Darla Fanton

Archive for July, 2007

The last day of Chain Link is usually a little bit sad… many people must leave early that day in order to get back to their everyday lives on Monday.

This year, with two sold-out classes on Sunday I was too busy to be sad! I was also too busy to take many pictures.

The morning started with Crochet Illusions. This is a technique I developed so crocheters could have the same fun knitter’s were having with the technique called Shadow Knitting. When you look at the project straight on you see rows of stripes, but when viewed at an angle a surprise secondary image appears.

At the beginning of class I point out you must work a few rows before the secondary image starts to emerge and ask students to trust I will help them find the heart illusion in their class sample. It is so much fun to see the excitement around the room as people suddenly start to spot those hearts popping up here and there. Because seeing the illusion depends entirely on the viewing angle often a student sitting across the room will see the heart before the individual working on it does.

In the photo above fellow Chain Link teacher, Joyce Wyatt, is excited because she knows the heart will start to emerge on the next row. Sitting next to her and cheering Joyce on is Dee Stanziano. Feel free to hop over to Dee’s blog for her perspective on Sunday.

Sunday afternoon it was time for Tunisian Crochet Goes Tubular. My method of working Tunisian in the round requires a flexible double-ended crochet hook. Just as with knitting in the round it is important to make sure your foundation is not twisted when you join the first round. This can be challenging when you are picking up stitches in a chain. (And even more challenging on the last afternoon of the Conference when you may have stayed up rather late at the Banquet/Fashion Show.) For Tunisian Crochet an alternative to working into a chain, is a knitted long tail cast-on. There is an excellent video over at knittinghelp.com — just pretend there is a hook on the end of that knitting needle. Since Tunisian Simple Stitch is known for it’s tendency to curl, if you want a roll brim hat no other steps are needed. If you want to tame that curl, chain one after each cast-on stitch and work a few rounds of Tunisian single crochet, also called Tunisian extended stitch.

You still need to be careful that you don’t twist the joining but it is easier to see that everything is lined up correctly. In the photo above I’m ready to join the first round. I’ll be working the stitches off the hook by first drawing the yarn through the marked stitch.

I’ll be teaching both of these classes at the Fall Knit and Crochet Show and I will be teaching Crochet Illusions at the Orlando Needlework Show.

I hope you have enjoyed reading about my experiences at Chain Link 2007! I’m so glad I have the Shows in Oakland and Orlando just around the corner to look forward to!

A special thank you to my students - past, present, and future. You enrich my life, inspire my designs, give me great ideas for new classes, and are a constant source of delight. I hope to see each of you soon!

For me Saturday was Tunisian Entrelac day! It is a fascinating (and easy) way to make a patchwork-look fabric without sewing a single seam. As a bonus, since you are working with a limited number of stitches at one time you can use a regular crochet hook rather than a long Tunisian hook. This becomes even more of a bonus when you are going to felt your project. For felting you want to use a large hook to create an oversize project. I like to use a 10mm hook. Those can be difficult to find in a Tunisian hook, but no problem at all in a regular hook. Since there is no thumb grip to get in my way, I usually pick up my 10mm Surina wood hook when I’m in the mood for a felted Tunisian Entrelac project.

In the morning’s sold-out class, students worked on a Tunisian Entrelac in the Round bowl. Some used wool yarn and a large hook, planning to felt their bowl at home. Others used worsted weight yarn and a smaller hook to create a bowl that would stand on its own without felting.

Many of the students stayed for the afternoon Tunisian Entrelac On The Square class, building on the skills they had learned in the morning. In one of the photos above you can see Stephanie at work on one of the afternoon swatches with the bowl she created in the morning already hard at work holding her supplies. I’m kind of partial to chocolate kisses in mine!

Saturday evening was the ever popular Banquet and Chic Street Fashion Show. As always, it was such a good time. I knew there would be lots of people taking photos so I didn’t take my camera. I’m going to direct you to Crocheting With Dee to enjoy the fashion show. Be sure to check out her other posts about the Conference as well as links to more blogs with Chain Link reports.

For those of you interested in Tunisian Entrelac, I’ll be teaching both of these classes at the Fall Knit and Crochet Show and teaching Tunisian Entrelac in the Round at the Orlando Needlework Show. I’d love to see you there.

It is no secret that I have a fondness for the sister techniques, Double Hook and Tunisian Crochet. I am endlessly fascinated experimenting with those long hooks.

Friday morning I had the pleasure of introducing 24 students to Double-Hook Crochet: The Basics. I always enjoy teaching this class! The reversible fabric looks so different on each side that most people assume it must be difficult. They are so happy when they discover it really isn’t difficult at all! After learning the two basic stitches it’s crocheter’s choice. Students select any of 12 different pattern stitches to work on. It is always interesting for me to see which pattern is the most popular.

In the afternoon another full class sat down for the Beginner’s Guide to Tunisian Crochet. The first stitch learned is Tunisian Simple Stitch, sometimes called Afghan Stitch. Then it’s crocheter’s choice again as students select from a long list of options: cross stitch on the fabric, intarsia color work, knit and purl, a color play exercise with three colors. In other words a little something for everybody.

I was honored at the end of class when Doris Chan (above in the pretty pink sweater) told me she had signed up for the class so she could observe my teaching style. It is very flattering for any teacher to know they have been recommended to somebody thinking about a teaching career. A bonus for Doris was she got really excited about Tunisian Crochet. I suspect we will see some Tunisian designs from her one of these days.

A first for me in this class - 3 generations of a family! I’ve taught mother/daughter, mother/son, and even grandmother/granddaughter duos but this was the first mother/daughter/granddaughter. Crochet must run in their genes as all three were excellent students!

I will be teaching both of these classes at the Fall Knit and Crochet Show.
I will be teaching Double Hook Crochet: The Basics and a different beginning Tunisian Class at the Orlando Needlework Show. In Knit & Purl with Your Crochet Hook the focus will be using Tunisian to create knit-like fabrics and converting knit patterns to Tunisian crochet.

Where does the time go? I’m talking about Chain Link and it is already two weeks since the event. I’m claiming jet lag! Crossing three times zones - twice, counts as jet lag, right?

Thursday was my “free” day. Since I was still on West Coast time I took the opportunity to sleep in. Then a nice leisurely lunch downtown with a couple of friends. When they scurried back to their afternoon classes I stopped off at a used book store. I am convinced somebody attending the Conference discovered that bookstore first because there was not a single vintage knit or crochet book to be seen! However I did find two general needlecraft books from the 1970’s with a smattering of knit and crochet to add to my collection.

I spent a relaxing afternoon in the Crochet Lounge renewing friendships made in past years and visiting with new friends while we all crocheted.

Evening brought the Market Preview. Two hours of shopping for everything a fiber fanatic could wish for! Since I have a huge yarn stash (although I could use more since there is no such thing as too much yarn) my plan for the evening was to look for “everything else”.

I’m really pleased with what I found! First was LaBeana Bags Purseware. They had such unique purse handles in so many styles and colors it was hard to decide. I prefer carrying a shoulder purse, so I was able to narrow it down to one of the styles designed for that purpose…but then to decide color. If I didn’t have design deadlines, I would be crocheting a purse to go with my new “copper” handle right now!

Those of you who have been following my blog know from my Madrona Fiber Arts shopping I have a weakness for glass buttons. To nourish that part of my soul that NEEDS glass buttons, I was delighted to find Manchester artist, Judith Copeland. My photo really does not do her buttons justice.

Check out her website for a list of the galleries that carry her work. I see she is also going to be demonstrating how she creates these little works of art at the League of NH Craftsmen’s Fair in August. If I lived close enough I would certainly be there watching. But for me that would require two more cross-country flights …and then there is that jet lag thing again!

On Wednesday before the Chain Link Conference really gets rolling CGOA hosts Professional Development Day (PDD). This is a day where crochet/knit professionals and those who are interested in exploring a career in the industry gather for an intense day of education and networking.

I attended the very first PDD offered in 1999. It was a great experience and since I’ve attended every one since then I can tell you it just continues to get better and better.

Different topics are covered every year. This year the day started with a panel of editors from different areas of the industry. Photos of submitted designs were shown and each editor explained why they would or would not be interested in buying the design for their publication. Since each of the designs had been accepted for publication someplace it was interesting to hear the explanations from those editors who said they would not have bought the design. In other words a design that is right for a book might not be right for a magazine, right for a magazine but not right for a yarn company, etc. Through the years I’ve explained to many aspiring designers that a rejection letter does not necessarily mean there is anything wrong with your design. It may mean it is just not the right design for that particular publication. Or it might mean it was the right publication but the timing was wrong. Knowing the type of item each publication is looking for and how far in advance they accept seasonal projects makes it much easier to target your submission.

During lunch Lily Chin gave an interesting and extremely informative presentation on creating a collection of patterns. She manages to pack so much information into whatever time is available and she is always a delight to listen to.

The afternoon was filled with break out sessions. There were nine different topics to select from and people have time to sit in on three. Because I was one of the presenters I was not able to hear any of the other topics, but all of the presenters also prepare handouts so I’m looking forward to reading those just as soon as I find time. Since I’ve been attending the TNNA and CHA trade shows for a number of years, I was happy to share information about those organizations and the value to designers/teachers in attending the shows.

Sorry, I have no pictures to share from PDD. I was so caught up in the day, I totally forgot I had my new, little camera with me!

Late - very late - Monday night I returned home from Manchester, NH after teaching for CGOA at Chain Link, also known as the Summer Knit and Crochet Show.

Spending a week surrounded by crochet friends, fabulous fibers, fun fashions, and fantastic students was just the tonic I needed to bring me back to blogging. A special thank you to each and every one of you!

As you might imagine, my desk is piled with mail, my e-mail In-basket is overflowing, deadlines are looming, and classes at the Knitting Bee are fast approaching. Over the next week or two, as time allows, I will drop by to share my experiences at the Conference with you.

Before I left for the Conference I bought a new digital camera. I love that the memory card holds a LOT of photos. I love the camera is so small it easily fits into my briefcase. And just as soon as I learn to hold it steady, I’m sure I will love that it is so lightweight! Consider that fair warning; some of the photos coming up may be just a bit out of focus. But slightly out of focus pictures are better than none at all - right?

At Chain Link 2006 I taught my Not the Usual Spiral Bead Bracelet class. Since this bracelet is crocheted with thread and small beads it is not a project you can finish in class. I was delighted this year when several of the students wore their finished bracelets. Everybody had done such a great job! Sharon was the first one to show me her bracelet. On Thursday we were sitting in the Crochet Lounge (Thank you Tahki Stacy Charles for sponsoring the Lounge!) when Sharon mentioned she had been wearing her bracelet the day before. I said I would love to see it and she dashed up to her room and brought it down. It’s beautiful and I’m so sorry I didn’t get a picture of it. Sharon if you see this, please send me a photo of your bracelet so I can add it to the gallery.

The line up below includes Barbara, Mary and Sharry’s bracelets.

I love to show off my students work, so if there are any other finished bracelets out there please send me a photo.

I’ll be back later with a day-by-day recap of the Conference.