Hey there, Crochet Spotters! How’s the weather by you? I know there are lots of us living in the Northern part of North America, and I understand that winter’s in full swing up there. But I’m here to tell you that warmer weather is on the way! By the time that rolls around, you want to be ready to rush out and enjoy it, right? You don’t want to be stuck in the house doing your spring cleaning. According to the calendar, we’re just a few weeks away from Passover and Easter, the harbingers of the new season, so it’s time to plan and get moving! Why not incorporate crochet into your spring cleaning?

Image via flickr modified from Chiot’s Run license

Do you work in cube world? It’s that greyish-taupey-colored land with neutral carpeting and ever-flattering flourescent lights glowing from drop ceilings. Inside each identical, semi-private cubby hole you’ll see a work surface, computer, and soft (padded?) but very short walls. This is the world that was created for productivity, as evidenced by the constant clicking of computer keys and shuffling of file folders. It’s a world you may live in for at least 40 hours a week. Does this place sound familiar? Here’s a picture in case you can’t see it in your mind’s eye.

Image by Steve via flickr link to license

Admit it. You crochet a lot, don’t you? I bet you have many projects in your history by now. From afghans & sweaters to totes & toys, crochet has it all. We can crochet just about anything we can imagine. There is a certain magic when a crochet project comes together. Whether it is carefully planned or a happy accident, it is amazing to see the final sewn seam, the ends made invisible by careful weaving, and the beauty of the finished product.

Erin once did a round-up of her favorite patterns, and Rachel has asked us about our favorite things to crochet, but we’ve never discussed our personal favorites here at Crochet Spot. So allow me to ask, whether it was carefully planned and executed, or just “off the top of your hook,” what was your absolute favorite crochet project of all time? This could be a tough question because so many of us just crochet to gift, sell, or donate to charity. I am certain that I can’t even remember all of my previous projects. (Truthfully, some of them I don’t want to remember!) But I did begin to think about what my absolute favorite project of all time was, and it wasn’t that easy to find the answer.

It’s pretty, but this isn’t it! image by artlikebread

Hello, hello! You may remember these little details from my original Finish in ’15 contest post.

And happy happiness, we’ve already got some entries right there on the thread. Since this will be an ongoing thing, Rachel and I have decided to introduce a quick and easy entry form. It’s really easy to use and has only four fields. You can see what it looks like in the picture below.

To fill out the form, all you need to do is click on this link, which will redirect you to a google form. In case you want to share it, the web address of the link is http://goo.gl/forms/ijoLLXiokp.
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I know I don’t have to convince you how wonderful it is to experiment with color in your crochet. The popularity of color changing is evident by just looking at all of the patterns with colorwork here on Crochet Spot, for example Amy’s newest baby bib pattern (check out the one in the middle!) Color enriches our lives and adds excitement to our projects. Previously I never thought of crocheting in variegated yarn as “colorwork” but that was before I really dug into the topic.

Be fresh & colorful. Pin this.

Well, hello again! Every day we have more interest in this year-long challenge. The Ravelry thread is pretty lonely. I’ll try to drum up some business there, but go ahead and link over, too.

Today we’re going to talk about the other side of WIPs and UFOs: calling it quits and getting your yarn back! Just need to let you know – this is a completely valid solution. If you have a WIP or UFO you’re just done with, by all means, frog it and enter the challenge! This froggy talk was inspired by the fabulous JodieBodie who asked “What criteria do you use when deciding to frog a project?”

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Hey hey hey! I’m so glad to see that we’ve gotten some interest in this year-long challenge. Be sure to check us out on Ravelry, where I’m trying to get some discussion and project-sharing going. Did I mention there will be prizes? PRIZES! PRIZES! PRIZES! But the true prize is the satisfaction of knowing you’ve either finished your WIPs or you’ve reclaimed some yarn that was previously tied up in a languishing project!

The purpose of today’s post is to provide different strategies to get us working on our WIPs and UFOs. I got most of these wonderful ideas from the amazing Crochet Spot commenters! Another great source was the KnottyGirls KnitCast, episode 26. If you’re into knitting & yarny podcasts, definitely give it a try! Ready for the tips? Let’s go!

Photo modified from welshkaren via flickr. License

Hello, Crochet Spotters! I have something I think you’re going to love! In my recent post Tackle Your Crocheted Works in Progress in 2015, I began a conversation about getting all those UFOs (Un-Finished Objects) and WIPs (Works In Progress) out of your life! These things need to become either FOs (Finished Objects) or yarn that you can use for something else! To get us all motivated to finish or rip back, I am creating a Crochet Spot UFO/WIP Year-Long Challenge for 2015! Yes, there will be prizes!

images by artlikebread

Before we get started I want to thank everyone for their great comments on my recent post about crocheted works in progress. I feel a Crochet Spot Challenge coming on! 🙂

How does the weather affect your crochet?

I got to thinking about this question while reflecting on my own changed crochet habits since I moved to southern Florida where the temperature ranges from ridiculously hot to warmish. Truthfully, it is a weird weather pattern to me! I spent the vast majority of my life in the northern United States, so I have endured cold winters and have inspired my crochet! Luckily, I never felt too cold to crochet like Rachel once did. 🙂
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The changing of the calendar year is a perfect time for reflection. It feels natural to look back at the previous year and decide to make a fresh start in the new one. I’ve found that through reflection, I’ve made a deeper connection to what inspires me. Inspiration is a GREAT feeling. I don’t know about you, but if inspiration is flowing, I will take any chance I can get to honor it, enjoy it, and capture it.

While reflection and inspiration could refer to just about anything in life, crochet is special in that we can turn our inspiration into a tangible, touchable thing. It could be cozy, like a warm shawl or blanket. It could be giant & joyful, like a crocheted playground. It could be almost anything at all, but the point is that crochet makes our inspirations real.

Image adapted from Rick Bradley via Flickr. License