Tag Archives: Crochet Liberation Front

May 1, 2012 · 2:28 pm

What Caption Would You Add To This Hilarious (Crochet) Picture?

This post was originally published Nov 6, 2010 on my other blog: The Difference Between A Duck. I thought maybe it deserved some attention here. Yeah, kinda makes sense.

This is a photo of Laurie Wheeler (Fearless Leader of the CLF) and I at Pinch Knitter Yarns during the Crochet Liberation Front‘s 2010 Conference/Retreat at Cama. Bill, fabulous crocheter, photographer and husband of free-form crochet designer Bonnie Pierce, was snapping photos of everyone. And this shot was in the mix!

“Good Lord,” I said when I first saw it on Facebook. “What happened to my face!”

I know what it is. That’s the look I get on my face when I’m concentrating. And thinking back, I’m guessing I was focusing in on her words since I’ve trouble hearing in groups. But anyway, since then Laurie, Bonnie and I have supposed on what caption could be put with this photo – related to crochet, yarn, the CLF and our retreat.

"My yarn is not going to be there when I wake up, will it..."

My favorites so far are:
“You’re going to steal my yarn while I’m sleeping, aren’t you…..” and
“Seriously? Since when is there a limit of only five? I’m not giving one up!”
“I’m not hiding anything….”

Maybe: “This is not the yarn you’re looking for….?”

Bonnie added: “Yea…. I DO have enough money to pay for my cabin! You can’t make me put them back!!”

I love it! What captions would you come up with? 😀

9 Comments

Filed under crochet, Crochet Community, Humor

Tagged as CLF, crochet, Crochet Liberation Front, Humor, yarn

October 18, 2011 · 11:23 am

Crochet At Cama 2011 – Our First Day!

As you know, everyone arrived at Cama Beach State Park for the Crochet Retreat on Sunday for check in. We gathered, celebrated and rested. Then Monday morning is when we all came together, shed free of the traveling wearies and serious fun began! Here are some photos from the day.

Shibaguyz’ cardigan class was awesome! If you ever get a chance to take one of their classes, do it!

View of the cabins from the new hall above where we had the cardigan class.

Another view from the balcony of the new building over the water.

At the yarn store in Stanwood “Pinch Knitters.” VERY crochet friendly!

Look it’s Deb (CerDeb)!

Monica and her beautiful coat

Karen sporting her crochet hook cane, talking with Martha

Carol’s grabbing some yummy punch.

Barbara and Wendy

Fearless Leader’s put to work winding off yarn!

Can you tell these ladies love yarn?

My birthday presents. I’m turning 40 on Friday, so yes I am buying this for meeeeee….!

This is such lovely alpaca. Will become my Shibaguyz cardigan. I decided I like it way better than the alpaca I originally picked up for it.

During the evening program, it's time for some drawings!

Time for the evening program and drawing for prizes!

Jimbo and I spoke about hook anatomy, design and engineering. Don, Dennis, Jimbo and I worked on these variations to be used during the Tuesday afternoon breakout session on the same subject. We’re going to have everyone “taste” test them and write down what they like and don’t like, along with how they hold and use their hooks! Should be a really interesting experiment!

Jimbo and Janet are talking about hook designs that work for her.

Program’s over, but we’re all still talking and crocheting.

Laurie and Monica.

Laurie and Larinda.

A few of us gathered over at Jimbo’s cabin for food and drink to wind up the evening. Hey! Jimbo had 4 hookers in his cabin!

5 Comments

Filed under Artist Information & Notes, crochet, Crochet Community, Crochet News

Tagged as CLF, crochet, Crochet Liberation Front, crochet retreat

August 10, 2011 · 8:18 am

Crochet At Cama 2010 Memories

4 Comments

Filed under Community, crochet, Crochet Community, Crochet Education, Events

Tagged as cama beach, crochet, Crochet Liberation Front, retreat

November 1, 2009 · 8:59 am

What Yarns Are Best for Crochet…?

This was a question asked on one of the crochet forums I’m on. Thought I’d share my response here. Feel free to add your input in the comments to help others!

I would say that what yarn you use depends on project and attitude actually. I know everyone has an opinion and there are various camps of thought. But my take is more of a unifier of worlds. I’m a true Libran – I dislike division.

You can crochet with anything. Seriously. And I’ve done it. I’ve mixed all sorts of fibers (some things not even considered “fiber”) and broken most taboos out there. And what I haven’t broken yet, I will endeavor to before I die. You can’t focus on being able to see. This is the eternal quip between my grandmothers and I. “But grandma, if you really know how to crochet, you don’t have to see your stitches, right?” It’s our private little laugh between us. But it’s true. I’ve used lots of stuff people didn’t think you could crochet with. But I also find that people get in a rut with fibers because they only use one type of hook or tool. Hooks can make an incredible difference in the variety of things you can create. Certain ones are better for certain things.

Only once have I come across a fiber that I felt was the spawn of satan and that I refused to try again and actually threw it away. Something called whirly-gig. And the monstrosity was difficult to use because it falls apart. Shouldn’t have been called yarn! In my experience, as long as it doesn’t fall apart, it can be crocheted!

I find most yarns do not meet people’s expectations because they approach it either with preconceived notions or one hook fits all approach. And that’s OK. Specialization is important too. Let the fibers speak to you and you’ll figure out how they best like to be used. It’s like anything in life, you learn how it works. All fibers have a personality of sorts and a way they “prefer” to be handled. All you do is just figure that out.

I say take the fear and hesitation out of it and just let go. Get some paint and splash it on that canvas and see what you get.

1 Comment

Filed under Crochet News, Editorial

Tagged as aberrant crochet, aberrantcrochet, crochet, Crochet Liberation Front, pixie worx, pixieworx, Ravelry, techniques, yarn, yarns

October 29, 2009 · 10:37 pm

Crochet Movie Titles Fun….

We had a fun thread awhile back at The Crochet Liberation Front group on www.Ravelry.com (a crochet and knit community) about possible Crochet Movie Titles.

These are the ones I came up with – reposted here for your enjoyment! Feel free to participate and add yourself to the fun in the comments!

How to Lose a Hook in 10 Minutes

Last of the Mohair

Triple X-Stitch

Hot Yarn and Cold Feet

The Accidental Crocheter

What About Bullion?

Bullion 5 (Babylon 5)

Backstitch (Backdraft)

Balls of Furry

Attack of the Zombie Fiber Hookers (John suggested that one!)

101 Things to Do with a Naughty Skein (another John contribution!)

The Cable-Stitch Guy

Cast Away the Sticks!

Chasing Stitches

Chronicles of Intarsia (a technique in crochet)

Cirque du Filet

Clash of the Tritons (a shell stitch)

Code Name: Decrease

Cluster Theory

Cables Under Fire

The Craft (Hey I like it!)

The Hidden Lives of the CLF

Crazy Shell Dundee

Weaving in Ends

Cross Trebles Make Hidden Dragon

Saving Popcorn Stitch

Scary Mohair

The Stash

Star Stitch Troopers

Herringbone and the Half-Close Stitch

The Stitch-hiker’s Guide to the Marquerite (a star stitch)

House of Flying Picots

The Coffee Stain (I know I’m not the only one who has spilled coffee on a project!)

Tapestry C and the Hook of Destiny

That Darn Cat (need I say more?)

Triton A.E.

Basic Crochet 2: Risk Addiction

The Back Loop Killers

Ruffling Evil

OK I had some fun with this…..! What about you? Add to the creative #crochet fun in the comments below!

3 Comments

Filed under Crochet News, Humor

Tagged as aberrant crochet, aberrantcrochet, bikermom, CLF, crafty, crochet, Crochet Liberation Front, fun, funny, Humor, movie, pixie worx, pixieworx, Ravelry, titles

October 28, 2009 · 10:43 pm

Halloween 20% off SALE! Time to Move On to Gifts!

As you guys already know: It’s Hubby’s and My Birthday Week! In celebration, enjoy 20% off discount on Halloween items! Go check it out! But hurry – this sale will end soon! I don’t do clearance! www.PixieWorx.etsy.com

OK – that’s it now! Custom Halloween orders are cut off and no more Halloween items will be created for 2009. If I get a chance, I will list the last of the Halloween items left in my Etsy store. Or, you can always give me a call!

For next year, I have some great ideas in mind, including a special spider web design to be hung around a ceiling fan! It’ll be great! And I’ll be spending many months planning it out. Due to the intricacies and time involved, I expect that only a few will be made. But I think it will be so much fun to work on!

Now it is time for me to dedicate my full attention to my truest crochet love – designing hats and the stuff people like to go with them! Don’t worry – there will still be some jewelry! Watch my store and blogs for updates!

Halloween Showcase….

UPDATE: You can now buy my variable width (up to 6 foot) spider web crochet pattern for costume or decor right here!

Halloween Spider Web – A Variable Pattern from Aberrant Crochet

$4.25 (includes license to sell finished product)
.

33 inch 25 radial Spider Web No. 3

Spider Web No. 2 – 64 Inch Diameter – you see it worn here as a costume cape

Spider Web No. 2 – 64 Inch Diameter

Christmas Spider Web

Tourquois Gothic Crochet Necklace

You may sell finished products created from my pattern as long as they are not mass produced and are hand-made by you individually. Any items for sale must state in the item description that they are based on my pattern and include a link to my website. Any items you sell based on my patterns must also feature your own photographs. You may not use my images to help sell your finished items. If you have a charity project in mind which would require multiple volunteers, please contact me.

Purchase of this pattern grants you permission to make and sell items created from it, but not to republish, share or resell the pattern itself. A lot of time, cost and technical expertise go into my designs, as well as over 35 years of intensive study and application. Tech editors, etc.. So my patterns may NOT be reproduced or distributed — mechanically, electronically, or by any other means, including photocopying, without written permission. Please do not hurt my ability to feed my family and pay for medical bills. Thanks!

Other licensing inquiries: worx@pixieworx.net

Getting the Most Out of Your Fiber Blends – The “Half-Stitch” Technique…

This is an article I wrote over a year ago for potential use on Ravelry or for The Crochet Liberation Front First Ever Book. Thought I’d reprint it here for your reference.

Getting the Most Out of Your Fiber Blends
The “Half-Stitch” Technique

by Julia Meek Chambers – Aberrant Crochet ™

Fiber blending in crochet is when we use more than one color and/or fiber in a project at the same time. Many people have crocheted with at least two fibers at a time to increase the gage of the stitch or add variety to the colors and shading in a product. It is a great way to add extra dimension to any look.

Sometimes, in our work, we assemble the perfect combination of colors and textures for a project, only to discover that there’s not enough of one of the fibers to complete it as envisioned. Whether the lack of yardage is due to budget constraints or because the fiber itself is simply discontinued or otherwise unattainable, this limitation does not have to mean a disappointing dead-end to an otherwise fantastic fiber combination.

Why not try using the determinate fiber for partial stitches only? I call this the “Half-Stitch Technique.” This technique is accomplished by using the fiber in question for only some loops of a given stitch, but not others in the same stitch.

For instance, a single crochet stitch is accomplished in two steps. If you don’t have enough of a fiber to complete an entire project or section of single crochet, then with the Half-Stitch technique, you would instead use the fiber in only one half of each stitch and then drop it for the second half of each stitch. Though more understated than being used in a full stitch, this allows the color and texture of your limited fiber to still be present in the project.

Remember, there really are no rules in crochet other than the use of a hook, so give it a whirl and see what this technique can do for you!

The Book My Crochet Design Was Published In….!

Since some have asked, here’s a link to the Crochet Liberation Front’s First Ever Book now on sale that my “Flaming Crochet Hook” tapestry crochet design was published in:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1440408122/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thedifbetaduc-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1440408122

My tapestry design is even featured in the “Look Inside This Book” links! Yay! Very cool!

Fair warning though, this is an advanced crochet book. If you are into crochet, this is not a book for beginners and it’s that way by design. Though some patterns require less skill than others, none of these patterns are basic by any means. This book is a crochet book designed to push the bar. A book for avid crocheters, by avid crocheters and mostly targeted towards those who want so much more out of a book of crochet patterns. You will be exposed to all sorts of techniques in here that if you do not already know, you will be expected to learn them first elsewhere before you can really implement them in these patterns.

I am honored and proud to be featured in this book and to rub shoulders with so many talented designers and artists from around the world!

xoxo!
Jules