National Crochet Month Blog Tour: Day 26

SusanWelcome to The Crochet Architect website. I’m thrilled to be taking part in the National Crochet Month blog tour through Crochetville today! You can read all about the blog tour and see the list of scheduled bloggers here. There’s a lot of crochet talent and knowledge between all of these bloggers, so why not visit each and every blogger this month. The other blog tour participant today is Michele Maks, a very talented crochet designer and the previous editor of Crochet World magazine. You can read her blog post here. Please consider supporting our charity for this blog tour, Project Night Night, either with a financial donation or by donating crocheted blankets. Project Night Night provides security to homeless children. You can read all about Project Night Night here and on the Crochetville blog tour post.

If you’ve never been to my blog and website before, welcome! I hope you’ll take a few minutes and look around. There are 3 free crochet patterns here: one for baby booties and 2 for coasters (one worked in rows and the other worked in rounds to practice increases and decreases). I also have patterns for sale here on my website. I’d like to introduce myself. My name is Susan Lowman. I am a crochet designer, technical editor and teacher. I am a proud member of CGOA (the Crochet Guild of America). If you haven’t heard of CGOA before, please visit the CGOA website to learn more. I am the secretary on the CGOA Board of Directors, as well as one of the 2 Co-Chairs and a portfolio reviewer on the Masters Committee. As you can see, I’m very involved in CGOA! It’s a fabulous organization dedicated to preserving and advancing the art of crochet. We have a conference or two every year. This year I’ll be teaching 6 classes at the conference in Indianapolis. I’d love to meet you at the conference and/or in one of my classes!

When I was asked to take part in this blog tour, I wondered what I would blog about. But then it came to me a few weeks ago: blog about what you love doing! Of course, in general, I love to crochet. But more specifically, I love to crochet with thread! I’m not sure when I started to crochet with thread. I think it was in the 80’s, but I’m not positive. I love to design and crochet with thread. I’m not particular whether I’m going to design something of my own with thread or crochet a thread project from someone else’s design. It makes no difference to me! As long as it’s made with crochet thread, I’m game!!! I love thread crochet so much, that when Annie’s asked me last year to put together an online class on Crocheting with Thread, I said “yes”! You can read all about that class and all the other online classes at Annie’s by clicking on the banner on the right-hand side of my website.

As part of National Crochet Month, I wanted to include something to give away, so please keep reading for the giveaway information a little further down.

I don’t know how many of you reading this now are threadies, like me! If you’re already a threadie, what is your favorite thing to crochet with thread? Do you love making doilies, jewelry or something else with crochet thread? Do you have a favorite crochet technique with thread (filet crochet, Bruges Lace, Wiggly crochet, etc)? Do you always use white thread for your thread crochet projects or do you like using certain colors of crochet thread in your thread projects? What is your favorite brand of crochet thread?

If you’re not a threadie (a person who loves to crochet with thread), what is holding you back from learning to crochet with thread? Do the small crochet hooks intimidate you? You don’t have to crochet with size 10, 20 or 30 thread for your first thread crochet project. You can start out with size 3 or 5 thread for your first thread crochet project (and use a size D or E crochet hook with these sizes of thread). Yes, I suppose it does take a little time to adjust your tension when using smaller thread and hooks. But it’s so worth it! Here are some of the projects I’ve crocheted with thread in the last few years:

My Crocheted Tablecloth

My Crocheted Tablecloth

 

This is my favorite project (and one that took a lot of time, too!). It is the Pineapple Ovals Tablecloth from the book, Crochet Lace, by Jean Leinhauser and Rita Weiss. Here’s a photo of the front cover of that book:

Crochet Lace book

Crochet Lace book

 

In 2005, I was extremely blessed to be asked to write all of the patterns in this book (except for the green tablecloth). Rita sent me all of the stitched models for the book from Jean’s collection. I had them in my possession for several years while I wrote the patterns for them. I also made some filet charts and stitched small pieces for the book. It was a true “labor of love”, since they’re all made with crochet thread! The tablecloths and bedspreads in this book are works of art!!! In 2010, I spent 11 months crocheting my tablecloth from the pattern in this book. I always use a clear plastic cover over it to protect it from spills! I think it turned out really nice and it’s the perfect size for my table, too. You can see more photos of this tablecloth in progress on my Ravelry projects page. You’ll be able to distinguish the different motifs of the tablecloth in these Ravelry photos. If you’d like to purchase a copy of this book, it’s still available through sellers at Amazon.com and other websites, as well.

Here’s a small part of the tablecloth pattern that I crocheted and turned into a framed piece of art:

Framed Piece of Tablecloth pattern

Framed Piece of Tablecloth pattern

I made 2 of these and gave them as Christmas gifts in 2010, after I finished my tablecloth. This piece has 4 of the marquise shaped motifs around the edges and 1 fill-in motif in the center of them. These framed pieces were a lot of fun to make, too!

 

 

 

 

Another one of my favorite thread crochet projects is this Crinoline Lady:

Crinoline Bride framed

Crinoline Bride framed

Crinoline Ladies leaflet

Crinoline Ladies leaflet

I crocheted her from a Maggie Weldon leaflet called “Crinoline Ladies”. Here’s a photo of the cover of that leaflet:

The Crinoline Lady that I made is called the Bride Doily. It was designed by Soledad Davis. I framed this Crinoline Lady and have her hanging above my bed. If you’re interested in making this Crinoline Lady, the leaflet is available on Maggie’s website.

Here’s a doily I crocheted last year from one of Kathryn White’s patterns:

project from Kathryn White's doily pattern

project from Kathryn White’s doily pattern

Kathryn is an extremely talented thread crochet designer and a very good friend of mine. We met at the CGOA Conference in Greensboro, NC in 2011. I love her thread crochet designs! They’re fabulous! Don’t you agree? If you’d like to make this doily, the pattern is available on Kathy’s website.

I could go on and on with photos of beautiful thread crochet designs, but this blog post would get way too long! So I won’t.

Okay, as promised, I’m going to give away something to a lucky blog reader in honor of National Crochet Month. I’ve chosen one of my thread crochet necklaces to give away. Here’s a photo of the necklace that you have a chance to win:

Faux Tatted Necklace prize

Faux Tatted Necklace prize

It’s my Faux Tatted Necklace. No, it’s not tatted, it’s crocheted to look like tatting! The pattern for this necklace is available in 2 ways: as just the necklace itself or as part of a set of jewelry (the necklace, bracelet and earrings). I love making these necklaces and I hope the winner will love her necklace, as well. If you don’t win this necklace and would like to make one of your own, the pattern is available here on my website.

To enter for a chance to win this necklace, simply leave a comment on this blog post with the answer to one (or more) of these questions:

1. What is your favorite project to crochet with thread?

2. What is your favorite brand of crochet thread to use?

3. If you’re not a threadie, what is holding you back from learning to crochet with thread?

I’ll draw the lucky winner at random on April 1st, so you have 6 days to enter. The winner’s name will be posted on my blog on April 1st, as well. Good luck!!! (Note: Because of high shipping costs, this giveaway is limited to US residents only.)

I hope you’ve enjoyed this look at thread crochet and are ready to give it a try! Please check back often to read new updates on my blog and to see my new crochet patterns. Or simply subscribe to my blog for automatic updates!

There are still more stops on the National Crochet Month Blog Tour, so keep reading the blog posts through the end of this month. I’m sure you’ll learn more! And there are sure to be more giveaways, free patterns, etc from the other blog participants!

Happy crocheting,

Susan

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18 Responses to National Crochet Month Blog Tour: Day 26

  1. says:

    1. What is your favorite project to crochet with thread?
    Earrings or embellishments

    2. What is your favorite brand of crochet thread to use?
    Aunt Lydias or Luster Sheen

    • Susan Lowman says:

      Christa,
      Thanks for commenting and entering the necklace giveaway. I love to crochet earrings, too. My collection of crocheted earrings is growing, but that’s a good thing! Technically Luster Sheen isn’t crochet thread, but it’s a great yarn to use when you want to use something a little thicker than crochet thread! I love Luster Sheen!
      Good luck in the giveaway.
      Happy crocheting,
      Susan

  2. says:

    I love all types of crochet-thread, yarn, tulle, wire, jute-you name it! I’ve made many thread crochet projects, so it’s hard to pick a favorite, I guess a vintage spiral doily pattern might be my favorite-it’s about 26″ in diameter. I love your necklace!

    • Susan Lowman says:

      Marsha,
      I love vintage doilies, too! And with spirals, your 26″ doily/centerpiece sounds wonderful! Patricia Kristoffersen designed a lot of doilies with spirals. Her doily designs are fantastic!
      I’m glad you like my necklace. Good luck in the giveaway!
      Happy crocheting,
      Susan

  3. says:

    3. If you’re not a threadie, what is holding you back from learning to crochet with thread?

    Well, I think it’s a beautiful form, but I’ve been intimidated by it. It looks so intricate and detailed. I keep saving money and one day I will find a class to help me get into it! Although, you may have convinced me to try it out on my own. ^_^

    P.S.-It’s a beautiful necklace!

    • Susan Lowman says:

      Aubrey,
      If you’ve been crocheting for a while with yarn, switching over to thread isn’t that hard. It takes some practice with the smaller hooks and crochet thread to get the tighter gauge/tension, but once you conquer that, you’ll be off and running with thread crochet. If you’re looking for a class to help you learn to crochet with thread, I have an online class through Annie’s called “Crocheting with Thread”. You can view the class details, watch some short videos from the class and sign up for it here: http://www.anniescatalog.com/onlineclasses/detail.html?code=CBV01. I’d love to have you in my thread crochet class. You can ask me questions along the way, too. Since the class is a video, you can pause it, rewind it, and watch sections of it over and over if you missed anything because of distractions. Online classes are great! And you can watch them any time of day or night, too. I’m currently taking an online class myself and learning a lot from it.
      I’m glad you like the necklace. You and everyone else who has left a comment on this blog post is in the running to win the necklace. Good luck!
      Happy crocheting,
      Susan

  4. says:

    Hurrah for thread crochet!!!! Your table cloth is so lovely. You have everyright to be proud of that one.
    The Knit and Crochet shows are wonderful to go to and a great place to meet wonderful people like Susan.

    • Susan Lowman says:

      Kathy,
      Thanks for your nice comment about my tablecloth. You’re so right about the CGOA Conferences (aka: Knit and Crochet Shows). I’ve met a ton of really nice crocheters (and knitters) at them over the years. And I’ve made some really good friends there, too (like you!).
      Happy crocheting,
      Susan

  5. says:

    Your tablecoth is beautiful! I like crocheting thread motifs and putting them together into tablerunners and shawls, or turning them into potholders. Pineapples are my favorite. I’d like to try making some garments in thread too!

    So far have only used Aunt Lydia’s in sizes 3, 10 and 20, but as I do more thread projects I know I’ll want to try other brands and lovely colors.

  6. says:

    my favorite project with threads is crochet snowflakes!

  7. says:

    such pretty projects!I don’t do alot of thread work becasue my vision is pretty poor but I do like using thread to make crochet jewelry. wold like to do thread work but can’t. Don’t have a fav thead I just use whatever brand I can find in the color I need.

    • Susan Lowman says:

      Kari,
      I’m glad you like my projects and I’m sorry to hear of your poor vision. Would a magnifying light help at all? I agree that the color is often more important than the thread brand!
      Happy crocheting,
      Susan

  8. says:

    I have to give you huge credits for that beautiful table cloth. I can never find the patients to dedicate myself to large projects. But I love working with thread – there is definitely something comforting about it for me. So for now I’ll be sticking with smaller ones. And yes – Kathryn is amazing!

    • Susan Lowman says:

      Sherry,
      I’m glad you like my tablecloth. Usually, I don’t stick with a project for that long (I lose interest and/or get distracted with other projects!). But this tablecloth design was calling my name! I had to listen and respond by crocheting one, no matter how long it took!
      Happy crocheting,
      Susan

  9. says:

    I love thread especially pineapple design and in white size 10 thread. I really dont have any particular thread just as long as its white and size 10

    • Susan Lowman says:

      Sherri,
      I love pineapple designs, too. The tablecloth I crocheted has small pineapples in it. Have you tried DMC Cebelia or Lizbeth crochet threads? They are a very nice quality. However, Aunt Lydia’s has a lot of yards for a relatively small price! One of the things I look for in crochet threads is a large selection of colors because I love to design with colors!
      Happy crocheting,
      Susan

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