Mastering Foundation Crochet Stitches Class

If you're anything like me and you've been crocheting for hundreds of years (ok, maybe it just feels like hundreds of years), you get really excited to discover something new. About ten years ago, a good friend of mine was working on her first book. She was a little overwhelmed so I offered to do some of her stitching. She happily agreed and then proceeded to tell me that I needed to use foundation crochet for some of the designs. What?!! I'd never even heard of foundation crochet much less possess the knowledge of how to do it. Well, as luck would have it, Marty Miller, who is actually the "Queen of Foundation Stitches", lives pretty close to me and offered to teach me what I needed to know. How lucky is that?

I couldn't believe I had been crocheting for so long and didn't know about this wonderful technique which makes crochet life so much quicker and easier and I've used them ever since. What I didn't know was that there is so much more you can do besides the basic stitches! I have had the pleasure of reviewing Marty's new Craftsy class, "Mastering Foundation Crochet Stitches" and have now discovered a wealth of new information!

Marty is a wonderful teacher, very patient and thorough. She is always a favorite at the CGOA conferences. What's even better about this online class is that you can refer back to it as many times as you need to which is really fantastic since there is so much valuable information to take in!

So let me give you a run down of what the class includes. There are seven complete lessons! Wow! That is a lot of class for the money!

Lesson 1 is extended vs. foundation. I really like Marty's approach to first teach extended stitches which really are foundation stitches just worked into another row of stitches. This allows people to first work into stitches (which is always easier when you are learning) and then takes them on to foundation stitches in the next lesson. And Marty doesn't just show you one or two stitches, she goes through the whole list from single crochet to treble crochet with step-by-step instructions and excellent visuals.

Lesson 2 then goes over the basic foundation stitches.

Lesson 3 shows you how to now use the foundation stitches that you have learned.

Lesson 4 is eyelets and my absolute favorite! This is so ingenious and I could smack myself for not having thought of it myself years ago! At this point, I had to pause my class and immediately grab my hook and yarn to give it a try. I worked V-stitches into this particular foundation eyelet which was so quick and simple. I have a lot of ideas to use this method in some of my future designs.

Lesson 5 explains how to use foundation stitches in pattern.

Lesson 6 is foundation stitches in filet, mesh and more.

And lastly, lesson 7 teaches tunisian, colorwork and beyond.

Are you getting excited to check this class out? You certainly won't be sorry! There are very clear, detailed instructions for so many different techniques and variations! I truly enjoyed this class and I am very excited to use all the new information that I learned. You can start learning too right now! Just head over to Craftsy and here is the link that will take you directly to Marty's class Mastering Foundation Crochet Stitches.

Happy National Crochet Month 2014

Happy National Crochet Month! What is everyone doing to celebrate? As always, I am honored to be included in the month long celebration blog tour put on by Crochetville. Owners Amy Shelton and Donna Hulka do so much for the fiber community and we appreciate you! Let's have a round of applause for this dynamic duo!

Our focus charity this year is Halos of Hope. Halos is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization founded by Pam Haschke, herself a survivor of inflammatory breast cancer. Their mission is to provide volunteer-crafted hats to cancer centers across the country. Please consider making a hat or two to donate. You can send completed hats to Crochetville's official headquarters (also know as Amy's house). For all the details please visit Hat donation details and be sure to check out the hat pattern I was honored to contribute to the designer invitational program for Halos.

So who is ready for Spring? It has been such a crazy winter all over the country. Two days ago I enjoyed sunshine and 75 degree weather with all the windows open. Tomorrow it is supposed to be in the twenties again! So I decided I needed to create a little Spring of my own and I designed the "Passion Rose Motif". I love the look of the little rose buds just waiting to burst open. I am offering the pattern for free until the end of the month. Please be sure to stop by my Facebook page and say "Hello". I also love to see pictures of your projects from my patterns! Enjoy your celebration of National Crochet Month and thanks for visiting!

Passion Rose Motif

Design by Tammy Hildebrand

.

Skill Level                           

Intermediate

Finished Measurements

7 1/2  inches square

Materials

Caron Simply Soft medium (worsted) weight acrylic yarn (6 oz/315 yds/170 g per skein):

1 ounce each: #0012 passion, #0014 pagoda, #9702 off white

Size I/9/5.5mm crochet hook

Tapestry needle

Gauge

Gauge is unimportant for this design

Pattern Notes

Join rounds with slip stitch as indicated.

Chain-3 at beginning of round counts as first double crochet.

Chain-4 at beginning of round counts as first double crochet, chain 1.

Chain-6 at beginning of round counts as first double crochet, ch 3.

Special Stitches

Cluster (cl): Yarn over, insert hook in indicated space and draw up a loop, yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook (2 loops remain on hook); yarn over, insert hook in same space and draw up a loop, yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook; yarn over and draw through all 3 loops on hook.

Popcorn (pc): Work 3 dc in indicated space, drop loop from hook, insert hook from front to back in first dc of 3-dc group, place dropped loop back on hook and draw through.

With passion, ch 3, join with sl st (see Pattern Notes), to form ring.

Rnd 1 (RS): Ch 3, (see Pattern Notes), 15 dc in ring, join in top of beg ch-3, fasten off. (16 dc)

Rnd 2: With RS facing, join pagoda with sc in any st, sc in each st around, join in beg sc, fasten off. (16 sc)

Rnd 3: With RS facing, join off white with sl st in any st, ch 4, (see Pattern Notes) dc in same st, (dc, ch 1, dc) in next st and in each st around, join in 3^rd ch of beg ch-4, fasten off. (32 dc, 16 ch-1 sps)

Rnd 4: With RS facing, join pagoda with sc in any ch-1 sp, ch 3, skip next ch-1 sp, [cl, (ch 2, cl) 3 times] in next ch-1 sp, ch 3, skip next ch-1 sp, *sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 3, skip next ch-1 sp, [cl, (ch 2, cl) 3 times] in next ch-1 sp, ch 3, skip next ch-1 sp; rep from * around, join in beg sc, fasten off. (4 sc, 16 cl)

Rnd 5: With RS facing, join passion with a sc in any sc, ch 3, sl st in top of next cl, ch 3, [pc in next ch-2 sp, ch 3, sl st in top of next cl, ch 3] 3 times, *sc in next sc, ch 3, sl st in top of next cl, ch 3, [pc in next ch-2 sp, ch 3, sl st in top of next cl, ch 3] 3 times; rep from * around, join in beg-sc, fasten off. (4 sc, 12 pc)

Rnd 6: With RS facing, join off white with sl st in any sc, ch 3, 2 dc in same st, sc in next ch-3 sp, sc in top of next pc, working over ch-3 sp, [3 dc in top of next cl of rnd 4, sc in top of next pc] twice, sc in next ch-3 sp, *3 dc in next sc, sc in next ch-3 sp, sc in top of next pc, working over ch-3 sp, [3 dc in top of next cl of rnd 4, sc in top of next pc] twice, sc in next ch-3 sp; rep from * around, join in top of beg ch-3, fasten off. (36 dc, 8 sc)

Rnd 7: With RS facing, join pagoda with sc in sc of any corner, ch 6, (see Pattern Notes), [dc, (ch 3, dc) twice] in same st, [skip next st, (sc, ch 5, sc) in next st] twice, [skip next 2 sts, (sc, ch 3, sc) in next st] twice, skip next st, (sc, ch 3, sc) in next st, skip next st, *[dc, (ch 3, dc) 3 times] in next st, [skip next st, (sc, ch 3, sc) in next st] twice, [skip next 2 sts, (sc, ch 3, sc) in next st] twice, skip next st, (sc, ch 3, sc) in next st; rep from * around, join in 3^rd ch of beg ch-6, fasten off. (16 dc, 40 sc)

Happy New Year Fiber Friends!

Happy New Year everyone! I know I am a little bit late but it has been as hectic as always around here, maybe even a bit more than usual. 2014 has started out with a bang and it is shaping up to be a fantastic year! I am so excited to see what's in store. Let me share just a few of the great things going on.

My very first book, "Crochet Wraps Every Which Way" is now available! If you took advantage of the pre-order, you probably already have the book in your hands! Please stop by my Facebook page Hot Lava Crochet and let me know what you think! I always love seeing pictures when you make one of my designs so be sure to post on my page! If you want a sneak peak of all the designs, you can check them out here. There is also a blog tour going on for the entire month of July! Check my Facebook page every day to follow the stops. There are a lot of great people that I am so thankful to that will be reviewing my book and some of them are having giveaways.

On December 20, just 5 days before Christmas (who does that??!!), we purchased a beautiful, old Southern home. She needs some work so we've been spending a lot of time over there bringing back her original beauty and charm. We have name her "Isabella Manor" and we just love her!!! 

And my new office that I am so excited to work in! 

As many of you know, I began a nutritional cleansing program at the end of July last year. It has been the most incredible journey and my life has undergone a complete transformation! So far, I have lost 44 pounds but it feels like even more because this program helps to build lean muscle mass. I have so much energy that I feel like I'm in my twenties again! In case you missed my latest picture on Facebook, I will post it below. Please contact me if you are interested in giving it a try! I would LOVE for everyone to feel as great as I do and nothing would bring me greater joy than to help you achieve it!

I wish you all a very Happy New Year filled with much happiness and health and dreams that come true!