I remember as a young child watching my grandmother crochet. I was simply in awe how she could turn a ball of yarn into a toy, scarf or other creation in no time flat! I remember receiving crocheted gifts from her and my mother. Even as a young child I knew this was one skill I had to learn; a tradition to continue in my family.

In my teens, I joined 4-H and my mother became the crochet teacher of our small group. My first project was a washcloth. At first I couldn’t figure out how Mom made it look so easy. My washcloth was a sorry representation compared to her’s! Yet, because of her patient encouragement I finally was able to create something I could be proud of. It took me several years to put it to use. I grew so attached to my first project dirty dishwater seemed to be an injustice!

What was your first crochet project?

I take several road trips a year and when I say road trips I mean cross-country, 4 days in a car with husband and toddler road trips. It can be an adventure to put it mildly, but we all have a good time.

Every since I was quite young I have always taken embroidery projects with me in the car to pass the long hours on the road. However, after getting married and taking the front seat I had to change. After all, needles for embroidery getting lost in car seats and coming at my beloved driver was not a good mix. Rather distracting to the driver, not to mention occasionally painful! So, much to my husband’s relief, I decided crochet was the solution to my road trip craft cravings. I learned something else new, skeins of yarn can double as a neck pillows!

How about you? Do you crochet while on road trips?

Do you crave yarn like you crave food? When you walk into an aisle of yarn, hooks and patterns are you tempted beyond your means? If this is the case, it might be time for your talents to start making you money, so you can support your love. There are several options available to those who want to start their own home business around crochet. I have outlined some below, but it only takes a few creative moments to come up with other ideas to make a little extra crochet “mad money” on the side. read more »

I have a secret love for vintage patterns. I can spot them aisles away in flea markets and antique stores. Their creased covers and penciled in notations from years ago give them such a sweet, homey appeal. I not only love the patterns, some of which are elegant and others rather funky, but also the fun illustrations throughout.

I can spend hours flipping through their dogeared pages laughing at the crocheted bikinis and cooing over the sweet baby layettes. It just goes to prove that crochet has kept the hands of women busy for many years turning a skein of yarn into innovative pieces of functional art, and at times funny finished projects.

Do you collect vintage patterns? If so, what is the most absurd or elegant pattern you’ve found?

Now that you’ve decided on your yarn you need to find the perfect match in a hook. Your crochet hook is like a magic wand turning a skein of yarn into a crocheted masterpiece. It can become your best friend and once addicted it will be a tool you simply can’t live without.

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Photo by Saki Chikaraishi

You could crochet a cozy for your brand-spankin’-new iPad like Japanese crocheter Saki Chikaraishi did…wait, you’re a novice still learning the crochet ropes? There’s an App for that! Thanks to Jones APR, a mobile app, consulting and PR firm, there is now “Knitting & Crocheting HD,” an application specifically created for Apple’s iPad. The app just hit the iTunes store in late June and features over 500 photos, illustrations as well as instructions to take you through the knitting and crochet basics, including supplies needed and yarn types explained.

Apple gadgets are no strangers to crochet applications: there’s already one for the iPhone and iPod Touch, not to mention a few podcasts to choose from. But, the iPad is obviously more conducive to learning just about anything because of its visually-friendly size. Have you tried out any of these crochet apps or do you stick to crocheting up gadget cozies when it comes to the intersection of tech and craft?

When I take a break from making cute crochet toys, which is rare, I try to come up with “practical” projects to make. (Well, I think cute crochet toys are practical, but that’s another story). I tend to stick to things I can wear, such as scarves or hats, but in summer weather? No thanks! The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the house, the source of edible goodness and culinary creativity. It only makes sense to throw some creative crochet into the mix.

“Crochet for the Kitchen” immediately makes me think of dishcloths, because of the inevitable clean-up involved in all-things-kitchen. Here are five dishcloth patterns for whoever is on clean-up duty. Maybe they’ll actually make it fun?

How about some thick potholders? Crochet potholders are quick to whip up, even when they have multiple layers. And you’ll need those multiple layers, if say you want them to be…practical!

A cozy mug sweater and a pot handle cozy combine the best of cute and functional–keeping your fingertips safe from heat and dressing up plain kitchenware to boot.

Placemats are one of those “extras” that I may not ever want to spend the money on, but if I can crochet something to my liking using some multi-colored yarn? I’m in!

What do you like to crochet for your kitchen?

One way of crocheting in the round is to chain 2 and then make a certain number of stitches into the 2nd chain from the hook (you can do so with any kind of crochet stitch–sc, hdc, dc, etc.–but for this tutorial, I’ll be using sc. This tutorial is for both right and left handed people. For left handed pictures, roll your mouse over the image and it will change for you. When you have the desired number of stitches and you join to the first single crochet, you’ll notice a little something–a hole! Right there in the middle. The way around this? The magic adjustable ring, a really simple technique that prevents a hole from appearing.

Making a magic adjustable ring only requires a few extra steps and will give your  in-the-round projects a smooth start. For this one in particular, I’ll make a magic adjustable ring with 5 single crochet stitches. read more »

Photo by H. Scott Hoffmann/News & Record

Maggie Weldon learned to crochet at an early age, the craft quickly turning into an escape for her. It gradually developed into a full-fledged business of patterns, books and even crochet supplies, all based in North Carolina. Somehow Weldon found the time to take a pottery class with her daughter, and the creative juices, rooted in crochet, began to flow. Upon working in slabs, versus on the wheel which she didn’t take to, she took crochet doilies and linens, and stamps them into the wet clay.

Weldon became quite hooked on these crochet-inspired ceramic designs and decided to pursue it more seriously as part of her art repertoire, saying, “I push the envelope and try to make the biggest pieces I can.” One of those pieces is a 28-inch wedding cake plate! For delicate lace pieces that may be disintegrating, imprinting them onto clay may be a way to at least preserve their patterns in the long run. And who wouldn’t want a set of table linens AND all place settings to be crochet-related?!

More about Maggie Weldon can be found here.