Urban Lady's Cardi

Saw a little girl's version and thought, why not make it for a adult!

Click link for pattern or go to my Ravelry store:

Are Crocheters 'Cheap?'

ARE CROCHETERS ‘CHEAP?’
I read this in a Ravelry group discussion:

Why will a knitter drop $60 - $100 for a sweater, but a crocheter won’t?

Why do crocheters seem to take fewer classes at conferences or yarn/fiber festivals than knitters? Are we better at it or just cheap?
Why do so many LYSs (even crochet friendly ones) have such a hard time filling crochet classes?

If you do take classes…do you like classes about techniques, a particular project, how to design, other (please share)?
When you take a class around a particular project…do you want it to be small so that you can finish it in the class?
If you do take a technique class, should there be a finished project at the end or is a series of swatches enough?

How is a class around a specific project different than a crochet-along?

Do you think classes at LYSs are more about selling the yarn than teaching the student something more about crochet?

I’ve never taken a class at a Michaels (do Wal-Mart, Hobby-Lobby, A.C. Moore or Jo-Ann’s give crochet classes?) Are they about techniques or finished projects?

Or what’s the ratio?

How far would you drive to take a crochet class at a LYS? What would need to be special about the class to get you to pay for it and drive there?

If money was immaterial, what would keep you from taking crochet classes?

I thought this blog entry was interesting, although dated.

Do you think more people crochet in the southern regions of the States than Midwest/north/Canada?

Is crochet really divided across generational lines? If so…to what degree do you think?

Do crocheters do more for charity projects than knitters (projects per year per crafter)? (I couldn’t get real numbers on Ravelry for this). Is this why we’re “cheap”?

Do you buy crochet patterns in LYSs or do you prefer to download them from online, or via magazines?

What’s would be your ratio of purchased vs. free patterns completed?

What makes a LYS crochet-friendly…good attitude or an inventory of patter patterns completed?

What makes a LYS crochet-friendly…good attitude or an inventory of patterns, hooks, thread? classes?


Here's my take on the subject:

In a word……YES!!!

Of course, there are exceptions (if you’re not, then I’m not talking about you!!…so don’t get upset with me!)

I find that, overall, knitters tend to spend their money on ‘quality’ of yarn, whereas crocheters tend to spend their money on the ‘quantity’ of yarn

Things have been changing over the years, with newer yarns that’s more affordable, as well as the mindset of who and what the average knitter/crocheter are today. It’s no longer something that just elderly women did to keep busy (not that there’s anything wrong with that either,of course!) ;-)

As a former crochet teacher to primarily seniors, I find that most crocheter tend to not want to spend too much time and money on just one item. The few knitters I come across tend to be more concerned on what type of yarn and where they buy it.

Here, in Philadelphia, we really only have one crochet friendly LYS, called Jane’s Yarn Shoppe, but most people still tend to but their yarn at the local craft stores, that are mainly in/near a shopping center, where they can can multi-task to do other things.

Another thing I find that a lot of crocheters aren’t technically skilled as they would like to be, and aren’t willing to both take the time and expense to improve their skills.

I’m always asked if I can ‘simplify’ a pattern or a idea, but they’re not willing to pay me for it.

Each year, at our annual Knit/Crochet Out, there are less people that attend, mainly because, due to the decrease in donations, the ‘free’ items have been dwindling. We might not have one this year.

So, no matter how you phrase it, until we as crocheters, that want to improve our status as not being ‘cheap’, we need to go out and promote crochet more, step up our skills, shop at the LYS, demand better service and respect.

Otherwise, we’ll be still asking the same question years from now.

Crochet Sweaters for Men?

Recently, I saw a new Ravelry group for 'Crochet Menswear' by a fellow male crocheter. After reading a few responses, I want to weigh in on the discussion.

I think the bottom line is that as far as making men’s crochet sweaters, if you’re willing to both spend more money on fingering yarn, and work with very small hooks, then you should have no problem.

I’ve come to realize that, at least for me, the idea of making a crochet men’s sweater, using the current yarns, aren’t worth the time and effort. I’ve seen many men’s crochet patterns over the years, and the majority were made by women, thinking that’s what us guys might like (and never do!)

I’m leaning towards sweater jackets, or jackets/coats. Something that has more body to it, and we can get in and out of quickly.

How about you? What do you think?

Taking Notes?

Do you take notes when working on a pattern?

Or, do you assume that the pattern should be self explanatory?

It's been my experience that most don't bother because they expect the pattern to be clear enough (most don't read it thru first anyway), or, they just don't know how. They'll write something down, either on a small ass piece of paper (then forget where it is), or, can't read what they wrote.

I would like to teach people why and how to take notes. It really isn't that hard.

If you spend the time and money to create something from scratch, the least you can do for yourself is to take the time to make sure you know what you're going to do and why before you do it. Especially wearables.

Too many times as a teacher, I just find students start a pattern blindly, then, find themselves getting stuck at a certain point, then expect me to figure it out. Many, many times, I've tried to explain to them the benefits of not only taking notes, but to at least read over the pattern first, write out or highlight what they don't understand.

Remember, "The only dumb question is the one you don't ask!"

Starting a Men Who Crochet Group Here...

I just heard that one of my online male crochet friends from California is planning to move here in Philly.

It'll be great to see another openly male crocheter here. I've always felt like I'm the only one for most of my crochet life. I hid what I did for so many years, only to feel a bit awk

I'm sure there many male 'knitters', but we 'crocheters' tend to be of a different mindset, even with women.

I always wondered what it would be like to know other male crocheters. It wasn't until the Internet, where I began to meet other guys, from different parts of the country, different age groups,races,nationalities, etc...

I was especially glad when I met Peter Franzi online, and that he started the Men Who Crochet Yahoo Group.I began to feel a lot better (and safer) about being more public about crocheting.

Still,it would of been nice to share it with other guys in person.

I mean, being around all women is OK, to a point! ;-)


OK, so I'm calling out to any and all guys who crochet (and to any women who knows a male crocheter), and want to get together, hang out, maybe a small bar or a restaurant, just to get together and share ideas, and our thoughts, maybe once every 2 weeks or a month..

Sound like a plan? OK now, don't leave me hangin!!

My Crochet 'Not-So-Warm-Coat'

I had been reading on a Ravelry group (Crochet Wearables)about if there was a crochet version of the famous knitted 'Einstein Coat' by Sally Melville's book, 'The Knitting Experience-The Knit Stitch'.

Some of the ladies were talking about all the possible stitch variations, including doing it in Afghan(Tunisian)standard stitch (boy, that'll take some time, I tell you!!!) ;-)

But no one mentioned about actually making it!! Shocked, huh? :-0

Well, I decided to sit down and try it.

I wasn't too crazy about getting the book for just that one pattern, but when I looked at it in the bookstore, I decided to get it. It's well written and very informative, even with me really not being a 'knitter'. ;-)

I also saw that there was a 'lighter weight' version (without a collar) called a 'Not-So-Warm-Coat. I didn't want to use bulky yarn for the first time trying it out, so I looked at that pattern, and just added a collar.

I wanted to try to follow some of the same principals as in the book, mainly the modular direction of how the coat was designed. It reminds me of the book 'Modular Crochet' by Judith Copeland.

So, here goes....tell me what you think.
Pattern available at my Etsy & Ravelry Stores

Shawls & Stoles

Here's a few of my Shawls and Stoles:

Patterns are available for some at my Etsy & Ravelry stores

Great gift for Mother's Day!

Pineapple Mesh Shawl-PDF Pattern Only

This pretty, lightweight, and airy shawl is great for those upcoming cool Spring days & Summer evenings.

Worked from the neck down, you can adjust the length to your desired size.

Can be made with either worsted or light weight yarns.

You can make this in just a couple of days!

A quick & easy Mother's day gift too!

Click title for the pattern



This pattern will be emailed to you as a pdf document. You will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader (free download at www.adobe.com) in order to open it.

The pattern will be emailed to you within 24 hours after your payment is received and cleared

Why Make Swatches?

Why Make Swatches?

I recently read this from a crochet Yahoo group called 'crochet wearables':

MAKING SWATCHES

  If you want your garment to fit properly after it is completed, it is important to take the time to make a swatch. Then treat it exactly as you will treat your finished garment.

  First, chain about 20 stitches (staying in pattern may require you to start with a few more than 20 chains).

  Work your pattern until it measures about 4 or 5 inches.

  Lay it flat and let it rest.

  Measure the length and width and write these measurements down.

  Wash and dry the swatch the same way you will be washing and drying your finished garment.

  Measure the length and width of the laundered swatch and write these measurements down.

  Determine how much (if any) your swatch has changed from before it was washed and dried. This will help you figure how to adjust your pattern to fit properly. You may need to make your garment much larger if your swatch shrank a lot. Or you may need to make your garment smaller if your swatch grew (stretched).

  Mark out a 4 inch square in the center of the swatch. You can do this by pinning the 4 outermost corner stitches of the square.

  Count how many stitches and rows are contained in those 4 inches. This will help you determine how many stitches and/or rows to add to or subtract from your pattern in order for your garment to equal the correct finished measurement.

  You should do this every time you begin a new (large) project, even if it is the same pattern with the same brand of yarn and the same hook size.

  ( Personally, I'd be more concerned about all this in regards to wearables.)

  Sometimes different colors of the same yarn brand will work up to different gauges. Sometimes the yarn companies change something in the fiber content or manufacturing process of their yarns. And sometimes your tension will be tighter or looser than it was before. A lot of things could make your tension change your gauge, such as whether you are happy, sad, angry, tired, rushed, very relaxed, etc.

 

  So, start a small piece with a seperate ball of yarn with the same hook for a few minutes, just to get your hands warmed up, and your muscles relaxed before going back to your main project. This is good when you plan to go back to a earlier project you haven't worked on in awhile. ;-) 

  If you do a gauge swatch before you start your project, there shouldn't be any unpleasant surprises.

 

So, get your 'Crochet On'!

National Crochet Month (YEAH, RIGHT!!)

OK, March is finally here, and it's the beginning of National Crochet Month.

For the last few years I've tried to see what's going on in the city (Philly)regarding anything crochet......and each year it's the same...


NOT A DAMN THING!!

Most people either don't know anything about it(some they get 'conveniently stupid'), or, they just don't care about it.

The only concern I might get if they hear that's something free to get!!

I try to go around the city, stopping the few places where crocheters gather, to see what people are doing, and it's pretty much the same thing. They're mostly beginners who mostly just sit around,chit chat and eat (oh yeah, gotta have some food!). And wait to see what everybody else is doing (mainly to see what patterns they can get free copies of.

Maybe it's just me, but I don't come out to gossip and feed my face. Sure, I like to see what everyone else is doing, but that doesn't mean I want or need to get a free copy of the pattern. I can get my own (I might want to know where they got it from, like if it's online).

I want to learn as well as to see what's new and what's going on with crochet. Trying to learn and see other people's perspective on what's important to them regarding crochet.

And as a former teacher, it's gratifying to show someone either something new (to them), or a different way to do a specific technique or stitch.

But as usual, I find myself being asked to teach the whole class(for free?), or constantly being bombarded with requests for 'free copies of patterns!! UGH!!

So, this year you can count me out for National Crochet Month here..!!!


I'll just deal with my online friends and groups. It seems to be more people of the same interests there.

Are your crochet skills are advancing over the years?

Recently, Dora Orhenstein, from 'The Crochet Insider', asked that question to a Crochet Yahoo group.


I've been crocheting for nearly forty years. Started as a teenager in college (PSU), eventually taught myself to read patterns (the girls on campus got sick of me asking how to do stuff!). I had a Saturday morning class for a little while teaching new stitches. Even the girl who first taught me came to the class!!

I've always been curious about different things about crochet. I try to challenge myself to find and do not only different new things, but find and do different ways to do some of the same things.

I became a CYCA Certified Crochet Teacher 10 yrs ago, but I was already teaching at different senior centers in the area, mostly volunteering.

Teaching brought out a different concept to my crocheting, improvisation.
Learning to adapt to different ideas to accommodate the different types of crocheters was a challenge in of itself.

Funny, most of my students think I'm obsessed with crocheting, but whenever they need help, who do they contact! ;-)

Finally, I have to acknowledge that with the introduction of the Internet, I've been more open with my crocheting. Only ever met one other male crocheter here locally, he was in his 70's, and was 'tickled pink' to finally met one himself!. But with the Internet, I've met dozens of guys, of different ages, races, and backgrounds.

I'm glad to see some of my work has inspired a few young guys.

Thank Goodness for Diagrams!!

I ran across this photo of a pretty pineapple shawl and realized that it's from a Japanese book.


OK, so you know I don't read Japanese, right? But, as luck would have it, I found ( don't ask me where), the diagram for it.

But there's a catch.... it's not the WHOLE pattern, but pretty much!! ;-)

Had to figure out the rest on my own, and since I've done a few pineapple patterns before, it wasn't too hard to figure out.

I find that diagrams help out a lot. Written (especially pineapples) patterns can sometimes be overwhelming, so wordy, it makes me dizzy!!

Now, here's the thing. I know the original pattern probably calls for some thin expensive, sport-weight type of yarn, but you know me......I'm a '4-ply kinda guy!!'

Hee, Hee!!

What are you doing this Winter?

So, what's going on with everyone?

I know most are still doing last minute things for the big day, but what are some of your plans for the coming year?

If the big snowstorm we just had on the East Coast is any indication, we're going to be stuck in the house a lot more next year, so they're be a lot of crocheting and knitting.

So, what are you planning to work on? Still trying to finish up those projects that you've putting aside?


Planning to start making things for the Spring season?

I really need to buckle down and finish some of the things I've started....they're beginning to pile up! ;-)

Philadelphia Male Crocheters?

Are there any male crocheters in Philly?

I've lived here all my life, and only met one male, who was a senior citizen originally from Texas. And he too, was surprised to have met another male crocheter.

I did see one young guy on the subway, tucked in a corner seat, working on a fashion doll dress, looking very nervous. I came up to him, asked if he was working in sc or dc, just to put him at ease, but he still was too nervous to talk, so I left him alone.

Whenever I go to our local Knit-Out, I might see one guy there, usually someone's young son,dragging around with their mom. Normally, I'm the only guy there (except maybe for the janitor)!!;- )

And you can forget seeing them at our LYS, (well, we only have one 1 crochet friendly LYS). I might see a male knitter (OK, that's a different group altogether...a subject for later!) ;-)

If it weren't for the Internet, I don't think I'd ever would of met another male crocheter.

I'm sure there others out there, maybe they were like me years ago, pretty much kept to themselves, doing it privately, still dealing with the public stigma attached to it.

It's frustrating sometimes being in a room full of just women, having them (unintentionally, of course), talk down to you, and treat you as one of the 'girls'.

So, where are you guys??

DC KEYHOLE NECK SCARF

DC KEYHOLE NECK SCARF

CrochetGuy Copyright © 2009







Materials: 4ozs of any 4-ply Soft or Sport yarn ‘I’ hook Yarn Needle

(If using worsted weight yarn, use ‘J’ hook)

Size: 5” x 33”

Gauge: 3dc & 2rows=1”

Abbreviations: Ch-chain sl st-slip stitch sc-single crochet dc-double crochet rev sc-reverse single crochet (sc, working from left to right)

Note: Ch2, does not count as a dc

Row 1: Ch 122, dc in the 3rd ch from the hook, and in each ch across, turn (120 dc)

Rows 2-4: Ch2, dc across, turn

Row 5: Ch2, dc across the next 86dc, ch13, skip 13dc, dc across remaining dc, turn

Row 6: Ch2, dc across each dc and ch, turn

Rows 7-9: Ch2, dc across, turn



Keyhole Edging:

With right side facing, join yarn to 1st dc of opening, sc around, join end off

Outer Edging:

Row 1: With right side facing, working along all sides, sc around, working 3sc at each corner, join

Row 2: For Women, (sc in the next st, sl st in the next st) around, join, end off

Row 2: For Men, rev sc around, join, end off



Weave ends

Copyright © 2009 That Crochet Guy



Please do not reproduce, sell or distribute this pattern by any means.



You may sell your finished work made from this pattern.

Shell Stitch Crazy!!

Just finished a few hats and some scarves as gifts for the upcoming holidays, and I'm about 'shelled' out!!! :-0

Cable Comfort

I recently purchased this book called 'Range of Fashion'from Amazon for the cover sweater:



I couldn't see all of it, due to the way the model was posing, but I was intrigued by the way the cable was made. It reminded me of a Lion Brand knitted pattern that I first saw in a fashion runway photo online.

Oh, by the way, the patterns are made by another 'male' crocheter, George Shaheen.





Well, I received it, and after getting over the fact the book only has 5 patterns for $15!!!!, (one is OK, but the other 3...not for me!) :-)

Got to see the whole sweater.....not bad!


So, after reviewing how the cable strip was made, I decided to make a smaller version, just to see. I decided to try it in a one color bag, then, another version as a hat, with 2 shades of gray(left over yarn),(wasn't too sure about this one, but, what the heck, right?)

Philadelphia Area 8th Knit/ Crochet Out Event

Well, it's that time again.

On Oct 4th, from Noon to 5p.m., the Philadelphia Convention Center (corner of 12th & Arch Sts) will be holding the 8th Annual Philadelphia Area Knit/Crochet Out Event

OK, OK, don't get so excited!!

It's not it used to be. It's main objective to still to promote knitting and crocheting(among other types of crafts)free to the public.

But the key word is 'free'....

Everything is 'free'...I mean that's everything's 'donated'. Volunteers, materials, even the hall is 'donated'.

Over time, like most things, free doesn't last forever. So after a while, the donations (and some volunteers)have dwindled.

So, if your salivating over what 'free' goodies you're going to get, think again.

The companies that used to donate materials aren't truly doing so out of the kindness of their hearts, they're hoping to generate some future business.

But if you don't shop in their stores, then why should they continue.

They say 'you can't get out what you don't put in'.

So c'mom people, if you want things like the Knit Out to continue, you need to do your part as well.

Smooth Cable Hat

Saw this hat on Etsy and wanted to figure out the stitch:

Visor Cap

Saw this FREE pattern online (click title for pattern) and thought I'd give it a try: