Hello, Crochet Spot Readers! I’ve been blogging here at Crochet Spot since October 2012, but I haven’t yet taken a moment to introduce myself and let you know what I am all about. I hope that this post will open a conversation so that we all can share a bit about who we are!

Although I have been a crafter for my entire life, I started crocheting in 2008. It has become my main hobby since then and I’ve had the opportunity to branch out into designing both here on Crochet Spot and in a new book called Crochet One Skein Wonders. I am the founding President of the first Mexican Chapter of the Crochet Guild of America. We’re called “Ganchitos,” which means “little hookies.”

I have a Master’s Degree in education, but lately I’ve been exploring the world of business in order to learn a different industry. One project that I’ve been working on for a long time is my personal blog, Art, Like Bread.
read more »

I interrupt my regularly scheduled ramble to bring you this breaking news story that I literally just heard on the local nightly news! I was tickled to learn that a local hospital has a very dedicated volunteer. Mazie Ford, the aforementioned “coolest person ever,” has been volunteering at her local hospital in Hollywood, FL for some seven years. She crochets (and knits) hats for newborn babies!

Although the newscasters referred to her work as “knitting,” we can plainly see that most of it is crochet!

On July 25, there will only be 153 crafting days before Christmas! Does that number make your crafty fingers itch? If not, try this: on the same day, there will only be 125 days before Hanukkah! How did 2013 become a year when Haunukah comes so early?

When it’s broken down that way, by days, I do feel a little panicked. I am old enough to know that we bring magic to the holiday season, and furthermore, that magic takes planning! I hate to admit this, but I usually intend to make many more gifts than I ever get around to making! Especially last year, I actually ended up buying a bunch of gifts. There’s nothing wrong with buying gifts, but as a crocheter, I LOVE making gifts, and I want to spread the handmade love to everyone I care about.

I had to come up with a solution for myself, so maybe you’d like to join me and make this a Crochet Spot community effort! Let’s start our holiday crafting now by following these steps!
read more »

Cotton is a summer staple because of its breathability, absorbency, softness, and durability. A crochet powerhouse, cotton is used for everything from dishcloths to fine wearables. Threadies know the joys of crocheting in fine cotton thread with tiny hooks, but cotton comes in bulky weights as well.

Think of all of the cotton garments in your closet. Cotton fabric can range from the virtually indestructible denim of blue jeans to the delicate crepe of a summer blouse. Similarly, cotton yarn has many varieties – from the affordable workhorse dishcloth cotton to the finer (and pricier) Pima and Egyptian cottons. Mercerized cotton has undergone a chemical process to increase the yarn’s strength, durability, and luster. On the other hand, organic cotton is free of all chemical processes in growing the plant and processing the yarn.

Because cotton paradoxically might shrink in the wash but stretch when worn, it is best to choose a blend when crocheting fitted garments so the yarn will give you the look you desire. Generally, washing and reblocking the garment will restore shape to your cotton creations.

Cool cotton’s fiber structure pulls heat and absorbs moisture, making it a must in warmer climates. Vegans and animal activists might like cotton’s animal-free quality, as might those who have animal allergies.

What do you like to crochet with cotton? Please share your cotton adventures in the comments below!

Guess what!? Memorial Day (U.S.) has passed, and thus summer has officially started (in my hemisphere, anyway) ;)! Woo hoo! I’m going to be on the move this summer – constantly in my car or working. So I need to make sure my crochet bag is well packed so that I can keep up with my summer stitches.

In packing the crochet project bag, I’d like to think about exactly what I need for projects that I can complete on the go. Because I want this to be portable and fun, for intermittent crafting, I am going to recommend a few essentials. Please add your ideas in the comments!
read more »

Let’s get geared up for summer and motivate to crochet some fun and fabulous creations during the next two months. It’s been a while since we’ve looked at crochet holidays, so let’s mark our calendars for June and July’s projects!
read more »

Silk is a warm and luxurious fiber. It’s fabulous for making crocheted garments and accessories. Undyed silk ranges in color from a bright white to a honey brown color. Because it takes dye well, silk can be found for sale in many bold and vibrant colors. It’s possible to crochet in pure silk, but perhaps more common to find yarns for purchase that are a silk blend. I love silk’s softness and shine. It’s a bonus that silk is also a very strong fiber.
read more »

Drop everything and grab a long crochet hook. Now! 🙂 I just learned the fabulous technique called Tunisian crochet and I want everyone to try it!

First you may want to know what Tunisian crochet is. Well, if you’ve ever seen the long crochet hooks or the shorter ones with long cords hanging off them, you’ve seen a Tunisian crochet hook. In order to start, you’d just need one of those and some yarn. The reason the hooks are longer is because when you work a forward pass in Tunisian crochet, all of the stitches stay on your hook. During the reverse pass, you work all of those live stitches off your hook. It’s fun. It’s like a cross between crochet and knitting. Here are the top three reasons I’m loving Tunisian crochet right now.
read more »

We’re well into April and I am here to tell you that spring is coming! I know that many of my friends in the northern United States have been battling a long and difficult winter. For me, there’s no lack of crochet inspiration up there. I’ve traditionally crocheted with larger yarns, typically worsted weight or higher, and scarves, hats, and cowls are always at the top of my project list. However, when it comes to springtime, and living in this hot and humid Florida climate, I need to turn my sights to lighter weight yarns and versatile, transitional garments. Enter the crocheted shawl.
read more »

Today we continue our series of yarn chats with an elegant but hardworking powerhouse yarn, Merino wool. Our previous chats include Focus on Fiber: Acrylic Yarn, What’s in Your Stash?, and Yarn Obsession.

Known for its soft durability, Merino wool is a favorite among crocheters. It is quite popular among yarn crafters (and yarn hoarders 😉 ) in general, with over 1.6 million skeins stashed on Ravelry! Merino wool gets its name from the adorable Merino sheep. Originally a Spanish breed, the Merino sheep can now be found all over the world, including South America, Australia, North America, and Africa.
read more »