Days 324 & 325 - Lots of Class News & More!

Don't you just love the colours in this wool stash

Brought in by the "sisters"

Who are working on changing colours in the round

In Sparrow UK on Wednesday morning, we revisited the basic stitches, working in rows & then progressed to working in rounds

Next week is Granny Squares!

On Wednesday Evening, because they had all successfully worked on their rounds

We made Granny Squares!

And didn't they all do well

Especially as I made them

Read the pattern for themselves

with a little help!

I then made them start over, with less help

So that they can go home 

And practice without me

Look at all those lovely smiles!!

Thursday Mornings' class

This is Elaine who is proudly wearing her new cardigan

New because she crocheted the edge

And has transformed it totally!!

Carol brought in her blanket

Isn't this amazing!

And Sarah her Bobble Blanket

Which is FANTASTIC

And Margaret is persevering with her lace pattern

Phew!  It's been a busy workshop week.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY!

My good friend & fellow Crocheter from the US - SARA DUGGAN aka Momwithahook is about to launch her new book

"Yes you CAN create Crochet Patterns"

If you'd like a chance to win a copy then here is the rafflecopter code: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The giveaway starts 

November 19th 2013

at 2400 (12Midnight) PST (california, usa) 

and

 ends Friday November 22 at 2400. 

10 copies of the book - so 10 winners.

My latest newsletter has just been published - if you'd like to take a look then click HERE

And here are the 4 squares, well started anyway, for this week so far

Days 320 & 321 + GIVEAWAY News!

GIVEAWAY!

My good friend & fellow Crocheter from the US - SARA DUGGAN aka Momwithahook is about to launch her new book

"Yes you CAN create Crochet Patterns"

If you'd like a chance to win a copy then here is the rafflecopter code: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The giveaway starts 

November 19th 2013

at 2400 (12Midnight) PST (california, usa) 

and

 ends Friday November 22 at 2400. 

10 copies of the book - so 10 winners. 

Or if you can't wait to get hold of your copy, like me,  you can order yours here:

http://createcrochetpatterns.com/

This is Saturday 16th & my stall is all set up at the local village hall for the annual Craft Fair

I had hats, gloves, scarves, hair bows, mini Christmas stockings, brooches, snowflakes, cushions & lots more

It was all very very slow & I thought myself very lucky to have made a small profit of just over £50 after paying for my table.

However when you break it all down to the preparation pre-craft fair, getting all  your bits over in the car, the 4 hours spent there & having to buy 50p cups of coffee, not to mention all the wool / yarn involved - let alone the time one spends to make all the bits and bobs I am probably down in earnings!

However I did manage to get 2 names towards my January 2014 workshops list so that made my day!

The nice thing about working on my Twitter blanket is that it keeps you warm as you Crochet!

I made 2 squares today

To make up for the one I didn't make yesterday

The Weekend - Days 271 & 272 - Book Reviews

I got an email from Sue AKA Crochet Addict today, saying that she had had a chance to review my book, so I clicked on the link and held my breathe.   I didn't need to hold it for a second longer as her review is great and I am very touched as I know that Sue is an experienced Crocheter of many years and highly regarded by many fellow crocheters.  Here's the link for you to read it too:

 http://www.crochetaddictuk.com/2013/09/crochet-for-beginners-who-want-to.html

Here are a couple more book reviews by

Mom With A Hook:  http://crochetbusiness.com/crochet-for-beginners-who-want-to-improve-book-review/

Crochet Queen:  http://crochetqueen-royalramblings.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/book-review-crochet-for-beginners-who.html

Both of whom are top notch crocheters - hailing from the USA & master crafts women  in my opinion.

**********************

I spent most of Saturday working on my latest commission for Inside Crochet Magazine

This is all that I can share with you

As my husband decided to work from the office upstairs, I really did make headway & cracked a good portion of my design & work.

*************

I went to put on my favourite "knock about" jeans this morning & found that the hole was crying out for a patch.

I searched for some spare denim but after looking High & Low I decided that the only way to go was CROCHET!

So I designed a little "cloud" patch

And sewed it in place.

This is what TWITTER has said:

Michelle mentioned you

12m

Michelle @Chellebab

@CrochetAli cool! Brilliant and original idea :)

cazz mentioned you

14m

cazz @beadercollie

@CrochetAli that's genius!!

Faery Designs mentioned you

19m

Faery Designs @Faerydesigns

@CrochetAli looks great :)

And after a lovely afternoon with friends & dogs

Here are Twitter Blanket Squares 271 & 272

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 

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 231 -Wow what a day!! US Book is not far away!

Yes we are going back across the pond again today to the USA!

My Book

Crochet cor Beginners who want to Improve has been translated (by me) checked (by me), PLUS it's been  read & approved by non other that Sara Dugan AKA  MomWithaHook

who said

"Ali, I just finished reading it and You did a fantastic job in converting. I can't tell you enough what a great resource this is."

So it's on the way to the publishers on Amazon right now & should be available within the next 24hours!!

I will also be publishing a Kindle Edition

If you would like the UK version on Kindle then please take a look here - it was released today!!

See I told you it was a WOW day.

Last night I spent a rare few hours working a few rows on my jumper....

And today I managed to complete a VERY lovely commission for Make & Craft Magazine.

It's so lovely and adorable that I want to share it with you all but I can't!

So for Day 231

I made this Pinky for today

Days 215 & 216 - Last chance to enter the Crochet GIVEAWAY

Yes that's right!

Tomorrow this Giveaway will end!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You will win:

A copy of my book - Crochet for Beginners who want to Improve

A 100g Ball of Stylecraft Special DK (colour may vary)

A 4mm Aluminium Crochet Hook & a Pack of 10 Stitch Markers

PLUS

The winner will also receive a 10% discount  promo code off all 3 of my Crochet eLearning Courses!

Course 1 - The Basics

Course 2 - The Next Step &

Course 3 - The Finishing Touches

Wow what a prize!!

You can live anywhere in the world to enter 

There is only 

ONE

prize!

Here's what you have to do:

You have to tweet about the giveaway &

You have to like my FaceBook Page

+

You have to follow this blog

Easy Peasy!

Just use the Rafflecopter system to enter.....

Talking of Giveaways, do you remember I mentioned this yesterday?

Well it was a giveaway that I entered in 

I forgot all about it!!

Day 215

In more news

Have you seen this great link?

http://crochetbusiness.com/hooking-for-cash/

Hooking for Cash: 10 Ways to Earn Money with Your Crochet Blog

I've bought the eBook - why not give it a try ?

Day 216

I am still cracking on with my commission for the Granny Square Bag, which is taking a lot longer than I originally thought it would.  Just goes to show you how much FUN TIME you have whilst you are crocheting if you don't realise timings!

The socks, or that should be sock as I have only started one of them so far is also coming along fine.  It's hard working without an actual "foot" to work with!! Previously I have only crocheted socks for myself & every now and then I try them on and adjust if necessary, but this one is "blind"  All I know is that he's a size 9 UK with a wide foot.