Gormley - Go crochet! Skill builder : 30 crochet-in-a-day projects to take you from beginner to expert

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Thirty days, thirty projects. What can you accomplish in a month?

In thirty days, beginners can exponentially improve their skills. In thirty days, seasoned crocheters can make a serious dent in their stash closets.

The goal of this challenge is to make thirty projects in thirty days. Of course you dont have to, but thats the challenge. Along the way, youll stretch your skills or learn new ones. Youll have a wide variety of projects to give or to keep, and youll gain a sense of accomplishment.

For beginners, this book is a great way to immerse yourself in many techniques and skills so that, on the other side of thirty days, youll be a well-rounded and skilled stitcher.

For seasoned crocheters, this book is a fun way to test your mettle, to push beyond the ordinary and get excited to accomplish more!

Look at your calendar. Be judicious and place easier, smaller, quicker projects on days where you know youre already busy with other commitments. Schedule the longer or more complex projects or new-skill projects for days when you anticipate having more time. Look at your calendar for special days and birthdays. Can you match up any special days with the perfect project? Make efficient use of your time by working to your needs.

These projects are not only designed to be made in just one day; they are designed to be fun and provide a little instant gratification so youll want to make them again and again. If you want to sell your finished items at bazaars and craft fairs, youll have a table full of stock at the end of thirty days!

I know youre thinking, what does Ellen mean by a day? Is it twenty-four hours? Is it a work day? In general, when I say a project can be made in a day, it means that if I start a project at 10:00 a.m., then I work when I can, off and on, while cooking and going about my life and sleeping through the night, I should be able to finish stitching by 10:00 a.m. the next day. Longer or more difficult projects can be reserved for a day when I have a block of time to myself.

For instance, The Pineapple Stolen Time Stole may require a day when you have more time, but the Cornelia Beaded Bracelet can be crocheted the hour before a party when you want to bring a last-minute gift. Also, I admit, some people stitch faster than others. Its only a race if you make it one. Otherwise have fun.

Many of the projects in the book can be made bigger ! But dont forget, bigger projects will take more time and more yarn. Take this into consideration when deciding to mega-size it.

While you are working on one project, flip through the others and see what you can do for another. Order yarn, gather supplies, watch tutorials online and make swatches in advance for future projects.

On each project page, take notes! What yarn did you use and did you like it? What would you do differently next time? Who did you make the project for and would you enjoy making it again? Throw a yarn label in the book for that page. Make the book work for you!

When you are done, if you complete the thirty projects in thirty days, write to me and Ill give you a Crochet Champion Shout-out on my blog!

Need fodder for your own crochet blog? Keep status bars on the projects and update your readers with your efforts. Challenge your crochet pals to a Crochet Challenge Throwdown!

Dedication

Thank you, again, God. I often wonder why, of all the skills in the world, crochet is my talent. Its silly to question it. If Im inspired in a creative way, Ill go with it. Lead the way.

Thank you to my family, especially my husband, Tom. Your hard work providing for me and the kids has enabled me to create not just crochet projects but a crochet career.

Thank you to my crochet friends and allies (in no particular order): Rebecca, Haley, Doris, Tammy, Robyn, Marly, Candi, Carol and the staff at Silk Road Textiles.

Materials & Tools

CHOOSING FIBERS

I chose yarns for this book based on their suitability for the projects. I also worked to use a variety of yarns with a variety of weights and prices. As you work through the book and the projects, you get to choose which yarn and colors you want to use to make your project unique.

Substituting yarn takes a little consideration.

When choosing a yarn to use other than the specified yarn, its important to match the fiber and gauge to get the closest result to the photo. A team of consultants for the Craft Yarn Council of America created a scale that describes the range of yarn weights. Categories are defined based on the number of single crochet stitches that are made per 4" (10.2cm). Worsted weight yarn is a 4 and bulky is a 5. Super-bulky is a 6. See the Craft Yarn Councils website, yarnstandards.com, for the full chart.

Some yarns will have an icon of a skein of yarn with a number from 16 on the label. This is the symbol for the yarn weight that corresponds to the Craft Yarn Councils chart. If the yarn does not have the yarn skein graphic on it, you can make a swatch from your stash to see how many single crochets work up in a 4" (10.2cm) swatch and compare it to the Craft Yarn Councils chart. This way you will know what size yarn you have in your stash, even if the label is lost.

When substituting yarn, choose a new yarn that is the same weight category as the yarn specified in the pattern. Also, make sure the new yarn is the same or similar fiber content as the specified yarn. Then make a swatch. There are only six yarn weight categories, but each worsted yarn on your shelf will be a little different from the others.

What is a similar fiber? If the yarn in the pattern is an animal fiber like wool, then make sure you choose another animal fiber when substituting. Good choices would be wool, alpaca, mohair or angora. If the yarn in the pattern is a plant fiber like silk, then make sure you choose another plant fiber when substituting. Good choices might be silk, bamboo or cotton. Cotton and bamboo behave differently, however, and a swatch will help you decide if its the right choice for your project.

Stick to the same texture when choosing a substitute yarn. If the project is a fuzzy mohair, then choose a substitute that will have a similar texture. If the project calls for a sleek, smooth yarn, then you may not be happy with the results if you make the project in a fuzzy or nubby yarn.