IN THIS ISSUE >>> Page 2 | What’s NEW? Page 3 | Pro Panel Page 4 | Red Heart Soft Page 5 | Fans Who Won! Page 6 | FREE Patterns Page 7-12 | DW5 Challengers Page 13 | Someone New! Page 14| Giveaways! Page 15 | DW Crochet Along Page 16-18 | Sponsors 23 October 1
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This November will mark the one year anniversary of our Design Wars Challenge, and it’s all thanks to YOU! By following our fun, like reading this newsletter, you are helping us to form a lasting community of passionate crochet enthusiasts, and I could not be more proud of what we are successfully building together. Thank you! This round will be hosted with much assistance from my Pro Panel (my trusted group of crochet professionals; p3), with duties like graphics, blog and tech support, social media, and networking promotions. Design Wars looks and feels professional because of their support, and I would not be effective without them! Thanks gals!
After DW4 we had dozens of applications to join our challenge! I am so proud to see that this forum is setting a positive standard and helping to give notice to crochet artists who may not have been known otherwise on their own. My goal is to continue featuring exciting, new, original talent in the crochet community, so please keep those applications coming!
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Alessandra Hayden | Tara Murray | Jonna Ventura | Carolina Guzman | Wink | Katie Hanken | Lisa van Klavaren | Charissa Ragsdale | Danyel Pink
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Design Wars contenders vote to decide which yarn will be used every challenge. We narrow options based on yarn from Red Heart, and this time we were really excited about the Soft line! This medium weight 4 yarn offers a subtle luster, with comfortable drape, and is ideal for apparel and fashion pieces! This line is available in solids, prints, and heathers in a variety of 38 vibrantly modern shades! Order directly from RedHeart.com before 28 October and receive a discount with code HOLIDAY20. Visit their page for full details. Enjoy! 4
What did you win? Red Heart Tote, 2 skeins of Red Heart Gumdrop, 2 skeins of Red Heart Boutique Unforgettable, 2 skeins of Red Heart Boutique Midnight, 1 skein of Red Heart Boutique Sassy Fabric, 1 skein of Red Heart Boutique Sassy Lace, 1 skein of Red Heart Stellar, Red Heart Measuring tape, Susan Bates/Red Heart Yarn & Thread Cutter Pendant, Susan Bates- H Hook with Bamboo Handle, Susan Bates- US 7 Tipping Points Needles, and Crochet Today Magazine. What is your favorite thing that you won? I can't choose one thing. I like everything that came with the pack. I love the size of the tote bag to the color and feel of the yarns. What is the first thing you are going to make with all that loot? I plan on making a cowl with the Red Heart Boutique Unforgettable.
Here's what she had to say, so you know it's in good hands! "I just got the best surprise in the mail yesterday! Woohoo!! I look a cheesy fool in the picture, but my 9 year old was the photographer and she kept giggling while snapping away, which resulted in most of them a blurry mess. Ha! My 9 and 7 year old girls are learning to crochet (my oldest even won a blue ribbon in the fair here in Lubbock for a bag she crocheted), and they have already marked a couple of patterns they want to try out as well. So this book is already a family hit!"
What did you win? I won Yarn Heaven from Red Heart Yarns! It contained 19 skeins of yarn, a Crochet Today magazine, a how-to book for crochet and knitting, a bamboo crochet hook, a set of knitting needles, a yarn cutter, and a fab bag to keep it all in. What is your favorite thing that you won? Why the yarn of course! You can never have enough! What is the first thing you are going to make with all that loot? I am working on Mad Mad Me's Simply Mad Throw! The color use is fabulous. I am unable to get the Anne Geddes yarn in my area so this is a perfect way to use it. My husband even likes the pattern!
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There is an abundance of fresh talent in the crochet community, and I meet exciting, new artists every day! This section features artists I follow and wanted to get to know better, so I’m sharing our conversation with you. Enjoy! Define success; what do you hope to accomplish? In life? Hmm...I suppose it I think of a day as a successful one when I've done something to contribute to making the house a clean and happy place (a.k.a. something productive), spent some quality time laughing and enjoying time with the kids, spent time talking and listening to my man, and set aside some time crocheting. Simple things, really. I'm working on being okay with not being "busy" but just using my time well and embracing down-time. I want my kids to have memories of a mom who spent time with them - not just a mom who was always too busy. If we make it through the day happy and relatively stress-free, I consider it a good one. :) What is your most recent accomplishment? Does finally getting my living room organized, entirely unpacked, cute and functional count? We've lived in this house for almost 8 months, but I've found ways to just deal with the chaos and ignore it by playing with my kids or crocheting instead. (Worst housewife ever.) I've been slightly inspired to get things lined up since my in-laws are coming to visit. My goal, now that my daughter is home for the summer, is to get the craft room reorganized and actually put all of our clean laundry away. High hopes. What are you working on right now? I'm in the middle of a blanket for my nephew and starting Frayed Knot's Perfect Bag for my daughter...she needs a library bag since we're there so often!! It's always fun to make things for my daughter - she thinks of color combinations I wouldn't necessarily think of on my own.
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Meet Aimee Reed, she’s lovely!
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WHAT’S NEXT? ISSUE 12: October 30 >>>
Sneak Peek Week 1 Interviews with DW4 Challenge Winners Are you on Instagram? Our next Crochet Along Challenge! 15
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