4 Excellent Online Crochet Magazines

The crochet community keeps growing every year. Crocheters and Designers are keeping current  with fashion trends and providing alternatives with beautiful handmade designs  of the current fashion trends.

Check these magazines for inspiration, patterns and more. You will enjoy it.  The list is no particular order.

1. Crochetme - This is an online crochet Magazine provided through InterweaveCrochet Magazine. Cool Free Patterns and blogs

2. Crochet! - Crochet! Magazine now has a digital form of their monthly magazine. This is great for a lot of people who have hundreds of crochet magazines stored in their homes.

3. Crochet World -  You can find good patterns at Crochet World. You can browse through their newsletter and information on charity.

4.  Crochet Today - This is still a mailing magazine but it is  still a great resource online. 

All these magazines will need you to fill out the subscription form.  Crochetme and Interweave send regular emails with free patterns and ebooks. Fun to read, fun to crochet!

Enjoy!

How to Increase or decrease Single Crochet Stitches

Toddler Sweate

The sc increase or decrease stitches are used to make fabric wider or narrower gradually. They are often used in clothing patterns. 

HOW TO INCREASE A SINGLE CROCHET STITCH:

Directions:

Work two sc stitches in one stitch.

a.     If you are increasing at the beginning of a single crochet row work single crochet stitch twice into the same stitch.

b.     If you are increasing at the end of a single crochet row, work two stitches into the last stitch.

HOW TO DECREASE A SINGLE CROCHET STITCH:
Directions:

1.     Insert hook in the next stitch, yarn over and pull yarn through 2 loops on the hook.

2.     Instead of completing the sc, insert hook into next stitch, yarn over and pull through the 3 loops on the hook.

3.     Yarn over and pull through yarn through all 3 loops. One DEC made.

Note – If after counting stitches, you added more or reduced more than necessary, do not be afraid to redo the row

Picking Your Crochet Hook

When I started to crochet twenty something years ago in Nigeria, the only types of hooks available were the steel hooks and they were so expensive. Back in those days, it was only one size hook that was used.  As I picked up crocheting again in the 90s, it was heaven to see there were different sizes of hooks and all the hooks are not steel and not so expensive.  There are different sizes to the crochet hooks however this will be another blog post but for this post we are concentrating on just the types of hook

Types of Crochet Hooks

Steel Hooks - Steel crochet hooks are smaller and thinner then other types of crochet hooks.  They are designed to be used with crochet thread.

Aluminum Hooks - Aluminum crochet hook feature the preferred taper throat and smooth rounded head. The Precision-crafted quality assures a fine finish and accuracy of gauge. 

Plastic hooks - Plastic hooks are used in the same manner as aluminum hooks. They are lighter in weight and are preferred by some crocheters.

Wood  Hooks - Wood crochet hooks have a different feel. They are not as slippery as metal, and more slippery than plastic. This, along with their appearance and hook design, has made them a favored hook of many crocheters for three decades.  Wood hooks are not as strong as plastic or metal. They should be used for nonmetallic yarn only.

You will need to try different hooks to test which fits your style. For me, I  bought the  same hook sizes with the different hook types. After  I tested them out, I prefer the aluminium hook followed by wooden hook because I do not have to apply much pressure for them not to bend or tangled in my yarn or slip out of my hand. So tell me, what is your favorite type of crochet hook to use?

Enjoy




Here  I am not talking about hook brans but diffenet hooks gives you one a different feel and depending on your comfort level you will choose what feels great for you

Win A FREE Neki Naturals Hat

Neki Naturals Holiday Sales are on!
First item going on sale are the Hats. This started on October 20th 2010 and will end in December 24th, 2010.

You can win a Free Winter Hat by doing the following:

• Head over to our Facebook Event
• Mark that you will be there
• See the link to ETSY and Post the link of your favorite hat on this blog post.

At the end of the sale, a winner will be picked.

Enjoy!

Natural Skin Powder

I have learned a lot in the last few months about natural skin care and this is one from H.Ayer  that I am sharing to help relieve irritate skin.

Ingredients:
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/2 tsp talcum powder
1/4 tsp zinc oxide

Mix all the ingredients together thoroughly. To use, first moisten the affected areas slightly with a little cold cream and then apply the powder.

Enjoy