Welcome 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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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
