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V Stitch- Crochet for a Difference

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ScannedImageCrocheting for a Difference, to me is a way to use my skills to benefit others. One of the drawbacks to being a Freelance Crochet Designer is that I do not get the direct feedback that I use to receive when I worked in the field of Social Work. It can be a bit isolating working from home, and not sure if you are making a positive impact on the world around you. So I crochet to help benefit others.

I have made countless scrap afghans and throws for a multitude of outlets and charities over the years. Even when I was staying at a city for only a short time I found places that could benefit from the hand skills of crochet. I have decided that I want to help encourage others to find a way to make a difference locally, so I am planning to share some stitch patterns and some ideas about places in your local community that might benefit from your crochet skills. I am calling it Crocheting for a Difference.

V Stitch Pattern for Crochet for a Difference

V Stitch

Today, I am sharing a basic V stitch pattern that I enjoy using to create a fast fabric. After establishing the first row, it really becomes pretty mindless, as you work the V stitches in the chain space created in the V stitch the row below. I usually work the entire length of the scrap yarn, and then change to the new color or skein, regardless of where I am in the fabric. This does cause color changes in the middle of a row, but I think it adds a nice rustic feel, but it can easily be a solid color, or stripes.

To begin you create a chain as long as you like (if you want Row 1 to work up without any extra chains, then crochet a chain that has a number of chains that is a multiple of 3, then add one more chain). Please note I am writing this stitch pattern in US standard format.

V stitch: (Double crochet, chain 1, double crochet) in the indicated location

Row 1: V stitch in the 5th chain from the hook, *skip two chains, V stitch in next chain; repeat from * across, double crochet in the last stitch, turn.

Row 2: Chain 3, V stitch in each chain-1 space across, double crochet in top of turning chain the row below, turn,

Repeat Row 2 until it is a desired length.

After creating an afghan in the stitch pattern consider donation to a Crisis Center, in some places known as a Women’s Center. Aiding those leaving domestic violence situations. Often when someone is leaving a volatile situation they leave with almost nothing, or nothing at all. A throw, an afghan, a scarf, a hat…all can help to begin a life anew.

International Crochet- Cabled Round Hat

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ScannedImageI have had pattern released in Europe before, mostly in pattern from Red Heart Yarns, but this is the first time I am featured in an actually monthly publication. You can find my Cabled Round Hat in Issue 9 of Crochet Now Magazine, in the United States this publication can be found at some bookstores such as Barns & Noble, or is can be accessed on-line.

Cabled Round Hat by Linda Dean

Cabled Round Hat Crochet Now issue 9 Photo courtesy Practical Publishing

This design is worked vertically, featuring cables that end up encircling the head. It is a one skein project and I was fortunate to check out this English yarn of West Yorkshire Spinners Bluefaced Leicester Aran Prints in color Pheasant. Blueface Leicester is actually a sheep breed that produces a soft warm yarn with a nice spring. To substitute a yarn found in America, any medium weight yarn can work in its place. Just please note this pattern is written in United Kingdom standard terms so the stitch names may seem the same, but are not…so instead of working a double crochet, in the United States we recognize this as a single crochet.

The hat itself has a nice stretch, allowing it to fit a wide range of sizes, while allowing for a very straight forward approach to working it.

I have long worked these vertical style hats, in reality my grandmother use to make a similar style when I was young. It was almost always her go to crochet item, working many vertical hats for charity fundraisers. So for me I thought all crochet hats were made this way, so when I learned how to create a top-down in the round hat, I considered it quite a novelty and fell in love with the approach. Little did I know that what I considered mundane, was really more a novelty then I thought. I have taken this basic approach and added many of my own personal differences, and I hope to share more of these with you…but here is another…. the Cable & Rib Slouchy Hat….

The Cabled Round Hat will be available later this year as a single pattern.

Rayon Yarn- A Beautiful Result

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ScannedImageI should place a disclaimer that I really love this yarn. Blue Heron Rayon Metallic is one that I am always drawn to. I’m not sure if it is the colors, the shimmer, or the feel (which is luxurious), but I am constantly drawn to this yarn.

The yarn consist of 85% rayon and 15%metallic, with a generous yardage of 550yrds in an 8oz skein and considered a light weight.

Lindadeancrochet.com

Blue Heron Rayon Metallic yarn

I have used this yarn is a couple of projects, and will admit, this is one of those “special occasion” yarns, as it is not at the lowest price point. However with the generous yardage, it really can go quite far, and even one skein (depending on the pattern) can make a small wrap. I might be slightly partial to this yarn as it was featured in one of my favorite designs, my Vineyard at Dawn Shawl (pattern available in the Spring 2013 issue of Crochet! Magazine). This shawl won me my first design competition award, and I have completely attributed it to the yarn.

The rayon does not really hold much heat, and doesn’t wick water so it is almost the complete opposite qualities of a wool yarn. Really the only similarity might be that they are both yarn. Rayon Metallic has a great drape, very much like 100% silk, but it is this that can cause a slight headache. Some find that the yarn can drift and slink a little when being used, not so much in crochet stitches, but in knitting, and in pulling it from a pull ball.

Vineyard at Dawn Shawl (back), Crochet! Magazine Spring 2013 Photo courtesy of Annie's

Vineyard at Dawn Shawl (back), Crochet! Magazine Spring 2013
Photo courtesy of Annie’s

The yarn is hand dyed and every color I have seen is stunning. The metallic composition can be either of gold or silver color, and is often a compliment of the dyed colors. This metallic adds a very subtle sparkle, really almost like a shimmer, to the yarn, which is not at all distracting but makes the yarn look as luxurious as it feels.

I recommend this yarn for shawls, or tops. It may not be structured enough for a hat or gloves, but can easily work up a gorgeous scarf or cowl.

Cartwheeling Filigree Wrap- Great Things Come to Those that Wait

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ScannedImageSome ideas are all about timing. Cartwheeling Filigree fits this description.

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Cartwheeling Filigree Wrap Photo courtesy Annie’s

This triangle motif wrap design was envisioned a few years ago. I loved how the motif had a very floral feel, it felt so feminine. The triangle allowed me to have the “flowers” staggered, and share an openness that gives a very spring like attribute.

When I originally put this design together, the editors loved it, but it wasn’t quite the fit for the magazine issue they were creating. This happened more than once, and waiting was its best thing that could have happened as it allowed Cartwheeling Filigree to grace the pages of the 15th Anniversary Edition of Crochet! Magazine (the Spring 2017 issue). In the world of current publishing 15 years is a long time, and anniversary issues attempt to make a special splash of all the favorites over the years as well as classics, so it is an honor to be included with all the other fabulous designs.

m22166_sc_small2This wrap can have a very different feel if a yarn is used. It is featured in Spud & Chloe Stripey Fine yarn, it is a superfine (fingering) weight yarn that is comprised of superwash wool and silk. The wool gives it a little “springiness” and a bit of body, if it 100% silk it would have a true luxury drape.

If you are looking for something a little larger and heavier, you can increase the yarn size and the hook size to create a piece that can add warmth as well as style. While working this same design with thread can create a very enticing table cloth. Working in a solid color also presents a more classic feel.

This design has a simplicity to it that allows it to be much more than it initially appears. I hope it inspires you see how wonderful simple can be.

A Review….A Little Early

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ScannedImageI find myself a little ahead of myself. Usually during New Year’s I end up reflecting upon the last year, I am amazed at the 12 months that have past and all the things that have happened and been accomplished. I am not sure if it was caused from my cleaning up stacks of paper, that long ago should have been filed away, or my kids turning pages of their photo albums (yes, I still print photos off and place them in albums), that caused me to begin my reflection this week.

It is a little surreal to look back as it sometimes feels like a lifetime ago, or just last week. So over the last 12 months I have self-published 10 designs, bringing my own design line of Linda Dean Crochet to a total of 35. In addition I completed 16 designs for Freelance contracts, work that is in magazines or websites for yarn companies. This is slightly less than the year previous, but I have undertaken and expanded another portion of my business, teaching.

In 2016 I taught weekly at my local yarn store, with a total of 77 students taught over the year…that is 530.5 student hours. I have to admit, it is a highlight for my week. Everyone is so eager to learn and so friendly with everyone in the room. It has often been expressed to me by the store owners that my students seem to have so much fun, as the laughing and smiles spill over onto to store floor.

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My tour of Charleston, SC

In addition I taught on the national level for the first time, at the Crochet Guild of America’s (CGOA) annual conference this last year in Charleston, SC (I just learned that I will be teaching again at this conference in 2017, this time in Chicago). Here I taught an additional 63 students, with 189 student hours, in my four classes.

I served on the CGOA Board of Directors, served as a co-chairperson for the Masters Committee and Social Media Committee, as well as working as a Master Program Reviewer (the Master’s Program is a program that offers some instruction and tests your crochet knowledge and skill). I also undertook the challenge of creating a new, more educational based Master Program that I hope will be available later in 2017.

Locally I served on the Board of my Hangtown Fibers Guild, I worked at ensuring that there was a program at every monthly meeting, as well as arranging workshops from nationally recognized instructors.

I also traveled quite a bit in 2016…January found me in San Diego (the National NeedleArts Association (TNNA) Summer Show), February I was in Santa Clara, CA for Stitches West; May in Pasadena, CA for Vogue Knitting Live; June to Washington DC for the TNNA Winter Show; and July in Charleston, SC to teach at the CGOA conference. This was much quieter than the year before, but this is only the travel and commitments for my work in crochet.

My kids are always busy, and without the support of my husband I don’t think that I could have accomplished anything. The kids kept busy with TaeKwonDo, 4H, and band. I do not think that there has been a single weekend where we were able to sit back and relax at home.

Looking back really does help me keep things in a perspective. On any given day, I don’t feel like I accomplish much…maybe because in prior jobs I could see the stack of paper, emails and phone calls that I completed daily; crochet has a different flow, it is more artistic, and I do not have the same instant gratification of work completed. Taking stock of the work I have done, does help me to understand that I have been productive, I am contributing.

2017 is already shaping up on becoming a bit busier. This is an interesting journey.