Congratulations to Marty on her new book! These crochet totes were carefully designed for this collection to be fun to crochet and to use. I can see Marty's personality all over it and I know it was a blast for her to design these totes.
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| When I see this I think YES. I need more fresh flowers AND a way to tote them! |
I've been yarn shopping with Marty in craft stores and in yarn shops. She has this knack for seeing the tote that a new yarn wants to become. It's remarkable. I've also crocheted with her side by side, and you should see how fast and enthusiastically she can whip up a new tote, right off the top of her head.
Come to think of it, at conferences I've helped lug her crochet class materials to her classes--USING HER TOTES--and I can attest to the strength and comfort of the tote handles she designs. I can't imagine a better designer for a book of crochet totes. Period.
Also, the photography is beautiful. This is a 24-page Leisure Arts publication, so you can expect clear images, clean layout, and easy to follow instructions. You can expect accuracy because Marty's an expert technical editor of other designers' crochet patterns, including mine.
After me, there's one more stop on the blog tour. Please visit Kate Steinke's blog tomorrow (Sunday). And also see Marty's blog tour post about the totes she crocheted. She made me want to go and pick up a crochet hook and find a good tote yarn in my stash! Here's the complete tour schedule:
August 29: Marty Miller
August 30: Ellen Gormley
August 31: Drew Emborsky
September 1: Kimberly McAlindin
September 2: Doris Chan
September 3: Vashti Braha (c'est moi)
September 4: Kate Steinke
DON'T FORGET to leave a comment for a chance to win this book and some extra goodies. What yarn would YOU use to crochet your next tote?
I'd probably use my old stand-by for totes. Lily's Sugar and Cream. I've got some gorgeous yellow that is screaming to be used for a summer tote!
ReplyDeleteI also like to use worsted weight non-cotton yarn while carrying along one or more size 10 thread , makes a lovely marled look with extra strength and less stretch.
Hi Kath--I just finished a bag with that yarn. So strong and holds up so well!
ReplyDeleteI made one using Lily's Sugar and Cream and would like to make more! I'm new to many yarns that are not acrylic, and I'll try new ones to see how they are to work with. I think these bags will help me learn new patterns and techniques to carry across to my other projects! It's wonderful to see the world of crochet that has been opened to us by these creative forces! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteValerie is having trouble leaving a comment here so she Facebooked it to me. Here it is:
ReplyDelete"Vashti, I've been trying for the past 30 minutes to get a comment to post on your blog - it won't take for some reason - google must not like me today. My 1st choice is Allegoro in Lavendar, a nice linen/organic cotton combo. 2nd choice is Fiesta Rayon Boucle in any of the colorways. A little slippery, but would make a nice market bag with some sheen."
Thanks Valerie and Dawn for your comments!
I'd like to try one using 3 strands of sz 10 thread. I have a tote that was given to me that is pretty and holds up pretty well too.
ReplyDeleteI generally use a cotton for totes - my "go to" brand is Bernat Handicrafter. And my "go to" colour is pink. :) But, I may try a felted wool tote - I've knit some, but want to see how some crochet stitches felt up for totes. I bought some feltable dk weight wool in pink and grey, that I thought about trying for a tote...
ReplyDeleteI'd make mine out of purple/yellow/white varigated Sugar and Cream cotton yarn. I tend to get my totes soiled, so this would be washable.
ReplyDeleteI have a few cones of Peaches & Cream in my stash, so I would probably start with that for the first totes made. :)
ReplyDeleteI'd use Lily Sugar and Cream, the blue green varigated yarn first...then the yellow Lily Sugar and Cream for the next one.....and I do have a stash of the cream colored Sugar & Cream...so I got a lot of decisions to make, don't I;) thanks for the opportunity to win this
ReplyDeleteI have a ball of Omega Sinfonia (sport weight mercerized cotton, 100g. ball) that is crying out to be something, and a small tote would be a good fit, I think. :)
ReplyDeleteI generally make all my totes in cotton and I usually pick purples and teals. I have some Lily Sugar n' Cream in Moondance that I may use.
ReplyDeleteI'd make the Bucket Tote, the felted one, in a wool blend yarn. It would have to be large enough after felting with no escape holes and also contain some alpaca in the blend, the better to lure the unsuspecting cat into the bag. Yes, this would be a Chippy tote. :-)
ReplyDeleteI Would love to make one of these totes with peaches and cream thread I have that is pink and black varigated.
ReplyDeleteI really like cotton yarn for totes and bags, but some cottons seem to disintegrate in my hands when they get damp and sweaty, which has happened a lot this summer. I'd like to try something with a little more heft or bulk to it. I'll have to scout around for a hemp or bulky cotton.
ReplyDeleteI'm lovin' these comments! and I'm thinking I'd better throw some cotton yarn into the giveaway box!
ReplyDeleteDoris, you'd better hope that Chippy's keeper doesn't see your idea. He has seen some artsy felted cat caves and has been asking for one....I will try to distract him with some Angry Birds amigurumi.
Hi, I would use either luster sheen or Red Heart #3 crochet thread. They are soft yet durable. I must comment on the closeness in our names, take the 'T' out and you have me, LOL Marty Miller - t = Mary Miller Small world huh, hugs, Mary
ReplyDeleteI love the old timey totes that my Mom used to have; you know what I mean, they were jute with embroidery on them. Late 60s or so. I would love to try a tote in jute, just not sure how my hands would like it. Maybe embroider some beachy themed items on there: starfish, shells, maybe a seagull or two.
ReplyDeleteI'll do my next tote in the same cotton yarn that I've been using for just about all of my totes over the years: Lily Sugar & Cream. As for the color, I'm thinking of trying either the Guacamole or the Rainbow Bright. If I use the former, it'll be for my SO; if I use the latter, it'll be for me.
ReplyDeleteYarn from stash, naturally! I want to reduce my stash so I can justify getting new stuff :)
ReplyDeleteOoh! I am making a different tote right now and I'm obsessed! I'm making mine in a sock yarn with a smaller needle for smaller bag and it's so cute - and I want to make more in sock yarns! I have a cascade sock yarn in wine that would be perfect! So cool! But then again, maybe I need to do something bigger and thicker. ACK!
ReplyDeleteThis has been such a fun blog tour to follow! I usually make my totes in whatever acrylic I happen to have on hand but I'd like to make one in 100% cotton. Not sure what brand, just something new to try.
ReplyDeleteHAPPY SUMMER!
ReplyDeleteI'D USE LILY'S COTTON+CREAM IN A DENIM-BLUE SHADE.
THANKS SO FOR SHARING!
jldouglas@wispwest.net
I would use some Lion Brand Cotton that I have in my stash to make my tote.
ReplyDeleteI love purses, totes anything similar. I have some cones of Lily's Sugar 'n Creme. The Christmas colors might be neat to carry around after Thanksgiving,
ReplyDeleteI would make a bag using some lionbrand wool-ease thick and quick yarn (2 colors: cream and raspberry). My youngest girl is constantly asking me to create something for her. Oddly enough her latest request is a tote bag because she wants one more bag because she just started school. Thankfully she would rather I make it than go out and buy one. It would probably be a very simple rectangle tote made in a striped pattern. I really think she would like that.
ReplyDeleteI have quite a lot of cotton DK in my stash leftover from my stash bag that needs using up and I'd probably use that. There's quite a few 'Cath Kidston' colours there so I would make something colourful to match my stash bag.
ReplyDeleteWhile organizing my craft supplies, I have found a large amount of Peaches & Cream and Sugar 'N Cream cotton yarn, as well as 2 giant skeins of Bernat cotton, so I'd have to say that it would most likely be cotton (I have a plethora of variegated cotton, but the Bernat is in off white... so perhaps an off white tote with a variety of variegated stripes). I also found several skeins of thrifted wool yarn and would love to make a tote using that (and possibly felt it). I love totes and can't resist getting (or making) new ones!
ReplyDeleteI'd use Lily's Sugar and Cream 100% cotton worsted weight yarn. I have somehow accumulated a lot of this yarn, in a wide assortment of colors. Some would be perfect for a fall book tote, which I could use to carry books to my grandchildren's Montessori school, where I read to the children every Wednesday.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite yarn for bags and totes is Saucy by Reynolds. I think my next bag will be in a medium or denim blue and I will try it in a DK weight.
ReplyDeleteI just bought two of the extra large balls of Sugar 'n Cream, one varigated and one solid.
ReplyDeleteI love this yarn for totes, it holds up well, washes beautifully.
Susan Parker jdprkr@pacbell.net
I love making totes out of Bernat Handicrafter. I bought four or five skeins last month in fun colors. My favorite is the raspberry/yellow/orange/white varigated. I can just see them now. This is a wonderful giveaway. Thanks for offering it and good luck to Marty with its release.
ReplyDeleteI have some Lily's Sugar and Cream Twists in Blue in my stash that I would love to make a tote :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great giveaway!
kimberlybreid at hotmail dot com
Ann had trouble posting a comment so she emailed me this:
ReplyDelete"I went to your blog last night and again this morning to try to comment about Marty Miller's book but my post doesn't seem to be going thru....
"I would probably use Red Heart Super Saver as that is what I have a ton of at the moment, lol! I really want to make one with cotton after reading all these comments though!"
Thank you everyone for these comments, this is fun!
I am a bag FANATIC! My hubby is always complaining about the number of bags I own. I'll send him to get my project bag and he says, "Which one this time"? : ) I would probably use Bernat Satin yarn in Maitai Pink. This would be for a friend who just celebrated one year free of breast cancer!
ReplyDeleteIt would depend on which bag I choose to make. Peaches & cream, sugar & cream; are maybe the old standby red heart. Color would be something with blue in it. But usually when I go to purchase thinking I know exactly what I want end up with something totally different.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to use some Red Heart Fiesta, just small bits of color and some sparkle.
ReplyDeleteIf I'm looking enough to win a copy of this book I would make the totes out of my favorite yarn, Sugar 'n Cream. I love the selection of colors and it's durability.
ReplyDeleteI am a certified bag lady and love making totes of all kinds. I have some Lion Brand Nature's Choice Organic Cotton sitting in my stash just waiting for the perfect project. A tote may just be it!
ReplyDeleteAndrea aka SpringSplndr on Ravelry
My next tote will be made out of 100% cotton, using Creme de la Creme in Tile Blue. I love pulling out all of my colorful totes at the grocery store!
ReplyDeleteMary Buse Melick
May I describe the tote I'm currently making? I'm using Prestige Serenity Garden - mostly because I had some on hand when the tote bug bit. It's very soft and drapey but with a cottony feel. All my other totes are made from Sugar 'n Cream.
ReplyDeleteI have some gorgeous variegated Fantasy Naturale cotton in shades of gold/yellow/red/orange. The yarn would make a pretty wild market or tote bag
ReplyDeleteI would use Bernat's handycrafter cotton baby in beautiful baby blue color that is so reminiscent of color of the sky. Nothing more beautiful and soul filling than watching the sky.....
ReplyDeletethe next tote I make will be done using cotton because I want it to be lightweight & strong
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking of using super strong sock yarn mix for a nice strong tote that does not wear to easily. Crocheted in a lovely, trendy blue tone I think I can make several as x-mas gifts this year.
ReplyDeleteI recently made my first crochet market bag (all but the handles, at least). I used yellow cotton, and I plan to make my next tote in cotton, too. I'm not sure what color I'll use-- so hard to choose, but maybe green or blue? I'm not particular about brand, either, so it will depend on what I find in my stash. :o)
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ReplyDeleteI love making totes but the straps don't hold up I've recently started buying them or handles. I've doubled the yarn I have testers out there but no word back yet. Any secrets in the book? I love the tote on the cover my ladies would want a lining but you can't please everyone . I work in a school so pens and such. Take care.
ReplyDeleteHmm, I've always wanted to do a bag in Hilos La Espiga 100% Nylon thread. Am thinking maybe Green and Multi Lime together. One of Marty's bags would look great worked up in those colors.
ReplyDeleteThis would give me a reason to visit my favorite craft store and check out the yarns. I usually use Lily's Peaches & Cream, however I like the idea of worsted yarn with thread. I'm thinking a Halloween orange & black, autumn colors, Christmas colors, or perhaps baby pink or blue. A tote could be used as a gift bag, loaded up for Christmas or a baby shower. Oh the many uses to gift someone.
ReplyDeleteI would use that big ball of Beach Ball Blue cotton that I have.
ReplyDeleteI would use Patons SWS self striping yarn and then I would felt it.
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ReplyDeleteI would use Peaches and Cream in ecru color. I love totes.
ReplyDeleteI would make it in a pretty fall color... maybe a burnt orange.
ReplyDeleteI'm about to find out who the winner is. But first, I'm adding Mary Carnduff to the comments because she emailed me yesterday before the deadline.
ReplyDeleteMisschou also emailed me yesterday:
ReplyDelete"A bag with changing colors, which have different reflections depending on the season and the sunshine, a bag big enough to put a lifetime, but small enough to wear it with elegance, a bag that says "Oh!" and "Ah!" in the eyes and the smile of the person to whom I'd gift - maybe me ?, a perfect bag, with soft solid yarn, a natural fiber, a lightweight presence, and a gentle companion."
I think that the first tote I make would be with cotton yarn- either Peaches & Cream or Sugar & Cream - in ecru. I like how the cotton holds its shape. I would be making this as a gift to my niece.
ReplyDeleteI haven't tried making a tote yet but would love to try. I'm into making potholder, dishcloths and shawls. Have to get motivated and try a bag or two. They would be so useful. I would probably use the peaches & cream or the Lily Sugar & Cream yarns. I love working with them. And they have such beautiful colors.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your interesting comments. I've just posted a new blog entry about the winner.
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