In case you have been wondering why so few blog-a-mentries this month, I have been preparing swatches and samples of some wonderful yarns and will start blogging about that rather soon. Good as I am I cannot crochet and type at the same time.

The pleasant combination of:

– the gradually developing Symbol Crochet cross reference

– a question on the Crochet Partners about finishing, and

– my rather happy current pass time of swatching and sampling several yarn lines for crochet.

means that many of my Crochet related References are “handy” (read piled around my sit’n’stitch chair)

So with my usual caveat about turning chains, the book for those who wish to move beyond the square or rectangle and begin to take advantage of the many wonderful new patterns for garments (not to mention wonderful yarns just asking to be hooked) I really really like Nancie Wiseman’s book:
The Essential Book of Crochet Techniques.

Tiny URL To Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/2s4mrb

This is not a stitch book – although it does cover the basics. Nor, is it really a book covering the many niche techniques of crochet such as hairpin, broomstick, double-ended and similar speciality techniques.

There are several areas where I could wish Nancie had gone further, and at least one thing that would have *really* helped the Crochet who wants to upgrade the quality of thier finished work by using yarns available in your local Yarn Shop or on the Internet rather than just limited quality of product sold in most craft or other chain type stores.

The Essential Book of Crochet Techniques really is a quick reference with good visuals for the details essential to creating a well done garment.

According to the publisher,

From the first chain stitch to buttonholes and blocking, readers will find expert guidance for mastering America’s hottest comeback craft! Dozens of tips guarantee a frustration-free adventure for first-timers, and will help seasoned crocheters sharpen their skills.

• Take an easy walk through each technique with close-up, color photos and detailed illustrations

• Start with basic crochet stitches; then learn about gauges, increases, decreases, seams, trims, edgings, and finishing

• The book’s take-along size and lay-flat binding allow you to easily crochet on the go

• Includes introductions to filet crochet, intarsia crochet, and the afghan stitch

In the “Wheat’s Reference Rating” This book is rated:

Even with two small “wish she had” in the layout and organization of information; this is a great little book.

Rated CDF, (the only way you will get me to give it up is to pry it from my CDF/Cold Dead Fingers

Many of you are probably aware that a new PBS (Public Broadcasting Systems) show dedicated to Knit & Crochet has started to be broadcast.

As usual MPT-Maryland Public Television is a bit late, but better later than never “I suppose”

Subject: RE: Needle Arts Shows
Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2007 16:18:54 -0400
Thread-Topic: Needle Arts Shows
From: Juliana Eagan
To: Wheat Carr

Wheat,

Thank you for contacting MPT!

In response to your inquiry, please note that “Knit and Crochet Today”
will be on Saturdays, beginning October 6, at 8AM.

“Needle Arts Studio” is not on our current broadcast schedule at this time.

You are welcome to check back with us for more updated information.

Juliana Eagan
Audience/Viewer Services
Maryland Public Television

Not in Maryland, You can visit the show website

http://www.knitandcrochettoday.com/

or TINY URL: http://tinyurl.com/2pyudn

Now if everyone would just help me nag MPT, maybe we could get Shay Pendray back on the air here – I miss NeedleArts Studio You can email them at: comments@mpt.org

For those not in MD, here is the link to PBS to locate your local Affiliate.

http://www.pbs.org/stationfinder/index.html

Or Tiny URL: http://tinyurl.com/2qrvog

According to the folks over at TechnoSailor, Everyone is guilty of ego propping now and then. Some people are more guilty of the practice than others. Below is a test that will analyze how important you think you are.

I admit being pleased that 9 of 10 Sorting Hat Quizzes, place me in Ravenclaw even if only by a few points over Gryffindor (and the tenth was Gryffindor as well)

And much as I don’t know exactly why the Ya-Ya Sisterhood name for Wheat Carr of Queen White Thunder makes me uncomfortable

Or, even that I can’t figure out why I am, accord to What Kind Of Yarn are you… thinks I am Shetland wool Shetland Wool

Still, it is the results from TecnhoSailor that have pleased me the most.

Try it and see what kind of Netizen you really might be at heart.

Peace of the Season

Also known as Jiffy Lace or Peacock’s Eye,

In Your Opinion, Is this type of Crochet

a Stitch

or

a Technique?

Please tell me what you think by voting in the poll

or better yet, share why you hold that opinion by commenting and voting

Pictures, sign language, and Symbols have been the timeless means to share everything from history to recipes.

Crochet Symbols are used in Charted Patterns. It is these Charted Patterns allow us to cross language barriers and enjoy the creativity of those with whom our only common language is the technique used in our craft.

Several recent discussions about Crochet software led me to take another look at New Hampshire Software’s SymblCro.

And, I might have just said, “this has to wait for another day” until I read the 1850 Pattern monologue* Caution: Be Prepared For PSA‘s in this complimentary pattern “explanation”

Apparently Joan Silverton shares my sense of humor and her free crochet pattern verbiage can make me laugh out loud, – that rates a deeper look into the product born of her frustration with that 1850 and toher vintage crochet pattern.

Stealing an hour from the “To Be Done File” including perusing the on-line forum, it seemed that perhaps a Yahoo group would be a better way to share information about Symbol Crochet and thus spread its use

The never humble opinion, I was wrong about what I said “in the past” The SymblCro is a program deserves to grow. It just already does so many things I want/need from Crochet Software Design tool.

Fortunately, Joan freely admits the “manual” is not the easiest, once you begin to make some progress on that steep learning curve, it is easy to see the huge potential of this program. Since this is currently still a free program, it only get “free time” and we all know how life can happen.

Being the patient sort that I am (not), and with the clear understanding that with rare exception, we are all likely rookies where SymblCro is concerned, and with informal agreement from its author, we set up a Yahoo Group to Focus on SymbolCrochet.

The goal of SymbolCrochet is to create a place where both those who use and those who design using Symbols crochet can share information.

Along the way, we may be able to create the basis of references and cross references and perhaps even help Joan to incorporate a larger number of symbols “into the program” and well as a wish list of things we “wish it could do”

So here’s the skinny:

Although nothing can really substitute for good reference books…

Current Use or Knowledge of SymbolCrochet, the symbols or the software is not required,

Basic Crochet knowledge will be helpful – If you are just learning to crochet and want to use “written” instructions, there are many wonderful groups.

For General Crochet Help, I happily recommend Crochet Partners as one of the best resources for beginner to advance technique help or one of the more specialized groups like Carol Ventura’s group for her passion, Tapestry Crochet when you need very specific “help” Another of my favorites is Kim Guzman’s yahoo group for Tunisian Crochet

The mission of SymbolCrochet will be how to use Symbol Crochet to complete your crochet work using instructions written using crochet symbols instead of “just words”.

Secondarily, to help each other over the learning curve, so we can most effectively use Joan Silverton’s SymblCro software for design purposes –

And who knows, in the process we might even develop some new cross references either for this blog or my dreamed of Crochet section for the YARNandTHREAD.info Wiki

We are still working on unpacking the boxes and arranging the furniture, so please excuse our dust.