In this review three of Patricia Kristoffersen doily pattern books will be explored:

Click on the images to see the designs within!

Her designs lure you in with their beauty and detail…Here's a secret: they only appear difficult to make! If you can work a front or back posted stitch, work in front or back loops only, then you can make one of these cleverly designed doilies!

Often the specialty stitches occur in just a handful or fewer rounds in the doily, usually at the beginning. The majority of the rounds are just like any other doily pattern. The front and back covers provide excellent graphics to help understand the stitches. Each pattern has a detailed explanation of the special stitches used. The photographs of the doilies are clear and give good detail for reference.

Doilies With A Twist

Listed as Patricia's newest book, Doilies With a Twist features six doily designs that utilize the spiral. She provides instructions on how to make a spiral. It consists of making a long chain, then starting on the 4th chain from the hook, 3 sc's in each chain to the end. The secret to happy spiral making is to loosely chain and then loosely work the sc's.

I typically buy a pattern book because of one pattern inside that I MUST have, with the rest being ones that are OK. I happened upon this book by chance, and fell in love with every design. I have since made all but one of the patterns from this book. I've made Ruby twice because it is so dazzling!

The six designs are:

• Donna
• Irene
• Ruby
• Tala
• Svanhild
• Rosa (no pic available at this time)

This book of patterns requires an intermediate to advanced skill level. A beginner may find some of the special stitches too overwhelming. These doilies also need to be blocked in order to give the spirals their best shape and to bring out the full detail of the raised and special stitches.

The measurements range from 11½—16 inches. The average yardage is about 450 yards.

Ultimate Doilies

This pattern book contains 8 designs that are full of texture and stunning elegance! Fundamental Grace, Momentous Occasion, Notable Difference, Innovative Idea, Ultra Beauty, Visionary Sense, Supreme Image, and Elemental Achievement, are the names of the doilies contained in this book. The measurements range from 14½—19 inches in diameter. Many of the patterns list 300+ yards of thread to complete the doily.

The patterns in this book require an intermediate to expert skill level. If you are interesting in hone your skills and increasing your experience level, this book will provide an adequate challenge but without {hopefully} frustration.

Coffee 'N' Cream Doilies

Unfortunately, this book is listed as being out of print, but copies of it can be cheaply and easily acquired through eBay. If you are new to Patricia Kristoffersen designs, this would be an excellent first book to test her creative use of crochet stitches. The seven designs in this book are Espresso, Hazlenut, Café Latte, French Vanilla, Viennese, Mocha, Café Au Lait, Cappuccino, and Amaretto. The doilies measure from 12½—18½ inches. The average thread yardage is around 300 yards.

Want to Share Your Pictures?

If you have photos of any of the above listed doilies that you'd like to share, e-mail me and I'll give a link to your finished work.

All photos in this post are clickable for larger version

Lover's Knot, Solomon's Knot, or Some Call it Hail Stone

Fear not the knots, because once you know which loop to yarn over into the rest is doing a single crochet!

The tricky part of this stitch is twofold. First, knowing what loop to work the single crochet into. When instructions say "back loop" they mean what the arrow is pointing to in the above photo. The second aspect of this stitch that takes some practice is making consistently sized loops. If you are making a wearable that uses this stitch you'll want to make sure you make the required loop size to maintain stitch gauge. (Stitch gauge is a four-letter word!)

Once you are in the loop (pun intended) then go ahead and work a single crochet. Voilà! The knot is completed!

Double Your Pleasure, Double Your Fun

Often you'll be instructed to make double knots and single knots in the same pattern. To make a double knot, just repeat what you did for the first knot.

Go Knots!

The knot stitch is often used to create a lace effect. Shawls and shrugs and sometimes doilies feature this stitch. If you are ready to go knots, try these free patterns:

• Solomon's Knot Shawl
• Everyday Shawl
• Crochet Lace Glove

I'm Still in Knots

If you would like more resources to help you further perfect your knots, just click these links for additional tutorials.

• Annie's Attic Love Knot
• Annie's Attic Double Love Knot
• Lover's or Solomon's Knot
• Solomon's Knot
• About.com Lover's Knot

What Stitch Is Next?

I haven't decided on next month's stitch and I'd like your input. What stitch would you like to see featured? E-mail me with your stitch suggestion.

Meet Kathy White a.k.a. Katchkan!
Crochetville member since 2005

Brief Bio: Kathy is 51 years young and was born and raised in Spokane, Washington. She met her husband, Marv, during her senior year in high school and eloped with him that spring. That was 33 years ago! Together they have raised two girls, and are the proud grandparents of 3 grandkids.

This interview is done in two parts. The first covers my visitation with Kathy at her house. The second part is a question and answer interview.

Part One: My Afternoon with Kathy

I had the good fortune of meeting Kathy back in November 2005 as we live relatively close (about a 2½hour drive) for lunch. She enchanted me with her Irish crochet pieces and told me the secrets of how to make my own lace pieces. Any member of C'Ville who has been around long enough has become familiar with Kathy's original designs ranging from Irish crochet lace pieces to her recent birthstone themed doilies.

My interview with Kathy was an amazing six hours of not only seeing her exquisite masterpieces but also included time travel!

My journey to visit with Kathy in her home took me to the community of Gig Harbor on the Key Peninsula, about a 30 minute drive (when traffic is clear) from Tacoma. I could tell that on a clear day there would be stunning views of Mt. Rainier on the eastern horizon and the Olympic Mountain Range to the west.

Kathy's house is decorated as I would have expected: loaded with antique pieces of furniture that fondly recall the days of yore, in which crocheting was a ubiquitious skill using size 30, 40, and 50 threads (and smaller!), and patterns were intricately crafted over a winter's time. The antiques weren't limited to furniture, but also included an impressive collection of crochet hooks and even antique thread, the most impressive being a spool of size 150 thread that Kathy was using to make a very large doily! This was just part of our "time travel". More would come later in the second half of our visit.

Immediate we took to my photographing Kathy's original masterpeices. I created a gallery of her work. I wanted to capture the detail of her doilies. I soon discovered that a photograph cannot capture the majesty of her work.

We found ourselves at four o'clock and I needed to depart, but then somehow a new topic came up and Kathy began to bring out her antique crochet books ranging from publication date as early as 1848 with a heavy concentration around the turn of the century. She told me that around 1920 the style of patterns begin to change. No longer were projects rich with detail and intracacy: they had become "instant" one day or weekend projects. Thus our journey back into time began!

She showed me how much of crocheting has been lost over time to our need for instant gratification and simplicity. Stitches and techniques that are now "lost" to us still exist within a few wilting old books. One book in particular, The Art of Crocheting published in 1891 by Butterick had a stitch guide section that was awesome! Multiple variations of the picot caught my eye, especially the inverse picot! (Note: A copy of this book was recently selling on e-Bay for $399.99! That's how rare it is!)

Kathy showed me a type of crocheting that used coronation cord or braid. Entire booklets of patterns were filled with designs incorporating this trim. Sadly, coronation braid is only available as an antique. I found an example of that was made with it. Other designs called novelty braids were also used in making doilies. As I saw the beauty in this crocheting technique, my mind whirled with wondering if somehow this style of crocheting could be resurrected? Would today's thread crocheter want to work with these materials?

Kathy and I engaged in a serious discussion what crocheting has lost, especially in regard to thread crocheting using size 20 or higher thread. We posed reasons to each other as to how and why the finer threads are no longer being used. It is hard for either of us to imagine why thread crochet is met with trepidation particularly when working with size 20 and higher. For us this is truly crocheting at its finest. I posed that when working with finer thread crocheting becomes more tactile than visual–that you "feel" for the stitch because often it is too small to clearly see it. She agreed, that there is more use of touch than sight when working with delicate threads.

Our time travel into a bygone era in which we felt more in alignment with the art of crochet was suddenly jolted back into reality! Two hours had slipped away from us during our exploration and I needed to dash away home. The visit ended abruptly, but we both knew we'd meet again soon. I've yet to show her my Fair placing doilies and she sent me on my way with a copy of her Josephine Rose Doily pattern to work on. I can hardly wait to make it and show her the results!

Part Two: The Interview

How did you discover C'Ville?
I first discovered Crochetville via my website. Someone must have mentioned it in a post and gave my website address. Crochetville showed up several times in my links section of my status report for my site. I got curious and I wandered in and never left. I felt instantly at home, Though it took a long time to get up the courage to post myself. I enjoyed reading the posts and Loved the support everyone gave one another. Once I got brave enough to post a reply and no one laughed at what I had to say then I got brave enough to post some of my work. I was flabbergasted at the response I got.

How many hours a day do you crochet?
I probably crochet between 5-7 hours a day crocheting 7 days a week. I tend to get up with Marv when he goes to work at 5:00 and my alarm doesn't go off till 7:00 so I feel those 2 hours are mine. I normally use them to crochet or design depending on my mood. I crochet between or while waiting for a lesson. I like the fact that a can put down my crochet work when I need to and it waits very patiently for me to get back to it. So during the day I might log in about 3-4 hours crochet time depending on my schedule. Less in the summer as I get busy outside with good weather. Evenings I enjoy the luxury of being able to crochet all I want. I normally can put in 3-4 hours in the evenings on crochet work, designing or pattern writing. My kids are grown and It's just the 2 of us these days. My time needed for chores has diminished greatly in the last few years. So I do log more time in on my crocheting. I love it.

Who taught you how to crochet?
The wonderful person who taught me to crochet was my great aunt on my fathers side. Actually my mother informs me she was a second cousin but I always knew her as Aunt Haydee so to me she's an aunt, if only honorarily, but whatever relationship she had to me, I bless her every time I pick up my hook for enabling me to do what I so dearly Love.

I am the only left handed person in my family and no one could seem to teach me to crochet. I taught myself to knit but I just couldn't make that tiny hook work right. Of course I was trying to teach myself with a size 13 hook and size 30 thread. See, a threadie before I even got started! She gave me some yarn and a G hook and taught me ch, and sc, I took it from there. Wasn't long and I moved back down to thread, since that is what I really wanted to do.

What do you most like to crochet?
I have probably crocheted a little of everything in my time. From clothes, Baby items, afghans, tableclothes, bedspreads, toys and anything else you can think of. But my most favorite type of crochet is anything with thread. I love making doilies, Irish crochet pieces, my beaded purses, and small novelty items done in thread, such as pincushions, edgings, and doll dresses. Thread fascinates me as the stitches are what carries the piece, and since it is so much smaller you can get a lot more intricate or detailed with your design.

What would you most like to accomplish with crocheting?
I would love to become a respected designer, To be able to have my designs not only published but eagerly sought after is my dearest dream at this time of my life. To share my love of this art form with others of like mind would be wonderful. I guess I would like to leave something of value as a legacy of my life. I hope maybe my designs might qualify. As far as what I would most like to crochet before my fingers cry enough is, I would love to do an Irish crochet blouse or skirt. I haven't chosen which would make me the happiest to do. Either would be real challenge.

What aspect of crochet do you find most difficult or challenging? I think maybe the Irish crochet is the most challenging as it involves so many different techniques to make a whole.I also like that fact that it challenges your skill level. There are some motifs out there that could take a week all in themselves. I find tedious repetitious work the most difficult. I loose interest if it's doing the same thing over and over.

What draws you to Irish crochet?
I love the variety and the freedom of expression you can get with Irish Crochet. It's sort of anything goes as long as it works and looks good. To take so many different elements and pull them all together to create a piece, is true art as far as I am concerned. I love to look at all the different motifs that have been created and the different ways they have been used. Then I challenge myself to come up with something as wonderful myself.

How did you get into designing doilies?
I tried to design a doily years ago and found it to be a very daunting experience. I found out it took more than just increasing shells or what not to make a doily worth having around. I sort of put it on the back burner, but thought about it alot. I think getting into Irish Crochet helped me to see the piece as a whole and my designing changed. So a couple years ago I started playing with doilies again. I made several that I actually liked and use around here. But I never dreamed anyone else would be interested in my efforts. I just did them as a personal challenge.

It wasn't until I joined Crochetville that I began the think I might have something to offer other crocheters. Elizabeth ( Threeolivemartini) threw down the guantlet though this winter and gave me the challenge of the birthstone doilies. Well I love a challenge. I was surprised though at how the ideas kept coming. I think all the time I have thought about what it take to make a decent doily paid off. Now it seem that I can't stop seeing in my mind how something might work to make an interesting doily.

What are your favorite brands of hooks and thread?
My all time favorite hooks are the boye crochet hooks. I don't know if it's because I learned on them or what, but I crochet so much faster and easier with them than anything else. I have used the DMC threads for years now. I love the six cord cordonnet threads though they can be hard to find especially if you desire some color. I do recommend you buy the best thread you can. I watched several tableclothes sort of dissinegrate because the thread wasn't top qualilty. Have to learn everything the hard way I quess.

What words of encouragement could you give to crocheters regarding thread crochet?
Thread is just another aspect of crochet. Not really any harder just different. Most beginners think you have to grip the poor hook with all their might to keep it from getting away. Not so. Just gently hold your hook, If your hands ache from holding a small hook you are probably griping it way too tight.

Don't make the mistake of using a hook to large for the thread you are using. I think that is too common of a mistake people make. Your tension will be all wrong and your work will not lay or look as it should. It also makes it actually more difficult to do. Dont let the size of the thread scare you. If you can crochet with baby or fingering yarn, size 10 thread is just one step down. Use good guality thread and relax you know how to crochet. I keep telling people to think of thread as skinny yarn.

What sections do you always read on C'Ville?
I always check out the Thread crochet show and tell and the Thread crochet forum. Then I head for the new posts. I read a little of this and that all day. Whatever sounds interesting. I wish I could respond to everyones posts and greet all the newbies but I would never get anything done then.

What are some of your other interests besides crocheting?
I have always been into the horses ever since I could point and neigh. I only own 2 at this time, (Java and Bear ) but have owned up to 7 at one time. I got Java when he was 10 months old. He is now 25. We have been a team for a long time. I used to show a lot but have eased out of that. Now I just enjoy my riding.

I am also into antiques. My home reflects this. I probably don't own anything that is going to make me or my decendants rich, But I do have some nice things that to me add to the quality of my life. I love my treasures. I have an extensive Pewter collection that me and my mom worked on together. I also collect 2 cup teapots, sewing items, and my favorites my Crochet Hook collection and my Crochet book collection. Both are rather extensive.

I enjoy gardening though the last few years have not been able to do as much. Body is starting to rebel. Have had few injuries that has limited my time in the yard.

Tell me what some of your favorite things are outside of crochet.
My beadwork—well, I quess that really doesn't count as it's crochet too. I enjoy a good book, historical novels and light science fiction, and most of the the classics. Time spent with my husband—he's been my best friend for many a year.My cats, Bilbo, Elsie,and Addie, and of course, my horses. Going to antique malls, too!

Why do you think many crocheters find thread crochet so daunting or intimidating?
I have never quite figured out why so many find thread daunting. I think it is the small hooks and the fine thread. Well people have been crocheting with it for years and years. Can' t be all that tough if it has been around so long. I keep trying to show what can be done with it. I hope by doing so I can encourage people to no be afraid of it or treat it as if it was really tough.

What historical figure would you most like to have dinner with?
I think I would like to got to dinner with Ann Orr She was a crochet designer in the early 1900's What I admire about her is, in a time when women were treated with little respect in the work place she was an editor and on the publishing staff for Coats and Clarks. She was able to take her talents and go where most women could only dreamed of in those days. I have a lot of respect for the abilities of her I imagine she would have some interesting stories to tell.

Describe a little bit about where you crochet and what rituals you might have surrounding it.
I crochet here in the computer room. We took a long time to find the right computer chair that I was comfortable in doing both the computer and crocheting. I have my corner set up to be both comfortable and effiecient. I have it designed to be soothing to the senses too. It is decidedly well lite so my eyes don't get fatiqued easily. My antique hooks are displayed around me and some of my other treasures make my corner my own. My hooks and tools are all in easy reach. I can see when people arrive through the window so I can crochet till my lessons arrive if I want. My cats have claimed their spaces around me and love to nap close by while I work. Just a pleasant place to work.

What kind of coffee or tea do you like best?
I am definitely a coffeeholic. I pour a cup first thing in the morning and I drink it till I go to bed. Love the stuff. But my favorite is a Latte. Marv makes the very best ones too. It's his speciality A Kahlua Almond Fudge latte and I am in heaven especially if I get to drink it while I crochet….Ah!

What else would you like the readers to know about you?
I learned a very important lesson years ago. There is nothing I can not learn to do if I so desire. Sounds cliché but to me one of the most important things I ever learned was this fact. Knowing you can learn anything opens up the world to you. Never say you can't. I Love the fact that with nothing more than a piece of string and hook we can make the most intricate and beautiful pieces of art. It's literally making something from nothing. I absolutely love watching an idea take shape and substance.

Be sure to check out Kathy's website Crochet N' Beads for free crochet patterns and other items of interest!

Villager Spotlight is a regular feature of 'Round the 'Ville and is dedicated to providing fifteen minutes of fame to a board member. Members can recommend themselves or others for consideration of being put in the spotlight. Please direct e-mail to Lori with your member suggestions.

There are many opportunies for a Crochetville Villager to make new friends or learn more about "old" friends. I'm going to focus on one: swapping.

Essentially, the swaps at Crochetville are designed for villagers to get to know one another better and to have fun doing it. As a bonus, crocheters of all levels get to share their work with others. (And we all know that crocheters LOVE to share their work!) Some villagers form lasting friendships that start during a swap. Others just enjoy crocheting for others and receiving a hand-made gift in return. Whatever the reason, swaps are a great way to have fun and expanding on a love of yarn and crochet.

Swaps FAQ
What exactly is a swap? A swap is when a group of people get together to crochet one or more items for one or more persons in the group. This group may be broken down into smaller groups, or the group may remain as one with swapping partners assigned by a coordinator. The "swapping" concept comes into play especially with the smaller groups, where each person in the group crochets something for everyone else in the group and receives crocheted items in return, thus swapping crocheted goods.

How does one join a swap? This really differs between coordinators. Some coordinators prefer to set up a form where personal information such as name, address, shipping preferences and allergies are disclosed. Other coordinators prefer a personal e-mail with similar information. A potential swapper must also have met a minimum of 40 posts at Crochetville. Some swaps may have other requirements that must be met, and will state these in the rules for that particular swap.

The forms or emails will also generally ask about color and size preferences to better aid the swapping partner or partners. New to the questionnaires are questions regarding specific allergies, including dogs, cats, and cleaning agents; as well as questions regarding smoking habits and preferences about receiving items.

Who coordinates the swaps? Again, this varies. There are some "regular" coordinators–villagers who coordinate a variety of swaps at any given time–"junior" coordinators–villagers who are experienced swappers and work with an experienced coordinator to learn the ropes–and then there are members (also experienced swappers) who request to coordinate a specific swap. Those interested in coordinating swaps should contact Julie at yarngirl[at]withahook[dot]com and express your interest and any ideas for new swaps.
What happens if swap requirements are not met? When someone signs up for a swap, they are committing themselves to completing the requirements set forth in the rules for that swap. If this commitment is not made, the swap coordinator will attempt to contact the peson who is not fulfilling his or her commitment and try to remedy the situation. If the person in question ultimately does not meet the requirements, his or her name will be entered into a public listing of those who have not completed their swap obligations. This public listing is referred to as the Hall of Shame, or HOS. Once a name is listed in the HOS, that villager is banned from participating in further swaps for the duration of the HOS listing PLUS a period of four (4) months after removal from the HOS. Any member listed in the HOS who also has a RAOK Wish List will have their Wish List placed in an inaccessible state until HOS status is lifted.

How does one leave the HOS? There is only one way to leave the HOS. Fulfill the swap obligations originally committed to. This means that if a villager has been placed in the HOS for multiple swaps (it happens, folks!) the obligations for ALL those swaps must be fulfilled before the villager is released from the HOS. Once released, the villager in question is prohibited from swaps participation for a period of four (4) months.

How does one know what swaps are available? There are two methods to find out about the swaps offered at Crochetville. The first is to check the Swap Schedule for the current year in the Swaps Forum at Crochetville. Unfortunately, this method excludes some because it requires membership at Crochetville and a 40 post minimum. The second method is to check the Village Swappers page here at 'Round the 'Ville.

The Village Swappers page includes all the information from the Swap Schedule in the forum as well as some information about the RAOK Forum. The Village Swappers page is also accessible to anyone who can read the newsletter. This is beneficial to those Crochetville members who have not yet reached the 40 post minimum but would like to see the swaps offered when that requirement is met.

I remember the first time that I visited Crochetville. At first I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy being a part of a community that just discussed crochet. I was new to crochet and I wasn’t sure if I belonged where everyone seemed more experienced in the craft than I would ever be. The most terrifying aspect of it was that most of them had something called a “blog” and used terms like “frog”, “WIP”, and “LYS”. I was sure that I’d entered an alternate dimension of reality.

I have lost count of the number of hours that I have logged on Crochetville. I would never have thought two years ago that I would complete anything other than the basics, that my yarn stash would take over every free storage space in my home, or that I would ever feel comfortable designing my own patterns. Without Crochetville, I would not enjoy my craft as much as I do. I hope that all of you find as much joy in our little village because you are what make it a village– a community– and not just another message board.

On February 16, 2006, Crochetville celebrated its second birthday. In that time, we’ve jumped to 4,748 members, and have had 301,299 posts. Both of those numbers will have grown by the time that you read this message. It is because of the almost 5,000 members that Julie, Donna, and I keep working to make Crochetville even better for our members. I believe that Crochetville has made its mark as the message board for all things crochet.

To celebrate our first issue of ‘Round the ‘Ville, we want you to enjoy a special original pattern submitted by one of our members. Kathy’s (Katchkan) Tissue Tote is an elegant cover for your travel-sized tissue packets. Crochet away!

Tissue Tote (PDF file)

Meet Faith a.k.a. Faithpa76!
Crochetville member since September 2004

Brief Bio: Faith lives with her husband, four children, and two furbabies in Rhode Island. Faith is pictured with her grandmother. Faith studied music education as a flute major at college, where she met her husband. She left after completing her sophomore year when she married.

Faith was selected at random to be interviewed from the top 10 members with the most posts. Currently, Faith has 6,424 posts to the board. She also is currently serving as the Single Crochet Secret Pal Swap co-coodinator. The question begs to be asked: Where does she find the time to crochet?

Faith learned how to crochet from her grandmother at age 12, but the only thing that stuck with her was how to hold the hook and yarn. She taught herself the rest when she was looking for a hobby to pick up when her youngest child was a year old. As she describes it, she discovered crochet and Crochetville about at the same time.

When she isn’t crocheting, Faith enjoys cooking and recipe collecting, reading books, and participating in scouting. Some of her favorite things include: a good conversation, being able to sit in companionable silence with someone, curling up with the kids or hubby, being loved and loving, good music, and reading a book in front of a fire.

If Faith had only one thing available to her to eat for the rest of her life, she would either subsist on homemade tacos and yellow rice, or the salad bar at Ruby Tuesday. “Or maybe a good burger, since they are so versatile and I could have any number of toppings on them. I would get bored eating the same thing for too long - I’m a creature of habit in many ways, but not so much with food :)” (Authoer’s note: She is a kindred spirit for I also think burgers are the bestest food there is!)

Faith is a consumate tea drinker, with her favorites being Lady Earl Grey, Adagio chestut tea or Simpson & Vail decaf almond tea. During the summer she likes to mix plain decaf with any number of herbal teas for icing.

If she could live in any historical time period, Faith says, “I’ve always wondered why I wasn’t born about 100 years earlier than I was (Civil War period), but I am also incredibly intrigued by the industrial revolution.”

Crochet Facts & Trivia About Faith

How many hours a day do you spend crocheting?
Anywhere from an hour on up; depends on what life (or one of my kids lol) throws in my way. I think a safe average is 2-4 hours; my max is about 6.

How many hours a day do you spent at Crochetville?
I don’t know. I stop by often to skim through everything—probably every hour or two—but really only spend a block of time there first thing in the morning (usually around 20-30 minutes), unless I have something specific to do.

What do you most like to crochet?
There’s the immense satisfaction of finishing something big (like a blanket) that I love, but I also really enjoy smaller projects (dishcloths) because of the instant gratification. The perfect project for me right now is probably a pieced blanket, because I get the best of both worlds. My second favorite at the moment is doilies.

What aspect of crochet do you find most difficult or challenging?
Originally I had the worst time with reading patterns, and then one day it just clicked - like learning a new language—it was like all of a sudden picking up a book in French and realizing I could understand it. I do still tend to prefer a picture with any given pattern, just for reference.

Anymore—hmmm. With crocheting, I usually take something new and work at it until it’s comfortable for me—so it depends on where in that cycle I am. Since I am still relatively new to crocheting, quite a few things are still a challenge—for instance, a bullion or a spiral is still going to have me pulling my hair out. I’m not in a big rush to get there though—I like getting all the steps in between down solid, which takes time, and lots and lots of practice.

How many UFOs do you have and what are your plans to do with them?
Somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 (isn’t that crazy for someone who’s only been crocheting for a year and a half?). I’m in the process of getting rid of them, either frogging or finishing, and have already taken care of 5 or so the last couple months.

If you could have anything in the way of yarn or crochet supplies, what would you want?
Supplies—it really isn’t a supply, but I would love a good storage system or designated craft area. I’d also love to complete my set of wood hooks. Yarn—any natural fibers. I’ve been sticking with acrylics so that I could get really comfortable crocheting before messing with the “good” stuff. I’d especially like some natural wool or cotton so I can try my hand at dyeing.

Describe a little bit about where you crochet and what rituals you might have surrounding it.
Before I start, I always remove my rings (I get both yarn and thread stuck on the prongs of my engagement ring, so off them come), and then wash and thoroughly dry my hands. I usually crochet on the couch in my living room, or at my computer while I chat. It’s my favorite room - the fireplace is here, there’s no tv, but I can put music on, or talk with dh or one of the kids at the same time.

Faith’s crochet dream project
I have two … the first to make a gigantic ripple blanket out of varying skeins of blue and green homespun for our bed, and the second would be to decorate a dollhouse for my dd - I’ve discovered I love making miniature versions of things out of thread. Not sure how practical either project is, since the former is a rather time consuming undertaking, and the latter requires a wood dollhouse and nice (non plastic) furniture, which is neither cheap nor easy to find anymore.

Crochetville & Faith

What do you like about being the Secret Pal co-coordinator?
I love seeing all the little “things” about everyone, and I’m looking forward to watching the interaction between the known and the unknown when *I* know everything. This is my first round from the coordinating end so who knows, that answer could change over the next couple of months.

What other swaps have you hosted or particiapted in?
I’ve hosted the tea & coffee swap (hoping to get another one going soon!). Participating - I’ve been in a couple of yarn swaps, scarf swap, kitchen & bath swap, Christmas ornament swap, the dishcloth swap, blue squares too, autumn secret pals, and the original tea swap.

Out of all of the swaps and interactive things to do at C’Ville, which do you like participating in the most and why?
I really have enjoyed the swaps, especially the tea swaps (it’s fun to do something non-crochet with my crochet friends) and secret pals - it is always a great pleasure to get to know someone new, to spoil them without them knowing who you are. I think the most fun in any swap is getting to know the person (or people) you’re partnered with and sending them something you know they will really enjoy.

What sections do you always read on C’Ville?
I skim through them all. If you twist my arm to pick something, I’d probably say all the show and tell stuff - seeing the things everyone makes is inspirational. I also enjoy seeing all the crochet hooks and gadgets, so that one as well.

What can you share with the readers about the C’Ville cookbook project?
That it is indeed a work in progress! Progress slowed to a halt around the holidays but we’re picking up speed again and plan to have some information forthcoming in the next couple of weeks - my personal goal is to be taking recipes the beginning of March. We are, in many respects, starting from scratch as opposed to what was started last summer, so hang in there with us as we gear up to really get this project in motion.

Villager Spotlight is a regular feature of ‘Round the ‘Ville and is dedicated to providing fifteen minutes of fame to a board member. Members can recommend themselves or others for consideration of being put in the spotlight. Please direct e-mail to Lori with your member suggestions.

…but were too scared to ask.

Were you ever curious as to just how busy Crochetville really is? When we moved from the old ezBoard site to the crochetville.org domain on March 18, 2005, Crochetville was home to 778 members. Since then, we’ve been mentioned in at least two national magazines and word of mouth from our wonderful Villagers has helped increase our membership totals to over 4,800 members. Over 4,000 members have joined in just under a year! I think we all can see that crochet and Crochetville are very popular right now, and a big reason for that in my opinion is all of our wonderful members. That means YOU! Thanks!

I thought I’d share some statistics on what a normal day here at Crochetville looks like behind the scenes.

~ The most replied to thread is the 63 Squares Crochetalong thread.
~ The most viewed thread is the Fluffy Pink Shrug Schematics thread.
~ The most popular forum is Introduce Yourself.

Registration totals by month:
March 2005 - 476
April 2005 - 279
May 2005 - 281
June 2005 - 255
July 2005 - 352
August 2005 - 315
September 2005 - 392
October 2005 - 365
November 2005 - 367
December 2005 - 349
January 2006 - 900
February 2006 - 496

Currently we are averaging 600 to 700 registered members online each and every day. In March of 2005 we averaged 200 to 300 members, every day. Our members are posting 60 to 70 new threads every day! That’s new threads folks! And you wondered why you can’t keep up with your laundry. Well, maybe that was just me but there was definitely some wondering going on. And we absolutely LOVE to talk about crochet. For the month of February 2006, we averaged 885 posts every day. The high post day was February 1st with 1232, and the “gosh it’s quiet here today” day was February 18th with 561 posts.

Top 10 ‘posters’ (members with the most posts)
1. Julie
2. faithpa76
3. rebeccav
4. yarncat
5. Tiffany
6. Donna
7. threeolivemartini
8. diamond
9. chiscrochetcrazy
10. kariholtz

Did you know? You can see the current post count for the entire board by clicking on the Members List link on the board, then click on the “Posts” link at the top of the list. It will reorder the list and show you the Top 10 and on and on and on.

Did you know? If you get a new email account you do not need to get a new member account at Crochetville. Simply log in to your account, select the User CP link on the upper left of the board and choose ‘Edit Email & Password’ from your Control Panel. Be sure to click on the activation link that will come to your new email address and you’re all set!

Stitch ‘N Bitch Crochet : The Happy Hooker

By Debbie Stoller

A Book Review.. By Elizabeth Jacobsen

I think we should get the boring technical details out of the way. This book is 292 pages of pure fun! It’s a nice size to tuck into your project bag and comes in soft cover and hard cover form. Well there is rumor of the hard cover, I have personally never seen it but, of course that doesn’t mean it’s not real, right ? I had been envious of the knitters until now. This book takes a practical and fun approach to the basics and a little beyond. Of course, not every technique is covered and honestly, I don’t see how she could have covered every thing. In my opinion, if you want something to teach you every thing, you might try to find a few good reference books. If you want something fun, keeping you interested, this is the book for you . It contains 40 fresh patterns, a brief history of crochet, and “instructions so clear any one can learn to crochet-even a knitter!”

I had my reservations about this book. It had been hyped. Every one was going on and on about how they couldn’t wait to get their copy. You know, the normal frenzy over fun and fresh things in the crochet world. I really try not to feed into all of it because usually it leads to disappointment. This time was the exception. I really DO like this book. With every new publication though, there are ups and downs of it all. If you buy this book expecting to be in love with every single pattern, you will be disappointed. However, I feel the book has such a span of fun patterns it will appeal to many. Our very own Carmen ( lilhatshack) and Amie (Nexstitch) are featured in this book. Did I like every pattern in this book? Well, of course not! But who ever likes every selection in a pattern book. I do know I will make at least five projects from this book. That alone makes it worth it to me.

One of the best features of this book is the yarn selections used. The range is incredible. The detail given in the yarn selections is awesome as well. There is enough information given so a substitution should be a breeze! The informational portion of the book also goes over weights and fibers giving the beginner enough information to be able to navigate a change in yarn as well.

So, if you are looking for a fun, funky, and fresher approach to crochet, this is one book worth considering. Ms. Stoller has taken what has been perceived as a grandma craft and made it fun and fresh for the younger generation.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with grandma crochet in my book, but let’s remember when we were younger we wanted to be hipper than that !

Hello and welcome to the first edition of Newbie Tips From the ‘Ville!

I hope you all may find at least one tip of use. What I hope to do is offer a glimpse into how the board works so that newbies (and some not so newbies) might not feel so lost.

Please feel free to email me at newbietipsfromtheville@gmail.com if you have any questions or tips you would like to suggest.

Remember though that I am not able to take suggestions on how you would like the board to be, just tips on how to use the board with ease. Because, you know, we were all newbies once and it can be confusing as all get out trying to figure out a new board.

So here we go:

You can find all the new posts each time you log in by clicking the NEW POSTS link on the top tool bar.

It’s true! (click to enlarge picture)

A little tip I use is to right click on the post I wish to open and choose “Open link in a new window” That way I don’t lose my place on the list, cuz, well, I get interrupted a lot of the mornings while reading posts.

Another tip to keep in mind is when you go to start a new thread make sure your title has to do with your post. It makes it easier for folks to search for specific things.

Did you know? Fidgeting is actually good for you? It’s true - while sitting in front of the computer move your legs and/or tap your feet - it burns calories! (Also helps circulation!) So… you can actually say you are spending hours on the board as part of your workout.

Of course this by no means is a replacement for good old fashioned excercise but it’s good for while you are sitting in front of the computer or sitting in your favorite spot crocheting or even standing in line at the market.

Did you know? If you hover your mouse pointer over the title of a thread a little window thingy will pop up with small preview of the first post in the thread, that way you get an idea of what’s inside and if you wish to read further.

So Simple Crochet by Melody Griffiths
2006, Creative Homeowner Publications

When I first came upon So Simple Crochet at my local bookstore that little tickle of disappointment that I normally feel after a quick scan through a crochet book was wonderfully absent. The book is split into four sections - Classic, Weekend, Casual, and Glamorous. 12 of the patterns are wearables (cardigans, jackets, tops), while the rest cover a wide range of accessories, including scarves, wraps, and hats.

Don’t let the title fool you, this is not a book of simple patterns. Instead, I found a wide range of projects that will challenge without overwhelming a beginner crocheter while also not losing the interest of an intermediate or advanced crocheter. My personal favorites include the Long Zigzag scarf because I love the bright colors and the ripple design as a different approach to a scarf, the Shimmery Tank Top which looks wonderfully simple to make, the Cardigan with Ruffled Edge is a perfect addition to any wardrobe for casual wear, and finally, the Shell-Edged Shrug is such a great classical design that I wish had a few additional sizing options.

I was not impressed with the poncho designs, but as with everything, it is a personal preference. I feel like the big flower motifs used in the book’s poncho, wrap, and scarf designs are a little well…. big. I would love the Tassel-Edged Wrap if the flower motifs were left off of the tassels, so with a little personal modification of the pattern, I would consider it for a fall project. Overall, I do recommend the book to anyone considering expanding their skills into wearables.