Amazing Crochet Book Review.....

I woke up this morning to find an email from Sara Duggan

AKA

momwithahook

saying that she'd bought my book

This is the US Version

UK Version is also available on Amazon.co.uk

I must admit that I was very tearful and emotional when I read what she wrote:

She teaches you in a manner similar to those she teaches in her home studio. She invites you in with her welcoming personality and takes you by the hand (hook and yarn) and gently shows you how to decipher a pattern.

but there's a whole lot more to share with you.

Just click HERE to read all that she has to say in this "glowing" review!

My thanks  to Sara Duggan 

Days 241 & 242 Working Hard, Crocheting Hard - Great Results!

I know, I know, I didn't blog yesterday - naughty me!

I was so busy getting orders crocheted, magazine submissions perfected & non crochet life sorted that I just ran out of time!

On top of that I am making sure my Crochet Workshops run like clockwork next week.

Get Hooked on Crochet - Classes for Beginners 

As you can see I have a few spaces left due to cancellations, so why not book your place?

If you can't get to me here in Dorset, then why not try my eLearning Course?

And guess what the postman delivered today!

Yes! Inside Crochet Magazine Issue 45

& 

In it you will find my Pom Hat!!

(images are courtesy and with thanks to (c) Tailor Made Publishing & Inside Crochet Magazine)

Not only that, but they also did a special on Granny Squares & I have my Granny Shapes Bunting featured too!

Another Square is made (for yesterday) with yarn from The Netherlands thanks to Renee Kies

And here's the ad that came out in the local Blackmore Vale Magazine today - the phones already started to ring & Booking Forms for October Classes are being emailed out this evening.

Finally, here's the square for today

I know, it's looking a little chunky

As it's made with chunky - I just couldn't resist the colours 

Have a GREAT weekend

Crochet LOTS 

Day 240 - Brains - Over Sized Jumper & more!

Brains!

Can you tell the "real" brain from the Crochet one?  

It looks good next to a "real" one doesn't it!!

And now for more WIP news

I cracked on with my Over Sized Jumper today

And here's a sneak peak at the finished piece

I particularly like the neck

And I love the fact that I have "exposed" the seams

It does look FAB on but I won't show you the complete item just yet as I am hoping someone is going to snap the pattern up.  Fingers Crossed.

Now for my Twitter Blanket

It's day 240

Which means I have 15 rows by 16 rows complete

Even though it's not finished 

And doesn't have a border yet I think it looks GREAT!

Today's square was possible with thanks once again to Renee Kies who sent me this yarn all the way from the Netherlands - I met her on Twitter, so she joins a few other kind souls from Twitter, that have sent me yarn or wool - hence the name TWITTER BLANKET

Days 238 & 239 Lots of Post & organisation!

Well today was a great day for getting post!

First of all a BIG Crochet THANK YOU TO Renee Kies who sent me this lovely package of DK yarn, an owl clip & 2 wonderful flavour teabags + a lovely card all the way from the Netherlands

If you'd like to follow her on Twitter she's @Blond_Renee

Isn't that lovely of her to reply to my appeal for more DK for my Twitter Blanket & the even nicer thing is that this yarn would not be available easily if at all in the UK so these 4 colours will be extra special.

Today I bought these 2 massive 200g balls of yarn by James C Brett.  The are in the "Marble" range & I love the Autumnal colours of them both.

I am going to make lots of Chunky Beanie Hats with thick ribbing edging with them for the Christmas Fayre I have signed up for on the 5th Dec in The Exchange in Sturminster Newton.

Now back to Renee & her lovely Netherland Yarns

Here they both are - the top one is a flecked Purple, whilst the bottom one is a glitter Fuchsia & I love them both.

The other thing that I got in the post today was.....

I was in desperate need of another one to display my "makes" on in Crochet Class & when I go to venues to teach or to sell.

If you have one knocking around doing nothing then please send it to me as I will give it a very good home!!

And on top of all this I spent the morning preparing for the Class Workshops that start next week!

There was a lot of printing involved, stapling sheets together & getting things organised!

If you'd like to come along then visit my website

http://www.gethookedoncrochet.co.uk/classes-workshops/

for full information including dates & times!

Weekend Days 236 & 237 - Sock Blockers Home Made for FREEEEEE!!

I have updated my ETSY shop & added some fantastic new items to my ETSY Shop Shelfs

There is nothing I like better than "Grabbing a Bargain" or "Saving Money" especially when you see something for sale at an astronomical price, something that you REALLLLLLLY do need - a crafting essential that is a must have!

So in this case it's a Sock Blocker.

I went on EbaY

I went on Amazon

I was shocked by the £20 + price tag so I carried on surfing the www

I found one or two tutorials on how to make these sock blockers, but to me there was one essential thing missing - size

There were several comments left by other people regarding sizing but this was never addressed, so I needed to solve this one for myself.

I then had a light bulb moment!

Simples!

I got the following items together before I started on my new & latest invention

1. Old place mat from IKEA or similar - you could also use stiff cardboard or an old vinyl tile

2. Strong robust scissors

3. A marker pen

4. A pair of socks

Yes it was as simple as that - I got a pair of my non crocheted socks, as I didn't want marker on them (UK size 4) and put them on the place mat.

I then drew around that sock with a marker pen adding a little "hanger" shape to the top

I then cut that out & using that very shape as a template I drew around it

To make the 2nd Sock Blocker exactly the same size

I love the "hanger" bit that I added to the top as this means that it's easy to pop this on the line or hang where you have available drying hooks e.g. airing cupboard

I gave it a little wash to get the marker pen off

And TA DAH

A free pair of sock blockers!

So now, if I make a larger size e.g. Size 7 for my husband, then I will just get a pair of his socks & do the same!

 Saturday was a productive day as I spent time working on my WIP Jumper which I hope to finish today

This leaves me with a few odds & ends of Rowan Pure wool DK

So this is Saturdays & Sundays Squares

 I then wrote out my "To Do" list so that I wouldn't forget anything!!

And so far so good!

Back Blogging tomorrow & thanks for reading

Day 235 - Class News Friday!

This morning's lesson was a lot of fun as the buttons came out!

PD is making bunting & bought some ribbon to thread her bunting through, so out cam the button jars, yes there is more than one, and we picked through all the colours available to add to the bunting .....

....we then got chatting about my Jumper & I was explaining that it was an oversized one, so being a good sport she tried it on for me!  Doesn't it look FAB?

And finally - looking for the next Crochet Project for PD to work on, we looked no further than my book, and got down to making a pair of Chunky Warming Socks!

If you would like this pattern to try, then it's available here

UK Version

or here

US Version

This afternoons' lesson with KPK was just as much Crochet Fun!

She's finished her Chunky Cowl with a mobius twist

Although she followed the pattern from the book Crochet Workshop by Erika Knight, I suggested a "join as you go" finish instead of joining with a seam & KPK wanted to edge it with a complimentary colour, so that is exactly what she did!!

See you don't have to follow a pattern to the letter!

We then went on to play with Hoopla Yarn & a 10mm hook which was so different to working with the norm of DK & a 4mm hook

And to finish off this busy day I have made this Fuchsia Square for Day 235 

Day 234 Crochet Brains & US Crochet Book Praise!

How wonderful to be able to start this blog post off with this comment to share with you 

Thanks Ali. I do mean it when I think your book is a resource. Your unique way of teaching via the Red, Amber, and Green light technique helps even someone like me who has been crocheting since '09.

This is from Sara Duggan aka Momwithahook who's very well known in the Crochet World in the US

Wow!

And now for my brain!

Well it's not MY brain - it's a brain I was commissioned to crochet for a Psychology teacher!

I love the way it's turned out!

It's stuffed with toy stuffing & is squishy too.  I did look on the internet to see if I could find a pattern but all I could see were "Brain Hats" and "Brain Slugs"  What's a Brain Slug??  So I came up with the pattern myself & it will be on Etsy & Ravelry soon.

Here's the pattern link https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/160380764/crochet-pattern-for-a-replica-brain

and if you want me to make you one https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/160391625/crochet-replica-brain

So that has left me with a little "me crochet time" today & I went straight for my jumper!

First I sewed in all the ends from the last session

Now you see them,

now you don't!

I have actually finished the sleeves & I am now working on the body again which makes a difference of 120 stitches per row! Phew.

To finish off this very fruitful day......

Day 233 - Shame on Garn Studio - Copyright!

This is just awful

Have a read of this open letter from Wink to GarnStudio

http://winkieflash.nl/2013/08/21/an-open-letter-to-garnstudio/?utm_campaign=twitter&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitter

I for one will be avoiding this lot from now on in every shape and form & I can only hope that a fellow designer will get the respect that she deserves.

Here's a very well & informatively written post on Copyright

by Joanne Scrace

http://notsogranny.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/tidkt-copyright.html?showComment=1377110863577#c4925113380838322347

As you know I finished the Glasses Chains yesterday, so I have started on my commission to crochet a BRAIN!!  I didn't like my first attempt so after a few hours I scrapped it and started from scratch.  Mark 2 is so perfect & I can't wait to share it with you.

And Square 233 is also looking good!!

Day 232 - Hello US of A - Crochet For Beginners who want to Improve is now YOURS to buy!

First on today's blog is some late news in from yesterday

I got 4 orders for my Glasses Chains via my ETSY Store

So today I got busy

Threading multi colour beads

And making the 4 chains

To my customers specifications

I love the colours

And I have even found matching organza bags to present them in 

Don't they look FAB?

So pretty!

If you would like to order one too then please visit my ETSY store here

Now for the BIG NEWS

It happened sooner than I expected!

My book is now available in the US

http://www.amazon.com/Crochet-Beginners-who-want-Improve/dp/1492145122/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377026559&sr=8-1&keywords=Crochet+for+beginners+who+want+to+Improve

This is the US link on Amazon.com

It's also available on Kindle too

http://www.amazon.com/Crochet-Beginners-want-Improve-ebook/dp/B00ENYAZJK/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1377028002&sr=1-1&keywords=crochet+ali+campbell

And if you are an American living in the UK it's available on Amazon.co.uk too!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crochet-Beginners-who-want-Improve/dp/1492145122/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1377028095&sr=8-2&keywords=crochet+for+beginners+who+want+to+improve

Book 

& 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crochet-Beginners-want-Improve-ebook/dp/B00ENYAZJK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1377028095&sr=8-3&keywords=crochet+for+beginners+who+want+to+improve

Kindle

Here are the reviews on my UK book so far

ALL 5 STARs

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful 5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, 4 Aug 2013 By  Penny - See all my reviews This review is from: Crochet for Beginners who want to Improve: Continue to Learn to Crochet using UK Crochet Terminology (Paperback) A great and useful book that has been written for beginners. It has helped me to understand patterns and the diagrams are clear too. I would recommend anyone beginning with their crochet to purchase this book and feel sure they will refer to it time and time again. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Report abuse | Permalink Comment Comment 1 of 1 people found the following review helpful 5.0 out of 5 stars Ideal for crochet holics, 3 Aug 2013 By  pauline Annison - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What is this?) This review is from: Crochet for Beginners who want to Improve: Continue to Learn to Crochet using UK Crochet Terminology (Paperback) I have recomeneded the book to everyone in the Crochet class,which I attend. Once the hot weather stops they will get some wool and make things. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Report abuse | Permalink Comment Comment 1 of 1 people found the following review helpful 5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book for crochet novices, 13 July 2013 By  Nursey (UK) - See all my reviews This review is from: Crochet for Beginners who want to Improve: Continue to Learn to Crochet using UK Crochet Terminology (Paperback) I learnt to crochet in February and after 5 months was still doing granny squares and simple stuff as the patterns I saw were 'beyond' me. This book is helping bridge my gap in skills and giving me the confidence to try stuff. With clear pictures and easy to follow instructions it's a must. There are blank pages after each chapter I am already scribbling notes in! Thanks Ali. I recommend this Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Report abuse | Permalink Comment Comment 1 of 1 people found the following review helpful 5.0 out of 5 stars Just what I was looking for, 12 July 2013 By  'Jilly B' - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What is this?) This review is from: Crochet for Beginners who want to Improve: Continue to Learn to Crochet using UK Crochet Terminology (Paperback) This new book from Ali Campbell is just what I have been looking for. With my limited crochet skills and the easy to follow patterns I anticipate hours of pleasure. Just started the chunky headband, looking good so far! I know if I get stuck I will be able to refer to Ali's on line lessons. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Report abuse | Permalink Comment Comment 5.0 out of 5 stars I love it - very helpful, 19 Aug 2013 By  Paula Collier-Ward - See all my reviews This review is from: Crochet for Beginners who want to Improve: Continue to Learn to Crochet using UK Crochet Terminology (Paperback) This book is great for those wanting to improve - has help me a lot! 'Does what it says on the tin' Ali is also very helpful if you are stuck on anything and always replies to emails! Great book, would highly recommend Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Report abuse | Permalink Comment Comment

And Finally.....

Day 232