When I was living in New York, I only went to a couple of LYSs. I didn’t get cheerful service when I said that I was a crocheter, so after a few tries I stuck to the plentiful scrap boxes we had at Soho publishing. Then I moved to Montana and began to write my first book. Initially I visited the two shops there as a means to research yarns, but what I found on the way was a great community. Barb at the Bozeman Yarn Shop asked me if I wanted to teach crochet, and a few months later asked if I wanted part  time work in the store. I was hesitant at first, but once I started I realized that just being in the store helped generate a lot more interest in my classes and in crochet. It was also totally inspiring for me to see what other people were doing with the yarn we carried. Sometimes I inspired customers, sometimes they inspired me! On a personal level, it also helped me to get out of the house during a very stressful time in my life. Working from  home can be lonely, especially when you are new in town, and living in a basement very far away from my hurting family was making me crazy!!  Having somewhere to go a few days a week was so important for me. To be honest, I think that’s also important for our customers –they come in regularly for yarn, lessons and classes.

So I knew when I moved back to San Antonio that I needed to march right on in to one of the LYSs and beg for a job, which is exactly what I did.  It wasn’t  hard, and I didn’t end up having to beg because Tammy at Yarnivore snapped me right up! One of the things I love about working there is connecting with crocheters. I have no idea what it was like before I got there, but there are a ton of crocheters in the greater San Antonio area. Now that they know I’m there to answer questions, they keep coming in to see what’s new.  I was completely thrilled last weekend when Jeannie (above) walked in wearing the Pretty Petals Tank Top she made  from Crochet Adorned. I hadn’t met her before (she lives in another city), but she bought the  book on an earlier visit and just happened to be wearing the top. Her version was so well made and I was honored to see it in action.  I know leisure time is limited and I often tell my students that I get paid in appreciation, it’s really exciting when someone takes the time to work one of my patterns.

I also get  the opportunity to teach*, which keeps me in touch with what counts as easy or difficult in crochet.  Crocheting is not hard, but reading patterns can be– and teaching crocheters makes me really think about what makes a pattern easy to understand, and what I can do to motivate crocheters to explore the possibilities of creating beautiful fabric. I get to be a show-off –not only of my work, but of other skilled crochet designers (like Robyn Chachula, Doris Chan and Dora Ohrenstein). In my “spare time” (ha, ha) I make samples and teach classes based on their patterns. I love that we have so many crocheted samples in the store that are not just granny squares or double-crochet swatches (not that there’s anything wrong with those)– we have the same advanced samples that are abundant for knitters, to show crocheters what they can aspire to. I know I’ve done well when I hear knitters admiring crocheted pieces in the store. There are many, many needlecrafters who do both but haven’t thought about crochet in a while, and it’s only now working its way into the spotlight.

I think that as a craft, crochet is finally primed for its heyday, and that’s exciting. But without a community to share, it’s hard to get the fire going. So I’m writing this post to encouarage you, wherever you are, to seek out your local yarn shop. You don’t have to want to work there. But, bring samples of your best work. Show the owner what crochet can do. If you feel you are skilled enough and have the time, offer to teach or make samples for the store. I’m not saying that every yarn shop is friendly to crochet, but to be frank, some of them aren’t friendly to knitters either. It’s not you, it’s them, so it’s worth a shot to extend an offer.  And it really doesn’t need to be an us/them (knit/crochet) battle- we all love yarn, and most people do not actually look down on one craft or the other–they just know their craft, and they are having fun with it. So be a crochet ambassador and find your local community. Maybe it’s not in your shop, maybe it’s in a library or a CGOA guild. But the only way we can move crochet forward is by sharing and inspiring each other. It really is up to you!

And hey- if you already have a crochet friendly yarn shop, I’d like to hear about it! Please post in the comments and describe what it is about the shop that inspires you. And actually, I’d even like to hear what makes a good yarn shop in general, for any fiber artist–knitter, crocheter, tatter, spinner. It’s good fodder for an article I’m putting together, so I may even email you to learn more.

*Ps. The photo above is of my Broomstick Lace Workshop. Yes, we’re wearing pipe cleaners on our heads. We know how to have a good time!

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?

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!

Just a last-minute heads up to let you all know that I’m going to be on the Yarn Thing podcast tonight (9 PM EST/ 8 Central) ! We’ll be giving away a copy of Crochet Adorned on the air, so listen live and call in for your chance to win. Imagine that I look like I do above while you listen, because in reality it is laundry day, and I have to go to my mom’s house to use her land line. Hah!

And check out Marly’s blog (she’s the host) while you’re at it.

(If you can’t listen live, don’t worry, the podcast will be up afterwards, too.)

I’ll be working at Yarnivore all this week, so all will be quiet on the blog front!

If you’re seeking crochet inspiration, might I remind you that Easter is coming up and I have a free crochet pattern for easter eggs, chicks and bunnies? A reader recently sent me a pic of one of the eggs she made– she lined the bottom with fabric and turned it into a pin cushion– what a great idea!

Craft  zine also recently republished my wildly popular Crocheted Reversible Swiffer Sock pattern in an easy-to-print format.

And if you still haven’t gotten your hands on Crochet Adorned (which was nominated for a Flamie!), Blue Bird Luxe is giving away a free copy on her blog!

Have a great week!

The drawing above is by Paul Heaston–it’s my yarn swift.

First, Crochet Adorned was nominated for Best Crochet Book of 2009.

And I was nominated for Best Accessories Designer (hats, socks, scarves, jewelry, etc). I’m flattered! Here’s a slew of some of my favorite designs from the past year (you can also check my ravelry page).

Go forth and vote for your favorite designers. You don’t have to vote in each category if you don’t want to, but show your favorite crochet designers a little love!

All of which I am telling you in order to say: I don’t think I’ve accomplished much that I can share this week. I’ve swatched and proposed and crocheted some things for publication, but you know how that goes. The swatches are pretty though, no? And that green one on the needles? That was me teaching myself to knit backwards–yay! But enough about that– I want to share a few fun crochet-related  links I visited this week.

- Tahki Stacy Charles has a gorgeous new pattern book called City Crochet available. As a company, they’ve always been good about including crochet, partially, I think (in my head, based on no researched fact) because they provide nice, lightweight yarns that lend themselves to crochet. Click here to check out the pretty.

-FuoriBorgo has been delving into Crochet Adorned and has some lovely results to share on her blog. First off are the evolving trivets. I love this post, and her project, because she used the book in exactly the way I intended and hoped. She started out making the trivets as written in the book, but when the shape of hers turned more hexagonal, she combined it with a scalloped trim from another project and a flower pattern from the stitch dictionary to make it her own. I love it! She’s also resizing the Floral Motif Yoke Top (ravelry  link)  for her toddler- I can’t wait to see how it turns out.

-Fellow crochet designer Ellen Gormley is starting a crochet along for her shawl pattern — go check it out and join in the fun!

-I’m going to call this one crochet related even though it is really about jello. Check out Brett Bara’s (Editor of Crochet Today and host of Knit and Crochet Now–see the relation?) awesome layered jello dessert. It’s really splendid looking. I don’t think I have the time or patience to ever make it, but I love the way hers came out!

-Not really a link, but a reminder for local folks: I still have a few spots in my Broomstick Lace class on Sunday. If you’re interested, please call ahead to sign up.

And now, if I haven’t lost you yet… I want to open up the comments for  any questions you might have for me. I’m thinking that I get a lot of the same types of questions in my email and it would be fun to put together a FAQ page of sorts, or just to post answers to your questions (Ann Landers style. Oh, I always wanted to be an advice columnist…) over time, especially on weeks where I don’t have a lot to show you. Just remember that I probably won’t answer these in the comments, as that would defeat the purpose–so you’ll have to keep reading. The questions can be about whatever you want, but of course, it’s up to me whether and when I choose to answer them. Please, come up with some fun ones or I’ll have to make them up and pretend I didn’t write them.

*Just so you know about the quality I put into this blog, I had to look that word up. And that is not how I thought it was spelled!

I also found out that Rowan has put out their first ever Crochet-only booklet. This is exciting! It’s frustrating to buy “knit and crochet” magazines for only one  or two crochet designs (although I would do it, if I was sure I wanted to make it) and it’s so nice that they have put out an entire collection of classic, wearable crochet. You can bet I’ll be poking my LYS owner to order this one– if you crochet, and want to see more of these kinds of things, I encourage you to “vote” with your dollars. Thanks to Rebecca at A Slice of Life for the heads up on this one!

Ooh, and, thanks to the Crochet Today blog, I noticed Secret Pocket is hosting a giveaway of her lovely magnets made from doilies and lace. Very cute- head over and enter to win a set.

And, just by chance a customer mentioned Haruni,  a beautiful (free!) knit shawl pattern that gets a little help from the crochet hook during the cast off to create the looped edge. Gorgeous! One day I will knit that well and casting off with crochet will be a breeze. But if one of you wants to knit the knitted part and then let me do the crochet part, I think that’d be a fair trade (not). I added to my favorites, hopefully to be moved to my queue one day.

In the meantime, I keep crocheting away. As promised, here is a little peek at the crochet cardigan (ravelry link) I am making myself. I am mostly done with the fronts and back, and now need to add the edging and sleeves (if I can decide what I want there), then weave in the remaining ends. It has been fun to work this one. I’m not sure how much wear I will get out of it but I love the color and I hope the end result is flattering. The big motifs are making me wonder, though.

So, what kind of crochet love have you seen around the net lately?

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By the way– thank you to everyone who has purchased my Cables and Lace Scarf Pattern. There are still a few days for you to get it at the sale price of $2! Just so you know, I love nothing more than to see completed projects from my  patterns, so if you do make it, please add your completed versions to Ravelry or email me a photo. I also wanted to remind you that 50 percent of proceeds from all of the rest of my patterns (or things in my etsy) will be donated to Doctors without Borders through February 15th.  I even (finally!) added a pattern page to my website with more descriptions of each pattern, in case you aren’t on Ravelry.

Beata started making these in October right around the time she got her hands on a copy of Crochet Adorned, and apparently she has been crocheting up a storm!! I think I would be so happy to walk into my bedroom (or any room!) and see these– and in case you don’t crochet (or sew), she’s selling them in her etsy shop. Her fabric and yarn color combos are excellent, and after trying to match clothes to  yarn for a good six months, let me tell you- it’s not as easy as she makes it seem! So, if you’re looking for something happy to give this holiday, check out all of her pillow case listings.She’s even having a giveaway on her blog here, check it out! And if you want to give it a shot yourself– add Crochet Adorned (perhaps a signed copy?) to your list.

I also wanted to share the sweetest email I got today about the book, in case there are any crocheters on your gift list.

Hi, I received a copy of your above mentioned book and I wanted to tell you that I absolutely LOVE it!!!! The items in your book are beautiful. The instructions are clearly written and the pictures are just gorgeous. It’s been a long time since I’ve received a gift that I’ve enjoyed as much as this one. I’m not much of a winter person so I’ve been very busy creating items for spring with the help of your lovely and wonderful book and that keeps my spirit lifted. Thank you for sharing your talent with the rest of us, Sharon

E-mails like this, and seeing what you all come up with, are the reasons why I do what I do. So thank you, thank you! And while I’m at it, here are a couple of links to some other awesome adaptations from the book. Click on over.

Lovely Sewn/Crocheted Bird Pillow by Seams of Life (warning: cute cat photo ahead)

Pretty Floral Crochet Cushion by Hen House (hey, another cute cat! You heard it here: 2 out of 2 cats recommend Crochet Adorned!)

And, not in the book, but available in the Crafty Tree Trimmings E-book, my  Crochet Star Ornaments: Diane’s take!

Have a happy, crafty Sunday!