FaveCrafts

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December FaveCrafts Radio: Yarn Talk!

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If there’s one thing we’ve noticed about you, our readers, is that many, many of you love yarn! Whether it’s to crochet with, to knit with, or just to craft with, you guys love it! So we just wanted to let everyone know that we’re paying attention and to keep you all happy we’re bringing you an all yarn episode of FaveCrafts Radio in December!

This month we’ll sit down and chat with Michael Sellick from The Crochet Crowd, Vickie Howell, Drew Emborsky aka The Crochet Dude about all their best yarn tips! So if you love to knit or crochet, you’ll definitely want to tune in on Tuesday December 11th at 11am EST to hear these three chat it up about their techniques, tips, and frustration solutions. But remember, just like every episode of FaveCrafts Radio, you can call in with your own questions to ask our craftlebrities! Have you been working on pattern that won’t stay flat? Have you been struggling with decreasing or increasing? Beginner or advanced, call at any point during our show and ask any yarn related questions that have been on your mind!

Put it in your calendars because this is going to be one fun show! Remember  just dial 646-200-4435  on December 11th from 11am to 12pm EST to have a chat with our yarn experts. 

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AllFreeCrochet’s Pillow Crochet Along Week 2

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Welcome back! We are making some fabulous pillows during our Crochet-Along. Based on the instructions for Week 1, you should have your yarn, hook and other materials ready. You should also know which pillow you want to make, if not both. Now we are ready to crochet some great decor!

We will start by making the front and back of the pillow. You can find the pattern below, as well as a video for each pillow. First chain 37 and DC 5th from the hook, then DC all the way across. Be sure you look at the abbreviations and diagram before starting, so you know how the pillow will be made.

Abbreviations:

BEG = Beginning, CH = Chain, HDC = Half Double Crochet, ST – Stitch, SL ST = Slip Stitch, SC = Single Crochet, DC = Double Crochet, TR = Triple Crochet, FPDC = Front Post Double Crochet, BPDC = Back Post Double Crochet

I wanted to show you the repeat pattern. The red lines going up and down are showing you that each basket weave is in sets of 4. The red solid line on the left side is where the pattern is reversed to create the basket weave look.

Here are some things to keep in mind before you begin:

  • The color transition (for the rainbow pillow) will cause wasted yarn as you need to start each at a specific point. This means you have to get to the point in the skein that matches the rest of the skeins to be consistent with the coloring. You might want to buy a 4th skein just in case.
  • When doing the black side of the pillow you will use eyelash and black worsted yarn at the same time.
  • Working with extra skeins at the same time causes you to go a bit slower, which is okay.

Chain 37

Row 1: Dc in the 4th ch from the hook. Dc in every ch across. Turn.

Row 2: Ch2. *FPDC in the next 4 dc, BPDC in the next 4 dc. Repeat from * all the way across and finish with 1 hdc into the top of the stitch below. Turn.

Row 3: Ch2. *BPDC in the next 4 dc, FPDC in the next 4 dc. Repeat from * all the way across and finish with 1 hdc into the top of the stitch below. Turn.

Row 4: Ch2. *FPDC in the next 4 dc, BPDC in the next 4 dc. Repeat from * all the way across and finish with 1 hdc into the top of the stitch below. Turn.

Rows 4-25: Repeat rows 2-4 seven times.

Row 26: Repeat row 2.

Fasten off.

Do a second panel by repeating the above instructions.

Pillow Option 1:



Pillow Option 2:

 

Don’t forget there are prizes just for posting pictures. Three winners will be chosen at random, so be sure you post your WIP’s and finished pillows in our online gallery!

 

Crochet Along Schedule

Week One, Starting February 22 – Gather Materials

Week Two, Starting February 29 – Start Pillow

Week Three, Starting March 7 – Finishing, Assembly and Sharing Photos

March 12th – Announcement of Winners

 

 

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Let’s Get Started – 24 Free Crochet Lessons

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Learn How to Crochet

Mikey hosts this 24 Course Series with Curtzy Crochet Hooks

Did you know that I now have a Free 24 Course Program. Months of preparation to get this video series has paid off. It took 2.5 months for the entire program to be uploaded onto my YouTube Channel and finally the entire series is up and going. I’m not surprised that it was well received, but I was really surprised to learn that the combined views totaled over 100,000 views by the time the last video was launched.

You can see all videos in order right now and begin your program immediately.

This program was designed for Curtzy Crochet Hooks from England. The owner and I had worked together for 4 months before the first video rolled out. A Combination of 32 videos is now available and ready. A lot of people have no idea the amount of preparation and editing involved to pull off such a massive program. Over all, I’ve been really happy with it and we have encouraged new crocheters to get on board.

Begin your learning experience. If you are looking for a fun project to start, you have to see my Colorful Fantasy Granny Afghan.

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Crochet Yarn Painting Project

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Mikey's Bernat Mosaic Yarn Painting

Mikey's Bernat Mosaic Yarn Painting

Doesn’t this look stunning? If I were to ever plan something that would have rocked the crochet world as much as I did with this painting, I probably would not have gotten the attention as this new yarn painting has received.

Watch this HowTo Instructional Video on creating your own. I consider this project free form as you need to create the work to fit the frame. Everyone will have different sizes of frames to work with. This requires you to be a bit imaginative and exercise your crochet skills.

In this frame that is 24″ wide by 30″ high, I’ve created a yarn insert that is basket weave crochet. This video will cover a number of questions such as the following:

  1. How to create the basket weave stitch
  2. Sizing requirements for the insert
  3. How I attached the yarn to the frame
  4. What to look for in a frame due to weight of the project
  5. Materials used and crochet hook size

Over all, I absolutely loved this project. It’s one of my most treasured crochet projects to date. In keeping with the Basket Weave theme, have you seen this Basket Weave Scarf Pattern? It’s the same concept as shown in my project.

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Meet Mikey, Tutorial Host for AllFreeCrochet and AllFreeKnitting

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Learn how to loom knit with Mikey

Free Workshops with Mikey

Mikey is back at Spinrite Factory Outlet on February 25th from 10am – 3pm.

This month he is concentrating on Loom Knitting. He will be showcasing looms by Crafting Essentials and Authentic Sock Knitting; this is a free workshop and there are several throughout the day.

The classes book quickly as Mikey takes only six students at one time. He finds having more than six at one time throws off the learning experience and people don’t learn as much. He prefer students to understand what they are doing by the end of the class instead of just getting a general idea.

There will be discount sales going on during this event. There is also desserts and coffee being served throughout the day. Store opens at 10 am and coming early ensures you can get coffee and dessert before they run out.

The show we are doing, “Coffee Talk”, is from noon – 1pm. This means Mikey is taking a break from teaching. He’s going to have a lunch break where anyone is invited to join; bring your lunch and sit with Mikey and gossip about creativity with him. Limited seating and space. Just show up, the store is not booking for this added experience.

Try this loom knitted scarf by Mikey called the Crystal Scarf. People are loving this quick little project and looking all fabulous with their scarves when they are done.

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Crochet Party Time – Art Night Out Party Kits

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Crochet Party Kits
Art Night Out’s Crochet Party Kit

Have you ever seen this Jewelry Crochet Kit before? It’s called Art Party Kits by Art Night Out.

Art Night Out is from Maine, USA where they specialize in creating a fun night out at their studio. They have a unique mix of different genres of crafting; there seems to be something for everyone. They realized there was a need for Party Kits where people want to have all the supplies to be able to teach others.
This kit allows you to host a party where the focus is creativity. Kits range in different sizes depending on the party you have. The kit you see above is for 4 people. 

I’ve done this before where I charged my friends a fee for learning crochet jewelry with me. Using these kits, you get everything you need such as crochet hooks, beads, wire, clasps and more. I don’t feel bad about charging my friends because all of these materials cost money. My expertise and hands on instructions are worth some money as well.

Here’s what I did:
  • Bought the kit so I had everything on hand. The kits have a great selection of products inside to really make interesting jewelry that adults and kids would appreciate working on.
  • I charged a fee to attend my course in my home. The fee includes the materials and my time.
  • I worked out the course fee to be about $30. In one course, this kit can bring in about $120. Minus the kit fee and the rest is in my pocket for a rainy day!
  • I can make money on the side by hosting creativity parties such as this.
It’s a great little idea that has really neat cash earning potential. If you get some of these kits you can throw a party of your own! Make some crochet jewelry that you’ll wear forever.

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Meet The Crochet Dude

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Meeting The Crochet Dude, Drew Emborsky, has been one of the best highlights of my professional career as Mikey from The Crochet Crowd. I might be like you where when you see a celebrity you freak out and say the dumbest things. You realize you are tripping and then you bury yourself further to make yourself like a lunatic. Now that I painted that real image of what I was like, you can imagine poor Drew putting up with me.
Despite my initial introduction of being all nuts and crazy, Drew really took it in stride and was so kind. I have met other celebrities who stink of attitude but Drew was so polite, genuine and a guy that I would love to have in a crochet circle. The video that is attached below is Drew and I speaking for the first time about crochet. Though we had met earlier in the day, we left the crochet talk for this interview so that the conversation was new information being shared between each other.
The highlight of this video is that him and I are just talking about the love of our chosen career paths. We are both celebrities in our own realm and come at crochet from a different vantage point. This video, which I must admit was a pure accident… but genius move, truly is a real conversation between crochet artists. Watching this video is like ease dropping behind the scenes of the Crochet world from a teaching point of view.
To keep this video genuine, I barely clipped anything out because we were catching him signing autographs for his brand new book called Use Up That Yarn! being published by Lesiure Arts. Look for it on Amazon or your near pattern book retailer.
Meet Drew Emborsky & Michael Sellick.
The Crochet Dude (Drew Emborsky) and The Crochet Crowd (Michael Sellick) together sharing the love of crochet together.

Watch & Listen to our casual conversation!

Find some free crochet patterns by The Crochet Dude.

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Bernat Launches More New Yarn

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Michael Sellick proudly displays Bella Yarn

Bernat has just released this new yarn line called “Bella” and “Clara”

Learn More About This New Yarn

Bella Yarn has just been released by Bernat and, in my opinion, is the softest yarn I have ever felt. Not knowing about this yarn, I saw this Mobius (Infinity) Scarf using this yarn and I thought at first it was a real piece of fur. Obviously being where it was, I knew it must be a new yarn that is deceiving.

I cannot emphasize enough how amazing this yarn is to the touch. I have seen soft yarn before in the eyelash format but usually it can either be rough to scratch the skin or be stingy that you can obviously tell it’s yarn.

You can knit or do a fabulous tie knot scarf with this. I have to admit though, crocheting would require a bit of patience to find the stitches. I could see a fantastic scarf or even do a throw pillow idea with this yarn.

Clara by Bernat has also been just released and can be found in limited stores as the distribution of this new yarn line picks up. Clara is considered a bulky yarn. It is available only in variegated colours but the colour trending of all of the different options is certainly up to date and extremely modern.

If you ever corked or spool knitted, you will notice this yarn appears to be the identical version of the spool knit look. This technique of manufacturer makes the yarn bulky but without the weight, soft to the touch and not easy to tangle.

This yarn can be crocheted, knitted, macrame and even knotted. I have seen this yarn made into a really amazing scarf where it’s done like a typical knot scarf. The ends are braided together instead of hanging on their own. This yarn comes as one big piece unlike other new yarns that Bernat has just released.

You can always find this yarn at shop.bernat.com if you would like to find this yarn online for purchase.

Want more Bernat Knit or Knot yarn? Check out these other colorways:

Knit Or Knot Bella Yarn-Royal

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Bernat’s Yarn Tasting with Mikey – Live Event

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Loom Knitting Demonstrations and Tutorial Teaching
Join Mikey Live On December 3rd, 2011 at Bernat’s Factory Outlet (Spinrite) in Listowel Ontario.

Bernat’s Live Event

12 Crochet Gifts of Christmas Feature

Mikey’s back at Bernat (Spinrite Factory Outlet) on December 3rd, 2011 between 10 am – 3 pm. This is when Mikey will be hook’n up a storm and creating a fun atmosphere. We laugh, share and connect with others who are totally into the fibre arts.

This time, bring your size J or 6.0 MM crochet hook or you can buy one at the store if you forget. We are going to be playing with a quick project idea that you can make for yourself or even better, whip it up for a loved one for a Christmas gift! I’ve never taught crochet at Bernat and this will be my first opportunity. You can either watch and learn or buy a ball of yarn and begin immediately with me.

You will be able to see all the products made for AllFreeCrochet’s 12 Crochet Gifts of Christmas at Bernat.

This is a free workshop event.  Watch for Bernat’s Flyer for exact details and what December’s sales are going to be!

Hope to see you there! 🙂 Enjoy

Michael

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Sophia by Bernat – New Yarn On The Market

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Brand New yarn Line

Learn More About Bernat’s New Yarn Line Called – Sophia

Sophia is one of the newest yarns by Bernat that has just been released. This is a yarn line that I think will be the most challenging to the average person. What can you do with this yarn? How can you accessorize this with you wardrobe? I think it can easily be answered by doing a bit of research.

This yarn is exceptionally thick and doesn’t require knitting needles or crochet hooks; you can just hand crochet with your fingers or even finger knit this. I could actually do nautical knots with this yarn and it would still turn out amazing.

The yarn is so thick that you don’t get a lot to work with. However, you still get a good amount to make an amazing scarf. Take a peak at knitorknot.bernat.com for free patterns and video tutorials to follow along. You can find more product specifics at shop.bernat.com and more free crochet patterns at AllFreeCrochet.

 

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