When I checked the mail today, I found my contributor’s copies for two magazines that I have projects in–always exciting!

The first mag was Inside Crochet, a UK crochet magazine that has a good mix of garments, home decor and other stuff to crochet (I like a good mix!). My design is the Summer Picnic Wrap, an airy wrap worked with join-as-you-go motifs. My inspiration for this motif started with a granny square, but I wanted to make it lacy and modern, so what I came up with is the very-simple-to-work  hybrid of geometry and lace. The sample is worked in a DK weight organic cotton yarn (a light one at that) but I also think this would be gorgeous in a worsted weight yarn with nice drape and tonal color variations, so I can’t wait to see if people make it. This is my first contribution to the mag and there are more on the way!

The second envelope I opened contained Knit Simple’s Fall 2010 issue. Y’all –I can say that, now that I’m back in Texas– this is a really great magazine. Although I admit they don’t have a ton of crochet designs–mine is the only one in this issue–the designs on these pages have a truly classic and simple style. I think I may even knit one of them! And I know their editor does try to include crochet designs, so the more we speak up the more we might see them.  My contribution was this layette set–pullover, hat, booties and blanket. I worked each piece with slightly different stripe widths, because I wanted them to go together without being overwhelmingly matchy. Handy tutorials on working bobbles, decreases, and changing colors seamlessly are included. I think any little boy–or girl–would look cute in this, and of course you can change the colors to your liking. I worked the sample  in Paton’s Grace (DK weight), so you can even size it up for older kids by using a worsted weight yarn and a larger hook, if you like. There’s a great article on the Lion Brand  Notebook about just how to do that, if you’re interested.

In other crochet news, I was on Mary Beth Temple’s Getting Loopy podcast last night. We talked about Crochet Adorned, how hot it is in New Jersey, and other fun stuff. Go have a listen, and during the podcast we’ll reavel the top secret information you need to know to enter to win a copy of the book  for yourself.

Also, I can’t remember if I mentioned it here, but I started a group on Ravelry for my designs called Happy Crocheting with Linda Permann,  so please join and introduce yourself. And for the last time, join Ravelry already!

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend. I know my feet were happy to rest, but it’s back to the Yarnivore trenches tomorrow. First, to tackle the box of yarn the UPS man just brought me. Happy crocheting!