Maya Wrap

About three years’ ago, several of my cohorts…. errr… friends got together to surprise me with some gift cards to use during the CGOA conference in Manchester that year. It was so sweet and I was overwhelmed by their generosity. Kim Kotary even crocheted me a little crochet bag to put them in. So cute!

With gift cards in hand, I attended the market and purchased yarns I felt worthy of such an event. Yarns that I never would have been able to purchase otherwise. The yarns I chose were from Prism Yarn. It seems like I remember that Dee Stanziano took a photo of me that year, showing off my yarn prizes.

The yarn has been here all that time. I hadn’t decided what to make with it. About a year ago, I even had my daughter Brianna wind it into balls for me, hoping that inspiration would strike.

So, finally, after all this time, I have finally put this extraordinary yarn to work in this wrap.

If you will be attending the Hooks in Texas event in San Angelo in October, this pattern is the one I’ll be providing you in the class.

If you’d like more information about the pattern or the yarns I used, please visit Kimane Designs.

Blog Book Tour: Crochet It. Love It. Wear It!

I know that you must have heard of Drew Emborsky by now, right? How about “The Crochet Dude®?” Oh, right! You’ve heard that, haven’t you?

I’ve been following Drew’s designing progress since his wee first blog posts. He’s had a fascinating journey! I’ve been thrilled to read every word.

As with other friends, I talk about Drew frequently when my mother and I have our coffee visits in the morning. She is always so attentive when I talk about Drew and she knows how much I care about him. From the moment I met him in person for the first time a couple of years’ ago, I felt like I had found a long-lost brother.

As you may guess, my mother collects all of my books and patterns. She’s even a member of the CGOA and hopes to attend a Chain Link conference with me one year. Although that may not seem surprising, it will when you find out that she doesn’t knit or crochet. Well, that’s still not that surprising. Most mothers would collect books written by their children, wouldn’t they?

How about this one? Would it be surprising if she were to collect Drew’s books as well? I fully expect Drew’s books and crochet tool line to over-shadow my books in her collection one day! I’m working really hard to keep my work out there just so that doesn’t happen! hahaha I wonder what would happen if Drew and I were to design a book together…. Would my mother need two books? LOL

The next time I see Drew, I’m sure that I will have two of these books with me for him to sign; one for me and one for my mother. Do you honestly think she’d let me go with only one of them??!!

While browsing the other blogs on this blog book tour, I happened to notice this question posed to Drew by the awesome Marty Miller at The Crochet Doctor™.

Designers often have a “niche” – something (technique, design, yarn, etc.) that they are known for. What is your “niche”? What would you like to be your “niche”?

I don’t know if I’m known for it yet, but a common denominator in my designs is the texture of the fabric that I am creating. I rely heavily on post stitches to achieve maximum texture. I think in retrospect someday I’ll be known for textures.

And, I’ve got news for ya, buddy! The cat is already out of the bag. We know all about your fascinating textures created with post stitches.

Now, about that book. Drew’s new book. I remember seeing the cover for the first time and absolutely falling in love with one of the designs. Anyone who knows my own designing style will know which design I love the most. Does it come as any surprise that my favorite is Antebellum? The give away should be the empire waist and A-line hem.

My second favorite has to be Investing, shown below. Unlike what you may normally see in a design like this, at the waist, the post stitches start curving, forming a very pleasing shape. This design is so flattering with that curve, giving it a waist-defining corset shape.

Now, this third one. Hesperas is extraordinary. I remember seeing it two years’ ago in a TNNA fashion show. I’m really glad that Drew held onto this design and found the perfect spot for it.

While browsing this book, there was something evident that I’ve not really seen in other books. This book feels like Drew was challenging himself for Fashion Week on Project Runway. Much like you would see on the final episode of a Project Runway season, there is a running theme throughout all the projects.

Everything is clearly defined by Drew’s fascination with texture. All the projects fit together perfectly. And, when he calls it a “collection”, it really IS a collection.

Congratulations, Drew! The book is fantastic!

You can find Crochet It. Love It. Wear It! at Amazon here.

Woops! Sorry, folks. No secret word today. … Or, what if there is and I’m trying to throw you off trail??!! LOL

New Design: Mariposa

This design flew off the hook in only 5 days. I blocked it this afternoon and I didn’t waste any time in taking this photo of my new design. It was too pretty to keep it to myself any longer. I just *love* it!

For more information about the pattern and to see more photos, please visit Kimane Designs here.

Enjoy!

New Design: Men’s Swish Vest

From the website: Kim Guzman, well-known for her stylish mens crochet fashions, has created this smart, casual vest for men. This lightly-textured vest will be a perfectly matched with short sleeves in the Fall and Spring or long sleeves in the Winter months. With its generous size range of mens Small through 3X (actual chest measurement of up to 36″, 40″, 44″, 48″, 52″ and 56″), you will want to make one for all the men in your life. (And you may want to make one for yourself as well!)

This design is made in Knit Picks Swish Worsted and is the long-awaited re-styling of the popular Fall Into Fall Vest previously available at Kimane Designs.

For your convenience, it is available for download at Kimane Designs here or at a discounted price in the Knit Picks Independent Designer Program here.