Mikey Magazine: Feb 18, 2016

Mike y

Feb 18th, 2016

In This Issue

Be Bold with Colour Sofercising Hook It & Accent It

Hawt off the Hook with Mikey Heya Crowders:

Hook 1-2, wrap 3-4, and repeat 1-2, wrap 3-4.

Sofercising is a lot of work… I can feel the burn!

One project leads to another, which leads to another yarn ball… which then leads to a pile… then to border line hoarding on the sofa! Am I proud? Not really… Am I being realistic - Absolutely! Does it drive Daniel crazy… You Betcha!

Now I totally wish that burning calories on a sofa was a reality. Kristin Omdhal, crochet designer, once said that crochet can be very stationary.

Simply means, we can sit for hours and crochet without much thought to it. It’s been said by health professionals that sitting too long leads to serious health issues. For myself, I know I have gained weight over the years since starting The Crochet Crowd. My reasons are emotional eating, job stress, lack of movement due to sample creation when I crochet, all day working a computer for content and community creation and a lack of social life, being introverted in person, I don’t have a reason to break up my schedule to mix and mingle with other people. Man, when I put it all together like this… I sound like a mess. But I don’t think I am alone in this either.

For myself, I can no longer sit in a standard sofa and crochet. The sinking of my butt into the cushion makes my body turn into a “C” shape with my knees too high and looking down. Severe cramping in my neck, arms and legs happens. The sofa you see in the picture has 2 pillows and 1 plywood board under the cushion to prevent the sofa from sucking me into its plush trap. I prefer to crochet in a stiff chair that keeps me upright and comfortable.

Another thing I need to do is to support my elbows from resting on my body or holding up my arms without support. Lack of support in my arms causes neck cramps, back pain, wrist pain and just overall a horrific experience. So I use a pillow to support my elbow with my crochet hook hand.

So I think the most Sofercising I get is the motion of my wrists. Occasionally, I might have to push up my glasses. Look up and down if Netflix is on. But most inconvenient is if I have to get up and go to the washroom… oh man the inconvenience of putting down my project. Usually I deny to myself that I need to go and procrastinate until it’s like the mad dash! Man… I sound like a hot mess! haha I love crochet, I love yarn… and so I love to sofercise! Hook 1-2, Wrap 3 - 4, Sofercise with Mikey!

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In This Edition

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Contents

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Facebook Shares their colour Jeanne answers some of your Qs

Sofercising?

In this edition of the Mikey Magazine, we were inspired by the latest Lookbook by Yarnspirations.com called Living Colour. Both Michael and I love colour so much that even our house screams of it. For many people, going bold with colour is way to adventurous; however, we’ve been noticing a trend with the home decor market that a little pop of colour is what is needed to lively bring back your living space.

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Pillows Galore

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Crochet Cruises Updates *NEW* Blogs Knot to be missed

C O L O U R

26 Interview with Olivia Laws

Decorating Tips for your Sofa

Is that not why we crochet? The colours we choose helps us get through those long days.

- Diva Dan

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With winter dulling our days, sometimes a bit of splashy colour is what we need to get through those cold dreary moments.

We also focused on some decorating tips for your couch/ sofa. Throws and pillows are hawt this season. So we have some suggestions to ‘sofercise’ your sofa. Give your sofa a little work out with colour, shapes and textures!

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Mikey’s Videos Library Diva Dan, who just never know!

Stitch is Right Game pg. 22 20

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6 15 32 Our Most Colourful Afghans

Throw the Throw pg 21 & Pillow Talk pg 16

More Crochet Home Inspirations

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pg. 13

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In Love with Color Afghan T

his is the most colourful afghan that we ever did and people love making this afghan.

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t’s bold, impressive and vibrant!

ith this afghan, colours matching doesn’t even matter, grab what ever is in your stash or pick your favourite colours in the store. Add white and some black to tie it all in and you too will have an afghan that explodes with intensity.

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ith a combination of Granny Squares and Octagons, this afghan has interest with geometric shaping.

Get the Pattern, Videos and Blog

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Bold Angles Pillow S

tep outside the box with pillow design. Geometric shapes are hot for home decor. Triangles are in for the season.

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s they say, simplicity is the ultimate sophistication, and this Bold Angles Pillow is the simple sophistication that your sofa needs.

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sing single crochet and a graph chart, you use separate balls as you work across. If you never done this technique before, this will be a great way to go beyond your skills and approaches. It is a ideal beginner’s course to learn how to make Graphgans.

Get the Pattern Video and Blog

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Kaleidoscope Afghan I

f you are looking for a project that is great for using scrap yarn, plus give you a pop of colour, the Kaleidoscope Afghan is a sure winner.

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pend this winter cleaning out you yarn stash.

It is really a fabulous stash buster!

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dd a neutral border to give the colours lots of pop. Be your own artist and add your unique approach to colour combinations. In this afghan there is no right or wrong combinations. Just hook it!

Get the Pattern, Videos and Blog

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Be inspired through our prismatic Kaleidoscope gallery on our Flickr page. You will get ideas from colour mixes to border colours to bring everything together as one. We did this as a challenge. Simple and fun. The word Kaleidoscope is the perfect name for this Afghan!

The following below were done by Karen Futscher, Freida Cameron, Anna May Dewar, Gladys Pyatt-Dickson, Anne Broekman, Karne Applebee, Thereas Larkin Dufresne, Kristen Lee, Jessica Nieves, Barbra Knight, Amy Skattebo, Devasha Amah, Karolyn Minger, Stephaine Williams, Amy Keller & Nikki Mercer.

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Double Take Pillow I

f you look closely at this pillow you will notice that it is similar to one of the most popular afghan on the net. Have you guessed it?

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hat’s right! It’s the Corner to Corner stitch AKA C2C stitch.

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he pattern requires you do four C2C squares to create this unique geometric look.

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great ways to create texture and design for a pillow. Plus creating colour combos that will go with you decor.

Get the Pattern, Videos and Blog

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10 Creative Ways to use Scrap Yarn 1. Granny Square Slippers. Scrap pieces are

6. Make a Cat Toy. 7. Stitch-cation series is a great way tpo

prefect for this slipper.

2. A Catherine Wheel Mat! Do you have yarn

learn new stitches and mix & match yarn

your just don’t like. Make it into a Mat! 3. The Infinity Cowl is creative to use for those novelty yarns laying around 4. Dishcloths, great for leftover cotton yarn 5. Headbands with a flower. Not much yarn is needed for this project!

8. A simple Granny Square Cowl 9. Rectangle Granny Afghan. each row can be different. it really doesn’t matter what colour and even yarn you pick.

10. Boot Cuffs are simple and yet stylish!

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Bobble-licious Pillow T

extures are the big thing with pillows .This Bobble-licious Pillow is one that screams with texture.

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e think these look great! One solid colour pillow and the puff stitch! You don’t need any more to that.

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ll you need is to create a few with different shades and you have an amazing and unique style to your decor.

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ust released on video, Mikey shows you how to create this pillow with ease.

Personally, Diva Dan would love to have a few of these lying around the house. They are quite special.

Get The Pattern and Video

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Neat Home Ideas

from Other Bloggers

Amazing Crochet Globe found on KnitHacker.com

Monster Bag Holders by Courtney Delay

Doily Wall by Modpoderocksblog.com

WOW love the bird art wall hangers by Louise Weaver

The Crochet O’ Clock by According to Matt

Fantastic Lamp shade by Delquilter

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Full Circle Pillow I

t’s easy to forget that not all pillows are square. These circular pillows are simple to follow. Keep them as a solid colour for the pop on your sofa.

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here is nothing wrong with choosing something that is bold and different from everything else that matches in your house. These pillows will allow that pop to give you home that extravagant look.

Being a circle will also add that appeal of uniqueness.

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ust released this week.

Mikey teaches how to make these pillows with some helpful techniques.

Get The Pattern and Video

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Home Decor Ideas Ideas

Geometric Wall Hanging

Stripes Pouf

Cache Baskets

Pinwheel Pillow

Simple Flower Pot

Diamond Daisy Rug

Crochet Ottoman

Flower Power Rug

Mini Square Baskets

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Chain-link Pillow I

t’s all about texture with this pillow. Using the Jacobs Ladder stitch technique, you will love how this pillow steps up to the top for interest and style.

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ook up one of these soft and charming pillows using Bernat Blanket Yarn.

Soft and Hug-gable for those movie nights! You will rest assured you’ll will be in high in comfort and warmth.

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f this looks complicated, it is not! It just single crochet and chaining. Once you have completely the crocheting the fun part is creating the ladder by doing a twist of the chains and loop your way up the ladder.

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very Fun Project to do!

Get The Pattern and Video

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Juicy Fruits Throw E

ver done the Fan Cross Stitch? It’s a lovely play of two rows of the same colour that creates the incredible look that you see in this Juicy Fruit Throw.

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e did this as a summer challenge allowing our fans to take 2 months to work on this throw. There where some pretty amazing combinations and everyone who participated did a fantastic job!

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ou can make it colourful, or create a monotone, similar shades style to this afghan. It looks great either way.

Get the Pattern, Videos and Blog

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Pillow Talk with Diva Dan

Looking to bring a polished designer look in your living room?

To achieve a thought out and well styled sofa. Sofa styling is all about the throw and the pillows! If you’re looking to turn your regular sofa into a chic, polished seat, we’ve got a few tips and tricks.

1. It’s not always about the MATCHING. A sofa with just a pair of matching accent pillows looks lonely. You don’t need to find the same pattern, size, shade etc. Layering different shades and patterns is a favorite decorator trick. Don’t be shy about mixing different crochet stitched pillows. Choosing accent pillows with varied textures will elevate your sofa to a luxurious level.

2. PILE ON THE PILLOWS! I always love those Middle Eastern Tents that have pillows of every exquisite colour piled high on the floor. So unleash your love for throw pillows! For a full and luxurious look, place four to five pillows across your sofa. Mix up the shapes, textures, colours and sizes to really fill the couch out.

Here are some ways to place you pillows on your sofa.

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Facebook ?s with Jeanne Any tips on adding a liner to a crochet purse?? Thanks, Heather W.

I am just starting to learn and I find reading patterns and deciphering them is very tricky. Any tips or suggestions on how to get better at reading and understanding the patterns?

Thank!! from Jenn B. I love reading patterns, but then I enjoy anything that has a step by step process. Diagrams are ok, and sometimes now I use them alongside a pattern if I am unsure of what’s going on in the pattern. I like to scan thru a pattern to see if anything unusual jumps out before I begin, then take one line at a time. Pay close attention to each step. It’s easy to read over something to quickly and miss something important.

For instance, it’s pretty easy when a pattern says, ch 3 dc in each stitch across, right? But when you get to a pattern like this one...

4th rnd: Join yarn with sl st to first

Making crocheted purses is one of my favorite projects, but I’ve only lined one of them. It’s really not too hard, but does require a bit of sewing. They way I did mine, first laid down a piece of fabric folded in half with the fold to the bottom.

Next laid the purse on top of the fabric and drew an outline around it. Then just cut it out and sewed up the 2 sides. I hand stitched the liner around the top of the inside of the bag. The seams don’t show as they end up next to the yarn, so when you look inside, it’s all nice and neat. Another idea that I have heard about but not tried yet is to use a pillow case as the liner, then all you need to do is a quick whip stitch with a needle and thread across the top.

ch-3 sp. Ch 1. 2 sc in same sp as sl st. *1 sc in each of next 3 sc. (1 sc. Ch 3. 1 dc. Ch 3.

Sl st. Ch 4. 2 tr. Ch 4. Sl st. Ch 3. 1 dc.

Ch 3. 1 sc) all in next ch-3 sp. 1 sc in each of next 3 sc. 2 sc in next ch-3 sp. Ch 4.

(1 hdc. Ch 2. Sl st) in 2nd ch from hook.

Ch 2. Skip next 9 sc. 2 sc in next ch-3 sp.

Rep from * 5 times more. Fasten off.

Jeanne is looking for questions on Facebook to answer.

…. that can look like a foreign language to some people. Just break it down, do each step and don’t skip anything. I’m not going to go into all the specifics of breaking down the pattern reading process, because Mikey has done it very well. CLICK HERE to read all of his advice and watch his videos. Just remember, one step at a time. ;)

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Rainbows of Colours

What a super colour combo with this entrelac pillow by Leah!

Jacquelyn’s afghan is coming along nicely with her ideas of colour!

Love Roberta’s Fish Blanket! This blanket is really well done! Love the fish, the bubbles and the colours!

Fantastic rainbow afghan Nicole made!

Fatma’s flowers and bag is colourful and fabulous!

Ashely’s Spectrum 12 point star blanket is fabulous with hypnotic colours

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What an adorable purse with lots of texture by Petra.

You can’t go wrong with an Entrelac Blanket for Colours. Excellent work Shraddha!

These little colourful hearts are adorable by Nina.

Rainbow of Colour

Rachel’s Afghan is so geometric and colourful, it is really neat!

Si wa’s ponies have galloped over the rainbow! How colourful and fun!

The cutest smile! What’s not to love about being the most colourful kid!

Well done Beccy!

Using scrap yarn, Jacqueline made an awesome blanket!

Tiffany proudly shows off her first attempt of a poncho! Looks amazing!

Many of these patterns are ideas and inspiration created by the crowders themselves. Also you can go to our Facebook Page, Click ‘Photos’, them ‘Photos Posted by Others’ and scroll down to find what you are looking for. Don’t forget to say you love their Creativity!

This Afghan is amazing! It is so unique. Well done Deborah!

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Circle in the Square Afghan W

e have seen many versions of this pattern. Geometric shapes are hawt this year. Is it a flash from the 70’s past?

Who knows, but going vintage is always fun and exciting especially to relive those fun years!

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e decided to add this Circle in the Square afghan to this magazine because it is another example where living with colour can pop a living room. With two simple shapes; the circle and the square it gives that neat geometric look to your sofa.

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dd a neutral border to go with your sofa and let the circles do the pop!

Get the Pattern, Videos and Blog 20

Just Throw on the Throw!

In the addition to keeping us warm, you might want to jazz up some colour to that neutral colour sofa and or change the look with the seasons. As the name implies, The throw is a throw that you throw on the sofa.

When it comes to displaying your afghan/throw on your sofa. Many like to proudly lay it out showing all it’s glory. But personally here at home, it does require a bit more style and fussing around without making it look to sloppy. This is always a challenge in our house. Especially when the sofa is the most used furniture.

So here are some options for displaying your afghan 1. No fold, show it off look. Afghans and Throws are great to cover up the messes and stains that are impossible to get out on your sofa. Maybe you have an worn and torn love seat that needs a fresh new look. Laying from top to the bottom of the sofa in the centre, you can create a bohemian vibe or even a soul glo-friendly sitting environment.

2. The Neat Look, Neatly folded over the back of the sofa, This is our preferred style.

It is not always important to show the complete afghan. This blanket is ready for you to wrap yourselves up while watching a movie.

3. Loosely draped casual cascade over the corner look. I prefer loose and light lapghans for this as there are smaller. Anything thick and heavy just doesn’t work well.

If your afghan is a bit big, fold it in half, Make sure you add the pillows is front.

4. Neatly double folded and hanging over the arm 3/4 ways waiter style. With this idea you can add two or three of you favourite afghans such as one or two over the arm and another over the corner.

5. Throw it over the edge look touching the floor. This is where the look over the corner and down to the ground look comes into play. Not my preferred method but it can really work if you have a lot of decor items in your living space already. Play with tucking it a bit here and there and add a pillow in the corner.

6. Lay over an ottoman neat and tidy. Centre fold or corner fold. Ottomans are great to display throws and afghans. A great place to rest your feet but also to display for proudest works.

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It’s all about Colour and Waves

The Fun Begins Start Playing

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Are we having Fun with this Game!

Don’t forget, there will be 3 amazing prize giveaways!

We can’t believe the awesome samples and starts that Crochet Crowders are showing us on Facebook! We get goosebumps and squeal with excitement seeing how awesome this game is turning out for people. If you never done anything random before, this game will win those chances for you.

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We only a couple of days into the Stitch is Right game we have lots of crocheters loving the colour wave! With so many variables, colours options, stitch combinations and styles, this games is proving to be the most awesome thing on the crochet Internet world! Be sure to play along. You can make either a scarf, baby afghan or even a full size afghan. The results are incredible! We are loving how everyone is sharing their projects and spinning the wheel to create those random The following have been showing their results, Jeanne Steinhilber, Angela Lampe Krosnick, Barbara Law Claire Alexander Hanson, Jeanne Beverly, Jen Smith, Jennifer Tronetta, Kala Markel, Karen Morgan, Marielle Boogers-Sanders, Pi Toledo & Sandra La Medeline

Been crocheting non stop since yesterday ha ha.

Loving this game!

- Karen Morgan This is a fun way to create a new afghan

- Tammie Gaither Via My first spin is good karma... So instead I will compliment The Crochet Crowd for coming up with such and exciting and excellent idea!

- Tracey Zeek

I’m loving it!!

- Katie Marie Fryer 24

Choose from Patons: Divine, Bohemain, Classic Wool, Delish, Theo, and Big Boucle

Patons Paradise Sale...

Selected Patons Yarns 1/2 price

Starts February 15 to February 21, 2016 Ends Sunday Night at 11:59 (EST) No Limits / While Supplies Last

Fun Yarn for Fun Projects Sale!

Spinrite’s E-Tent Try out these patterns from Yarnspirations.com with your new order!

Create this cozy cowl with Boucle

Super warm and comfy pullover with Bohemian

Convertible Cowl with Patons Delish Yarn

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is it art or is it crafts

In the Crochet world that is ever expanding with ideas and projects, do you ever wonder what is next? Will there be a new stitch, trend, or hawt project that everybody wants to do. Pinterest, Ravelry, instagram are the newest trend for social media to pick up with the ever fast paced ideas and art in our society. Sharing is the way of talking to the world! We had a chance to talk to Olivia Laws to see what is inspiring her creations.

Creating your own art exhibit, tell us what it was like, was it hard, easy, did you have doubts?

Comfy Foods was my first solo art exhibition, it opened back in October of 2015 and ran for a couple weeks. At the time it was my most challenging undertaking of a crochet project. I had been involved in many juried shows and a few group shows in the past but this was my first time doing it all on my own.

I did almost all of the sculptures for Comfy Foods over the summer of 2015 between May and August. It definitely wasn’t easy but it was way more fun than hard. Comfy Foods ended up being a big hit and I realized the doubts were totally irrational.

You have taken crochet into a pop culture candy colour world, what attracts you to this expression of your personal imagination?

My whole life I’ve always been drawn to bright colors and pop art. Andy Warhol is one of my favorite artists. I’m also a fan of Claes Oldenburg, but I’m not in love with the color work in his soft sculptures. I like to over exaggerate my color palette. I’m inspired by some aspects of pop culture including animated movies, music videos, and packaging design.

Do you see yourself as an artist in the pop culture world or a crafter for the everyday crocheter? How do you think the art world sees you?

Of course I think of myself as an artist. The art world is definitely divided about whether or not craft can be considered art. Personally I don’t like to draw a line between art and craft. To me they’re exactly the same thing.

Crocheting is just as much of an art form as painting. It’s all about what you do with it. I’m an optimist so for the most part I like to think the art world sees me as an artist too. However, I have dealt with my fair share of people and other artists who don’t think what I’m doing is art. Just a few days ago I was asked to leave an art group on Facebook because their group is “reserved for artists and they want to keep it free from crafts.” Instead of getting upset with them I used the moment to educate them on the subject and in the end I think I changed their mind.

Why sculptures?

I really just wanted to make some giant pieces in an effort to get people’s attention and make them realize that crochet can be art. Sculptures seemed to fit my objective. For some reason my brain just thinks more three-dimensionally. I have a much easier time designing sculptures than I do making flat artworks such as drawings or paintings.

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Do you have goals or want to grab attention for your work to spread the love of crochet or is this just your preferred medium to play with?

I’ve been crocheting since I was very young and crocheting professionally since 2010. I took a couple years off crocheting when I started art school. I took this time to hone my traditional skills of drawing, painting, and mixed media. I was an alright drawer and even won an award for a drawing in an art show once but it just never came easy to me. It wasn’t until I took an contemporary theory class and was exposed to a lot of non traditional art forms that I realized crochet could be just as high of an art form as drawing. That was when I decided I could either spend my life struggling to be a mediocre drawer, or I could just choose embrace what I love: crochet. Since then I have been on a personal crusade to prove to people that crochet and other “crafts” can be high art when done properly. I see a lot of projects posted on The Crochet Crowd wall that I consider art. I try to use my work to make the art world realize that crochet is just a medium, which can be used to make art. It’s no different from painting.

Michael and I are sometimes hit with wasting yarn when we create yarn art projects for our events. What do you think of those responses that we should have used it for more practical things?

I think thats absolute nonsense. How many other crochets, knitters, and weavers have craft rooms stuffed to the gills with yarn that just sits there and never gets used? I know plenty of spouses who would probably back me up on that one. That’s a true waste of yarn. With all the much more important things in our society that are truly being wasted every day (food, water, natural resources, etc.) I think yarn should be the last worry on our minds. Not to mention, all of my projects do get used. Crocheting is my full time job. I sell my projects to people who decorate their homes with them and that money pays my rent and feeds my family.

Besides in the crochet world, what other people do you admire?

I’ve already mentioned that I’m a fan of Andy Warhol and Claes Oldenburg’s works, but I wouldn’t call either of them my role models since I don’t know them personally. This is a pretty personal question but, JT Woodruff of the band Hawthorne Heights has been my hero since I was 14 and he knows why. He also has a few of my crochet projects, including a couple I did years ago before I was any good haha.

Any exciting events or projects lined up for our audience to enjoy?

I am planning a pretty large, more personally themed sculpture that I’m hoping to get done by April. I’m hoping for it to be my largest piece yet and the most colorful.

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Doily Pillows H

ere is a great way to accessorize your plain old pillows.

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sing thread yarn create a doily and attach it to your pillows. It will take the pillow to a whole new level of uniqueness and give it a high end look.

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ne the trends we have been seeing are doilies having colour instead of plain jane white ones that you once seen in home way back in earlier times. Today, doilies are exploding with colour, patterns and shapes.

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ou can however add anything including appliquĂŠs. Michale even used the crocodile stitch to create this round version and attached to a pillow to give it fabulous texture.

Get The Pattern and Video

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Not Your Granny’s Pillow R

emember that adding angles or shapes to your sofa adds dimension to your decor and look.

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ust released is this pattern and is easy to do. We recommend a pillow that is a similar colour to hid the opening stitches or you wrap the pattern with fabric if you have a white pillow. The openings are a great look allowing other fabric to shine through.

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ow don’t forget the tassels because that is what makes this pillow special!

We have this very pillow on our sofa and yes we love the tassels!

Get The Pattern, Blog and Video

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Crochet Cruises Update

A Disney World Adventure followed by a Carnival Cruise Your Choice or Both!

Releasing Feb 25th!

We are so excited with this new idea from our agent Sherry. For those that would love to have a crochet land retreat, The Crochet Crowd is going to be at Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida. Information with 3 different packages will be coming soon!

If you love to cruise, we are soon to open our Crochet Cruises leaving Port Canaveral on the Carnival Magic for two choices.

Eastern and/or Western Caribbean for a Halloween Special!

Both Disney and Carnival will be in October 2017. Magical and Fun. This will be a package of crocheting and laughs to be enjoyed!

Plan Your Dream Vacation; Crocheting, Disney and a Cruise! WOW!

Sign Up to Receive Our Notice when everything is ready!

CLICK HERE 30

Tutorials by Mikey

Faux Popcorn Cowl

Do the Twist Hat

Tunisian Shadow Cowl

Slice of Nice Shawl

Crochet Headband

Little Sweetie Baby Dress

If love the teaching, the patterns and the down to earth nature of Mikey, then take the time to subscribe to the Crochet Crowd’s YouTube Channel. You will get updated with all the latest videos that could spark your next project!

Click 31

Tunisian Rainbow Afghan T

unisian is hot and entralac is even hotter. This rectangle afghan with it bold colours was top on our list for this Color edition of the Mikey Magazine.

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f you notice of The Crochet Crowd Facebook Page, people love the entrelac stitch. Plus the colours and combinations are far out with ideas and boldness.

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he most common is the square entrelac but this pattern you can create a rectangle version too. Different and perfect for the lengthy long sofa.

Get the Pattern, Videos and Blog

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Rainbow View Throw I

f you look closely at this throw, you will notice that this is the pineapple stitch in a row. But what we love about this pattern is that each row you can mix and match colours to give that bold look.

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great breezy throw that creates comfort for the sofa and yet light and airy. Perfect if you need an throw that is not heavy with weight where your warmth is allowed to breath through without feeling hot and sticky.

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e did this throw as a challenge one year and called it the Cheerful Afghan. It is certainly cheerful!

Get the Pattern, Videos and Blog

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Come See Us Across Canada More Info 34

Coming Soon

Facebook Picture of the Week

We have to love this Valentine’s Day Mailbox that Charity Lister did for her office. The ‘INBOX’! Personally we think that every office should have one of these. It would make the work environment so much cuter and fun to be part of! Hope Charity got lot of Valentine’s Day mail.

Keep up with the office imagination Charity! It’s wonderful to see crocheters bringing in their talent at work.

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Diva Dan! Scrolling through Facebook this past week, we are loving the amazing engagement with the game ‘The Stitch is Right’ that our fans have been doing. I just can not believe seeing the amazing work from what our team has created that turn into a simple and fun game that crowders are enjoying.

What I am loving about this game is seeing how the stitches are working together with random combinations, (thanks to Michael’s idea of a spinning wheel) plus seeing the colour palettes that saying WOW is just not enough.

We have been working hard to read the comments and be as helpful as we can in a 15 hr day. Thanks to Michael, Jeanne and Laura Jean for really taking the time to monitor reading the comments on how crocheters are feeling about the game. They deserve a huge pat on the back for the time and commitment. I also have to say thanks for those random fans that are also helping out with questions.

After all that is what a positive community is all about.

Interestingly there is always going to be a stitch that some will not like. So far we have notice it is the Puff Stitch. But I will say this, it is the BEST stitch in the whole game. It truly makes the projects awesome! So maybe the technique and time is a pain but the looks just sets the project to a whole new 3D level. We also love hearing that crocheters are learning new stitches. That’s the point. Enjoy the learning fun. You might after all fall in love with something new.

This week, for my new learning experience has been making my first real Mandala. I found this pattern

by Carocreated on Esty. It is a paid pattern and in my opinion well worth it. She literally wrote a book on how to make this pattern. I have been so fascinated with crochet overlaying that I decided to buckle down and start working on something new. What attracts me are the colours and the details that create geometric shapes. Perfect for wall hanging or a great table display.

Enjoy this edition, there are lots to do and to crochet but most importantly love what you are doing!

Diva Dan

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Still working on my Mandala but almost done :)

Blogs ‘Knot To Be Missed Tips

Ideas

Thoughts

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Even Knotty Crocheters Can have Halos

11 Crochet Patterns for Fashion dolls

Crochet Abbreviations Guide

Cozy Flower Pot Tutorial 9 Free Prayer Shawl Patterns 37

Next Edition Celtic Celebrations & St.Patricks Day

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In any case, most of all the patterns can be found again through our website.

TheCrochetCrowd.com

This newsletter is produced by Michael Sellick and Daniel Zondervan, Creative Directors of The Crochet Crowd. While we try our best to provide a grammatical error free newsletter, a few errors most likely will slip between the stitches. We are a very small company with a creative thirsty crochet following. If we are to produce a newsletter that has no errors, we would never be able to send one out.

Our team is also propelled by Laura Jean Bartholomew - Community Info Seeker and Jeanne Steinhilber - Community Chaperon.

Š 2016 TheCrochetCrowd.com

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