Many years ago, I crocheted some snowflakes for my Christmas tree. But, true to my procrastinating nature (aka: other things were more important to do, so this got pushed to the bottom of the list), I waited until last week to stiffen these crochet snowflakes. Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t always procrastinate. But I find myself doing the crocheting of projects quite easily, while the finishing of many projects takes me a lot longer to warm up to doing! Are you the same way? Also, I don’t relish the idea of getting the stiffening solution all over my hands! I suppose I could always wear rubber gloves, but where’s the fun in that?
Last week, I was inspired to stiffen these snowflakes because of a crochet design that I just finished for a major crochet magazine (the design is still a secret, but you’ll find out in about 6 months what it is when the magazine comes out).
I’d guess that not too many people have stiffened crochet snowflakes or know how to do it, so I decided to write a tutorial on how to stiffen them. You can find it right here on my “Tutorials” page. So if you’d like to learn how to stiffen snowflakes, then please take a look at the tutorial.
Update (11/25/20): I have a YouTube video for learning to stiffen crochet snowflakes. You can find that video here.
Anyway, here’s a photo of the 9 snowflakes I stiffened to use on next year’s Christmas tree (I already had this year’s tree decorated, so I didn’t want to change it!):
9 Stiffened Snowflakes
Aren’t they pretty? I crocheted them from the Leisure Arts book called “White Christmas in Thread Crochet” by Kathryn A. Clark, a very talented crochet designer. This book includes 54 projects from snowflakes to icicles to tree toppers to tree skirts and garland. It’s a great book! Here’s a photo of the front cover of this book:
White Christmas in Thread Crochet book
I’ve had this book for many years (it was published in 2001). My copy isn’t that pretty anymore because I’ve taken it with me to many places, including little league baseball games when my sons were much younger. Since I love thread crochet, these snowflakes were a natural project for me to make!
If you enjoy working with crochet thread, why not give some crocheted snowflakes a try! You’ll be glad you did and your Christmas tree will look fabulous!!! Or if you’re looking for a unique gift, these snowflakes make fabulous gifts!
Ahoy, matey! Shiver me timbers! Happy “International Talk Like a Pirate Day” to everyone! What will they think of next?
But seriously, I wanted to share a few newly published crochet patterns that I designed with you. And best of all, one of them is FREE!!!
Here’s my Mod Flower Necklace, published by Red Heart/Coats & Clark and available on their website here.
Mod Flower Necklace
This necklace is made with a new crochet thread by Coats called Aunt Lydia’s Baker’s Cotton. This is a size 3 cotton thread that comes in 150 yard balls. It’s currently available in 6 colors, which are all plied with white. It’s very soft and has a great drape to it. You can watch a video about this new crochet thread on the Red Heart website, featuring the editor of Crochet Today magazine, Theresa Gonzalez, who is wearing my flower necklace in the video here. I designed this necklace with double-sided flowers, so whichever side of the flowers is facing will be the right side (no backs of flowers for me on this one!). I also added white buttons in the center of each flower, while sewing the flowers onto the necklace chain. And best of all, this pattern is FREE!!!
I just had 2 more patterns published, both in the October 2013 issue of Crochet World magazine. You can see the projects in this issue of Crochet World here.
First is my Reversible Popcorn Ripple Afghan.
Reversible Popcorn Ripple Afghan in Crochet World magazine Oct. 2013
This afghan is made with 5 shades of Plymouth Encore yarn, which is a worsted weight yarn. I designed this afghan with a one-row repeat, changing colors in every other row. Because of the one-row repeat, the popcorn stitches stick out on the front and on the back of the afghan, making it truly reversible! Be creative and use any colors you desire to make this afghan for yourself or as a wonderful Christmas gift for a friend or family member.
Second is my Autumn Blaze Table Mat.
Autumn Blaze Table Mat in Crochet World magazine Oct. 2013
This design is special because it’s the first design I’ve done for the new column in Crochet World called “What’s Old is New Again”. Basically, I’m taking a vintage pattern from the past and turning it into a modern treasure. This design started with the inspiration from this vintage pattern:
Vintage Bone Ring Table Mat pattern
This is the vintage book where I found this pattern:
Vintage Doilies book from 1940
This book was published in 1940 by Spool Cotton Co. It’s book #147 and sold for only 10 cents back then. What a deal!
Anyway, back to my updated version of this table mat. I used 3/4″ bone rings and Aunt Lydia’s Classic, size 10 cotton crochet thread. In the inspiration design, they didn’t cover all of the rings, but left some white showing at the center of the rings where they joined them together by simply wrapping crochet thread around the adjacent rings. I covered all of the 49 bone rings with crochet stitches and added points around the rings that create 6-pointed stars in the empty space between the groups of 7 rings. And I decided to use 3 colors of thread instead of one in each of the 7 groups of 7 rings: the center ring is covered in yellow, while the 6 rings surrounding the center ring are covered in orange and red. I like the way these 3 colors create more visual interest in the table mat. Of course, you can use 3 different colors for your table mat, if you prefer. Color selection is a very personal choice and anyone can change the colors they use in a crochet pattern to suit their own needs, décor or personal preferences.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this look at 3 new crochet patterns. There are new crochet patterns coming out all the time by many very talented crochet designers. I’m sure you have your favorite crochet designers, just like I do!
Are you an avid crocheter who likes to crochet jewelry? Have you admired crochet jewelry for a long time and wanted to make some for yourself or others? I love to design and wear crochet jewelry! If you’re like me, you might be interested in a new crochet book I have by Annie’s. It’s called “Jewelry to Crochet” and it was just released for purchase last week. Included are 7 sets of jewelry, made with size 10, 5 or 3 cotton crochet thread, or with Kreinik metallic thread. Many of the sets also include beads. Each set includes a necklace, as well as a bracelet, earrings or both.
I haven’t received my designer copies of this book, yet, so I don’t know how the inside looks. But I think they did a nice job with the photos!
Here are some photos from this book:
Jewelry to Crochet front coverBlack and Gold SetOval Pendant SetDaisy SetStained Glass SetWoven SetBlack Shells SetLariat Set
There are many reasons why I love crochet jewelry. Here they are (in no particular order):
1. It takes only a small amount of time to make a crochet necklace, pair of earrings and/or bracelet, so I get almost instant gratification!
2. I can make my crochet jewelry in any colors to coordinate with my various outfits.
3. Crochet jewelry doesn’t require much money in materials to make!
4. I love crocheting with thread and crochet jewelry is very conducive to thread crochet!
If you love crocheting jewelry, too, what are the reasons why you love it?
I had a blast designing and crocheting these sets of crochet jewelry. I designed some of them years ago and others just last year. If you’re interested in crocheting some jewelry, you can read more about this book and purchase it on the Annie’s website.
Why not crochet some jewelry today and wear it tomorrow?
Have you ever wanted to learn to crochet with crochet thread? How about learning to crochet doilies? I’m a huge advocate for crocheting with thread. I really love thread crochet and I know some of you do, too.
In previous blog posts, I told you about the online class I have with Annie’s called “Crocheting with Thread” and my experience going to Berne, Indiana in January to film the class. But did you know that I now have a short online class with Annie’s called “Beginner’s First Doily”? It’s a mini class to teach you how to make a beginning doily. This mini class is excerpted from the full-length class on “Crocheting with Thread” and it’s a great way to get your feet wet with online classes. The cost of this mini class is only $4.95. What a bargain!!! If you sign up for this class and decide to take the full length class later on, you’ll get $5 off of the full length class.
To read all about this mini class and to get started on crocheting your first doily, just click on the “Crocheting with Thread” class link on the right-hand edge of this page (it’s also on many other pages of my website). It will take you directly to the online videos on the Annie’s website.
Here’s a photo of the doily made in both classes:
Beginner’s First Doily
This doily is made with size 10 crochet thread, but you could make a larger doily with size 3 or 5 crochet thread, if you’d like.
All of the projects in the full-length class are made with either size 10 or size 5 cotton crochet thread and a size 7 (1.65mm) or a size 0 (3.25mm) steel crochet hook. Since size 3 and size 5 crochet threads are so close in size, you can easily substitute size 3 for the projects in the class that are worked in size 5.
In case you haven’t seen the projects in my full-length “Crocheting with Thread” class, these are the other 6 projects included in that class:
Seed Stitch BookmarkV-Stitch Bookmark
There are 2 bookmarks. One is a seed stitch bookmark and the other is a V-stitch bookmark. They’re both beginner/easy projects to get you started with thread crochet. I demonstrate working the rows and the edging on these projects in the video, as well as how to make the tassel in the V-stitch bookmark project.
Flower PinFlower Pin Card
This is the flower pin. If you’ve never worked a crochet project in rounds, this is an easy project to learn how to crochet in rounds. The folks at Annie’s even used this flower to decorate a handmade card! I think the card is very pretty! The instructions for the card are included in the class handout, as well.
Towel Edging
Here’s the towel edging that I designed for the thread class. It can be made with 2 edges of shells (shown in the green edging) or with only 1 edge of shells (shown in the turquoise edging). You can use size 10, 5 or 3 thread for the edging. I’ve woven some ribbon through one of the rows of the edging for added visual interest. A towel with a crochet edging such as this would make a great gift any time of the year!
Filet Coaster
The class also includes a filet crochet coaster project. If you’ve never done filet crochet before, I’ll teach you how to read a filet crochet chart in the class. A filet crochet chart is almost always included in filet crochet patterns to help shorten the pattern and to make it easier to follow “visually”. I’ll take you step-by-step with this coaster, teaching you how to work the open and closed mesh in filet crochet. The coaster has an edging and 2 layers for added absorbency!
Necklace & Earrings Set
What thread crochet class would be complete without some crochet jewelry? The necklace and earrings in this class are worked in the round with size 10 thread. The necklace has 2 crocheted “chains” for more strength when it’s worn. You can make this thread crochet jewelry set in any desired colors to coordinate with your favorite outfit!
Each of the 7 projects in the full-length class includes a symbol chart for all of the “visual” people out there! If you’re not familiar with symbol crochet charts, you’ll LOVE them! They are a visual representation of the project itself, showing what stitches are worked in the project and where each stitch is worked. I love symbol crochet charts and I think you will, too!
I really enjoy taking crochet classes to expand my crochet knowledge and skills. Whether I take an online class or an “in-person” class, they’re all very enjoyable and I learn a lot from them! And I love to teach crochet classes, as well. I hope you’re continually learning new crochet skills and techniques to challenge yourself, too.
Please check out both of my thread crochet classes and all of the other fantastic online classes by many talented teachers on the Annie’s website. There’s a lot more that we can all learn about crochet and Annie’s has been in the crochet industry for decades!
I hope everyone enjoyed the National Crochet Month Blog Tour last month. Wasn’t it great? I enjoyed it immensely!!! In fact, I still have a few websites to visit to see what the other CGOA professionals and associate professionals blogged about and what they might have been offering for NatCroMo. There were so many great crochet hints, behind the scenes photos, free crochet patterns, giveaways of yarn and projects, etc. I am blessed to be part of the fantastic organization that is CGOA! And attending the annual CGOA Conference is always a thrill! I learn so much, even when I’m the teacher! I never want to stop learning more about crochet and improving my crochet skills.
Can we have a drum roll, please? Without any further ado, the winner of the faux tatted necklace giveaway is… Marsha Stockton. Congratulations, Marsha! I’ll be e-mailing you today to get your address to send you the necklace. May you enjoy wearing it often! Thank you to everyone who entered. I really enjoyed your comments about thread crochet.
I hope everyone has a fantastic April and the weather warms up for a lot of you in colder climates.
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:
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
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
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 framedCrinoline 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
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
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!
It’s finally done! If you’ve enjoyed making (or have thought about purchasing) my Faux Tatted Necklace pattern, you might be interested to learn that I just self-published a pattern for a whole set of jewelry (necklace, bracelet and earrings). If you’re wondering why I call this “Faux” Tatting, it’s because it isn’t tatted. It’s crocheted to look like tatting! The only stitches used are chains, slip stitches and single crochet. The pattern is easy to follow, includes step-by-step photos and a symbol chart for the necklace (once you’ve made the necklace, the bracelet and earrings are a piece of cake!). Each of these jewelry pieces is crocheted with size 10 cotton crochet thread (for all of us “threadies”), using any buttons, beads or charms you desire.
I designed the bracelet and earrings for this set last summer before the CGOA Conference in Manchester, where I taught a class on making the Faux Tatted Necklace. But in my usual “procrastinating” style, it’s taken me this long to self-publish it! In my defense, though, I’m busy with other crochet work, I’m a perfectionist and I may possibly have ADD because I get distracted very easily (just ask my husband)!!! Aren’t all creative people like that (or many of them)?
Focus, Susan! Back to the jewelry set. I just love making these necklaces! It only takes a few hours to make each one, so I have less chance of getting distracted! Now I can crochet the matching bracelet and earrings for each of the necklaces I’ve made for a complete set (my ears won’t be bare any more). And now YOU can have coordinating sets, too!!!
Here are some close-up photos of the bracelet and earrings for you to see:
The bracelet pattern includes instructions for buttons/beads/charms on 1 side (in the brown/blue bracelet photo) or on 2 sides (in the black/green bracelet photo). The bracelet uses 12 or 23 buttons, beads or charms. The earrings have just 1 button on each of them and use earring wires (or your favorite earring findings).
I hope you enjoy this new pattern. And I hope you’ll share photos of your Faux Tatted Jewelry Sets with all of us.
Okay. Either you’ve been patiently waiting for the big announcement since I returned home from my trip to Berne, Indiana in January, or you’ve forgotten about it and gone about your day-to-day lives (which is probably more believable!). Well today is the “big reveal”, so to speak! The reason I went to Berne, IN was to film a crochet video class for Annie’s. It’s not just any crochet video; it’s a “thread crochet” video! You may have some idea of how much I LOVE thread crochet by now. I would be thrilled if more crocheters came to love thread crochet as much as me! There are some very talented thread crochet designers out there: Kathryn White, Patricia Kristoffersen and many more. If you’ve been thinking about jumping into the world of thread crochet, I hope you’ll consider taking my online video class through Annie’s. I would love to have some of my blog followers take the class so we can get to know each other more and I can help you advance your crochet skills and knowledge (isn’t that what blogging and teaching should be all about anyway?).
You can read all about my “Learn to Crochet With Thread” online video class and watch a few sample segments of the video here. This is my first crochet video and I hope to do many more in the near future!
If you don’t recognize me in the video or in the photo, it’s because I’m wearing makeup in them (I haven’t worn makeup for years). They had a hair and makeup stylist named Amy who did my hair and makeup for the video each of the 3 days I was there. It’s a shock to see myself made up, but it’s probably better that way (I have fair skin and I’d blind everyone without the makeup, so it was necessary!). I’ve heard that when you’re doing photography or videotaping, the colors get washed out under the studio lights, so they added more color to my face to compensate for that! Amy was fantastic, as was everyone involved in producing the video. In the studio each day were: Laura Scott, the producer (the one in charge); Nicole, the video editor; Scott and Turner, the videographers; Allison, the production assistant and Amy, the hair and makeup artist.
Okay, just for fun, here I am before and after makeup:
Before MakeupAfter Makeup
I had a blast filming the video in Berne. Everyone on the set (especially the cameramen) made me feel relaxed. They were very professional and easy to get along with. We all had the same goal in mind: to produce a great video! I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to Berne and filming the video. I hope you enjoy the free video segments of my “Learn to Crochet With Thread” class at Annie’s and seriously consider taking the class (if you’d like to learn to crochet with thread, that is).
Here is another photo of my trip to Berne (inside the video studio):
The whole crew
This is the crew and me after the video was finished. From left to right: Turner, Nicole, Laura, me, Amy, Allison and Scott. Don’t we look happy that it’s all over?
I think everyone did a fabulous job. Thanks so much for the hard work that each one of you did, especially you, Laura! Let’s do it again some time!
I hope you enjoyed this little look inside the video studio at Annie’s and will consider taking an online video class through Annie’s to further your crochet skills and knowledge.
