Broomstick Lace Crochet

Lately, along with the other millions of things I have been doing, and research with regard to my shop, I have also been working on some new crochet designs. For me, that means also researching techniques and scouring old bookstores for "vintage" books, which has uncovered a forgotten and super simple crochet technique: broomstick lace.
Broomstick lace is a crochet techniques that involves yarn, a crochet hook and a large dowel or knitting needle. After a foundation row of single crochet, a large loop is placed on the dowel or knitting needle and continued across. The work is never flipped in broomstick lace, it is worked back and forth as in Tunisian Crochet.
Broomstick lace is great for sweaters, shawls, scarves, hats everything. And once you get the hang of it, you will realize how quick it is. It provides a nice stretchy fabric with excellent drape which a lot of people don't expect with crochet. I prefer to use thin gauge like fingering weight or sock weight yarns for crochet, dk weight at the largest unless I am working on an afghan.
Above is a quick pictorial/tutorial.

Stitches West 2008 Friday

Its raining today but the energy is still up there. Instead of paying taxis to get around, I decided to experience San Jose/Santa Clara public transportation, and let me tell you, it was an experience. First, I had to walk to the train in the cold and rain, and if you can believe it, I was in such a hurry to get to Stitches West, I did not pack a scarf or hat, so I was freezing! However, I trekked on.

When I finally made it to the train, of course I got on the wrong train going in the opposite direction, so I had to get off and go back to where I started from, but all in all, it was a nice experience. San Jose is such an awesome town.

When I finally made onto the correct train going in the right direction, I was lucky enough to meet the most wonderful lady on the train who was on her way to the show as well. She mistakenly when to the San Jose Convention Center as opposed to the Santa Clara Convention center, so I wasn't the only one slightly challenged getting there. Unfortunately, she said she doesn't use the internet and isn't on Ravelry, but she is definitely in my thoughts. She had her tickets pre-purchased, her map in hand, her pop up bag on wheels and her list of must see booths. She was an absolute delight.

I got to see a couple of "family" members from the Harvest Festival Tour of shows that I do every year. Linda Sicard was there with her fabulous buttons, and way more than what she sells at the Harvest Festivals, she had 2 booth spaces and was very busy with them. Also, Damaris was there with her wonderful buttons and pins and such with her husband, she is also a mega talented jewelry designer who I adore.

Eveyone I bumped into asked where was my booth and my hand dyed yarns, and I had to tell them that I could not secure a space in time, but that everyone will definitely see me at Stitches Midwest 2008.

Since I didn't have any of my fabulous yarns there, I spent most of the day helping Dianne in her booth which had a nice steady flow of customers. Let me tell you, by the time I had to leave for my flight, I was exhausted. I didn't get to buy much at the show, but it was definitely a fun experience. I am glad I went as an attendee first, rather than as a vendor, but for Stitches Midwest, it will be business as usual and I can't wait.

Stitches West 2008 Thursday Night

Since I was not able to get my booth at Stitches West this year, I decided to go and check it out, and I am glad that I did. What a huge event! I got to meet a ton of people, including a lot of Ravelry friends at the Ravelry meeting and throughout the show.


I also met Tobias of Malabrigo yarns. He was so wonderfully nice, and I cannot wait to get my shipment of yarns in from him. I also met the awesome girls of Diva Stitch Studios who make incredible crochet and knitting patterns, all of which I absolutely adore! I will definitely be bringing in a lot of those.


Let me tell you guys, there were so many people there just waiting to get in it was unbelievable. I can't wait until Stitches Midwest if the energy is going to be anywhere near like it was at Stitches West.

Orders Comming In

Happy day! Today the orders I placed at the TNNA show in January are finally starting to come in. Today I received my first order from The Alpaca Yarn Co. I ordered all 10 of their new colors in the Alpaca sock line called Paca Peds. The colors are really fun and the Alpaca feels heavenly. I can't wait to knit up a pair knee high cables with these for a display piece.

Well I have lots of display space for them as I think I went a little cube crazy building display cubes.