Alzheimer's CAL

Every year, I make an afghan using granny squares and ripples (my grandmother’s two favorite afghans), and my mom & I sell raffle tickets to raise money for Alzheimer’s Research.

download now

for sale on Ravelry (all profits go to Alzheimer's)

This year, I’m designing as I’m stitching, and I’m inviting everyone to join in! I have plans for at least 8 squares - some worked flat, and some in the round - and most will be granny or ripple related.

Of course, I have to have at least one traditional granny square in the mix!

While we’re stitching, all of the squares will be free. After we’re done, all the patterns will be available for sale, with 100% of the sales going towards Alzheimer’s Research.

Won’t you please join us?

Cal thread on Ravelry

Crochet Workbook by James Walters

The Crochet Workbook by James Walters
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm thrilled to see that the Crochet Workbook is back! I actually own the original book, but am really excited to see that this book is back in print.

You can look at this book on two levels: as a basic how to book (both for beginner crocheters and beginner free formers), but also as inspiration for your own freeform. Walters and Cosh are famous in the crochet world for teaching us how to crochet using nature as your guide, and it's never been more true today then it was 25 years ago. This book is much more about crochet as art form, then about crochet as stitchery.

If you want to break into the world of crochet design, this book is a great starting point for you, because Walters and Cosh teach you how to make three dimensional shapes in crochet, using various stitches.

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Colored Brick Road Handbag

My latest design is one I'm personally so thrilled about. I came about this idea because I came across an old ball-band towel I had knitted up a few years ago. It was lying tossed across my table, sideways. I saw it, and thought it would make a cute purse, but wanted to crochet it instead. Using a self striping yarn for the "bricks" means a lot less ends to weave in!

So, I introduce to you, the Colored Brick Road Handbag

Butterfly Scarf

Introducing, the Butterfly Scarf!

I'm delighted with this design, because it really, really honors my grandmother. She was a fabulous knitter, crocheter, and sewer, making clothes for the entire family.

She was the one who started me collecting pattern books, and I was one of her favorite grandchildren because I could talk "crochet" with her.

Whenever I visited, I tried to bring along a wip for her to see. I still remember the day when I taught her something new - I was working on something - I don't remember now - and was working on a circ, but working flat instead of in the round. She had no idea you could do such a thing.

The thrill I had in that moment, that I could teach someone who I always thought knew EVERYTHING about fiber crafts... was amazing.

Anyways, my grandmother was a big threadie, she loved making doilies, wall hangings, tableclothes, bedspreads, you name it. She was always a little mad at me that I wouldn't use thread, had no interest in it at all.... So, grandma, this is for you...

Butterfly Scarf

book review: A Dark and Stormy Knit by Anne Canadeo

A Dark and Stormy Knit by Anne Canadeo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Being a big knitter, naturally I had to request a review copy of this book from netgalley. I have not read any of the previous books in this series, something I normally HATE, but was not an issue at all in this series.

I do want to admit that I am not really a fan of cozies - I just don't get the genre. I understand the need for violence off screen, but the whole genre is just too light and fluffy for me.

Of course, I keep trying to read cozies anyway, because I do like crime books/mystery books for an occasional different read.

Like any other cozy, the setting is a small town world, with a murder you have to solve. I figured it out in about 3 seconds. The book is very slow paced - I don't read enough cozies to know if that pace is normal or not, but for me it was very slow.

The best part of the book is definitely the friendship and connection between all the women. Part of me is envious of that, but mostly I just feel it's so far-fetched. I don't have kids, yet I don't have time in my schedule to get together with my friends once a week no matter what, so how are they all having the time to do that? Still, the idea is just so cool that I'm drawn to it all the same.



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Triangle Trellis

Introducing my next design, another shawl using a cotton - linen worsted weight yarn, the

Triangle Trellis.

Started at one side with only a few stitches, and an easy two row repeat, this is another shawl that will be quick to make up and the beautiful  yarn will make this a favorite three season shawl.

Knitting Yarns

Knitting Yarns: Writers on Knitting by Ann Hood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Anyone who has read more than one of my reviews before knows I'm a crafter and more specifically a knitter and crocheter, and anyone who follows my blog knows I try to review a wide variety of crafting books, so naturally I jumped at the chance.

There's a few similar books out there, a collection of short stories with the common theme of knitting in all the stories. The difference is this collection includes more famous people, like Barbara Kingsolver, Sue Grafton, and Anne Shayne (of Mason Dixon fame). Like any short story collection, some are better than others - my least favorite was about a guy who kept talking about how he didn't knit but yet his story somehow involves knitting anyway. He just kept talking about how he didn't knit, like he was insulting the craft and those who love it. But that's the great thing about short story collections, you spend a few minutes reading a story you don't like, you move on to the next one that you do like.

There's also a few patterns included in the book, which in books like this I always figure they include solely as a way of selling more books (you know, people who enjoy reading will read this book, and people who just want patterns will buy this book, so you get twice as many sales). You have no idea what the patterns look like because you have to go online to see photos - I hope that this is maybe just something in my e-ARC and not in the final book. They are all very basic designs, like fingerless gloves, cabled head wrap, ruffled slipper socks, coffee cozies, etc., and most designed by Helen Bingham.



I received a copy of this book for free through http://edelweiss.abovethetreeline.com/

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book review: Last Chance Knit & Stitch by Hope Ramsay

Last Chance Knit & Stitch by Hope Ramsay
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I read this book right after I read "Dark and Stormy Knit". I always read these types of books, being a big knitter, but these types of books are always just too cutesy and happy and perfect for me.

That being said, this is one of the better knitting fiction books out there that I've read. The pacing is good, you can get into the characters, the storyline moves along at a decent pace. I'm not terribly in love with any of the characters, and I'm not terribly upset when the book ends, either. It's a quick read, great for whiling away a couple of hours (or in my case, read on quick work breaks). Molly's character drove me batty for most of the book, she was just way too weak willed (and immature) for her age, and it did make it difficult to really get into the book.


I received a review copy from netgalley for free in exchange for my honest review

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Quilting With a Modern Slant

Quilting with a Modern Slant: People, Patterns, and Techniques Inspiring the Modern Quilt Community by Rachel May
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First, I want to say I am not a quilter, but I am a fiber artist and teacher and have long, long been obsessed with quilts. I own a ton of quilt books for their inspiration and even own a fabric stash & a sewing machine, though I can barely sew. I want to be a quilter, but the fiber life has a mind of its own.

The book starts with the basics, explaining how to make a simple quilt (6 parts) and defines what modern quilting is, and what different people feel about quilting and modern quilting in particular. There's a lot of writing from lots of different quilters from all walks of life, talking about how they make quilts and why and how they got started. You'll reconigize some of the names included in the book if you have any interest in quilting at all.

The book also has gorgeous, inspiring photography on each and every page.

I enjoyed the improv section the most, which makes sense because I love freeform the most in my fiber journey.



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Granny Square Love

Granny Square Love: A New Twist on a Crochet Classic for Your Home by Sarah London
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First of all, let me start by saying I'm a huge fan of Sarah London, have been reading her blog since she first started writing one, & I'm also ravelry friends with her.

The book starts as with so many other crochet books, with a how to section. I really, really, really hate seeing that in so many books, I always feel if you are a beginner crocheter, you'd be getting a whole how-to book out of the library or from the bookstore, you wouldn't just pick up a random crochet book & hope there's a how to section in it. To me, it's really a waste of space in the book & a waste of money, but that may just be me.

As with all of London's stuff, all of the projects in the book are very bright & colorful, which is why she has so many fans. The projects are beautifully photographed, with both full shots & close up views. There are 25 projects included in the book, & they are all very beginner friendly. The focus here is on color, not stitches, and each project includes some tips on picking color.

My absolute favorite project is the Grocer's Tote, which is also featured on London's blog.

I won a copy of this book as part of London's blog tour.

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