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?

“I own three stitch dictionaries, including one from the early part of the 1900’s from Fleisher. I think it is about time I get one from this century. They inspire me to buy lots and lots of yarn and design many beautiful pieces in my head. Making it all happen, I leave to those of you who are talented and experienced in that area. Thanks for all of your great work.”

In case you’re wondering, I use the random number generator to select a number, then I count through the comments in chronological (I hope–I just start at the bottom) order. I figure if they aren’t chronological, then it’s even more random. And sometimes I have to skip one where people commented twice. So, very random, and that’s why I don’t announce the official number, heh.

I was actually surprised at how many of you commented that you don’t own any stitch dictionaries. I totally get wanting to leave the designing up to designers (thank you, job stability), but–they are super great when you just want to make a scarf or blanket, or dilly dally with your hooks for a few hours. They are also helpful in figuring out what to do with those precious hand-painted skeins that have so much potential in the ball, but can often turn into patchy wonders when crocheted.  Think of them as a resource for anything you want to make that’s a  square rectangle–that’s a lot of stuff!

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.

A couple of weeks ago I received an email about a new-to-me crochet hook that’s designed specifically for working borders on flannel blankets and burp cloths. It is called the Sharp Crochet Hook and knew I wanted to try it out myself before recommending it, as I know a lot of people who make crochet edged items and would delight in a product that makes it easier to do.

When I wrote my Crafty Crochet Embellishments curriculum, I designed three lessons detailing the ways to add a crocheted edging to gift items–by starting with an embroidered blanket stitch, pre-perforating holes with the Skip-stitch Blade (which I still highly recommend for fleece) and sewing the trims on with a machine. So it seems like this product has been a long time coming. It’s important to note that this will only work with crochet thread–size 3, 10, or smaller. Fingering weight yarn works great too, since it’s about the same size as crochet thread #3.

The nice folks at Sharp Crochet Hook sent me a free hook to review,and I did a trial run with several swatches of fabric. Here’s what I found.

1) I think the hook works best on flannel. It’s easiest if you  machine sew two pieces of flannel together with a zigzag stitch around the border. You can use the stitch as a spacing guide and insert your hook in the bottom of every second (or third, or etc) zag, this makes it easier for the hook to glide through because the hole is already “started” by the sewing machine needle. I also tried a single layer of flannel with the edge folded over (shown in the multi-colored thread) and while it worked, it wasn’t as relaxing to get the hook through each time.

2) I also tried the hook on a tea towel, without a sewn zig zag edge- and it was harder to space and poke consistent holes, so I definitely think it’s helpful to have a sewing machine in conjunction with this hook (you could also run the towel through the unthreaded machine, just so it could start the holes for you).  I didn’t get a chance to try the machine/hook combo on cotton but have a feeling it would work similarly.

3) I tried it on fleece but it was too hard to comfortably poke through the fleece, so I still love my Skip-stitch blade for that purpose (plus I can use it with thicker yarn, which goes well with the thicker fleece). As for cardstock, it was too hard to punch the holes without wrinkling the paper, so I still think you’d be better off pre-punching holes for paper.

4) I didn’t have a chance to try it on socks and gloves, but I think it would work well on these.

Overall, I think this is a great product for flannel blankets and receiving cloths, and for sewers who don’t want to pay for pre-stitched edges on these items. With the sharp hook, you can use whichever flannel print you want instead of being limited to the available  pre-stitched fabrics. And at $6.99, it’s not much of an investment for something you can use over and over again to make great gifts. If you’re interested in purchasing one, click here– they’re offering free shipping through September.

The Sharp Crochet Hook crew has offered one hook for a Lindamade reader. To enter to win, comment with your answer the following question by Monday, September 26 and noon CST.

What would you make if you had a sharp crochet hook?

The random number generator picked 12, or Jane, to win the copy of  Brett Bara’s book, Sewing in a Straight Line. Jane said: “I would like to learn to sew kid’s clothes for my grandkids. Also a doable quilt like the one in the book.” Congrats Jane, I sent you a message, respond to claim your prize!

You still have time to enter the giveaway for Heady Affairs:7 Impetuous Hats to Crochet (midnight CST tonight!), so comment on my post if you haven’t already.

We just returned from a brief trip to Ada, Oklahoma where Paul had an art show. I picked up the little treasures you see above in an antique shop while I was there. It was a nice way to spend the afternoon, though I’m still thinking about one of the doilies that I left behind. Oh well!

When Susan asked me to contribute to the book, I had geek-worthiness-insecurities. I mean, I”m not that geeky! I’m definitely a dork and a nerd, but just not the type to fawn over tv shows and movies; or maybe, just not the ones that traditionally draw the following. However, flipping through the book reminded me that I DO have an inner geek and she loves these projects! I just want to share a few with you.

First, let’s get my blatant self promotion out of the way. I made this Trio of Tribbles (after the Trouble with Tribbles episode of Star Trek). I really can see no better use for furry yarn, Susan and I both dug out some of our neglected furry collection to create these. It’s a quick, fun project. No, they don’t actually do anything. But they’re funny and if you know a Trekkie, I think they’d get a kick out of them. I just love the photo of them on the bed–better than a mint, don’t you think?

I also swooned over this Oregon Trail cross stitch  project by John Lohman. I’d all but forgotten about Oregon Trail! As the kid who was not allowed to have video games, this computer game was the closest I got–and we got to play it as part of school! Remember how frustrating it was when you got dysentery and had to start over? Fun. I can’t believe how  much computers have changed since I was a kid.

Another amazing project is this Buffy Fuse Bead Portrait made by Shayne Rioux. I never got into Buffy–never tried, really—but wow, I love a good Perler Bead craft and I can imagine how many meditative hours I could spend on something like this. Actually, maybe I could make a Perler Bead Oregon Trail design and fuse both project ideas.

There’s so much more in the book, and if you are a geek (or “have a friend “who is a geek who might enjoy the book)–I think this would be a welcome addition to their shelf. If they (you) can find room among the DVDs, that is. I’m giving away a copy of this book to one lucky reader–comment with one of your geeky obsessions for a chance to win! I’ll leave comments open till Sunday evening, 5/9/11.

Head over to read about the blanket–you’ll also have the chance to win enough yarn to make your own!

To start off, I just want to mention that I am having a Little Crochet Book Signing at Yarnivore (San Antonio, TX) on Wednesday, April 13th from 5-8 PM, so locals, please mark your calendars for that! And if you’re in the Dallas Area, I’ll be doing a couple of signings at the DFW Fiber Fest (spots still available in my classes, by the way!)–one on Friday night after Mary Beth Temple’s Talk, and one on Saturday at Knitting Lagniappe’s booth (#38-39), at 1 PM. Saturday, April 9th.  Be there!

To celebrate the book in a virtual way, I’ve rounded up a host of bloggers, podcasters, and lovely people to review the book, make some projects, post insightful thoughts and of course, give away a few copies. There are even a few yarn giveaways thrown in, for extra fun. You’ll have to go to each day’s stop to see where the giveaways are, and here, I’ll write more about each person and how we know each other as their day approaches.

Here’s the official schedule, so you can keep up with all of the goodness.

Week 1
April 5     Susan B. Anderson
April 6     Carrie Lundell, This Mama Makes Stuff
April 7     Natalie Zee Drieu, Craft Zine
April 8     Diane Gilleland, CraftyPod
April 9     Joanna Johnson, Phoebe On the Road

Week 2
April 11    Stefanie Japel, + fun with Mary Beth Temple/ Getting Loopy (podcast)
April 12    Shannon Mullet-Bowlsby, Shibaguyz
April 13    Alice Merlino, FutureGirl
April 14    Brett Bara, Manhattan Craft Room, + an interview on the Knit Picks Podcast
April 15    Kristin Nicholas, Getting Stitched on the Farm
April 16     Ellen Gormley, Go Crochet

Week 3
April 18    Drew Emborsky, aka The Crochet Dude
April 19    Robyn Chachula, Crochet By Faye
April 20    Laurie Wheeler, Crochet Liberation Front
April 21    Guest Post on Whip Up
April 22    Vickie Howell
April 23    Cal Patch, Hodge Podge Farm

Week 4
April 25    Susan Beal, West Coast Crafty
April 26    Kristin Omdahl, Styled By Kristin
April 27    Floresita, Feeling Stitchy
April 28    Allegra Wermuth and Brandy Fortune, Petite Purls
April 29    Marlaina Bird will interview me on her Yarn Thing Podcast
April 30    Faina Goberstein, Faina’s Knitting Mode

I’ve been meaning to do a giveaway for a while now, but have been drowning in  yarn and writing over here. Nevertheless, I wanted to share some cool products that I’ve been given to give to you.

Here’s how it’s going to work: to enter the giveaway, leave a comment below. For a second entry, either tweet (@lindamade)  this post, join my facebook fan page, or link to this post on your blog, then come back here and comment again telling me you did so.  I will check up on you cause I stick to the rules like that, so just be honest. It’s free stuff! You have until Wednesday, August 18th at 12 midnight (central) to enter.

The first set of goodies is all from Boye/Simplicity, and would be great for crocheters and knitters alike. Included are: some “Crocheted By” sew-in tags,   yarn sleeves (for keeping your yarn from becoming yarn barf), a gauge check,  removable stitch markers, beaded stitch markers (these would only work for knitting, but you can always give them to a friend), a hairpin lace tool (might I suggest you make this?), and yarn talkers. The yarn talkers are the only non-self explanatory thing in here, they are little tags that say things like “right side” and “large” and “sleeve.” I’m a big believer in making things as easy as you can for yourself, so I love these. It’s much easier to remember what the right side is after you work the first row of any crochet project (as it typically is the first row, while it’s facing you), so I’m constantly telling my students to mark it while they still know what it is. Some labeles are also helpful if you know a project will sit for a while–as projects that need seaming often do– so you  can easily identify the pieces even if it’s been a while. The words are on one side in raised lettering, and I’ve also been using the other side with my own sharpie-written reminders. Yes, I kept some of these for myself.

I also have a few sets of cute Knit Knotes that I’ll throw in the bunch. These are from designer Meg Strong’s new collection of cards (which are available on etsy and at your local yarn store). I love the cheeky sentiment. Each set comes with 4 cards and the messages are cute and fun. We sell these at Yarnivore and I think they are perfect enclosures for handmade gifts.

To the pile, I’m also throwing in a size XL “Handmade is Better” shirt from Craftster (photo is directly from the Craftster site). I actually ordered this shirt for yours truly, but it was the wrong size. (There’s an involved story where I did try to get the right size, but sizing between different colors of the same cut apparently varies. I gave up even though the customer service was excellent). I’d say this fits a size medium, truly. A size large if you like feeling like a sausage. But the shirt itself is very cute and I only wish I’d ordered it in the right size. It’s not doing any good in my closet, so I hope one of you will enjoy it!

Again, to enter simply leave a comment below by Wednesday, August 18th at 12 midnight (central) . For a second entry, either tweet (@lindamade) this post, join my facebook fan page, or link to this post on your blog, then come back here and comment again telling me you did so (leave a link to your blog or twitter name, etc).  Please remember to leave your email so that I can contact you if you win.

Good luck!

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!