Today I’m reviewing a new book from Stacey Trock called Crocheted Softies. The book is full of 18 different amigurimi animals from around the world, everything from snails and reindeer to pandas and alligators–perfect for the kids in your life.

One thing I really like about the book is the way Stacey breaks out with a basic pattern that applies to many of the softies in the book. After all, heads, arms and legs are similar from one animal to the next, and she doesn’t waste space telling you the same instructions over and over again. This means there’s lots of room for generously sized photos and gives you a leg up in case you ever want to design your own softie. I also found the how to information super helpful in this book, Stacey takes the time to explain some of the finer details of working in the round, which you might find helpful, no matter what your skill level.

Another cool feature is that most of the animals take about a ball of the main color and then bits and pieces for things like eyes, ears, stripes, etc. She uses eco-friendly yarns throughout, and small projects are an inexpensive way to try out these blends. I’ll admit I never thought of using my Blue Sky Alpacas worsted cotton stash to make an animal, but now that I see that cute giraffe, I could easily be swayed. Check out all of the cute designs in Crocheted Softies right here on Ravelry.

Stacey sent me a copy of the book to give away to a Lindamade reader. Just answer the question below by Thursday, Dec 15th at midnight CST. I’ll come back and update this post with the winning info (and email the winner, too, who will have 3 days to claim their prize).

Have you ever crocheted an amigurimi or stuffed animal before? Got any tips for ami-makers?

The first project I have to tell you about is in a book by Tanis Gray,  called Knit Local: Celebrating America’s Homegrown Yarns. It’s a charming book, full of mostly knitting (and 2 crochet!) patterns, all inspired by American-made yarns. The best part about this book, if you ask me, is reading all of the stories about the history of over thirty yarn companies. In my opinion, many of the people working in the yarn industry, myself included,  do it  for love–and I love to read about the whys and hows, plus see pretty pictures of cute sheep, alpaca, goats and more.  The patterns are wonderful too, ranging from pillows and shrugs to cowls, vests and gloves. Many of them only take a few skeins of yarn, which is great because it makes supporting local yarn companies doable, even if you are on a budget.

My project is the Wildflowers scarf, a very simple lace pattern that utilizes increases and decreases to make the pointy petal shapes. At the time, I was interested in experimenting with them, because most crochet patterns tend to use chains and skipped stitches–for instance, filet crochet. I also wanted to do something in jut one skein of the luxurious–and boy howdy is it luxurious–yarn, Buffalo Gold Lux. The finished scarf measures about 5″ wide by 74″ long, but if I had it to do again I’d probably start with a shorter foundation chain and make a shorter, wider ascot-style scarf. It was really a treat to work with such a high quality fiber (a blend of bison, cashmere, silk, and tencel) and I’m honored that Tanis asked me to contribute to the book. Even if you don’t knit, Knit Local is worth checking out just for the sheer volume of information about American yarn companies. That is, assuming you are a dork like me.

Full Disclosure: Book links are Amazon affiliate links, and I have a project in this book, so they sent me a free copy of it. Also, I used to eat lunch with Tanis at least a few days a week for a couple of years, so, I might be biased.

Sometimes I look at the swatches I have already made, and am uninspired. This is when I turn to stitch dictionaries. Of all of the books on my shelf, the stitch dictionaries are the ones I love the most. The first crochet book I ever bought was a stitch dictionary–Donna Kooler’s Encyclopedia of Crochet, to be exact, and it is still a favorite.  No matter how many times I look at my collection, I can always pull out some new little detail  in a stitch pattern that I hadn’t thought about before.

So, I’m excited to have a big, fantastic addition to my stitch dictionary library in the form of Robyn Chachula’s new book, Crochet Stitches VISUAL Encyclopedia. When Robyn offered to send me a review copy of her book I didn’t hesitate, I knew it would be good.  And ladies and gents, it is 300 stitch patterns good!

The thing I really love about Robyn’s compilation is that, in true Chachula fashion, all of the stitch patterns are diagrammed. AND better yet, written as well. Having both sets of instructions available on each page will make any crocheter happy. The diagrams are easy to read and the photos are clear. I sometimes wish they were bigger, but I know how hard it must have been to fit 300 stitches in this tome so no complaints from me! One of the really excellent things about the diagrams is that they are shaded to show the stitch repeat–I love that!  Robyn also shares tips throughout the book, and gives suggestions on what each stitch pattern would be good for. If you want to sneak a preview of some of the stitches, there are some pretty excellent photos up on the Amazon page.

Robyn has pulled from a wide variety of places (most notably, her brain!)  to compile these stitches, and she included tons of new patterns that I have not seen in other stitch dictionaries. There’s a special section on Tunisian, which is great–and sections on edgings, motifs, partial motif laces, bruges lace, color work, mosaic crochet and much, much more. How she keeps churning out books, I’m not sure, but I am excited to dive in and investigate these patterns.

Freddie approves, too. He already tried to eat one of the tasty, fresh-from-the-printer corners. Once he learns how to hold the crochet hook, he’ll be on his way. Unfortunately,  I don’t think the “mouth hold” qualifies as an acceptable way to grip the hook, so I guess I’ll have to keep hooking my own samples for now…

Still reading? There’s a giveaway!: Want to snag your own copy of this book? Wiley has donated one copy for a lucky Lindamade reader. To enter to win, answer the following questions in the comments by Monday, Ocotber 31 at 12 midnight. I will select and email the winner, and they must claim the book within three days or forfeit the prize.

How many crochet stitch dictionaries do you own? (You can give me a rough estimate, if you’re scared to count them all).  How do they inspire your projects?

And, check out the rest of Robyn’s book tour here.

*Full Disclosure: Wiley sent me a free copy of the book to review, all book links in this post are Amazon affiliate links.

There is lots to love about Shannon’s collection of hats. First, most of the styles are suitable for either men or women, and they are shown on both male and female models–that means that when you show your man this book, excited that maybe he’ll “let” you make him a hat, he can actually visualize it on a man’s head. Each hat also comes in two sizes–S/M and M/L, which is great for those of us with watermelon heads (raises hand!)! And, they’re all easy or “easy plus” skill levels. Each is worked in worsted weight yarn, which means you can go stash diving and crank out a number of these hats without spending too much cash.

You might think you’re only going to make one or two, but trust me, when someone sees you wearing one, the “make one for me!” requests will start flowing in. There’s a little bit of everything in this book–unique constructions, interesting textures, and a bit of colorwork, too. Hats are one of my favorite things to design and make, and the hats in Heady Affairs look  like they would hold my interest and be something I would actually wear. These are a couple of my favorites, and you can see all seven hats on Ravelry.

Leisure Arts is giving away a copy to one lucky LindaMade Reader. For a chance to win, leave your answer to the following question in the comments, and be sure to enter your email or give me some other way to reach you. Deadline is Friday, August 19th at 12PM CST. I’ll pick the winner randomly.

What crochet technique would you like to learn more about? (It can be as simple as a certain kind of stitch, or a general idea like shaping, finishing etc).

Check out the rest of the blog tour. too–Next stop is Ellen Gormley of  GoCrochet.

Brett Bara is a crafty renaissance lady with many skills– you might know her from the TV show she hosts, Knit and Crochet Now!, or maybe as the former editor of Crochet Today! magazine. Perhaps you have seen her fabulous how-to video on making layered jello molds? But her latest project is something a little unexpected (though not if you know her!),  it’s a sewing book: Sewing in A Straight Line. I scored my own copy when we had dinner at TNNA and it has inspired me to dust off  my sewing machine.

Sewing in A Straight Line contains more than 25 projects to get your machines (or hands!) stitching– and whether you complete that sentence with “for the first time” or  “again,” you’re sure to find inspiration inside.  Brett breaks each design into straight lines only, and you’ll be surprised at just how clever she gets within that seemingly limiting challenge! The book includes patterns for round bowls, stuffed animals, and of course, that fabulous skirt on the cover–and all are made with straight lines only. Simple illustrations and well written instructions make it easy to follow even for a total newcomer, and three stunning video tutorials (for the Folded Flower Bowls, One Hour Skirt and Zippered Throw Pillow) will give you the confidence to tackle these projects. Brett believes that anyone can sew, and her book will help you do it well.

I wanted to make one of Brett’s projects as part of my  book review, which meant I actually had to dismantle my yarn winding station (see how sad it is in the upper right corner of that pic?). I told myself that I could only use fabric I already have, because I actually put a moratorium on fabric purchases last year–I just haven’t been sewing at all lately. Eager to rekindle my craft love affair, I found some bold flowy fabric and went for the 1-hour skit. For the record, it took me just over two hours to sew from start to finish, but I’m pretty  happy with how it came out (even if I am only going to wear it to the refrigerator).

While making the skirt I read Brett’s instructions for French Seams, and it crossed my mind to just skip that part. I definitely thought of French Seams as “hard” and “not worth the effort” but seeing the technique laid out so concisely in just a couple of steps convinced me to give it a go. It wasn’t hard, and you know what? You don’t have to be a genius to sew! But it sure helps to have some friendly advice, and Sewing in A Straight Line is full of it. Brett is honest and down-to-earth, even admitting that there were some things she didn’t know before working on the book. I think that attitude is so helpful, especially for new sewists.

With Brett’s encouragement, you’ll realize that you don’t have to be perfect to start and no one is going to know if you use a hardback book instead of  a clapper. And if you don’t know what a clapper is, don’t worry– I didn’t either, till I saw Brett’s list of tools. Now I know what to call that wooden “pressing thingy” my grandma gave me. If you’re one of those people “that would love to sew, but…” erase the dot dot dot with the help of this book.

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I asked Brett a few questions about sewing, and here’s what she had to say:

Fabric can add a powerful punch to basic projects–do you have any guidelines for new sewers when it comes to picking out fabrics? What about the times when  you forget your materials list, are there any rules of thumb about how much fabric to buy for certain projects?
My philosophy is to choose big, bold fabrics because they really bring a simple design to life. It’s okay if you don’t have advanced skills and you only sew basic shapes, because a great fabric will draw the eye to the print and texture of the fabric, rather than the sewing. As far as buying fabric, if I don’t know exactly how much I need of something, I usually buy two yards (unless I’m making something really big like curtains or a dress). If I see a fabric I love but don’t know what I want to make with it, I buy one yard, knowing I’ll use it for something small, some day. Or just let it be part of my gigantic stash till the end of time.

Do you have any sewing craftastrophes to share?
The most painful sewing memory I have is the time I wanted to sew myself a dress for a semi-formal dance in high school. I worked and worked on it, and it just wasn’t coming out right no matter what I did. I got so frustrated that I balled it up and threw it in the trash. These days I have more of an avoidance method and if a project isn’t turning out well, I’ll just set it aside, and then leave it sitting under a pile for years.

What was the first thing you ever sewed?
Aside from little swatches and doll blankets and things, the first project I remember making from a pattern was a top I sewed in second grade, with my mom’s help. I wore it to show and tell. It rocked.

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Now it’s time for you to show and tell! Brett is offering an autographed copy of Sewing in A Straight Line to one lucky Lindamade reader. To enter, leave a comment with the answer the following question (and a way to reach you!)  by Midnight (CST) Friday, August 12th.   What do you want to learn to sew??

I should also mention that Brett is doing a HUGE giveaway on her website, and you can enter to win your very own Singer Sewing Machine AND Serger! Click here for details! Happy Sewing!

When I lucked out and got my first editorial position as the Craft and Decorating Editor for the now defunct Joann magazine, I remember thinking, “Why can’t I ask my friend Susan to make  us some projects [instead of xyz designer] so I can make sure they are hip and cool?” And so I did. Even though Susan was in Portland and I in NYC, she was an inspiration to me–she wrote articles for cool magazines and worked on craft and jewelry books as a freelancer; and when I was looking to leave New York, she was the one who suggested I should write a book (which turned into Crochet Adorned). Without her suggestion and support, I never would have landed that first book deal that led me down a more focused road to crochet designing. And it was Susan who invited me out to Portland on the suggestion that I could do a book signing at Powell’s. Over the years we have been able to help each other out with jobs, ideas, and support, and I treasure her friendship.

And that is why I am so excited to introduce you to Susan’s newest book, Modern Log Cabin Quilting: 25 Simple Quilts and Patchwork Projects. The book contains 25 inspiring quilts and smaller projects, all made from the improvisation-friendly log cabin block. So, if you’ve always thought about quilting but the cutting and measuring never appealed to you–Susan’s book is the perfect introduction. Each project contains detailed information about the size of each central fabric piece, along with the width for each ‘log”, allowing you to assemble the blocks as-you-go rather than fussing over straight corners and perfectly cut dimensions. Susan also includes tons of clear technical illustrations to help you visualize techniques such as chain piecing, pressing seams, and sashing–things that some quilt books assume you already know.

Susan surprised and impressed me with her modern, colorful style. Each project feels distinctive in its fabric selection, and unlike many of the other “fresh” quilting books on the  market, she  mixes lots and lots of prints with great results and no need for solid “breathing ” fabrics in between. One of my favorite projects is the cover quilt–where Susan shows us that how to rotate one simple block to create a striking cross design. I would never have guessed that the Northwest Modern Quilt (above), contributed by Daniela Cane, was made from log cabin blocks, but a crystal-clear layout diagram makes it easy to see just how those simple blocks form this seemingly random design.

I also love the textural play of the Red Cross Bag, which employs both sides of corduroy fabric, producing an almost woven effect. This is a project that makes me want to sit at my sewing machine again!

And I was touched to see that Susan saved the first crochet flower she made (which I walked her through when I was in Portland) as a finishing touch for the Drawstring Bag. You know me, I never think you have to stop at just one crafty skill!

And just so you can see how easy this technique is, Susan has created a tutorial which you can view above or by clicking here. Be sure not to miss Modern Log Cabin Quilting, it will refresh your mind with new ideas for quilts. I just love that you can get so many results from the same style of block. And if you have a fabric stash that could use some spring cleaning, check out Susan’s new quilt project, Quilts For Quake Survivors.

Full Disclosure: Potter Craft sent me a review copy of the book, book links are affiliate links.

When Kristin, whom I met at TNNA last year, asked me to be part of her blog tour, it was easy to say yes. You might remember I crocheted her Sprout Shawl from Crochet So Fine, so I am already a fan. Each of her knit designs exudes her same signature style: drapey, soft, feminine, intricate, mathematical. simple. In this collection, she draws upon techniques from other crafts to inspire her knitting. There are a subtle differences in the way things are done between hooks and needles; some of these are simply because they are easier to perform with one tool than the other, but some things are probably just different because no one has thought to apply one technique to a different craft. If you like the look of crochet but don’t know how to use both tools, worry not, because Kristin has figured out how to harness hook-like power with two pointy sticks.

Check out this Melange Crochet-Look Scarf. Okay, sure, the title was a dead giveaway, but it screams crochet to me. And you know I love to see knitting imitate crochet! Reasons to knit it? You don’t know how to crochet, you don’t have a lot of yarn, you want to learn a new way of looking at similar techniques. And of course, because it’s simple and pretty, and I can imagine it is quite fast to make.

I also love the Echo Reversible Drop Stitch Mobius, with it’s gorgeously simple twists separated by strands of dropped stitches. It’s a real celebration of what you can do with two of the most fun to work knitting techniques. And it’s a project I’m confident that I can do (and will do, when I find the time)–and I’m mostly a “knit for fun and relaxation” type of knitter.

The book contains a number of pretty projects that will open your eyes to different construction techniques, plus you don’t  have to worry so much about fit since they are all shrugs, capes, scarves, wraps, and shawls. She employs techniques like motif-based constructions, intricate knit edgings and again explores one of her favorite themes, the infinity swirl. The book also includes a DVD where Kristin demonstrates her unconventional methods–making it easy to get the help you need to complete the projects. Be sure to check it out.

Tomorrow is the last day of the Kristn’s tour, head over to KnitPurlGirl for a further look into the book!

*disclosure: Interweave sent me a free copy of this book, book links are affiliate links.

I finally settled on the Maine Morning Mitts (my ravelry project page) pattern in Clara Parkes’  The Knitter’s Book of Wool. The pattern is actually available as a freebie right here and there are almost 2000 mitts (well, 4000 if you count 2 mitts per project) made with it on Ravelry as it’s an excellent way to show off one skein of pretty yarn. Side note: I don’t (yet) own the book, but I’ve been flipping through it a lot at work, and not only is it full of wonderful tidbits on wool (useful to knitters and crocheters alike), but there are so many classic, wearable patterns inside. It’s definitely work checking out.

Anyway, I decided to use this pattern to show off some of the Mountain Colors‘  Twizzle mill ends I collected when I was working at the Bozeman Yarn Shop. [Note: the pattern calls for a worsted yarn and this one is a DK, but hey, it worked for me and I love the snug fit!]. If you haven’t seen Mountain Colors yarn….well. Their hand-dyed colorways are simply gorgeous. And since we lived only a couple of hours from their headquarters in Montana, Barb (the LYS owner) stopped by occasionally and picked up mill ends for the store. I was there when she had a fresh batch –I’m talking bags full of mill ends–and so I had fun combing through all of the baskets trying to buy enough yardage for an undetermined project. Mill ends are perfect for me, since I often find it way too hard to decide on one color, and also, have a hard time justifying yarn purchases when I don’t know what they are for. Essentially, mill ends are to yarn as fat quarters are to sewing (only it’s harder to find mill ends! Especially ones you can dig through shamelessly).  To make these mitts,  I think I used 4 mini-skeins of Twizzle, max. The mitts are “fraternal twins” because I used two different–but very similar–colorways in one of the mitts.

I took this picture of Mitt 1 on Wednesday. They’re both done now, save for a few scraggly ends to weave in. I love these quick little knit projects, they take just the right amount of time, I learn a little something with each one, and they’re small enough that I can actually complete them between other projects (and big enough that I can use them as an excuse to avoid all of the housework that needs to be done…). And just in case you think I have forgotten about crochet– I’m working on a cardigan made from motifs right now (from this Portugese pattern). Hopefully I’ll share some progress pics with you next week!

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And a  little reminder in case any San Antonians are reading… My Intermediate Crochet: Creating Texture class begins this Sunday, and there are still spaces available. I have lots of fun swatches and examples from my book to show you along with the techniques. Call Yarnivore to sign up.

If you ever read Adorn (RIP),  you probably know the work of Kayte Terry (or, perhaps you know her blog, This is Love Forever). I’d known Kayte for a long time via my crafty internet circle, and then had the chance to work with her as the stylist for many a photo shoot. Kayte has a great eye for color, display, and, well, just putting things together. Which is why it makes perfect sense that she would write a book all about embellishing: Appliqué Your Way

applique (noun) ornamentation, as a cutout design, that is sewn on to or otherwise applied to a piece of material

In this book, Kayte explores the myriad ways to accent your home and wardrobe, using all sorts of techniques including sewing, gluing, and even pasting things to your wall. The book contains several contributions by crafty ladies, and with a quick flip of the pages you can probably tell which project was mine…

This crocheted applique tee came out of my idea to do a crocheted mesh piece covering a deep V neckline and add floral elements to that mesh. Of course, it can be difficult to find a deep V-neck t-shirt when you need one, so the result was slightly less dramatic (but more wearable, which is a good thing). I love to apply crochet to garments, and this design definitely lets you decide where you want to put all of the piecces.

There are lots of cute and clever projects in this book– I wish I had taken more photos to show you. (For more project peeks, head over to Craftypod or The Constant Gatherer.) Think of it as a guide to making your own clothes like those you’d find at Anthropologie, using your own stash of fabrics, bits and bobs. These projects are great because you can start with something that fits–whether you made it yourself or bought it– and go to town decorating it in your own style. Kayte also designed the most adorable home projects, including ornaments, hanger covers, trivets, coasters, cozies and more. It’s definitely worth checking out and there are a couple I have my eye on for when I get back into “crafting for me” time.

If you’d like to be entered to win a free copy of Appliqué Your Way (courtesy of Chronicle Books), leave a comment here by Sunday, December 20th at 12 midnight. In your comment, answer this question: “What’s your favorite way to use applique designs?” Your answer can be a certain thing that you like to decorate, or a certain technique you use, but you must answer the question in order to be entered to win. Good Luck!

(Almost) All of the wraps in the books are secured with knots, and she guides you through each step with helpful diagrams (think origami books). She covers everything from basic shapes to wrap, such as wine bottles, books, and boxes and gives tips on variations that can make your gift unique. As a bonus, fabric wrap is much easier to use on odd shaped items that are typically hard to cover with paper.

I think these ideas would work well for gifts to your sewing and quilting friends, who might have more fun with the wrap than the gift itself. My favorite project has to be the Repurposed Wrap, where she shows you how to use an old long-sleeved dress shirt for the wrap.

I have one copy of this book to give away, so please leave a comment here if you’d like to win a copy! Comments will close next Monday, September 14th at 12 pm Mountain Time.