The invisible join from the first half of Issue 3 of the newsletter is my favorite way to finish off motifs or projects worked in the round and make them look seamless.
Color palettes for freeform projects - The first section of Issue 2 of the newsletter outlines some of my favorite ways to combine colors and yarns.
This YouTube video from Humble Bee shows a really cool method for working crochet bullion stitches using a tapestry needle. Be sure to watch the whole video to see the nifty tapestry needle method.
Building a stash for freeforming from the last half of Issue 3 of the newsletter will help you become a yarn collector and bulk up the range of your yarns for more interesting freeform projects.
How to do a starting chain, a video on youTube. My grandmother, Flossie Costin Carney, taught me to crochet when I was 8 years old. She showed me the basics, and I loved it instantly. With her guidance, I made afghans and stuffed animals, and anything else I could think of. I don’t remember the particulars of our lessons, but one technique that she showed me has turned out to be unusual. The way that she taught me to start a foundation chain is different than any other method I’ve seen. It’s a handy, easy way to start a foundation chain without a slip knot, and it results in a tail end that is adjustable. This double-duty stitch, which I call “the starting chain,” is especially useful to me when I’m making a motif that starts with a circle because of the adjustable tail. I often begin with a starting chain, make 3 more regular chains, then I work all of the double crochets I need for the circle into the first chain (the starting chain). Putting all of those dc’s into one chain makes it stretch out and leave a fairly big hole in the center of the circle, but pulling on the adjustable tail closes up the hole in a flash. That’s something that never seems to work for me if I start with a slip knot. Click on the link at the beginning of this paragraph to see a video of this convenient technique.
Fairy lights stitch pattern, a youTube video. My shawl design, Vacation Favorite, has a stitch pattern called Fairy Lights that uses German short rows. It’s a technique that is hard to describe in writing, but it’s easy to understand if you can see a demonstration. Click on the link at the beginning of this paragraph to see the video.