attendee at <i>fourteen</i> of these conferences, I'm grateful for this rule. Who wants to be marketed to in classes and fellowship areas? We have the market for that, where it's FUN.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As a teacher, dealing with commerce in a class is weirdly distracting. The "Class Angels" are angelic because they collect and track any materials fees so that I don't have to switch gears.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;">I DID actually have </span><a href="https://designingvashti.com/product-category/yarns-kits/designingvashti-lotus-yarn/" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;" target="_blank">Lotus</a><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;"> with me</span></b><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;">. Wait, what?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>In each of my <a href="https://designingvashti.com/learn/the-new-tunisian-crochet/" target="_blank">Tunisian</a> lace <a href="https://designingvashti.com/?s=tunisian+class" target="_blank">classes</a> I gave out "<i><a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/our-lotus-yarn-33g-snack-size/" target="_blank">Lotus Snacks</a></i>."</b> (I loved being the yarn sponsor of my own classes!) I designed a special ball band for them (see photo above), and the way the band wrapped around them reminded me of cupcakes. My friend <a href="http://www.lindadeancrochet.com/blog/" target="_blank">Linda</a> helped me label them in my hotel room, which was fun. (See photo of Lotus sighting above.) I'm lucky I even got them made, and I'm happy that I have none left over!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Lotus in my project tote had crochet attached because I foolishly thought I might have time to sit and crochet at this conference.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzqwLoAhuKjy5JUYDrTqZPJJTg0JXzOMd-P50tXO40d93yOQwbis-lOhRbuARiv5ySPRsVqpbySZI7TYWfiFNEXlJ06u-JzRH7943ueDexwBCC1UqOZNj5WAAVOXld_Xuz7KEmUA/s1600/Lotus+Chips+all.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzqwLoAhuKjy5JUYDrTqZPJJTg0JXzOMd-P50tXO40d93yOQwbis-lOhRbuARiv5ySPRsVqpbySZI7TYWfiFNEXlJ06u-JzRH7943ueDexwBCC1UqOZNj5WAAVOXld_Xuz7KEmUA/s1600/Lotus+Chips+all.jpg" title="Lotus Chips and Candied Charms patterns" width="141" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">Some <a href="http://www.shop.designingvashti.com/Crochet-KIT-DEAL-All-14-Colors-of-Lotus-Yarn-with-Pattern-Set-2Kit-J1114.htm" target="_blank">Lotus Chips</a> <br />& <a href="http://www.shop.designingvashti.com/Candied-Color-Charms-Booster-Pack-of-Bead-Crochet-Lotus-Chips-2L-J2114BS.htm" target="_blank">Charms</a> patterns.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>I did bring all <a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/lotus-chips-jewelry-charms/" target="_blank">Lotus Chips</a> and <a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/candied-color-charms/" target="_blank">Candied Charms</a> to wear and display in classes.</b> Amazing to think of it now but I could not get it together to wear them. Just too busy. I even neglected to mention the <a href="https://designingvashti.com/?s=love+knots" target="_blank">love knot</a> ones <span style="font-size: xx-small;">("Lovebud Vines")</span> in my <i><a href="https://designingvashti.com/love-knot-crochet-class-resources/" target="_blank">21st Century Love Knot Adventures</a></i> class. The event was truly a blur!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>I did bring free color samples to give out.</b> At some point I dimly thought, "I refuse to take these back home. Must give them out." A designer friend said, "Ooh! Is this your yarn? Can I use some for yarn bombing?" I just gave her the whole bag. Yes, this is what a maxed out Vashti does.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>I DID bring an extra suitcase full of Lotus</b>...in the form of <a href="https://designingvashti.com/conference-prep-crazy-zone/" target="_blank">visual aids for the six classes</a>. I always bring lots of swatches and visual aids for classes; this year I <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/projects/vashtirama?set=lotus-experiments&view=thumbnail" target="_blank">crocheted a gazillion with Lotus</a>. After all, it's Lotus that made me fall in love all over again with the <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/vashtirama/sets/72157641122940773/" target="_blank">Star stitch</a><b>*</b>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">OK so maybe I could have mentioned that it was <i>Lotus</i> that I was passing around in a class, but then if I'd done that, it might have sounded like advertising, and that's not what teaching is about anyway.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So Lotus did actually get to meet lots of old and new friends! What am I worried about?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Yarn marketing is like developing a new muscle</b> - for me, anyway. I took plenty of notes about what I could do in the future. I'm planning to have my own booth at next year's crochet conference in San Diego!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b>*</b><a href="https://designingvashti.com/?s=star+stitch+class" target="_blank">Star Stitch Class Resources page</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Issues #59 and #60 of <i>Crochet Inspirations Newsletter</i>: "<a href="http://eepurl.com/Tpekf" target="_blank">Star Stitch Lace Pretties</a>" and "<a href="http://eepurl.com/Rpox5" target="_blank">Star Stitch, the Tunisian Connection</a>."</span><br />
<br /></div>
Vashti Brahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439436949166577608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32092117.post-59426581479304150482014-04-22T17:44:00.000-05:002015-03-20T19:22:09.869-05:00Birth of a Yarn Company, About Five Months In<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>New: Please see the <a href="http://designingvashti.blogspot.com/p/designingvashti-yarns.html" target="_blank">new tab I created about everything Lotus</a>.</i></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 14px;">This post is part of a series about my exclusive new yarn, developed together with my friend Doris Chan. For more on this series, see </span><a href="http://designingvashti.blogspot.com/2013/11/on-becoming-ayarn-company.html" style="color: #5e53fb; font-size: x-small; line-height: 14px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">this first post</a><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 14px;">. </span><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 14px;"> </span></i></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #741b47; line-height: 14px;"><b>-:-----:-</b></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #232323; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>I've only now felt like I could imagine blogging again about launching </b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Qfuug-Wp-VhIs9doMa3OKfM9bA5d_mKafxJcxtwX0vHpZwp8RHov7EnykxKlDI5Bq7w7gRPbY1PiYcwypGT9mr0ysOf7NDfj-PYjO00u5adwyA-jKZV09daYLdPEOIY41UflhQ/s1600/Pallas+Scarf+in+Lotus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Qfuug-Wp-VhIs9doMa3OKfM9bA5d_mKafxJcxtwX0vHpZwp8RHov7EnykxKlDI5Bq7w7gRPbY1PiYcwypGT9mr0ysOf7NDfj-PYjO00u5adwyA-jKZV09daYLdPEOIY41UflhQ/s1600/Pallas+Scarf+in+Lotus.jpg" height="200" width="140" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">A behind the scenes example <br />of a popular pattern, the <br />Pallas Scarf, redesigned in <br />Lotus yarn. (I'm updating <br />the pattern to include this<br /> new version.)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #232323; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Lotus yarn! </b><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I last blogged about becoming a yarn company months ago. Those were no ordinary months: the big December shopping season followed by a milestone birthday, wedding anniversary, son's birthday, peak tourist season around here...</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>blah blah blah</i>.
</span></span><br />
<div style="color: #232323;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #232323;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Sounds like the usual stuff that can postpone blogging, but doesn't have to, right? It's </span>also been a time of</span><span style="color: #232323; letter-spacing: 0px;"> several unfamiliar - if mundane - procedures. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #232323; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #232323; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>At first, it didn't even occur to me to blog about them, but there's actually quite a lot going on under the surface!</b></span></span><br />
<div style="color: #232323;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLu_NZ7M0vkxJBx0HMCpzXdnIcTGHno0mzQAc4wMHnlC4QVcDQWTj5rcALBOBw4pJ8yGQJS8XOKJVk9wrQEAC2C50I_R3usGn9DKqeouZsI9GbjcWI3i_Yg-WPClIqf37BEYnYgw/s1600/Snug+and+Protected.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLu_NZ7M0vkxJBx0HMCpzXdnIcTGHno0mzQAc4wMHnlC4QVcDQWTj5rcALBOBw4pJ8yGQJS8XOKJVk9wrQEAC2C50I_R3usGn9DKqeouZsI9GbjcWI3i_Yg-WPClIqf37BEYnYgw/s1600/Snug+and+Protected.jpg" height="200" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times;">I'm really happy with the clear <br />six-ball bags I use for storing </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times;">the Lotus balls, but am <br />searching for a different source <br />with </span><span style="font-family: Times;">lower freight charges.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<div style="color: #232323;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's just a partial list of new-to-me procedures that <b>I already rejected as being too unremarkable to blog about</b>:</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #232323;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How the Dymo printer I use for shipping has been working out. (It's fabulous! One of those simple things in life that makes me smile every day.)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The compact little shipping station I set up in my studio that accommodates a wildly unpredictable range of daily yarn orders from zero to <i>a last-minute flood of them</i>.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What "the last minute" really means - during peak tourist season especially...</span></span></li>
<li><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How to store the yarn in a way that keeps it new yet easy to access (and what that means: no risk of squashing, abrasion, dust, you get the idea.)</span></span></li>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_uhwleVHHcBnPa8phw7boD08lv64FBTnHC3CavmzE8lB3ydnfRTXaL6zXm-NphVCxN9jjcJovF5lROZMgCvRMFa-VqEWYHWmf7ucgfpvLTsIKHcEYIqnL1HfMWdGP9hYTow49Uw/s1600/Fabulous+DYMO+LabelWriter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_uhwleVHHcBnPa8phw7boD08lv64FBTnHC3CavmzE8lB3ydnfRTXaL6zXm-NphVCxN9jjcJovF5lROZMgCvRMFa-VqEWYHWmf7ucgfpvLTsIKHcEYIqnL1HfMWdGP9hYTow49Uw/s1600/Fabulous+DYMO+LabelWriter.jpg" height="200" width="153" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Favorite label printer!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<li><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The best way to keep track of when we need to order another big batch from the mill.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO4bxynPbDS8CqZ6lhdbS7cqLC0Dh9iVNU-CISmqGoWCXmPOPe_MCRbcV2JXLWphfU20XSkx8iXnLnw1m7Gj21KwtPj7es4PVGQ5w4HHfaqCjJiD4FyvlnU5CXl04zWai_dVUvpQ/s1600/A+Lotus+Yarn+Puffy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO4bxynPbDS8CqZ6lhdbS7cqLC0Dh9iVNU-CISmqGoWCXmPOPe_MCRbcV2JXLWphfU20XSkx8iXnLnw1m7Gj21KwtPj7es4PVGQ5w4HHfaqCjJiD4FyvlnU5CXl04zWai_dVUvpQ/s1600/A+Lotus+Yarn+Puffy.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A small Lotus package. <br />
The self-seal "poly mailers" <br />
I went with seem to be <br />
working out very well, plus,<br />
my mailman is impressed. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="color: #232323; min-height: 15px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Underneath these humdrum biznessy things is a <i>nervous mixture of worry and excitement!</i> </b><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">It's j</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">ust like being a new parent: what if something goes horribly wrong? Any minute I might...discover massive hidden costs I hadn't taken into account. What if everyone stops buying yarn forever? (That's kind of like, "What if my baby is kidnapped, or gets a terrible illness or something?")</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div>
<div style="color: #232323;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #232323;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I get it now: I'm a new "yarn parent." </span></span><span style="color: #232323; letter-spacing: 0px;">The first months of any newborn's life are eventful -- with seemingly mundane things (like choosing the best stroller), and I haven't been able to blog about it as often as I expected I would. Typical new parent talk, right? </span></span><br />
<div style="color: #232323; min-height: 15px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="color: #232323; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>I'll never have a <u>first</u> yarn again</b></i><span style="color: #232323;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>.</b> Isn't that something! Thanks for reading this and sharing a unique time with me as it unfolds. I'm </span>probably<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> going to enjoy reading this years from now.</span></span></span><br />
<div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">Next post in this series:</span> <i><a href="http://designingvashti.blogspot.com/2014/08/how-not-to-sell-new-yarn-at-crochet.html" target="_blank">How (Not) to Sell Yarn at a Crochet Conference</a></i>.</b></span></div>
</div>
Vashti Brahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439436949166577608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32092117.post-59706306081008650712014-04-12T13:09:00.000-05:002014-04-12T14:12:40.204-05:00Crochet Book Review: Fine Art of Crochet by Gwen Blakley Kinsler<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The long-awaited <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1481731866/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1481731866&linkCode=as2&tag=designi03-20" target="_blank">Fine Art of Crochet</a> </i></b>by <a href="http://crochetqueen-royalramblings.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Gwen Blakley Kinsler</a> is an important and exciting book. It's not only an essential addition to every crocheter's library, it's a must-read for the non-crocheting artists and art/craft critics who think they already know about crochet as a medium. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmGhaCninhNFqeg6FFfLjsxah3uEd9QFwrlFv7OTzm9_AHQy50m8JSLjxh4GsuSq5dE0DxHoi7WXvTqRLu-KCxqdcnXyUNbkhGduPZG0gAxBYuaGLEOURjgyCek3NiGU92YN2WcA/s1600/51LhiyLx5ML._SL250_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmGhaCninhNFqeg6FFfLjsxah3uEd9QFwrlFv7OTzm9_AHQy50m8JSLjxh4GsuSq5dE0DxHoi7WXvTqRLu-KCxqdcnXyUNbkhGduPZG0gAxBYuaGLEOURjgyCek3NiGU92YN2WcA/s1600/51LhiyLx5ML._SL250_.jpg" title="Fine Art of Crochet by Gwen Blakley Kinsler" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1481731866/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1481731866&linkCode=as2&tag=designi03-20" target="_blank">Buy this book at Amazon.com</a>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">An exciting element of this book for me is reading each professional artist's own words: the specifics of why s/he chooses it, and the lived experience of employing it for artistic expression--often over decades. Gwen allows each artist a considered, intimate, introspective space. I've gained insights that are going to enrich my own crocheting experiences. These windows into the artists' process leave me feeling a kinship with them. I will hear their voices now (along with my mother's, who taught me) as I crochet.</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Gwen's book is a gift and a valuable reference. We get to see the big picture of how crochet is breaking new ground -- <i>and has been all along</i>. </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I like to read theoretical and historical material about art world issues, such as "Fine Art" versus "Craft" (etc.) and I usually have to mentally include crochet as I read about the significance of weaving, sculpture, art quilts, etc. <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1481731866/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1481731866&linkCode=as2&tag=designi03-20" target="_blank">Fine Art of Crochet</a></i></b> fills in gaps!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Part of the thrill of knowing how to crochet is sensing the incredible potential built into even the most basic crochet stitches. We know that each new crocheter has the tools to create <i>anything</i> and we know what that feels like! I see this look dawn on the faces of students and I hear it in comments like, "With <i>crochet</i> you can just turn and make stitches go anywhere any time." <i>I heard this same idea in some of the reasons why seasoned professional artists also choose crochet as their medium.</i></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4x39v6yu1kRq5iQWI-rGYyjHlcLbfElCMRCfZ6wbSLk4IVsMek4iHWjFoE6mN_B0DdO8fSLnDuW0Qfu3xbgkD91ziMB2Krd1prjqJd97IaB6wIFKZMs9rLkkBs_cvYf67WLEeQ/s1600/annivlogo_lr_web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4x39v6yu1kRq5iQWI-rGYyjHlcLbfElCMRCfZ6wbSLk4IVsMek4iHWjFoE6mN_B0DdO8fSLnDuW0Qfu3xbgkD91ziMB2Krd1prjqJd97IaB6wIFKZMs9rLkkBs_cvYf67WLEeQ/s1600/annivlogo_lr_web.jpg" height="200" width="177" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">An unexpected benefit of reading this book for me is a nuanced sense of the birth of the <a href="http://www.crochet.org/" target="_blank">Crochet Guild of America (CGOA)</a>. Gwen, who founded the CGOA in 1994, was spearheading crochet art exhibits in CGOA's earliest days. I'd heard about these events over the years, but seeing a full recounting of them in the fuller context of this book gives them, and Gwen, the credit due. Yet another reason to celebrate the guild's <a href="http://www.crochet.org/?CGOA20thAnniversary" target="_blank">20</a></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><sup><a href="http://www.crochet.org/?CGOA20thAnniversary" target="_blank">th</a></sup></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><a href="http://www.crochet.org/?CGOA20thAnniversary" target="_blank"> anniversary</a> this year!</span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>If you like to think about the creative possibilities of crochet, see how crochet has been breaking new ground <i>right under our noses all this time</i>, and want hints to crochet's future, get this book.</b> I found out about classes these crochet artists have been teaching that I didn't know about, and modern crochet art happenings. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW96ZsIejOGQNb8rm5JcXb9U5BUbL6W-Om8z8DUU_haSS9MPpjtCf5fVRmURNo83fLi29yRRbPvLMqqnxYdWoyYnWQO40O2Kk7Zd6V2yqm52ncnSL27j1tmQg9WXWx3qzZxhKGxA/s1600/Vashti+&+Gwen+Feb+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW96ZsIejOGQNb8rm5JcXb9U5BUbL6W-Om8z8DUU_haSS9MPpjtCf5fVRmURNo83fLi29yRRbPvLMqqnxYdWoyYnWQO40O2Kk7Zd6V2yqm52ncnSL27j1tmQg9WXWx3qzZxhKGxA/s1600/Vashti+&+Gwen+Feb+2014.jpg" height="142" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gwen (right) & Vashti (left) February 2014</td></tr>
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<br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank you, Gwen! <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1481731866/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1481731866&linkCode=as2&tag=designi03-20" target="_blank">Fine Art of Crochet</a></i></b> fills in the sometimes huge gaps in the existing literature about modern developments in art and craft, while serving as a road map for crocheters and others to the ongoing crochet revolution. </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-:-----:-</span></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b>Edited to add</b>: Holy cow, now go <a href="http://www.artisaway.com/blog/fine-art-crochet-new-book-gwen-blakley-kinsler/" target="_blank">check out this image-heavy review</a>. Love it!</i></span></span>Vashti Brahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439436949166577608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32092117.post-76113685769047498112013-12-07T15:05:00.002-05:002018-10-29T08:45:15.652-05:00How My Lotus Yarn Got Its Name<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This post is part of a series about an exclusive new yarn I developed with my friend Doris Chan. For more on this series, see <a href="http://designingvashti.blogspot.com/2013/11/on-becoming-ayarn-company.html" target="_blank">this first post</a>. Also see: the<a href="http://eepurl.com/JU6_v" target="_blank"> newsletter issue (#55) I just sent out</a> about Lotus, and <a href="http://crochetqueen-royalramblings.blogspot.com/2013/11/guest-blogger-vashti-braha-birth-of-yarn.html" target="_blank">my guest post at Gwen's Royal Ramblings</a> for a crochet-historical context for Lotus yarn.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>I've been asked why <a href="https://designingvashti.com/product-category/yarns-kits/designingvashti-lotus-yarn/" target="_blank">my first yarn at DesigningVashti.com</a> is called <i><a href="http://designingvashti.com/blog/why-were-excited-about-our-new-lotus-yarn/" target="_blank">Lotus</a></i>. </b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG2jDcHbtLg71FEFo1oOzldl4Nv-E0gs7kmZ6UERtFxbFnh0UHgZFKztxWK4mQB9Ve2tHdeH8nd1bJT8-8roj8mmk2yqWLJav4iRykBL1DPDCAZx-T4z1wxSt6TDEFo1oPAYV8Zg/s1600/lotus+1877+graphicsfairy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG2jDcHbtLg71FEFo1oOzldl4Nv-E0gs7kmZ6UERtFxbFnh0UHgZFKztxWK4mQB9Ve2tHdeH8nd1bJT8-8roj8mmk2yqWLJav4iRykBL1DPDCAZx-T4z1wxSt6TDEFo1oPAYV8Zg/s320/lotus+1877+graphicsfairy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lotus Engraving from 1877</td></tr>
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<b>Here's the scoop! </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It took from May to October 2013 to settle on the name from a list of 20 or so. I looked at how other yarns are named (see my list of five yarn name categories below) and bounced names around with Doris and my husband. Three key factors made "Lotus" stick: very personal symbolism, right-brained/poetic impressions of the flower, and the timing of seeing <a href="http://dorischancrochet.com/" target="_blank">Doris</a> at the CGOA Chain Link conference in Oct. 2013.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYa8cian9lCUntDd8xB3k6WIp_GryqnnPal7uFRFGOh7KLovQ2pVI5Kh7CnNcGQUiakfAfs4UAzme6duR__lt8aU-6SyHF6dI3-UPoqdkc6Zrvbo5GFtdLrArZWzHp2DgHnx55Cw/s1600/cgoafashionshow_img_2948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYa8cian9lCUntDd8xB3k6WIp_GryqnnPal7uFRFGOh7KLovQ2pVI5Kh7CnNcGQUiakfAfs4UAzme6duR__lt8aU-6SyHF6dI3-UPoqdkc6Zrvbo5GFtdLrArZWzHp2DgHnx55Cw/s1600/cgoafashionshow_img_2948.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the CGOA runway Oct. 2013 </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://designingvashti.com/product-category/yarns-kits/designingvashti-lotus-yarn/" target="_blank">Doris crocheted pajamas with Lotus yarn</a>! Yeah! </b>A baby doll top, lace </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">shorts, lace capri pants, a lovely swing top (all of these in</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: center;"> </span>Pearly Pearl<span style="text-align: center;">), and some flared leggings for me in the </span>Grenadine<span style="text-align: center;"> color. She also did a micro-capelet in </span>Peachy Sheen<span style="text-align: center;">.</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: center;"> (see <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/vashtirama/collections/" target="_blank">each color in its own color album</a>.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">Doris imagined all of these things modeled as an ensemble for the CGOA Fashion Show in October--a great idea. The only catch is, the yarn needed a </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;">name</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Five days before the fashion show I had to use a limo service to get from the airport to the conference hotel. It was called "Lotus Limo." A rush of childhood associations with the name came back to me, so I toyed with "Lotus" as a yarn name until the fashion show. Doris was OK with it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>I'm basically a midwestern white girl from Wisconsin, raised Catholic until the age of nine</b>; I then spent the rest of my childhood experiencing Eastern spiritual stuff with my Mom in an international meditation community in Iowa. We learned Hindu-style meditation, yoga, and vegetarianism, and fascinating concepts like sattwa, karma, soma, mantras. I learned some Sanskrit (a little Hindi helps too when blending one's own curries).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Back then, this was freakishly weird for most people (and most of my relatives too!). </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Today I feel safe enough talking about it in this public way.</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Imagine a place and time </span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">when Dannon yogurt was totally new</i><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">. No one you knew even wanted to try it, yet your Mom was making her own. Imagine never having heard of yoga or karma, or a meal without red meat. Dude: no. yoga. mats. for. sale. </span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">anywhere</i><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/9429480443721231/" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">The lotus flower is a lofty symbol</a> in Hinduism and Buddhism.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> It </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">represents sublime ideals of the human spirit. This pristine blossom rises above the water and, symbolically, the "mud of earthly existence." The Buddha and goddesses like Lakshmi are seated on them. When I worked in a health food store, I ordered products from a catalog called Lotus Light. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ1vnEBn9DsmEBUF3Qo2KhBgOazEaUgIrPwWSZBaCg4X20dCj6Au0fe5zV6_06sTGQYaWlfKE8aJgqguV_EzW3zZo3dC9fCez_o93hnBudTtPZiS28SNfpKef5t2Ijb5TauCMCDQ/s1600/lotus+seed+pod+1877+graphicsfairy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ1vnEBn9DsmEBUF3Qo2KhBgOazEaUgIrPwWSZBaCg4X20dCj6Au0fe5zV6_06sTGQYaWlfKE8aJgqguV_EzW3zZo3dC9fCez_o93hnBudTtPZiS28SNfpKef5t2Ijb5TauCMCDQ/s200/lotus+seed+pod+1877+graphicsfairy.jpg" width="176" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lotus Seed Pod (1877)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Aside from high philosophy, the lotus is just a <a href="http://www.news.illinois.edu/news/13/0510lotus_genome_RayMing.html" target="_blank">really cool and slightly oddball flower</a>. Most westerners don't know that you can eat the</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> pleasant tasting </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">roots and seeds. (See my <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/vashtibraha/designingvashti-lotus-yarn/" target="_blank">Lotus board</a> in Pinterest for<i><b> moon cakes</b></i> and other lovely examples!) The fascinating dried seed pods show up in flower arrangements occasionally.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When I crochet with our Lotus yarn, I feel like it uplifts my experience and the stitches have an inner glow. It takes my crochet to another level. I think of it as "crochet enlightenment." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So now you know.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Have you ever really paid attention to the name of a yarn? </b>I've noticed yarn names fall into categories.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIFnhziDGORngIZi67QMoQU7gcL46pCSes7qNYwy_jUyCydyTTiLlOMyS7L2-lrVpqBpnX3JFKSBODSyvAVyal4E_SSyjEXat6iPk0IKal8WiGkH6kMgLjoRJJl0wpyLEHLCUUmQ/s1600/Waterlily+flippt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIFnhziDGORngIZi67QMoQU7gcL46pCSes7qNYwy_jUyCydyTTiLlOMyS7L2-lrVpqBpnX3JFKSBODSyvAVyal4E_SSyjEXat6iPk0IKal8WiGkH6kMgLjoRJJl0wpyLEHLCUUmQ/s320/Waterlily+flippt.jpg" width="233" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.shop.designingvashti.com/Waterlily-Layer-3-Vests-in-1-Size-Medium-Only-2-WZ5908-M.htmhttps://designingvashti.com/product/waterlily-layer-3-in-1/" target="_blank"><b><i>Waterlily Layer</i></b></a> design</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>1. Some yarns are named simply for their fiber content, weight, and/or dyeing</b>: "Washable Wool," "Alpaca Lace," "Silk Handpaint."<i> </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>I thought, "So my yarn could be named a combination of words from this list: Sport, Cotton, Rayon, Z-Twist, Solid <span style="font-size: x-small;">(color)</span>..." </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hmm, not inspiring. When I've designed with a yarn that has this kind of name, I have to keep its label nearby because I have trouble remembering the exact name ("Uh, is this one 'Merino-Something-DK'?").</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>2. Fancy versions of #1</b>, like "Kid Seta" ("seta" is Italian for silk; "kid" is short for soft mohair); "Micro Chic" (microfiber nylon); "Mulberry" (i.e. silk); "Washable Ewe" (super wash wool). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>I guess I could have named it "Silky Bombax" instead. Or how about "Soft Twisted Plants"?</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwkW7eWuNTYDNy9uBnaRhmfbOFei4DCrHOd2zH1l0yBajzuexUZ_cOD2Q9de14yCU-loHRf6Mx4SlObUBEpUyxzG-ZwS7xhnvLw6F_lOHP5vVcit1hXwWtkvaa4q8xeibU8gT_TQ/s1600/Tunisian+FIlet+blocked+6065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwkW7eWuNTYDNy9uBnaRhmfbOFei4DCrHOd2zH1l0yBajzuexUZ_cOD2Q9de14yCU-loHRf6Mx4SlObUBEpUyxzG-ZwS7xhnvLw6F_lOHP5vVcit1hXwWtkvaa4q8xeibU8gT_TQ/s200/Tunisian+FIlet+blocked+6065.jpg" width="128" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Lotus Symbol in<br />
<a href="https://designingvashti.com/?s=tunisian+filet">Tunisian Filet Crochet</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>3. Like #2 but refers to an appealing or distinctive quality</b> (The name Lotus indirectly falls into this category): "Shine" (rayon content); "Homespun" (thick bumpy plies); "Paillettes" (has sequins); "Glisten" (some metallic); "Magnum" (super bulky thick!). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>I </i></span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> could have named Lotus "Shimmer Z-Twist," for example; or how about "Sporty Zee"? "Crochet Drape"? I </i><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">kept wanting to name it for way it reflects light when crocheted. The very first name I considered was "Pearl." I also wanted to refer to its luxurious drape; "Sari" was another idea (also captures the rich colors and shine).</i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>4. Situations: places, seasons, and hints at its intended uses</b>: "Summer Tweed," "Venezia," "Sausalito," "Weekend," "Sock," "Stork" (baby items). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Since I expect my yarn to be used for a lot of warmer weather items, I considered names like: "Siesta Key," "Hibiscus," "Spring Break."</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>5. Colors or dyeing styles</b>: "Degradé" and "Tonos" (mild shifts from lighter to deeper shades of one color); "Kaffe Fassett" (dramatic striping). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>For Lotus, I did consider a reference to its rich hibiscus-like color range, like "Hibiscus," "Blossom," "Bloom," "Bouquet."</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Next post in this series:</span><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i><a href="http://designingvashti.blogspot.com/2014/04/birth-of-yarn-company-about-five-months.html" target="_blank">Birth of a Yarn Company, About Five Months In.</a></i></b></span></div>
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Vashti Brahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439436949166577608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32092117.post-7743332841650298662013-11-10T16:54:00.000-05:002018-10-29T08:57:51.287-05:00Creating the Color Cards for a New Yarn<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnH1M2dX43JqBk4_kUmzSva3gicuR3g7NTlGXtIUWZnnc_coHEbhfnEK69IrTCIuHzG1JZYu51dP7nYeSD4C0fsoyKWNFol_gZ_ja134eLz81DhSslCXyDPuTKzjc28WZ1MchkYQ/s1600/DesigningVashti+Lotus+Color+Card+-+Web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnH1M2dX43JqBk4_kUmzSva3gicuR3g7NTlGXtIUWZnnc_coHEbhfnEK69IrTCIuHzG1JZYu51dP7nYeSD4C0fsoyKWNFol_gZ_ja134eLz81DhSslCXyDPuTKzjc28WZ1MchkYQ/s400/DesigningVashti+Lotus+Color+Card+-+Web.jpg" width="306" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Scan of official <i>Lotus</i> yarn color card. <br />You can enlarge it <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vashtirama/10782435785/sizes/l/" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This post is <a href="http://designingvashti.blogspot.com/2013/11/on-becoming-ayarn-company.html" target="_blank">part of a series</a>: I'm blogging what it's like to start a <a href="https://designingvashti.com/product-category/yarns-kits/designingvashti-lotus-yarn/" target="_blank">yarn company</a> <i>as a crochet designer</i>. </span></span><span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's an adventure with unexpected - ah - </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">twists,</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> and an odd</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> sensation that I'm transgressing industry categories/roles. A new <i>Crochet Inspirations Newsletter</i> issue goes out soon; <a href="https://designingvashti.com/newsletter/" target="_blank">subscribe</a> to be alerted when I add new posts to this blog series.</span></span></blockquote>
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If I have color cards made for <i>Lotus</i>, the yarn must be available for purchase <strike>soon</strike>, right? YES!! <strike>In just a day or two!</strike> <a href="https://designingvashti.com/product-category/yarns-kits/designingvashti-lotus-yarn/" target="_blank">Right NOW!!</a> </b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><strike>In the meantime</strike> you can <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/vashtirama/collections/" target="_blank">see all the colors and test swatches and labeled balls of yarn here</a>. Adding them to Ravelry right now too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>So what's a "color card"?</b> It's a yarn industry thing: </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">an official "B2B" (business to business) fact sheet.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Color cards display the available colors of a yarn as accurately as possible. A printed card is traditionally large with actual yarn samples of each color attached. Nowadays, the online equivalent might just be a close up of photographed colors. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You've probably seen color cards if you have looked up yarns in <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/yarns" target="_blank">Ravelry</a>. You might even own some if you have ever:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">- Paid for one while ordering yarn from a website or mail-order catalog.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">- Been taken seriously enough as a designer by a yarn company. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">- Owned or worked in a yarn shop.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQSqB-WHhzgpAUfdLw0iylrM7M1qRNX7sIB988ELhakCHUvaKutN_ajpYKcgwXCDJzP0COXgPjQMhdRrCctqkMUtNreBRC5dtI_c4-1V-m6Lhb1se481G0t88_879DAcMIsPOeA/s1600/Tassel+Style+Yarn+Snips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQSqB-WHhzgpAUfdLw0iylrM7M1qRNX7sIB988ELhakCHUvaKutN_ajpYKcgwXCDJzP0COXgPjQMhdRrCctqkMUtNreBRC5dtI_c4-1V-m6Lhb1se481G0t88_879DAcMIsPOeA/s400/Tassel+Style+Yarn+Snips.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tassels from the first mock-up of the Lotus color card. <br />
These are actual Lotus colors (four neutral colors are missing).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's an important reference for yarn shop owners and magazine editors.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Color cards may be created by the yarn mill or packager/distributor to help a yarn shop owner order the best colors for her/his shop. A magazine editor can use the same color cards to plan a unified color theme for an issue, and to quote the correct color names and numbers when ordering yarn for the designer. The magazine's technical editor might check yarn facts in the patterns against what the color cards say, before the issue goes to press.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Before creating a short stack of color cards for <i><a href="https://designingvashti.com/product-category/yarns-kits/designingvashti-lotus-yarn/" target="_blank">Lotus</a></i>, I compared a range of <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHfq3-QIGyjvjKAG3Ytbi9LPwovdeG6HJ0Mn4ORjUut8zlFPPTfS3M1Kmf0hjXOzFTZosx8LhsKqrvNaKPe_t6dUJdEQ1ASb1LXoSJaF7jQIqlN9oVelTdjr37ja-zH_xOS-v4_g/s1600/Color+Card+Style%252C+Exhibit+A+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHfq3-QIGyjvjKAG3Ytbi9LPwovdeG6HJ0Mn4ORjUut8zlFPPTfS3M1Kmf0hjXOzFTZosx8LhsKqrvNaKPe_t6dUJdEQ1ASb1LXoSJaF7jQIqlN9oVelTdjr37ja-zH_xOS-v4_g/s320/Color+Card+Style%252C+Exhibit+A+.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exhibit A: Glued Yarn Snips</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
color cards that have accumulated in my studio over the years. Some yarn companies add "glam copy" (persuasive, even flowery descriptions of the yarn's features). Others provide terse product specs. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As you can see in "Exhibit A" at right, yarn snips may be glued down to the card. This is very common. Maybe it's the fastest and easiest way to mass produce them. </span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0l0PvausocEvgan9XLSatOEpYB_6jlhFSNnP_lGHYc03NtoLpEO-ESzIJkNtfTjTJ9fDbECH4lkpLcgIRxvqXMNR6M8OZy8-GsuF6gDVP_OCpzOCoCfiMnhIRsx1tEFIDJhgMoQ/s1600/Color+Card+Style%252C+Exhibit+B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0l0PvausocEvgan9XLSatOEpYB_6jlhFSNnP_lGHYc03NtoLpEO-ESzIJkNtfTjTJ9fDbECH4lkpLcgIRxvqXMNR6M8OZy8-GsuF6gDVP_OCpzOCoCfiMnhIRsx1tEFIDJhgMoQ/s320/Color+Card+Style%252C+Exhibit+B.jpg" width="310" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exhibit B: These 6" tassels are the longest of <br />
any examples I have on hand.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Another common type of yarn snip is a tassel (Exhibit B at left). They can be of any length. The ones at left are especially long. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>As a designer I've wished that I could pull out a small length of the yarn</b> to see how smooth and even it really is, and to just chain it to quickly experience crocheting it. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'm trying out a 30-inch length doubled up a few times, as shown in the top left photo above.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Something that </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">has always bugged me about color cards is if the tassels are long, they look messy and don't work well in a binder. </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">I designed mine to fit in a 3-ring binder so that</span><i style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> the yarn snips don't flop around beyond the edge of the binder.</i><br />
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">Next in this series:</span> <i><a href="http://designingvashti.blogspot.com/2013/12/how-my-lotus-yarn-got-its-name.html" target="_blank">How My Lotus Yarn Got its Name</a></i>.</b></span></div>
Vashti Brahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439436949166577608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32092117.post-13670066201145996322013-11-02T15:47:00.000-05:002018-10-29T09:12:43.096-05:00On Becoming a...Yarn Company?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpHSBd0iPKcKac-PlUjEYbj49lZ4ke0sGaqlAueVGuSPSKMsdIUDBt5uc9dwRn9aKS48MzWTCrXTM5mrH0QZLmvgZsphhKoeSGcT56T0ZBM7WYK_DJ8r63rh1-Cc3OdMdj_Heo8g/s1600/Starpath+Scarf+wrapped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpHSBd0iPKcKac-PlUjEYbj49lZ4ke0sGaqlAueVGuSPSKMsdIUDBt5uc9dwRn9aKS48MzWTCrXTM5mrH0QZLmvgZsphhKoeSGcT56T0ZBM7WYK_DJ8r63rh1-Cc3OdMdj_Heo8g/s1600/Starpath+Scarf+wrapped.jpg" width="234" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The <b><i><a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/starpath-scarf-star-stitch-how-to/">Starpath Scarf</a></i></b>, one of <br />
<a href="https://designingvashti.com/product-category/yarns-kits/lotus-yarn-patterns/">several Lotus yarn patterns</a>!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Developing yarns to add to my <a href="https://designingvashti.com/product-category/yarns-kits/designingvashti-lotus-yarn/" target="_blank">DesigningVashti.com</a> site is having a powerful affect on me as a crochet designer. </b>This blog has been about the designing journey since 2005, so I thought I’d blog a series of journal-like posts about my yarn-designing adventure here.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Scroll to the end of this post for a clickable list of all posts in this series</span></i>.</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For the first time ever, I can design with a yarn that I already know I love, that I understand intimately, and over which I have complete control.</b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I don't have to worry that someone will suddenly discontinue it. This has happened a lot. <a href="https://designingvashti.com/about/about-doris-chan/" target="_blank">Doris</a> and <a href="https://designingvashti.com/about/about-vashti-braha/" target="_blank">I</a> have talked about this a lot.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga9sNeD249k2y74CziI9cj-N9nEOEDWlhWyeUrWZodIDyOc1l2NMAmdFpOMchXI0l5XKRHy9SqUSfiDzpMPbS4R7HFv8FSMezuSX5dNC58BVkoYk6FxPF4sOPjFCUk75-g84fq3w/s1600/Lotus+Yarn+blazing+white.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga9sNeD249k2y74CziI9cj-N9nEOEDWlhWyeUrWZodIDyOc1l2NMAmdFpOMchXI0l5XKRHy9SqUSfiDzpMPbS4R7HFv8FSMezuSX5dNC58BVkoYk6FxPF4sOPjFCUk75-g84fq3w/s320/Lotus+Yarn+blazing+white.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lotus Yarn in "<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/vashtirama/collections/" target="_blank">White Blaze</a>"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Freelance designers do not get paid for all the time it takes to get to know a yarn, yet this is one reason that creating design proposals, especially for yarn companies, is so time consuming. (For magazines, this task is delayed until you find out which yarn gets assigned to your design proposal.)</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvGQf-cghVeNGtq_UQ-fBtCfCUzX7s9RSgwVJveFYSKFgSuSV2uJQq9aaThNkxRO6tJ2E7nLmbS0Y5132IBc85vF2IrZeJuccn6A1-VubK1A1jtzE9p_eWpkuwgBkASl6HujTWDQ/s1600/Big+Lotus+cones+of+warm+colors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="83" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvGQf-cghVeNGtq_UQ-fBtCfCUzX7s9RSgwVJveFYSKFgSuSV2uJQq9aaThNkxRO6tJ2E7nLmbS0Y5132IBc85vF2IrZeJuccn6A1-VubK1A1jtzE9p_eWpkuwgBkASl6HujTWDQ/s320/Big+Lotus+cones+of+warm+colors.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/lotus-cone-1lb/" target="_blank">Big ol' cones</a> of rosy <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/vashtirama/collections/" target="_blank">Lotus colors</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Over the past few months I’ve been developing a new yarn, and I mean <i>new</i>: not offered elsewhere. </b><a href="https://designingvashti.com/product-category/yarns-kits/designingvashti-lotus-yarn/" target="_blank">The first is called <i>Lotus</i></a>, and it's <strike>nearly</strike> ready for purchase! It's a z-twisted sport weight blend of cotton and rayon. The yarn labels are <strike>currently being</strike> printed, and the last of the first <i>fourteen</i> colors is <strike>being dyed right now</strike> <b>now available!</b> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDkmIF18VP8XjAP4Pb-zCVfNWYuiLKJIm1e2eMRXAHI37T22wRW7CuzoMvVz5RvSq2xzNiA6woXp2z8zRDtaO4kabk9GQdOKc23Tbwww42L83hrLST0Ixw8smSL8KB9JC_XUkHoQ/s1600/Blocked+wicker+grey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDkmIF18VP8XjAP4Pb-zCVfNWYuiLKJIm1e2eMRXAHI37T22wRW7CuzoMvVz5RvSq2xzNiA6woXp2z8zRDtaO4kabk9GQdOKc23Tbwww42L83hrLST0Ixw8smSL8KB9JC_XUkHoQ/s320/Blocked+wicker+grey.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times";">My </span><a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/liebling-shrug-tunisian-crochet/" style="font-family: Times;" target="_blank">Tunisian Wicker Stitch</a><span style="font-family: "times";"> in "Satin Grey" Lotus</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvW4jmBe20nuP8qwRDzGcf6pOPqQ3wp0kvucTdJTkHbv2FlNldgv3QRrZxuyo3r_sY40JUe9RjDDGDx9rsUBIx7A_Ls4iX66uMSh5euEil4SM6rd77cOzisMp8phK6qSimM-Il8g/s1600/Lotus+Yarn+Crystal+Blue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvW4jmBe20nuP8qwRDzGcf6pOPqQ3wp0kvucTdJTkHbv2FlNldgv3QRrZxuyo3r_sY40JUe9RjDDGDx9rsUBIx7A_Ls4iX66uMSh5euEil4SM6rd77cOzisMp8phK6qSimM-Il8g/s320/Lotus+Yarn+Crystal+Blue.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DesigningVashti Lotus Yarn in "Crystal Blue"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>I’m going directly to yarn mills with some ideas for yarns that are not already available. </b>I’ve been an avid yarn user (consumer, swatcher, stasher) for years. It's fascinating how fibers, plying, twist, dyeing, etc. add to my love of crochet and pattern designing! I pay attention to differences between yarns, and so by now it's easy for me to envision my own ideal yarns.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yarn mill folks seem to appreciate that I study yarns and have some ideas to try. This is a great relief to me! I was afraid I’d get blank looks, or “Well, that’ll cost you!” responses. Instead, they seem more relieved and curious.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyg_O_6cQFNSKI1NkVj7EewBcfA_N70-C5KTSmcaPqIUNPwDVJoUUP1e7WcrLsgoSf0htBcyzvMR7tVyLb0pFSj8KMNM4BsAwV7zZ41f9H72Q7h3vssnOOosNaAyFPuY0paBBg9w/s1600/Brushed+Shells+in+Peachy+Sheen+Lotus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyg_O_6cQFNSKI1NkVj7EewBcfA_N70-C5KTSmcaPqIUNPwDVJoUUP1e7WcrLsgoSf0htBcyzvMR7tVyLb0pFSj8KMNM4BsAwV7zZ41f9H72Q7h3vssnOOosNaAyFPuY0paBBg9w/s320/Brushed+Shells+in+Peachy+Sheen+Lotus.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brushed Shells in color "Peachy Sheen"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’m getting ahead of myself, though. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Today, what brings me to my blog is that I’m in a design slump!</b> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Not a crochet slump, just a design slump (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">it happens every time I return from teaching a lot of classes at a national conference.) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Being surrounded by my <a href="https://designingvashti.com/product-category/yarns-kits/designingvashti-lotus-yarn/" target="_blank">Lotus</a> yarn in rainbow colors makes this slump a fun experience.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(By the way, I never know how the colors are going to show up on different computer screens, so I try <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/vashtirama/collections/" target="_blank">different kinds of lighting and add various photos everywhere</a>.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>This year, shipments of my new yarn were arriving from the mill while I was preparing to teach. Now that I'm home from teaching, I feel like a mother with her newborn baby. </b>I spend every day trying out new stitch patterns with different colors of <i>Lotus</i>. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I take photos of <i>Lotus</i> at different angles and times of day. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I've dug out early designs for which I used favorite stitch patterns. I'm going through my old books and trying stitches that have always intrigued me. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ93LfTPON1wh0VVBQiNDdysmH_7yrdcJwBfVs7Cx461UCYaIFQN1gtjr6pqPvuD-gzERoZPWNzgrjpmA6y37VjEvJf32FZJi2pKqO__77AyB-b_gJNT6Ais_KNEJA0VRMCBxqkg/s1600/Picot+Fans+in+Sapphire+Lotus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ93LfTPON1wh0VVBQiNDdysmH_7yrdcJwBfVs7Cx461UCYaIFQN1gtjr6pqPvuD-gzERoZPWNzgrjpmA6y37VjEvJf32FZJi2pKqO__77AyB-b_gJNT6Ais_KNEJA0VRMCBxqkg/s320/Picot+Fans+in+Sapphire+Lotus.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It turns out that designing a YARN and making it a reality is like having a baby, in several ways: the months of anticipation, choosing a name, and the "labor." I even had to prepare a new room for its arrival. </span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3lRWmbW6S2X5L41SwxMQDchE4v3ZflaEGA3rNCtDkL0b7QMuv9-1QynI9ZuO_MChUVGEbduLlFYHthGtZXlt8Nj7Pv5RA5t_-Mw0IEXfMgmakzFZBWxS6CjWIHGK__Sg6hZnmGw/s1600/Zenobia+Palms+in+Pearly+Pearl+Lotus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3lRWmbW6S2X5L41SwxMQDchE4v3ZflaEGA3rNCtDkL0b7QMuv9-1QynI9ZuO_MChUVGEbduLlFYHthGtZXlt8Nj7Pv5RA5t_-Mw0IEXfMgmakzFZBWxS6CjWIHGK__Sg6hZnmGw/s320/Zenobia+Palms+in+Pearly+Pearl+Lotus.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times";">Zenobia Palm Stitch in color "Pearly Pearl"</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I love that my early years as a freelance designer have taught me that </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">the best thing I could be doing right now is swatching up different crochet stitches with Lotus! </span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Crocheting with a</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> yarn is like getting to know a new person. Each has a distinct temperament, unique strengths & weaknesses, and preferences. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The better one knows a yarn, the better a design will work for it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As a crochet designer with <i><a href="https://designingvashti.com/product-category/yarns-kits/designingvashti-lotus-yarn/" target="_blank">my own yarn company</a></i>, I don’t have to go on blind dates with yarns I may never design with again. <i>Lotus</i> is family!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>-:-------:-</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Other posts in this series (in chronological order):</b></span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"</span><a href="http://designingvashti.blogspot.com/2013/11/creating-color-cards-for-new-yarn.html" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Creating Color Cards for a New Yarn</a><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">."</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"</span><a href="http://designingvashti.blogspot.com/2013/12/how-my-lotus-yarn-got-its-name.html" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">How Lotus Got Its Name</a><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"</span><a href="http://designingvashti.blogspot.com/2014/04/birth-of-yarn-company-about-five-months.html" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Birth of a Yarn Company, About Five Months In</a><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"</span><a href="http://designingvashti.blogspot.com/2014/08/how-not-to-sell-new-yarn-at-crochet.html" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">How (Not) to Sell Yarn at a Crochet Conference</a><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"</span><a href="http://designingvashti.blogspot.com/2014/09/my-lotus-yarn-in-magazines-what-its-like.html" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">My Lotus Yarn in Magazines: What It's Like!</a><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"<a href="http://designingvashti.blogspot.com/2014/11/designingvashti-lotus-yarns-at-12-month.html" target="_blank">DesigningVashti Lotus Yarns at the 12 Year Mark</a>"</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"<a href="http://designingvashti.com/blog/designing-vashti-lotus-yarn-designer-gallery/" target="_blank">DesigningVashti Lotus Yarn: in the Magazines (a Gallery)</a>"</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"<a href="http://designingvashti.blogspot.com/2015/02/crochet-yarn-put-up-part-1-of-2-yarn.html" target="_blank">Crochet Yarn Put Up, Part I of II</a>"</span></li>
</ul>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Vashti Brahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439436949166577608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32092117.post-49377801028668208102013-08-11T17:39:00.003-05:002018-10-29T09:23:59.929-05:00Crochet Flowers and Hearts Make Great Test Shapes!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJ-Q_FDci3xe2W9FESyXLIayvNtAXQIRfHWmWfo200DZovHNw0FO7jVMsIBiNw4N91j_ofF9hQtZQlrDPTpUrKaVuAnFOLalQJQ6g58RVQLeNWpiu4hJDDm-exx0uPoU1hEaI2Q/s1600/Blocked+Hearts,+vert+rows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Two Hearts, Two Stitches: Back-Loop Slsts & Front-Loop Slsts" border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJ-Q_FDci3xe2W9FESyXLIayvNtAXQIRfHWmWfo200DZovHNw0FO7jVMsIBiNw4N91j_ofF9hQtZQlrDPTpUrKaVuAnFOLalQJQ6g58RVQLeNWpiu4hJDDm-exx0uPoU1hEaI2Q/s400/Blocked+Hearts,+vert+rows.jpg" title="Slip Stitch Crochet Heart-Shaped Methods" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back-loop Slip Stitch Heart & Front Loop Slip Stitch Heart<br />
<b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Update</span></b>: <a href="https://designingvashti.com/slip-stitch-crochet-hearts-free-pattern/">Slip Stitch Heart pattern</a> at my new blog!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'm testing shaping methods for my upcoming <a href="https://designingvashti.com/learn/vashti-crochet-classes/" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Slip Stitch Crochet Shapes FX class</a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A sweet surprise is that <i>heart shapes, roses, and other flowers are especially useful ways to try out shaping methods!</i></span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7NsHBlhfjOySWF2bHnH2h2CaU1HMMab6pzdc0tmWS1zkNQIFEgQEuaob-uvlf85g4GaR98ZxOBu5zum39xpNufyWHsXne36QnfJVFYC0BOcBxsRfz-spHU4h6h0hTkyA4tZRKg/s1600/Flower+slip+contrasts+closeup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Crochet slip stitches can give different effects to rose petals." border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7NsHBlhfjOySWF2bHnH2h2CaU1HMMab6pzdc0tmWS1zkNQIFEgQEuaob-uvlf85g4GaR98ZxOBu5zum39xpNufyWHsXne36QnfJVFYC0BOcBxsRfz-spHU4h6h0hTkyA4tZRKg/s320/Flower+slip+contrasts+closeup.jpg" title="Crochet Slip Stitches Create Three Kinds of Roses!" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Different Slip Stitches in a Variety of Rose Petal Shapes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Not only are hearts and flowers distinctively shaped, they can also be: </span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Scaled up or down to the swatch size I prefer,</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A two-dimensional rendition, or as 3-D sculpted as I wish,</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Recycled later into appliqués, jewelry, patch pockets, pincushions, coasters, etc.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Practice for sleeve cap shaping and other useful applications.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I've also been curious about how <a href="https://designingvashti.com/learn/scope-of-slip-stitch-crochet/"><i>different kinds</i> of slip stitches</a> respond to the shaping methods. Below are hearts in four different slip stitch patterns.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE02aeeoFrcfLaDSjJ-tzekPjblE-pwZhgSJ-Hm24AgCSss1UVWdOmkwkRkdVkKzyp6O24W5VFd0h5kmucjlCpfZi_MkLuCMbm1U8xx8rklmz6lOqWJNCWoAuRrfBsihLUuX-IZA/s1600/SS+Hearts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Inverse and regular slip stitches in different loops, and different row directions." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE02aeeoFrcfLaDSjJ-tzekPjblE-pwZhgSJ-Hm24AgCSss1UVWdOmkwkRkdVkKzyp6O24W5VFd0h5kmucjlCpfZi_MkLuCMbm1U8xx8rklmz6lOqWJNCWoAuRrfBsihLUuX-IZA/s1600/SS+Hearts.jpg" title="Four Kinds of Slip Stitches, Crocheted Diagonally and Vertically" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">Four Kinds of Slip Stitches, Crocheted Diagonally and Vertically</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The heart in the lower left corner is the oddest-looking one, and retains a slight curl even after blocking. I'd need to tweak the starting row of this one also. </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Some of them have a strong natural curl or textural grain.</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This same <a href="https://designingvashti.com/?s=inverse" target="_blank">inverse slip stitch</a> type - which doesn't work so well for heart shapes - is perfect for the special kind of curling that a rose petal does! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In this blog post I'm using newer photos taken <i>after</i> I sent out the most recent <a href="http://eepurl.com/DiV0X" target="_blank"><i>Crochet Inspirations Newsletter</i> issue #53</a>. It includes a free crochet pattern for a simple slip-stitch-strip rose. See photo of wee cashmere roses below!</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA6JN8O2VKgYS8i3d9nNayGbEb8A90FngfAhjIoXp5uME_gFHEoxvsFIDHRe924ZDxIh7LwjOAVMuMZ-cUb0GYQ7gQWuRWbrEISdlUzdAKt-cOmoTYXvvIQk5_dt0gnMjwh7TkKw/s1600/Merino+Rose+Petal+edge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="These rose petals have a natural curve, thanks to slip stitches." border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA6JN8O2VKgYS8i3d9nNayGbEb8A90FngfAhjIoXp5uME_gFHEoxvsFIDHRe924ZDxIh7LwjOAVMuMZ-cUb0GYQ7gQWuRWbrEISdlUzdAKt-cOmoTYXvvIQk5_dt0gnMjwh7TkKw/s200/Merino+Rose+Petal+edge.jpg" title="Side view shows the organic curve of an inverse slip stitch" width="198" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These rose petals have a natural <br />
curve, thanks to slip stitches.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Socks, hats, mittens, and bags as shapes for testing are certainly useful. They're also more time-consuming. So, I start with a heart or a flower swatch that shows promise, and then I try applying the shaping method to a sock heel, or toe, for example.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9OU0JldVY-mJMx0tSOEt8dCkgN2n0ooIBNrfcqlu60b-TY45GjgLDzDPOX2k9ClWVwO5iIVrHrVDgDBOR2tIse8g9jK7TVZ6y0Q8yuUUPkjYTt3WM_HpXSVeabYDcTL1C7DoyfQ/s1600/Miniature+Cashmere+Roses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Miniature Cashmere Roses, just in time for the Fall floral fashion trend." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9OU0JldVY-mJMx0tSOEt8dCkgN2n0ooIBNrfcqlu60b-TY45GjgLDzDPOX2k9ClWVwO5iIVrHrVDgDBOR2tIse8g9jK7TVZ6y0Q8yuUUPkjYTt3WM_HpXSVeabYDcTL1C7DoyfQ/s1600/Miniature+Cashmere+Roses.jpg" title="Miniature Cashmere Roses" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miniature Cashmere Roses</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Right now I'm looking for the best class projects and swatches for students to experience. After that, I'll be able to turn some of the new designs for socks, hats and mittens into crochet patterns for my site. Flowers designs too.</span>Vashti Brahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439436949166577608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32092117.post-25966140009380284742013-05-30T15:12:00.000-05:002018-10-29T10:23:22.534-05:00New Spring and Summer Crochet Patterns<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Lots going on so I'm popping by to show you:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>A. </b>The view of red <b>bananas</b> and jumbo <b>frangipani</b> from the window of my sunny crochet studio:</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY74NoxfLCER7CKse77-_BKtapnQ15YzFyOAUAEkhxCX_jxyZ5kMORQ_6OfN1qLMr3Lm9v_obLUbCodutlMZlXVzpTfkOHEtySpu3Tw1NvTUBrPrCJveorMpcwR06zLlpVtGmqOQ/s1600/IMG_8567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY74NoxfLCER7CKse77-_BKtapnQ15YzFyOAUAEkhxCX_jxyZ5kMORQ_6OfN1qLMr3Lm9v_obLUbCodutlMZlXVzpTfkOHEtySpu3Tw1NvTUBrPrCJveorMpcwR06zLlpVtGmqOQ/s400/IMG_8567.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At left in the background is Frangipani.<i><b> <br />Omg it smells like vanilla cream pastry with jasmine candies! </b></i><br />See the stalk of new bananas in the foreground to the right, <br />just above the giant red banana flower? (That's a banana leaf <br />in the upper left corner, and a small mango <br />behind the tip of the banana flower)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirYWC7vucOjZiqxGJMZ3KxePADJDKz216P3tb5I_XYzTqMvvHAAKO7PFlbkWzwvDzpSsBE52_N8u7P7mSI55JRVd3CxCoy0Sh7kXpvseMWXdxekiPdq0PEtABd6KLSWHG3EZC4eQ/s1600/IMG_8601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirYWC7vucOjZiqxGJMZ3KxePADJDKz216P3tb5I_XYzTqMvvHAAKO7PFlbkWzwvDzpSsBE52_N8u7P7mSI55JRVd3CxCoy0Sh7kXpvseMWXdxekiPdq0PEtABd6KLSWHG3EZC4eQ/s200/IMG_8601.jpg" width="146" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/fish-lips-scarf-shrug-love-knots/">Fish Lips Lace</a></b> in the process of <br />
becoming a pullover shrug. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzTF3WAaOAGHT59fz0DweAJOhkX0_J6j20rZnx6lyxSva-zOXzg0AmzVLgPNzKGTo5OMjcPiDxTiFKRZ59eiUWvVxWYe_jsE-0K0FfM42U7Q4-stDVZcTjDQ6_LzbREFtAAYCrg/s1600/IMG_8469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzTF3WAaOAGHT59fz0DweAJOhkX0_J6j20rZnx6lyxSva-zOXzg0AmzVLgPNzKGTo5OMjcPiDxTiFKRZ59eiUWvVxWYe_jsE-0K0FfM42U7Q4-stDVZcTjDQ6_LzbREFtAAYCrg/s320/IMG_8469.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/fish-lips-scarf-shrug-love-knots/"><b>Fish Lips</b>: The Scarf</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>B. Here's a heads up about my new crochet designs coming out in about a week! </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>On the indie front</b>, ol' <i><a href="https://designingvashti.com/" target="_blank">DesigningVashti</a></i>-Vashti is finalizing the oddly compelling <i><a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/fish-lips-scarf-shrug-love-knots/" target="_blank"><b>Fish Lips Lace Shrug</b></a></i> pattern pdf.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>C. </b>I'm also working on a pdf for the peculiarly pleasing <span style="font-style: italic;">Bare Bones Game Scarf Technique</span>. It'</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">s subterraneously related to Fish Lips</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">. Update! It became the <b><i><a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/crochet-color-playbook-set/">Crochet to the Color Playbook</a></i></b>!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Look at how a hand dyed yarn rises to the Bare Bones challenge, below! It's a <span style="text-align: center;">custom colorway created by </span><a href="http://www.lornaslaces.net/colors.html" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Lorna's Laces</a><span style="text-align: center;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">for </span><a href="http://www.agoodyarnsarasota.com/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;" target="_blank">my local yarn shop</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAbTuO5-tyQUZcVuaeZ2d0tszlaXXfYKmDVIo_vTNuxgbx0lxUhkWZX8ELj9vxYHGi-VDiwjtOal5RQlc6igcrvhecQG0SCJahKlgUHIBEvRWmufKa8OxVoBbjAH1iUgzRElbGtA/s1600/Bare+Bones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAbTuO5-tyQUZcVuaeZ2d0tszlaXXfYKmDVIo_vTNuxgbx0lxUhkWZX8ELj9vxYHGi-VDiwjtOal5RQlc6igcrvhecQG0SCJahKlgUHIBEvRWmufKa8OxVoBbjAH1iUgzRElbGtA/s200/Bare+Bones.jpg" width="160" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The <b><a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/crochet-color-playbook-set/" target="_blank">Bare Bones Game</a></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhumB5aipcxJOl6wKU6DIvtPh-QfAZSR8vdliKTZSSThWXUNsc4lyndJLAkM82sh0y6MVR1hg7O2WIezZeVPTXKKY4UqssHdITebcyRgPVR2IfHP00VMn8CV9oCse6cCBp_Uey0Fg/s1600/IMG_8002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhumB5aipcxJOl6wKU6DIvtPh-QfAZSR8vdliKTZSSThWXUNsc4lyndJLAkM82sh0y6MVR1hg7O2WIezZeVPTXKKY4UqssHdITebcyRgPVR2IfHP00VMn8CV9oCse6cCBp_Uey0Fg/s200/IMG_8002.jpg" width="170" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/ennis-revelation/" target="_blank"><b>Ennis</b> Tunisian Filet Shawl</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>D. Lots of Vashti in the summer issue of <i>Interweave Crochet</i> magazine!</b> I can blog about it now that previews are up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Magazine copies are officially available on newsstands on June 17, but I think they get mailed out to subscribers before then; also, you can </span><a href="http://www.interweavestore.com/crochet-summer-2013-digital-edition" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">instantly download the digital edition</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHWgmnre6m9RtkVRMioTDRl263Zzrod6Ql6N-CpW43-Au0W-C9ysJ7kp6jAnvbsR-rS-0BucT5QXYXrIbIj5c9LTE2SJPyd3JbWSCeNokR1cgx3zyj-RxBvMK-RLv5UAi1utUog/s1600/IMG_8064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHWgmnre6m9RtkVRMioTDRl263Zzrod6Ql6N-CpW43-Au0W-C9ysJ7kp6jAnvbsR-rS-0BucT5QXYXrIbIj5c9LTE2SJPyd3JbWSCeNokR1cgx3zyj-RxBvMK-RLv5UAi1utUog/s200/IMG_8064.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sister Act</b> seamed as a cutaway shrug</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>First, <i><a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/ennis-revelation/" target="_blank">Ennis</a></i></b></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">: it's a triangular <a href="https://designingvashti.com/?s=tunisian+filet">Tunisian filet lace</a> shawl in summery SWTC Bamboo yarn. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Then, <a href="https://designingvashti.com/product-tag/love-knots-solomons-knot/">love knots galore</a>! </b><b><i><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sister-act-shawl-and-shrug" target="_blank">Sister Act</a> </i></b></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">is a shawl that easily converts to a bolero-style shrug. I used a vintage love knot pattern for it.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> See it in lustrous white: earlier </span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://ravel.me/vashtirama/373dm" target="_blank">Sister Act</a></i></b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://ravel.me/vashtirama/373dm" target="_blank"> prototype called "Palestrina Convertible</a>."</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7htjNkNUmLekWFHdv1upyuLj27U3pDCsi4uMh44cPO7pIKt85Y8KIHu3V93ytMs8PEOhI6XrOXF4Sv0A9mxayyjwxEEzlynUObJgMmlVpQRMjR7Khvy6PC5MoTCHNVe6iOozew/s1600/IMG_7271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7htjNkNUmLekWFHdv1upyuLj27U3pDCsi4uMh44cPO7pIKt85Y8KIHu3V93ytMs8PEOhI6XrOXF4Sv0A9mxayyjwxEEzlynUObJgMmlVpQRMjR7Khvy6PC5MoTCHNVe6iOozew/s320/IMG_7271.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>-: <i><a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/electra-wrap-love-knots/" target="_blank">Electra Wrap</a> </i>:-</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i><a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/electra-wrap-love-knots/" target="_blank">Electra Wrap</a> </i></b></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">is a <a href="https://designingvashti.com/electra-wrap-love-knot-pattern/" target="_blank">gossamer quilt of love knot stars</a>! Yes! </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I've uploaded <i>some</i> of the photos to </span><a href="https://flic.kr/s/aHsjZRcwA3" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Electra's Flickr set</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> so far. Here's <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/electra-wrap-starry-love-knot-mesh" target="_blank">Electra Wrap Ravelry page</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The three-piece beaded love knot ensemble of <b><i><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dragonfly-cord" target="_blank">Dragonfly</a></i></b>, <b><i><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/seagrape-cord-anklet" target="_blank">Seagrapes</a></i></b>, and <b><i><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sambuca-cord-necklace" target="_blank">Sambuca</a></i></b> <b><i>Cords</i></b> have a special purpose. <i>They illustrate three valuable ways to crochet beads into love knots as you go</i>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">These three jewelry patterns accompany the love knot article I wrote for the issue: "Beyond the Basics: Crochet Amore." When you see that article, you'll see why I <a href="https://designingvashti.com/learn/vashti-crochet-classes/" target="_blank">love to teach love knot classes</a>, AND why I love to use love knots when demonstrating all the ways to add beads to any crochet stitches!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiFqr0Opv60u5rLtcrrSOd7KiGtUcbH1Rm-h5pJcHvfRFA7Ti5-VI-5Nd6Z-GuyW0n8H23V_4750GGSwqzY1qXqgPr9la8gFSL3WyVnt6XtJyHmXagAOPoisUOFS4mJskibBpUeQ/s1600/IMG_8113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiFqr0Opv60u5rLtcrrSOd7KiGtUcbH1Rm-h5pJcHvfRFA7Ti5-VI-5Nd6Z-GuyW0n8H23V_4750GGSwqzY1qXqgPr9la8gFSL3WyVnt6XtJyHmXagAOPoisUOFS4mJskibBpUeQ/s320/IMG_8113.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Amores: <b>Dragonfly</b>, <b>Seagrapes</b>, <b>Sambuca</b> Cords</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Want to see a close up of the frangipani flowers? <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/discuss/vashtis-crochet-lounge/2568994/126-150#142" target="_blank">I posted one of my early morning pics in my NEW RAVELRY GROUP</a>. It's in honor of birthday girl <i>cleverbritches, </i>who founded the group just a few weeks ago. I hope you will <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/groups/vashtis-crochet-lounge" target="_blank">join and say hello</a> (or <i>Happy Birthday</i>) if you visit.</span>Vashti Brahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439436949166577608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32092117.post-34371854130984243382013-02-17T11:34:00.001-05:002018-10-29T10:51:57.112-05:00About That Rivuline Shawl Tunisian Crochet Stitch Pattern<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMlK5Nt09HwyKdzX0xs81U-CGyIDREkNl6e-JDLQp1Pq_vd-YVfwQGK4oz_Fao6yK-1V5JFTZ7guoHwPtEGykElD5DP3hPlu0YcbNc6122lDQCTXq0cIvRvV5kNCHUXNf16Nwbg/s1600/8306.Tunisian%2520shawl_275.jpg-550x0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMlK5Nt09HwyKdzX0xs81U-CGyIDREkNl6e-JDLQp1Pq_vd-YVfwQGK4oz_Fao6yK-1V5JFTZ7guoHwPtEGykElD5DP3hPlu0YcbNc6122lDQCTXq0cIvRvV5kNCHUXNf16Nwbg/s1600/8306.Tunisian%2520shawl_275.jpg-550x0.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rivuline-shawl" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i>Rivuline Shawl</i></a> by Vashti Braha. <br />I used an H-8 (5 mm) Tunisian crochet hook <br />with Manos del Uruguay Serena <br />(sport weight alpaca-cotton blend).</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoxZF3icfyjpg-QtERFOCAmSVCRPaxu4BZDOWUI4M2DQQXlxeCBviG6p-H9GrhbVLTP5NeYVD4IqKGCYDjelx0mkp463XLbjEPRwmoNnla2zgQQptA6ZdkSJNE4p6ZWs7AZM7-Ww/s1600/DesigningVashti+Rivuline+belted+flash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoxZF3icfyjpg-QtERFOCAmSVCRPaxu4BZDOWUI4M2DQQXlxeCBviG6p-H9GrhbVLTP5NeYVD4IqKGCYDjelx0mkp463XLbjEPRwmoNnla2zgQQptA6ZdkSJNE4p6ZWs7AZM7-Ww/s320/DesigningVashti+Rivuline+belted+flash.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>I can finally SPILL the DEETS on the <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rivuline-shawl" target="_blank">RIVULINE</a>!</b> They concern two main things: a progressively trippy stitch pattern, and the nearly ONE HUNDRED <a href="https://flic.kr/s/aHsjuEdtvA" target="_blank">photos</a> I took of it. (The first photo at left is from the book. You should see how different it looks in <a href="http://ravel.me/vashtirama/rs" target="_blank">some of my pre-publication photos</a> below. Also a few of my GAZILLION swatch variations.) </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQDNJT-eBBHkS64K5YpMU0EqE4et0IRbehi5eMj026GDGeGBlaEc5CtTrrcy3HIH4ZKkuNWZJ78HTHNYJsDhVWEZagvj6LCO5cd_ufj2rcvONvZiCIXqws2V9ILyOrirmss9qoEw/s1600/DesigningVashti+Rivuline+Shoulder+border.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQDNJT-eBBHkS64K5YpMU0EqE4et0IRbehi5eMj026GDGeGBlaEc5CtTrrcy3HIH4ZKkuNWZJ78HTHNYJsDhVWEZagvj6LCO5cd_ufj2rcvONvZiCIXqws2V9ILyOrirmss9qoEw/s320/DesigningVashti+Rivuline+Shoulder+border.jpg" width="211" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I received a copy this week of Dora Ohrenstein's latest book, <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1596685530?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=1596685530&linkCode=xm2&tag=designi03-20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The New Tunisian Crochet: Contemporary Designs from Time-Honored Traditions</a>. </i></b>The <i>Rivuline Shawl</i> is a new crochet pattern that I designed for the book.</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To me now -- 2 years later! -- the Rivuline Shawl is a tactile record of my mind slowly being blown. </b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That's why I have to show you my own secret pics. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It turns out that <b><i>Rivuline</i></b> came packed with eurekas for my pre-Tunisian-freeforming brain. That swaggy border is 100% Tunisian crochet too. <b>Until <i>Rivuline</i>, <i>I didn't know Tunisian crochet could do that!</i></b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSFVlagVZ6nxNObWch1R7iuQp0e5QxIfztriTpRgbKbwLYXSadrD_9GHghVpOERCON_mDB4u4t19a_vANJuYxHSsNJyKC55fsTJEPNRMvso0wYnV40XuaQ2MvC5iNDkwFzgbxYdg/s1600/DesigningVashti+Petals+Prototype.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSFVlagVZ6nxNObWch1R7iuQp0e5QxIfztriTpRgbKbwLYXSadrD_9GHghVpOERCON_mDB4u4t19a_vANJuYxHSsNJyKC55fsTJEPNRMvso0wYnV40XuaQ2MvC5iNDkwFzgbxYdg/s320/DesigningVashti+Petals+Prototype.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like the stitch texture and color tone quality <br />
of this photo. You can see the birth of<i><b> <a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/petals-ring-scarf-offset-tunisian/" target="_blank">Petals</a></b></i> <br />
in this early <b><i>Rivuline</i></b> swatch!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It started with a </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">stitch pattern idea</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> that grabbed a hold of me back when </span><a href="http://crochetinsider.com/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Dora</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> visited me in December, 2010. </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Dora's visit turned out to be a big ol' Tunisian crochet PARTY.</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">She brought wondrous goodies: a Japanese collection of Tunisian crochet stitch patterns with the best collection of stitch symbols and diagrams I've ever seen; and a big stack of Duplet magazine back issues (half of which have cool Tunisian stuff in them).</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSxYtwDjpMElunGVM16ump2kZ7oGMVjqgh12a2JYo_p_gdY0jkJYYqy_6A7A6vgoK9lGMHGbgs9V0w7RVfCI9x0WNLkrpgn5NnhFhJCrz0Ahx9bFFV257MzJLaUDZrpvQobInNwA/s1600/Wmk07.IMG_5412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSxYtwDjpMElunGVM16ump2kZ7oGMVjqgh12a2JYo_p_gdY0jkJYYqy_6A7A6vgoK9lGMHGbgs9V0w7RVfCI9x0WNLkrpgn5NnhFhJCrz0Ahx9bFFV257MzJLaUDZrpvQobInNwA/s320/Wmk07.IMG_5412.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/petals-ring-scarf-offset-tunisian/" target="_blank"><i><b>Petals</b></i> Cowl/Ring Scarf</a>: <br />
Cashmere and silk 'offset Rivuline' and a beaded seam.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Witness the <a href="http://eepurl.com/e7ajk" target="_blank">"Tunisian and Regular Crochet Visit a Hall of Mirrors!"</a> newsletter issue that welled up a few months later</b>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXBO7w_jRz0DI7UU774rEC4rUV2wD2FnWYe6qMJdLOcbxB0TtQBYaWBuF7m1xCU_fDt5CIuJbsHwy9fxNxZeYpVsnDLp57QRiCg5IZZJOqei0GsbwCW8DUG9cO5HxJDIemkORsPw/s1600/DesigningVashti+Rivuline+Prototype+grey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXBO7w_jRz0DI7UU774rEC4rUV2wD2FnWYe6qMJdLOcbxB0TtQBYaWBuF7m1xCU_fDt5CIuJbsHwy9fxNxZeYpVsnDLp57QRiCg5IZZJOqei0GsbwCW8DUG9cO5HxJDIemkORsPw/s200/DesigningVashti+Rivuline+Prototype+grey.jpg" width="156" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Rivuline stitch variation <br />
and alternate yarn test.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That newsletter topic is really about <b><i>Rivuline</i></b>, but I couldn't say so. Instead I show <b><i><a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/petals-ring-scarf-offset-tunisian/" target="_blank">Petals</a></i></b>, its offset beaded cowl version. A few months later, <b><i>Rivuline</i></b> caused one of my all-time favorite designs to happen: the Tunisian Filet <i><b><a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/aero-tunisian-crochet-filet-wrap/" target="_blank"><span id="goog_2007900326"></span>Aero<span id="goog_2007900327"></span></a></b></i>.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Part of the reason I took so many photos is that </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I had trouble objectively evaluating them. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Looking back, I now know why: </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">the stitch experiment was a groundbreaking experience for me of Tunisian crochet. (</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">At the same time, I was finding out how different fibers in pink tones are affected by any little change in light source and angle.) </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbPhzNftOe3x-DpvL1VDqTeKAHvgPTrXs3JNmLJXrc43qPaFB_zh5S7bbniXXQ1gQQg5v6nLpCucfitxK_1nYAS-ESPR9-Vyhc_Lg_tLTJl8Me65fB4b_Vbw7iRVpCngbS8cf4LA/s1600/DesigningVashti+Bowtie+Swatches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbPhzNftOe3x-DpvL1VDqTeKAHvgPTrXs3JNmLJXrc43qPaFB_zh5S7bbniXXQ1gQQg5v6nLpCucfitxK_1nYAS-ESPR9-Vyhc_Lg_tLTJl8Me65fB4b_Vbw7iRVpCngbS8cf4LA/s400/DesigningVashti+Bowtie+Swatches.jpg" width="288" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swatching for early Rivulines in cotton, milk fiber, <br />
silk, mohair, merino, Icelandic lace wt wool...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Notice how the textures of the stitch pattern looks so different in the photos. So does the yarn color. (I remember this driving me crazy! And the emails to Dora: "Does _ or _ come across in this photo? How about this one?") </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For many more photos, also see the <a href="https://flic.kr/s/aHsjuxP5xc" target="_blank"><b>Petals photo album</b></a>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I eventually got a hold of a copy of the Japanese book Dora showed me. That inspired <a href="http://eepurl.com/clprb" target="_blank">issue #10, "Tunisian Crochet: Breaking Out of Ruts"</a> of my<i> <a href="https://designingvashti.com/newsletter/" target="_blank">Crochet Inspirations Newsletter</a>.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i></i></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxkQmkn8TyVzwEhWwJxWi8dBYvmb0ie_DzHbQU8UIjevmZAldXZYSlUDmq8VPmBOJpmLphzA6kIw6HX09LvLoXmt6Fq8kvyTghbyXv5Dn7tlBDFXX6PAC7oVw5XyTFJODoQYkZyw/s1600/Dora+Tunisian+book+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The New Tunisian Crochet by Dora Ohrenstein ©2013. Interweave Press." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxkQmkn8TyVzwEhWwJxWi8dBYvmb0ie_DzHbQU8UIjevmZAldXZYSlUDmq8VPmBOJpmLphzA6kIw6HX09LvLoXmt6Fq8kvyTghbyXv5Dn7tlBDFXX6PAC7oVw5XyTFJODoQYkZyw/s1600/Dora+Tunisian+book+cover.jpg" title="Book Cover of The New Tunisian Crochet" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Book cover of </span><br />
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1596685530?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=1596685530&linkCode=xm2&tag=designi03-20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The New Tunisian Crochet</a></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">By the way, <b><i>Rivuline</i></b> may look like </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">traditional rectangular stole construction, design-wise. In reality, the border is a gradual variation of its stitch pattern. This way, a crocheter who's new to this way doing Tunisian crochet has a chance to get used to it before the variations of it begin. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Another invisible design feature is that <b>the foundation chain is disguised</b> as a Tunisian Purl Stitch row. This was another discovery for me, which I then used for the seam of the Petals loop scarf/cowl, with beads for fun.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
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</div>
Vashti Brahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439436949166577608noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32092117.post-992921122196113402013-01-22T15:16:00.000-05:002018-10-29T11:00:42.177-05:00My Crochet Pattern Companion Blog: What Happened!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ip8JW-kVt6bcyHupGJ3_WAjn9Sr_EAxMP8Om5gx9SlEN9LQXQHyzs92LLL79d1PbRtwuGfaTThZYG2ZZSnUqZxTsTIpmZ-yqoSNhPYIO-A4R4cO03rVKZdXyWyX0531Y_AewCQ/s1600/Alpaca+Emmy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ip8JW-kVt6bcyHupGJ3_WAjn9Sr_EAxMP8Om5gx9SlEN9LQXQHyzs92LLL79d1PbRtwuGfaTThZYG2ZZSnUqZxTsTIpmZ-yqoSNhPYIO-A4R4cO03rVKZdXyWyX0531Y_AewCQ/s320/Alpaca+Emmy.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's a happier topic: <br />
<i>Kisses from young alpacas are buttery-soft. </i>An amazing memory<br />
from October 2012 when I led a crochet retreat in Illinois.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: red; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>UPDATE</b>: the <i><a href="http://crochetpatterncompanion.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b>CPC</b> blog</a></i> is fixed! Google confirmed that it's clean. It's loading faster too. </span><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">It was a sidebar widget that affected several blogs.</span><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">-:-----:-</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Just after New Year's Day 2013, a bad thing happened to a good blog. <i>NOT the blog you're reading right now and NOT my Crochet Inspirations Newsletter</i>. It's one of my other crochet blogs. A skilled malicious person <i>haacked</i>* into the <b><i>Crochet Pattern Companion</i></b> blog. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">*Take out the extra "a" in <i>haacked</i>. I'm using this spelling to avoid suggesting to bots that it happened to this blog. It also entertains me how close it is to the <b>Dutch word for crochet, <i>Haak.</i></b> (Little things like this lift my spirits. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">So does the photo of sweet alpaca kisses.)</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOYIj-Dd7aOjBSoEHULimkhjXRRckWWtxqo6WurAmHlbQDquxV5wr8rzsBB1OPwmjxZ6j7_eWKmAfSqlKBjtDQC90ks5zxYL-gq_xu2N2EdnkedltK8I4GFRMw5X3FJ3gLc19Nw/s1600/3+Slim+Fndns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOYIj-Dd7aOjBSoEHULimkhjXRRckWWtxqo6WurAmHlbQDquxV5wr8rzsBB1OPwmjxZ6j7_eWKmAfSqlKBjtDQC90ks5zxYL-gq_xu2N2EdnkedltK8I4GFRMw5X3FJ3gLc19Nw/s1600/3+Slim+Fndns.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><b>The heck!? This <i>haak</i> got </b><i><b>haacked</b>: </i>"Which <br />
Foundation Stitch?" See<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vashtirama/sets/72157626586736003/detail/" target="_blank"> it in Flickr</a>.<br />
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<div>
<a href="http://www.designingvashti.com/blog/vashtiblog.html" target="_blank"></a></div>
<a href="http://www.designingvashti.com/blog/vashtiblog.html" target="_blank"></a></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Turns out it's a blessing in disguise for all of us! </b>Mean people don't get to win in my crochet universe. So, <i>new free crochet patterns</i> (more on this below). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's possible that this was a random (and <i>skillful</i>) drive-by shooting at a...crochet blog...that's about...nuts 'n bolts stuff. Um, really? Of all blogs? I've got an older crochet blog about crochet for boys (and gamers) that attracts a constant stream of <i>spaam</i>. It's easy to keep that blog clean, though, because the garden-variety <i>attaacks</i> are truly meaningless and sloppy--NOT skillful. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>The crochet tutorial posts at the <i>CPC</i> blog were going viral in Pinterest.</b> Pinterest is a hot site right now for both <i>haakers</i> (<a href="http://pinterest.com/vashtibraha/" target="_blank">see all my crochet pin boards</a>!) and...<i>haackers</i>. Pinterest was sending lots of people to <b><i>CPC</i></b>. I heard from them the minute the blog got <i>hijaacked</i>.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWvCjIqoljp-ZbuOo-j85noSeyM49N13oWQ1VJZoF-sy_8IAq7zUc-H_32LzeR4xn3ZpKu-DkvuhiTvoHZ6aqY2QKjAwGtyjzW7QRovh-vHEe94ixdINBncZqDrvaNZMG3bo2R0w/s1600/5+Pull+up+loop+in+2nd+ch+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWvCjIqoljp-ZbuOo-j85noSeyM49N13oWQ1VJZoF-sy_8IAq7zUc-H_32LzeR4xn3ZpKu-DkvuhiTvoHZ6aqY2QKjAwGtyjzW7QRovh-vHEe94ixdINBncZqDrvaNZMG3bo2R0w/s320/5+Pull+up+loop+in+2nd+ch+-+Version+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See the newsletter issue:<br />
"<a href="http://eepurl.com/fjPNs" target="_blank">Favorite Tweaks for Tall Stitch Row Edges</a>"<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vashtirama/sets/72157627426553016/detail/" target="_blank">Photos for this popular <b><i>CPC</i></b> blog post</a>: "Try a Linked Stitch<br />
to Close the Gap Between a Turning Chain<br />
and Double Crochet."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Isn't it supposed to be awesome if your blog posts go viral? If they become a target of mean people, I guess it's flattering, but it sure turns the success into a mixed blessing. I can decode a crochet pattern, NOT computer code. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's bewildering. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I <b><i>can</i></b> turn blog posts into lovely free downloadable pattern PDFs, and how-to crochet e-booklets, and store them in safer places. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">While I'm busy converting <b><i>CPC</i></b> posts to PDFs, you can visit some Flickr crochet tutorial albums that I used as back ups for some of the blog posts:</span><br />
<div style="font-family: arial;">
<b><br /></b>
<b>Slip stitch short rows, </b><b><span style="background-color: yellow;">NEW free pdf version</span>:<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/slip-slope-crochet-scarf-slip-stitch-short-rows/">https://designingvashti.com/product/slip-slope-crochet-scarf-slip-stitch-short-rows/</a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vashtirama/sets/72157627962438494/detail/" target="_blank">http://www.flickr.com/photos/<wbr></wbr>vashtirama/sets/<wbr></wbr>72157627962438494/detail/</a><br />
You might like the newsletter issue about this tutorial, "<a href="http://eepurl.com/gzH9j" target="_blank">Short Row Startle</a>."</div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: arial;">
<div>
<b>Which Foundation Stitch?:</b></div>
<div style="font-family: Times;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vashtirama/sets/72157626586736003/detail/" style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;" target="_blank">http://www.flickr.com/photos/<wbr></wbr>vashtirama/sets/<wbr></wbr>72157626586736003/detail/</a></div>
<div style="font-size: small;">
<div>
<a href="http://www.designingvashti.com/blog/vashtiblog.html" target="_blank"></a></div>
<a href="http://www.designingvashti.com/blog/vashtiblog.html" target="_blank"></a></div>
<div style="font-size: small;">
<br /></div>
<b>Linked turning chain alternative (for dc etc):</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vashtirama/sets/72157627426553016/detail/" target="_blank">http://www.flickr.com/photos/<wbr></wbr>vashtirama/sets/<wbr></wbr>72157627426553016/detail/</a></div>
Vashti Brahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439436949166577608noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32092117.post-67675082181080438912012-11-16T15:53:00.000-05:002013-01-22T16:59:31.161-05:00Hurricane Sandy Relief, Crochet Style<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Please help my designer pal Amie Hirtes of Nexstitch help rebuild her Jersey shore communities by donating to the causes she blogged about </span><a href="http://www.nexstitch.com/blog/?p=1642" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> and </span><a href="http://www.nexstitch.com/blog/?p=1656" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, and by </span><a href="http://www.nexstitch.com/blog/?p=1665" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">BUYING HER LOVELY CROCHET PATTERNS</a>. <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: center;">Amie publishes first-rate indie crochet patterns, so these patterns are collectibles (as well as easy to use). </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 17px; text-align: center;">She's donating 100% of pattern purchases to the Union Beach Memorial School’s Amazon Wishlist until November 30.</i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17px;">Her <a href="http://www.nexstitch.com/blog/?p=1642" target="_blank">blog post "Jersey Strong"</a> had me in tears. I know only <i>some</i> of what it's like to see my community ravaged by a hurricane. You feel like a refugee in your own country, and it's easy in weak moments to feel forgotten. Every waking moment goes by so slowly. But what Amie is going through in the wake of Hurricane Sandy is much worse. The images she is posting remind me of the devastation caused by monster hurricane Katrina, and Andrew before that. Andrew landed just south of where I was living at the time in Hollywood, FL and the destructive force I witnessed still haunts me.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17px;">Here's a photo from 2007 of Amie and me crocheting at 2 am in the Crochet Lounge, which was sponsored by the Tahki Stacy Charles yarn company during the Chain Link conference in Manchester, NH:</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd268RAQo2p0pP2ht4McN6_0fjAa7g6eecvFlDl7dEzX_knJfN5QHlZ3Vs6nvGChHa6GkWhZv6AX5hn877rEem9TWPnxhF8O9NLPI69XczE_G5Sq8tL86gQ0EAhxhVd_aQ060YXg/s1600/2114676541_0d7a5837d3_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd268RAQo2p0pP2ht4McN6_0fjAa7g6eecvFlDl7dEzX_knJfN5QHlZ3Vs6nvGChHa6GkWhZv6AX5hn877rEem9TWPnxhF8O9NLPI69XczE_G5Sq8tL86gQ0EAhxhVd_aQ060YXg/s320/2114676541_0d7a5837d3_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Vashti Brahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439436949166577608noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32092117.post-72092948903316669622012-09-23T11:26:00.001-05:002018-10-29T11:13:15.146-05:00Crochet in Reno: The CGOA Conference Sep. 12-16 2012<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2MbM8A3D91jfD0zgCpFFr8Kksv7wwf-jw5SxSd8ejkmKhaTarlmKZHGr4CC5x6voX9i6adg7X_XHm2e6_jouSDIp2w6UYkE0qnBd2H6FmSGuGDvnlSRmRSs8ZxeVgHCR6Hn-WGA/s1600/IMG_0326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2MbM8A3D91jfD0zgCpFFr8Kksv7wwf-jw5SxSd8ejkmKhaTarlmKZHGr4CC5x6voX9i6adg7X_XHm2e6_jouSDIp2w6UYkE0qnBd2H6FmSGuGDvnlSRmRSs8ZxeVgHCR6Hn-WGA/s400/IMG_0326.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">On the way to Reno from Lake Tahoe</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've blogged about several crochet conferences since starting this blog many years ago, so by now it feels like a ritual. It was a special conference and here are some highlights:</span></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Highlight of <b><i>teaching crochet</i></b> </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">in Reno: a surprise caramel mocha courtesy of new pal <a href="http://rememberingrowan.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Laurinda Reddig</a></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">!</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Highlight of teaching Tunisian crochet</span><span style="line-height: 18px;">: 3 BEGINNERS were able to keep up in an ADVANCED skill level class!</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Another highlight of teaching at Chain Link conference</span><span style="line-height: 18px;">: giving Superfine <a href="https://designingvashti.com/product-category/yarns-kits/jelly-yarn-complete-line/" target="_blank">Jelly Yarn®</a> to my </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">jewelry crochet students</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">...walking to Walmart in the Nevada sun with <a href="https://designingvashti.com/about/about-doris-chan/" target="_blank">Doris Chan</a> </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">to get last minute crochet </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">class supplies</span></span></li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCY2sbFmcWiVTXOY3sjDNgdO5GA8njSc-8gv4fzWreA17upqMgDv9Ops8KETcwDcd-9QpqbHvqj57Okn3YCW5H65bMNTcivFWWAKpWeDiJD4qkZ4euufOkaRpziUvdm9Nr4AhpTw/s1600/IMG_0338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCY2sbFmcWiVTXOY3sjDNgdO5GA8njSc-8gv4fzWreA17upqMgDv9Ops8KETcwDcd-9QpqbHvqj57Okn3YCW5H65bMNTcivFWWAKpWeDiJD4qkZ4euufOkaRpziUvdm9Nr4AhpTw/s400/IMG_0338.jpg" width="286" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://dorischancrochet.com/" target="_blank">Doris Chan</a> in her new crochet </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Star Trek dress</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">CGOA Crochet Design Booth</span></td></tr>
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br />...and seeing my pretty logo displayed in the CGOA teachers booth that Doris Chan </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">created.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Highlight of the Knit and Crochet Show <b><i>market</i></b></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">: The popular Crochet Liberation Front m</span><span style="line-height: 18px;">arket booth, and seeing Fearless L<span style="background-color: white;">eader Laurie after so long.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I bought reflective crochet-along filament</span><span style="line-height: 18px;">. Can you say...<a href="https://designingvashti.com/product-category/vashti-braha-crochet-patterns/crochet-jewelry/">jewelry</a>?</span></span></li>
<li><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQc0uvjeHE9lPGEBX3uSNNBXPR0cAudEyrCDNAWBcJf2T2bIe0KlInUHOQMvsHip2iSaXiHKXatPIM5XzOvWLkZRcLBjXaD58jHFEcF-phnIWUUvVk48nEWXiTNK7HOGcnXfpHw/s1600/IMG_0318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQc0uvjeHE9lPGEBX3uSNNBXPR0cAudEyrCDNAWBcJf2T2bIe0KlInUHOQMvsHip2iSaXiHKXatPIM5XzOvWLkZRcLBjXaD58jHFEcF-phnIWUUvVk48nEWXiTNK7HOGcnXfpHw/s400/IMG_0318.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">At Lake Tahoe with <a href="http://lindadeancrochet.com/" target="_blank">Linda Dean</a> (center),</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://margarethubertoriginals.com/" target="_blank">Margaret Hubert</a> (right)</span></td></tr>
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</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Highlight of Reno's </span><span style="line-height: 18px;"><b><i>Grand Sierra Resort</i></b>: so much free bottled water with electrolytes (especially in classrooms).</span></span></li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYaTOfgU5_RxGVV-2nRxwv3dC9DEsqeH6YEJnL3ky8pBV_TdwMsofqvEAapytT1BA8omIhbFxXqDEc8fQYqPiHPm7_25lL7WXRKYVKg3agYT_DlwCfbQlzIAWvk4acrIt3DvrpyA/s1600/IMG_0329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYaTOfgU5_RxGVV-2nRxwv3dC9DEsqeH6YEJnL3ky8pBV_TdwMsofqvEAapytT1BA8omIhbFxXqDEc8fQYqPiHPm7_25lL7WXRKYVKg3agYT_DlwCfbQlzIAWvk4acrIt3DvrpyA/s400/IMG_0329.jpg" width="307" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">On our way back from Lake Tahoe, had to </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">stop for more pics!</span></td></tr>
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</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Tip from Reno resident via <a href="http://www.jennykingdesigns.com/" target="_blank">Jenny King</a></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">: Salty food is your friend in Reno -- helps you deal with the altitude and dryness. IT ACTUALLY WORKED for me.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Turns out we were just getting warmed up!</span><span style="line-height: 18px;"> Dance Party </span><a class="twitter-timeline-link" data-pre-embedded="true" dir="ltr" href="http://t.co/TExSr7Sn" style="line-height: 18px; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">pic.twitter.com/TExSr7Sn</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">...sharing Mai tai drinks—the real and the fake—with <a href="http://hotlavacrochet.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Tammy Hildebrand</a> </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">and <a href="http://lindadeancrochet.com/" target="_blank">Linda Dean</a> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">...discussing brands of crochet </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">threads with <a href="http://www.crochetnbeads.com/" target="_blank">Kathryn White</a> and Kathie Earle. Yay threadies!</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">...seeing crochet free former and moderator Jorel again. We bonded in <a href="http://www.stitchdiva.com/" target="_blank">Stitchdiva</a> </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">Jen Hansen's broomstick lace class years ago.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">...a fresh ginger martini and Netflix advice with <a href="http://www.myrawood.com/" target="_blank">Myra Wood</a> </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">:)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...comparing with <a href="http://www.darlafanton.com/" target="_blank">Darla Fanton</a><span style="background-color: white;"> shades and amounts of the Newton's tencel-linen blend yarn that we both bought</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">...discussing with <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22193989@N00" target="_blank">Barbara Hynes</a> and <a href="http://mirtoolicrochet.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Mirtooli</a> how <a href="https://designingvashti.com/product-category/yarns-kits/jelly-yarn-complete-line/">Jelly </a></span><span style="line-height: 18px;"><a href="https://designingvashti.com/product-category/yarns-kits/jelly-yarn-complete-line/">Yarn®</a> is trippy bec one can see a stitch's *innards*</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...meeting crochet free formers Fermin and Mirtooli and getting swept along into the grand free form group dinner.</span></li>
<li><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmPxoCVYaFUEt5W66UPvj4BsqXpjhL1DwWQbc-MooJ4-gHf2DycpOHLksdDrE-7GAyxMu67vh9ej7eodjbNMSAHRCf18uKClyjsOAxCO7ff6N2Ms2tSXvf_jB0spLOfAL9wr7xg/s1600/IMG_0339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmPxoCVYaFUEt5W66UPvj4BsqXpjhL1DwWQbc-MooJ4-gHf2DycpOHLksdDrE-7GAyxMu67vh9ej7eodjbNMSAHRCf18uKClyjsOAxCO7ff6N2Ms2tSXvf_jB0spLOfAL9wr7xg/s400/IMG_0339.jpg" width="345" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Free formers rocked the fashion show</span><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> banquet</span></span></td></tr>
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">...coming home with a special copy of Laurinda Reddig's </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">new <b><i>Rowan's Learn to Crochet Sampler Afghan</i></b> book.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">...seeing <a href="http://www.gocrochet.com/" target="_blank">GoCrochet</a> Ellen Gormley </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">and her new Bruges lace crochet</span><span style="line-height: 18px;"> designs SHINE on the runway. Go Ellen!</span></span></li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbcoQkOui4TQfVSezDf6YLPydUu98mG7lfujAyOgLt9weJ0YqKygVhd9Z1AlwkT4p3S_-9kEw43d82GWawZGxwbFCSrdtgrnyvnXBZvHk07OI7ALbBrlziw2EMgQIJoquFMDXqoQ/s1600/EllenJennyVashti+Reno.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbcoQkOui4TQfVSezDf6YLPydUu98mG7lfujAyOgLt9weJ0YqKygVhd9Z1AlwkT4p3S_-9kEw43d82GWawZGxwbFCSrdtgrnyvnXBZvHk07OI7ALbBrlziw2EMgQIJoquFMDXqoQ/s400/EllenJennyVashti+Reno.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Photo ©Ellen Gormley 2012; L to R: Ellen, Jenny King, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Vashti, at dance party</span></td></tr>
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">...introducing two queens to each other: <a href="http://crochetliberationfront.com/" target="_blank">Crochet Liberation Front</a>'s </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">Fearless Leader Laurie Wheeler and CGOA president <a href="http://www.crochetville.org/" target="_blank">Amy Shelton of Crochetville</a></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I loved the abundant fresh fruit and coffee in the crochet lounge daily! BIG THANKS to <a href="http://www.redheart.com/" target="_blank">Red Heart Yarns</a> and Kathleen Sams.</span></li>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you're in <a href="https://twitter.com/vashtirama" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, an easy way to see what others have tweeted about the conference is to <a href="https://twitter.com/i/#!/search/?q=%23chainlink2012&src=hash" target="_blank">search the hashtag #chainlink2012</a> or <a href="https://twitter.com/i/#!/search/?q=%23knitandcrochetshow&src=typd" target="_blank">#knitandcrochetshow</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>-:---+---:-</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><b>The <i>June</i> Chain Link conference </b>was held in Manchester, New Hampshire this year. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<b>Coming up in 2013</b>, I have the months and cities handy for the summer and fall conferences: <b>Indianapolis, Indiana in July</b>, and <b>Charlotte, North Carolina in early October</b>. I'm already planning to attend the Charlotte conference.</span>Vashti Brahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439436949166577608noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32092117.post-46075694697162104292012-08-10T14:57:00.001-05:002018-10-29T11:54:59.039-05:00Photographing Beaded Crochet Jewelry<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFfDVuCHuHQm8at_gGXrKiyNNbv0U1WumjfCLPneVAufi0hK2qyVh9An1DWjCxNwJzgG7DYxnqwQXZjr2mFuq954eN_BnXLeu0acU-7wlNiqJYGBTzqjGPMxhuMjFdpps2QI-3w/s1600/Wmk09.IMG_7516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFfDVuCHuHQm8at_gGXrKiyNNbv0U1WumjfCLPneVAufi0hK2qyVh9An1DWjCxNwJzgG7DYxnqwQXZjr2mFuq954eN_BnXLeu0acU-7wlNiqJYGBTzqjGPMxhuMjFdpps2QI-3w/s200/Wmk09.IMG_7516.jpg" width="156" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ravel.me/vashtirama/nxkyi" target="_blank"><i><b>Bivector Bangle</b></i></a>, wide</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>I've been floating on a cloud about my <a href="https://designingvashti.com/last-minute-crochet-jewelry-gift-how-to/" target="_blank">beaded slip stitch crochet discoveries</a>.</b> Not only do the little beads settle in to their assigned seats neatly and without fuss, they do so while showing equally on both sides of crochet jewelry. Nary a strand of thread covers them! In person they're like <a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/candied-color-charms/" target="_blank">little stained glass candies</a>! (</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Usually, crocheting with beads causes them to show more on one side of a crochet stitch than the other.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>And so now to convey my discovery in photos...</b></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMfRHOqhquNSloQkI1DNJ8oOqexiqlXvhVFZVRhP6zXP0alqVtRS50BQCwqJ_qSwEimOa3BPWSuZJfTyqHuP0r5F40n6-JHUIftISRaypkDkttrL2L8cGIeUUiAdd5mREseXkw5g/s1600/Wmk10.IMG_7518.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMfRHOqhquNSloQkI1DNJ8oOqexiqlXvhVFZVRhP6zXP0alqVtRS50BQCwqJ_qSwEimOa3BPWSuZJfTyqHuP0r5F40n6-JHUIftISRaypkDkttrL2L8cGIeUUiAdd5mREseXkw5g/s320/Wmk10.IMG_7518.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How to show light <i>through</i> the beads, though?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hmm.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>How to photograph several bangles at different heights with light shining through them?</b> This is a different challenge from photographing a</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> crochet bathmat on a floor, a </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">shawl on a mannequin, or a toy. (see examples below)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After all the crochet photography I've done since going indie about 3 years ago, it occurred to me to blog about this only now. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Last week I created the </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">"</span><a href="https://designingvashti.com/crochet-newsletters-how-to-class-resources/" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank"><i>From Crochet Design Idea to Professional Proposal</i></a><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">" </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">handout for CGOA's </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.e-offinger.net/knitandcrochet/fall-classes.cfm#PDD" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-style: italic;" target="_blank">PD Day</a> </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">(Professional Development Day).</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> A designer's photography skills are now much more important than when I first started designing eight years ago.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKlic9EQCHzkVwtY18BvSwf79qVNRjO08KpEpdMKzktJkvUibhaVxLjMbXjXBoqqQZXrrFk8x2kDaOUrIbx0jWcLQoSGdiLsAhluNQQFrh1bvCv-_g3P9hrr9GoX88rVCJFY0LgA/s1600/Wmk16.IMG_7611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKlic9EQCHzkVwtY18BvSwf79qVNRjO08KpEpdMKzktJkvUibhaVxLjMbXjXBoqqQZXrrFk8x2kDaOUrIbx0jWcLQoSGdiLsAhluNQQFrh1bvCv-_g3P9hrr9GoX88rVCJFY0LgA/s320/Wmk16.IMG_7611.jpg" width="289" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Better, but I don't want to see only the inside.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I thought it was just me being picky about how my crochet looks in photos vs. in person, yet intimidated by my camera and photography jargon (as if others aren't). I thought I had to accept photography as part of the skill set needed for indie publishing (as if freelance designers for publications don't need it). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Knowing that <a href="http://www.dorischancrochet.com/" target="_blank"><i>Doris</i></a> has gone through a similar development, I then thought it was just us; but other designers are now blogging about their journey with crochet and knit photography.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Shocking to me is this new development: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">some editors seem to think the quality of a designer's photo can make or break the impact of a design submission</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. </span></b><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6rDd2mmSY_lg8hNH85nc0uaTlx6CO85avVEWRNbhTqF_SvxlZhZCyG8ue8mDI93IcjVwXy0NDvuoGLnKxVN485UJA4yzxCmbQtIg5KXG93PI-NMyS6jdFRHkHKe9jw8JxPzNfKw/s1600/Wmk1.3+Bivector+Bangles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6rDd2mmSY_lg8hNH85nc0uaTlx6CO85avVEWRNbhTqF_SvxlZhZCyG8ue8mDI93IcjVwXy0NDvuoGLnKxVN485UJA4yzxCmbQtIg5KXG93PI-NMyS6jdFRHkHKe9jw8JxPzNfKw/s400/Wmk1.3+Bivector+Bangles.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is one of 15 similar shots. Not bad. The beads look<br />
more lit up like they do in person.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This was not the case back when a sketch was the primary visual aid. The ability to capture a design feature in a photo should never be equated with the ability to design! <b>The two skills are radically different</b>. I'm </span><a href="https://designingvashti.com/crochet-newsletters-how-to-class-resources/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank"><i>posting links about this at my website</i></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> as part of my new <a href="https://designingvashti.com/?s=class+resources" target="_blank">crochet class resources archive</a>.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmnBytrHGFw4k2jE3aMTu9mCaBkQ5trZzuABpah5V5Q1KhPeiKc_WfW8Vq6THY0wPPqI2O-VovNWsdiwy-vFciuyu6I_0SjjHfNJS85T_HqDZdQmWCda9ks2C1-vK4ACxN6ah0SA/s1600/Wmk2.IMG_2509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmnBytrHGFw4k2jE3aMTu9mCaBkQ5trZzuABpah5V5Q1KhPeiKc_WfW8Vq6THY0wPPqI2O-VovNWsdiwy-vFciuyu6I_0SjjHfNJS85T_HqDZdQmWCda9ks2C1-vK4ACxN6ah0SA/s200/Wmk2.IMG_2509.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/thirsty-twists-crochet-bathmat/" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Thirsty Twists Bathmat</a><i><b>:</b> </i>I get a lot<br />
of compliments on this photo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The <a href="http://ravel.me/vashtirama/nxkyi" target="_blank">Bivector Bangles</a> photo shoot reminded me of my earlier travails with the two beaded rows of my Tunisian Petals ring scarf. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span>
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Case of the Beaded Tunisian Lace <a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/petals-ring-scarf-offset-tunisian/" target="_blank">Petals</a></span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Tunisian </span><a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/petals-ring-scarf-offset-tunisian/" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Petals</a><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> is a loop scarf design I released as a </span><a href="https://designingvashti.com/product-category/vashti-braha-crochet-patterns/tunisian-crochet/" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank"><i>Tunisian crochet lace pattern </i></a><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">in Spring, 2011. I used beads in only the final two Tunisian Purl rows. The pure cashmere yarn was a delicate shade of petal pink (a bit paler than in the photo above). The only beads that looked right were colorless iridescent size 6/0 seed beads a.k.a. "E-beads".</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlFVvU6noqu75NsabPFHTRkNU0MylO-kn20dgXZwlB1p7BGB6UiSzFpspp8Q3d1ljQj0nTmPaw3uRNzfVSKB88r0o_ffhJZxSjfUa5Bth3LLKcbz_KRPqkz10G6FNktOCHyvRqg/s1600/Wmk07.IMG_5412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlFVvU6noqu75NsabPFHTRkNU0MylO-kn20dgXZwlB1p7BGB6UiSzFpspp8Q3d1ljQj0nTmPaw3uRNzfVSKB88r0o_ffhJZxSjfUa5Bth3LLKcbz_KRPqkz10G6FNktOCHyvRqg/s400/Wmk07.IMG_5412.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/petals-ring-scarf-offset-tunisian/" target="_blank"><i>Tunisian Petals</i></a>: nice photo but where are the beads?<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<br /><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9sjE746bSq6dvTxYJ7gEImaPWvMn8JddC8yFe9SBSDEzgKNC4eyBedFP354TZ3kWvpxVkgZpTObYxMYjs35ZnwFEWN6yYgQgxcvWZaQHJbj0aqNuDxCD9SRBr8Qu-pvwWP3uu-A/s1600/Wmk06.IMG_5407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9sjE746bSq6dvTxYJ7gEImaPWvMn8JddC8yFe9SBSDEzgKNC4eyBedFP354TZ3kWvpxVkgZpTObYxMYjs35ZnwFEWN6yYgQgxcvWZaQHJbj0aqNuDxCD9SRBr8Qu-pvwWP3uu-A/s400/Wmk06.IMG_5407.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink is a bit intense, beads are finally iridescent. <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Stitches look stringy </span><br />
<b style="font-size: 12.8px;">because I sharpened the photo too much </b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">when editing it. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Sharpening can really bring out the beads</span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> but make stitches look "crispy." </span><br />
<b style="font-size: 12.8px;">Too much </b><b style="font-size: 12.8px;">contrast</b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> takes all the softness out of cashmere. Mohair too.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My other goal in adding these beads was to distract the eye from a seam there, and it succeeds! So how to convey this design feature in photos?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The whole effect is exquisite in person. I ended up taking 79 photos in every kind of lighting and arrangement, still unable to capture in a photo what I was seeing in person.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Well, the effect was too subtle for a rookie photographer like me. Basically, when the stitches look their best, or the yarn color, the beads don't, and vice versa. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>What I've learned since then:</b></span><br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I wouldn't try to make one photo capture everything equally well. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'd make better use of my macro lens to try to get a magical close up of the beaded feature. Perhaps create a montage photo of different views in one.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'd do an alternate swatch in a yarn of different fiber or plying or sheen. I'd use beads with silver- or gold-lined holes for sharper sparkles.</span></li>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_F8DnyFHz7XrsedDNsADYbXQMQgDpUHUwUzkg6UkRhPvsFLzqC4TuJ1EhZkVCWP1nk5SvARG9ONusVxctSYt029zNrL7mz2LnEkyHAljNN14qThXryvpk73SYy97Pluh-03dVyg/s1600/Lotus+Tunisian+Petals+600x800.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="812" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_F8DnyFHz7XrsedDNsADYbXQMQgDpUHUwUzkg6UkRhPvsFLzqC4TuJ1EhZkVCWP1nk5SvARG9ONusVxctSYt029zNrL7mz2LnEkyHAljNN14qThXryvpk73SYy97Pluh-03dVyg/s320/Lotus+Tunisian+Petals+600x800.png" width="236" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's <b><i><a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/petals-ring-scarf-offset-tunisian/" target="_blank">Petals</a></i></b> in the cooler colors of our <a href="https://designingvashti.com/product-category/yarns-kits/designingvashti-lotus-yarn/" target="_blank">new Lotus yarn</a>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It turns out that </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">photographing beaded crochet clothing is more like photographing crochet jewelry than non-beaded clothing</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. I've learned that these are different photography skill sets.</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Another thing I learned from comparing the Bivector shoot and the Petals shoot is about color. As a photography beginner, I'm better off when I avoid oranges, reds, and some pink yarns, in favor of greens, blues, and neutrals. This is because I often struggle to capture complete stitch definition in the red spectrum. Red <i><b>beads</b></i> sure glow, though! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Vashti Brahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439436949166577608noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32092117.post-2331688180872747732012-07-16T17:48:00.000-05:002018-10-29T12:11:51.286-05:00More About Crochet Kimono and Ruana Shapes<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBjGS-Dtl8pkOELIM2-deYJ4WhD0eeZsdHdQbmLHKoZWuMRGY9pGfKmQsJUv-Bn0bJ7hiYbnxu6gjrjzPJJlAW8sjVzA3vqh3-8QkV2ysVt2pqJvpscM1Sf1XyyO_O-3B_b0e6A/s1600/IMG_7504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBjGS-Dtl8pkOELIM2-deYJ4WhD0eeZsdHdQbmLHKoZWuMRGY9pGfKmQsJUv-Bn0bJ7hiYbnxu6gjrjzPJJlAW8sjVzA3vqh3-8QkV2ysVt2pqJvpscM1Sf1XyyO_O-3B_b0e6A/s320/IMG_7504.JPG" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kimono and ruana cartoons from my sketchbooks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have additional images left over from sending out a <i>Crochet Inspirations</i> newsletter a few days ago (<a href="http://t.co/tTkQqeU1" target="_blank">issue #41: Beachy Kimono and Ruana Shapes</a>). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Also, some diagrams in the newsletter were too small for some people's browsers, so I've reproduced higher-res images of them here. Just click on one to see it fully enlarged.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>The ease and versatility of kimono and ruana shapes for crochet </b>(as described in the newsletter) is <b>such a rich topic</b> that even the overflow from a newsletter issue is too much for a blog post!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZU8LcckwYHa9ZLQ2GvCJhEILsDlh5hyv3xjGkTp6_MnATibH8NNDhK1dPWqWyyAZ0BvUtipWYcKJ-9DQyWglqPBQViuh9gx5Cftiaewfe9YdZF39VsblrnB0I_0QrZ5GL_W-NPA/s1600/Alzannah+Vest-Wrap+600sq.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="877" data-original-width="833" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZU8LcckwYHa9ZLQ2GvCJhEILsDlh5hyv3xjGkTp6_MnATibH8NNDhK1dPWqWyyAZ0BvUtipWYcKJ-9DQyWglqPBQViuh9gx5Cftiaewfe9YdZF39VsblrnB0I_0QrZ5GL_W-NPA/s400/Alzannah+Vest-Wrap+600sq.png" width="377" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/alzannah-convertible-vest-wrap-ruana/" target="_blank">Alzannah</a></i></b> is a ruana.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The way these shapes <a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/alzannah-convertible-vest-wrap-ruana/" target="_blank">shift as they drape</a> around the remarkably complex 3D angles of the upper human body is almost alchemical. It took me years of designing, and seeing the same design on different people and in different kinds of yarns, to appreciate how just a slight change in the shape of the neck opening, for example, can create a different garment, or the look of a different decade.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In the cartoons below, compare the <i>seemingly</i> minor variations in front and neck opening shapes. These are only a fraction of the very meaningful variations possible with this shape.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Add to this that there are <b>several other versatile simple shapes that also underlie many seemingly complex garments</b>. I'm just mentioning this because today's blog topic is a mere taste of the cool stuff to consider when designing crochet clothing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here are images in the newsletter that some people had a hard time seeing clearly enough. I hope these help:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjwDsndahC47wN0yVPy2ndIthDrMRm_HU5ZvP5S-Ht3kuXEYYj2IY31DJMOiFxvSXXg9lj5oZo8PzOLaEwSAiBVadwevNv2P1co0l5EPWdssu6dMxggxjUuNgDcWVvogRjaLIh6w/s1600/IMG_7498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjwDsndahC47wN0yVPy2ndIthDrMRm_HU5ZvP5S-Ht3kuXEYYj2IY31DJMOiFxvSXXg9lj5oZo8PzOLaEwSAiBVadwevNv2P1co0l5EPWdssu6dMxggxjUuNgDcWVvogRjaLIh6w/s400/IMG_7498.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">See <a href="http://t.co/tTkQqeU1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">issue #41</a> for explanations of these two sets of 'cartoons'. R</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">emember that you can click on a photo to make it full size in all its </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">cartoony glory.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPmLymZU5aR5jLGsIC47eC4KUhTQXOyrUu2mkl-kQcfuWKUE0GDg2a909Dd_-YHGn5lmE8-Uo3Oy7_wPJcXAgwdlFG29TOngP-F2sUjjZI1tRCnr1PDQn1YYcUmciIIPstESnpQ/s1600/IMG_7498+-+Version+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPmLymZU5aR5jLGsIC47eC4KUhTQXOyrUu2mkl-kQcfuWKUE0GDg2a909Dd_-YHGn5lmE8-Uo3Oy7_wPJcXAgwdlFG29TOngP-F2sUjjZI1tRCnr1PDQn1YYcUmciIIPstESnpQ/s400/IMG_7498+-+Version+2.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You know what's funny to me? A few newsletter readers here and there have told me that <b>I give away too much information</b> in them. Sometimes I think it's from concern for my business and intellectual property, and I appreciate that, but I always see it as a good thing. GREAT, even. Can you imagine how awful the opposite would be?! (I can, because a few 'newsletters' I get are really just fancy advertising spam. They give <i>nothing</i>.)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfj-OH-4UAnDVkL4Gh9Jiihy0JE6zVL9fIuRTibzBcyTt-Qs_YGiE-eigr_v_oG0WKRTLqPv7yasNNgGpDTV2K5vqNkA4OGAYdmmvITHTXe2P0YGVibH0M8Ik0jb2kKg78j0g11Q/s1600/Minuet+Vest+600x800.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfj-OH-4UAnDVkL4Gh9Jiihy0JE6zVL9fIuRTibzBcyTt-Qs_YGiE-eigr_v_oG0WKRTLqPv7yasNNgGpDTV2K5vqNkA4OGAYdmmvITHTXe2P0YGVibH0M8Ik0jb2kKg78j0g11Q/s320/Minuet+Vest+600x800.png" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/minuet-vest-filet-crochet/" target="_blank">Minuet Vest</a></i></b> actually starts out as a ruana.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I can only ever fit into a newsletter issue, or a blog post, a <b>smidgeon</b> of all that I actually have on a topic. So to me, I barely give away anything--it just won't all fit! <span style="font-size: x-small;">(It means I need to start writing books.)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Schematics are powerful tools <i>if</i> you know how to use them.</b> It has taken me years--<i><b>years!</b></i>--to see everything there is to see in a schematic. For those readers who can get the most from one of the above cartoons, go for it! I'm not giving too much away; <b>you've earned it, </b>and your final design will be different from the ones I "see" when I look at these sketches.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Not only that, the schematics above are missing measurements. That's when the real work of using a schematic begins, anyway. For crocheters who are new to the powers of a schematic, I offer tips in the newsletter for starting out on your own <b>journey of gaining wisdom</b> about them. For example, use the schematics in the patterns you already own, and experiment with them for your own personal use. Try putting your foundation row along a different edge of the shape and see what you think. If you have store bought kimonos or ruanas, measure them and analyze what you like about them. <i><b>You will gain so much from this!</b></i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDhwKDJsJhR0JMgolp19qgjY7vWjlAgWX0RIxi11sGz95WTn3j65tupcIqZ3YS6HNAovbX8OTXLr8mmy3ozchC8YJlypzOK4YYO-JvUoYUrmvFASIal7c0EJ6nDIDRB4wh7i3KA/s1600/IMG_7499.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDhwKDJsJhR0JMgolp19qgjY7vWjlAgWX0RIxi11sGz95WTn3j65tupcIqZ3YS6HNAovbX8OTXLr8mmy3ozchC8YJlypzOK4YYO-JvUoYUrmvFASIal7c0EJ6nDIDRB4wh7i3KA/s400/IMG_7499.JPG" width="267" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">(I know it's faint, sorry. <br />It's even less clear if I darken it.)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">OK, that said, take a look at this hastily scribbled ruana schematic: it includes measurements! I drew it on scrap paper years ago when my dear friend was visiting. I remember loving the cut velvet wrap she wore. I knew that if I didn't also <i>measure</i> it, I might miss what gave it the compelling flair that it had.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Now here's an actionable, valuable schematic</b> because it has measurements. Am I giving away too much? I don't think so...heck, it doesn't even inspire me anymore! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Try as I might, <b><i>I no longer recall what the actual garment looked like. </i></b>I should have taken a photo or sketched its shape on Kalli while she wore it--<b><i>whatever it was that made me go to the hurried trouble to measure and sketch it at all.</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">See, over the years I've also learned what to include in a sketch to give its inspiration staying power.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But if this cartoon inspires you, great. I'm glad you got something out of visiting my blog today! If you crochet one, I'd love to see a picture.</span>Vashti Brahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439436949166577608noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32092117.post-20947713425389723242012-04-30T16:56:00.003-05:002012-05-02T13:55:39.684-05:00How a Calligraphy Passion Inspired "Lovepod" Love Knots<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX92w1oFTAm6SbOFqPbLhyphenhyphenoOWuVtFUYGhwj0Sd_POrMe_vSfEKcBp3EXGb_WG9E-GFjPoshAaX-STdCW3KDwcF85D5HwRNJbAaMWVITZd3DCdBwB4OL4Tqec4usdPUY4xR234GjQ/s1600/Calligraphy+card+etc+-+Version+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX92w1oFTAm6SbOFqPbLhyphenhyphenoOWuVtFUYGhwj0Sd_POrMe_vSfEKcBp3EXGb_WG9E-GFjPoshAaX-STdCW3KDwcF85D5HwRNJbAaMWVITZd3DCdBwB4OL4Tqec4usdPUY4xR234GjQ/s200/Calligraphy+card+etc+-+Version+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top half of my first business card</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I was a teenager some decades ago, I learned how to do calligraphy. The old-fashioned kind </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">appealed to me the most</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> -- gilded ornate first letters and flowery scripts. I learned about fine old parchments and vellums and 'aged' them with tinting. I even tried charring the paper edges.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAh2LyZcsqlwy_tWgOCUz8H0hhs_25qkpQJ2CdnN6DcWPuV0-ktyo0lIXznQV19rJNDAQqJTWQmV3v6JC99DdHMZWw14OLO4u2Cz6AHwX1ZqWYlxweY5mJZ80sBVHfRCtDKfuK7Q/s1600/Calligraphy+Sprigs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAh2LyZcsqlwy_tWgOCUz8H0hhs_25qkpQJ2CdnN6DcWPuV0-ktyo0lIXznQV19rJNDAQqJTWQmV3v6JC99DdHMZWw14OLO4u2Cz6AHwX1ZqWYlxweY5mJZ80sBVHfRCtDKfuK7Q/s400/Calligraphy+Sprigs.jpg" width="145" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lovepod inspiration</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNRmVuSQS4dsV_H4yMS1bO4o0ij5MwMWuBvfCWJ4Zj1wxd-oWAvfbk1ESI2EBkqY4cuorNIx8aV9usBQV3hAmwx3GtIhyQOyxFg2YKIk4m_FhIS4jCD1zUD8DSNbLrdJQeZp9axw/s1600/IMG_2299.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNRmVuSQS4dsV_H4yMS1bO4o0ij5MwMWuBvfCWJ4Zj1wxd-oWAvfbk1ESI2EBkqY4cuorNIx8aV9usBQV3hAmwx3GtIhyQOyxFg2YKIk4m_FhIS4jCD1zUD8DSNbLrdJQeZp9axw/s200/IMG_2299.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.shop.designingvashti.com/Lovepod-Boa-1456-N32407L.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">Lovepod Boa</span></a></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I loved calligraphy so much that my mother's friends paid me to "write pretty" on invitations and on framed parchment as gifts. More requests came from their friends of friends, and I soon had the start of a calligraphy business in my little midwestern town.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I moved to Seattle in my twenties, I worked first in a flower shop, then at a dessert cafe and catering company where my employers put my calligraphy to new uses.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQhsLWHoPESsW9viJY91GAmiFBIg5hTjngZw8y4SkRT56Wv2d0Kg9Q21oAByPNd3IdwiIdHU9gP7_3JWdsDktNLhjqVWKVn1NTS4XJ_BwTQfctlp5Bs-b0urO6L_3iiiHp4nZtQ/s1600/Calligraphy+FPDC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQhsLWHoPESsW9viJY91GAmiFBIg5hTjngZw8y4SkRT56Wv2d0Kg9Q21oAByPNd3IdwiIdHU9gP7_3JWdsDktNLhjqVWKVn1NTS4XJ_BwTQfctlp5Bs-b0urO6L_3iiiHp4nZtQ/s200/Calligraphy+FPDC.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1980's promo dessert price list</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I look back on it now, the spidery lines that I could make with fine pen tips and ink bottles felt a lot like crocheting lace with fine thread. Thinking about where to embellish lace with beads or special stitches is like adding little flourishes on and around formal lettering.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;">A big difference between crochet and calligraphy is that I can just rip out a faulty stitch, whereas with calligraphy, I often had to start over completely!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8vUiww4eo24wJ-8SU265k8XCELTo4Py9k73CKLGzkGOGk96ORmMZVCD4iTDjC5RxOt0o7_FAZnCZHLaqlgHg6i1ZbfAA2Y3-GgNlmSuV4tNXh5M0XoTYmctkpiwuwjoryCesPw/s1600/Palestrina+close+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8vUiww4eo24wJ-8SU265k8XCELTo4Py9k73CKLGzkGOGk96ORmMZVCD4iTDjC5RxOt0o7_FAZnCZHLaqlgHg6i1ZbfAA2Y3-GgNlmSuV4tNXh5M0XoTYmctkpiwuwjoryCesPw/s200/Palestrina+close+up.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">These love knots have something of a <br />botanical look too. <i><a href="http://ravel.me/vashtirama/373dm" target="_blank">Palestrina Lace</a></i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH6655X0U7nMWHXhpftrLB2XauCJqrjwVnIrNNMTjlwRFHnx1ADTnjYvZlZIuNuUvKxsM7aTv9IFhd-WZZNQFlRQnifVSlDRNj5rza66xI-CftCCXmh9Jr542CUQRbnacggf_sZA/s1600/Nakshatra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH6655X0U7nMWHXhpftrLB2XauCJqrjwVnIrNNMTjlwRFHnx1ADTnjYvZlZIuNuUvKxsM7aTv9IFhd-WZZNQFlRQnifVSlDRNj5rza66xI-CftCCXmh9Jr542CUQRbnacggf_sZA/s200/Nakshatra.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love Knot <i><a href="http://ravel.me/vashtirama/866sm" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">Nakshatra Wrap</span></a></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The reason my old calligraphy days have been on my mind lately is that I've been bringing together all of my crochet experiments and ideas for my upcoming <a href="http://www.e-offinger.net/knitandcrochet/summer-teachers.cfm#599454" target="_blank">Love Knot Adventures class</a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(Sorry--<span style="color: red;">that class just </span><i><span style="color: red;">sold out</span></i>. But here's the <a href="http://eepurl.com/kWHYr" target="_blank">recent newsletter issue I wrote on Love Knots</a>. See the image gallery links in it. Here's another link too, if you're a Ravelry member: I just created a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/vashtirama?set=love-knots&view=thumbnail" target="_blank">Love Knots-only category</a> of my Ravelry projects, which are the not-yet-published designs.)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKfj4T-EujLlq_5C-eGs3MnjyI7LIG73zSnb7i5djlmaPl5FO4vgb1VUN6I04hgNmX4E6rfb-BuBu9IyYHk46oXUogdyfhWocmAJaqZb5_X5EHjT6ESB_-FeZ0Uh_a2D_E6Q6VUA/s1600/Calligraphy+greenery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKfj4T-EujLlq_5C-eGs3MnjyI7LIG73zSnb7i5djlmaPl5FO4vgb1VUN6I04hgNmX4E6rfb-BuBu9IyYHk46oXUogdyfhWocmAJaqZb5_X5EHjT6ESB_-FeZ0Uh_a2D_E6Q6VUA/s400/Calligraphy+greenery.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my early calligraphy pieces</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Lovepod Boa is one of the first crochet designs that I was excited to publish myself. It was directly inspired by my favorite method of embellishing my calligraphy, especially the fancy initial letter: I loved adding leafy, budding vines and sprigs, and tinting them. Sometimes I gilded them with a bit of silver or gold, such as the "Irish Lullaby" title at right <span style="font-size: x-small;">(the entire poem is embellished like this!)</span>.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglvXWyb_cOP4qfaOr7ri2dbCf58hkvnxgco2Ir3QOhhUm8x-w8n9bdvdZx3fXHCC5789Zf-b8VDXMczZLIDcmrddG21Akrel4agN_hhYN16_NABgUIhK2ptKaMM0AjJlslJp0ihA/s1600/Love+Knot+flower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglvXWyb_cOP4qfaOr7ri2dbCf58hkvnxgco2Ir3QOhhUm8x-w8n9bdvdZx3fXHCC5789Zf-b8VDXMczZLIDcmrddG21Akrel4agN_hhYN16_NABgUIhK2ptKaMM0AjJlslJp0ihA/s200/Love+Knot+flower.jpg" width="181" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close up of Love Knot network</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAs75Cw1TIyyXGuXjqZmDMpc4Mi127Qh752XpL3vKjkoaH8vBcd_dv__eRVKLvN2vjKnUfLjXskb4A7ZwQMOo-pCYtRlNC6ffnM55fbogpFWI4Hhe09Cb2IaxZwSBPtbRgfzv_EA/s1600/Lovepods+Boa+IMG_2300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAs75Cw1TIyyXGuXjqZmDMpc4Mi127Qh752XpL3vKjkoaH8vBcd_dv__eRVKLvN2vjKnUfLjXskb4A7ZwQMOo-pCYtRlNC6ffnM55fbogpFWI4Hhe09Cb2IaxZwSBPtbRgfzv_EA/s200/Lovepods+Boa+IMG_2300.jpg" width="175" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lovepod Boa, 'gilded'</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I remember travelling to another place in my mind while I added these ethereal little sprigs and flowers. When I first crocheted love knots* with fine mohair yarn, the same daydream came over me again. The idea for the Lovepod Boa came from this place. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">*</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here's the usual string of alternate names for this stitch: <i>Lover's Knot, Solomon's Knot, King Solomon's Knot, Knot Stitch, Hail Stone Stitch</i>; in Portuguese <i>ponto segredo</i>). It's used in Turkish Oya crochet too, but I don't know what the stitch is called.</span><br />
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</div>Vashti Brahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439436949166577608noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32092117.post-30720370135819613152012-03-23T15:46:00.001-05:002018-12-17T08:45:37.583-05:00Crochet Jewelry Class: Resources<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Tomorrow I teach a class in Sarasota, Florida on crocheting jewelry--</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">a.k.a. "jewellry," "jewerly," "jewellery" and other favorite spellings :-)</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhif-bPKeG69I3a7FsGhuc0vJE-iDKh3Q8f8yojDoX-tw3WQ02kqCaZwElaxQ2Tf_acDqgx3K5yL6TGFDOarVfiGQJ6XgbND5KQSxbGHqSYQXDh7jYbthdT0mH_SsZr0Vays967Aw/s1600/IMG_6843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhif-bPKeG69I3a7FsGhuc0vJE-iDKh3Q8f8yojDoX-tw3WQ02kqCaZwElaxQ2Tf_acDqgx3K5yL6TGFDOarVfiGQJ6XgbND5KQSxbGHqSYQXDh7jYbthdT0mH_SsZr0Vays967Aw/s320/IMG_6843.JPG" width="296" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://ravel.me/vashtirama/k6emn" target="_blank">Love-Latches</a> (convertible crochet jewelry)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">For all of my crochet classes I include a page of resources in the handouts (helpful links, books that I recommend, etc.). However, my jewelry class handout is already several pages long due to</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> so many close-up photos</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The best class handout for jewelry crochet needs to show several close ups</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> of those precious little details and special crochet stitches that make crochet bracelets, necklaces, rings, brooches, and earrings so fun to make and give as gifts. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What to do? </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2OWOqFG05-P_7-VCxTBPrW5x3DZAPdhsaU0xnzG-PrsSjkRBkwiT4TkWSI1LSPKtBguMYsYy86ZLcmrQa7IEko6QyGrup3E-nJe_QwqGIUWEoWIZephwWhQplCcz-3WPPKLm7w/s1600/Irish+Pearlcords.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2OWOqFG05-P_7-VCxTBPrW5x3DZAPdhsaU0xnzG-PrsSjkRBkwiT4TkWSI1LSPKtBguMYsYy86ZLcmrQa7IEko6QyGrup3E-nJe_QwqGIUWEoWIZephwWhQplCcz-3WPPKLm7w/s200/Irish+Pearlcords.jpg" width="188" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/irish-pearl-knots-necklace--friendship-bracelets" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">Irish Pearls</span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Today I hit on a great idea: </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I'm going to post the Crochet Jewelry Class Resources list HERE IN THIS BLOG POST! <i>See below.</i> Cool idea, right? </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This way they're clickable URLs. Also, crocheters anywhere can refer to it, even if you can't attend the Sarasota crochet class tomorrow. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">(If you think you can attend, it will be held from 1 - 4 pm on March 24, 2012 at an <a href="http://www.agoodyarnsarasota.com/" target="_blank">easy-to-find yarn shop</a> on South Tamiami Trail called A Good Yarn.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">[<span style="color: red;">Hi, this is <a href="https://designingvashti.com/about/about-vashti-braha/" target="_blank">FutureVashti</a> from <b>2018</b></span>. <a href="https://designingvashti.com/?s=class+resources" target="_blank">See the class resources</a> for all of <a href="https://designingvashti.com/learn/vashti-crochet-classes/" target="_blank">my classes</a> at <a href="https://designingvashti.com/blog/" target="_blank">my new blog</a>!]</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">Crochet Jewelry Class: Resources</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>All class content ©Vashti Braha. Resources recommended for a three-hour class held March 24, 2012 at A Good Yarn yarn shop in Sarasota, Florida USA; and taught nationally at the CGOA Chain Link conference in Reno Nevada in 2012. Please <a href="https://designingvashti.com/crochet-jewelry-class-resources/" target="_blank">see this blog post also</a> for more crochet jewellery resources I like.</i></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNNGHCLPd5THd5Beek57on3bVPzwQOxUsXKHgAc70DlaRCg1Na6uk4Cc-bX6QtLbv3YtXx4796eNy4akZ4SDpRGunfUsDWLnCdtul2F0C73tOfgbpIG9zG-mBW7WnlN5TAlvooRw/s320/DV+Jewelry+Shop+Display.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="DesigningVashti.com Crochet Jewelry Patterns" width="212" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(This is what my <a href="https://designingvashti.com/product-category/vashti-braha-crochet-patterns/crochet-jewelry/">shop's crochet jewelry page</a><br />looked like in 2012!)</span></td></tr>
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<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://designingvashti.com/product-category/vashti-braha-crochet-patterns/crochet-jewelry/" target="_blank">My published Jewelry Crochet downloadable patterns</a></span></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Some of my <a href="https://designingvashti.com/product-category/vashti-braha-crochet-patterns/crochet-jewelry/" target="_blank">not-yet published Jewelry Crochet projects</a></span></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Crochet Inspirations</i> Newsletter Topics:</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Issue #43 "<a href="http://eepurl.com/nGAn1" target="_blank">Crocheting Pure Silver Wire</a>"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Issue #38 "<a href="http://eepurl.com/kjhLj" target="_blank">A Jewelry Experiment Method</a>"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Issue #17 "<a href="http://eepurl.com/dBav1" target="_blank">Fancy Cords in 360º</a>"</span></div>
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<span class="s3"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Issue #16 "<a href="http://eepurl.com/d1A6n" target="_blank">Flavor-Burst Crochet</a>" (Get jewelry effects with simple stitches) </span></span></div>
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<span class="s3"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Issue #8 "<a href="http://eepurl.com/bT2AL" target="_blank">Crochet's Commutative Property</a>" (Convertible crochet projects) </span></span></div>
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<span class="s3"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Issue #18 "<a href="http://eepurl.com/dO9Xw" target="_blank">Deep Crochet Research</a>" (Foundation Stitches)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="s3"><b>Blogged</b></span><span class="s5"><b>:</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"<a href="http://crochetpatterncompanion.blogspot.com/2012/01/how-to-crochet-spiky-puff-stitches.html" target="_blank">How to Crochet Spiky Puff Stitches</a>" (as used for Palmetto Cuff pattern; <i>with video</i>)</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"<a href="http://crochetpatterncompanion.blogspot.com/2011/05/how-to-make-bead-stringing-needle-why.html" target="_blank">How to Make a Bead-Stringing Needle (and Why)</a>" </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="s1"></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"<a href="http://crochetpatterncompanion.blogspot.com/2010/04/standard-necklace-lengths.html" target="_blank">Standard Necklace Lengths</a>" </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="s3"></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"<a href="http://crochetpatterncompanion.blogspot.com/2010/02/crochet-cords-for-pendants-happy.html" target="_blank">Crochet Cords for Pendants: Happy Pairings</a>" </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"<a href="http://crochetpatterncompanion.blogspot.com/2010/08/cotton-crochet-thread-sizes-equivalents.html" target="_blank">Cotton Crochet Thread Sizes and Equivalents</a>" </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="s3"></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"<a href="http://crochetpatterncompanion.blogspot.com/2010/07/choosing-cotton-thread-for-crochet.html" target="_blank">Choosing Cotton Thread for Crochet Jewelry</a>" </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="s3"></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"<a href="http://designingvashti.blogspot.com/2009/05/using-crochet-jewelry-with-wire-free.html" target="_blank">Using Crochet Jewelry With Wire Free Patterns</a>" </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="s3"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="s7">"<a href="http://designingvashti.blogspot.com/2011/04/poem-lariat-for-river-goddess-crochet.html" target="_blank">Poem-Lariat for a River Goddess</a>" </span><span class="s3">(Freeform <a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/trailing-vine-lariat-freeform-crochet/">Trailing Vine Lariat</a> design)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="s3"></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"<a href="http://designingvashti.blogspot.com/2008/04/jewelry-design-tips-bead-organization.html" target="_blank">Jewelry Design Tips</a>" </span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"<a href="http://designingvashti.blogspot.com/2012/08/photographing-beaded-crochet-jewelry.html" target="_blank">Photographing Beaded Crochet Jewelry</a>"</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Books I've consulted. The most recently published are listed first with short descriptions of the books I recommend and use the most & why: </b></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Click on a title to go to the book's Amazon page for more information.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2010. Ann Benson, <b style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1600593372/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=designi03-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1600593372" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tapestry Bead Crochet: Projects and Techniques</a></b>. Lark Crafts. <b>This is my favorite source for this specific type of bead crochet. Not only is it very inspirational for me, it also is written by someone who is obviously a good teacher. She even created many of the excellent illustrations.</b> Author's site: <a href="http://beadseast.com/">beadseast.com</a></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Sw5Ls-yjYjsV8pJkYxs_8itE8oajrAN3xLCP8SCbZPZnhsBzgVrbDS9v8qlyz0g35aMkSGIpmNabZq-_DBgz8SBwyucbwNaINIfmUF7SDREypho-mXWTCQ9fR4cPiPRI6L14rw/s1600/PHarste+bkcvr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Sw5Ls-yjYjsV8pJkYxs_8itE8oajrAN3xLCP8SCbZPZnhsBzgVrbDS9v8qlyz0g35aMkSGIpmNabZq-_DBgz8SBwyucbwNaINIfmUF7SDREypho-mXWTCQ9fR4cPiPRI6L14rw/s1600/PHarste+bkcvr.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2009. Pat Harste, <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933027770/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=designi03-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1933027770" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hooked on Jewelry</a></i></b>. Sixth and Spring Books. <b>This is my resource for how to use stylish and traditional metal jewelry findings with fiber crochet jewelry designs, and why I might want to. I usually prefer to crochet them, but this author uses them in such an inspiring way. I also love the way the book makes it clear and fun to learn about the jewelry tools and supplies.</b> Author's <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/designers/pat-harste" target="_blank">Ravelry page</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2007. Waejong Kim and Anna Pulvermakher, <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1596680350/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=designi03-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1596680350" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Crochet Jewelry</a></i></b>. Interweave Press. <b>This book combines a creative and exciting array of jewelry designs by several crochet designers. I use it as a resource of other designers' "lab notes" and results crocheting jewelry with eclectic materials. (Scroll halfway down through <a href="https://designingvashti.com/crochet-jewelry-class-resources/" target="_blank">my other blog post</a> for more on this.)</b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBBEXiw0kWC2dEDODAh0PuZHFl8ynK4CwExpSQsP2bAS25JjSBpP1G5aYsxwaKRdxx4F-G01YUCJ1nnv8Z1XBB_rDuDh73dapZamSmBoDNGNzdUNQIXShpyrWoaMnSP2jIudzctA/s1600/Lark+jewelry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBBEXiw0kWC2dEDODAh0PuZHFl8ynK4CwExpSQsP2bAS25JjSBpP1G5aYsxwaKRdxx4F-G01YUCJ1nnv8Z1XBB_rDuDh73dapZamSmBoDNGNzdUNQIXShpyrWoaMnSP2jIudzctA/s200/Lark+jewelry.jpg" width="199" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Size #20 crochet thread pendant cords; <br />
some are published in <i>Jewelry With a Hook</i>.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2007. Terry Taylor, <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1600594786/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=designi03-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1600594786" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jewelry With a Hook</a></i></b>. Lark. <b>Like the Waejong Kim book above, this book is a wide-ranging compilation of creative jewelry crochet designs and materials. So I use it foremost as a source for "lab notes" (how other designers combined eclectic materials). In addition, I like the "Crochet Basics" section at the back of the book.</b> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(I would still value this book the same way even if it didn't include four designs of my own.)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2006. Carol Ann Ventura, <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0972125329/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=designi03-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0972125329" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bead and Felted Tapestry Crochet</a></i></b>. Self published, ISBN 978-09721253-2-1. <b>Carol Ventura is the queen of tapestry crochet in crochet circles, and her self-published books are the next best thing to taking her classes at the CGOA conferences. The one I have includes sections specially for left handers, and for working flat vs. in the round. </b>Author's site: <a href="http://tapestrycrochet.com/">tapestrycrochet.com</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2005. Adele Rogers Recklies, <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0979164907/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=designi03-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0979164907" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bead Crochet Snakes: History and Technique</a></i></b>. <b>This book fascinates me. I had no idea of the history and art of <i>bead crochet ropes as snakes</i>. Beautiful examples.</b> Self published: Reckless Beading Press, ISBN 978-0-9791649-0-3. Author's site: <a href="http://beadcrochetsnakes.com/">beadcrochetsnakes.com</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2004. Bethany Barry, <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/193149942X/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=designi03-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=193149942X" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bead Crochet</a></i></b>. Interweave Press. <b>This book used to strike me as odd (like the Neiman book below), but not anymore, now that I understand the differences between beaded jewelry that happens to be crocheted, vs. crochet that is used for jewelry and that may include some beads. In other words, jewellery crocheting lies at an intersection of two industries: the crochet ('handknitting') yarn industry, and that of the beaders and other non-crochet jewelry making hobbies, like wirework/wire-wrapping, micro-macrame, etc. The basic materials, tools, and vocabulary can be very different. It's more obvious when you visit a bead shop and then a yarn shop; or the crochet aisle, then the jewelry aisle in a craft store! </b>Author's site: <a href="http://bethanybarry.com/">bethanybarry.com</a></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq4pwndGh19t7rmbZ7HkEE8L5pF7p9UMJbGgcjJZK66zKH-6Y9p0Nr1pUI6uLMR1VtVzbu2rzcHLfRTruR4iLtI2clCblsHuC23Kab4aoNB1uwP6VR3EHglUXGasZU2Y_BipUVkQ/s1600/LChin+bead+bkcvr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq4pwndGh19t7rmbZ7HkEE8L5pF7p9UMJbGgcjJZK66zKH-6Y9p0Nr1pUI6uLMR1VtVzbu2rzcHLfRTruR4iLtI2clCblsHuC23Kab4aoNB1uwP6VR3EHglUXGasZU2Y_BipUVkQ/s1600/LChin+bead+bkcvr.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2004. Lily Chin, <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1931499446/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=designi03-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1931499446" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Knit and Crochet with Beads</a></i></b>. Interweave Press. <b>A masterful reference especially for exploring the choices crocheters and knitters have when incorporating beads into several kinds of projects besides jewelry.</b> Author's site: <a href="http://lilychinsignaturecollection.com/">lilychinsignaturecollection.com</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2004. Sherri Haab, <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0823026019/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=designi03-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0823026019" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Designer Style Jewelry</a>.</i></b> Watson-Guptill. <b>I enjoy having this one on hand for the techniques I hope to try someday, for example, using resin to create pendants and charms, which would be easy to combine with crochet; or updated possibilities with that "ShrinkyDink®" material I LOVED as a kid. So it has a great list of suppliers at the back of the book.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2004. Mary Libby Neiman, <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1574215345/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=designi03-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1574215345" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bead Crochet Basics</a></i></b>. Design Originals booklet, ISBN 978-1-5742153-4-2. <b>This slim book is a good reference for me because I'm a newbie when it comes to a particular type of crochet jewelry: "beaded ropes" a.k.a. "tubular bead crochet." The idea is to see all seed beads, no crochet stitches. (Also see Ann Benson's <i>Tapestry Bead Crochet</i>, above.) Like I described Bethany Barry's <i>Bead Crochet</i> book above, this one used to confuse me as a crocheter. Part of the confusion is that both titles use "bead crochet" in a much more limited way than I would with the crocheters I know. Both also seem to be written by and for a general beading/bead shop audience rather than a crocheting audience.</b> Author's site: <a href="http://d-originals.com/">d-originals.com</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1997. Lydia F Borin, <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1891302019/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=designi03-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1891302019" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Beadwrangler’s Hands On Crochet with Beads and Fibers</a></i></b>. <b>I was happy when a copy of this book fell into my lap because I'd tried to locate a copy for several years, after learning so much about the topic at the author's site, below! </b>Self published: Lyden Enterprises, ISBN 1-891302-01-9. Author's site: <a href="http://beadwrangler.com/">beadwrangler.com</a></span>Vashti Brahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439436949166577608noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32092117.post-13724496235926369632012-02-20T18:46:00.001-05:002013-04-16T09:05:49.102-05:00Quick Update: Crochet Ribbing Comparisons & More<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheLpSDj2RVGoSOCtFibkbpR_2DbvU0T6jg2YvURJl0_bSy8n9d8Jj63-zWfgf9lVaL8ROKS0sgI6x3uEjbonW4wU5BhjrPccLgOZiTWPWmTMZNrlOydSOv_CmcSzm6fOayMQIQPg/s1600/BLsc+++BLss+6.5mm+ww-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheLpSDj2RVGoSOCtFibkbpR_2DbvU0T6jg2YvURJl0_bSy8n9d8Jj63-zWfgf9lVaL8ROKS0sgI6x3uEjbonW4wU5BhjrPccLgOZiTWPWmTMZNrlOydSOv_CmcSzm6fOayMQIQPg/s1600/BLsc+++BLss+6.5mm+ww-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheLpSDj2RVGoSOCtFibkbpR_2DbvU0T6jg2YvURJl0_bSy8n9d8Jj63-zWfgf9lVaL8ROKS0sgI6x3uEjbonW4wU5BhjrPccLgOZiTWPWmTMZNrlOydSOv_CmcSzm6fOayMQIQPg/s200/BLsc+++BLss+6.5mm+ww-2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="143" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Naturally biases! <br />Alternating rows of slip stitch <br />and single crochet.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6tKiQZsRTwbYz68ZplC3BvE0GvcMIz2MD12yc6G_C03pMVqo4T31OTQpUFz4sSUTNqUw6uOSjkgvufarmjt-K4RAtDtCcgxHoD8laJjOr-BnTFXXUyrLFPippCCPO9LtuPXR_hw/s1600/IMG_4178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6tKiQZsRTwbYz68ZplC3BvE0GvcMIz2MD12yc6G_C03pMVqo4T31OTQpUFz4sSUTNqUw6uOSjkgvufarmjt-K4RAtDtCcgxHoD8laJjOr-BnTFXXUyrLFPippCCPO9LtuPXR_hw/s200/IMG_4178.jpg" width="163" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hdc in lower third loop; <br />simply alternate the colors!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b>I'm buffing and polishing</b> this blog a bit. Isn't the new color scheme refreshing? It's as if I spritzed some tangerine-vanilla room spray.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i></i></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b>I'm also trying to figure out</b> how to reproduce my newsletters here. In the meantime I've created a special tab for them (see tabs above this post). Importing the content, especially with the newsletter columns preserved, is surprisingly complicated.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>So: </b><i><b>crochet ribbing</b></i>. I have more photos of ribbed crochet stitches that I didn't have room to include in the <a href="http://eepurl.com/i5wn9" target="_blank">latest <i>Crochet Inspirations</i> <i>Newsletter</i> issue (#36)</a>. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYc3Q5AJUEli2htjTKhVZX1yJuVBL5ivZYIh19jvrnsX-T7V0NjFA5W400z81rjWXu6zDWX7xfEXPxfOyjCiOujMoc0TjrGCeI3B4BWrwC2VyEtj4k4doUwbsmBgQIewyIyup6zQ/s1600/3rd+lp+hdc+++BLhdc+6.5mm+ww.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYc3Q5AJUEli2htjTKhVZX1yJuVBL5ivZYIh19jvrnsX-T7V0NjFA5W400z81rjWXu6zDWX7xfEXPxfOyjCiOujMoc0TjrGCeI3B4BWrwC2VyEtj4k4doUwbsmBgQIewyIyup6zQ/s200/3rd+lp+hdc+++BLhdc+6.5mm+ww.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another slanter. <br />Half double crochet (hdc; UK: htc <br />or htr) rows in different loops.<br />Good to know about ribbings that<br /> bias, no?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vashtirama/sets/72157629363536237/detail/" target="_blank">Here's the photo set</a> I've created for them so far. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8bZ7TQyqhFyVuJwvT8_QVPhoPUaB_-ZYlljpKlZHtRpBKDuOIWmyBQNqL-HvN7LaMD7isUd-AyJcSZ2eVoXBylSAedSq9ix0H7tvkYYC20Nz-gFx27tKXEqcgSSMxHnI7_V1Qpw/s1600/3rdlp+hdc+6.5mm+ww.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8bZ7TQyqhFyVuJwvT8_QVPhoPUaB_-ZYlljpKlZHtRpBKDuOIWmyBQNqL-HvN7LaMD7isUd-AyJcSZ2eVoXBylSAedSq9ix0H7tvkYYC20Nz-gFx27tKXEqcgSSMxHnI7_V1Qpw/s200/3rdlp+hdc+6.5mm+ww.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>UPDATE</b>: See the follow up newsletter issue <a href="http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=8d9b0b0df0b73f0fdcb7f4729&id=5d5334f6ff" target="_blank">#37: "<i>When Stitches Lean</i>."</a></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_fsVlUwvMSGW1b716mbI_oPrukDSgUFv_KWc99JVM-u6ZaqhUWYRFle0q8ieVs58bqKcviEEBHh_C81klCci8fielrXotdLMsS3MjsKPtwNJjxKUkqeNM7HMu3MIIFRDCvvn3tg/s1600/alpaca+ribbed+cuff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_fsVlUwvMSGW1b716mbI_oPrukDSgUFv_KWc99JVM-u6ZaqhUWYRFle0q8ieVs58bqKcviEEBHh_C81klCci8fielrXotdLMsS3MjsKPtwNJjxKUkqeNM7HMu3MIIFRDCvvn3tg/s400/alpaca+ribbed+cuff.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Isn't slip stitch ribbing amazing?</span></b></td></tr>
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Vashti Brahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439436949166577608noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32092117.post-49872199212231321072012-02-13T16:16:00.000-05:002012-02-13T16:16:46.646-05:00A Tunisian Crochet Tea Cosy/Tea Cozy with Insulating "Rimples"<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Tea cozies (in the UK: tea <i>cosies</i>) have been my constant companions as 2012 has gotten off to an eventful start! Most recently I've been drinking record amounts of hot tea to help me recover from a severe head cold, as well as to catch my breath between events. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimw9gg8kiHzp62POGYnPTsFfanmLSuU-X19sd9IfUm3XlnnqC44T72p847Xz07ePIB9DnshQtIvx22Z0dBQVSZSu6LFD53AocQEG_EBYhU6x-ICRUxQCW4trN_1tUPAredUB8FCQ/s1600/IMG_4640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"></span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimw9gg8kiHzp62POGYnPTsFfanmLSuU-X19sd9IfUm3XlnnqC44T72p847Xz07ePIB9DnshQtIvx22Z0dBQVSZSu6LFD53AocQEG_EBYhU6x-ICRUxQCW4trN_1tUPAredUB8FCQ/s1600/IMG_4640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimw9gg8kiHzp62POGYnPTsFfanmLSuU-X19sd9IfUm3XlnnqC44T72p847Xz07ePIB9DnshQtIvx22Z0dBQVSZSu6LFD53AocQEG_EBYhU6x-ICRUxQCW4trN_1tUPAredUB8FCQ/s400/IMG_4640.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rimply: Ready for Tea Time</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The longer my teapot stays hot, the better. Handmade tea cozies work great! If a crochet cowl or hat feels warm and toasty, you can bet the same crochet stitch and yarn will also work well as a tea cosy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>In fact, a crocheted hat or cowl can quickly be turned into a tea cozy. </b>This is what happened to <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rimply-tunisian-neckscarf" target="_blank"><b><i>Rimply</i></b></a>, one of my <a href="http://www.shop.designingvashti.com/Tunisian-Crochet_c33.htm" target="_blank">Tunisian crochet</a> <a href="http://www.shop.designingvashti.com/Scarves-Cowls_c15.htm" target="_blank">cowl designs</a>. I've used it <i>more</i> as a tea cozy<i> </i>than as a cowl since I <a href="http://ravel.me/vashtirama/rtn" target="_blank">designed it a year ago</a>. Also, I leave it on a silver teapot when I'm not using it, because it also slows tarnishing.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ng8o4jU0W5MD1zCULWinWizfVEuVVe6bU4frtvf4G71Tmvj1SnJD4TC-OAs9vqYy9Atu2Nn3txAbwo5u89BhigaQGP2BPUHoY_Lylzj99q8i61Them8osC2s9-9iJ3mVhJq8MA/s1600/IMG_4547.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ng8o4jU0W5MD1zCULWinWizfVEuVVe6bU4frtvf4G71Tmvj1SnJD4TC-OAs9vqYy9Atu2Nn3txAbwo5u89BhigaQGP2BPUHoY_Lylzj99q8i61Them8osC2s9-9iJ3mVhJq8MA/s320/IMG_4547.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">Same <b><i>Rimply</i></b> as a Cowl, but worn <i>upside down</i>.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Tunisian crochet is not known for being stretchy. In this case, though, the combination of wooly yarn, bigger Tunisian crochet hook, and the unique heat-trapping tunnels ('<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vashtirama/5222399268/in/set-72157625503346476" target="_blank"><i>rimples</i></a>') all contribute stretch to this solid Tunisian Knit Stitch fabric.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>To turn this cowl into a tea cosy</b>, all I did was crochet two lengths of chain stitches. One serves as a drawstring along the top edge of the cowl to fit it snugly around the top (where much heat would otherwise escape). The other ties together the cowl just under the teapot handle. These simple ties make <b><i>Rimply</i></b> nicely adjustable as a tea cozy.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP78c6KINp_CMR_TlxZaRcmwOp1lQH2QDscAQU91O9acD2lXCcp2UFt1c0mzJJ0jvYFQIDkzhUmj3yx77gYyn2jvak03D8YW6V6x2tnOogdP5I5ShN_QhEDj0n1scIEej70T7Ppg/s1600/IMG_4516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP78c6KINp_CMR_TlxZaRcmwOp1lQH2QDscAQU91O9acD2lXCcp2UFt1c0mzJJ0jvYFQIDkzhUmj3yx77gYyn2jvak03D8YW6V6x2tnOogdP5I5ShN_QhEDj0n1scIEej70T7Ppg/s200/IMG_4516.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vashtirama/sets/72157625503346476/" target="_blank">Another way to style <b><i>Rimply</i></b></a>. <br />This one was crocheted in a finer <br />purple yarn that has more drape</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">In this case, the spout is slender enough and the stitches stretchy enough that I can poke the spout through the stitches. If I were to crochet another one, I'd add an easy buttonhole-type slit for the spout instead.</span><br />
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<br />Vashti Brahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439436949166577608noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32092117.post-87655615763509482872011-12-10T16:23:00.001-05:002012-04-30T17:29:31.458-05:00Winner of Book Giveaway, plus More Stitch Photos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8yaOU-2012WIJwn7AAOJoBojEsBuWY8twBrbJtELfHsKdRub09OwVL7syLooPaK3uJJzC8rDDEL_53LDNEHEqhd7zHFu0b6LkYQIt3igLVevz0R3orNdOB-oXQSZpM9YvzLrhg/s1600/Shakti+Shoulderette-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8yaOU-2012WIJwn7AAOJoBojEsBuWY8twBrbJtELfHsKdRub09OwVL7syLooPaK3uJJzC8rDDEL_53LDNEHEqhd7zHFu0b6LkYQIt3igLVevz0R3orNdOB-oXQSZpM9YvzLrhg/s1600/Shakti+Shoulderette-3.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tunisian-shakti-scarfythings-preorder" target="_blank">Tunisian Shakti</a>, "Mobi-Dickie" version in bulky yarn</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The winner, according to </span><a href="http://www.random.org/" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">this random number generator</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">, is </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: red;">C</span><span style="color: orange;">o</span><span style="color: yellow;">l</span><span style="color: lime;">o</span><span style="color: cyan;">r</span><span style="color: blue;">f</span><span style="color: purple;">u</span><span style="color: magenta;">l</span> <span style="color: red;">T</span><span style="color: orange;">e</span><span style="color: yellow;">m</span><span style="color: lime;">p</span><span style="color: cyan;">t</span><span style="color: blue;">a</span><span style="color: purple;">t</span><span style="color: magenta;">i</span><span style="color: red;">o</span><span style="color: orange;">n</span><span style="color: yellow;">s</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">. After I complete this blog post I'll alert the book editor, Robyn Chachula, to release a downloadable copy of the new </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1596682981/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=crobyfay-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1596682981" target="_blank">Simply Crochet</a></i></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> book to her. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Thank you to everyone who entered! I like that </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">my blog visitors from outside of the USA are equally eligible to win because the prize is </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">downloadable.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9BZfjZV5J-UJLjkcL-3_MrCkHsgaS1Mj7lLQkntTnElFdmwnknSxNTYOLsh-bkxz3EokLGTpAYmOTuB03QnRwQU_OsHFXE2DNZ1xrcGeuTOIgOltf2W-_r_hheDun5Hghk0YCQ/s1600/Shakti+Shoulderette.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9BZfjZV5J-UJLjkcL-3_MrCkHsgaS1Mj7lLQkntTnElFdmwnknSxNTYOLsh-bkxz3EokLGTpAYmOTuB03QnRwQU_OsHFXE2DNZ1xrcGeuTOIgOltf2W-_r_hheDun5Hghk0YCQ/s1600/Shakti+Shoulderette.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tunisian-shakti-scarfythings-preorder" target="_blank">Tunisian Shakti</a>, "Mobi-Dickie" version in bulky yarn</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Meanwhile, here are more photos of the Tunisian crochet stitch I described in the previous post. This one is an experimental <i>möbius (or moebius) cowl--</i>in bulky wool yarn--and a large Tunisian crochet hook! Fast to crochet and pleasantly stretchy. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7xeBsH7sSABcX8zB9ubgQ-zTOg-X-18tGuQJfjw1tyBji_wkylT2pXIvA68tczGzkYKSJ-4mhKeMNnJtW6HJPYzZwZBUwZbIrR3AGVXPJKz6wIxTx57Zv9axsn1aj35kQhq3x6A/s1600/Shakti+Shoulderette-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7xeBsH7sSABcX8zB9ubgQ-zTOg-X-18tGuQJfjw1tyBji_wkylT2pXIvA68tczGzkYKSJ-4mhKeMNnJtW6HJPYzZwZBUwZbIrR3AGVXPJKz6wIxTx57Zv9axsn1aj35kQhq3x6A/s320/Shakti+Shoulderette-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tunisian-shakti-scarfythings-preorder" target="_blank">Tunisian Shakti</a>, <span style="font-size: x-small;">"Mobi-Dickie" version in bulky yarn</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I'm adding its pattern details to the <b style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tunisian-shakti-scarfythings-preorder" target="_blank">Tunisian Shakti Scarves Superpattern</a> </b>in case someone would like to try it.</span><br />
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</div>Vashti Brahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439436949166577608noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32092117.post-29917634118315541372011-12-08T09:41:00.001-05:002018-12-05T16:06:03.222-05:00A Powerful Tunisian Crochet Stitch to Love<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD7Ej3nPV71JMaACcn1vqtt_Zg4HyRldlgCFZALYIuq1ks9OACjHCUGPMfNgTQ6_73DDVKUBfxlX_YmySTP6FBGW3ymcbwlmxWG70ktXpUHHfEqym_9TepUVtmQPzydCsSn3DPrA/s1600/One-Skein+Tunisian+Neck+Lattice%252C+Back+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD7Ej3nPV71JMaACcn1vqtt_Zg4HyRldlgCFZALYIuq1ks9OACjHCUGPMfNgTQ6_73DDVKUBfxlX_YmySTP6FBGW3ymcbwlmxWG70ktXpUHHfEqym_9TepUVtmQPzydCsSn3DPrA/s320/One-Skein+Tunisian+Neck+Lattice%252C+Back+view.jpg" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/neck-lattice" target="_blank">Neck Lattice</a> (1 skein!) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">photo ©2011 Vashti Braha</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqMIokWcWUYKwbMLeVZPuLqbnloXXrq2ztPjlUXt8HhPb8ZmC3JmqeWm27zIye85MjMSsqIngSFseO0LRa3Qe3-kmx2g6msww6l6xZb7mQCcEVXHynY8ZdHXHiQ5a-3zB6ig222A/s1600/6420590477_b4a2e6eedd_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqMIokWcWUYKwbMLeVZPuLqbnloXXrq2ztPjlUXt8HhPb8ZmC3JmqeWm27zIye85MjMSsqIngSFseO0LRa3Qe3-kmx2g6msww6l6xZb7mQCcEVXHynY8ZdHXHiQ5a-3zB6ig222A/s200/6420590477_b4a2e6eedd_o.jpg" width="187" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/neck-lattice" target="_blank">Neck Lattice</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">photo ©2011 Interweave Press</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm giving away a full downloadable edition of the new <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1596682981/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=crobyfay-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1596682981" target="_blank">Simply Crochet</a> </i></b><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">book!</b></span><b style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"> </b><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">If you don't know about the main stitch used for <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/neck-lattice" target="_blank">Neck Lattice</a> (just published by Interweave Press) and all designs shown in this post, please read on. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><b>It's one of the two stitches that have liberated my Tunisian crocheting</b>. </span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">(See "</span><a href="http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=8d9b0b0df0b73f0fdcb7f4729&id=923ef3c09a" style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;" target="_blank">Breaking Out of Tunisian Ruts</a><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">," issue #10 of my </span><i style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><b><a href="http://designingvashti.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=8d9b0b0df0b73f0fdcb7f4729&id=9c8df8dd87" target="_blank">Crochet Inspirations</a> </b></i><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">newsletter for the other one.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"></span><b style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">This amazing Tunisian stitch</b><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4W0MVg_t4QP_nM17_5Jol_HbVep1C8h8CTttnqOJbvHJziReZKodO2Q6niVEaRxM0A1p7P2qKRnxd-WYapkbiwaCE0JQB2KjacBGxxA8dE5MTBsOqotzPqy-IVWI01aSXN4hqzA/s1600/Shakti+wool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4W0MVg_t4QP_nM17_5Jol_HbVep1C8h8CTttnqOJbvHJziReZKodO2Q6niVEaRxM0A1p7P2qKRnxd-WYapkbiwaCE0JQB2KjacBGxxA8dE5MTBsOqotzPqy-IVWI01aSXN4hqzA/s320/Shakti+wool.jpg" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A Shakti Scarf <a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/offset-tunisian-shakti-scarves/" target="_blank">(new design)</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">shows both sides of fabric</span></td></tr>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><b>Conserves yarn</b>. <i><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/neck-lattice" target="_blank">Neck lattice</a></i> uses ONE SKEIN. So do my other designs based on this stitch. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><b>Loves every Tunisian crochet hook size</b>.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><b>Loves a wide range of yarn weights, thicknesses, and textures</b>.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><b>Is reversible</b>: looks fabulous on both sides (not always the case with a Tunisian crochet stitch).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><b>Is fast to croche</b>t (not always the case with a Tunisian crochet stitch).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><b>Singlehandedly creates a sheer, breezy, weightless <i>Tunisian crochet lace</i></b>. Not only that, it can be <i>stretchy</i>.</span></li>
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<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51U7tYSQ1yL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51U7tYSQ1yL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" height="320" width="320"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #990000;">[Have you ever used this stitch?</span><span style="color: red;"> </span><span style="color: #660000;">Leave a </span></span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-weight: bold;">comment on this blog post about it and you'll be entered to win the</span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span><span style="color: #990000;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1596682981/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=crobyfay-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1596682981" target="_blank"><i>Simply Crochet</i></a> </span></span></b><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-weight: bold;">e-book.</span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><b> </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">You have until tomorrow, Fri. Dec. 9 at 10pm EST to enter.]</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">Notice in these photos how different the Tunisian crochet stitch can look depending on fibers, yarn weights, hook sizes, and degree of laciness over the years. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">(I know the photos are arranged weirdly in this post. It's just the way Blogger is sometimes.)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe5ERuqXWZfQLNbiiGafZO1YwWdCUWmjIiBRDKDl_FbBACQ8_rzmVi3DODhQOIcIt8omiS1yeNAA7PDtk9-HQponJVRYI0F2r-ppNPkKAEtR6kHeBafyCaiTqhXvsM_uVB17I6Nw/s1600/Neck+Lattice+studio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe5ERuqXWZfQLNbiiGafZO1YwWdCUWmjIiBRDKDl_FbBACQ8_rzmVi3DODhQOIcIt8omiS1yeNAA7PDtk9-HQponJVRYI0F2r-ppNPkKAEtR6kHeBafyCaiTqhXvsM_uVB17I6Nw/s200/Neck+Lattice+studio.jpg" width="136" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">When Interweave Press <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1596682981/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=crobyfay-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1596682981" target="_blank">published the new <b><i>Simply Crochet</i></b> book</a> this month, I took stock of my design journey with this unique Tunisian crochet stitch. <b><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/neck-lattice" target="_blank">Neck Lattice</a>, included in this book, was a <i>pivotal discovery</i> for me as a crocheter</b>. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIOFkN5ZUrQFnID0XffcZH_t8Axoy_zfooh_q7O7KbOlup8asy6Q1IJCDTDzvqvPBRHuj0CCQZmAMY5CD-UOLKyUPMa9slbscNz7MJf-k5_bSNp2_tvkDpzyh3PdA6hvDwpHKarw/s1600/Tunisian+Islander+Blocked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIOFkN5ZUrQFnID0XffcZH_t8Axoy_zfooh_q7O7KbOlup8asy6Q1IJCDTDzvqvPBRHuj0CCQZmAMY5CD-UOLKyUPMa9slbscNz7MJf-k5_bSNp2_tvkDpzyh3PdA6hvDwpHKarw/s320/Tunisian+Islander+Blocked.jpg" width="315" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Same</i> <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/neck-lattice" target="_blank">Neck Lattice</a> pattern and hook size, thicker yarn!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">I <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vashtirama/sets/72157624918384608/with/4974966792/" target="_blank">released my early photos of it</a> (including a prototype) this week, and I remembered the exhilaration of discovering its edge-as-you-go latticework. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">And, the wonder of using the yarn that book editor <a href="http://crochetbyfaye.blogspot.com/2011/12/simply-crochets-countdown-to-fun-neck.html" target="_blank">Robyn Chachula</a> chose for me to use--it's the mottled red alpaca one in the two uppermost photos. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">I had only used fingering weight yarn (sock yarn) for it until she sent me a <i>lace weight</i> yarn. I worried at first, but then I loved seeing the design take shape from only one skein. It grew quickly because I used a big Tunisian crochet hook.</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_FF7vgtV1yLTJW54FyN_db4XZIRivfQWvDpicffh0t3EaZB2H3hg55vpfw5UDCQMAuutoCUDt_LotaF-tszujiIQ716yWg4giuH31WbfR0lT5N8Fo9vBGfzKzCZ0kv6UO1_qCNQ/s1600/Shakti+mill+ends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_FF7vgtV1yLTJW54FyN_db4XZIRivfQWvDpicffh0t3EaZB2H3hg55vpfw5UDCQMAuutoCUDt_LotaF-tszujiIQ716yWg4giuH31WbfR0lT5N8Fo9vBGfzKzCZ0kv6UO1_qCNQ/s200/Shakti+mill+ends.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A Shakti Scarf <a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/offset-tunisian-shakti-scarves/" target="_blank">(new design)</a></span></td></tr>
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<span class="s1" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><b>For all its power, this Tunisian stitch doesn't seem to be one of the basic stitches one learns after the Tunisian Simple Stitch (Tss), even though it's easy to do!</b> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">It's not standardized: it goes by more than one name, and explanations for how to do it vary widely.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">I've seen it called Extended Knit Stitch, Corded Stitch, Tunisian Knit Single Crochet, Tunisian Shaker Stitch, and "Tunisian Knit Stitch with a chain-1."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><b>Here are my other experiments with this stitch over the past year or so</b>. </span><b style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">NOTE</b><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">: several of these are "</span><b style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">Shakti Scarves</b><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">," which are all versions of the </span><i style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">same <b>Tunisian Shakti</b> design</i><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkoycsNxCk5MjX0pmXnUTQKQcB0uCQ01qB50R-9FkUjunSoERtqa8BdJ-jr_7DmSdI-wfkllNOgHocduNYWW-DL9TATjElqPKAUdY5n5sIoWJSWMfrGSnGfWCo8Bi0HJyJKdiJUg/s1600/Shaktism+mohair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkoycsNxCk5MjX0pmXnUTQKQcB0uCQ01qB50R-9FkUjunSoERtqa8BdJ-jr_7DmSdI-wfkllNOgHocduNYWW-DL9TATjElqPKAUdY5n5sIoWJSWMfrGSnGfWCo8Bi0HJyJKdiJUg/s320/Shaktism+mohair.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A Shakti Scarf <a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/offset-tunisian-shakti-scarves/" target="_blank">(new design)</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>Update</i>:</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>Tunisian Shakti Scarves crochet superpattern</b> is now available in my <a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/offset-tunisian-shakti-scarves/" target="_blank">DesigningVashti pattern shop</a>, and <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tunisian-shakti-scarfythings" target="_blank">Ravelry store</a>. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg73039EVbMkzOho5LtM7P6JRrry2hZK2qGqDv6x2Rjfu0jJW5Got5L8H05a3iet4RnGUv_XuG1AGaL7eWIpv4LOIrUbyFK3rxCY_DDZfZ5BkPkbCMGRdpaXTMBZHx6-4eQNDuhOg/s1600/Silky+Shaktism.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg73039EVbMkzOho5LtM7P6JRrry2hZK2qGqDv6x2Rjfu0jJW5Got5L8H05a3iet4RnGUv_XuG1AGaL7eWIpv4LOIrUbyFK3rxCY_DDZfZ5BkPkbCMGRdpaXTMBZHx6-4eQNDuhOg/s320/Silky+Shaktism.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A Shakti Scarf <a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/offset-tunisian-shakti-scarves/" target="_blank">(new design)</a></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHwyF65XJ3mjcdYXfemxVRI8eXJfTyh1xGvDuGlOd_hr2SxFSVslWIARm_oHPweOC7aKxbfbzkWddjJLghb3xufbmxJ4mqjqufHae-E4qs9so1F5P2ZrNmRVHgIIEm2iWYhVhzQg/s1600/IMG_3419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHwyF65XJ3mjcdYXfemxVRI8eXJfTyh1xGvDuGlOd_hr2SxFSVslWIARm_oHPweOC7aKxbfbzkWddjJLghb3xufbmxJ4mqjqufHae-E4qs9so1F5P2ZrNmRVHgIIEm2iWYhVhzQg/s200/IMG_3419.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/tunisian-islander-wrap/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">Islander Wrap</span></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDowCUNoF_J-PojCUgGGGa9Joi1lDoJcHPz6gyzPFHhD1zkZqdS1mAaaIYC19sNlcsUdKuwFrsb3itb6522nRSve6y7RthN74tVDUg4-_4_o7Y-Lh-C8sRRf69oAFBEPk3ko0DxQ/s1600/Shaktism.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDowCUNoF_J-PojCUgGGGa9Joi1lDoJcHPz6gyzPFHhD1zkZqdS1mAaaIYC19sNlcsUdKuwFrsb3itb6522nRSve6y7RthN74tVDUg4-_4_o7Y-Lh-C8sRRf69oAFBEPk3ko0DxQ/s320/Shaktism.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A Shakti Scarf <a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/offset-tunisian-shakti-scarves/" target="_blank">(new design)</a></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-LAyUSH2QD7FveYrLLiP9ISzIS68PNbMbHOgwbpxYb6BXc7grzop3LCHP3gRfnIx1Qj0yMipdomvVMrlXy5ouGquu8t4S4uduY4e-IEmeu171OHDWVp-FPf_y-4lAMlVlpjuxBQ/s1600/Skinny+Shaktism+en+pointe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-LAyUSH2QD7FveYrLLiP9ISzIS68PNbMbHOgwbpxYb6BXc7grzop3LCHP3gRfnIx1Qj0yMipdomvVMrlXy5ouGquu8t4S4uduY4e-IEmeu171OHDWVp-FPf_y-4lAMlVlpjuxBQ/s320/Skinny+Shaktism+en+pointe.jpg" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A Shakti Scarf <a href="https://designingvashti.com/product/offset-tunisian-shakti-scarves/" target="_blank">(new design)</a></span></td></tr>
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<br />Vashti Brahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439436949166577608noreply@blogger.com96tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32092117.post-36787646318836690122011-11-22T21:10:00.001-05:002012-04-30T17:30:55.380-05:00Undaria Flutter Scarf, New Short Row Design<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8NqXXTCGvxe1e0OlKbwWrzZy5DNMOiOJQAV-uUg4CiKzJFgABskkFmYTHodNitQETLNacCXo2kMJ0xihmExtxrdOvawpVtOjPXwBS7ALc3iKLN1kYsqbv7QqBoNKcLKgXpcg67A/s1600/IMG_6445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8NqXXTCGvxe1e0OlKbwWrzZy5DNMOiOJQAV-uUg4CiKzJFgABskkFmYTHodNitQETLNacCXo2kMJ0xihmExtxrdOvawpVtOjPXwBS7ALc3iKLN1kYsqbv7QqBoNKcLKgXpcg67A/s320/IMG_6445.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Check it out: I've just done a whole new kind of blog post, <a href="http://designingvashti.com/blog/newest-crochet-design-undaria-flutter-scarf/" target="_blank">right at my DesigningVashti.com</a> website, and it was easy! It's about my newest crochet pattern coming out very soon, the Undaria Slip Stitch Flutter Scarf. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">You can see a gallery of TEN ways of wearing it over there. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVTXNKIfVYFoyUaQgcEKz8_ItO9iv2luouXVveKd_SPnzlWfVEym6ZxbcwGPgg_RylicJnL7re0MqOKrwXDC5Tq4yBJ3_V959TFjoYk-NFQQoh6YDMIylCcpBfNW9PA2WIMB5fQ/s1600/IMG_6440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVTXNKIfVYFoyUaQgcEKz8_ItO9iv2luouXVveKd_SPnzlWfVEym6ZxbcwGPgg_RylicJnL7re0MqOKrwXDC5Tq4yBJ3_V959TFjoYk-NFQQoh6YDMIylCcpBfNW9PA2WIMB5fQ/s320/IMG_6440.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I'll have more links created after Thanksgiving. For now, here's its <a href="http://ravel.me/vashtirama/iqdpm" target="_blank">Ravelry project page</a>, and its <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vashtirama/sets/72157628085506653/" target="_blank">online photo set</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #fff2cc;">Edited on Dec. 3, 2011 to add: </b></span><br />
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<li><b style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">I blogged the story of the "Undaria" name <i><a href="http://crochetcowls.blogspot.com/2011/12/two-new-slip-stitch-cowl-crochet.html" target="_blank">here</a></i>. </b></li>
<li><b style="background-color: #fff2cc; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">You can now download the final pattern at <a href="http://www.shop.designingvashti.com/Undaria-Ruffle-Scarf-Slip-Stitch-Crochet-in-Fluttery-Short-Rows-12-N11611SVG.htm" target="_blank">DesigningVashti</a> and <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/undaria-flutter-scarf" target="_blank">in Ravelry</a>.</b></li>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Being able to blog right from my website is making me irrationally happy and kind of wonderstruck. I've had that website for a little over a year, and it's been slow-going for me to remember how to update it. (I'd rather be designing...) Meanwhile, I know how to blog and enjoy it, and how to create colorful newsletters. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Wow. A Wordpress-driven website is going to be FUN! </span><br />
<br />Vashti Brahahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14439436949166577608noreply@blogger.com5