My Brain is Exploding!

I have a cyclone of crochet ideas swirling around in my head.  I am writing them down,  making notes, drawing pictures, swatching different yarns, and then I start all over again.  It is a dizzying cycle.  

I am finding that I can crochet a garment that fits with a higher degree of success than I have ever experienced with knitting.  I am not sure why this is happening.  I think part of it is the ease of adjusting a crochet pattern...a stitch here or a stitch there can make a difference.  I find it harder to do this kind of adjustment with knitting.

The other aspect is my short attention span.  I get bored.  Crochet works up faster than knitting so my need for instant gratification is more easily fulfilled with crochet.  And the last thing that makes knitting garments frustrating for me is actually a small personality flaw.  I don't follow directions well.  Yes, I admit it - I prefer to blaze my own trail so following a pattern usually results in my mind wandering thus mistakes being made.  

This shell is a perfect example and is now one of my favorite garments.  I used 2 yarns from Louisa Harding, Nautical Cotton and Cinnabar.  

The main body fabric was crocheted side to side in one piece.  The vertical stripes create a flattering line and helps prevent over stretching and sagging.  What I love most is the back.

I could have put the motifs in the front but I decided that putting them in the back was unpredictable and fun.  The best part is that Louisa (I had to name it after Louisa Harding since her yarn was my inspiration.) is reversible.  Business or party?  I can decide and even change my mind - gotta love it!

My current project is another sleeveless shell - this time a scoop neck and fitted, also worked side to side.  I am using short rows and strategically placed increases and decreases so that it will flow over my curves.

The picture is blurry but you can see the markers I placed so that I would shape the hips, waist and bust where needed.  I hope to finish it this weekend and then I'll post the final result.  For those of you going to Chain Link, you'll know it is me when you see this top.

T.I.E.,

Sheryl

Hip Cat has a Studio!

Well....studio is just a fancy word for a dedicated work space.  Many of you who know my soap opera life know that I have a unique skill for room transformation.  With just a few tools I can change a closet into an office; the corner of any room into a seating area; and through the years, the dining room has been everything except a dining room: a library, a play room, a study, a sitting room, and all combinations of the above.  So, it only seems proper that it is now a studio.  

I have been hesitant to work my transformation magic again because it seems that every time I claim a space for myself, something happens and I have to give it to a child or grandchild.  I am optimistic that this time; the room is mine.

This is the room at the beginning of the transformation.  

And this is one view afterwards:

The hoosier cabinet is now home to crochet books, sketch pads and assorted design tools.  I also have clear plastic shoe boxes with yarn set aside for specific project or project ideas.

The hoosier on the right, my desk (antique draw leaf table) on the left and a pine chest, which has been a part of my entire life, built by my grandfather in the window.  It holds all kinds of important stuff - needles, hooks, accessories, buttons and beads, etc.  

There is a wooden screen behind my desk that I will use to hang drawings, swatches and other forms of inspiration.  My dad made the screen, and although it is rustic and simple, I love it, again, because it was made by dad. 

This red chair has been my favorite chair for years.  

It was my mother-in-law's and I had it recovered for the first dining room transformation many years ago.  It is my inspiration chair, my comfort chair, the place I go when I need to relax chair.  

It only seems fitting that it has a special place in my studio.  The posters and art on the wall are the work of fantasy artist Real Musgrave.  Real was the artist for the Renaissance Festival for many years.  I love his pocket dragons and the fantasy world he creates.  The characters and scenarios remind me to never take myself or life too seriously.

Tomorrow - swatches and exciting news, until then,

T.I.E.,

HipCat

Pinch Me

I just can't believe this is happening to me. I got to see what my pattern, La Mer, looks like in print! While at TNNA in Columbus last week, I got to see the layout for the summer issue of Interweave Crochet, and right there in front of me was my scarf pattern. Follow the link and scroll down to the bottom of the page - La Mer is there!

Kim Werker, the editor of Interweave Crochet, is a bundle of crochet energy, a genuinely nice person, and someone who goes above and beyond to assist and promote crochet as well as the people who design and create the items for the magazine. She encouraged me and gave me the confidence to try my hand at design. I am eternally grateful to her. Go to the Interweave website and check out all the new patterns in this next issue.



My crochet design heroine is Robyn Chachula. Again - one of the world's nicest people, she is also one of the most prolific designers in the crochet industry. She is the crochet motif queen and the things she designs are amazing. She worked with Mission Falls and designed all the patterns in their new "Mission Falls Goes Crochet" book due out this fall. She has also written her own book of designs, also due out this fall, call "Blueprint Crochet."

I made my plane reservations to fly to Manchester, New Hampshire to attend Chain Link, the annual meeting of the Crochet Guild of America.I'll be attending Professional Development day and taking some classes. I'm hoping to snag some time with Robyn to just hang out and get to know her. Check out her blog, she is doing a series called "A day in the life of ...." featuring well known crochet folks.

Amy has noticed that I get all jazzed about crochet every year around show time. I get to see the folks that I admire and see all kinds of great crochet. I come home and have a hard time keeping the momentum going. I think it is partially because I spend the rest of the year surrounded by knitters. I need to hang with more of you creative crochet folks. Come on out of the closet - I know you are there.

In The Zone

I am in a glorious place - the zone of creativity. I can go for months feeling dry and uninspired; then, suddenly a wealth of creativity flows forth. The Internation Freeform Fiberarts challenge was the driving force behind this current explosion. After finishing my submission for the challenge I have continued to crochet, embellish, knit and embellish and the cycle continues with my most recent work.

A beautiful hank of Daria has become a necklace that I will wear at TNNA this weekend.

I am so in love with this I can hardly stand it!