Crochet Lab Review + My First CAL!

Earlier this year, I signed up for Vicki Howell's Crochet Lab class on Craftsy.com, determined to re-learn how to crochet. This was the first class I took on the Craftsy platform, and as you can tell by how often I reference and support Craftsy on this blog, I was impressed!

I would (and have) definitely recommend this class for anyone who wants to learn how to crochet. Vicki is enthusiastic and good at explaining things in a way that is easy to grasp, encouraging folks to find the way that's easiest for them to do rather than insisting that what she is demonstrating is the only correct way to crochet. This is something I find very refreshing about Craftsy courses in general - the instructors are very good about either demonstrating a few ways to accomplish the same thing, or, at the very least, encouraging their students to experiment and do what comes naturally to them.

The instructions were clear and easy to follow; for each technique, there is a close-up of Vicki's hands as she works so that you can see exactly what she is demonstrating. There are nine lessons in all, covering chain making, single crochet, double crochet, and half double crochet techniques. She also covers choosing your materials, demonstrates how to measure gauge, and walks you through one of the course projects (the techie cozy) and making granny squares. The course materials include several patterns and an cheat sheet for basic stitches and pattern reading; of course, if you get stuck, you can always ask a question online for Vicki or your fellow students to answer.

My only constructive criticism are two rather petty notes that have no bearing on the actual content of the course, nor would they affect a normal person's ability to craft: I found myself distracted at times by Vicki's sparkly french manicure and her tendency to talk with her hands when not demonstrating technique. I can only imagine how hard it must be to keep your hands still when being filmed not knitting or crocheting, but for those of us watching at home, the muppet flail can really detract from the lesson at hand...or maybe that's just me!

Click here to sign up for Crochet Lab on Craftsy for $14.99!

I've also decided to do my first-ever CAL* this month - it's happening here on Stacey Trock's Fresh Stitches blog! I thought I'd start with the simplest-looking pattern (bonus: it's free!), Jack the Tiny Pumpkin, since I struggled so much crocheting an R2D2 a while back. There are prizes and lots of other cute patterns to choose from, too, so it should be a fun way to get into the Halloween spirit this month.

Click here to join in the fun!

*Actually, I was going to do Kristin Omdahl's Soldier Love CAL over the summer, which would have been my first, but the fates conspired against me; I still have the yarn and pattern lurking somewhere...I just need to work up to it!

Overdyeing A Finished Knit

Even after just a few years of knitting or crocheting, you're bound to have some finished projects lying around that never get worn or used. After 10+ years of crafting, I have more than just "some" or "a few"....and with my ongoing quest to declutter my house this year, I've become obsessed with going through these forlorn projects and making some Big Decisions. Sometimes, they are perfectly fine and just need a new and loving home. Other projects may have not turned out quite right: there might have been some mistakes in the knitting that I thought I could live with, or the yarn was gorgeous but not well-matched to the pattern, or my taste has drastically changed since I finished making the project...in any case, why on earth did I keep knitting?! Who knows, but I don't feel good about gifting anything that falls into this category to someone else. These projects have been relegated to the "frog pile" (or should I say, frog pond?), to b

Easy DIY: Beaded Vintage Snowflake Ornament Kits from Solid Oak Inc.

I was really excited to step outside of my comfort zone and try something new as part of my "Christmas in July" theme this month. The kind folks at Solid Oak Inc offered me a chance to review one of their Nostalgic Christmas beaded crystal ornament kits I couldn't resist. My tree is already full of ornaments I've inherited or been gifted from other family members and friends, so these pretty crystal beaded ornaments will fit right in I think! I was super impressed with this compact little kit , which includes everything needed to create three gorgeous vintage-style ornaments - just add a pair of round nose pliers (I found mine on Amazon for less than ten bucks). The instructions had some fabulous tips for newbies like me; for example, it recommended sorting the beads and laying them out in order on a towel or beading mat to prevent them from rolling away. That may seem obvious, but I was totally ready to start beading on my kitchen table without a

What If I Didn't Add Heels?

Last weekend, I finished the first sock with my Waterlilies yarn , and just for yuks, I tried it on even though it was basically just a tube sock. Much to my surprise, it fit really well, even without a heel. Who knew? So, that got me thinking: what if I just didn't add the heels? I never thought a tube sock would actually fit nicely, but I genuinely like the fit, so...why spend time to add the heels? As the saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.... Let's say I decide not to add heels once the second sock is done - there will still be placeholder yarn for the afterthought heels, as you can see above, so should I leave it in and just weave in the ends? Or should I remove it, put the live stitches back on needles and at least graft them together using more of the Waterlilies yarn? I plan on mulling all of this over as I knit the second sock, and I'd love to hear your opinions of what you think would look best (or if you think this whole "n

handmade by stefanie

Search This Blog