Crochet Guild of America

Yay! I finally joined the Crochet Guild of America. I have no idea why it took me so long; I've been crocheting for years. The price is very reasonable, and I get 6 issues of Crochet! magazine every year.
I also decided to enroll in the CGOA Masters Program. The program involves following a workbook to create 48 judge-worthy swatches. All the swatches are assembled into a portfolio and mailed back to the Masters Committee. The portfolio is judged, and - hopefully - I graduate from the program.
While I was on the CGOA website, I browsed through the pages for the Knit and Crochet Show. Oh, how I wish I could go to the Fall show in Greensboro, NC!! Well, it's not in the cards this year, but maybe next year I can go to one of the shows (as long as I have a travel buddy to split the hotel cost with me!).
In other news, I started another top (no, I haven't finished the other one). I'm doing the Zipline Shell from the Summer 2011 issue of Interweave Crochet. I bought the Cascade Ultra Pima from Park Avenue Yarns, as well a wonderful new Laurel Hill crochet hook. I really did want to buy a Brittany hook, since they are made in the USA, but they are too long and thin, with no thumb rest. I crochet tightly, more so with slippery cottons like the Ultra Pima, so I knew I'd break them pretty easily. The Laurel Hill hook really is a dream to work with, though. I'm glad I bought it!
I'll get pics up when I can; Big Boy played around with the camera and ran my batteries down, lol.

A Blanket and a Tank Top

That's what I'm working on. At least, that's the two WIPs I'm claiming at the moment. We don't need to talk about all those others... And - bonus! - I found my camera, so I have pics.
The tank top is the Sampler Stitch Tank from the Summer 2010 issue of Love of Knitting. This is the bottom band of the back. I briefly considered changing the pattern to work in the round, but I figured the cotton could use some seams to keep things looking pretty.

 This is the first stitch pattern, some tiny cables on a reverse stockinette background.

 The second stitch pattern is stockinette with stripes made from k1,p1 rows.

 I picked up a Leisure Arts pamphlet from a garage sale called 60 Easy-To-Knit Pattern Stitches to Create Sampler Afghans. One of my favorite yarns is Spud & Chloe Sweater. It's a wonderful cotton/superwash wool blend, and my LYS, Park Avenue Yarns, has a great selection. This is my favorite color, Popsicle.

 This first square is a pattern called Eyelet Butterflies. The square hasn't been blocked yet, so excuse the wrinkled appearance.

I'm also working on some squares for KASCare. My LYS is working to get two blankets worth (70 squares) by the end of summer. And then there's my banana silk shrug. Hopefull I'll get those finished up and get some pics soon.

Interweave Crochet Summer 2011

I've been on a knitting kick lately. I've been unable to jumpstart my crochet mojo. Until Monday, when I got

in the mail. This is everything summer crochet should be. Light, airy, fun, and, most of all, wearable. I'm always thrilled when I see a crocheted summer top that doesn't require wearing an undershirt of some sort; I'm too hot-natured for that sort of thing.
The issue focuses on thread work, and has some wonderful articles about doilies and Ukrainian thread work by Dora Ohrenstein. Best of all, I don't think a single garment in the magazine was made with yarn heavier than sport or dk weight. This is an important consideration, especially when thinking about crocheted summer garments. A lighter yarn allows a solid fabric that won't give you heat stroke in a Texas summer.
Of course, as much as I like a lot of the projects, realistically I won't get to make them all. There are three, though, that I hope I have the time to make before I get sidetracked by some other shiny new thing. That may mean I have to stop pattern searching on Ravelry...

The first one, and the one I'm definitely making, is the Zipline Shell, designed by Linda Permann.

I'm sure Cotton Classic Lite from Tahki Yarns is wonderful, but I'll be making this in Cascade's Ultra Pima. Everyone who was at Sit 'n Stitch at Park Avenue Yarns yesterday got to take part in helping me decide what color to choose. My first step was to pick out colors that I like for summer, that also work with my skin tone. That left me three or four choices. At first I threw out the two darker colors. You see, this top has vertical rows of eyelets running the length of the top. With a light color, those eyelets don't stand out as much, and the top could comfortably be worn without a tank or cami underneath. I'm a very light-complected woman, so those eyelets will really stand out in a darker color. I'll have to wear something underneath. That decision left me with two colors: a pale green and a pale pink. I walked around the yarn shop with these two hanks on my shoulders, gathering opinions from everyone. Green was the consensus.
I went back to the shelf to get more, but the bright blue that I had previously dismissed kept calling to me. After deciding that I could live with wearing an under layer if necessary, another trot around the yarn shop was necessary. Blue it is!
I'll be picking up the yarn in the next week or so.

Next up is the Grove Park Tank by Robyn Chachula:

At first I was not attracted to this design. I really like the lines of it, but not that contrast yoke. However, if I were to make the yoke in, say, the darkest purple of the variegated body, then it becomes something I would definitely wear. I might modify it slightly to be a more natural v-neck, rather than the tall slit yoke. I'm not sure how flattering the neckline as-is will be to "the girls." I have no idea what yarn I will use. The designer used Manos del Uruguay Serena. I'll first try to find something from my LYS, of course.

Third on my I-really-want-that list is the Pinecone Top by Anastasia Cruz:

This one may come before the Grove Park Tank. It's made of Aunt Lydia's Size 10 Bamboo Crochet Thread. I enjoy thread crochet, but I've never used the bamboo thread, so I'm definitely looking forward to this. Color will either be pale green or pink. I'd prefer the blue, but since the Zipline Shell will be blue, I'll go for a different color. Of course, another option would be the brown, which could be nice. Hmmm, I'll have to think on that...

There are several other patterns I really like in the magazine, and I definitely recommend picking up this issue if you don't have a subscription.