Community Update – Bamboo Crochet Vest CAL – Week 3

Posted on May 18, 2013 by shandeh

Yum!  I just love using this heavenly soft Bernat Bamboo yarn! As I work with it each day, I fall in love with it all over again. Maybe it’s time for a lifetime partnership? Ha!

After just a couple weeks, I am halfway finished!  Take a look at this gorgeous Right and Left Front.  Awesome!  I am really going to love wearing this vest.  The eco-friendly, cool, moisture-wicking yarn will be perfect for summer.  And this vest will work for all kinds of wardrobe needs – formal and casual.  So wonderful. :)

My Step by Step Video Tutorial will always be available, so you are free to join in the Crochet-Along (CAL) at any time.  Be sure to let us know how your Bamboo Crochet Vest is coming along!

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Community Update – Spring Bamboo CAL Week 2

Posted on May 11, 2013 by shandeh

Have you decided to join us for our Spring Bamboo Crochet Vest Crochet-Along?  I hope that you are able to make this lovely vest with us. The Bernat Bamboo yarn is absolutely LUSCIOUS! So soft and creamy and dreamy and…..just wonderful! We deserve to use this excellent yarn for ourselves!

While making my vest, I’ve been capturing every single stitch with my video camera, then uploading the videos to YouTube.  So, if you want to follow along, you can just watch the videos and make your vest at exactly the same time! This would work very well for those of you who are still learning to crochet. If you already know basic crochet stitches, the videos will walk you through the construction of the vest – one stitch at a time. :)

Here’s how my vest looks right now. I’ve finished the Left Front, and the center band. It sure is going quickly! I should be wearing this gorgeous vest in no time at all!

Now, I am starting the Right Front, and still making videos as I work. So, be sure to check the Forum for updates. If you are just deciding to make the vest, and want to join in the CAL, go to the CAL in the Bernat Forum, and let us know you are participating. There is no deadline, so you can join in at any time. We hope to hear from you soon!

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Bernat Cotton-ish by Vickie Howell NOW Available!

Posted on May 9, 2013 by VickieHowell

 

I’m so excited to announce that it’s finally time to “officially” announce the latest, co-branded yarn in my line: Bernat Cotton-ish by Vickie Howell! You can buy it now on Bernat.com and beginning this week (anytime between now and 5/11), you’ll also be able to find it on encaps (that shelving on the end of the aisle) at select, Jo-ann Stores.

Bernat Cotton-ish by Vickie Howell (just Cotton-ish, for short), is a lightweight, 55% cotton/45% acrylic blend with a tight twist to give it a sproing-y hand. It’s lovely, airy drape is perfect for a variety of items including baby layette, toddler clothing, women’s tops, lacy shawls, summer beanies, cafe curtains and place mats.

 

Cotton-ish comes in the rich, saturated colors that are signature to my modern-meets-retro-chic aesthetic. While creating this line, I took to heart the frequent requests I get from mom stitchers who are sick of traditional pastels for babies. Whether you’re making something for infant, adult or home, the palette of this line speaks to the trend of mixing bold color with cool neutrals. Each color was hand-picked by me — using everything from fabric to found objects as inspiration — and named after something cotton-related (you know how I love a theme!)

 

Gauge & Washing Info

If you’re a fan of my other yarn, Sheep(ish) but prefer not to work with wool during the warmer months, then Cotton-ish is for you! Throughout the Spring and Summer keep your eyes open for new, season-appropriate patterns, blog giveaways, Pinterest galleries, a crochet-along, and more!

In the meantime, here’s a look at the free patterns that come on the yarn ball labels.

Free pattern on the yarn label: Tri-Light Kerchief
Shown in color: Cotton Gin
Free pattern on the yarn label: Sweet & Simple Sundress
Shown in color: Cotton Harvest

Free pattern on the yarn label: Mai Tie

Shown in colors: Cotton Field & Grey T-shirt
Free pattern on the yarn label: Market Bag
Shown in color: Lemon Twill

To find a store near you that carries Vickie Howell for Bernat yarns, check out my store locator app.

Are you a LYS owner who will be carrying Cotton-ish in your store? Post your info so I can add the shop to the finder list!

Psst! I haven’t seen it in stores, yet. First three people to snap a picture of the Cotton-ish display at your local Jo-ann or indie store, gets a free bag (3 balls) of Cotton-ish! Just post a link in the comments section of this blog or share a photo on my Facebook wall!

xx,
Vickie

 

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Community Update – Spring Bamboo CAL Week #1

Posted on May 6, 2013 by shandeh

Bernat yarn crafters have some fun things happening for the spring and summer months.  Our hooks and needles will be busy creating so many lovely projects. :)

Our Bamboo Crochet Crochet-Along (CAL) got started this past week!  The first step is making the Left Front, and we have videos to walk you through every single step of the process.

So, get your scrumptious Bernat Bamboo yarn, a size J hook (6 mm), and come join us!

Our Bernat Temperature KAL/CAL projects are changing colors now – It’s so nice to use different colors for the warmer Spring and Summer temperatures!  My Temperature Project was going to be a wrap, but after just a few months, it has reached GARGANTUAN proportions!  So, I’ve decided to make strips and squares for a blanket instead.  You can see Bernat’s Pinterest Board for our lovely scarves, wraps, and blankets right here: Bernat Temperature Projects on Pinterest  

You’ll find other Bernat events by following Bernat on their Facebook page, Twitter page, Pinterest boards, YouTube Channel, the Bernat Forums, and right here in the Bernat Blog.  And don’t forget to subscribe to Bernat’s Newsletter!

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Stitch.Rock.Knit-along: Shrug It Out Photo Recap

Posted on May 1, 2013 by VickieHowell

Another Knit Simple/Bernat Stitch.Rock.Knit-along has come an a close, and as always I am left feeling inspired. This issue’s project was 90% crochet, which as the “Stitch.Rock.Knit-along” title suggests, isn’t of the norm for this series. I was thrilled to see that the new-to-some craft didn’t scare away most of the regulars, and we even had a few new participants because of it! I love being able to peek at everyone’s progress, give tips, share tutorials and otherwise virtually commune with other stitchers. It’s an honor and a joy to be the leader of these events. Without further ado, here’s a photo recap of the highlights of the Shrug It Out a-long!

Supplies ready to go!

How-to Get Started:

 

Shrug It Out WIPS:
Shrug WIPs (clockwise): Ashleigh Bronner’s, Kimberly Ann’s, Mary Caron’s, NCSneaker’s

How-to Pick Up Stitches:

I didn’t put this video up on my YouTube channel, because it’s quick-and-dirty, and frankly not pretty.  Click here though, to watch how to pick up stitches for this project.

Finished Shrug It Outs:

Cora Gordon’s Finished Shrug


LauraGB’s Finished Shrug
VeganJilly’s Finished Shrug
(See her blog post about her process making this project here!)
More FOs (clockwise): TeakKnitPurl’s, AnnGreenGables (love the sleeves!), C-Three’s, 
and Ann Kinderknecht’s


See even more works-in-progress and finished shrugs as photos continue to come in by following the Shrug It Off Pinterest board!
Don’t forget, the Stitch.Rock.Knit-along posts on Ravelry and Facebook (including diagrams, videos and other resources) stay up forever and always, so you can join in as you have time to.

Don’t know how to crochet, but want to learn? Check out the Bernat Video Library or my online course, Crochet Lab on Craftsy!

Keep your eyes peeled for the next issue of Knit Simple and our next Stitch.Rock.Knit-along — info to come!

xx,
Vickie

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Movie Monday (TV Edition): Call the Midwife

Posted on April 29, 2013 by VickieHowell
PBS (via BBC) has done it again with another must-see period episodic. Call the Midwife –just like the network’s wildly popular show, Downton Abbey – is a well-written, finely acted, impeccably directed snapshot of the human experience.
Set in the impoverished slums of London circa late 1950′s, Call the Midwife follows the amazing nurses who delivered the babies of the community, and the mothers and fathers who soldiered through bringing another life into the world (and often, into horrific conditions.) I’ll tell you this, never have I been so happy to be a woman during modern times rather than 70 years ago!
Call the Midwife is available on Netflix now, and as you see below (in addition to be a really good show) is a feast for a yarn-crafter’s eyes. Enjoy!
Brioche Stitch Baby Cardigan
Crocheted Baby Blanket

 

Knit Sailor Hat

 

Amazing Crocheted Baby Jacket
Men’s Knit Cardigan

 

Crocheted Baby Blanket
Knitter in the clinic waiting room.
Spike Stitch Cardigan



Recommended Stitching:

Pretty Kiddy Cardigan

Textured Grid Baby Blanket

Baby M Blanket

Feather and Fan Baby Blanket

Baby Sailor Suit

Pea Wee Coat

Kimono Sleeve Cardigan

His & Her Fair Isle Cardigan

Happy viewing; happy stitching!

xx,

Vickie

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Community Update – Spring CAL!

Posted on April 27, 2013 by shandeh

Our Spring Crochet Along starts next week!  Have you got your skeins of Bernat Bamboo yarn ready?  I have a lovely stash in the color “Linen”, and I can’t keep my hands away from it!  In my opinion, Bernat Bamboo is the most luxurious of all their yarns.  The fiber content is 86% bamboo, 12% acrylic, and 2% polyester.  That high bamboo fiber content makes this yarn incredibly soft!

This week, I did some research online, and learned that bamboo fiber has amazing properties:  It is a renewable resource, which can be harvested without killing the plant, and it only takes a few months before the plant is ready to be harvested again. This makes it an environmentally friendly choice! :)  Bernat’s Bamboo yarn is VERY soft, cool and breathable, naturally antibacterial, and the knitted or crocheted fabric has a lovely drape.  This yarn is a WINNER!  Just perfect for our Spring and Summer projects.

We will get started with the Bamboo Vest Crochet Along (CAL) next Wednesday, May 1st.  So, be sure to go to the Bernat Forums and join in!  The pattern comes in sizes XS – 5X, so it should fit just about everyone on the planet. :)

To help you get started on the CAL, I’ve made a couple simple videos.  The first video shows how to gather your supplies and join in the forum. (Video #1)  My second video gives you instruction for making your gauge swatch with Bernat Bamboo yarn. (Video #2)

There will be more videos each week, helping you with every step of the project.  So, get your luscious yarn and grab that hook, so we can get started!

Posted in Community Update, Crochet | Tagged | 2 Comments

Handicrafter Crochet Thread Skirt in Vogue Knitting Crochet Issue!

Posted on April 23, 2013 by VickieHowell
I’ve never designed for Vogue before. I guess that I’ve gotten so caught up with championing the beginner/intermediate stitchers via magazines like Knit Simple, that I’d never thought to submit to a mag that caters to the more advanced set. When editor-in-chief Trisha Malcolm called to ask me to design a skirt in Bernat Handicrafter Crochet Thread for the Summer 2013 Vogue Knitting Crochet issue though, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.  I’m happy to announce that the issue is out, and included in it is my Half Hexagon Skirt!

 

Vogue Knitting Crochet 2013, photo by Rose Callahan 

 

For this design I played with making the hard angles of geometric shapes look soft by using a larger hook and periodic openwork. My shape-crush du jour (is that a thing?) is hexagon (they’re totally the new circles ;-) ) so for this garment I used both 1/2 and 2/3 version panels. From there, I filled in the rest of the piece with the shapes I needed to create the fit I wanted. Voila!
I love Vogue’s rock-a-billy take on styling for the magazine shot. The skirt would also look great though, over a vintage half-slip worn with a t-shirt and boots or flip-flops. Make it, then make it your own!
Here are the specs:
Designer: Vickie Howell
For sizes: Small, Medium, Large, 1X, 2X
Yarn information: Bernat Handicrafter Crochet Thread
Amounts: 3 (3, 4, 4, 5) balls in #31011 warm tan
1 ball in #31008 crisp linen

I may be biased, but man, this is of VKC is amazing! I’m humbled and honored to have a project included amongst ridiculously talented designers like: Mari Lynn Patrick, Robyn Chachula, Laura Zukaite and Kazekobo. You can see (and “Fave”) all of the projects from the issue on Ravelry.

 

Oh, and don’t forget to tag Bernat on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest with your Half Hexagon Skirt WIPS and FOs!
xx,
Vickie
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Community Update #32

Posted on April 20, 2013 by shandeh

Have you noticed the updated look to Bernat’s yarn web pages?  I am really loving all the nice, BIG swatches for each Bernat yarn.   Take a look at the Bernat Softee Chunky page.  Wow!  It’s like I’m RIGHT THERE, looking at a skein of yarn.  Love it!  Thank you, Bernat!  :)  Sure does make it easier to choose colors for our projects.  (thumbs up)

The Bernat Mosaic yarn page doesn’t just show yarn photos.  It shows how the various colors of each shade will look when knitted.  Nice!

Speaking of Mosaic, I just love the adorable hoodie that SoulEcho made for her sweet daughter, using Bernat Mosaic in the color “Ambrosia”.   Isn’t this precious?

And Berryblue crafted some darling baby booties, using Bernat Tizzy yarn, in the color “Blue Skies”.  Fun!  To see more creations by Bernat yarn fans, check out the Bernat Projects section in the Forums!

 

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Movie Monday (TV Edition): Game of Thrones

Posted on April 15, 2013 by VickieHowell

Are any of you watching HBO’s epic series, Game of Thrones? It’s not for the faint of heart, but oh, it is a feast for the eyes! Picture this: a dark, dirty pub that likely stinks of alcohol, body stench and urine. Scarred soldiers and beastly vagrants litter the place, all ready to kill or die during the next bar brawl. Then, one of the most despicable of the bunch, a background character without an ounce of moral standing, rises to threaten a young, lady Arya. He’s donning the usual leather and cloth of the time period, but what’s this I see? A garter stitch, flow-y cape/vest draped from his ruffian shoulders! I suppose even cretins need to stay cozy. Behold, a couple of iPhone screen shots for your viewing enjoyment!

 

Alas, neither Bernat nor I have any designs fit for battle. However, we do have flow-y ponchos and wraps!

Recommended Stitching:

Satin Sparkle Chevron Shawl, by Bernat Design Team

Sheep(ish) Bohemian Shawl, by Doris Chan

Bamboo Shoulder Shrug, by Bernat Design Team

Capelet Crusader, from AwareKnits
Just for fun, here’s a shot of the Knit Rider, knit chain mail from my very first book, New Knits on the Block.

Happy knitting; happy viewing!

xx,

Vickie

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