Interweave Crochet

Dear Reader, This is a bittersweet letter to write. After 15 years of publication, this is the final issue of Interweave Crochet. I started my career in book publishing and consider myself a print person, through and through. There are no e-readers in my home—I like the feel of paper beneath my fingers, the physical act of closing a bookmark between pages, the smell of ink, all those engaging things that make books and magazines unique. Interweave Crochet, in all its printed glory, will be missed by many, including me. So many smart, talented people have contributed to these pages over the years. I want to take a moment to acknowledge the previous editors who, in the words of Marcy Smith, “conducted the symphony” and shared with us a true passion for…

I have always liked using the phrase “an idea whose time has not yet come again” to describe something that is of perfectly sound design and appeal, but for no particular reason, does not find favor among the masses. While that idea (crochet, two years ago, for example) always has somewhat of a following, those followers, albeit enthusiastic, cannot convince the populace of its merits. Then, seemingly overnight, the idea blossoms all over again. It’s difficult, if not impossible, to pinpoint just where and when this tipping point occurs. There is no doubt that crochet has once again blossomed. Not since the late 1960s and early 1970s, when crochet was rediscovered as both a medium for art and fashion, have we seen such a strong and exciting presence. Fashion magazines are…

Crochet Colorwork Made Easy Claire Goodale, Page Street Publishing Co. You’re unlikely to find a more comprehensive look at crochet colorwork than this new book. Designer Claire Goodale walks crafters through the basics of colorwork—joining new colors, reading charts, and more—before diving into three different kinds of colorwork. She covers tapestry, intarsia, and Fair Isle crochet, reviewing each technique separately and providing beautiful projects to help readers practice. The patterns run the gamut of accessories, home décor, and garments, and each one is accompanied by beautiful photography and thorough instructions. This gorgeous book will be hitting shelves in late September. Paperback, 168 pages, $21.99, ISBN 9781645673767 How To Crochet Animals: Pets Kerry Lord, Lark Crafts Part of a new series of gift books from Kerry Lord’s company TOFT, this one is a joyous crochet celebration of…

The granny square has been popular for a long time, and as an avid crochet historian, I wondered just how far back this basic block could be traced. The Woman’s Day Book of Granny Squares and Other Carry-Along Crochet (Fawcett, 1975), a collection of granny-based designs, notes that grannies have been around for “as long as anyone can remember.” The book’s introduction states, “Making colorful afghans by joining small squares is one of the most traditional and American forms of crochet.” This style of crochet was so strongly identified with the United States, the book’s editors say, that in Europe it was called American crochet. They attribute the popularity of grannies to their portability and simplicity, and to the fact that they’re excellent vehicles for using up scraps of yarn and for…

LEAF PEEPING TEE Tracy St. John Immerse yourself in the colors of fall with the Leaf Peeping Tee. Featuring a boxy, relaxed shape, this stylish tee is very simple to construct: Two identical rectangles are seamed together at the sides and shoulders, then ribbing is added to the hem and armhole openings. Three-color linen stitch—a deceptively easy pattern to work—gives the garment texture while allowing you to play with color. YARN Omega Trigo, distributed by Creative Yarn Source. PAGE 28 MORASS SHAWL Natasha Robarge Cascading leaves of varying sizes decorate the Morass Shawl from the center out. The crescent-shaped shawl combines gradual and traditional pi-shawl increases with simple stitches and repeated rows. YARN Malabrigo Yarn Sock. PAGE 30 SALIX SHAWL Hailey Hodge In a small town in Calabria, Italy, people make macaroni by hand using willow branches to…

DIFFICULTY FINISHED SIZE 40½ (46½, 52, 58, 64, 70)" circumference at underarm. Sample shown measures 40½", modeled with 6½ " positive ease. YARN Omega Trigo (100% mercerized cotton; 295 yd [270 m]/3½ oz [100 g]; ): #221 Beige (MC), 2 (2, 3, 3, 4, 4) balls; #227 Coffee (CC1) and #253 Mauve (CC2), 1 (2, 2, 2, 2, 3) ball(s) each. Yarn distributed by Creative Yarn Source. HOOK Size E/4 (3.5 mm) and size G/6 (4 mm). Adjust hook size if necessary to obtain correct gauge. NOTIONS Removable stitch markers (m); yarn needle. GAUGE 22 sts and 21 rows = 4" in linen st patt, using larger hook. NOTES — See the Glossary on page 70 for terms you don’t know. Visit our master glossary at www.interweave.com/go/IWCglossary. — This tee is constructed from two identical body panels to which…