Start with the Super Simple Pillow, which is worked all in single crochet–and fast! Chunky yarn makes it really quick, so quick that I was tempted to work up a few for my own sofa. I think it would look great with some surface embroidery or applique, or you could make each side a different color (or one side striped, one plain) to give yourself options. This is a good way to practice counting  your stitches and maintaining an even count from row to row.

Next, work the Perfect Granny Scarf . Many people learn on a granny, because working into chain-spaces is easier than working into stitches–but I do think that knowing basic stitches first is helpful. Here I made the scarf all in one color for a modern look, but of course you can work with scraps, too. It’s a great way to start working in the round,  practice double crochet stitches, and learn to join and edge squares.

And lastly, my favorite– the Beginner’s Beret. This one will teach you to work in the round, increase, and practice your half double crochet stitches. In the interest of keeping it simple, there are no decreases in this pattern!  I really liked the style of this hat (which can also be worn more as a slouchy hat instead of a beret) and I may need to make one for myself. Of course, I can’t even think about needing a hat in the heat of a Texas summer, but thinking of Fall will get me through it. Again, you can check out all of these projects plus a load of cute 9 to 5 office wear and Halloween costumes in the Sept/Oct 2010 Crochet Today.

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Locals, I also wanted to mention that I added my August Classes to the Yarnivore Calendar. I’m most excited about the Baby Sweater (or Blanket) class on Monday nights. We’ll be working from my Layette pattern in Knit Simple, and I’ve even arranged to borrow the sample so y’all can see it up close. If you take on the sweater, you’ll learn how to wrangle yarn during colorwork, simple shaping, increases and ribbing, and how to seam garments. All of which can be applied to adult garments, of course. Call ahead to reserve a spot!  Also in August: Learn to Crochet, Crocheted Sun Hat, Broomstick Lace and Crochet Fix (the fix it and share group). And there’s still room in Intermediate Crochet in July (Saturdays, the 24th and 31st).

I’m off to a few relaxing days with my family this week, but I’ll be back soon with a giveaway!

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!

I hope you all have as much fun for the Fourth of July as this cute little lady seems to be having.  My twitter friend Carrie (also of  This Mama Makes Stuff) sent me this photo to of her daughter wearing an adorable dress she made using the trim pattern from the Seaside Dress in Crochet Adorned.  It affirms my belief that crochet doesn’t have to hit you over the head to be beautiful. And it also doesn’t have to be time consuming–she’s working on another dress for her older daughter to wear on the 4th, too.   I can’t wait to see what she comes up with!

Do you have any special plans (or project plans) for the holiday weekend?

Coming up in July I’m offering  Learn to Crochet, Intermediate Crochet (Creating Texture), Crochet Embellished Flip Flops (fun, easy, great gifts & no experience necessary), a Broomstick Lace Workshop and Crocheted Socks.

I’m also trying something new called Crochet Fix. This is going to be a 2-hour session each Saturday where you can come to crochet and chat and get help on the project you are working on. You can get your “crochet fix” and  you can get your crochet fixed. The price is very reasonable, so if you need a place to work with no distractions, an on-hand expert (me) to help you & provide tips and tricks, plus the camraderie of other crocheters, stop by and see what’s happening. One of the things that I think crocheters are missing out on is community.  There is so much that we can all learn from each other–so I hope you’ll consider stopping in for a nice crochet ‘n’ chat session. Not to toot my own horn, but even my students who have been crocheting for years pick up skills in my classes- whether it’s clarifying those pesky turning chains once and for all, talking about blocking, or helpful tricks including how to use stitch markers, how to make  linked stitches, & how to know just where to work into an edge.

In other news, I’ve just released my Breezy Hat Pattern for sale, as originally seen in the Summer 2009 issue of Interweave Crochet.  Click here if you’d like to purchase it, no ravelry account needed. This was actually the first pattern I had published by Interweave, hopefully there will be more in the future. I love that they are good to their designers and let us sell the patterns once it has been a year from the publish date. This pattern has been tech edited (by Interweave) and re-edited and re-tested (by me,  yesterday) with updates on making the hat in a solid color, if you prefer. That’s what I did for the  above sample, since I was too stressed to even think about taking a photograph of the original hat at the time I sent it in. I love it in a solid color, too, and if you are an experienced crocheter, you can make this in a matter of hours. Throw a flower on it (might I suggest my free tutorial?) and it’s a great gift. Hey, it’s never to early to start thinking about the holidays.

Happy Crocheting!

1. Doily Earrings / On Ravelry

When I was writing Crochet Adorned, my goal was to show people how modern and beautiful (and instantly gratifying) crochet can be, and ultimately, to lure people to crochet. For me to learn a new craft, there has to be something I want to make with it. So I wanted to make the book that would make people want to crochet. The whole idea of Crochet Adorned is that you can use the crocheted touches on knitwear, crochet wear, sewing, quilting, scrapbooking or whatever your heart desires. There’s even a stitch dictionary in the back with more trims and motifs, and 30 solid stitch patterns in case you also want to make a foundation piece, such as a scarf or bag. If you don’t like a particular color or design, that’s cool, cause I tell you all about how to make it yours!

2. Tank Top/ On Ravelry

And just so nothing gets automatically dismissed, I want to show you how very NOW these designs are. I found examples of readymade clothing that are pretty darn close to the techniques I outline in the book. So, here we go. The items on the left are available for purchase on websites right now. The items on the right are patterns in Crochet Adorned.  Links to purchase-able items below each picture (photos are from the listed websites, please don’t sue me!), links to ravelry page of projects for inspiration are on the right. (Please, please, upload your pics to Ravelry if you’ve made projects. I started a group for the book, so join us over there, too!)

3. Crochet Back Tank / On Ravelry (Yes, I realize that’s machine-knit lace, but you get the idea)

4. Inset Sleeve Trim Tee / On Ravelry (same deal about the lace)

5. Floral Cardigan / On Ravelry

6. Flower Trimmed Tank/Dress / On Ravelry

7. Trimmed Dress / On Ravelry

8. Two Pair of shoes / On Ravelry

There you have it. Crochet is fashionable, and if you tell me otherwise, I’m sending you to bed without your dinner!

The first thing I picked up to keep my hands busy was my own Blooming Sun Hat (my design,  in Crochet Today May/June 2010) worked in Knit One Crochet Too’s Ty Dy Cotton. I have been reading about the yarn on Ravelry,  and crocheters like it because it has long color repeats (important for the tall and yarn-eating crochet stitch). I finally found some of it close-to-locally when Paul took me on a Hill Country Yarn Crawl of my very own for my birthday last month, so I bought a ball to swatch with. The yardage is generous –another plus for crocheters!– so I figured I would be able to make the hat with enough to spare for swatching. Overall, I like how the coloring worked out, but I actually think that a stiffer cotton (such as the Red Heart Eco-Cotton I used for the magazine) was well suited for this hat, as it made the whole thing a bit more stiff. A cotton linen blend would be nice as well–it all depends what you are going for. I do love that the lighter weight of this yarn and I already wore the hat outside  to do some gardening this morning.

I’m also thisclose to finishing another pair of Easy Does It Crocheted Socks from the aptly named book, Crocheted Socks: 16 Fun-To-Stitch Patterns. I started these with my sock class that I taught at  Yarnivore using Stroll sock yarn from Knit Picks (leftover from a forthcoming design). Since I needed a sock to demonstrate on I figured I would go ahead and make the pair, I just made them short anklets since I had used part of the skein for the other project and knew I wouldn’t have enough to make a full cuff. I am proud to say that I guessed just right and ended up with just a few yards left of yarn– it feels so good to USE it UP sometimes, doesn’t it? I have so much stash leftover from book and mag projects and I really hate to let it languish, but I do start to get sick of a yarn if I already made the intended project, the scrap project, and still have more left! Heh! Anyway, the socks fit perfectly, I just need to sew up the toe. Unfortunately, in my opinion these socks are an example of what short color repeats look like in crochet—ugly. While I love the colors of this yarn, I don’t really like the way it pooled here, which happened because the repeats are too short (for this stitch pattern, in crochet). If you end up with a yarn like this, try alternating it with a solid to space out the pools–that’s what I did for the forthcoming project and I like it much better. But, hey, free socks to wear around the house!

The last thing in the works right now is actually on my knitting needles– I got them out last night and cast on for my Rippley Sweet BonBon Baby Blanket, a free pattern on Ravelry,  from Austin’s great yarn shop, Hill Country Weavers. One of my favorite students came in with the yarn and pattern for a couple of these and I helped her with them, and then when I was in their store this weekend I could no longer resist starting my own.  I had about 3 skeins of Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton left over from Tricia Royal’s Mod Cross Pillow in Crochet Adorned and they all matched well with one of multicolored Filatura Di Crosa Bon Bon skeins (the pom-pom yarn) in the store, so I went ahead and got it, along with the red cotton. I’m going to make my blanket stripey so I can work with what I have. This is another favorite way for me to use stash/leftover yarns–buy just a little of something new to make them fun again. And- knit with them instead of crocheting with them (or vice versa). The stitch pattern on this project  is relatively simple but I find that it helps to place a marker between each repeat so that if you get hung up somewhere it’s easy to follow the repeat and figure out which section is the problem. It’s very addictive to work this, too- in fact I’m trying to avoid it right now so I can actually get some things done today.

That’s what’s new over here– what’s on your hooks and needles?

You can’t tell from the photo (or maybe you can!) but I have a terrible head cold and drove through some damn scary torrential rains this morning to get to work. I need a nap! But look! Cardi! Pretty! Fun! And I was so excited to set up my first student today with the yarn for hers. She’s a librarian who hosts a monthly crochet group at her branch– shout out to Theresa!

I also crocheted my own Blooming Sun Hat (pattern in Crochet Today) in Knit One, Crochet Too’s TyDy cotton last night (being sick is the perfect time to follow something already plotted out for me) because I wanted to try the yarn out. It has long color repeats which are great for crochet (hint hint to yarn manufactureres!). It came out cute… will post a pic soon. I do love that hat.

Have a lovely weekend y’all. I’m totally back to saying y’all, 8 months into re-Texanizing myself.

Earlier today I was trying to decide on buttons. I went with the ones on the right-most card in this photo, which I got just a few weeks ago on a birthday trip to Comfort. They are a pretty shade of blue and have a sweet little embossed texture on them. I decided not to make this cardi button all of the way down, since I don’t ever envision wearing it that way, and that worked out since the card only had 4 buttons on it.

This sweater has been so much fun to work, it’s really pretty simple and I think it will even make a good first sweater project for anyone who might be contemplating jumping into wearables. If you were, for some reason, afraid of the post-spike pattern (don’t worry, you shouldn’t be) you could even just work this in solid rows and get a nice effect.

For that reason, I’ve decided to teach this as a My First Crochet Sweater Class at Yarnivore. Lots of people  have been asking for an adult sweater class–so, locals,  here’s your chance to sign up. The cool thing is that since the sweater is short-sleeved, it won’t eat a ton of yarn, and we have lots of affordable (and luxurious!) options in the shop. I think you could even make it out of Berocco Comfort DK and that would put the yarn cost in the $20  range–a steal!  The class is 4 sessions, Monday nights, beginning May 31st.  Go to the store calendar for more details–you can comment or email me if you have questions, but you’ll need to reserve a spot through the store.  I know summer is pretty much here, so please don’t let needing to miss 1 class prevent  you from taking this– I think you’d be okay so long as the missed class was in the middle somewhere.

In other news– I’m going to the Renegade Craft Fair in Austin on Saturday. If you see me, say hi! I don’t have a booth or anything, but I will be shopping around with my sister, who kind of looks like my twin. That’s how you’ll know it’s me! And hey, maybe I’ll be wearing the finished sweater by then!

Two of my most recent patterns (both from Crochet Today, May/June 2010) are, at least for the moment, the top two most active crochet patterns on Ravelry! As a designer….ahem, as a designer who just had her taxes done and sometimes questions her career choice…. this is a great reward. It’s things like this that make me feel my work is worth it!

But let me take this opportunity to talk about something that bugs me. It’s still totally depressing to me that the most active crochet patterns on this site might have 20 or 30 people making them (or at least, taking the time to mention that they’re making them), whereas the most active knitting patterns on Ravelry have numbers in the thousands! That’s where you come in. If you haven’t joined Ravelry, why not?!  I, and I think many in the yarn industry, use it as a sort of pulse on what’s popular and interesting to yarn crafters and having more crocheters make their presence known can only help show industry folks that we crocheters are passionate about our craft. Plus, it’s an awesome (Free! Non-Spammy!) way to find inspiration and connect with your fellow crocheters.  You can see if other people made a design you’re thinking about in a different yarn, if they have any helpful tips or modifications for designers, or if they got hung up somewhere–which might help you avoid the same mistake. I also love to use it to check out pictures of potential wearables on people close to my size so I have a true idea of whether or not they will work on my figure.

And just so you know, I go to my designer activity page every day–among other things, it shows me when people posts pictures of projects made from my patterns. Sometimes I get sucked in to the working-at-home vacuum  (thank goodness for my part time job at Yarnivore!), but this website this really makes me feel connected to you all– my happy, creative crocheters!

Which reminds me, did you know I have a fan page on Facebook? I won’t clog your home page as I only update once or twice a week, but I like to share when I have new posts and patterns, or when someone else posts about my patterns. Click here to “like” me.

Thanks for continuing to support and crochet from my work, and keep the project photos and notes coming!

First off, I hit the jackpot at this thrift/craft market right by Yarnivore. My coworker was in on her day off and she went over there, so we asked her how it was inside. (You know how it is: you work somewhere, and you never go to all of the places right nearby?) She mentioned buttons and my boss turned to me and said “Go!”. I do have a thing for buttons, I can’t help it!  Anyway, I scored 2 sandwich sized zipper bags of buttons on cards for $4/piece. The ladies at the register were confused about the price but it was right, so hooray for me. I was good, I left several jars of buttons there…but I may need to go back and look at them again. Ahem. Not that I need any buttons…

The garden is doing well. The cats seem to stay out of it and almost everything has sprouted. So far: tomatoes and zuchinni (starts from a friend), scarlet runner beans, garden beans, chard, radishes, oregano, marigolds and cucumbers have shown their leaves– I took pics, but as you might imagine, they are not that exciting yet. In other back yard news, my mom and I are going to attempt to spay and release all 6 stray cats (above, plus one) that live between both of our neighbors’ back yards. They are so cute, but we definitely do not want more of them. As long as the neighbors feed them, there will be more, so….we’ll see how the whole trapping thing goes. We’re going to a feral cat meeting tomorrow, so hopefully they will give us plenty of tips. I can’t be a cat lady because I’m allergic to cats, which is probably a good thing for me and my yarn.

I’m still teaching classes at the shop and wanted to give a heads up that I have a baby sweater class starting this Monday. Email me for more information on the pattern specifics, but it’s a little girl’s pattern (size 6 months, 12 months, or 18 months, and it runs big) and you will learn lots of skills that you can use for adult sized sweaters. Learning them on the smaller scale first is fun because you don’t have to worry too  much about fit plus we don’t have to deal with any body issues (haha!), and you should be able to finish a lot of the work in class. The cost is $60 + materials, and we have yarn options ranging from about $15 to however much you want to spend. It meets 4 Monday nights from 6-8 pm. If you’re interested, call the shop or email me, it’s always fun to have at least 3 or 4 people in a class. I’m halfway through a sock class right now and it’s so fun to see how each of the yarns work up in crochet.

And finally, one of my pattern customers has begun selling the raffia sun hats (from this pattern) in her etsy store. If you don’t crochet, here’s your chance to get one at a very fair price. She even makes them in smaller sizes for kids. I haven’t seen the hats in person, but from the photos and my conversations with Cynthia I can tell you that I think you’ll be getting a quality product. And just so you know,  if you want to make something from one of my self published patterns to sell in your shop, just email me to discuss (I do allow it, for a small fee + link exchange).