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Archived Crochet Newsletters: LIST

Have you arrived at this page from Ravelry, Facebook, a blog post, pattern PDF, or elsewhere? Welcome. This is the only place to find the complete list of my archived crochet newsletters, with update notes and direct access to each. Go directly to the list below.

I proudly present a full backlist of my archived crochet newsletters. This page is a public log of my progress as I add each one to its permanent public archive on this site.

As I upload and update each back issue, I’ll add its direct link to the list below. Use the issue number (such as #60 for the one pictured) to find the issue you want in the list. If it isn’t clickable, it’s not yet republished.

The Originals, Enriched

Each of my archived crochet newsletters is in the process of getting its own permanent page on this website. You’ll be able to leave comments, bookmark and return to it, share, pin, and print out a copy. I love that I can add new stuff as the topic evolves. If I’ve updated it more than once, I’ll note the most recent date at the top of its page.

I’m generally preserving the original issues except for very light editing and link-fixing here and there. Many of the topics continue to evolve. Issue #2 is an example of when I add new material and some original notes that were squeezed out of the issue the first time around. This kind of stuff goes at the end of its page, clearly indicated. In the case of Issue #3, the whole issue got a dramatic overhaul!

How to Find an Issue

Know the number of the issue, or the general date it was sent?

The first-ever issue, #1, was sent September 2, 2010. Issue #100 went out September 1, 2019. Scroll through the list below by issue number, which is also chronological.

I always refer to an issue by its number.

Prefer to browse?

I created this page just for you. And for me, when I just want to scroll through the memories.

Have a topic in mind?

Have a topic in mind, but you don’t know the number or date of the issue(s)? I’m working on a way to display newsletters grouped in subcategories.

Vashti’s Archived Crochet Newsletters Complete List: 2010 to the Present

On a mobile device? Scroll to the left or right if you don’t see FOUR columns (Issue #, Sent Date, Original Title, Notes).

Issue #	Sent Date	Original Title	Notes
#1	2010-09-02	New Crochet Talk: Inaugural Issue
#2	2010-09-16	A Super Crochet Maneuver	Updated title: *Crochet Stitch Equivalents (Issue 2)*
#3	2010-09-30	A Very Different Kind of Crochet Stitch	Updated title: *Limpet Stitch: Crochet Half Hitches (Issue 3)*
#4	2010-10-14	Graphing Waterlilies
#5	2010-10-28	A Fever for Neck Warmers
#6	2010-11-11	Thick, Thicker, Thickest
#7	2010-11-24	Tunisian for Yarn Bail Outs
#8	2010-12-09	Commutative Property
#9	2011-01-06	The Ribbing Issue
#10	2011-01-20	Breaking Out of Tunisian Ruts
#11	2011-02-03	Fibers That ‘Sproing’
#12	2011-02-17	Twist Some Loops
#13	2011-03-03	Shrugging Off Winter
#14	2011-03-17	Ireland, Japan, and Crochet Lace
#15	2011-04-01	Unpacking V-Stitches
#16	2011-04-14	Flavor Burst Crochet
#17	2011-04-28	Fancy Cords in 360º
#18	2011-05-13	Deep Crochet Research
#19	2011-05-26	Netting vs. Lace
#20	2011-06-09	Travel Crochet
#21	2011-06-23	Wee Pebble Stitches
#22	2011-07-08	Crochet That Pours
#23	2011-07-21	If Stitch Patterns Could Speak
#24	2011-08-04	Mirroring Stitch Types
#25	2011-08-18	Tweak Those Gaps Along Row Edges?
#26	2011-09-01	Fun With Stitch Blocking
#27	2011-09-15	Stalking the Wild Slip Stitch
#28	2011-10-06	Mohairs for Crochet
#29	2011-10-20	Short Row Startle!
#30	2011-11-05	Yarns of Different Stripes
#31	2011-11-17	Sparkly Crocheting
#32	2011-12-01	Quick Crochet for Kids
#33	2011-12-16	Jumbo Hooks
#34	2011-12-31	Protecting Crochet Creativity
#35	2012-01-14	Draping Simple Shapes
#36	2012-02-17	Ribs, Old & New Grooves
#37	2012-03-08	When Stitches Lean
#38	2012-03-23	A Jewelry Experiment Method
#39	2012-04-24	Love Knot Research
#40	2012-05-14	Pulling Up a Long Loop
#41	2012-07-12	Beachy Kimono & Ruana Shapes
#42	2012-08-11	“Inverse” (NOT Reverse) Crocheting
#43	2012-09-27	Silver Wire Crocheting
#44	2012-11-08	Dainty Eyelets for Winter Lace
#45	2012-11-30	Slip Stitch FAQ	Blogged a version of this: Slip Stitch Crochet FAQ.
#46	2012-12-13	Clones Knots, Open & Closed
#47	2013-02-19	Rayon Threads. Really?
#48	2013-03-14	Diagonal Tunisian Crochet Discovery
#49	2013-04-20	‘TEKSplorations’ for Tunisian Lace	Blogged about the Tunisian Extended Stitch: Tunisian Extended Stitch Ripple.
#50	2013-05-16	Those Crochet Stitch “Feet”
#51	2013-06-18	Lacy Summery Seams
#52	2013-07-18	Slip Stitches, Wool Breeds, & Plying
#53	2013-08-06	Slip Stitch Flowers
#54	2103-09-27	How (& Why?) of Crochet Coffee Cozies
#55	2013-12-02	Fun Yarn Tests, and – BIG NEWS!
#56	2014-01-09	Yarn Color Charms to Make
#57	2014-02-14	Which Beads Added Which Way?
#58	2014-03-13	About That Bump in the Chain
#59	2014-04-01	Star Stitch, the Tunisian Connection
#60	2014-04-25	Star Stitch Lace Pretties!
#61	2014-06-06	When Top Loops Are Optional!
#62	2014-09-06	Hexagonal Lace Types	Blogged overflow from this issue: Beaded Delta Crochet Types of Lace.
#63	2014-10-02	Fun with Double Stranding	Blogged overflow from this issue, Double-Strand Crochet, and more overflow: More on Double Strand Crocheting.
#64	2014-11-07	Dramatic Tunisian Edge Increases	Blogged a version of this: How to Increase Tunisian Crochet Blocks.
#65	2014-12-05	Mock Cables in Slip Stitches	Blogged the project: Crochet Cable Boot Cuff Pattern Progress.
#66	2014-12-21	Hot Trend: Boot Cuffs!
#67	2015-02-05	That Weird Popcorn Stitch Step
#68	2015-05-23	Filet Net Textures, Rotated!
#69	2015-07-04	Wish Bracelets: Why Not Crocheted?
#70	2015-08-14	Starting a Stitch with a Backtrack!
#71	2015-09-19	Beyond Crochet Hook Debates	Blogged: downloadable *Crochet Hook Diagram, and Crochet Hook Size Charts*.
#72	2015-10-10	“Long Tail” Crochet	Blogged: *Long Tail Crochet Foundations*.
#73	2015-11-25	How to Shape Star Stitches
#74	2015-12-16	Crochet a Filament of Cheer
#75	2016-01-23	It’s MORE Than an Invisible Decrease!	Blogged a version of this: *When to Crochet Between Top Loops*.
#76	2016-02-12	Heart Shapes with Slip Stitches	Blogged a free heart pattern to go with this issue: *Slip Stitch Crochet Hearts. Also see Crochet Bunnies Flat or Puffy*.
#77	2016-03-08	Find the Color Code of Short Striping Yarns	Related blog post: *Rosebud Argyle Color Pooling Stitch*.
#78	2016-05-02	Möbius Mindbending Experiences	Related blog post: *Mindbender Mobius News*.
#79	2016-06-11	Steek (Cut) Stitches the Fun Way ✂	Blogged the overflow from this issue: *Steeking Crochet (Newsletter Overflow)*.
#80	2016-09-01	Pattern Schematics for Insiders and Outsiders
#81	2016-11-04	Crocheting Pendant Loops ➰
#82	2016-12-10	Holiday 2016 + Foundation Star How-to	[includes #82.5 (12/15/2016) Updates to Last Week’s Issue]
#83	2017-02-28	Hidden Pictures in CUT Stitches!
#84	2017-05-05	Crocheted Ruffles
#85	2017-07-07	New Stitch Patterns
#86	2017-08-10	Edgings That Multitask
#87	2017-08-24	Announcing a Ruana ‘DAL CAL’ (design-along crochet-along)
#88	2017-11-18	Yarn Overs⤵, Unders⤴, and ‘Purlwise’	Blogged overflow from this issue: *Yarn Over, Yarn Under (Newsletter Overflow)*.
#89	2018-01-13	Crochet Around a Ring Differently	Blogged the design that inspired this issue: *Last Minute Crochet Jewelry Gift*.
#90	2018-03-04	Elegant Tall Stitches
#91	2018-04-07	Crocheting a Yarn’s Twist Energy
#92	2018-05-19	Clever Substitutions
#93	2018-07-21	Unzip Foundation Chains
#94	2018-09-01	Referring to Stitch Parts
#95	2018-10-19	Color Revolution
#96	2018-11-29	Choosing Holiday Projects	Blogged the charts of ideas: *Holiday Crochet Project Habits*.
#97	2019-02-10	Crochet “Life Lists”	Downloadable PDF of *Crochet Bucket List*.
#98	2019-04-06	Tricky Tunisian/Afghan Hooks
#99	2019-06-07	Barefoot Sandal Phenomenon
#100	2019-09-01	It’s Issue 100!: Scaling Every Which Way
#101	2020-04-25	How I Reset Major Crochet Slumps
#102	2020-06-13	Wild Whys of Y-Stitches	Currently included in the *Tall Stitch Class Resources Page* until it gets its own permanent page.
#103	2020-10-09	Big Picture of Crochet	Updated title: *What IS Crochet, Really?*
#104	2022-01-26	The Paradoxical Return Pass	You might be able to view it here until I add it to this site.
#105	2022-04-22	Ripple Stitch DNA	View it here until I add it to this site.
#106	o	o	o

Vashti’s Crochet Inspirations Newsletter all issues.

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Posted on April 17, 2020April 17, 2020 by Vashti Braha — Leave a comment

Flat Bead Crochet Tests

Four swatches of two-color flat bead crochet

Flat bead crochet of slip stitches in two colors, seamed into a tube shown fitting nicely to the wrist.

These four swatches test beads, threads, and stitches for my upcoming jewelry class, “Bivector Bangle, The Class”. I’ve specified flat bead crochet in this blog post for two reasons.

First, I photographed them flat before seaming into a stretchy tube. Slip stitch crochet makes it easy to slip it on the wrist with a good fit; that’s the “bangle” part.

Not the Rope Kind

Second and maybe more important, they’re not crocheted in the round. I’ve learned that this is unusual. Crocheted ropes of seed beads, a.k.a. “tubular bead crochet”, are the most common kind of crochet jewelry I’ve seen; my Candied Pony Beads pattern is a humble example of the art. Slip stitches are the preferred stitch, but some use single crochets.

Crocheters in English-speaking countries have enjoyed making bead ropes for a long time. (Oddly, this hasn’t prevented crochet how-to books from claiming whole projects shouldn’t be made from slip stitches.) In the world of Slip Stitch Crochet “Bosnian” distinguishes slip stitches in the round from the ones crocheted flat, in rows.

Instead of crocheting in constantly spiraling rounds, I crocheted these swatches in rows, and turned to begin each new row. So, flat bead crochet!

Other Kinds of Flat Bead Crochet?

Here’s another curious thing. Although bead crochet ropes are popular examples of Bosnian crochet, plenty of other Bosnian crochet items aren’t beaded at all. Compare this with flat slip stitch crochet: I almost never see beaded examples.

I crocheted these beaded slip stitches flat:

A fine frilly cord of beaded slip stitch picots.

Capelet of lacy beaded slip stitches in a swirl pattern.

Large and small glass beads are surrounded by slip stitches to form a thick macrame-like necklace

Test Results of Swatches

As for my test swatches, here’s what I learned. Too much to write here! Some quick highlights though.

Threads

For the yellow wedges (middle row) I used cotton embroidery floss. It worked fine even though I used all six strands. It could have been too thick.

Six strands of floss are roughly equivalent to sport weight yarn and to size #3 crochet thread. I need it to be closer to fingering weight yarn and size #5 crochet thread. It felt a bit thick while crocheting it, but it was ok. It comes out slightly more raised than the orange wedges, in an interesting way.

I tested two strands of size #10 thread held together throughout. (This is the small heathered sample in the top row.) It works fine. Two strands of size 10 are equivalent to one strand of size 5 for this pattern. (For a full project I’d use two strands of the same color so that the beads stand out well.)

Beads, Stitches

I tested different wedge widths. The green and purple one (top row) is the only one that matches the way I crocheted the wedges of the original two Bivectors I made ten years ago. I still prefer them. In class I’ll explain wedge variations.

Lastly, I tested different ways to add the beads. I also revisited doubling them up in wee stacks, which I’d flirted with doing years ago. You can see some bead stacks in the bottom row. The major lesson for me here is, Japanese seed beads for this design are a shortcut to easy happiness, as a general rule.

Posted on March 24, 2020March 24, 2020 by Vashti Braha — Leave a comment

New-to-Me Size 5 Crochet Thread

Pattern of short row wedges in alternating colors separated by beads shown flat

I’m excited to learn that Handy Hands now carries a size 5 crochet thread called Elisa. Like Lizbeth (the thread that Handy Hands is known for), Elisa is 6-cord gassed, singed mercerized cotton. If you don’t understand all of these terms, just know for now that they indicate improved strength, durability, and appearance. In other words, Elisa is a good choice for crocheting heirloom items, and in my case, jewelry.

This excites me because it’s the kind of thread needed for my Bivector Bangle class. Finding size #5 cotton thread for jewelry (roughly equivalent to fingering weight/sock weight wool yarns) is not always easy. I’ve tested Lizbeth for jewelry and it would be great for its color range, but size 5 is pretty much the only size it doesn’t come in.

Freshly unpacked shipment of Elisa colors: beige, soft orange, medium blue, peridot green, royal purple. — Fresh out of the box! Five colors of #5 Elisa: soft orange, beige, blue, peridot green, royal purple.

Size 5 threads Opera vs Elisa and 3 mm crochet hook for slip stitch crochet Bivector Bangle class. — Fresh out of the box! Five colors of #5 Elisa: soft orange, beige, blue, peridot green, royal purple.

Initial Elisa Test

Elisa differs from Lizbeth in more ways besides its size 5 weight: Elisa is made in Austria, in a limited number of colors. (In addition to the five pictured above, a yellow and white are available.) Lizbeth is made in China and the color range is unbelievable. The two threads feel slightly different: Elisa has a softness and slight bounce whereas Lizbeth has the crisp feel that is more typical of this very hard wearing, hard twist thread category. Lizbeth’s “bounce” is a bit more wiry.

My quick Elisa swatch (blue) came out slightly larger than the purple Opera one. I think this is due to the added bounce of a 6-cord thread; the loops want to stand out from my hook a bit as I crochet. I’ll try being more aware of this when I swatch it again, with beads added.

Bivector Bangle Threads

For my first Bivector Bangle I used size 5 Coats Opera thread in burgundy and teal (pictured at the top). It has since been discontinued. Opera is a 3-cord (meaning 3 plies), not a 6-cord thread. This enables it to have a silky, supple feel. Many widely available crochet threads in the USA are 3-cord; some are even 2-cord and may be called perle or pearl.

Crochet Thread Quality

When you’re using a crochet thread with a low number of plies and/or a low amount of twist for crochet jewelry (as well as heirloom items), the quality of the cotton fiber itself matters even more. The longer the fibers, like Pima or Egyptian (“mako”), the better. Mercerizing also adds strength to any cotton fiber.

For me the closest thing to Opera nowadays is DMC’s Cébélia. It’s an elegant mercerized 3-cord with a good color range for its size 10 and 20 weights. Unlike Opera, Cébélia was never a size 5 crochet thread, to my knowledge. I’ve seen it here (USA) in the big chain craft stores for years.

L’il Bivector

2nd version, less wide (smaller wedges): light and dark blue with pinka nd red glass beads.

My second Bivector is a narrower bracelet in two blue threads and glass beads in alternating pink and red. For both colors I used a 6-cord size 5 crochet thread by Manuela. Its dense, wiry-crisp texture is very similar to Lizbeth thread. Maybe you can get a sense of its texture from its photo.

I crocheted both Bivectors about eight years ago. For a third one I tried a sock yarn of loosely twisted silk and merino wool in yellow and green, with pairs of stacked beads.

Understanding Thread Sizes

There’s plenty more to know about crochet thread. It takes a surprisingly long time to understand how the thread and yarn weight categories work (longer than it takes to progress from one crochet skill level to the next!).

Size 5 crochet thread is thicker than Size 10 and thinner than Size 3. Perhaps Size 5 is less common because by traditional Victorian standards even Size 10 was considered “coarse”. Nowadays crocheters use a lot of Size 10. Within each size, there is some slight variation in thickness among brands. Sound familiar? Crochet hook sizing is like this too.

I’ve been blogging about crochet thread types for a long time. For more details on the basics, see Cotton Crochet Thread Sizes and Equivalents and Choosing Cotton Thread for Crochet Jewelry. Also Plying and Spinning Cotton Crochet Thread. See my more recent posts tagged with crochet thread.

Posted on November 29, 2018September 10, 2019 by Vashti Braha — 2 Comments

Holiday Crochet Project Habits

This blog post is part of today’s newsletter issue #96. That issue has a storewide 25% off coupon code in it as a thank you to my subscribers. Look for it in your inbox later today. Also check your spam folder because this is a high-volume week for email. (Not a subscriber? It’s not too late.)

The clean, bold holiday template I used for issue #96 limits how I want to write, so here’s the rest of the story. This year I look at my holiday crochet project habits over the years. (By “holidays” I mean from Thanksgiving in the USA to New Years Day.)

Holiday Crochet Project Types

It turns out I look for about eight kinds of holiday crochet projects! Sounds like a lot but they usually overlap. I wonder if you are the same way? I’ve compressed my list into three in no special order.

Feel the Peace of the Season

Relaxing & rejuvenating holiday crochet projects of Decembers past (2011-2017) — Image #1. View full size.

Crochet is my go-to to relax and recharge, and it has been ever since I was nine years old. (When I learned how to do Transcendental Meditation, my first thought was, “This is like crocheting.”)

The crochet that replenishes me during the holidays is an instinctive thing and unique to each year. I loved looking back at these!

Clockwise from top left of image #1:

Big Hook Bucket of 2016 (I made three). Seeing it daily in my studio makes me happy.
Luckyslip Mitts of 2013: I just kept making ’em in all kinds of yarns, sizes, and stitch accents.
Antoinette Sparklescarf of 2011: The one shown is made with the same breathtaking yarn that inspired Starwirbel later. I made about ten and turned some into reusable gift wrapping ribbon.
Solstice Bangles of 2017. I really needed a lot of gem-like bling last year. Each was a tiny retreat: I got totally immersed for short moments because the materials were tricky, but each bangle was quick to complete.
Bling Bam Bangles of 2014: Took me by surprise. I wondered what it would be like to crochet Lotus yarn with a strand of sequined thread and I couldn’t stop. Very simple. A mindless, familiar rhythm.

Last-Minute Gift Making

I’m easily inspired by great new gift ideas to crochet, but I typically don’t have a sense of occasion until the last minute. (Fortunately crocheting smaller items is fun. They often become new designs instead of gifts though.) I greatly admire event planners and others who can plan ahead well, like those who have crochet gift lists they work through months ahead.

Last minute gift crocheting puts a burden on a crochet pattern to be easy to understand, and to call for no-fuss materials. It’s sort of like freelance crocheting for magazines in the sense that it’s tight deadline crochet.

If the item is a crowd pleaser, then it’s production crochet territory. Ideally the pattern is easy to memorize for make multiple items from it, efficiently (and still be fun).

Niche Crochet Gifts

Crochet patterns for niche gifts: no-fuss materials, easy pleasers. — **Image #2, Niche Gifts. View full size.**

Niche items are about specialized appeal and could be the perfect thing for someone. I focused on some in the newsletter: men, boys, teens, tweens, teachers, and mothers-in-law. These are the patterns shown clockwise from top left of image #2:

Expedient Cowl: Has trend appeal for teens and 20-somethings, including as a skirt! What makes it fast and easy enough is the super-bulky yarn, big hook size, and simple stitches.
Aran Rozsana cuff: Folk-boho jewelry trend. A mood boost to crochet with fingering or sport yarns and embroidery flosses because of the colors. Mostly single crochet (UK/AUS: dc).
Petticoat Cozy: Just a token gift item. It’s the double layer of lace that appeals to people. Same yarns as Aran Rozsana.
Frostyflakes: A really popular pattern and addictive to crochet! It has special appeal to women over 30. Use any yarn; I even made a bookmark with size 20 thread.
Gallon Friend: This curio is very niche. Make them for grade school and ESL school teachers, children, and for home cooks. I’ve always wanted to try a keychain size in thread!
Lucky Twist Mitts: One of the patterns that comes to mind for men. Has sizing for both sexes, same with Luckyslip Mitts.
Slip Slope: The scarf is a crowd pleaser and Google Trends tells me the boot cuffs are still trending high for younger folks! Also see the Lucky Twist Boot Cuff pattern in Ravelry.
Burly (center) and Burly Bias: The basic Burly scarf for men and boys, and the niche diagonal Tunisian necktie for the man who has everything. I love making the ice creamy one and like how it settles on my shoulders and frames my face.

Crochet Gifts for Mothers-in-Law

Seems oddly specific, doesn’t it? I’m surprised by the number of times someone has told me they used one of my patterns, or took one of my classes, specifically so that they could make the item for their mother-in-law. (My own mother-in-law wanted a white angora hat to keep her ears warm.) The mother-in-law patterns:

Satin Pillows Necklace (often for Mother’s Day too.) Add a matching bracelet!
Starwirbel
Weightless Wrap Maybe do a scarf size if you’re making it for Christmas.
Electra Wrap Plan ahead for this one or do a scarf size at this time of year.
Frostyflakes (listed and pictured above)

Hostess Gifts

Some Decembers I go to so many parties. A pile of small crocheted gifts on hand would be great. Maybe a sack or decoration for a wine bottle, to decorate the lid of fresh-spiced nuts, etc.

Last year I had extra Solstice Bangles to toss onto a wine bottle neck—so festive! And the hostess ends up with new bangles.

Trend-Inspired

I checked on this season’s knitwear trends and this is what I found:

Creative use of fringe remains a strong fashion trend. My first thought is the Starpath Scarf because at this time of year it’s easy to set it down and remember what you were doing when you get back to it. Also, no ends to weave in, no matter how many colors you use.
Giant yarns, stitches, and accessories. Burly and the Expedient Cowl in super-bulky yarn (see Image #2 above) are tame compared to what’s on the runway. A Q-Star Coverlet in bulky yarn would be a lavish winter blanket! Or rug/bath mat?
Asymmetry, and diagonal/multidirectional seams and surface grain. Hello, Burly Bias (see above).

Go Luxe!

Splurge-worthy for 2018: Doris Chan patterns, Vashti's investment patterns, yarns, hooks, and the new Delicate Crochet book — Image #3, Splurge-worthy. View full size.

The holidays is when I splurge and reinvest in my craft. I hope you also treat yourself or another crocheter. Beyond shopping and spending, to me it’s about using this time to crochet with my fanciest yarn stash and maybe break in some new crochet hooks.

Other years it has been about bling. This year I’m feeling very angora-luxe. I’ve been hoarding angora yarn for too long.

If someone asked me what they should get from my shop and money was no object for them (or they want to make the most of the coupon code in the newsletter), these come to my mind in no special order:

Top row, Doris Chan’s DJC patterns (examples: Spirals, Lotus Bolero). And, cones of Lotus to go with them.
Next row, these patterns of mine as an investment for the particular crochet experiences they provide: Eilanner, Starwirbel, Rosepuff, Weightless.
Third row, every color of Lotus in Snack ball size (3 Six Packs would be 18 colors). So fun to have on hand.
Next row, Jelly Yarn (especially glow and glitter colors); Tunisian hooks in every size.
Bottom, a compact Japanese hook set like Classic 3, Tulip’s deluxe rose Etimo set, and the brand new Delicate Crochet book (in Amazon but Karen McKenna is having a giveaway for it on her blog for the next five days!).

I wish for you the experience I aim to have with my 2018 holiday crochet projects: peace, cheer, inspiration, and warmth inside and out.

Search Results for: jewelry

Archived Crochet Newsletters: LIST

The Originals, Enriched

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