Darla Fanton

Archive for the ‘Fiber Events’ Category

My newest crochet necklace is finished.  I have several versions of this necklace already in my jewelry wardrobe. In earth tones, in purple, in aqua - and even one in black and shades of pink, that I suppose I could wear with my new black swing jacket and black and white slacks.  But it is much more fun to sit down and in just a few hours have a new necklace to go with the new jacket.

I particularly enjoy creating jewelry using glass or gemstone chips in combination with seed beads. This necklace combines glass, snow obsidian, quartz, and black onyx chips along with seed and tri beads.  Although all the beads are black, white or shades of grey, the flash of my camera appears to have brought out some bronze and blue highlights as well.

I am scheduled to teach “Two Bead Bracelet” on Oct 3 at the Stitching Jubilee in King of Prussia, PA and at the Knitting Bee in Portland, OR on Dec 4th. Included in the class is information on expanding the bracelet design into a necklace of any length desired as well as some optional finishing ideas, such as adding a large focal bead.

I hope your creative juices are flowing with crochet jewelry ideas.  I know mine are.  I can’t wait to sit down and design some new jewelry pieces!

Teaching at the upcoming Knit & Crochet Show gave me such a delightful excuse to buy some new clothes.  New clothes gave me such a delightful excuse to sit down with my beads and crochet necklaces to match.  Isn’t it great how that all works out?

I really do enjoy crocheting my own jewelry. Because beads come in an absolutely endless assortment of colors and textures it is so easy to make one-of-a-kind pieces to match any outfit .

I’ll be teaching “Y Wire Crochet Necklace” in Portland on Friday, Sept 12.  I already have three versions of this necklace in pink, blue, and green.  But with a new red jacket what is a gal to do but make another in red?  Crocheting with wire is much easier than many people think and the necklace works up quickly.  This one took me about 2 1/2 hours.

As soon as I get all my class handouts printed, I’ll be sitting down to crochet a different style of necklace to go with my other new jacket.  Stop by in a few days to see that necklace.  Or better yet, catch up with me sometime in Portland.  I’ll be sure to be wearing a crocheted necklace of one type or another.

Last Saturday the Always in Stitches chapter of the Crochet Guild of America and the Tigard Knitting Guild held Knit Out & Crochet 2008 at the Tigard Library.

Since this was the first, of what we hope will become an annual event, we had no idea what to expect. We were well pleased with the turnout! During the course of the day around 100 people came through to view the display tables, watch a crochet or knitting demo, work on charity afghans, or sit-down for hands-on help with learning to knit or crochet, as well as tips on improving their skills in those areas. We were delighted that many people spent several hours with us, crocheting or knitting and chatting, enjoying the camaraderie of fellow fiber folks.

In addition to providing a place for us to gather and helping to publicize the event, the Tigard Public Library generously provided refreshments and a harpist who joined us for part of the day. Here the harpist takes a break while door prize winners are announced.

In addition to those mentioned above, special thanks go to our generous sponsors who helped make this Knit-Out & Crochet 2008 a success: Coats & Clark, All About Yarn, The Crochet Guild of America, Knitting Bee, The Knitting Guild Association, StitchCraft, Yarnia PDX, Craft Yarn Council of America.

I will admit that after teaching 18 hours of classes in three days, plus factoring in a three hour time difference from my norm, and adding additional activities such as meetings, meals with friends, shopping, fashion shows, etc. I can start to get a little tired by Sunday.

But this Sunday I was ready to go. I was teaching a new class, Twice as Nice Thermal Stitch, and was anxious to see how the students liked it. I needn’t have worried. They took to it like ducks to water.

There is a little history for this class. My great aunt Wanda taught my Mom this stitch in the 1940s. In the 1970s Mom passed the stitch along to me. I have searched stitch dictionaries for the last 30 years and have not found it recorded anywhere. In my family we have always referred to it as Wanda’s stitch, but since I doubt that Wanda invented it, I renamed it for the class. She was a prolific crocheter and knitter but as far as I know she always worked from patterns or from an example somebody showed her how to do.

In class I was interested to hear from Vashti that she had stumbled across the stitch several years ago on the internet on a page that has since been removed. Just as my family referred to it as Wanda’s stitch that internet page referred to it as somebody’s stitch. My memory fails me at this point - it might have been Helen’s stitch. (I wonder if Wanda and Helen knew each other?)

Vashti was excited to see that not only am I teaching the stitch and thus keeping it alive, I have also expanded it in other directions, such as making it reversible with a different look to each side.

It is for moments like these (and they happen in every class) that I love teaching crochet. There is always more to learn, personal stories to share, and the joy of passing along stitches from the past as well as taking them in new directions that keeps crochet exciting.

I hope to teach more of you Wanda’s Stitch (also now known as the Twice as Nice Thermal Stitch) at the Fall Knit and Crochet Show.

For now I’ll leave you with this final picture from Chain Link 2008. Her T-shirt, crocheted shawl and absorption in learning something new (to her) in crochet says it all!

On Friday I taught a six-hour class, Magical Mitered Squares. This is an intermediate class for those already comfortable working with a double-ended crochet hook.

Pam and Barbara start work on their mitered squares.

As the day progresses students learn how to join the mitered squares in a variety of ways as well as how to work different types of half-squares.

The reversible nature of double hook crochet provides even more options. During the lunch break I took photos showing the two sides of the same swatch.

Saturday was Tunisian Entrelac day! In the morning students worked on a Tunisian Entrelac bowl.

This class provides many options: work with an oversize hook and wool yarn and felt the bowl or regular hook and don’t felt; learn linked stitches to increase the density of the base of the bowl; learn how to add an optional “footing” to the bowl for stability. Theodora studies another option - leave the top edge zig-zag or fill it in with half-triangles.

Unfortunately I did not get any photos of the afternoon session. In Tunisian Entrelac on the Square the student again has soooo many options. I teach different approaches to working flat entrelac pieces: from the center out, in strips starting with full blocks, in strips starting with half blocks, and a variety of ways to use half blocks and quarter blocks to create straight edges (if desired).

I will be teaching both of the Tunisian Entrelac classes at the Fall Knit and Crochet Show. The August 21 pre-registration deadline is fast approaching. Pre-registration not only assures you a spot in class it also saves you money on the ticket price!

I will be teaching Tunisian Entrelac in the Round on the East Coast in October at the Stitching Jubilee in King of Prussia, PA.

Saturday evening was the banquet and fashion show. Since I was teaching again Sunday morning I sat in the back of the room in case I needed to slip out early to insure I would be well-rested. Since that meant I wasn’t able to take photos of the event I’m going to direct you over to Crocheting with Dee for a fabulous look at a fabulous fashion show. There were several children in the fashion show this year so don’t miss the kids edition.

I apologize for having neglected my blog for so long. But you know how it is; you get wrapped up in normal life - or whatever passes for normal - and pretty soon one month has turned into half a year.

As I left home to fly cross-country to teach at the 2008 Chain Link Conference in Manchester NH I suspected the trip might result in my return to blogging.

I knew I was right when students started pouring into my first class, Crochet Illusions. When one of your students turns out to be a blue lobster named Dona you just have to blog about it! Dona is a member of the Fishnet Crocheters of New England. Here Dona is shown with chapter president Patricia Lubelcyzk. I wonder which one of them made the lovely capelet Patricia is wearing? Not to be outdone, Dona is wearing a lovely shawl of her own.

Crochet Illusions is always a fun class! Students start out a bit skeptical that the stripes they are creating actually hold a hidden heart. The excitement builds as hearts start to appear around the room.

In the afternoon a new group of students arrived eager to learn how to crochet with a double-ended hook. Students are always intrigued with this process that creates a soft, reversible fabric that looks very different on each side.

I’ll be teaching both of these classes in September at the Fall Knit & Crochet Show in Portland, OR.

I’ll also be demonstrating the double-ended crochet hook this Saturday at the Knit Out & Crochet 2008 event at the Tigard library. Co-sponsored by the Always In Stitches Chapter of CGOA, I’m sure this is going to be another fun time with learn to knit or crochet sessions, door prizes, demos and lots of knit and crochet articles to oohh and aaahh over.

I hope to see you at one of these events and please check back for more pictures from Chain Link 2008.

From the title of this entry you were expecting maybe a picture of a Mouse? As fond as I am of The Mouse (I’ve visited him and his buddies on a number of occasions) this trip to Orlando doesn’t involve him.

I’m here to teach at the Orlando Needlework Show. I flew in yesterday to give myself time to relax a bit, maybe start to adjust to the three hour time change, and find my way around the convention center.

I’m very fond of cats and have shared my home with several through the years so when I saw this bronze of two Florida Panthers in front of the Convention Center West Building I couldn’t resist taking a picture.

A number of years ago my husband and I were fortunate enough to see two cougars in the wild while on a hike in Big Bend National Park, Texas. They were a safe distance away across a ravine, but our binoculars brought them up close. When they turned their heads and focused those intense eyes on us it was an experience not to be forgotten. I was very glad that it was a deep ravine and they were on the other side!

The Needlework Show gets underway tomorrow. I’ll try to post some additional pictures this week. But I will be teaching, shopping, and visiting with friends so if I don’t find time to update my blog I’m sure you will understand. If you are in Orlando anytime Thursday through Saturday stop by the Convention Center and say Hi!

Many of you know that I enjoy mixing beads into my crochet on occasion. Actually, on quite a few occasions! That is one of the reasons I’m excited to be teaching next month at the Orlando Needlework Show. The Bead and Art Glass Fest and the Memories Scrapbooking Expo will be going on at the same place at the same time with a joint vendor market.

Just think - all that yarn and beads too in one place, just waiting for me! I can hardly wait to start shopping.

In between teaching and shopping I will save some time to view the 9/11 Bead Quilt. When I heard that the Bead Quilt would be on exhibit at the Orange County Convention Center, I visited www.BeadQuilt.org to learn more about the Quilt.

The cover of the limited edition catalog states “Beadworkers from around the globe united to express their feelings of hope and healing through art”. As I viewed parts of the slideshow online I was struck by the obvious love and devotion stitched into each square. I’m sure viewing the Quilt in person will be a powerful experience.

Crochet Illusions is such a fun class to teach! Students begin the class baffled about how that elusive secondary image is going to show up when they seem to be just crocheting stripes. It does require working a few rows before it appears.

In addition the secondary image only appears as the viewing angle changes. Students across the room often see the heart before the person creating it does.

It is so much fun to share everybody’s excitement as hearts emerge around the room.

Students wonder - Will it really be a heart?

Yes, it IS a heart!

I am working on additional Crochet Illusions, but in the meantime feel free to hop over to Maggie’s Crochet for a look at my Diagonal Illusion Crochet Vest.

Yesterday I left you with the words “while I’m busy retrieving class photos from my camera”. Although I taught six classes in Oakland at the Knit and Crochet Show, I discovered today that I only took pictures during two of them. My only defense is I get so involved in teaching and sharing my students excitement that I forget I even have a camera with me! I know my blog visitors really enjoy the photos so I’ll try to remember to take more pictures. If you are a student in one of my classes, please don’t hesitate to remind me!

Tunisian Entrelac in the Round was one of the classes I DID remember my camera.

I thoroughly enjoy this class. Students start off creating a base for their bowl from traditional crochet, then add Tunisian triangles to start the sides. At this point the project still lies flat in what I call the “starfish phase”.

Color is so important in our lives, it is always fun for me to see the colorful parade of bowls take shape.

Equally enjoyable is to see my students creativity take flight. One of the students in Oakland decided to work her bowl in Tunisian Knit Stitch. The textural change resulted in a great design element.

I can hardly wait to see the variety of bowls the students at the Orlando Needlework Show will create in November!

Stop by tomorrow for a look at Crochet Illusions.