Hi There!

Hello crocheters!
I've been away from my blog for some time now. When  I wasn't putting crochet magazines in front of knit magazines or dodging my mound of UFO's (still haven't finished that "Grouchy Ladybug"), I was writing. No, I did not finish the book of patterns I abandoned my blog for but I have been busy. Here's a list of my accomplishments:

• My blog can be found on aboutcrochet.com! (Amy Solovay found it, "lively and entertaining"!)
• I write SEO content through odesk.com
• I'm self-publishing my book of cute crochet stories (Dani Does Doilies!)
• My original pattern book is out NOW

Look, here it is!

Okay, so it isn't a fancy entrelac,crocodile stitch head-scratcher,  but it is a culmination of all of the things I've been doing for the past year. Instead of busting my butt on a book of patterns for a minimal  amount of money, I decided to publish my own book of patterns and pocket all of the proceeds. It's still in the development stage as I try to figure out formatting the book for Kindle. An opportunity presented itself while I worked on my books. F&W Media had a call for patterns and I chose one of the patterns for consideration. It was selected for publication! I was really amazed at how easy it was. It taught me that time and chance really does happens to everyone.

 I had been envious of crocheters who have only been crocheting for several months, in some cases, and had their patterns featured online, in books and in magazines. Being ready with material showed me that I, too could be featured online, in books and in magazines. It's very exciting and I can't wait to see it in print. 

In the meantime I will be spreading crochet in my SEO  and content writing all over the web. If I abandon my blog (again) know that it is for the greater good! I'm saying it with crochet! (or finally finishing  the "Grouchy Ladybug"!)

Switching Teams ;)

Yesterday I went on a recognizance mission with my daughter. We were scoping out the newest and BIGGEST bookstore in Monroe County, Pa. Bargain Book Warehouse opened recently filling a huge void because there are no bookstores in this area. As a crochet fan I hoped to find a huge cache of crochet books.

Perusing the miles of aisles (the spot used to be a grocery store!) I was overwhelmed with the amount of books I saw. I found quilting books and crafing books. I saw books on scrap booking and books on sewing. I found beading books and too many knitting books to count. I found only four lonely crochet books (Huggable Crochet, 150 Crochet Trims, Happy Crochet and Loop-d-Loop Crochet) amongst all of the hundreds of fun knit books. That totally unraveled my yarn!

The uneven ratio made me for a moment want switch teams. I wanted to go from hard core crocheter to happy-go-lucky knitter. Knitters have so many fun and quirky titles. (Knitting for Peace, Pretty Knits and Naughty Needles!) I wanted fun and quirky too. I wasn't too disheartened though. When I look into the crochet world I see that that idea of toggling between knit and crochet is not new.

Nicky Epstein, whom I only knew from her beautiful book Crocheted Flowers is actually a prolific knitter and more known for that than for her crochet.

Mary Beth Temple, who inspired me to write my own book of crochet stories has focused on many other crafts than crochet . Her latest book is Curvy Girl Crochet, but The Secret Language of Knitter is considered, “…the project of her heart.”

The ubiquitous Debbie “Stitch and Bitch” Stoller has famously taken up both hook and needle in very successful books on the fiber arts. I have to admit that there is appeal and beauty in both.

Because it is more popular, crocheters are often urged to “to come to the dark side" and knit! Teva Durham in Loop-d-Loop Crochet was the only one I saw that invited "knitters taking up the hook" to try one of her twenty five crochet designs.

So there is hope! I intend on remaining a crochet purist, and I can do so by helping fill the market with fun and quirky crochet pattern books, just like they have in the knit world. So, get ready for Naughty Hooks, the crocheted version of Nikol Lohr's Naughty Needles!

101 Crochet Books

Since I will likely NOT finish The Grouchy Ladybug, I have decided to send myself to a veritable boot camp.
It is not punishment but more of a test of my endurance and patience.
I have at least 101 crochet book (Yes, I am copying off of 101 Cookbooks from the Healthy Recipe Journal!)
I promise to attempt to try and complete one project in each of my many crochet books, patterns and leaflets. Maybe knowing that I have accountability, if not the puss eyes of Baby #4

then to the 80 whole people who have visited this site within three day (AND HAVE NOT LEFT ANY COMMENTS!)
Tonight I will dig through my books and see what pattern I can use to begin my crochet challenge. If you happen to have completed the same pattern, please leave an email, or send me a picture.