Learn to Crochet 1-2-3

I believe I’ve mentioned this once before, but it’s been months and there are now three issues of this magazine out there in the big, wide world. And, I need to write about it.

Crochet 1-2-3 magazine, website here. All projects for each issue have been databased on Ravelry here.

The magazine is available in Walmart. It can be found in the craft department or the magazine department. (There doesn’t appear to be consistency with location in the store.) Not all Walmarts had them. (Mine doesn’t yet.) But, I believe that’s going to change. The magazine is also available by subscription at the website. Back issues are available for purchase. If we all play nicely and buy lots of them, maybe distribution will grow to other venues.

The big thing about this magazine is that I have a pretty big part in it. And, to be honest, it’s been tough. Probably the toughest thing I’ve ever done. It sounded a lot easier than it turned out to be. But, you guys know me. I am always up for a challenge. And, this was a biggie.

With each magazine, I have a technique article. For the technique, I have three projects. These patterns are arranged in difficulty so that you learn the technique, then expand upon it with the other projects. You get to learn in 1-2-3 fashion.

Now, the other cool thing? Not only do you get three projects to learn a techique and a two-page article with close-up photos, you also get free online videos. And, that’s cool.

I am also doing the online videos. All by myself. Editing too. And, seriously, I’m trying to get them finished as quickly as I can. And, I’m getting better. I’m starting to do things in more of a system so that I have fewer “takes”. And, this is crucial. I have to sit on my feet with a tripod between my knees, leaning up next to the coffee table with haphazard lights strewn about.  I have to take frequent breaks because my feet fall asleep. From what I understand, I shouldn’t be crocheting when it’s painful. Feet falling asleep is PAINFUL! ha!

So, here we go with the techniques.

Issue 1: Working In a Spiral. Three hats to try out working in a spiral without joining rounds, in three different stitches.

Issue 2: Working with Beads. Three different beading techniques.

Issue 3: Crocheted Cables. Three scarves with three different cable stitch patterns.

You can jump over to the website and view the videos now as well. Except for issue 2. I hope to have those finished next week. And, things should run much more smoothly for me now that I’ve been doing this for several months. But, I tell you what. Between trying to figure out how to teach a technique using three progressive projects, doing the swatches, doing the videos, doing the video editing… It’s taken me awhile to figure out the most efficient way to do everything.

How Do You Like To Learn?

Learn Tunisian Crochet from Books

I’ve noticed a lot of emails and posts about people wanting to learn Tunisian crochet in the new year. How would you like to learn? No matter how you’d like to learn, I’ve got you covered.

If you like a more traditional style of learning from books, I’ve got four great books that can take you from the beginner level through the more intermediate level.

The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Tunisian Crochet takes you through all the common stitches and then you progress to higher levels with projects sorted in order of learning. You can learn all those little extras like how to seam, how to change colors and more.

Learn to Do Tunisian Lace Stitches first takes you through all the basic stitches then combines them to make lace stitch patterns. Practice the stitches with some beautiful lace projects. And, it comes with a DVD which you can pop into your computer or DVD player so that you get one-on-one video lessons on all the stitches and complete videos of the lace stitch patterns.

Tunisian Cables to Crochet is a step-by-step guide on learning to make beautiful cables that look like hand-knit and can be made in 1/3 the time of hand-knit projects. Although I knit as well, when it comes to gift-giving crunch time, I would rather pick a Tunisian cabled project over a hand-knit project.

Lastly, a stitch dictionary. Tunisian Crochet Stitch Guide is a new, one-of-a-kind stitch dictionary which includes many never-before-seen stitch patterns. Just flipping through the book, you will see its uniqueness in the pineapple stitch patterns you can create with Tunisian crochet, something that I’ve read cannot be done. I apparently have a problem with being told I can’t do something! ha! This book is scheduled for release in March, but is available for pre-order now.

Read more about all of these books on my Amazon author page here.

Learn Tunisian Crochet from Online Video Classes

Now, if you like to learn from classes, but you’re unable to attend one of my live classes, how about a video class? I have two fabulous online classes at Annie’s. And, with online classes, you can watch the videos over and over, as many times as you would like. And, there are wonderful patterns to go with them!

Hard to believe that you can get this fabulous hat from a beginner class, right? But, it’s true! Read more about my online Annie’s classes here. I have two classes at Annie’s. One is a beginner level with 4 great projects. The second expands upon that knowledge with cables and lace. Here is the lovely cabled project. I enjoyed this project so much that I couldn’t make a firm decision with what project I wanted to do. So, I’ve included instructions for making a scarf, shawl, baby blanket, wrap AND and throw.

With so many Tunisian crochet patterns now available, now is the perfect time to learn. If you’re still unsure about Tunisian crochet, browse my Pinterest page here with some Tunisian crochet eye candy. And, if you need some research on the hooks, have a look at my Hooks page here. Enjoy!

About The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Tunisian Crochet

Roger from the Tunisian Crochet YahooGroup recently sent an email to the group about The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Tunisian Crochet and I’m copying it here with his permission.

“This is a terrific, very informative book that should be in everyone’s library, regardless of skill level. Lots of pictures and terrific explanations. The reverse stitch substitutes wonderfully for Tunisian purl (which I’ve never liked), and will combine with cable stitches to produce a look very similar to knitting. Of course, I’m going to get Kim’s cable book when it comes out in August! Meanwhile do order Kim’s “Beginner’s” book-everyone can benefit from a new and very thorough perspective on Tunisian.”

Although I’ve been discussing the projects in my new Tunisian Cables book of late, I want to be certain to give the Beginner’s book its “due”.

This book is jam-packed with a huge amount of information. Information you won’t typically find in project-only books. The entire first half of the book includes bucket loads of information about stitches, seaming, color changing, increasing, decreasing, etc. If you’ve ever wondered how to do these finishing techniques with Tunisian crochet, the book includes this and more.

Stitches used throughout the book in tutorials and/or projects:

• Foundation
• Tunisian Simple Stitch
• Tunisian Knit Stitch
• Tunisian Purl Stitch
• Tunisian Reverse Stitch
• Tunisian Extended Stitch
• Binding off in different stitches
• Tunisian Drop Stitch
• Reverse single crochet
• Tunisian slipped stitch

Techniques

• Right- and left-leaning decreases
• Increasing
• Adding new ball of yarn or changing color
• 2-color and 3-color techniques
• Seaming, row-to-row
• Seaming, stitch-to-stitch
• Tips on gauge, counting rows and loose stitches
• Making a tassel
• Tutorial for hand felting
• Short rows

Stitch patterns

• Stockinette
• Seed Stitch
• Slip Stitch rib
• Tunisian rib
• 6-stitch left-leaning cable
• Mitered angle
• The bag stitch pattern is popular in hand-knitting, but I can’t remember the name now (I’m sure it will come to me later)

And, then it applies the things learned to the 9 projects, which are presented in the book in an appropriate order for learning. They move on in an order which makes it fun and easy to learn.

This book includes more information than I’ve ever seen on Tunisian crochet, all in one place. I encourage you to check it out because I put just about every bit of knowledge of Tunisian crochet I’ve learned in the past decade into this book for you. Enjoy!