Designs By Brenda

March!!!

2011-03-09T19:33:00.000-08:00

Can't believe March is here! I've been working hard getting patterns ready for the CGOA conference in July. I really can't wait to meet all my crochet buddies face to face. I am also looking forward to taking some classes! There are so many to choose from it's going to be really hard to narrow down which ones to attend!

I have several patterns pending at the moment. It's so hard to wait! I also have a few that I plan on publishing on Ravelry soon. Really wish I had more hours in the day! :-)

Happy Spring!

Fair Isle Stockings

2010-11-15T16:26:00.000-08:00

I am furiously working away on 4 fair isle stockings for Christmas. It's time to retire the lovely ones my husband's grandmother made. We want to save them since she is no longer with us. It's now my turn to hopefully make stockings that will be used for many years to come! I love the pattern and hope to have a picture to share soon.

Knit Picks News!

2010-10-31T07:42:00.000-07:00

I have a new pattern coming out in the next few weeks for Knit Picks. My Hollyberry Wrap will be a beautiful addition to any holiday wardrobe. It works up very quickly with the Solomon's Knot. I had a lot of fun designing it and hope you have a lot of fun making it!

I am also going to have another pattern featured in the November issue of Knit Picks! I am very honored to be chosen by them. I'm not sure which pattern they picked - can't wait to get my catalog.

I'm still tinkering with the idea of Fair Isle crochet. I am working on an idea for Fair Isle mittens. I love color work. Hopefully, I will have a new pattern to blog about soon!

Knooking Swatch

2010-09-30T11:08:00.000-07:00

I have been on a hunt to find a way to crochet in fair isle. That has lead me to knooking. I can knit - I just like crocheting more.

I really love how this works up. I do need to work on my tension when changing from garter to stocking stitch. I seem to have gaps in my knooking AND knitting.

I think it's time to invest in a set of hooks with extensions. I worked up this swatch with string duct taped to the hook. It worked, but wasn't the smoothest method, I'm sure.

Hello :-)

2010-09-13T19:14:00.000-07:00

It's been almost a month since my last post. Woops! Lots of exciting things going on this summer! Since my last post we've made a quick trip to Aspen and visited hubby's family on the way. We also visited the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo for the first time! Lots of fun but I am getting behind on my submissions. I need to get moving!

Next week I have a pattern featured in Knit Picks October catalog! I'm so excited!! I'm not sure which one they picked - it will be a surprise for me, too.

My hoodie is done and now all I have to do is check my pictures and hit send :-) I will post more when I know where it will be for sale!

Now working on a new wrap...stay tuned :-)

New Hoodie Soon!

2010-08-13T19:15:00.000-07:00

This summer has been full of fun and crochet! We have been doing a lot of traveling this summer - mostly car rides that provide the opportunity to get some work done. I have several patterns I need to submit, I just haven't made the time to sit down and write out the patterns from my short hand. I think the actual pattern writing is the hardest part of designing. I hope as I get better at it I dread it less :-)

My latest design is a hoodie I am almost finished with. I really love how it's turning out. I do hope to have it submitted next week. I will post when/if it is published. If it isn't picked up I will post it for sale on my own site. I really need to get that up now, too!

New Pattern!

2010-06-02T13:59:00.000-07:00

Between Twitter, Facebook, Chain Link newsletter and email I just don't seem to have enough time to blog too! Soon I also hope to have my own store up - I'm still working/writing out the patterns for it. I love designing, just wish I could get more accomplished during the day.

You can see my newest pattern here! These socks are very easy to do but you do need to really pay attention to the pattern. I had to rip out a few times watching CHUCK :-) A single crochet and slip stitch can be easily confused if you aren't really paying attention.

I hope to have more coming soon!

New Patterns!

2010-04-10T15:30:00.000-07:00

I now have 2 new patterns available on Knit Picks! Knit Pick yarns are lovey to work with and make beautiful socks! Hop on over and take a peek :-)

New Designs Coming

2010-02-26T11:36:00.000-08:00

I have been busy working up samples and working with pattern testers to get a pattern ready for publication! I am so excited and will share more when I can :-)

I am also working on a new site to sell my patterns on. Busy, busy but I love my job!

The new issue of Chain Link is coming right along. I think it will be a fantastic issue! So many wonderful contributors!

Life

2010-02-16T07:05:00.000-08:00

I've been very busy working on some pattern submissions and getting the CGOA Chain Link newsletter organized. Time has really just slipped by! I am working on some patterns I'm hoping to get put up for sale on Ravelry. So much I want to do, just not enough time to get it all done!

Valentine's Day was great. I made Oreo truffles and they were fantastic! I love finding and trying new recipes. Yesterday I bought "400 Sauces" cook book. I can't wait to try so many of the recipes in that book! It will keep me busy for a long time. I love cooking (and eating) almost as much as I love yarn!

Merry Christmas and Thank You!

2009-12-23T18:52:00.000-08:00

There was great response to the call for help for Tammy Hildebrand. Thank you to those of you who donated to her and her family. Your generosity is very much appreciated!

Merry Christmas! I hope this Christmas brings hope and peace to you and your family!

His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

Down But Not Out

2009-12-05T12:43:00.001-08:00

These last few weeks have really just slipped by. I've been battling an ugly bug that leaves little brain cells left after you take the medication you need to breath. Not much has been accomplished, although, I did get a good start on an afghan submission going. Unfortunately, without said brain cells I've had to restart and rip out pretty much every row at least once. I figure if I hadn't of been sick I would have finished it last week. As it is, I'm about half way, though. Good thing I'm not under a deadline :-)

Someone requested socks. Soon I will have them finished. They require thinking so they were put on the back burner until the medicated haze lifts :-)

Tammy Hildebrand

2009-11-24T13:18:00.000-08:00

Kim Guzman has set up a site to help Tammy and her family. Tammy's family has been hit hard these past few years with heavy medical bills due to Tammy and her daughter's diagnosis of Lyme disease. Many designers have donated items or patterns to help raise money for Tammy and her family. Hop on over to the site Kim set up and if you can, please make a donation to help this wonderful family :-)

River Stone Socks

2009-11-13T13:34:00.000-08:00

My newest pattern has been published as a web bonus for Crochet! magazine. If I could figure out how to post the pictures here I would but for now you'll have to use the link :-)

The pattern will only be available for a few more weeks.

Simple Fan Stitch Scarf

2009-11-06T07:51:00.000-08:00

I made this skinny scarf while waiting at the hospital. I really like mindless crocheting when I'm stressed out and this scarf fit the bill!

The yarn was a really ancient acrylic that my mom gave me. It didn't wash up very soft and is incredibly scratchy! I'm thinking of making pot scrubbers from the leftovers :-)

The stitch itself is a simple fan and double crochet repeat. Easy to do and very pretty pattern!

Felting

2009-10-29T06:05:00.000-07:00

I love to felt my items. The fabric it makes wears like steel and it works wonderful for purses and slippers! No holes!

This purse is my own design. Once again I've learned something while felting. I was in a hurry and didn't take the time to change the water out while I was heating it on the stove. My beautiful hot pink and black bag is now a purple and black bag.

Patience is key when felting. I forgot that :-) I will felt again, probably very soon, I hope I remember to be patient next time! It really is worth the extra time.

The Katinas

2009-10-23T06:21:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite bands is the Katinas. They are 5 brothers from the American Samoa. Their music is very uplifting and they have a big heart for others. Right now, the Katinas are doing fund raising for the island ~ they were hit hard by an earthquake and tsunami on September 29th. The Katinas are heading over on a mission trip in a few weeks and could use any help.

Here is the link to their blog, it has the information on giving. I'm sure prayers would also be much appreciated.

Do Overs

2009-10-19T14:41:00.000-07:00

Some days you wish you could just start over. Last week my whole week was like that. Not much went right. Thankfully this week is off to a much better start. I have been accepted to be a model/sample maker. I'm really happy with this new development, not just for the money aspect (although every little bit helps) but for the experience as well. I also get to use yarns I might not use otherwise.

Since there are no such things as do overs I'll take a blessing instead :-) I am really hoping this sets the tone for the new week and that things go much smoother!

Cool Site

2009-10-15T07:28:00.001-07:00

Every once in a while I come across a site that's too cool not to bookmark. At this point I think I have somewhere in the range of 200 sites bookmarked. They all fall into 5 categories, too. Bible, crochet, food, knitting and spinning. They are all how to's or patterns. I love learning!

This site has a random strip generator that is easy to use and is very helpful if you struggle with being able to visualize how certain colors are going to work together in your design.

This site actually helps choose complementary colors. It is geared toward web design but it is pertanant to any design that uses color. I really like being about to play with color combination that wouldn't occur to me otherwise.

And one last site this morning simply because it's beautiful! I love her round granny's!

The Library

2009-10-12T13:40:00.000-07:00

Today's trip to the library was more than a little disappointing. They had 1 shelf of books on crochet and 4 on knitting. That worked out to be about 25 crochet books and 100 knitting. The spinning section was even worse, they had 10 books for that and from the looks of those books they were pretty old.

I knit so the trip wasn't wasted but I would have preferred to walk out with more than 1 crochet book. Most of the people I know crochet, knitters are in the minority, why don't we have more books? I'm not talking about afghan books either! I see all these beautiful knitted clothes and REALLY wish that there were books like that in crochet. We have the talent!!! So where are the books?

OOPS!

2009-10-10T08:44:00.000-07:00

You know, when you start a new blog you really should bookmark it :-) I had to go to Facebook for my link. Good thing I saved it there or I would have had trouble finding it.

It looks like it's going to be a great day today! Snow is falling and I finished my crowl last night and am ready to start on a new project. I just need to weave in the ends and have AJ take some pictures. I have lots of ideas ~ mittens, scarfs, sweaters and afghans! I need to pick 1 idea and get moving :-)

Have a great day everyone!

A New Start

2009-10-09T15:47:00.001-07:00

I'm shutting down my Jeremiah 29:11 blog because of technical issues. It's easier to start over than to try to fix the problems with my old blog.

Hopefully my new addiction to Facebook won't interfere with keeping my blog up to date :-)

Most of you who are reading this already know what a crochet addict I am. I love to crochet while doing just about everything, although I have yet to try mowing the lawn while crocheting like Tammy does. I aspire to be like her :-) She can even crochet using her feet! How awesome is that?

I also knit and spin. My knitting and spinning haven't taken over my life as much as crochet though. I'm a slow knitter and really love the speed of crochet. Spinning is great too, but I get tired of fighting Lokie for my roving. He beats the daylights out of all of it! Every color I have attempted to spin has a nice black tint to it from him. Good thing he's my favorite :-)

I hope to share my life, patterns, projects and encouragement with anyone who cares to read about it :-)