Dear Crochet lover,
Yarn Safety for Pets and Children
Recently, my colleague, Barb Bettegnies, editor of Creative Knitting magazine, shared the following excellent advice on yarn safety for pets and kids in her Creative Knitting e-newsletter. This information is just as relevant for crocheters or any crafters who work with yarn. "It's easy to forget that children and pets don't see things from our adult perspective. An unguarded length of yarn does not have the appeal of a dark chocolate raspberry truffle (now you know my secret indulgence) to anyone I know, but to a puppy, or very young child, it can look delicious!
"Over the Thanksgiving weekend, I visited my brother and his wife near Atlanta, Ga. They are both veterinarians who practice small-animal care in their clinic. Friday morning brought a case which required emergency treatment to save the life of the cherished pet of a client. The pug and its owner had visited a yarn shop, where the curious pet had ingested a quantity of yarn.
"This was a serious situation, and the pet's owner realized it. A linear object can become lodged in an intestine, creating a sawing motion which can result in peritonitis. After an expensive surgery and some intensive post-surgery procedures, the pug might avoid eating more yarn, and the owner will no doubt be more vigilant in the future.
"In order to prevent this from happening, please make sure that your pets do not have access to your stash. You’d hate to have your darling Fifi, Fido or Cutie Kitty wind up in this situation. Not only are the pets' lives endangered, but the practice could seriously endanger your project in progress or your precious stash! A bit of precaution can prevent a disaster, so take care." Thanks to Barb for sharing this excellent cautionary advice. I'd like to add that not only can ingested yarn create a sawing motion inside the intestines, it can also create a massive blockage (depending on how much yarn was ingested), which could quickly create a very serious situation. Also, remember to put away or discard those plastic store bags that you bring your yarn home in! Small, curious pets can get their heads caught in the handles and then panic when trying to get free, possibly causing a dangerous choking situation as they struggle to dislodge the bag. Enjoy your yarn, but remember to use it safely if you have curious little critters around! Back to top
Crocheters and Knitters Give BIG for Special Olympics Scarf Project!
Coats & Clark recently reported that knitters and crocheters really came through in a big, big way for the Special Olympics scarf project. Here at Talking Crochet, I have received countless e-mails from readers proudly sharing their scarf tallies. The numbers of scarves made just by those subscribers who have written to tell me about them are very impressive indeed! Here is a recent press release from Coats & Clark about the project results, and as you can see, the number of received scarves is astounding! Back to top
SPECIAL OLYMPICS ATHLETES TO BE WRAPPED IN COATS & CLARK RED HEART® SUPER SAVER™
Over 40,000 scarves received from Knit and Crochet Enthusiasts When the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games begin in Boise, ID, February 7-13, one thing is for certain: all athletes, the delegates supporting them and visiting dignitaries will be donning Red Heart Super Saver Delft Blue and White scarves lovingly made by knit and crochet enthusiasts from around the world. The World Winter Games recently announced the receipt of over 40,000 (and counting) handmade scarves in response to an October 2008 partnership with Coats & Clark. The goal was simple: top the 2007 goal of 1,000 by reaching for 5,000 scarves. The response was, to say the least, more than spectacular. "We are so excited and more than thrilled with the outpouring of support from our generous knitters and crocheters," said Alyson Bell, senior vice president of sales and marketing of needlecrafts for Coats & Clark."It is just a true testament to the spirit of people who want to give of their hands and from their hearts. It speaks volumes!" No special pattern or skill was required. The only rule was the scarves had to be hand knitted or crocheted using the Red Heart Super Saver Delft Blue and White yarns, the official colors of the World Winter Games. Most scarves were accompanied by special handwritten notes of encouragement to the athletes. Stories of great giving are emerging from this outpouring of support, like the students in the Birmingham, Mich., school district who, over their winter break, made over 300 scarves, some knitting and crocheting for the first time ever. These kids reached out to their parents, grandparents and teachers to learn the craft, making the experience not only charitable but generational.The staff from Coats & Clark offices made more than 460 scarves while supporters at Ravelry.com, an online knit and crochet community, contributed over 1,200. The scarves have already made an appearance wrapped around Special Olympic athletes who participated in the Inauguration Parade of President Barak Obama on January 20, in Washington, D.C. Plus, the scarves may pop up on sports commentators or a talk show or two, according to the International Special Olympics team. The Red Heart Super Saver scarves will be worn for the Opening Ceremony in Boise on February 7, where special mention will be made about the love that went into each and every stitch, keeping the athletes warm and encouraging them to reach for their goals. "The warmth of these scarves will wrap the athletes in love and support. As a matter of fact, we could probably wrap all the spectators, too," quipped Bell. | Congratulations and sincerest thanks to all of our Talking Crochet readers and their families and friends who made scarves and sent them as heartfelt gifts of love to the Special Olympic athletes. I know without a doubt the athletes will surely feel that love when they proudly wear their scarves. Back to top Crocheting on Fabric
Crocheting lace onto fabric is a great way to add decorative elegance to everyday items in your home. The basic steps for creating this technique are simple and easy to do. The first thing you need to do is prepare the fabric by washing and pressing it. This pre-shrinks the fabric and avoids any warping of the finished crochet work. Next, hem any raw edges by folding them under once or twice and tacking them in place with a basting stitch. For curved edges, cut notches (see illustration) to remove fullness when folding the edge under. The more delicate the fabric, the narrower the hem should be (about 1/4 inch for medium-weight cottons, about 1/8 inch for lightweight cottons and a narrow, rolled 1/16 inch for sheers). Purchased items will usually have finished edges, eliminating this step.
To minimize the size of the hole made when working stitches into the fabric, the end of the crochet hook used should be small enough to easily go through the fabric and still catch the thread as you work. For the foundation stitches, which are usually single crochet stitches, place a slip knot onto hook, hold thread over edge of fabric, insert hook through front of fabric at base of hem (do not catch folded edge of hem), yarn over and draw a loop up to outer edge of hemmed fabric, yarn over and draw through both loops on hook. Continue working stitches, spacing them an even distance apart. One method of spacing is to calculate the number of stitches per inch needed for the desired pattern. Mark the edge of fabric with pins at one-inch intervals, and space the stitches per inch between the pins. Remove the pins when finished with the foundation stitches. When working a specific number of stitches onto the edge of square fabric, divide the total number by four and space that number across each quarter of the fabric edge. For round or oval edges, fold the fabric into quarters and place pins at each quarter point and space stitches between pins. Try these tips with your favorite lace patterns. You can create an almost endless variety of beautiful projects by adding the beauty of crochet to fabric pieces, like our lovely Violets & Forget-Me-Nots Linen Doily. With its lacy round motifs worked on small linen circles, it's a great project to practice the techniques discussed in this article (and you'll have a beautiful floral piece to dress up your home!).
Back to top Motif Magic
Our Valentine-themed Floral Heart Motif coaster in the last issue was such a hit I thought it would be fun to include a St. Patrick's Day-inspired Shamrock Motif in this issue. Stitch up this traditional design as a coaster for your favorite Irish lad or lass and include a few packets of hearty Irish tea or coffee. Stitched in thread, this motif would make a cute lapel pin. You can also use it as an appliqué on just about anything to create a variety of Irish-themed projects.
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 |  |  |  |  | Crochet lover ,
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A Passion for Fashion
If you love great-looking crochet fashions, the Crochet Insider's Passion for Fashion book from Leisure Arts will get your style juices flowing! Designer Dora Ohrenstein, creator of the Crochet Insider webzine, shares her innovative approach to working with premium crochet stitches such as clusters, shells, diamonds, wheels, waves and ripples to create 21st century, urban-inspired fashion. Included are over 20 opulent, colorful and textural patterns for sweaters, skirts, shrugs, scarves, hats and more that run the gamut from simple to complex for every crochet skill level. Stitching instructions, accompanied by design notes, diagrams, schematics and beautiful photographs will help you master each stitch and inspire you to design your own beautiful crochet fashions. The Crochet Insider's Passion for Fashion is available online at Annie's Attic. Be sure and check it out! Back to top |
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