Coffee Isn't For Crying Into

Yesterday I picked up a 6-cup Chemex coffee maker at Roberta Oaks in downtown Honolulu (I've been looking for one for a while, I think RO may be the only store in Honolulu selling the smaller sizes) . So of course I crocheted a coaster for it last night, and then brewed my morning coffee with it today.

Good morning!

The coaster is still a bit wobbly (needs a good blocking) and worked up quickly enough that I think I'll make another. It's a fairly common motif - I got this pattern out of a vintage Mon Tricot booklet, but the pattern instructions are frustratingly vague in a couple of spots, so I wouldn't recommend it. Yarn is Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece, purchased at YarnStory in Honolulu. [Edited to add: found one! Free pattern on the Scrap Yarn Crochet blog: Granny's Garden Hexagon Crochet Pattern. I haven't tried it yet, but a read-through of it did confirm that it clearly explains the spots I had trouble with.]

The Chemex makes a nice pot of coffee, although I think I'm going to have to play with how quickly I pour the hot water in. 

My morning was also full of seeing tweets and photos and posts about Vogue Knitting LIVE! in Chicago. I really wanted to be there with Shannon and Andi, so I put my big girl boots on and wrote a guest post at Cooperative Press about a few of my favorite things instead of getting sad and crying into my coffee.  

Blast from the past: Sushi TP Cozy

So way back when (ok,  it was 2004) Kim Werker launched Crochet Me, the first online magazine devoted entirely to crochet. She was looking for modern, creative crochet projects, and she selected the Sushi TP Cozy anyway (ha ha). It ran in the first issue and has, over the years, brought work my way that I don't think I would have gotten otherwise.

Crochet sushi TP cozy revisited

It led directly to the Sushi Pillow, published in Get Hooked! (edited by Kim Werker), and to appearing on Knitty Gritty with the Sushi for the Bathroom pattern set, which is how I met Vickie Howell. It's driven a lot of traffic to my website, it's resulted in my getting fan mail from a fiction author I'm a fan of, and it continues to put a smile on people's faces. This week it may have led to another opportunity (that I'll share if it goes through), and at the very least, I now have a fresh new sample and good photos. This one came together really quickly - I finished it while the photographer was fiddling with light settings and stuff - and I had fun noticing how easy it's become for me to improvise and create on the fly with a bag of scrap yarn and a few crochet hooks.

The basic pattern is still available for free on the Crochet Me website, and I told Kim this morning that it's been giving me ideas for a pattern that would also teach a variety of techniques. We'll see how far I get with that, and how much further a silly idea that made me laugh almost ten years ago will go.

On My Bookshelf: Curvy Girl Crochet

This book review was originally published in Knit Edge magazine, issue #2. A review copy was provided by the publisher. As a member of the Powell's Books Partner Program, I receive a 7.5% commission on referrals.

 Curvy Girl Crochet: 25 Patterns that Fit and Flatter, by Mary Beth Temple

Curvy Girl Crochet goes beyond just offering patterns in larger sizes, offering tips and techniques for altering patterns to fit your body the way you want them to. The first two chapters focus on the groundwork: how to take your measurements accurately (tip: don’t use an old tape measure), how to assess yarns and patterns, and how best to make changes. The patterns include an entire wardrobe of sweaters, accessories scaled up for larger proportions, and something for every season. The Wrapt Top, a cropped lace wrap, could be a lovely accent in warm weather, while the basic, very customizable Progressive Tunic can be worn on its own or as a layering piece all year long. While the patterns may not all look like they come from the same wardrobe (and that’s intentional), yarn and color choices along with adaptations can open up a lot of possibilities. Is the Traditional Cloak too bold for you in bright blue- purple? An earthy tweed could give it a more classic countryside appeal. Looking through Ravelry projects to see how other crocheters have re-imagined the patterns is going to be a lot of fun!

Ravelry: Curvy Girl Crochet

On My Bookshelf: Clever Crocheted Accessories

This book review originally appeared in Knit Edge magazine, issue #2. The review copy was purchased at full retail price. As a member of the Powell's Books Partner Program, I receive a 7.5% commission on referrals.

 Clever Crocheted Accessories: 25 Quick Weekend Projects, edited by Brett Bara

The 25 patterns in this book range from a sparkly beaded cocktail ring (Dazzling Ring by Kazekobo) to thick, warm, cabled men’s socks (Hiking Socks by Kim Kotary) to a colorful floral motif bag (Amazing Motif Bag by Regina Rioux) - all cleverly constructed and great ways to explore crochet techniques and stitch patterns you may not be familiar with. For example, the Saturday Beret by Ellen Gormley, featured on the cover, is a visual head-turner that uses Bruges lace techniques to create a chunky texture, and the Chunky Capelet by Doris Chan employs broomstick lace. There a lot of great gift ideas here, including hats for men. 

Ravelry: Clever Crocheted Accessories

Clever Crocheted Accessories: 25 Quick Weekend Projects
by Brett Bara (edt)

Survey: Honolulu Yarncrafting Workshops

Do you live in Hawai'i? Would you like to help me out? I'm drafting proposals for knit/crochet/spin/yarn dye workshops in the Honolulu area, and I'd like to be able to narrow down my focus as well as have something to show potential event sponsors. Filling out this short questionnaire (4 multiple choice, 2 short text) would help a lot! I won't share your name or email address with anyone without your permission, and you can remain anonymous if you prefer. 

If you have any questions, there's a section in the questionnaire for that, or you can email me (info@mkcarroll.com).